My Faith and Joy… and Boys!

Yes.  He’s excited. 

Big kid underwear is a big deal around here. 

Granted, it only lasted about 90 seconds before he wet himself and hasn’t wanted to wear any more since…but it’s progress!  He’s actually done very well without any prompting from me.  A few months ago, he declared he wanted to go on the potty…and he did.  He usually goes at least twice a day all by himself.  Emphasis on by himself.  He doesn’t want me to be anywhere near him to help him get on the potty, or wipe, or even see him.  He insists I close the door and give him “pribeese” (privacy).  Which has led to some pretty big messes.  But I’m proud he’s so eager to master this – and I’m REALLY looking forward to only having one child in diapers for the first time ever!

Sometime life’s best bouquets are weeds handed to us with love!

You know those moments that stop time and make you appreciate what you have?  Well, I had one of those moments yesterday.  I found out that my 90-year-old beloved Granddaddy suffered a fall and is apparently unlikely to make a full recovery.  None of us know what lies ahead, of course, and my Granddad has been known to prove the doctors wrong before (that’s an understatement!), but we are preparing to say goodbye to him in the near future.  Thinking about all the amazing times we’ve had together has been a beautiful walk down memory lane for me.  I haven’t gotten to see him nearly as much as I wanted in the past few years, but I was so blessed to have frequent visits with him and my Grandmother growing up.  Whenever they visited us in California, they always helped me redecorate or paint my room, which was so exciting.  I vividly remember sitting with my sister at the picture window at the front of our house, our eyes trained intently on the road, waiting with bated breath to see their Oldsmobile drive toward us.  It was like Christmas and Disneyland all wrapped up in one visit!  Their home in Washington State has always been one of my favorite places on earth.  I always wanted to live on a street like theirs, where the trees lining the street were so tall and mature that you could barely see the sky between.  And since I went to college near them, I even got to see more of them then.  I remember him driving me around his beloved hometown, giving me advice on school, helping me understand the importance of hard work and frugality.  And there was nothing that could warm my heart as much as a chuckle and smile from my Granddad! 

My Granddad has been a man of few words, but I’ve always known how much he loves his family.  It was such a joy when he got to see my kids when we all visited my aunt and uncle and cousins in North Carolina in 2011.  I’m so happy Becky, Susie and Jimmy got to meet their great-grandfather.  I don’t know whether Danny will ever have that privilege.  But I’ve got so many precious memories and stories to share with him so he will know all about my amazing Granddaddy.  

This hymn came to mind today while I was thinking about the importance of salvation, about how none of us can take tomorrow for granted.  Some of us may live to 90 or more, some of us may only have weeks to live…I’m just so thankful for my Redeemer.  

I will sing of my Redeemer,
And His wondrous love to me;
On the cruel cross He suffered,
From the curse to set me free.

Sing, oh sing, of my Redeemer,
With His blood, He purchased me.
On the cross, He sealed my pardon,
Paid the debt, and made me free.

I will tell the wondrous story,
How my lost estate to save,
In His boundless love and mercy,
He the ransom freely gave.

I will praise my dear Redeemer,
His triumphant power I’ll tell,
How the victory He giveth
Over sin, and death, and hell.

I will sing of my Redeemer,
And His heav’nly love to me;
He from death to life hath brought me,
Son of God with Him to be.

Danny: “I might be a handful at the library since I love to pull the books down, spread out all the puzzles, and climb the bookshelves…but I’m still cute…right?!”