Nuts, Evangelizing & Scooting

You may be asking yourself what these three things have in common because they are seemingly random.  Each one relates to one of my little beloveds.

Nuts:  On Father's Day, Elijah had an allergic reaction to cashews.  He threw up, twice.  His face got a little puffy and his eyes were red and watery.  I didn't really think anything of it (avoiding cashews would not be a problem, or so I thought)  until I talked to my lifetime friend, Sarah.  Her son Caleb has allergies and she suggested we get Elijah tested.  She told me that often times reactions can get worse with each exposure.  So, off we went.  Monday, Elijah braved the dreaded prick skin test.  I wish I could get the picture to load.  It was a sight.  The cashew reaction was HUGE along with walnuts, pistachios, and pecans (oops,he had some of those on Saturday in ice cream.)  The one that makes him most sad is hazelnuts.  He has a deep love for Nutella.

Evangelizing:  John has been evangelizing to our neighbors.  He is quite bold about it.  Stomping after the kid who was riding his bike.  John declared, "Jesus, you know, the Lord!  He died on the cross for our sins."  Yesterday over an apple snack with the same neighbors he casually brings up, "So, do you know God?" 
I love this kid so much!

Scooting:  Daniel is officially mobile.  He is very attracted to cords and all things he should not have.  He will crawl almost anywhere for this "You Are My Sunshine" toy that I mentioned in a previous post.

How Daniel spent Thursday

I am pretty sure Daniel is trying to log a complaint with the Parenting Board about me.  The latter noises are how most of the day sounded.....until Daddy got home.

Loneliness

We both knew it was coming.  After the death of my Aunt Sharon, my Grandma Pearl's last daughter, we predicted that Grandma was going to have a hard time.  Caring for and fussing over Sharon had filled Grandma's life for three years.  Without the hours spent fretting and bossing Grandma is lonely.  Very lonely!

Her loneliness manifests itself in various ways.  Driving to Harrisburg unannounced is her newest one.  She calls my beautiful sister at a minimum of twice a day.  It also manifests itself in some very difficult ways.  She uses harsh words when it comes to her great grandkids and the parenting of her granddaughters.  She speaks meanly about her neighbors.

I love Grandma for so many reasons.  I can see God using this situation to refine me and as my beautiful sister has blogged, her as well.  I pray that as Jeremiah writes I can somehow show Grandma that God intends to "turn [her] mourning into gladness."  He continues, declaring the word the Lord gave him, "I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow....and my people will be filled with my bounty."  Jeremiah 31: 13-14.

Things learned on vacation...

...some of which need to be unlearned at home!

We have been (more or less) on vacation since July 13.  Eleven days of less structure, fun, food, family, friends, treats, adventures, and less structure (Oh, wait! I already said that.).  In that time the boys have learned some great and some not so great things.

1.  If we ask for it we will get it.  That means cookies at 8:00 AM or a movie about penguines that dance or pizza from Papa John's.

2.  If Daniel cries, there is always someone to pick him up.  Immediately!

3.  4-wheelers, tractors, sling-shots, pellet guns, and bouncy horses are all great entertainment and pale in comparison to what we have at home.

4.  If Daniel cries in the night or at nap Mommy is magically there in mere seconds.

5.  Bedtime is a myth.

6.  Life jackets make you float in the pool but no life jacket means you sink.

7.  Soda and cookies and ice cream and juice and cupcakes go with any meal.

8.  If we ask enough (nag) we usually get what we want.  (see number 2)

9.  When Great Aunt Patty asks if we like snakes that means we get to go to a really cool place with a lot of them.

10.  Police officers have really cool stuff (no, we didn't get arrested).

11.  Rest areas are a blessing.

12.  Ties on little boys are so adorable.

You Are My Sunshine

Daniel recently received a rather annoying toy from Grandma Donna.  It sings, "You are my sunshine" over and over and over and over (mostly because he is chewing on it or laying on top of it).  So, I go about my day humming, singing, or running that song through my head.

The thing is that song is a painful reminder that the woman who used to sing that song to me is no longer here.  Legend has it she used to sing "You Are My Sunshine" to me and my beautiful sister when we were in the bathtub.  I, of course, do not remember this but I do remember my mom signing letters she sent to me with parts of that song.

She passed away ten years ago today.  I miss her dearly and pray that one day I can get just one more hug and hair stroke from her.