Ordinary Miracles: August 2010

Thursday, August 26, 2010

"Nuggle Me!"

This is what WonderBoy calls out when he wants me to lay down with him at night. I know the boys are plenty old enough to go to sleep without being snuggled. But every time I don't spend time snuggling them at night, I regret it. I know the time will come all too soon when they won't want or need Mama at night. Sometimes, of course, it's just not practical to stay with them until our 2 1/2 year-old energizer bunny finally winds down.

But tonight, he turned over, wrapped his chubby little toddler arms around my neck, and sleepily said, "Bess Mom eber," which means, "Best Mom ever." Then he gave me a tender kiss on the cheek. He hears SuperKid say that often, but I don't care that he borrowed the phrase. I also know that they complement me when, in fact, they are needing verbal affirmation in response. So I showered on the loving words, and he gladly soaked it up.

Smart kid, that one. He's snagged me for many more snuggles for a long time.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Community with a Captial "C"

So, your friend moves out of state and promises to keep in touch. "Check my blog," she says. "I'll keep it updated," she promises.

Ahem. Sorry y'all.

So, just to keep you in the loop, we drove this past Wednesday and Thursday to Texas. The pet fish made the trip, which had been a concern. The all-important lovey (blanket) and turtle (stuffed), did not. They are in a motel in Mississippi. We're trying to not talk about it.

We are staying with KiSA's parents. Friday we unloaded the moving truck and visited with my folks. Saturday, we went to our niece's birthday party, and today, to visit my parents and childhood church.

Tomorrow, we are going to get to visit my brother-in-law's work to see the helicopters, and Tuesday is a training for our home school group. Then on Wednesday, I'm not driving anywhere. You can't make me.

I'll be honest, the trip was long, and not entirely smooth. But one thing kept my attitude (mostly) in check: when Rich shared in a sermon the words of their Haitian translator, "When you complain, you sing the song of hell. When you praise, you sing the song of Heaven."

Duly noted, brother. Thus, I have many praises to share.

I praise God for our Community in South Carolina. You are a shining testament to the beauty of the Body of Christ. Surely, the world has seen the Love of Christ in your sacrificial service on our behalf. You cleaned, packed, babysat, spread mulch, brought dinner, hosted, chauffeured, hauled away, cleaned, gifted, visited, encouraged, cleaned, and prayed for us. I am still in awe. I hope to never be out of awe. I love to tell of all the things you've done, because you've so clearly DEMONSTRATED God's Love. I barely made it through church today without weeping from how intensely I miss you all.

I am thankful for our family. We've landed in open arms that have generously met our every need. We are loved, encouraged, supported, and rich.

Our sweet boys have been thrown for a loop in a big way. This has been hard on them, but we are holding on to each other as a little family unit, and finding comfort and strength. They are reconnecting with family, and it is so precious to watch.

It may sound silly, but I am very thankful to be working on this "project" during my second trimester.

I am thankful that my precious Lord is with me. That I am in His mighty hand, and that He never changes. I continue to look forward with anticipation to the good works He has prepared for us to do, and His continued provision.

Friday, August 13, 2010

So it begins

WB is now old enough to tell on his big brother. And through various complaints over multiple nights, we pieced together the truth. SK was telling WB that if he got off the bed, monsters would reach out from under the bed and get him.

His heart intention was probably good. We've been struggling with WB staying in bed once tucked in. So SK probably thought, "Hey, I know how to fix this." To his credit, it worked. He was yelling for Daddy and scared, but still in bed.

It's a good thing Daddy is so big and strong, the monsters don't dare come around.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Revelation

So, you ask, how are we doing?

In short, we are doing good. Perspective helps.

I finished reading "New Thru 30" this morning. Except in my case, it should be titled "New Thru 8" (months). It's a plan to read through the New Testament in 30 days, which our church participated in back in January/February. Of course, the plan ends with reading Revelation. And of course, I started Revelation mere days before KiSA was laid off. A friend of mine teased me about this, saying "Only you would read Revelation during a trying time." It wasn't my plan, I told her. But it was the Lord's.

What I realized from the pairing of that book with my circumstance, is that all these temporal things will soon be dust. They're nothing. A mist. It's easier to sell, give away, and pack up things that I can see as objects, and nothing more.

People are what matter; they're what last. And though we're having to drive away from some of the most amazing, wonderful people I've ever met, the End of the Story says we'll all be together again in the End. Forever. With our King.

I cry a little, but it's only for a time.