Relishing in His Goodness

Friday, April 26, 2024

The Bonus Grands

"How did our boy do?" That was a text that I received from Ms. Marie the afternoon of Jacob's first archery tournament. As I've shared before, Luke's parents have taken on active roles as grandparents to my youngest two children, Ella and Jacob. They've not gotten to meet Lindsey and Gabriel in person, yet, but I'm certain they'd happily welcome them into their hearts, if allowed, too.

This has been one of the most significantly prodigious things to happen to my youngest children and I, within this last year. Along with my sweet Luke, his parents have loved us incredibly well and I'm simply obliged. The fact that God gifted us with these people who want/love to be with my babies as often as possible, and ask about them on an almost daily basis...that means so much more than I could ever articulate. They have each taught my children a great deal in such a short amount of time. Their benevolence, plethora of knowledge/life skills, and their arms-wide-open willingness to be proud and loving grandparents to children, who don't even share the same bloodline as they, have transcended anything I could have ever imagined for Ella and Jacob, beforehand.

Mr. Larry, the one my babies lovingly refer to as their "Pops" never misses an opportunity to answer Jacobs unending feat with curiosity. He answers EVERY SINGLE question that Jacob throws at him (that child is the most curious boy I know and I love this about him!), with florid and invaluable responses, that leave Jacob satiable. Until curiosity strikes again, of course. He took my babies fishing for their very first time, and taught them how to bait a hook and remove the fish. He's taught them a great deal about farming cattle, as well as planting/harvesting fruits and vegetables. They've started an impressive garden together, in fact. He's teaching them to drive his truck on the farm, gun safety/shooting, and how to operate his zero turn mower. He gifts them both with so much love, patience, as much time as he can possibly give to them and he does so with a smile on his face. Each time he sees them again, he greets them with sincere excitement at their presence. These things are something that I, as their mother, feel a tremendous amount of gratitude for. And this is just a fraction of things he's done for and with them. Jacob adores every minute that he gets to spend with his Pops and cannot wait until we're back at the farm again. My animal loving Ella got to experience a small dose of what being a vet (her dream job) looks like when she got to assist Pops in bull castration, vaccinations, and tagging. She was beaming as she told me all about that day with her Pops! My babies needed these precious souls just as much as I did.

Ms. Marie, the one we call "Mama Re" has a brilliant and creative mind. Her creativity can easily be seen in the beautiful things she's created and in the two precious souls she's raised. Quilts, paintings, drawings, homemade napkins, embroideries, etc. She has a tendency to speak evocatively, painting a picture in the mind of the person she's speaking to. I have thoroughly enjoyed our long talks, as have the kids. We especially love the stories she shares from her childhood. Even before meeting my babies, she wanted to know as much as she could about them. Upon finding out about Ella's Selective Mutism, she began researching it to get a better understanding of what it was and how to best cater to Ella's needs, once they were finally able to meet. She bonded with Ella and Jacob immediately and made them feel instantly at ease and welcome in her home as well as in her presence. She has inspired Ella to be creative and Ella is quick to send Mama Re pictures of art projects that she's completed. She smiles from ear-to-ear when her Mama Re sends praises in return for a job well done. That means so much, to my girl, coming from someone with such talent. In this past year, I've observed her give her son the most precious hugs and greet him with "There's my sweet boy." It's evident that she has loved her children well and that they adore her just the same. She is easily the heart of that home and I'm blessed to call her my mother-in-love and my children's bonus grandmother. I wouldn't trade her for any other.

You know that saying, "It takes a village to raise a child."? This is what a steady portion of that village looks like for me.

"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." -Proverbs 22:6

To you two big-hearted souls,

I know that I've told you both, many times, but thank you for loving us so well. I didn't realize how deep the hole was, in my heart, until you all filled it slap up with love in such epic enormity. It's an honor to be a part of your family and a blessing to be loved by you both. Thank you for embracing my babies as your own. Words aren't enough to express the amount of gratitude that I have, for you both, for that alone. Thank you for raising your boy to be the man that he is today. He's a good one and I'm blessed to call him mine!!! I am thankful for every hug from you both, every family prayer said together around your dining table, every text, every big belly laugh, every tear shed, and every long talk. You both, along with our Luke, are absolute gifts from God. We love you truly and always.

