Help Me to Remember...

As the first birthday has come and gone, our Adeline has morphed into a full-time Life Explorer. And by that, I mean that if something is filthy, inedible, or contaminated, she's either touched it or consumed it...probably both!

Dear God,

Help me to remember my child is a blessing even when...

She's delicately cupping a piece of dog feces in her little fingers

She's sampling crumbs from the kitchen trash can

She's meticulously unrolling and shredding the last roll of paper towels

She's back-arched, arms-flailing in defiance

She's alerting the parking lot that I've kidnapped her as she's strapped into the car seat

She's feeding the dog AGAIN, who has now gained back the 20 percent body weight she JUST lost

She's pulling out all 200 mega blocks, only to leave them in her wake after 20 seconds of play

She's tugging at my leg, calling "up" while I attempt to eat a meal for the tenth time

She's joyfully splashing her hands in the toilet bowl...which I've neglected to clean as of late

But then You remind me that in 18 years I'm going to wish I was right back in every one of these moments, to relish in it, laugh about it, give thanks in it, and find the joy in her endless exploration of life.