I had difficulty delivering both of my sons. My husband and I recognized from the beginning that their lives were truly God’s gifts to us. We have enjoyed watching them mature and have cherished countless memories over the years.
As a new mom, I vividly recall older mothers telling me how quickly the boys would grow up. I knew that they were right, but somehow in the midst of changing diapers and rocking babies, that “someday” seemed far, far away. Now, I am that older mother looking back in awe, wondering where the time went.
Friends of mine, Mike and Kaye Rutter, expressed this so well when Mike said that “The years do fly by so quickly, its just those days that seem to never end when you have little children.”
As I share a few tangible ways that we have made lasting family memories, remember that I am a mom with clay feet who has not done it all correctly. There are stacks and stacks of pictures that still need to be placed neatly in scrapbooks. And if something needed to be sewn, the kids usually outgrew whatever needed mending by the time I got to it. And believe me, I will never be given the House Beautiful Award as long as there are children living in our home.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” As a busy mom, I know that your plate is certainly full. But let me encourage you to take the time to make family memories. Dust can wait, but our sons’ and daughters’ childhoods cannot be recaptured.
SPECIAL MEMORIES TODAY
Our boys always loved to make forts. Some were made by draping a sheet or blanket over chairs. Others were constructed with boards and tree limbs. Forts were built in trees, under the house, and in the backyard.
The kids and I have made many things in the kitchen besides cookies and cakes. A favorite recipe was one for something similar to play dough.
1 cup flour
½ cup salt
1 cup water
1 tablespoon cooking oil
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
Food coloring
- Mix all dry ingredients.
- Add oil, water, and food coloring.
- Cook over low heat, stirring constantly.
- Cook until dough becomes one large ball.
- Empty onto waxed paper.
- Knead until smooth and cool.
- Store in an airtight immediately.
And the kids always liked rainbow toast.
- Put a teaspoon of milk into three cups.
- Add a drop of food color in each.
- Dip a small brush into each of the milk colors.
- Paint a rainbow on a piece of white bread.
- Toast the bread, then butter—you have rainbow toast!
Adapted from Help for Busy Moms: Purposeful Living to Simplify Life by Mary May Larmoyeux.
Mary May Larmoyeux and her husband, Jim, live near Little Rock, Arkansas. Family is very important to her—just ask about her six grandchildren. She also loves anything to do with the great outdoors. Her articles have published in The Family Room, Discovery Years, Fresh Outlook, Maumelle Living, AY Magazine, etc.. She has a blog for grandparents, The Grand Connection, and also is a regular blogger for The Marketplace Connection. Mary has written several books including Help for Busy Moms: Purposeful Living to Simplify Life and The Grand Connection: 365 Ways to Connect With Your Grandchild’s Heart.
