These Small Hours

Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders,
These twists and turns of fate
Time falls away,
But these small hours,
These small hours still remain.

--Rob Thomas, "These Small Hours"

The five-year-old curled up in her bed, her hair still a little damp from her shower a few minutes before, her mind racing through her options for the best way to delay bedtime.

"What if there's a fire? I don't like to jump out of windows," she told me.

"If there's a fire, I'll come for you," I said.

"But what if I get lost in the deep, deep forest?" she asked.

"You won't ever be in the deep, deep forest," I told her. She shot me a look that made it clear this answer was far too practical to satisfy her need for drama.

I amended my response. "If you get lost in the deep, deep forest, I'll come and find you," I said, and she nodded, satisfied. Her heavy eyelids started to droop. The 11-year-old wandered in, carrying his guitar.

"Could I play her a lullaby?" he asked quietly. I nodded, and he sat down and strummed "Jesus Loves Me" while his little sister held tightly to my hand.

Then the 8-year-old wandered in, playing his drum, because we all know that "Jesus Loves Me" is much more effective as a lullaby with a loud and driving drum beat.

The 12-year-old heard the ruckus and popped in, playing along on his harmonica. This would've been significantly more impressive if he actually knew how to play a harmonica. His playing messed up the 11-year-old, who stopped right at the "little ones to Him belong part" to whack his brother. The five-year-old was so excited by this exchange that she jumped to her feet and began to sing/shriek along while jumping up and down on her bed. The two big boys stopped their fighting, suddenly distracted by the fact that "Jesus" sounds a lot like "Cheez-Its".

The five-year-old continued to jump. The 8-year-old continued to pound. The older ones continued to shriek their hymn to the little orange crackers.

I laughed, and I wondered exactly where I lost my sweet moment.

I laughed harder, and I realized I didn't lose it at all.

Comments

[Amy Nelson Hannon]

Oh Shannon. Wow.

[Sharon]

I laughed! Drums with Jesus Love Me! And the swat of the big brother over his harmonic interference... That's just too fun. Thanks for reminding me of the JOY within the chaos!

[kmom]

This is SO true!
And precious.

[Dorci]

Very nice. Makes me reminiscent about when my boys were actually boys. Now their ages say they're men. We still have our sweet moments.

[Kelli Maestri]

Thank you for the reminder....

[Jo@Mylestones]

SO sweet. Sometimes the precious moments slip in silently while they sleep. But most of the time, those moments come barreling in to the beat of an 8 year old's drum, to the sounds of a sibling boy band. Love it!

[Sarah]

Love it!

[goofdad]

UMM ... WOW! Nothing but WOW.

[stef]

THAT is awesome! Treasure those moments...because thankfully/regretfully they don't last long.

[Melanie Watanabe]

Were you at my house? This is fabulous!

[Heather]

oh my word!! it's those crazy, but fun moments, that are the absolute best parent moments of the day!!

[Donnetta]

LOVE this! If I would only stop to cherish the moments I've feared I've lost just a bit more. Thanks for this challenging reminder!

[Stacey]

I love bedtime delay tactics :)....most of the time ha!

[Gretchen]

Love it!

[No No Nanette]

beautiful! Someday I will miss the kid-craziness that fills my life, it is just easier to remember that some days more than others.

[Deborah]

I was singing to my 2 year old last night, and when I sang "Yes, Jesus loves me," she looked up and said "No, ME." I laughed and told her that Jesus loves Corrie (my daughter) *and* me *and* her brother *and* her daddy *and* everybody. I've appreciated seeing my two together, and I can imagine how precious it is for you to see the four of them enjoying each other - and making a joyful noise, to boot.

[Homeforheavenssake.blogspot.com]

Beautiful. :)

My kids like the Carrie Underwood song called "Jesus Take the Wheel"... but, of course, they have to change it to "Cheez-It's Take the Wheel". Glad to know we're not the only ones who are slightly warped. :oP

[rrmama]

Those are some of the most precious moments! I love it!

[Michelle]

beautiful...you have a way with words!

[Stretch Mark Mama @stretchmarkmama]

Oh, goodness. Seems like I've mentioned this before, but there's a church with a statue of Jesus that we pass quite a bit, and my 3YO always, for two years now, hollers out CHEEZ-ITS!!! We don't even correct her anymore. Which means she will have some awesome theology in the later years.

[Ann G]

What a great way for the bedtime routine to end up...laughter and a bunch of family fun!!

[Laura@HeavenlyHomemakers]

Oh this is so precious (in His sight...)

[Pam]

Treasures are made of times like these. Classic Dryer family, and I love that!

[Jenni]

LOL! thanks for the giggle...sounds so familiar.

[Ginger]

Shannon,
I absolutely love this post! Such a great story and so true to life.
The closing says it all.
Ginger

[Marriedsinglemomofthree.blogspot.com]

What a cute story! The first part actually sounded like something you would read in a book. You are an exceptional writer!

[Paige]

I love this story - creative delay tactics indeed. My two year old has learned that it makes me very happy when he uses his potty, so around 8pm he asks to use it for "gas and poosies" and sits there sucking chocolate milk with a blanket over his nap watching Curious George. Such a little sweet stinker.

[Nikki]

So funny. and so sweet too. Thanks for sharing this. It touched me.

[missy @ it's almost naptime]

You're so awesome Shannon. :)

[Stephanie]

So thoughtfully written. Thanks for sharing that sweet moment with us.

[Sarah Eliza @ devastateboredom]

:D That was lovely...

[Pam]

I love it....Take it from a Grammy...those are the things that stick in your mind forever and glue you together like 'Crazy Glue'. Thanks for the laugh (o: