Before and After

Before having kids...
...  I went to Broadway shows in New York, viewed Shakespearean plays by the Royal Shakespeare Theater Company at Swan Theater at Stratford-upon-Avon, saw Les Mise'rables performed at the Palace Theater in London and again in our state capital, and attended numerous musical concerts, dinner theaters, and professional ballet productions.

After kids... 
... I began attending our kids' piano recitals, musical productions, church presentations, and school programs instead.  These family friendly events have been held at piano stores, city churches, country churches, or the back alley behind the strip mall that encases our daughter's school.  I find myself more deeply moved, even to the point of tears, at my kids' simple performances than I ever did at the high priced professional performances I attended before parenthood.

My boy had a jolly good time at his sister's first piano recital.

Our dramatic daughter had a speaking part and a solo in the musical, Let's Rock, which her singing group presented this past March.  She is usually very comfortable on the stage, just like her father.  She aced her speaking parts, helped lead the choreography, and showed no fear during her solo.  Her first-born traits are proving to be an asset in the realm of musical theater.

 Nana and Pops drove up to watch her big debut.

Her brother was much more attentive at this musical than he was at her first piano recital.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Before having kids...
... I only saw the doctor for yearly check-ups, and when I went to the doctor's office, I went alone.

After much difficulty birthing 2 kids... 
... I must see the chiropractor three times a week, every week.  When I go to doctor, I take my kids with me.  Sometimes they receive adjustments, too.

Theoretically, if I get my son adjusted regularly, maybe once a month, his seasonal allergies should no longer be a problem for him.

 

Most babies are born with subluxations.  Children who receive regular chiropractic care rarely get sick, and most never need antibiotics.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Before having kids...
... My husband and I enjoyed celebrating our birthdays with big parties, much feasting, and fellowship with family and friends.

After kids... 
...We pretend our birthdays never happened.

My husband celebrated his birthday on March 29.  I acknowledged his birthday by posting a photo collage on Facebook which featured him as a baby, as a teenager when I first met him, and as he is today with the following caption:

 "Happy birthday to my teenage crush, the devoted father to our children, and the love of my life! Sorry today is so crazy, but when we both fall over the hill together next year, we will do so with style and great fanfare."

When I showed the collage to my son, he asked, "Who are the people in the first two photos?  Is the first one me?" - Time does change a person, I guess, and my son does favor his daddy.

My husband could not get out of work until 8:00 p.m. on his birthday.  He missed our daughter's school Easter program, which took place at 6:00 p.m. that evening (I'll share more about that event in a later post), and only received a few hugs and birthday wishes from his kids before putting them to bed.  It wasn't exactly a birthday to remember, but when we both hit a major milestone next year, we will celebrate in high form.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Before having kids...

... My husband and I remembered significant dates and anniversaries.  We sent birthday and anniversary cards and/or gifts in a timely manner and celebrated the anniversary of our own engagement and various key milestones from our courtship. 

 

After kids... 

.... We're too busy trying to remember all the dates on our kids' activity calendars to remember our own birthdays and anniversaries, much less those of extended family members. 

Recently, while trying to encourage my husband, I reflected on how impressed I was the first day I met him and heard him sing.  Then it occurred to me that we first met over 20 years ago in March.  I checked an old scrapbook and discovered that we first met on March 5, 1992 (full story here).  The current date was March 16, 2012, so we had missed the 20-year anniversary since we first met by 11 days. 

Our first date occurred during the weekend of Easter when he returned to my hometown for a brief visit.  Since we are in the middle of Easter weekend, we are now celebrating 20 years since our first date.  Let's all rejoice that nun style white collars and big hair are no longer in style.  Gag!

What 20 years will do to a couple

Before the resurrection...

... we were lost, separated from God, and slaves to sin and death.

After the resurrection...

...God's promises had been fulfilled giving hope to all generations. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins.  Those who trust in Him are covered in the blood of Jesus and have full access to the throne of grace.  Because of the resurrection, genuine followers of Christ are forgiven and set free from the penalty of death.  Because He rose again, we can have new life in Christ, and we will be raised again to live forever in God's presence as His beloved children.  Hallelujah! Jesus is risen indeed.

⁵ Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. ⁶ And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him.  (Mark 16: 5-6)

HAPPY EASTER!