Tuesday, March 4, 2008

to my boys

*just have to let you know that at the time I wrote this post, I was suffering with rheumatic fever----worst physical ordeal of my life. Couldn't walk, couldn't move, hurt even to breathe. I wrote this near the end of it....heavily medicated. These boys were the BEST kids during that month I spent mostly in bed. LOVE THEM :) (added 4/8/08)
Before I was a mom, I had all the time in the world to read, to shop, to plan my outfits and do my hair and makeup "just so". Before I was a mom, I could go to dinner and a movie with your daddy as often as the budget would permit (and considering there was no babysitter fee involved--that was quite often!). Before I was a mom, I could clean our house in the morning, and it would still be clean that night. Before I was a mom, I could keep glass things on low shelves, and a box of cookies in plain sight. Before I was a mom, I actually took notes on what the speakers were saying in church. Before I was a mom, I had no idea what kind of programming was on PBS early in the morning. Before I was a mom, our toilet was immaculate. Before I was a mom, I had never been pooped on, peed on, vomited on or bit.
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BUT.....Before I was a mom, I had no idea I could be SO happy! I had no idea that the simpleness of daily life could be so anticipated. I had no idea that my heart could be so full or that the world around me could be so fun!!!
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I love you Zane, Ethan, Liam and James. You are worth every 'sacrifice' and then some. Thanks so much for loving me even though I can't race scooters with you right now, or chase the soccer ball. Thanks for thinking playing a board game with me is just as great. Thanks for all the books you've been reading with me. Thanks for the hugs and cards and smiles. YOU FOUR ARE JUST THE BEST!!!
Love,
The happiest, luckiest Mom in the whole world

75 comments:

Elena said...

Amazing what thoses kiddos can do to a woman's heart isn't it?! So sweet, and they are such handsome fellas!

kam said...

You are such a sweet mom even when you are sick. ;) I know for sure we would be good friends if we lived in the neighborhood. I am magnitized to your positive attitude and clear outlook and perspective. You are a breath of fresh air, a drink of lemonade in the summer, a crisp sky down a winter slope. You are a great friend, and I am glad I met you- Kamee

lee ann said...

This too shall pass. I'm glad you wrote all that down. It will be good to look back on. You're an awesome mommy. Just rest. Do what the dr says. You'll be out racing scooters soon.

Emily said...

Hope you feel better soon Jennifer Peterson!

Your boys are darling! What handsome young men they will make.

Are You Serious! said...

♥ So true in every way! The best sacrafices ever! :)

Simply Stork said...

awwww, how sweet...I love the pic of the boys all lined up...great shot! I know how hard it is to get everyone to look at you at the same time...(especially boys)

~simply~

Debbie said...

What a sweet tribute! I hope you are starting to feel better. Your posts are so upbeat that it's actually hard to tell if you are even sick!

Shannon said...

I missed this post way back when! Very Sweet!
Have fun on your SITS day!!

Scary Mommy said...

So sweet and so true! Have a great SITS day!!

Rhea said...

Loved every word of it. Amen, SITSta. I was nodding my head and smiling. Sweet, sweet post!

Suburban Correspondent said...

All that love definitely makes all the inconveniences worth it...

Unknown said...

Four boys! How great is that? Boys are so huggy and loving. You lucky lucky mummy.
It makes me laugh the number of people you hear list the number of hardships they face since having children and yet wouldn't give up a single day of it!

Caroline said...

You know I love your blog. Congrats on your SITS feature today!

Lisa@BlessedwithGrace said...

Well said. It is hard to explain the before and after effect of having a child. My daughter is one, now, and I can't believe it. She is awesome and I wouldn't change a thing.

Anonymous said...

How sweet!

Karol said...

*melt* Love my boys too. Thank you for reminding me that I can survive with two if you have four!!

Anonymous said...

It's so fun to write about children's antics and how funny/gross/cute/exasperating, etc. they can be (I'm speaking from experience, I've got one of those kids). But these posts are just as great. Thanks for sharing!

wendy said...

This will always be a post to read over when they're not so sweet! :) Great photo.

Margie Blystone said...

It's wonderful the fantastic change little people bring to our lives.
Sweet post!

Maggii said...

Aw..what a sweet post!

Kimberly said...

So sweet! BTW, I love your blog design! Its sooo cute!

Amy said...

I couldnt agree more!

Anonymous said...

Well written...couldn't be more how I felt if I'd written it myself. You know, but with my kids' names! ;)

Lula! said...

Sweet...sweet, tender, loving, precious, and perfect!

Sherri said...

That is beautiful!!!

Jenkins said...

I love your blog design it is fantastic. This letter to the boys is precious and so true. I have three boys. My husband and I just had the dirty toliet discussion this weekend.

Melanie Dickens said...

That is heart-warming. I love the part about taking notes on speakers in church - so true. It is all worth it though (at least most days).

