I am a mom first...

7 poopy diapers... one explosion up the back...

One 4 years old with her fingers stuck in a hole far too tiny for said fingers...

sleepover parties with homemade pancakes and muffins...

7 loads of laundry...

homeschooling 4 kids...

changing infants clothes... again... and again... and again... (wow this little guys spits up a lot:)

cuddling through episodes of Thomas or veggie Tales...

books before naps...

a forgotten photo shoot... epic fail for 15 year old son and mom...

a late night run for apples,whip cream, and snickers for the oldest 2... (have you ever had that dessert... yummo!)...

helping daughter learn how to move beyond stick people... :)

helping 4 year old try on her new Ugandan dress you bought for her... newly uncovered due to cleaning for move...

rubbing oils on feet before bed...

snacking on sweet pickles and watching gold rush with your first born...

Sorting though folders of paperwork from 2 adoptions, trips to Uganda, bibles studies gone through...

Honestly, when all is said and done... when the house is finally quiet and I can finally get some packing done until the wee wee hours of the morning... when day after I feel at moments like I am running on fumes... when in my head I feel the burden of a to do list as long as the mighty Mississippi, and when in my heart I feel the looming sadness of too many goodbyes that I can already sense the bitter taste in my mouth.  When all is said and done during the day light hours I am a mom first... I feel the moments slipping by so quickly...  Moments in our home here in Oklahoma that will soon be a distant memory.

 I am nostalgic... maybe too much so... I can not help but think... this is the last time my kids will play on that swing set before the buyers come to pick it up (man we had a great swing set here!!!) or we may never hang out and have dinner with these friends like this again. (it will be different next time, we will be passing through) or these are the last few times I will see the kids running barefoot having water fights with the neighbors here.  But even here amidst the crazy amount of work that needs to be done, I find myself wanting to cherish the last bits of memory making to be had here both at home and with friends...

So so thankful for the gift of sharing life with my precious family and such precious dear friends here in this place...