YES!

I just had a teary-eyed mother moment.  And not the kind where the kids are fighting, the house is a mess, and it's 6:00 and dinner is the farthest thing from happening. (Although this seems to happen to me a lot!)

No, these tears were accompanied by a heart surge of pure joy.

Chloe has been asking for about two weeks to play Candyland.  She always seems to ask at the most inopportune times, so the answer has been no.  Not tonight.  Maybe tomorrow.

So tonight during dinner she asked if we could play.  My first reaction was to check the clock.  Eight-o-clock.  Baths still needed to be given.  No way.  It would be too late to play games.

Then I remembered Ann's post on the year of Yes.  (I highly recommend this post) 

So I said YES!

Fast forward cleaning up the kitchen, three baths later, putting the youngest two to bed, and it was almost 10:00.  Way past bedtime. Not that we have a strict bedtime but I shoot for 9:00.  Most nights I just shoot myself in the foot on that one!  :)

But I had said YES so downstairs we went to play Candyland.  There were lots of smiles and laughter, some jumping up and down, praises sung, and a good time was had by all.  (And might I add yours truly won the game.)

As we were headed upstairs Luke said, out of the blue, "I always wanted a mother like you."  Chloe echoed, "Me too!"  To which I replied, despite the lump in my throat and the tears in my eyes, "I always wanted a little boy just like you and a little girl just like you.  And God gave you to me!"  Then Chloe ran over and hugged me and said, "I love you Mommy!"

The power of a simple YES.