Doing Something Right

                                                          18 months
That's how long, on average, it has taken us to really feel settled in each time we move.
                                           I always hope it will be sooner.

Just yesterday I realized that we had passed the anniversary of the first year in our home. Life has gone so fast that I felt a little taken a back as to how that date snuck by us unannounced. Looking around I started to  wonder if we had really gotten very far in the past year: the house still needs so much work, there are plenty of questions surrounding Tom's job, I am back in the work force, money is tight and time is even tighter. Our kids have struggled, we have struggled, in short, we have learned a lot about our weaknesses and where we need to improve.

Yesterday started out as another one of those tough days.  Spencer missed the bus, I lost the parking pass for my car for work, the other kids were late for school, there was arguing and general frustration on the part of many of our family members, it was Monday in its truest form.
That afternoon I was in a meeting when I suddenly realized that I was late to catch the two youngest boys at the bus stop. September usually is with them and I can send her a message if I am late, but today she stayed after school for science club, so I had no way of getting in touch with the boys.

Luckily I don't work too far from home so I gathered my things and headed out.  The boys had started walking the 1.5 miles home from the bus stop and had made some good progress before I caught up to them.  They  have walked the entire route a few times, but it is a long walk for Ben and he really struggles to keep up with his brother and sister. Occasionally, Theo has let Ben hold onto his back pack and will pull him along if Ben can keep his grip. I suspected to see something similar today.

As I came along the main road to our home, I spotted the two boys ahead of me on the sidewalk.
I pulled up slowly and realized they were walking side by side - something unusual for our turbo charged youngest who can walk circles around his older brother. To my surprise I noticed our boys holding hands.  Theo was carefully bringing Ben along and they were talking and laughing together.

The sweetness of that gesture changed my entire day around, and continues to resonate with me now.
Maybe, in all the madness, the moving, the work, the struggles, the loneliness and the worry, we have done something right, because at the very least, they love each other enough to serve each other.

I wish I had a picture of that moment to share with others -but maybe its better etched in my mind where no one can use it to tease or abuse it.  Parenthood is one of the greatest blessings we have been given, certainly one of the most challenging as well.  Moments like those are the sweetest gifts - gifts of perspective that keep us grounded and moving forward on our journey.