Louie's gift

Today wasn't my best day. I'm fighting some sort of cough, sinus, sleepless, tiring...head cold. A quieter person by wiring, today requests sounded like demands and talking sounded like shouting...I'm looking forward to a healthier moment in the near future.

So tonight, Louie and I began our cuddle-time ritual. He chooses a book while I prepare his milk. I tuck him in, read the book in high drama, and we pray together. Then we're supposed to "close eyes an sleep!"

Louie, however, missed his normal cue. Instead he got up and pulled up a big blanket. Struggling to get it open he explained, "Mommy sicky. I tuck you," then he patiently wrestled with the thick quilt to get all the corners smoothed around his coughing Mommy.

As he took the top of the blanket and pulled it up over my neck, he concluded, "it's cold and the dogs are going poop."

I was laughing internally, crying externally. Not sure how it's all related but I heard one message clearly: I am loved.

(and I'm grateful the dogs are outside...)

air-time on the radio

A radio interview. A call-in. A comment that temporarily stunned me.

Click here to read my overdue response to a caller's statement regarding why I respect Atheists.

cuddle sandwich

At night, I'm often wonderfully sandwiched between Jonathan (age 12) and Keona (age 6) for cuddle-time before the kids drift off to sleep. Thought you'd like to listen in on our "conversation":

Jonathan: "I know, we need a huge battery and tall metal post to put out during storms. Then when lightning strikes, the battery can collect the energy."

Keona: "A boy pushed me in recess today and called me a name!"

Jonathan: "And why didn't God give us two breathing holes? This way we could drink water and still breathe."

Keona: "He called me lady!"

Jonathan: "Guess I'll ask God later."

Keona: "When I get to heaven, I'd like to ask God why he didn't give us magic."

Jonathan: "What? Magic? God doesn't need magic. God is all powerful. If there wasn't God, there wouldn't be anything."

Keona: "Yes, but I still think it would be fun to go 'poof' and have a pink horse."

Jonathan: "Listen, isn't the rain beautiful??"

Keona: "I'm going to paint my truck rainbow."

(pause)

Jonathan: "Mom, can you rub my back?"

Keona: "Mommy, can you scratch my head?"

(longer pause)

All in whispers: "luv you....."

on tickets

(Tonight's conversation with Jonathan after a poor choice resulting in the loss of screen time tomorrow.)

Jona: "But Mom, I didn't remember that it was wrong!! Please, give me another chance."

Alicia: "Jona, do you remember when I got my one and only speeding ticket? I didn't mean to speed, but I was still breaking the law. After the policeman gave me a ticket you said, 'Thank God he stopped us. God used him to save our lives because we could have had an accident.' The policeman gave me a ticket now to save us from an accident later. Daddy and I are giving you a ticket now to help prevent an accident later."

Jona: "But I had plans for my screen time tomorrow."

Alicia: "Yep, I had plans for that $125 too. You know we're doing the right thing, Jona."

Jona: "Yeah. I do. It's just hard."

(Thank you Mr. Policeman, for stopping me, for not letting me off easy, for giving me a life-lesson in the presence of my son.)