End of the Chapter

First, I must apologize because this post is a backtrack. I have wanted to write about Goliath's graduation from preschool, but it's been nearly 2 weeks since it happened. Part of me is sad and I feel like maybe if I don't write about it, it won't be true; and part of me wanted a picture to go with the post and I can never download them off the camera. I've been waiting for help.

So...two weeks ago a sweet chapter of Goliath's life book came to a close. He has attended preschool since he was 20 months old. This past year has been so much fun to watch him truly blossom socially, mentally, and spiritually. During the graduation ceremony I was thinking about how much he has changed in the past year. It doesn't seem that long ago that I was feeling unconcerned, like I had plenty of time left with him at home. Watching him march in with the other 5-year-olds to receive his preschool "diploma," however, I was panicky...this is IT, and come September, our lives will never be the same. Then, those precious little ones sang a song about how much God loves them. I was in tears (of course), but quietly reassured because I know that my baby will go to kindergarten knowing that he is loved. Loved by his mom and dad, but more importantly...he is loved by God.

He received a Bible of his very own as a graduation gift. He has been very interested in looking at the pictures and reading stories. I pray that as a new chapter of Goliath's life unfolds, he will learn the truths in that book and claim them for his own.

He is an amazing blessing to us, and we are PROUD
parents!

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary, babe. Thank you for being my partner in this crazy life and my best friend. I miss you and can't wait for our date tonight!

Tomorrow morning if you wake up

And the sun does not appear

I, I will be here

If in the dark, we lose sight of love

Hold my hand and have no fear

I, I will be here

I will be here when you feel like being quiet

When you need to speak your mind, I will listen

I will be here when the laughter turns to crying

Through the winnin', losin' and tryin', we'll be together'

Cause I will be here

Tomorrow morning if you wake up and the future is unclear

I, I will be here

As sure as seasons are made for change

Our lifetimes are made for years

So I, I will be here

I will be here and you can cry on my shoulder

When the mirror tells us we're older

I will hold you

And I will be here

To watch you grow in beauty

And tell you all the things you are to me

I will be here

I will be true to the promise I have made

To you and to the One who gave you to me

And just as sure as seasons are made for change

Our lifetimes are made for years

So I, I will be here

We'll be together

I will be here

Laugher is the Best Medicine

My kids crack me up.

They think nuns are gnomes.

If you have an itch, you must have fleas.

All the lobsters in the tank at the grocery store died, and they had a ready explanation: A fox must have come in to the store in the middle of the night and eaten all the poor little lobsters.

Goliath is convinced that his grandfather is bald because he pulled out each little hair, one by one, in order to get a new hairstyle.

I'm sure I laughed before I was a mom, but I can't really remember much delightful, belly-aching, hold-your-sides laughter like what I have now. The best part is, they don't even KNOW they are funny!!

No Rest for the Weary

Before we had the boys, we slept in on Saturdays. We took naps in the afternoon. We were well-rested.

I have not had a fully restful sleep in over 5 years. It comes with the kids. I've gotten used to it, and being tired usually doesn't bother me much. Last night, however....I stayed up late because I had the bright idea to bake homemade cookies for the boys' teachers for end-of-the-year gifts. When I made this brilliant plan, I did not calculate how many cookies I would need. 3 kids, 2 teachers each---that's a lot of cookies. I started baking at 1:30 in the afternoon and Letterman had started his monologue before I was done. Turned out Hubby wasn't feeling well and there is a known stomach bug going around, so I opted to sleep on the sofa. THEN there was an especially-funny rerun of "Everybody Loves Raymond" on, and I just had to finish it. It was pretty late when I finally crashed. I had been asleep all of 20 minutes when Little Middle woke up crying. I got up, soothed him back to sleep, and returned to my sofa bed. I slept for maybe another hour, and I was awakened by a noise. It took me a minute, but there was no mistaking a middle-of-the-night chirping bird outside the window. I lay there for 10 more minutes willing it to be quiet, but no such luck. So, at 1:00 this morning, I was standing out in my front yard in my pjs armed with a golf ball out of the toy box. I listened, took aim, and threw that ball as hard as I could into the tree where the stupid bird was singing. It was pitch black outside and I couldn't see a thing, but it was very satisfying to hear that ball thunk each of the tree branches on its way down. I managed to find it in the yard and threw it one more time for good measure. It thunked down, rolled out into the street, and all was quiet. I went back and tucked myself in on my sofa and slept soundly until my alarm went off.

I am going to bed early tonight...hopefully the bird learned its lesson and will sing to someone else.

Happy Mother's Day

"She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Many women do noble things, but you surprass them all. Charm is deceptive and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:27-30

To my fellow moms...may this day be spent close to your family doing all the things that make you happy. Happy Mother's Day!

Trials and Faith

So...today was the day of Baby's big hearing test. Up until recently, I was blissfully ignorant of the many things that can result from simple ear infections. On 3 separate occasions, he failed ordinary hearing tests. The audiologist told us his hearing was "questionable" at best and some hearing loss from constant ear infections was possibly permanent. No mama wants to hear that her baby is anything less than perfectly normal, and this mama's heart was scared and hurt. For weeks now, I have kept a close eye on my youngest son, desperately wanting undeniable proof that the audiologist had him all wrong. Instead, God gave me snippets of proof...an animal noise here and there, a silent nod or shake of his head in response to a question, a precious "Mama" or "Dada" when he wanted to be held. No doubt he was not profoundly deaf, but could he hear just as well as a "normal" child? Would there be speech delays? Would there be learning difficulties later on? I had questions and needed definitive answers.

Very early this morning, we arrived at the hospital and Baby's ENT examined him. Right off the bat he discovered that his ear tubes needed to be replaced (they've been in less than 6 months) and that Baby had a severe ear infection. We gave permission for the re-do of the surgery, of course. While we waited (anxiously), I alternately prayed for good results and questioned God. "Lord, WHY am I sitting here again?" A pillar of faith I was not. After what seemed like forever, the audiologist came out to deliver the news: Baby's hearing is fine. He hears normally at all levels. He doesn't even have to do a hearing test on his next office visit!

From there we went to the recovery room where I got my baby back. He was totally out of it from the anesthesia, and I would not trade those precious moments of holding him close for anything. I was gently reminded that my children are really not mine at all...they belong to my Father. He has the absolute right to do with them as He pleases to fulfill His plan for each of their lives. It is not for me to worry about their hearing abilities or their little friendships or whether they will only eat Tonka Truck fruit snacks for days on end. It is for me to be the best mommy I can be to them: provide for their physical needs, love them without condition, teach them what they need to know, and show them what it means to walk with the Lord.

I am grateful for good results, and I am seeking to be more faithful.

Until next time...

On My Heart

Just a few Scriptures that have been on my heart lately...

Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me... Psalm 86:11-13

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. Isaiah 49:16

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation. He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. Psalm 62:5-6