A Night Reminiscing

Dear Momma,

Do you ever just take a few minutes and reflect on everything? Your children? Their growth and development? How you are ‘mothering’? All of it?

Tonight, that’s me.

We’re finally home, with nothing on the calendar to do. We’ve been cooking and baking. My oldest is on the mend, as she’s getting over being sick for the past few days. Candles are lit. The house is cleaned from top to bottom. And I don’t know about you, but my happy place is being in my sweatpants with no plans for the day, at home.

Days like these are my favorite days.

Last night we had about ten girls over as we’re starting a new Bible Study this Spring, and I’m so thankful the Lord continues to use our home for Him.

But tonight, I’m able to sit and rest. It’s so nice, and in the midst of motherhood it can feel like it doesn’t happen often.

While we are just lounging around I’m laying down just looking at all of the books in our home. I’m reminded of all of the books the girls and I would read together. These were some of the most precious moments for me and I became curious about what my girls remembered. So, I asked the girls about some of their favorite books we’ve read together over the years. I was just curious. “Do y’all remember reading together? What do you remember?”

My girls immediately say, “We have read A LOT of books, mom!” I smile, because it’s true, but I just wanted to know what they remembered from their lens. They began sharing their memories from many of the books we’ve read together over the years, but I’ll share a few of their favorites that popped into their minds immediately simply because it’s a memory I want to hold tight of what they recalled, they remembered, and what they hold tight, too.

Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption, by Katie Davis Majors. The girls loved the pictures and remember the story so vividly. The story seemed real to them, the girls in the story became familiar to them. It truly was a story of Love and Redemption. They remember parts of celebrating reading this book together with a group of other girls, but I clearly remember the nights where they didn’t want to put the book down to see what was going to happen next. All of the girls were in elementary school when we read this together.

Loving People Who Are Hard to Love, by Joyce Meyer. This is a book my daughter chose, because this was something both she and I needed to work on. So, we dug in together. Her favorite part was going to a new spot around town for tea or a smoothie. The time together was her favorite part, not sure if it’s the actual book honestly, but it’s pretty cool that this is what came to her mind. My daughter was in upper elementary school when we began reading this together.

Elijah: Faith and Fire for Teen Girls, by Priscilla Shirer. My youngest loves this because ‘it’s different’, she said. She likes how Elijah is different. My daughters were in middle/elementary as we began reading this.

That’s My God, A True Life Story, by Cindi Lombardo. This story has stuck with my girls forever. They were also able to meet Pastor Cindi as we went to worship and learn in My Father’s Barn for over a year or so. Talk about a story of faith! All of my girls were in elementary when we read this together and these experiences transformed each of us.

The girls named several more. Although time is passing and the girls continue to grow, I’m reminded that there’s nothing more important than the time spent together and together with the Lord. I’m reminded that it’s not just about the book or the lessons in the book, it’s the time spent together. It’s the conversations. It’s dreaming big and hearing how God moves in big ways and small ways, and it’s being reminded that we, no matter how big or small, have a part of His plan, too. It’s putting stories of hope and encouragement in our pockets for tough days when we will need to pull from His promises and reminding us that we have a miracle working God.

I’m winding down as the moon hangs high tonight with a grateful heart to be their mom and be part of His great plan. I’m grateful for this time with my girls, while I’m blessed to still have them all under one roof, and that they haven’t grown up completely yet. I’m thankful for His Word, which has the greatest stories of all time and the words He has inspired in others to share, too. My girls and I have read hundreds of books throughout the years. Our favorite place for about the first ten years of their lives was the local library. I pray they remember the time together. I pray they remember the words and images God pulled out just for each of them. I pray they continue to find value in time away from the digital world, and time just with each other and Him.

I hope you remember that we serve a God who answers prayers.

Let’s turn our Eyes to Jesus because it’s all for His Glory.

In love,

Kassie Leigh