Relishing in HIS goodness...

Christy

Thursday, April 11, 2024

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

I had the pleasure of going to my fella's class reunion recently. It was the first for this Class of 95. His senior class consisted of approximately 70 students. Seventy, y'all! I was astonished by that meager number despite knowing how modestly compact his community is. Most of that student body had been together from kindergarten on to high school graduation and the familiarity among the group was palpable. As I joyfully soaked in all of the comedic memories and antics being shared over a feast of salmon, steaks, brussel sprouts, baked potatoes, and strawberry cheesecake, as a large screened tv displayed music videos from 95 on the wall, I relished in knowing that my sweet Luke grew up with such stability.

I LOVE this for him!!!

Taylor County High Class of 95

The contrast between my childhood and Luke's is quite vast. I am constantly reminded of this, but I couldn't be more thankful for it. Not to say that my childhood was unstable, mind you. I did, however, attend two different elementary schools as well as two middle schools. I also grew up in several different neighborhoods, where as my fella lived in the same home, the home his parents still reside in, the majority of his childhood. I have come to crave such stability in my adulthood, so I'm incredibly thankful for this aspect of his.

Luke enjoyed the night sat in between his cousin, who graduated with him, on one side of him and me on the other. He seldom took his hand off of my knee. That familiar warmth soothed my small storm of anxietal nerves as I watched those pretty blue eyes light up with each memory being shared aloud, by the group. I silently thanked God for giving him such a good life.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says:

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, and endures all things."

For years, I meditated on those verses. Each time selfishly praying for a love that existed, for me, in that capacity. I lost faith and was certain that it, indeed, did not. And then I began to simply pray for peace in our home. It was not given to me in the way that I could have ever imagined or wanted it to come to my children and I. But it was given just the same. And there's been a steady stream of healing that has flowed within the sanctity of our family unit....and I KNOW that Darrell has been healed, too, and made perfect through his salvation. He is NOT who he was here on this Earth and I can almost feel his spirit filled with an abounding sense of joy and freedom from the things that hurt him so deeply in this life. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this healing for Darrell. I'm thankful that our Father loved him so much that he freed him from those heavy chains and burdens. I'm thankful, too, that He gave His son to bring us new life and salvation. Praise you, Father for such mercy and grace.

Praise report and mush warning: For the first time, in my forty-four years, I no longer pray for a 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 kind of love. But, instead, I praise God for blessing me with it. Thank you, a million times over.

As a bonus, Luke makes/buys me coffee, gives me these teeny tiny little kisses on the tops of my fingers when he holds my hand that make my heart flutter, sends me funny reels that have easily increased my laughter lines ten fold, is an absolute spiritual leader/makes me want to be a better person, and literally makes the chaos of the world disappear with his presence alone.

My sister often tells me that all of her friends and coworkers keep mentioning the fact that "She looks so happy now!"

Well, folks...

She is indeed happy. :)

Photo dump from the past couple of months, because y'all know that's how I unapologetically roll:

Good Friday/Easter Egg hunt at our church

Son-Rise church service on Easter morn.

Mama's boys

Outdoor fun and exploration

My animal lovin, Ella.

I can't imagine a better way to spend Valentine's Day than with him in Bible study.

Love my sweet Jacob!

Pop's Farm makes us happy

Realism self-portrait collage art project

Unplanned hues of blue on Easter at our house.

Jacob LOVES being an uncle!

My girl is such a good mama to our precious baby grand.

Riding shotgun through North Georgia with my most handsome.

My movie watchin buddy.

A family who solar eclipses together...

Nights of oozy marshmallows and roasted hot dogs.

Spring has sprung

Great news!!! Luke's sister is a missionary in Bolivia, where she met her husband. She sent this photo to me with a caption that told of his U.S. visa acceptance!!! Woot! We are sooooo thrilled for Dana and Victor!

Our baby grand is six months old!!! How did that happen so quickly?! We thoroughly enjoy our roles as his Grammy and Pa. He is an absolute joyful addition to our family. What a blessing he's been to us all! Happy half-year birthday, sweet darling boy! We love you oodles!