I Get By with a Little Help from My Friends.

I am still trying out the many different fonts, so please bear with the inconsistency until I ascertain (thank you online thesaurus) which one feels like my actual speaking voice. I am pretty sure my husband would say if only they made a nails-on-a-chalkboard style font. Today is Thurs. and next to Saturday it is my favorite day of the week. On Thursdays four of my very sweet friends and their kids trudge through the elements (pouring rain today, awful snow in March, etc.) to come and play at my house for just a couple of hours but still enough time to save my sanity and maybe our very lives. This couple of hours with them is such a gift.

When I was little my mom got together with a bunch of other moms, all with kids around the same age. When I look back on different parts of my childhood, I think of those times as maybe the happiest of my life. I still remember most of the kids and even still keep in touch with some of them though we are scattered throughout the country, but I digress.

Let me paint you a picture of Thursday. Moms arrive almost all at the same time which is pretty funny because we are usually 20 minutes late to every event we attend in order to get kids both in the car AND dressed. I may not be late to my own house but I am almost always doing either my hair or my makeup. Usually at least 6 kids are trying to take off coats and shoes at the same time right in front of the door. Little miss Ali barely gets her coat off before she is ready for princess attire. In the sweetest voice she asks "Miss Jen can I dress up?" followed quickly by Macy and then usually Hope. Who could say no to that or even want to for that matter? Then the 10 kiddos pile into Hayley's room for costumes and playtime.

It is usually about 11:30 by the time we all have made it inside so lunch is first on the list. Almost immediately each mom has some assembly line part in making sure each kid gets a plate of food, which is a joint effort of bringing whatever looks edible and fairly healthy to be added to the mix. Then we scavenge food for ourselves answering the many calls of "did I eat enough to get down and play?" and "Miss Jen can I please have some Daddy juice." (cran-raspberry for all of those who aren't familiar) Then the kids pile back into Hayley's room for more playtime where they will stay for the next 2 hours only coming out for snacks or the occasional disagreement. Sometimes we are drying tears, sometimes there is mom intervention but mostly just the sweet sounds of kids doing what they do best, having fun with their buddies.

This time has become such a huge answer to prayer. I am so thankful for the opportunity to get together like this. The first few minutes we seem to all share that look that says 'I wasn't sure how I was going to make it through this day' but by 2:00 when kiddos are tired and played out, there is a look of accomplishment, like the tank just got filled back up. I love these moms and even more I love their sweet babies too. I love all of my friends kids so if you are reading this you know they are all so special to me. However all of you mamas do an amazing job of restoring my soul and reminded me why I wanted so badly to be a mom. I love, love, love to see my children playing (well) with other kids. My eternal gratitude goes out to you! If you don't already attend thursdays, drop by sometime. It can, at the very least, change the course of your day.