Uh-Oh

For those of you who read last week this is kind of a 'to be continued.'

Yesterday we needed to get to the grocery store after work and school because we ran out of time over the weekend to get there.  I had a thought in the back of my head that we may run into the man that we saw last week.  As we pulled into the parking lot I saw him but said nothing, I wanted to see if Ryan would notice him again.  He did and we had the following conversation:

R:  Uh-oh.
M:  What's wrong?
R:  That man is still there.  I guess he doesn't have a house yet.
M:  I guess not.  He looks like he still needs help.  What do you think we should do?
R:  Let's buy him a toy.  He might like a toy.
M:  We're probably not going to buy him a toy, I don't think he needs a toy.
R:  Well, why don't we go home and pick out something that I don't really play with anymore and bring it back to him?
M:  I like that idea, but let's think of something he might need more.

So, we went into the store and bought him some more apples and Cheez-its (everyone likes those, right?).  When we left the store I told Ryan that we should find out his name so that we could mention him by name in our prayers.  We gave him the food and I introduced myself to Hank.

We arrived home a bit later, put groceries away and sat down for a quick dinner because I had a meeting to go to.  As we sat down we held hands for our prayer and when I finished Ryan kept holding my hand.

R:  Don't let go of my hand mommy, we need to pray some more. 
M:  OK go ahead.  
R:  Dear Jesus, please help someone build a house for Hank soon.  Amen.

Thank you my sweet boy for always remembering the details.

Apples, Cheez-its and a little bit of prayer.     

  

Plz Help

A man stood on the side of the road, barely noticed by anyone.  If noticed, then ignored.  I saw him and drove by - hurrying to load my properly working car with groceries to stock the kitchen of my nice house.  One small voice from the backseat of my car says "Mommy, what is that man doing there?" 

He noticed him and chose to acknowledge his need.  I told Ryan that his sign said that he needs help.

"Well, let's help him Mom." 

Okay, let's help him. 

I said, if he's still there after we shop, we'll help him.  I prayed right then that he would still be there.  As we made our way through the store we tried to figure out what we could do.  When we finished we went to the deli and looked at the different types of sandwiches.  Then figuring that if he didn't eat it right away it would get rotten and soggy.  So, we went with peanut butter crackers, some apples from our bag and a few bucks. 

When we came out of the store, he was still there.  His sign now saying, "Homeless - Need$."  Ryan wanted to hold the bag and get out and give it to the man.  I told him that it was probably better if I handed it.  We stopped in busy traffic to give this man something so small.  He smiled the biggest smile I've seen in a while, said - "Thanks, dear - you all made my day." 

On the way home Ryan and I talked about the simple lesson that he is always taught in Sunday School.  God gives us what we need.  He gives us what we need and He calls us to take what he's given us and give others what they need. 

No matter how small - a smile, wave, a thank you - what you do for Him could make a world of a difference for someone else. 

How is it that 4 years have gone by?

As I sit here now and watch my 4 year old boy sleep beside me on the couch I wonder how it is even possible that 4 years have gone by. 4 years since that newborn babe slept in my arms  having been born less than 24 hours before.  Time, in it's wild and mysterious way flies by before we can even write down the moments that mean the most to us. 

Ryan, from the time he could show feeling, has shown love for others.  He is in tune with feelings and emotions and cares for his family in a sweet way.  When I was pregnant with Taylor (this was before Ryan was even two), I was very sick with a cold and off work for a week.  As I would enter a coughing fit, he would run to the kitchen and bring me a spit cup...sorry, that was gross. 

On another particularly windy day, a number of months later, we were at a local convenience store and I was carrying Tay's infant seat and our food.  Ryan was walking nicely beside me and as we got to the car I began to panic, telling Ryan that it was so windy that my skirt might blow.  Without saying another word, he took both hands and held my skirt down for me as I loaded Taylor into the car. 

A few months ago Taylor was sick with a cold and one evening, right before I put her to bed he sat beside her and, stroking her cheek, said, "I love you Taylor.  I really hope you feel better soon." 

Just a few weeks ago, Linshey (or Haitian sponsor child) celebrated a birthday.  A few days later Ryan said - "Mom!  We need to make her a birthday card!"  So he did. It's still sitting on our kitchen counter, waiting for the next team to travel to Jacmel to give it to her. 

I know that all of you moms and dads out there know these feelings of love for a child but I need to put them here....

When he is hurting, I ache. 
When he is happy, I'm ecstatic. 
When he's joyful, I'm overjoyed. 
When he's scared, I'm terrified.
When he's sad, I want to cry.
When he laughs, it's music to my ears.

I'm trying to teach him to love everyone, be kind always and that it's okay to cry or be mad.  I'm trying to remember how important it is for me to be a model for him in the way I live life.  I'm trying to teach him to love Jesus. 

Ryan - your daddy and I are so happy to have you in our lives and don't know what we would ever do without you.  We love you more than you will ever know (but as you like to say, around the world 100 million times). 

Love, Mommy