Sarahviz said...

Came here from the SITS gals! I completely identify as I have 3 boyz of my very own. This echoes my sentiments exactly!

Mama Dawg said...

Makes me want to go hug my daughter!

Melisa S. said...

I hope I have this same sentiment when my time comes! :D

Jess NBP said...

awe. too sweet. i have two boys. how do u manage with FOUR. :) LOL

Jenni said...

I love this post. It was before I started reading your blog daily so it was fun to see. Your boys are so cute.

Michelle said...

That's so sweet! Great attitude, and definitely one I need to remember sometimes.

NANCY said...

OMG, this is the sweetest and most beautiful thing I have read! I'm not a mom (hopefully soon) and I hope I'm as lucky as you are.

Melissa Lester said...

I'm so glad you came through that difficult time with a healthy, grateful heart!

Judy Schwartz Haley | CoffeeJitters.Net said...

weeellllll... I'm not a mommy yet, and I still can't leave a box of cookies on the counter, my toilet is never immaculate and I have been been pooped on, peed on, and vomited on by other people's kids.

But I'm still looking forward to the fun of every day life once we finally do have kids.

Insane Mama said...

Ahhh too sweet! my toliet has not been the same since having kids. My oldest is 16, so that is 16 years of gross toilets!

Sunshine said...

You are *such* a good momma.

You said it, girl. ;D

Happy SITS Day!

Unknown said...

Beautiful post!!!

Tracy P. said...

Wow, lucky mom, lucky boys! Glad they were so good for you while you were sick.

Unknown said...

Awe that sounds awesome! :D I love how you made some words bigger than the others, its really visually pleasing! :D
scrappin-a-rose.blogspot.com

Jen said...

Being a mom sure has its trials but there is nothing in the world like the joy that it brings. Amen, I agree with every word expect the pee on , poop on , vomitted on part. As a RN, I have been pee on, poop on, and vomitted on before I had kids.

Tami said...

How sweet :)

trash said...

beautiful sentiment

Ronnica said...

Sweet post! That must have been a hard time...

Tena said...

what adorable little men you have there, you sound like a pretty cool mama!!

Nicole said...

Thanks for giving me a wake up call. A lot of time I don't race scooters or kick the ball with my kids when I am very able. Such a sweet post, you have for very lucky (and adorable) boys. I love your blog, I can see why you are so popular.

Anonymous said...

So glad you were featured on SITS today. I have four boys too and am glad to have found company!

Alison said...

LOVE this post. I feel exactly the same way!

btw, this is totally unrelated, but my son is named Liam Zane! (I don't use his "real" name on my blog, but I had to mention it!)

KatBouska said...

I love you writing...that's it...one more good post and you're going directly to my blog roll. What's next...

Anonymous said...

It's so amazing what having children does to your perspective. So well said.

StitchinByTheLake said...

Only God could love them more than Mom. Blessings, marlene

Anonymous said...

Seriously sweet post! You're a great mom and sounds like your boys are just as terrific!

Anonymous said...

What a sweet post! {{tear,tear}}

Heather W said...

Beatifully written!

Gina said...

Very sweet. :-)

Mary said...

Well said!

Mary said...

Well said!

Anonymous said...

Isn't being a mom the best? I love this job! Enjoy your SITS day! Jen

Linda S said...

that was sooooo nice! {{hugs}}

Anonymous said...

Awww...melts my heart!! By the way...I know what you mean about the clean toilet. I am the only girl in my house!! Congrats to you SitsTa!!

AFRo said...

How sweet is that!?! Mom of two boys here. I can not even imagine having two times that and being out of commission for any length of time. Great piece!

Stephanie said...

What a sweet and wonderful post. I often have those feelings you expressed in the first part of the post - before I was a mom life was so different, and in many ways, better! But it is good to sit back and realize that life as a mom, while not as glamorous, and definitely not as clean, is better in its own way. Thanks for the thoughts.

my2boyz said...

I have 2 boys and love them to death, boys rock! Happy SITS day!

Claremont First Ward said...

Hopped over from SITS, and really LOVED this post.

Laura said...

You are so lucky to have such wonderful boys, and they're blessed to have a mom who loves them so much. Very nice.

Anonymous said...

boy if that doesn't just sum it all up, i've no idea what does. :)

Jen said...

Beautiful post!

Jules said...

This was lovely! Nice job.

Mommy Meryl said...

What a beautiful post that was - something that came from your heart and soul that you will all have forever.

angela | the painted house said...

Funny, I can hardly remember the "befores." This is such a heartfelt post!

WheresMyAngels said...

I didn't know people still got stuff like that, how horrid for you. Your boys are beautiful!

Adiel | Rose Gold Lining said...

That was beautiful!
It makes me want to have children someday!

Texasholly said...

So sweet. Totally agree.

Mama Mia said...

that is one of the sweetest things i have ever read..fyi i found your blog on SITS