Happy B-day, Merry Christmas, and Happy Hanukkah to me
Yesterday we went and got the kids from the church nursery at the end of the service so they could hear the music. Evan pointed out the cross on the stage (an Easter "prop") and asked something very loudly about whether or not Jesus had wings just when things quieted. Then the pastor asked us to hold out our hands to receive the blessing and benediction before we left, if we were comfortable, and what do you know- both our babies were prompt to stick out their hands, too. Our two extended arms were flanked by plump, small ones, palms up, smiles on their faces, intently listening and participating. Ages 3 1/2 and 1 1/2, this is the closest I've come to being able to worship with them, alongside them, and I've never received such a blessing as that moment was for me.
On the way to the car Evan asked me if that was my class, and did I learn about Jesus today? I told him I did and asked him the same question. He said yes he did, too. I asked what about Jesus did he learn.
"That He died on the cross."
He also asked me if He was scared when He did that. He told me he watched a movie about Jesus.
The fact that I can even figure out what he did while I was absent is a blessing, let alone to hear that he's learning- and the most important thing he could be learning about on top of that....
Then after church we drove through the carwash because Evan likes it and because our car was, well, downright nasty. Madalyn started to get anxious about it, remembering the loud brushes from the past, and we heard Evan coaching her, "You don't need to be scared, Madalyn. You know why? You know who's with you? Jesus is always with you."
That was gift # 3, but then they kept coming because later that afternoon my mom called- right about the time when Shaun was watching The Perfect Storm on tv and Evan came in the room- which I can't resist sidetracking a moment to tell you how that went-
When Evan entered the room I shot Shaun a sharp look that said turn it off- little eyes in the room. Well he didn't turn it off, but instead shook his head and mouthed that it was ok, as in I have this under control. And then as the ship sunk and George Clooney surrendered to his death, swimming deep into it, Evan asked with eyeballs wide as saucers, "What is he doing?"
Shaun's reply: "Oh he got hungry... he's going back inside to get a sandwich."
"Back inside" being back into the sinking ship descending into the dark pit of the ocean.
The other man who managed to escape swam to the stormy surface and Evan then met a new horror in viewing the strength of the water around this guy; "Is he not scared," he asked us.
"No, he's just gonna swim on home to his mommy and daddy," said Shaun.
(Why he had to give Evan further reason to associate himself with this stranded man by giving the stranger a mommy and daddy just like Evan, I have no idea. There's a lot of Shaun's mind that utterly baffles me and that I'll never understand, and I have no idea he can say the same about me...)
But it wasn't surprising when not long after all this went down, that while I was cleaning Evan's room he came in and said to me, "I'm not scared of the storn..."
(the 'n' is not a typo- that's how he says it)
"...but I don't ever want to go there, okay?"
He's continually asked since- even today, just to be sure- "are we not ever gonna go there?" which comes as no wonder, right?
Anyway, back to while we're watching the storn, when my mom calls, when the third Sunday surprise came as she said she and Doug had to go to Leesburg and could they come on down and take us to dinner while they were at it.
Dinner? Out? No cooking? Help with the kids? What a terrible idea.
So we went to Carrabba's and had a nice dinner with surprisingly well-behaved kids who surprisingly ate their meals and charmed Honey and Poppy until well-passed sunset and bedtime.
Honey and Poppy even had their food wrapped up when the kids finished theirs before ours came, and left us to finish our meal, ALONE. So Shaun and I stayed and scarfed ours down like two Ethiopian kids who'd never tasted a hot meal before, then sat with bloated stomachs and stared at each other like people in a retirement home.
We used to say we never wanted to be the two old people who just sit quietly and stare off into space at their restaurant table. And we still don't want to be that all of the time, but I think we've also come to appreciate the fact that we're okay not talking all of the time. There is, afterall, a time for everything- and especially silence when you live with toddlers.
When we left an old woman piled high with take-out insisted on holding the door for me. "You're going to be a mommy soon," she said.
Once outside I told Shaun, "Oh I'm already a mommy- trust me."
Shaun laughed, because if anyone knows how trying things can be with these two toddlers of ours, it's him.
But to be perfectly honest, yesterday was a very good day to be Evan and Madalyn's mommy. I couldn't have felt more blessed... or less deserving. Every day it's sheer Grace that affords me that privilege, and especially the days I take it for granted.
May those days be few, Lord. Oh, make them very few!
