You had a week of firsts!
- Mid week you woke up in the middle of the night vomiting. *sad face*. I just happened to be walking by your room and rushed in to help you, catch your puke, wipe your face and clean you up. Normal mom stuff...except, you've never had a mom clean you up after you've puked in the middle of the night. That tragic fact caught me in the throat as I was holding your hair back. You were safe and warm at the orphanage, but you were also locked into a dorm room at night. If and when you got sick or scared or cold, you had to wait until someone unlocked the door in the morning. I assume sitting in your own sick is not an unknown feeling for you. I hate that for you, honey. I really, really do. I have to call in reinforcements for plugged toilets (I don't want to talk about it), but I'll be there for every night time puke. I'll work to redeem those memory of night time sick, scared & cold with momma-whispers, wash clothes laid across your neck and hair being brushed away from your brow.
- Because you got sick, you got to sleep in Mommy's room! You thought this was the absolute best. And then you saw an airbed get inflated! That was not delirium, honey; airbeds are truly a thing. It was only a one night event, but you talked about that for a few days---taking me into my bedroom and showing me where you slept on the floor next to my bed. And because your brother woke up with all the commotion, he slept in my room too--it was like our own family hotel room.
- You wrote a story! I know this seems like a small thing, but this is a huge academic development. Wrote AND illustrated a sentence about our spring break. For a girly who could barely hold a pencil 6 months ago, this feels HUGE. (I am particularly proud of your airplane!)
- You walked into school ALL BY YOURSELF. Since you started school in January, we've transitioned from me walking you all the way to your desk and getting you settled, to walking you to the classroom door and waving good bye. It had been my plan to consider joining the car line and letting you walk into the school by yourself sometime after spring break. I don't think you've noticed, but in middle school, there aren't very many moms on campus. You were a bit confused but walked in confidently and straight into your classroom. I was proud! You navigated a major transition all by yourself! It must have been a bit more intimidating that I thought, as the next morning you locked your arm into mine and kept it there until we reached the door of your classroom. *smile*. No problem, honey. We'll take our time. There is no rush. I can walk you into the school every day as long as you need.
- You went to your first party! As in all girls, no moms or little brothers- party. Your cousin Elli just turned 10 and she has fast become one of your favorite people (Your Auntie Jessie also loves the Albanian stuffing out of you, so it was a perfect place for your first "solo" event). When I picked you up, you were jugging a can of strawberry Fanta with the remnants of pizza, cake & ice cream on your face. You talked the entire way home! Games, friends, food. You clearly had a good time. I was so very happy for you. I'll admit it's been a weird parenting teeter totter of infant attachment and adolescent detachment and I don't always know if I am finding the right balance for you, but I am glad we are finding ways to feed your adolescence as well.
Isaac:
You've had a big week of growth too! Your M.O. has always been seemingly long seasons of apparent no growth (academic, emotional, developmental, physical, whatever) followed by BIG EXPLOSIONS of growth & new skills. I have to remind myself of that when I've spent a considerable amount of time hitting my head against a wall trying to help you break through in a specific area. This week you decided that you could read an entire sentence in a book you've never seen before! "God made the world". Um, yes. He did! THEN, a few days later you proceeded to sound out several words and write them down on paper!! Who is this child?! You've mastered a solid list of sight & CVC words but you hadn't made the transition to spelling yet...until this week. I was glad you were sitting on my lap facing outwards as I was doing everything in my power to hide my shrieking face while I gave you the next word to sound out. (Your sister even asked "mommy, you ok?")
I was especially moved to your response to Mila being sick. You knew something was out of sorts when you woke up and joined the air mattress commotion in my room. You've never slept on my floor so I don't know how you knew the context of the situation, but when your sister gave a small non-puke-like cough, you quickly walked into the kitchen grabbed a washcloth and put it across her neck while holding the designated puke Tupperware (it's a thing) in front of her. It was the exact opposite of what she actually needed right then and she was actually a little irritated by it all, but I stood back and smiled proudly as you took care of your sister. You have such a tender heart, Isaac. I am so excited to see what the Lord has planted in you for the future. <3
You and I got a solid compliment from your teacher this week. She noted what a strong work ethic and such nice manners you have; "He has a good character", she said. I smiled ear to ear. Why, yes he does! I've been intentional in building those in you and it felt like a huge gold star to hear such specific feedback from someone outside our little circle.
You made Irish Cottage Pie this week with sweet potatoes--SOO good!
"Momma, I cheese!"
Me:
I took the kids to the annual Breath of Aire benefit concert at church this week. A 40 person worship choir that helps raise funds for a camp for abused & neglected children in foster care. I knew the kids would enjoy the spectacle and the singing. What caught me mid-breath was both kids spontaneously waving palm branches in the air and singing while the choir worshiped over us (the lyrics are below). Oh my heart. On Palm Sunday no less; what a holy moment.
He loves to hear the wind sing
As it whistles through the pines on mountain peaks
He loves to hear the raindrops
As they splash to the ground in a magic melody
He smiles in sweet approval
As the waves crash to the rocks in harmony
Creation joins in unity to sing in majestic symphonies
But His favorite song of all
Is the song of the redeemed
When lost sinners now made clean
Lift their voices loud and strong
When those purchased by His blood
Lift to Him a song of love
Nothing more He'd rather hear
Nor so pleasing to His ear
As His favorite song of all
He loves to hear the angels as they sing
"Holy, holy is the Lamb"
(Holy, holy, holy is the Lamb)
Heaven's s sing in harmony
Lift up praises to the great "I Am"
(Hallelujah, Hallelujah)
But He lifts His hands for silence
When the weakest saved by grace begins to sing
And a million angels listen as a newborn soul sings
"I have been redeemed"
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