Day 45

This day has been darn near perfect.
We were in no hurry for anything. We simply savored our precious time together today.

We enjoyed take out from a delicious deli located downtown. While the babies napped and the big boys played, my sisters, mom and I relaxed on rafts in the pool.

Tonight we grilled burgers and hot dogs and devoured all sorts of other delicious food as we celebrated a couple of birthdays. The temperature had cooled so we were able to spend a lot of time outdoors this beautiful evening.
Right before we ate, "Buck," the massive deer that passes through our yard each night, stopped by. The kids got so excited! I appreciate all of the wildlife that surrounds us.

We all came inside. The kids were filthy. The house looked as if we had turned it upside down, shook it, and then put it back down. Every towel we have was dirty. One of my sisters was having horrible stomach cramps, and my other sister and I have sore throats. We are all going on very little sleep.
We treasured every single second of it!
Dirty kids, a messy house, no clean laundry and exhaustion...no big deal!
We are spending valuable time together, and nothing could make me happier!

I went to the grocery store with my sisters today. I am not exxagerating when I tell you that it was awesome! Filling the cart with groceries as I laughed with my sisters was a gift. It was something I really needed.

My mom was in the kitchen helping prepare dinner. I took a picture. My mom, in my kitchen, helping us with dinner, is another gift I received today.

Watching my niece and nephews run around playing with our toys and enjoying our pool and yard is, again, a precious gift.

Observing my children playing with their cousins and loving on their aunts, uncle, and mamaw is a priceless gift.

Thank you, Lord, for the amazing gift of my family!
How will I ever let them return to Illinois? I always look so forward to the weekend, but I am painfully dreading this coming weekend.
I can't focus on that now. I am reveling in the present. I am soaking it all in like a giant sponge.

Tomorrow our destination will be the Bronx Zoo!
I'll be easy to spot in the crowd. I'll be the one with the huge smile on my face, surrounded by some of God's most superb masterpieces: my family.