BE THANKFUL -- Days 17, 18, and 19

Days 17, 18, and 19 are dedicated to my sweet children.  I had this post all mapped out in my mind...I was going to write about how much my children mean to me...about how brilliant, and sweet, and funny they all three are.

How they are each so unique, but yet so much the same.

I was going to write about how B and I are so very, very thankful that we have each of them with us, safe and sound, and how that was no easy task, although in my naive mind it should have been.

I could go on, and on, and on about my kids.  I'm not a proud Momma or anything. :-)  But instead, I'll post some great pictures and a great piece from Kahlil Gibran, because really, a million words could never, ever describe my thankfulness for my children.

On Children
Kahlil Gibran

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.