My TOP Three

Last night I had a terrifying dream. I won't go into the details to have you dream the sequel for yourself, but suffice it to say, that in my nightmare, my family was all taken from me. It was devastating.

So today's post is my TOP THREE blessings. I have a sign in my kitchen that says "My greatest blessings call me MOM". But in truth, my blessings begin with Genius Golfer before The Boy or The Girl.

I love my husband. He is a genius, and he is a golfer. But better than those things, he is my best friend. I would rather spend time with him--even if it means cruising the aisles at Home Depot (or anywhere else)--than I would anything else. When I have been faced with choosing my husband at home for the night or going with my girlfriends--even to the Barn--I choose him. He cares for me and takes care of me. He is a hard worker and has abilities to do just about anything he wants to do. If he doesn't know something, he will read about it and figure it out. For all of our joking around here, I know that he loves me for more than my boobs. (Can I say that?!)

The Girl came into our lives a little early, but completely perfect. She is bright and curious and loves to learn. She is sensitive to people around her, even her mean old mom. She is a good friend and has a good heart. She likes to do what is right, and she usually does it. She is talented and enthusiastic and willing to help. She is becoming a wonderful young woman. She gave me the opportunity to be a mother. She is growing to be a very good friend too.

The Boy came to us on his own time table, but the Lord must have known it would take something like that to get him to me. Once he was born, I had nearly two years of post-partum issues that interfered with my abilities to care for my family. Luckily, it wasn't anything too psychotic but it was hard to deal mentally. The times I held that little baby boy in my arms in the night to nurse and he would make little faces up at me, I would tell myself that 'I can do this and with the right help I will be okay'. I held on to that feeling when the days would crumble and I would feel that the whole trio would be better off without me. I held that boy's face in my heart and willed myself to get better. I am so glad I did.

Every day I learn new Boy things from him. This weekend, for example, I learned a little bit about athletic protection--a cup, if you will. (If I can say 'boobs" I can say that.) Saturday, in preparation for Football Camp beginning tomorrow, GG took The Boy to Big 5 sporting goods and bought him his first cup. The Boy was so proud. He happily showed me what they found--also cleats and practice pants for football. But the jewel of the shopping trip was his new cup. While waiting for his turn with the lawn mower to do his job yesterday, he delightedly ran upstairs to his room and tried it on. Not as delightedly he came downstairs and reported that it was "very stiff" and apparently not at all as comfortable as he imagined. I told him, with his man bits in there, he will want it to be stiff to protect himself. He is a funny kid. Maybe, had I grown up with brothers, I wouldn't have found the events so entertaining. I love that he is funny, and I love that he makes it a point to entertain me. Some days I think, he is still looking up at me, like when he was an infant, telling me to "Hold on. Things are going to be OK."

In church today, The Girl could sense that it was not one of my better days, sheer exhaustion was setting in today, and as she sat between GG and myself, she would lean her head on my shoulder as if telling me she was there for me. You just can't ask for better kids. I can't anyway.

What would I ever do without these three people in my life?! The nightmare version was bad enough. In real life, I hope I never have to find out.