Because sometimes I feel as if I am brimming with too much joy to contain. Is this life real? Is it really mine? Thank You, Lord, for making my cup run over--day after day after day.
The last three days have been an unexpected gift. Hurricane Matthew shut down the courts and the schools, leaving Daddy, Mommy, and Ducky with a freebie four-day weekend on our hands. (Didn't have to use up any of my precious few vacation days!) So very thankfully, God spared us of Matthew's devastation--and even modern-day conveniences, as we didn't lose more than a brief flicker of power.
Instead of dealing with flooding, broken windows, life-by-flashlight, generators and gas stoves (let alone injury or loss of life), God mercifully and generously gave us several sweet days of close togetherness.
...Extended time in our pajamas, reading in Ducky's "library room." And by "reading" I mean her "reading" books to herself and us watching her with great amusement. She is increasingly independent, and often wrests the book away, points to herself, and says, "Me." She wants to do it all herself...and all the better if it's done leaning against her favorite pillow (very particular, this one), with Bunny Blanket by her side, snuggled up between Mommy and Daddy. Once in a while, after she's had enough of "reading" to herself, she climbs into my lap, sticks her left thumb (it's always been her left thumb) into her mouth, grabs Bunny's ears to begin another stroke-session, and chooses a book for me to read to her. Her favorites include "Curious George and the Birthday Surprise," "God Bless You and Good Night," "Thank You Prayer," and "Should I Share My Ice Cream?" When she chooses one, that's usually the book we'll have to stay on for a long, long time. Because after each reading, she will tap her right fist into her left palm twice--Ducky language for, "Again! Again!" And so we read...again...and again...and again. The same book, over and over. And yes, sometimes it feels tedious. But mostly, it feels like a gift to be the chosen one who gets to read to this precious child over and over again, with her snuggled in my lap, utterly content.
...The nonsensical soundtrack of our lives, which goes something like (bold font is Ducky; regular is Daddy and Mommy): "MOMMY! Yes, my ducky. MOM! I'm right here, my Ducky. What is it? Meow. Oh, you want to go see the meows? You want to go outside and see Miss Kendall's cats? Goo-goo. Yes, I see your acorns. You have so many acorns. Wait--that one doesn't have a hat. Can you find a hat for this acorn? Oh--you're stuffing them into Mommy's shorts pocket again, are you? No, no, not into the big pocket. You can put them into the small pocket. Goo-goo! Goo-goo! I know you love your acorns! Mommy, goo-goo amiwadjanoowww Mommy! Mommy! Goo-goo ami meow ajdiwowwww. Whoa! Mommy! MOMMY! Yes, my ducky. Mommy WATSCH. You want some water? Nooooo. Yes, you need some water. You need some watsch. WATSCH. Yes, I know. You need some water. Mommy's going to get you some. Noooooo! YES, my ducky. Come on. Drink drink. Nooo! (whimpers) Ducky. You need to drink some water. Look! Bobby (Bunny) is having some...Bobby wants you to have some. Yeah! Goooooood. Drink drink." On and on. Every day. Day in and day out. I kind of love it.
...Playtime outside. This evening we played outside for over an hour after dinner, until after the sunset. At the outset, she wanted Daddy and Mommy to sit on a bench as she did the teeter-totter by herself. All by herself. So independent. Later, when I was talking to one of our neighbors, she wanted Mommy's attention...just to have it. Typical toddler. And then she wanted me to hold her hand so she could walk on the balance beam, step up the mushroom stools, climb up, and fall backwards as I caught her on the way down (and then I spun her around and she shrieked with delight). We did that at least fifteen times this evening. And then as the sun was setting, she held both of my hands and led me to the far end of the big green park past the playground...away, away, away under a glowing half-moon. Later, Daddy came to find us and she had a ball running back and forth to claim hugs from Mommy and Daddy, giggling and shrieking all the way. Yesterday we did a bike ride and she fell asleep halfway through. And this morning I took her to the lake to see swans, geese, and ibises. She was so entranced. She also wanted to walk on the red brick road on the edge of the sidewalk...and up and down the bridge...again and again...and then she wanted to walk backwards...and then she wanted to be carried (surprise, surprise).
...Speaking of carrying...These days I'm carrying an extra 15 pounds anyway--and she's another 26 pounds or so...so that's about 40 extra pounds of extra weight a lot of the time. But unless I really must, I don't force her to walk. These days of carrying my girl are limited. The days of snuggling with her while nursing, with her legs tucked between mine, for 30 minutes each morning...those days are numbered. The days of her wanting MOMMY! to come watch her, hold her, comfort her, be with her, hold her hand, read to her, entertain her, sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" ad nauseum to her,...those days will end, and all too soon.
...Family naps. My favorite.
...All the other stuff inbetween. Collecting acorns on the sidewalk. Chasing firetrucks (and praying for them, of course). Hunting meows. Playing with glue, colored pencils, pens, and crayons. Watching her carry that wooden hamburger around (or pull a train of her plastic hamburgers back and forth -- "beep! beep!" -- this morning). The affection for the stuffies--soooo much affection for the stuffies (yessss). Reading, reading, reading, little bookworm. Playing on the piano, and having her invite Mommy to sit next to her (something new). Teaching her to say please ("peas") and thank you ("gank-you"), and to show kindness, generosity, thoughtfulness, patience, perseverance, and obedience (that's the really hard stuff). The snuggles and hugs and holding her hand.
Pinch me because I'm too lucky, and though the days can be long, the years truly are short. Thank You, dear Lord, from a truly grateful and content heart.
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