in Respect

This is D...

This is D's "hat"...

In fact, it's not just a hat. It's a football helmet. It's a baseball cap. It's a prince's crown. It's a bargaining tool in the constant, daily toy battle with his baby brother.

He claims it's his football helmet.

A Prince's crown with sword. 

(It's actually the bottom part of a Bob the Builder's hard hat that he got for his birthday last year. Not that that matters to a two year old.)

He's kind of a hat kid. 

Well... they're both kind of hat kids. :) 

Okay, so maybe it runs in the family.

But, ahem, anyway. D's hat.



One evening, a few weeks ago, Mike was traveling for work. He had flown to DC for project meetings so it was just me and the boys for a couple days. When that happens, we Google Hangout with Daddy at bedtime. We sing, we laugh, we sometimes read books. Before we hang up, Mike always prays. This particular evening, D, as usual, was wearing his hat. When Mike started praying, this head-strong, stubborn toddler removed his hat. Yes, that's right, he REMOVED his hat!! A 2 year old... taking his hat off to pray.

Now, this wouldn't be so ridiculous if Mike wore hats, or we attended church softball games on a regular basis, or we went to church with a bunch of cowboys who routinely removed their Stetsons. But he doesn't. And we don't. And even though we live in horse country, no one wears a cowboy hat to church. We have no idea how D knew that this is a sign of respect, appropriate to the moment.

My only guess is based on something that happened at church that same morning.

Worship at our church is incredible! We love it. We love it even more when we get to church on time and we don't miss the first few songs. :) But that Sunday morning, even though we were running late, we were still hit with authentic, Spirit-filled worship as soon as we walked in the door. (Spirit-filled worship = the worship team spending less time playing perfectly and more time listening and responding through improvised melody.) We found some empty chairs, settled the kiddos, D standing next to me, B strapped to my front in the Ergo, and joined in with song. After a few minutes, Mike stepped away from our chairs and knelt down in response to what he was feeling. At our church, this isn't something that causes much distraction. People are free to worship and respond however they like. (Within reason... after all, we don't want anybody to lose an eye because their neighbor was wildly flinging his arms.) But when my husband knelt down and bowed his head before God, my toddler followed suit. He joined his Daddy on the floor, on his knees, head bowed.

My son is learning to respect Jesus because my husband respect's Jesus. And that is an incredible thing.

And also a terrifying responsibility.
They will love what we love. They will repeat what we repeat. They will see people how we see people. They will see themselves how we see ourselves. They will see God the way we see God.

And with God's help, they will be nothing like better than us.

in sickness and in health

Oh boy, we are sick. Yuck! It started out with B teething... Well, what we thought was B teething. About a week and a half ago, Mike and I started sleeping on the couch, taking turns holding B in the recliner. 2... 3 hours of sleep a night. Mike still working and going to class. Manageable. But during the day, I felt like I was losing my mind! D was taking every chance he could get to make his brother cry. I'd hand B a toy, final get a chance to put him down and run to the bathroom, and D would take it away and hit his brother with it! And I was so tired and frustrated and overwhelmed... And I would scream and everybody would cry. And Mike would say, "Go for a walk. Take your 30 minutes to yourself." And I would, but then something else would happen and the crazy cycle would begin again.

Until Wednesday night last week.

Mike had class and I was putting both boys to bed. While helping D brush his teeth, I noticed something... A flash of white. "Wait a minute! Hold on! Open your mouth, let me see that!" And there it was. That terrible, wonderful little ridge protruding from the back of his gum. His last 2 year molar! He had been ornery and awful for a week because HE WAS TEETHING!!!!! I wanted to run through the streets screaming, "I'm not crazy! He's teething! I'm not a bad mother! He's teething! Our family's not falling apart! He was teething! Holy hallelujah!!!" But instead, I hugged D and apologized for not noticing and let him stay up late for extra stories and cuddles.

And then Thursday, he ran a fever... And started coughing... And had a stuffy nose... And he quit sleeping. So we cancelled all weekend plans and we've been quarantined ever since... The boys have RSV, and ear infections. And they've shared it with me. And Mike has had to travel for work and he's had exams and papers.

So we've been watching a LOT of old movies, and smearing ourselves with essential oils, and running humidifiers, and using lots of tissue, and drinking lots of vitamin water, and spending our days like this...

And it's okay. Cause these are the days that Netflix is making me a better mommy. 

And D is happy to be able to wear his Thomas PJs all day. :) 

Too busy watching Miracle on 34th Street to smile.