Boys boys boys boys boys

There is nothing better than spending the day with my boys.... all three of them, quite frankly. But having sons... well, honestly, it's quite a stretch for me... but it's a stretch like Yoga. It just feels really good. Playing outside in the cold and wrestling around and lots of dirt and noise and "uh-oh"s... it's draining and filling at the same time.

Parenting isn't sheer joy. I don't want to be too romantic about it... but it's actually a deeper joy - a more raw and yet tender joy. It's tough and tumble and soft and synergistic. It bellows up from a well inside that I forget is there until small moments overwhelm me.

It comes as a belly laughter like today before nap time - as Micah crawled into his bed he told me he loved me, and I wispered something foolish like, "will you always love your mommy?" He didn't say anything... and I gave him a little tickle and said, "you'd better say yes, mister." And so without hesitation he replied, "yes, mister." And I giggled about that for a long time as I lay beside him.

God is so over-the-top and suprising in His love. I see how brilliant He is in the complexities of my sons' intrinsic personalities and abilities. I don't know why I am still so grumpy about what is. At the end of the day, a stretching (yoga-esc) day, I feel empty; i don't feel full and thankful and blessed. CS Lewis said the door is locked from the inside. I too often ignore the love of God in my sons' constant displays of wit, or in my husband's unending patience with me.

These pictures shout God's love, enveloping me in His Brilliance -- through my boys.





Did you see that form on Micah's shot. Nice coaching, dad! Clearly, Micah thinks he's got game.