Ultimate Blog Party: Recording Precious Memories

To help celebrate the 5 Minutes for Mom Ultimate Blog Party 2011 I thought I'd share some precious memories with you of when my sons were young. I'm also giving away THREE prizes!

When my boys were little I wrote a few poems to journal what they were like at that particular age and what my priorities were as their Mom.  Now I look back and have sweet reminiscences and wished the years hadn’t passed by so quickly. I am so glad I did, as now they are 24 and almost 23. Perhaps this will encourage you to jot down some of the memories of your own little ones or the special children in your life.

MAKE precious MEMORIES

SPEND a quantity of quality TIME

CELEBRATE special occasions,
and EVERYDAY occasions

TREASURE every MOMENT

Justin Bradford (1992)

Brandon Michael (1993)

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While He’s Still Two (Brandon 2yrs. old)

Looking for bugs.

Now is the time to get things done . . .

sit on a blanket

in the warm sun.

Laugh at the monkeys

on a trip to the zoo -

Enjoying precious moments while he’s still two.

Now is the time to discover books . . .

Sesamee Street,

bulldozers,

how a bug looks.

Sow seeds of laughter,

learn how to pray,

learn his own language,

And cuddle my little one at the end of the day.

On the slide at the zoo!

Later there’ll be time

to talk on the phone,

read my own book,

have time alone.

Organize closets,

and polish the copper

so it looks new -

Later on . . . when he’s not still two.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  

While He’s Still Small (Brandon 3-4 yrs. old)

Feeding his bulldozer obsession.

Now is the time to get things done . . .

Make new friends

with wee little ones.

Build stuff with Legos,

making green bread -

boys will be boys;

teach him how to share his toys.

Learning good manners,

little sticker charts.

Do craft projects and have lots of fun.

Now is the time to do things our own special way -

Read favorite stories

His favorite "Piggy" puppet!

and then read them again,

line things all up

so they all look the same.

Sit upside down,

reciting his numbers,

Kisses times two

goodnight prayers.

Count all the blessings at the end of the day.

Caught a big one!

Later there will be time . . .

for adult conversation,

taking a bath,

eating hot meals.

As for keeping the house neat

and sorting my stuff,

time right now there isn’t enough.

Yet, these moments are precious

I wouldn’t trade them at all;

These things will come later . . . when he’s not so small.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Boy Only Three (Justin 3 yrs. old)

 Now is the time to get things done . . .

consider the lilies

with my little one.

Admire the moon

and the fish of the sea -

Share the adventures of a boy only three.

Now is the time to learn something new -

crafts for children,

making costumes.

To cherish the sparkle

Fishing like Dad and Grampa.

of his eyes so blue.

Dinosuar puzzles,

A B C’s,

Bible verses for him and for me.

Later there’ll be time to do my own thing,

maybe write a book -

something inspiring.

Arrange some flowers,

do something for me -

Later on . . . when he’s not only three.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dubbing him a knight.
Sir Justin Jumps Alot

A Boy Just Four (Justin 4 yrs. old)

Now is the time to get things done . . .

wade in the water,

sit in the sun;

squish my toes

in the mud by the door -

Explore the world of a boy just four.

Now is the time to study books,

flowers,

snails,

how a cloud looks;

to ponder “up”,

where God sleeps at night,

And why mosquitoes take such bites.

First Lobster "Up in Maine"

Later there’ll be time

to sew and clean,

paint the hall

that soft new green;

to make new drapes,

refinish the floor -

Later on . . . when’s he’s not just four.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mom’s turn . . .

Now They Are Grown (Reflections of a Mother)

Now is the time to consider what’s done . . .

Affirm the good choices

of my two sons.

Now young men -

responsible,

driven,

they are finding their way.

faithful sons,

best friends,

loyal brothers.

So hard to believe

how time has passed.

Living and working out on their own.

The Lord lent them to me, now they are grown.

Now is the time for a mother to ponder. . .

Recall motherhood years

of blessed wonder.

Pour through pictures

happy memories I greet;

Cherishing memories,

so very sweet.

Hold in my heart

with a sense of pride -

Nurturing spirits,

shaping character,

maturing steps,

Every drop of love . . . hoping all will abide.

At last I have time to do my own thing . . .

Read favorite books,

talk on the phone,

spend time writing,

enjoy time alone.

Organize keepsakes,

reminisce over tea -

Give up the guilt;

free to be me.

Persue my own aspirations,

reach for my dreams -

After all of these years, I’ve many many it seems.

Now is the time, I’ve plenty to spare . . .

So I remind my sons that I’ll always care.

Occasional guidance,

wisdom for the way,

these things remain devoted to prayer.

One thing they learned

that no matter how old,

a secure place remains

in the heart of their mother.

Yes, now my little boys

have flown from my nest.

And later is here . . . I am so blessed!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ULTIMATE BLOG PARTY PRIZES

To celebrate with 5 Minutes for Mom

I'm offering prizes to three winners who comment
on this post from now until April 8th.
(Chosen with Random.org.)

To be eligible to win please share one precious thing about a special little one you know: a favorite toy, a quirkly little thing they do, something funny they said, something that warms your heart and will warm mine and those who read the comments. And you can also share something about a pet, if you wish!

Extra entries for those who sign up to follow my blog (or already do), follow me on facebook, follow me on twitter, retweet this post, repost this on facebook. INCLUDE THESE IN YOUR COMMENT.
{When tweeting use hash tag #UBP11}

That's a lot of chances to win!

All entrants must include their email addy as such:  myname [at] mymail [dot] com

And now for the prizes . . .

PRIZE 1

Postcards with verses/quotes about mothering,
"Heartstrings" inspirational book and book mark -
enclosed in a beautiful book box.

PRIZE 2

Scrapbooking stickers and papers for
your family pets!

PRIZE 3

A journal to write down your special memories!
Your choice, pink or blue.

Thank you for visiting! I do hope to see you again!

Be sure to drop by 5 Minutes for Mom for more of
the Ultimate Blog Party 2011!