The Things We Live For

We have had a busy week, and so much more is planned.

This week alone…

Our beautiful children have gotten to go and see the chickens and hear the roosters crow up close and personal. Twice. Jonah wasn’t sure if he was safe when he heard the roosters crow, but finally decided it was okay.

Micah and Lydia got to see the ever-exciting, elusive Longmire, a baby peacock who is just starting to grow his feathers long and proud like his dad.

Our whole family took a picnic breakfast down to Spring Creek with the Grammy. Micah and Lydia ate an entire bag of Donnetts by themselves, save two lonely donuts, and also munched on cookies. Lydia walked around in Spring Creek, while Jonah waded his little feet. I waded in while carrying Micah and we saw the little fish and crawdads. Twenty five years ago my mother took me to the shores of this same creek for a similar unhealthy, delicious breakfast, and I am so grateful to have gotten to take my babies there for the first time in their lives as well.

Oh, but that is not all we have done this week…

The whole family went to Meremac Springs at my dad’s suggestion. Once there, we had a pizza picnic under a pavilion during the pouring rain. A giant thunder shook the pavilion, and our brave babies awed at God’s wonder. The downpour started once we were safely under our pavilion, and it cleared up just as we finished eating. (God is good!)

We walked all over Mermac Springs that day: around the spring and under the cave, by the hatchery and through the museum. The children fed the fish, saw some SNAKES, and slid down a slide as many times as their dad could stand. Jonah didn’t sleep until we were headed back to the car. Everything was too exciting.

But that’s still not all our children have gotten to do and see…

Yesterday Micah and Lydia got to meet up with their friends at MOPs, and they were each surprised with new books and toys when they woke up from their naps (Goodwill specials).

And then today I took all three kids to a strawberry patch and let them pick strawberries to their hearts’ contents. Micah carried a little basket, and Lydia tried to carry a giant tray. We saw more roosters and goats. A chicken walked right up to the kids and almost let them touch her. We played on playground equipment and then headed home to feast on a snack of fresh strawberries. (Ten times better than the strawberries you buy at the store.) We also made a cake.

All this and it’s only Wednesday… What other fun things are planned for this week?

Tomorrow, the children have a play date with several other families at a park, and on Friday, they will play with friends at the YMCA before coming home for a very long nap. Because Friday night, the family has BIG plans…

Friday night, we will all watch a movie together and then camp out in the sunroom. We will have a playroom picnic, make smores, and read stories. Nobody is expected to go to sleep before midnight if they don’t want to. Our little babies get to stay up late and look at the stars. We will listen to the critters of the night: frogs, crickets, and owls and maybe take a walk in the cool of God’s night.

These are the things that should make up our lives. Our gracious Lord has given us this beautiful earth to enjoy. But how often do we destine to enjoy it? Instead, how often are we too overworked, overstressed, or overwhelmed to intentionally enjoy these creations?

This week my children have enjoyed the Lord’s creations of nature, family, friends, and wonder; and I have gotten to enjoy all of these things right along with them because these are the things we live for.

Waiting for a Call

I once wrote a post about waiting patiently. I thought I had learned how to wait patiently and maybe- during that time of my life- I had.

But now I find myself waiting again.

I have an eerie peace as I wait- savoring what could be a last few minutes or hours of blissful ignorance. And maybe I won’t know anything until tomorrow anyway.

What’s wrong with our son?

With two pediatricians, two specialists and a third on the way, fifteen tests and a promise of more to come, I am waiting for the first ten of Jonah’s results.

What do we do as we anxiously await the trials in our lives?

Through all the trials in these last couple of years and even now, only one verse comes to mind: “Be still and know that I am God…” Psalms 46:10

And so I sit. Still. Waiting… for something.

Verses don’t come to mind and songs don’t either. Explanations? Answers? I don’t have either. But, questions? There are too many questions to remember.

I know God loves me and he loves my son. Why else was our little boy so large when he was born? Before he was born, the doctor said he was small… only a six pound baby, but he was visibly shocked when a 9 pound baby popped out in his hands! We all laughed at his reaction to the beast of a baby that was born! God knew how precious those extra pounds and ounces would become during the next few months of Jonah’s life, and he graciously provided them for him. Thank you, God.

I am grateful and awed, but worried for the reason(s) to come.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 

 Thank you for this reminder, Mommy. Those in Christ wait patiently, while those without him wait anxiously.