My kids woke up at 4:30 this morning. Not woke up and finally fell back asleep. No, completely up, for the day. It was still black outside. There was no sun shining or birds chirping, and most likely our apartment neighbors were groaning the sounds of little voices.

Voices that were loudly squealing with delight and excitement. Voices that were so thrilled for a new day that they did not care how early it was. The hour held so many possibilities, why waste it away with sleep?

As much as I longed for them to join me in that beautiful thing called rest for a while more, I could not help but smile thinking about their pure joy in living. The way they embrace each day with such vigor and enthusiasm.

How I hope to only stir their excitement more. To keep this love of life strong in their hearts for as long as I can. And to fully embrace it myself. To live each moment as though it is the greatest ever. Seeing each new hour as another opportunity to live this beautiful life I have been given.

Our kids may wake up before the roosters, refuse to nap, go to sleep with the owls… Don’t worry so much about it. They simply want to live. To never stop living.

Let’s embrace this life right along with them. Let’s remember how beautiful it really is…