Good Morning

The car isn't working so we can't make it to church today. Instead, it is the usual morning routine for me. I get up, usually take a shower or have breakfast then get Mina up and feed her. Then Mina gets to hang out in our bed with her Daddy while I get some time to myself. This time usually involves coffee and either washing dishes or doing laundry (the water in our house makes it impossible to do both at the same time). After those chores are out of the way, I usually have about 20 minutes before Mina and Ben come downstairs all to myself. I check my email, facebook, read articles and sometimes write, which is what I'm doing today.
I was thinking about writing about going back to work and some frustrations with working in restaurants but figured I could come up with something more uplifting for the first thing in the morning. So let's revisit the second part of my morning routine - the part where I get Mina up. Sometimes I walk into her room and she is still sleeping peacefully so I give her a few more minutes while I get some time to myself. Other mornings, she is just waking up as I walk in. I say "Good Morning" and I get a beautiful smile. It is the best way to start the day - almost don't need my cup of coffee (almost). But it is a great reminder each day to appreciate the little things and all of Mina's sweet smiles. I try to remember those smiles around 9:00 each night when Mina is tired and cranky but fighting sleep as hard as she can.
I will admit I'm not very good at it. I often go to bed exhausted and wondering how I manage to spend all day taking care of someone so needy. But then the morning comes and Mina's smiles manage to get us through another day. A day during which I will wonder how something could be so precious and wonderful and also question how this little monster managed to steal all my time away from me. Those sweet morning smiles are a reminder that Mina is actually a blessing, not a monster. No matter how much she cries for bo reason, pinches my neck, or pulls on my hair, love will always win out. My love for my baby girl defies all logic. It isn't perfect. I am often frustrated and upset and I don't expect that will ever go away, but still love endures just like her smiles.