Motherhood Musings

As I drove home the other day from Utah County with a screaming baby in the backseat, I decided to document the moment. I had forgotten Red's antacid medicine at home and I knew his tummy bubbles were bothering him. There was nothing I could do, just drive. Thinking maybe I could soothe his cries, I pulled off the road into a vacant parking lot. I climbed into the backseat, unclipped him from his car seat, wiped his tear-stained face and tried to feed him. No dice. I resorted to our baby-get-the-burp-out dance around the parking lot. This special dance consists of walking, bouncing, swaying and baby-singing which usually results in a long-awaited burp. With the car radio in the distance, we danced around the empty parking lot. On that warm September night I felt my frustrations about not getting home on time disappear. With a shuttered sigh, Red relaxed against my shoulder and I could hear his quiet, happy coos in my ear. The sun was setting behind the desert mountains and the sky turned from a bright orange to a deep purple, my favorite color. A field of wild sunflowers grew around the abandoned parking lot and I watched my little boy's eyes get wide looking at their bright yellow colors. His little hand reached out to grab a flower petal and I instantly had what they call a "duh" moment. I am so blessed. It was in this simple moment of watching my baby experience a sunflower for the first time, on the side of the road, that I realized what's really important. My priorities immediately snapped right back into place and I wanted to do everything for this little human. Life has been so incredibly wonderful and hard and beautiful and difficult all at the same time. I am amazed how much the Lord's hand plays a role in my family's life. I could never be more thankful.