This Day, Part II

Lots of energy with no productive outlet is a recipe for trouble. Thank You, Jesus, for a warm, sunny day!


"I don't waaannt to!" Ah! I didn't ask. The firm grasp of hands, careful tugging as heels dig in, a sister who mercifully carries the shoes just in case for when we get to the gravel part of the road.

"Can I have a ride, Eli?" Small boy who reminds me so much of my nephew, Kolby, rides atop my son's shoulders.



No lack of attention for Baby.


Gratitude in the forward motion. Attitudinal improvement with each step.

Opportunities for chivalry abound. Zeke tends to Sweet Baby the entire walk.

Nature's anaesthetic for moodiness. (Strong-willed boy decided to put shoes on, pursuing instead the adventure of the journey.)

This day of sweetness all round... fresh air, lunch of peanut butter and Nutella sandwiches resulting in the lethargy that leads to an afternoon nap.

"Building small islands..."

...and gourmet deli sandwiches.

Reading Girl spends most of her time either perusing our bookshelves, curled up in the corner with pages of words, or asking me questions that I have no answers for.

Baby faces.

"I'll take care, Mommy..." and she does. This girl of mine all responsibility and nurture...

"I don't waaannt to get dressed!" Sweet Boy, no worries. Day clothes are optional today. The moment awaits... let's get out there!

Sometimes, looking deep into the eyes of a child, you are conscious of meeting a glance full of wisdom. The child has known nothing yet but love and beauty -- all this piled-up world knowledge you have acquired is unguessed at by him. And yet you meet this wonderful look that tells you in a moment more than all the years of experience have seemed to teach.

~ Hildegarde Hawthorne

Gravity-defying joy...

This poetry found through doors to gardens,

...little dimpled fingers brushing rocks...

...curiosity, observance...

These reverant moments.

The art of pebbles.

Contagious delight.

"See, Baby? Say frog," the word said carefully,

clearly, so that Small One might imitate.

Girl talk.

My efforts at capturing the essence of little women.

Playing with tadpoles and frogs caught in the creek.

Tucking the children in later my Zae says, "Mom, I think we're a children and baby family..."

"We've had a lot of fun these past three days, haven't we?" I say as I kiss him on the forehead, him smelling of soap and dryer sheets.

These arrows. Brilliant. Strong-willed. Full of grace.

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. ~ Luke 18:17

This Day, Part I

{long sigh}


Nine children. Four of my own. Five I get to love on temporarily. Three days into this. Overwhelmingness. These precious treasures ranging in ages from 1 - 14.


{long, long sigh}


If only I could climb into each of their little heads. Walk the passageways of their imaginations. Look in on bound up foolishness. Revel in rooms of insights. Peek at the gauges on the love tanks.


Last night's dinner was a bust. I served up a Tex-Mex chicken taco salad. I knew I was living outside the box... but not too much. Almost every single person -- 8 out of 10, including my gracious husband who tried to find something positive to say -- complained. Only Zae and the baby -- who didn't have any -- didn't complain. Exasperated, I sat down and took a big bite. Yuck! Some funky tang left a strange sensation on my tongue and a terrible aftertaste. Apologies all around. The ensuing gathering of the plates and throwing together a stack of quesadillas.


It's 9:30 on this new day. We've cooked up a batch of pancakes, made syrup sans high fructose corn syrup, dressed em' all, gave them their vitamins... I'm exhausted. I read a blog yesterday about being missional instead of blogging about it. smile. Thought I'd take this moment while they're all watching a movie to blog about...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ISAIAH!

ZAZAI-BONSAI!
Isaiah... passionate about seizing life's moments. When asked what he wants to be when he grows up he tells us an NFL football player and a youth pastor. ("...like Mr. Bart and Mr. Bobby," he says thoughtfully.) Passionate about extreme. A couple of months ago, I asked him who his heroes are. He listed off a handful of NFL superstars, "...and Pastor Joe, my brothers, and Dad."

Deeply insightful, Zae loves to ask questions, "I wonder why..." and then I listen in for his next profound pondering. Compassionate, empathetic, concientious... He tends to see the big picture, miss the details... except when someone's heart is involved... when it matters.

We were in Rome and I had to keep reminding him to not climb up and jump off of everything. But then I looked over and saw he was standing perfectly still, watching something through the throng of people, and when he looked at me his eyes were brimming with tears. I didn't know what had suddenly stilled -- and touched -- my ever-active boy... until a few seconds later when I saw two clubbed-feet move slowly into view propelled by a girl sitting on a skateboard, a clumpy tennis shoe on her hand as she pushed herself along. "Can't the doctors do a surgery?" he asked, lip trembling. I explained that sometimes there isn't an opportunity for a surgery based on any number of obstacles. He didn't climb, jump, run... for a long while. He was busy thinking, taking it in, until finally he came to me with his list of ideas of how he could do his part to make it better...

Or the time we were driving away from a friend's house and were having a conversation about conflict in relationships and he said, "We just need to be really understanding that we're all mosaics and God is slowly putting together the mosaics just exactly how He knows they fit -- and one day we'll all be beautiful mosaics when we're completed!"

This boy who I watch being "sketched" by the Master Artist, strong in spirit, tender-hearted, unafraid... This boy who loves Jesus with everything in him...

Isaiah, you are a precious gift from the Lord. May you always splash God-inspired passion and faith on the people around you, the way you do now. May God's grace continue to fill you and work in you as you live from glory to glory. I pray God's blessings will flow abundantly in you and through you as you live out His adventures. May you always be so generous with your heart, resources, contagious smile, fun-loving humor... May you always be so tender-hearted and insightful toward the people God brings across your path. And I pray that you will always know how deeply, profoundly, and eternally you are loved by God... that you will know He is always at work in you and through you.

We love you Zae! Happy 12th Birthday!!!

Pictures: riding his bike off the jump, 2008; being sketched at the top of the Spanish Steps, Rome, Italy, April 17, 2009; dinner on the terrace, Rome, Italy, April 2009.