The Sweetest Thing

Have you ever surprisingly felt very, overwhelmingly loved by someone?

I think that might be one of my favorite emotions to feel. Maybe its because there is no expectation going into it or the surprise of it all, but I find myself feeling very full when this happens. It happened to me last week.

Maybe I am really just very simple in my heart, or maybe my heart is extra tender because I'm preggers. Either way, I am so thankful for the sweetest thing my husband did last week.

My friend Mary and I were "subbing" for Wyatt and Bennett's teachers while their teachers enjoyed a teacher appreciation lunch. While we had no clue what we were doing, we managed to get the kids back in from the playground and begin lunches. (Mary and I both had our 2 year olds with us as well, Milla and Walker)

The morning had been hectic trying to get all of us ready and out the door. Wes made Wyatt's, Walker's and my lunch for school:)

So while we're all opening our lunches, Wyatt finds his napkin with "I love you, Wyatt" written on it, Walker finds "I love you, Walker" written on his napkin and I find my napkin with "I love you, Sage" written on it. I try to send a sweet note on Wyatt's napkin each time I pack his lunch, which I really enjoy doing. But I must say, I was taken back with how much it meant to my heart. Pulling out my napkin thinking its going to be used to wipe my mouth, but then seeing these sweet words that I can actually read and understand what they mean! And then to see that love extended to our children!

Mary and I had some time to kill. We did bring the kids in a little early from the hot playground. Backing up to me eating my lunch, I noticed on the paper bag there is some sort of drawing. I say something to Mary like "I think Wes drew on this paper bag" and she points out to me that he made a face out of the paper bag, or actually a puppet. The brown bag when turned upside down had hair, teeth, ears and eyes!

Ding! Ding! Ding! a perfect "visitor" for our class.

So naturally, after Mary read 2 books, she told the class we would have a visitor and I introduced "Mr. Brown" to the class. He was such a hit with the kids. Nay I say even a celebrity?

I pull out my vantrioloquist skills which looks like me talking clear as I usually do, and Mr. Brown moving his mouth at the same time I do...and the kids are loving him!

Afterwards I told Wes about our day and he said that he thought we might need some props for teaching/entertaining the kids as well as reminders that he loves us so much.

I'm not sure anything communicates love to me more than my husband thinking ahead... for me and... of me.

Well, again, to me, it was the sweetest thing.

Anticipation...

Wyatt has room time every day and we're working on telling time with a regular clock. He is pretty good at knowing when it is 4:00.

He anticipates coming out and sometimes needs reminding that it was the second hand that pointed to four and not the long hand because he is so ready.

It is rare that he is not ready to come out when room time is over.

Today, this is how I found him when he didn't come out right at 4.

and the sweet boy had the clock upside down. :)

Isn't this a picture of anticipation? We (I) so often anticipate something that I can't wait for. I even count down the days or spend lots of time thinking about the thing I am excited for. And when the event actually occurs, something happens in me that takes away from me fully experiencing the joy I thought would bring from that event. Be it me coming down with an illness, one of my kids getting sick, the event cancelling all together due to weather, me just too tired or irritable to enjoy, just life.

That's when the sovereignty of the Lord becomes quite clear. If I'm too sick to enjoy the thing I have been wanting to do, the Lord has made my circumstances so that I cannot partake. But He always goes before us and He holds us together. It is with His love for us that He controls and cares for our circumstances.

As much as my Wyatt wanted to run out of his room at 4 looking to the next part of the day with anticipation, clearly his worn out body needed rest. even. more.

I am thankful for a sovereign and loving Lord.

And I'm thankful for a resting boy.

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake."

Psalm 23:1-3

Joel Osteen or Fortune Cookie?

this is a blog post from challies.com.

again, thought it was interesting.

Joel Osteen or Fortune Cookie?

The other day I ate some rather extraordinary Thai food for lunch and, on my way out, grabbed a fortune cookie. I cracked it open and read a silly little proverb meant to inspire, I suppose. I wish it had said "Brisk uphill walk after all-you-can-eat Thai is a bad idea." Never mind. As I waddled my way home, regretting that last bowl of curry (so delicious...), I thought "This fortune sounds like something Joel Osteen would say." And then it struck me--there is very little difference between Joel and those fortune cookies (except that the cookies are delicious, of course). And now, to prove it, I will give you these twelve quotes. You tell me which are from the fortune cookies and which are from Joel Osteen.

Note: Many, many fortune cookies were harmed in the preparation of this quiz.

*****

To see the answer, look for the gray underline beneath each question. Simply double-click or click and drag over the line to see the response. If you are reading via RSS, you may need to click through to the site in order to have the answers hidden from view.

Question One

"Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."
Fortune Cookie

Question Two

"Do all you can to make your dreams come true."
Joel Osteen

Question Three

"Take time to make a difference. Think about how you can make somebody else's life better."
Joel Osteen

Question Four

"Avoid focusing on the negative aspects of the past."
Fortune Cookie

Question Five

"You have something to offer that nobody else can give!"
Joel Osteen

Question Six

"When you can't naturally feel upbeat, it can sometimes help to act as if you did."
Fortune Cookie

Question Seven

"To affirm is to make firm."
Fortune Cookie

Question Eight

"Relationships are more important than our accomplishments."
Joel Osteen

Question Nine

"Somebody needs your encouragement. Somebody needs to know that you believe in them."
Joel Osteen

Question Ten

"The best things in life aren't things."
Fortune Cookie

Question Eleven

"You will produce what you're continually seeing in your mind."
Joel Osteen

Question Twelve

"Judge each day not by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant."
Fortune Cookie

*****

So how did you do? I would have loved to be able to package this as a slick little quiz, but unfortunately I couldn't find software that would do that without either attaching unsuitable ads or otherwise polluting your computer.

This is Hilarious

Yet again, swiped from another blog. (Kevin DeYoung's).

This made me laugh out loud several times.

And sadly, I relate to a lot of it.

:):)

Enjoy!

Monday Morning Humor

Posted using ShareThis

Happy, Hard and Hopeful

a 12-year old boy with Asperger's syndrome interviews his mom.

I swiped this from Abraham Piper's blog. It is very sweet and delicate. My heart is so tender right now - I could not watch it without tearing up. But I find this mother's answers very honest and very helpful for her son.

Q&A from StoryCorps on Vimeo.

Walker is 2!

Hard to believe that our baby is now a 2 year old. He is a hand full! And I absolutely love that the Lord placed him in Wes' and my care. He has taught me much in these few years. It's been a full 2 years from his persistence as a newborn to declare it was meal time by his gifted pipes! To his "responses" when he is not going to be able to have his choice of something. Be it - a good throw down on the floor or a good set of squeals. He is fully a child in need of a Savior and he is fully ours! And he is fully loved.

I do enjoy many things about our Walker including, his quick ability to share with Wyatt. His ability to entertain himself wherever we go. His observance of work needing to be done and willingness to help. His sweet and adorable side that reveals how deeply he will love people and care for people.

I am in love with this child and grateful for the privilege I have in being his mommy.

We had a simple party for Walker at the park with a few families. We had a great time - and he was so grateful for the cake, the play and friends.

ps - at his 2 year check up, it was confirmed that his height is in the 100 % at 37.5 inches. After talking to my parents about this, they talked to my aunt Sarah. She shared her three son's 2 year stats (my 1st cousins) and it was so interesting how Walker compares.

Daniel H - 37 in W - 31 lb Adult height 6'4"

Eddie H - 35.5 in W - 31 lb Adult height 6'2"

Richard H - 35 in W - 27 lb Adult height 6'4"

Walker H - 37.5 in W - 31 lb Adult height ??