Love

Some may say my boys can be wild and perhaps a bit unruly. Maybe I'd even agree with them. But I like what a friend said the other day. She has 4 girls and 1 boy. She said she's heard that you don't really know what it's like to raise boys unless you have multiple. I can see the sense in that because if I ever have just Isaac, just Ethan, or just Mason around, they are as sweet as molasses and calm as a summer's morn. But get them together (which is definitely the majority of the time) and their energy magically multiplies and the sound level elevates 20 notches. I am not one to crack down on them if they are just having fun and being kids. If it's harmless and not disrespectful and they are having super fun I usually let them carry on. (The sound level can drive you nuts though.) I think kids have such a short time to enjoy being kids, I don't want to make them grow up any faster than they have to.

Anyway, I just wanted to jot down a few things that have been said and done around here lately that have reminded me and reassured me that amidst all the rowdiness and noise and boyness around here, these boys are the best boys I could ever ask for.

#1: Lately I have been worrying about all my newfound wrinkles and gray hair. I don't know if moving from a very humid area to a very dry area has made my face shrivel up or what. Gray hair I can deal with- I can fake that with color. But wrinkles? Anyhow, just the other day I was out on the patio giving Ethan's hair a little a trim. He was standing on a stool and his face was almost level with mine. All of a sudden he looked up and said, "Wow, Mom, you look beautiful." I was shocked and thanked him. Nothing more was said and 30 minutes or so went by. Then we sat down to lunch and I asked Ethan to say the prayer. He began, "Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this day, thank you that my Mom is so beautiful, please bless the food..." So wrinkles and gray hair or not, Ethan still thinks I'm beautiful ;)

#2: Last night after I'd tucked Mason into bed, he snuck out, came out to where I was sitting and crawled onto my lap. Then he said, "I duv you Mom." And gave me a big a hug and a kiss on each cheek.

#3: Last week I got sick. And one evening I was feeling pretty bad and had a fever, the chills, just yuck. I told the kids I was sick at dinner. Isaac became very concerned. He told me that I could just go lay down. He made a bed for me on the couch with blankets and pillows. He told me he would take care of everything. If I tried to do anything, like even break up a tiff between Mason and Ethan, he would chastise me and say he would take care of it. He fed Mason dinner and got Mason's pjs on and did the dishes. Isaac cared for me at my bedside asking what he could do for me and bringing me water. Ethan got out a tray and made a snack for me to eat as I layed on the couch. Then they disappeared into their room for a while. When they came out they had each made me a beautiful get well picture. It was awesome... it makes me wonder if I should get sick more often.

#4: The other day as I got out of the shower I noticed a piece of paper had been slid under the door. Sweet Ethan had sent me a love note just for fun.

#5: Isaac, when he got into the car after school a few days ago, told us how 2 bullies had thrown a football in his face when he tagged them playing at recess. (His friends told on them and they got in troubel, haha.) Ethan's first reaction was: "I wish that had happened to me instead of you Isaac." You can see how deep Ethan's devotion is to his older brother.

#6: Back to the first day of school this year. Isaac was super excited. I made a comment about how excited he was. He said to me, "I'm not as excited for me as I am for Ethan! We are going to be in the same school now!" The next day when Isaac got home from school he shouted, "Guess who I saw at school today Mom?" I thought it would be someone from church or something. "Who?" I said. "Ethan!!! And two times!" I love to see how deep their friendship is and how much they adore eachother.

#7: The kids and I have a special meeting spot where I pick them up from school. It took us a few tries to find the best place. One day, we forgot to specify where we were going to meet and I went to one place while they were headed to another. They got to their spot before I could get the van turned around to find them there. When we finally met up, they jumped in they were smiling, luckily, and Isaac shouted, "Mom, my prayer was answered!" "What was your prayer Isaac?" I asked. "That you would find us Mom and you did!" I am so glad to belong to a church that teaches at such an early age that we can pray and recieve answers. And I'm glad to have a living God that always hears and answers prayers. I'm also glad that Isaac was able to experience a little testimony builder too.

#8: If Mason sees Isaac picking on Ethan, or Ethan picking on Isaac, he does not hesitate to jump in vocally or physically to stand up for "his guys." Little matters that he weighs 1/10th as much as they do. Mason will get right in there to defend the underdog. And he fondly calls his brothers "my boys" and "my guys."

I don't want these little guys to ever grow up!!!