Baby Boys

Maybe these stories will hit closer to home if you have a precious, healthy little boy running around your house, but I'm sure even if you don't you will be touched.

I have been following the Hart Family via their website for a couple of months now. I think of them often, hurt for them, and definitely lift their precious son Brock up in prayer. I have never met this family but a friend of mine knows them. In October of this year they had a normal, healthy little 1 year old boy and in a matter of days they were fighting to save his life. He was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia and you can read their story here. Brock's parents are believers who know that even in all of this God has a purpose and a plan. Wow! I choke up every time I go to this site and I just wanted to spread the word so you can join in praying for him.

Another family near and dear to my heart is the Daggs Family. I met Alainea during college and I can confidently say that she is the most purposeful, thoughtful Christian friend I know. She is passionate, unashamed, and yet so gentle and humble. There are really no adequate words to describe her. Her and her husband Greg had their first child in July and his name is Kannon. Alainea had a perfect and wonderful pregnancy but complications during labor left Kannon with limited brain function. The doctors are not optimistic but I have never seen more faith in such a trial as what I see in Greg and Alainea. Kannon has already defied his odds and I believe he will continue to win this fight and God will receive all the glory because the Daggs would have it no other way!

To see these two couples face such heart-wrenching pain, the worst imaginable fears here on this earth, with such faith and trust just proves that what we possess as sons and daughters of the living God is REAl and is very tangible even in this world where we cannot see with our physical eyes. If you are a believer then you know that you hold within you the most precious of all gifts, the gift of salvation, of eternal life, of a hope that cannot be destroyed.

YESTERDAY......

.....all my troubles seemed so far away.

That's all the words I know to that song. But really yesterday I had the best time with my two little chipmunks. I love the days when I feel like I really connect with them. It doesn't happen near as often as I wish because it usually requires an effort on my part to zone out from my reality and purposely enter into their little worlds and heads. I try to forget about some of my rules and expectations and try to see life from their view-point. (which means I am on the floor and we pretty much wreck the house) These are the BEST days!

Here are a few highlights......

We played doctor. I was the patient and I got about 1 million shots. Dr. Hayden does NOT have very good bedside manners. When I was all fixed up they jumped on top of me and I turned into the mean zookeeper and locked the twin monkeys in a cage (my office) and they loved it.

Berklee wanted to fix my hair and makeup and then found some fingernail polish. So......reluctantly I let her paint my toenails and have access to a limited amount of my makeup. Let's just say my face looked like modern, abstract art and my feet looked like they got murdered.

We played catch inside with a bouncy ball. We got the giggles and Berklee peed her pants. We were having so much fun that I didn't care, I just continued to giggle.

Hayden was so tired that he fell asleep in the chair while Berklee and I were still playing with the ball.

On these days I find I get so many more opportunities for teachable moments and there is time for thoughtful answers to the hundreds of questions a 3 year old can ask. Today she asked me where God lives which led to a great conversation about the "basics" of the trinity. And she listened!

I know some day these will be the days I wish I had more of, not the days of checklists and chores.

"Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them". Deuteronomy 4:9