………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

They’re only little once.

Grant me the wisdom to guide them down the path that their feet should take.

For I know that they can never turn back and walk those paths with me again.

Give me the wisdom to guide their feet
so that someday they’ll be able to walk alone.

They’re only little once.

Give me the time I need to enjoy them.

For I know that after they’re grown, I’ll never have another chance

to tell stories and pretend at those tea parties.

I’ll never have another chance

to watch them in a school play or sing in church, or to see them catch that first fish or score that first goal or hit that first home run ball.

Give me the time in life’s busy schedule
to have fun with my children.

They’re only little once.

Let me be a loving parent.

Let me correct and not just punish, explain and not merely scold.

Let me know when to correct, and how often, and when it’s best to just look the other way.

Help me be patient and give me a gentle hand to mould them into better people.

They’re only little once.

Let me be a good teacher and an even better example.

Give me the right words and deeds to teach them.

Help me to teach them about You and how to walk in Your ways

so that when they are old they will not depart from Your ways.

For they’re only little one time,

only innocent and trusting and pliable for a space of time, one minute in an eternity.

Let me do my best for them while I have the chance.

Amen

{author.unknown}

Daily Mantra: “We are born believing. A man bears beliefs as a tree bears apples.” — {ralph.waldo.emerson}

To me, the only thing better than eating an apple pie, is baking one.

Daily Mantra: “Forget love…I’d rather fall in chocolate.” {unknown}

This quote really has nothing to do with anything, I just like chocolate. I also {love} love. Some days its a toss up though, you know?! Hahaha.

There are so many colors right now. Mikki has {collections}. First it was acorns and, now, its leaves. On our walk today we talked at length about ‘collections’, and adventures, and why Katie still takes naps, and why that person was standing half dressed in the window, and why its not snowing yet, and what we were having for dinner, and was I going to make another apple pie because the one I made yesturday was gone.

Daily Mantra:  “The time you think you’re missing, misses you too.”  {ymber.delecto}

Who is this Ymber guy and why is his quote making me tear up.

I feel like the girls are growing in a twirly, whirly crazy way right now. I don’t think I ever remember being 2 or even being 5, but I tell you that time went a heck of a lot slower when I was that age. I don’t really remember it, but I know it did. Today I was stopped at a red light after spending $50 on a meal that was totally gross (don’t let them tell you that low fat Chicken Alfredo is good, ok…no matter how much bacon it tells you to add, its not good….take my word for it). Katie was in the back eating some cookies in her car seat and humming a tune, just like my Grammy Tyler does-  although I doubt Grammy hums ‘Row, Row, Row your boat.” Anyway…I digress horribly, don’t I? I was stopped at the light, and was dazing off into nothingness when I saw a feather floating up and down on a breeze, and all I could think was…”Holy MOLY…I am experience a Forest Gump moment.” It was surreal. Of course, while I was having my outer body epiphany, the light had changed and the people behind me honked their horns. Despite that fact, things have been changing here in the Burse house…a new home, new independence for all…especially Mikki, and Katie from Mikki who is away all day at school, Mike and I back at school at the same time, and the business going so incredibly well and growing…our existence is a  whirl wind of morphing lives all huddled in together, trying to connect in the best ways we can with the time we have as a family.

Daily Mantra: “I don’t want to make money. I just want to be wonderful.” {marilyn.monroe}

not.just.another.pretty.face…a messy one.