Love

I can list a hundred things I got done yesterday. Everything from preparing dinner to teaching a reading lesson, from making sure my kids got their school work done to reading aloud. From discipling little hearts and disciplining little rebels. But what I find so interesting is that the best part of my day was realized when little Justice climbed up in my lap while we were all in the living room as a family, and he just let me rock him and snuggle him and kiss his chubby cheeks. And he told me he loved me.

A few minutes later, Aiden noticed there was room in my lap, even with his brother there, and he climbed up there too. The three of us rocked and loved, happily, until Owen realized he also needed me, and Trever had to come love on a baby too.

We ate ice cream cones full of Blue Bell ice cream and watched a talent show as a family. Aiden grinned and giggled and dripped all over the floor and I didn't sweat it. I smiled and told the boys to let the puppy in and he happily obliged in cleaning up.

And my heart felt full and life made sense, even if just for a few hours.

Sure, there were little failures (getting overly frustrated a time or two, unrealistic expectations...) and lots of small victories (Libby Lu eating her yellow squash without complaint, all the children being cooperative during nap time, little light bulbs going off all through lessons, seeing the "I get it!" face over and over...). But the thing that matters most, are the matters of the heart.

Love.

It is the greatest victory.