Some big news

Parenting is hard work.

That's the big news.

I think everyone in our family has had about enough high-quality, low-key togetherness for one summer.  We're all starting to get a little itchy and impatient with each other.  We've been working on teaching our children the importance of exercising patience and using kind words... while modeling patience and kind words as we teach them.  Not an easy mission.  As with so many aspects of parenting, this most recent adventure has brought many of our own humbling imperfections to the surface.  How can we expect our children to learn from us when we clearly have so much learning to do ourselves?

I'm starting to think that the answer has everything to do with a verse my dear friend Sue reminded me of today after the cats and dogs got the better of me and I sent everyone to bed very early.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9   Can I even begin to forgive that much?  Will my children learn to forgive from my feeble example? Grace, Kim, don't forget about grace.  Grace and perspective.  I've got to train myself to remember the grace that got us here.  Look at these beautiful children!

Even if I did use M&M's to bribe cooperation and smiles out of children during a little photo shoot this afternoon...  those faces have grace all over them and they make me want to do a better job tomorrow.  I love you, my darlings!