graces

It has been a full week. Should I really describe it all? Mikkee lost a coworker (and good friend) to cancer. A friend's little boy is facing an uncertain future. And less earth-shattering but still significant to our daily lives, Silas is allergic to soy lecithin, which means - no butter, no chocolate (in the future), no crackers, no infant cereal, no no no ... he also hasn't slept well this week at all, which means Brian and I haven't slept well either. I hit a (mental) wall at 3:45 a.m. on Thursday. My frustration was through the roof, and Brian's reminders that being frustrated wasn't going to help, oddly, didn't help me relax. I needed to hear from God.

And I did. I woke up (a few hours later) on Thursday and remembered that contentment is found in perspective. I asked God to show me what was good - about my son, about my life. I needed the ability to see the Grace that was already there. As usual, God came through.

So here they are - the graces in my life:

1. Neither child slept this afternoon. At 2:30 I decided to go shoe shopping in the mall. Laugh, please. Shoe shopping with two sleep-deprived small children is a ridiculously bad idea. But it wasn't. Actually, it was great. Silas fell asleep the second I turned on the car and slept for about two hours, and Asher - bless his sweet soul - was just as calm and pleasant as you can imagine. He didn't scream, he followed directions, he laughed and charmed the sales associate. Unbelievable.

2. It's my turn to take dinner to an acquaintance who recently had a death in the family. But, as usual, my tetris screen is stacking up around me, and I was expecting a disastrous hour to pull it all together. I just called, and it was her preference (not my suggestion) that I bring dinner after bedtime, so that she could cook it tomorrow evening. Suddenly my afternoon is blessedly less complicated.

3. It has rained every single day this week. But today the sun came out, just in time for our Easter egg hunt. It was muddy, of course, but we still got to have it.

4. Silas and I have had some sweet time together recently. I love that he's getting old enough to rest his head on my shoulder when he's tired, and reach his arms out to me. I love our proximity - that he spends most of his day strapped to my chest or on my hip. I love how much he is a part of my life - all day long, he sees what I see, does what I do. I love that.

5. Hand to God - Silas has this little duck that he plays with in the tub, and every time he sees it he laughs. So it has aptly been named his Funny Duck. Last night I said, "Here Silas. Want your Funny Duck?" In response he said, "Duh." He said Duck! Everyone told me not to expect him to talk as quickly, but - true to his character - he seems to be determined to prove them wrong.

6. Brian took a half day off on Wednesday, so that I could go with my sister to her 20 week ultrasound. What a blessing. It was the calmest, most fun day Allison and I have had together in probably 10 years. Also, I love ultrasounds. It really doesn't matter if it's mine or not - seeing a healthy little tiny baby wriggle around and open his mouth on the screen is such a fun experience. Yes, he - Sometime in August Allison will have a (Lord willing) healthy baby BOY. Can you imagine my parents' house at Christmas? 3 little boys within 2 1/2 years of one another .... so fun. Babies are always a blessing.

7. Since we took Silas off of the infant oatmeal, he has not thrown up once.

8. Last October I went shopping for a dress for a wedding and left forlorn. I know I told you guys about it when it happened. Last night I went shopping for a dress and found two. On sale. So I bought them both. I have not bought a dress - just because it was cute - ever in my life. Not once, until last night. It was so fun.

9. My less cluttered house is a much calmer place to be. I love it.

What has been good in your life this week?