The Little Things That Mean So Much

Abigail coming downstairs in the mornings and wanting to be picked up and give the biggest hugs. Ethan running out to the car and welcoming me home from work. Caleb asking me to play all sorts of games with him. Laughter. Shoulder rides to bed. Reading and prayer time before bed. Getting something for Ethan and he responded "you are so kind, daddy." Hearing your children be polite to each other using "please" and "thank you". Hearing your kids tell each other they love them. Watching the kids while they are having fun playing together, making up stuff, putting on shows. Ethan cooking with Rachel. Rachel doing Abigail's hair. Rachel playing football with Caleb. Ethan's smile and joy when he found out we were painting his room. Family pictures and video. A car full of singing voices. Learning numbers and letters. Stacks of coloring sheets and pre-school projects the kids have done. Seeing your children pray without being asked. Abigail praying for Gloria, our sponsor child in Africa. Phone calls at work from your family. Saturdays and Sundays. Dinnertime and everyone telling what their favorite part of the day was. Checking on the kids in the middle of the night when they have had a bad dream and being able to calm them back to sleep, then praising God for His blessing of your child. Hearing "I love you."