5 Years Ago...

... I became a mommy for the first time.  Wow, how time flies!  And how my life has changed.  But more than that, my children have changed me.  

Today is Sam's 5th birthday! I'll blog more about the festivities when we're home from vacation, but I thought I'd contemplate some of the ways I've changed since becoming a mother:

• I can accomplish more in a day with less sleep than I ever did before kids.
• I am more creative - I can entertain a 2 year old with an ear infection for 45 min. in a doctor's office in a pinch.
• I drink just as much coffee, but it's almost never at a coffee shop.
• If I'm going anywhere, I start to prepare for the outing at least an hour in advance, if not more.  I factor in 15 minutes just to get everyone strapped into the car.
• I do waaaay more laundry.
• I actually know how to cook.
• I am more merciful, less selfish, and more empathetic.  Except when my hubby tries to sleep in because he has a cold.   (Sorry, Hon.)
• I take fewer showers. ;)
• My home is not as clean.  Or should I say, my home is not clean.
• I cry at anything having to do with children being harmed, including the 5:00 news.  Scratch that - we don't watch the 5:00 news anymore so that our children are not exposed to violence.
• Small talk that doesn't involve the subject of young children is very hard to come up with.
• I have a blog.

This is certainly not an exhaustive list.  But one thing I know:  God is working out my salvation through my children.  I am changed, and I don't always like what I am but I know I am better because of raising these babes.  It is hard, but it is good.

I love my life.