For the sake of a smile...

Recently, Sean and I took Micah with us to the mall for lunch. He said he wanted Root Beer, and since that is a treat for our kids, and it had been quite a while since he had enjoyed a day out with Mommy and Daddy, we thought “why not?” and went to the mall where A&W is located. Upon arrival, Micah was swung between Sean and I by the hands…taking in heavy gulps of air and squealing like the toddler he is every time we lifted him off the ground from our van to the front door of the mall.

In the mall, as soon as he made it through the door, Micah ran all the way to the counter, bouncing curls flopping everywhere with every trotting step he took to his favorite spot: the A&W counter. The employee working there smiled big as she saw this curly headed toddler skipping all the way from the door to her location, a good distance to say the least.

We ordered food, and after being given our drinks walked to our table and sat down. Sean said he was going to wash his hands real quick, and walked in the direction of the rest rooms. Micah didn’t see him walk away. He was sitting next to me, just jabbering away about his Root Beer, putting straws in the cups, insisting on helping me put my straw in my cup, and then wanting to do the same for Sean’s cup as well. So he and I worked together to get Sean’s straw in his cup, and Micah turned around to tell Sean his drink was ready. He didn’t see him, so he turned to me and asked, “Mommy. Where Daddy?” I said, “He went to wash his hands.” His reply, “Ok.” And then this child proceeded to turn, and from our table, began to yell…”Daddy! (pronounced Dadday), You’re drink! It’s ready!...Daddy!!” Needless to say…the chuckles were audible by the time Sean made it back to the table. It was priceless!

We were a bit stressed that day, getting some news that we were not fond of, and these short, amusing, priceless moments with this innocent child were all we needed to have our ‘break’ from the stress we had been enduring, and are still enduring. Even so, his innocence, his child-like joy, hope, faith, trust, and that of his older siblings as well, mixed with the funniest of funny moments provided by them ALL, are reminders of why we endure what we endure…I’m a happy, fulfilled, proud (in a good way) Momma. My babies are my blessings, no matter when, where, or what…my children are my light, my life, and my heart.