A light saber battle is currently raging in the backyard.  The boys have watched Clone Wars, Star Wars, and the Empire Strikes Back this afternoon.  Yes, the force is strong around our home today.  

May the 4th be with you.

May 4th should be celebrated as a national holiday!  And today, for more reasons than ever, I am celebrating.  You see, while the plastic sabers still clash around our home, as they did here and here when the boys were young, they are now battling their way into a new season of life.  Fewer toddleresque screams come from their play fights.  Believe it or not, they often come in happy, not requiring my intervention, and sometimes they even wash their grubby hands when they're called in for dinner.  Finally growing up, they are... Mmmmm.  As they grow they are turning from the dark-side (some days raising young ones can feel desperately dark) and maturing into Light bearers.  I am so thankful for the pieces of scripture I have clung to most desperately during the years battling rebel forves here in our home; scripture I believed and spouted time and again throughout the dark years, when there were many disturbances in the force around our home.  

Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  (Galatians 6:9)

There is a season for constant, hands on bottom wiping, lego sorting reminders, light saber battles that end in tears for all three of them, spilled milk and tired children who shout "No!" though they've been trained to use kind, gentle words; there is a season where this unceasing discipline feels as though it will never end.  I know, I know, I know...  

But Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 tells us this:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 )

Mothers of padiwans, there is a season for everything:

A time for sleepless nights, a time of rest;

A time for aching breasts and backs, a time for healing and wholeness;

A time for constant noise, a time for long stretches of quiet;

A time when mom and dad lose sight of one another, and a time to recouple for ten seconds - every day;

A time for countering with truth the lies of neighborhood bullies, and a time when kind words go deep into hearts.

A time for sickness and allergy testing and broken bones and questions, a time for waiting, and a time for answers;

A time for constant correction, and a time when siblings play joyfully together for long stretches everyday:

A time in the backyard swimming pool held in mom's arms, a time for swimming independently;

A time when padawans need constant training, a time to graduate to young Jedi's.

A time to blog about parenting young ones, and a time to transition to new messages about other experiences as a woman in the world and The Word today.

May the 4th is always a day to celebrate here in our Star Wars loving home, but today I am celebrating for others reasons as well.  We are stepping over the line separating seasons.  My younglings are big and broad and wonderful; still challenging and needy at times, but growing into marvelous good men each day.  This site does not contain them, or me in this new season we have entered.

Today I am excited to share that in just three weeks I will be launching a new site to include more aspects of life, love, and parenting.  Specifics forthcoming!

May you be blessed as you press on, weary mother of younglings.  This season won't last forever.  

Love well today!