Most of my days start out promising, loving, holding possibility and then the kids wake up. Of course, I am just kidding, I adore them and love being in their life. However, conversing with a 7 year old who's chief love in life is legos and a 4 year old who sutters, I sometimes daydream about a little "shhhhhhh" time. Well today I have it. In fact I've got a whole list of things I'd like to do:

1. Finish painting a bedroom

2. Get a pedicure while sipping a soy green tea latte with sugar-free caramel syrup

3. Run 6 miles

4. Ride my horses

5. Have a phone conversation without telling someone in the background to pipe down

6. Eat lunch with Mr. Johnson

7. Wrap Christmas presents

8. Sit quietly and read

oh my God, I miss my kids so much.....they've only been gone 30 minutes......I miss Simi singing in the background, Jake READING Amelia Bedelia for the 5th time today, someone asking me to make them a peanut butter and honey sandwich, sitting on my lap as I type, laughing......

But I am making myself get up, do a load of laundry, run 6 miles and then wrap their Christmas gifts wishing they were here with me the whole time. I'll look down the driveway every 10 minutes to see if they are back. Because I want to hear all about their adventure and tell them how much I missed them and cherish them.

The only love that is more pure than this is the love of the Father towards us. I know he sits and waits for his children to come home. He doesn't want to wait he'd much rather run, find them and hug and kiss them but instead he sits and waits patiently for us to return and then runs out and hugs and kisses us. God has given me children to experience a love so pure.