Fill Er' Up!!

Marriage is hard...parenting is hard...
and doing both simultaneously can be quite the doozer. 

One of the greatest challenges of this life o' mine 

is having enough left over in "the tank" for this husband o' mine. 

After a full day of 'relatively enthusiastic' mothering and

the running of this 'not always so smooth' family ship of ours...

I am often worn down, worn out, and at times all of the above. 

To which you might say, what's the big deal?
Well, it's not, if my day stopped there...but it doesn't. 

Once our kids are tucked safely in their beds...I am expected to drag my empty (aka sucked dry) tank and meet my husband who is coincidentally dragging his empty (aka sucked dry) tank to a nightly ritual of attempting to be present for each other,
of attempting to give to each other, 

and of attempting to still "date" each other. 

Are we successful? 

Not nearly enough.

Would we have it any other way?

Nope. No how. No way. 

While we both are more than aware that this parenting thing can pull at us...it is tough enough to navigate discipline, diet, routine, and all the other 'are we doing this right' stuff of parenting...
and of course, doing it as one is even tougher.
And we also know that it will almost certainly be a struggle to make each other and our relationship a priority as we do everything, 

but meander through this extremely full and 'tank emptying' life.

But fortunately for us, we also know that this parenting thing 

pushes us and binds us together like nothing else on earth.  

And if you don't believe me? Let me tell you a romantic story...

It was Jack's 2nd season of tball and things were beginning to come together. He was starting to get it.

After spending much of his 1st season, kicking at the dirt and just goofing around...

this season, he had some just robbed, skin of his teeth, super close calls at getting his very first OUT!!

Yes, an OUT! Jack wanted one and Jason and I could almost taste one!!

So picture it...the Hot Rods were in the field...Jack was at the coveted third base position...Bear and Kate were knee deep in snow cones...I was set up along the fence line right beside 3rd base (you know, just in case I was needed)...and Jason was along the first base fence (you know, just in case he was needed).

Can you picture it? Good. 

The wheels of tball started to move and the next thing we know there are runners on both 1st and 2nd base. 

This is it I told myself and Jack...

"JACK! JACK! IT'S COMING TO YOU, BUDDY! JACK! JACK! IT"S COMING TO YOU!"

And wouldn't you know it...that dang ball came to him!!

It came to him and guess what?? 

JACK CAUGHT IT!!

And then he waited...and waited...and waited...and WAITED for that 2nd base runner to come to him.

It was a stand off like no other and all the while, 

I thought...this is it!!

And I said...

"JACK! JACK! TOUCH THE BASE! TOUCH THE BASE! JACK! JACK!"

But he wasn't having it. He was in the zone.

 And he knew that that poor guy had no choice but to come his way.

And wouldn't you know it...the poor guy finally did.

He came to him and guess what??

JACK TAGGED HIM!!

It was seriously, seriously awesome. 

And you  know what was even awesomer?

Jason and I both cheered as only a mother and a father can...

and then we both left our needed posts, met somewhere in the middle,

and cheered as only a mother and a father can...

together.

: )