I get to hike

Where do I begin, I have gotten so far behind.  Why you ask?  I have two two year olds, a three year old and seven other children.  My brain is fried, my nerves are shot, my tummy is full, my smile is big, the tears are flowing and

 the laughter is booming. 

 LIFE IS GOOD.

Chayce and Chandler turned two in January. So most of my days consists of sippy cups being drunk or being thrown at me, crackers being sucked on, chewed up and spitted out, poop in the shower, duct taping diapers,

kissing owies, chasing to get an object, usually a phone out of one of their hands, running down the sidewalk while they run faster ahead, seperating two (sometimes three) wrestlers, wiping marker off of  faces or walls, cutting up hot dogs and grapes, cuddling when they let me and breathing a sigh of relief when they are finally asleep.  Being willing and happy to do it all over again the next day.  My days are full.  My nights are restful.  I am grateful for the times they lay on my shoulder and allow me to stroke their heads.  I love these little guys.  I love all my little guys...all nine of them.  

Some days they make me crazy, on those days I am grateful I get to hike or walk.  Yes, I am blessed to be able to hike my beautful mountains once a week or walk down my favorite path.  I am grateful I have breaks and opportunities to catch my breath.  I have a wonderful husband who allows this and is always making time for me. This is my saving grace.  This is why I can do what I do. What a blessed life I have.  Days get crazy, busy, overwhelming but I know that I will get a break.  What an enormous blessing that is.  It makes it all okay.  It gives me the opportunity to sit back and count my many blessings, to feel human and to just breathe. 

 I am grateful for my life.

My house is too small.  My dryer is broke.  My kitchen water faucet only runs 50% and leaks.  My deck needs repaired.  My Max doesn't have a bed.  But I am happy.  I am grateful.  I get to laugh every single day.  I am healthy.  My kids are healthy.  My husband is wonderful and he has a job and he loves me.  I have friends, lots of really good friends.  I have a testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ.  I love life.  

Sometimes I feel sorry for myself.  Sometimes I look at others wishing I was them or I lived like them.  Sometimes I think I want to be something different. I wonder if I will ever not have three kids in diapers.  But then I think, "oh no, someday I won't have three kids in diapers." I remind myself daily, TIME AND SEASON and THIS TOO SHALL PASS and SOMEDAY IM GOING TO MISS THIS.  So I sit back, hold my babies and thank my Heavenly Father for all that he has sent me and trusted me to do on this earth.  I am one lucky lady.  

And I am grateful.