Today

I've had something on my mind lately and need to let it all out.

My kids are loud.

We call it "Birthday Party Syndrome".  You know, you get a group of kids together and they are so excited to be there and having fun and they get louder and louder as they get more and more excited.

That is what having triplets is like. Everything you do is just as exciting as a birthday party. You always have a group of friends the same age to discover the world with.

And that is a very, very special thing.

But this is the thing that a lot of people don't get.

My kids are loud, because my kids have joy.

Every day at least one of them shrieks, "THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER!!!"

EVERY DAY!

Even on the days that aren't very exciting to anyone else. Running errands, cleaning house, whatever, it's still the best day EVER.

Wow.

When was your best day ever?

Now this is where I'm having trouble.

I'm not having best days ever as much because I'm always worried about what every one else is thinking. I didn't used to. Now there are so many people constantly judging and talking about you behind your back about how you should be raising your kids, that I'm not taking the joy in raising them that I always have.

Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE my kids more than life. I LOVE seeing them love and appreciate every little part of their life.

But I'm so worried about what I'm doing wrong, that I'm not enjoying what I'm doing right.

I had a realization the other day.

God gave Dove and I these boys for a reason. I believe that with all of my heart.

What I realized is that we are raising our kids the way God wants us to. Every decision that we have made, we have felt led by Him. He always provides for us, guides us and loves us. Even when no one else does.

I'm tired of worrying about what everyone else thinks. I want my best days ever back.

We all make mistakes, we all raise our kids differently. We all have different ideas of how to raise our children and that is how it should be. We are all different and that is good.

This world would be a pretty weird place if we were all exactly the same. Now that doesn't mean that we shouldn't help each other out or that I can't learn anything from anyone else. I'm far from perfect and can learn a ton from others.

What I mean with all of this is that instead of tearing each other down, we should be lifting each other up. We should be holding each others hands, not aiming knives at each others backs. I'm just as guilty of this as anyone, but not anymore. I choose joy.

I have never been a quiet person, and neither has Dove. And I would much rather have three loud, loving, joy filled children than three quiet, miserable kids.

I LOVE seeing their faces light up over the smallest thing. How much better off would we be if we found that kind of joy in one little part of our day?

So today I am raising my kids for God, not for man, because TODAY is the best day ever.

He trusts me with them and that is all I need.