time.

i took time this weekend

to just hang out with my kids.

a mother-daughter dinner date on friday night

became a mother-daughter-son-son

dinner date

at the restaurant of oldest son

who cooked for us.

there is something very satisfying about being fed

perfectly prepared food by your child.

perfect

in that he knows i can't eat anything from the menu

and without me having to say a thing

he spoke to the waiter and said

"just punch in "mom"- i know what to make her"

awww...

so my children and i sat around the table

and talked of random things

like fish farming, genetically modified banana's,

their dad, old house stories

and lots of random memory stuff.

it was good.

hannah insisted on photos

which the boys insisted can't be used for my blog

so they remain hidden away for me to treasure

and make a mini-book out of one day.

times with all my kids at the same time

is rare. sacred. a treasure beyond words

and i cherish the moments deeply.

i love the happiness that radiates from my face

in a photo of all of us-

me surrounded by these big, burly boys and beautiful hannah.

and

hannah's love note in the photo above

reminds me

that time is really the most valuable gift we can give -

to ourselves and others.