Security

Thunder has always fascinated me.
There's no other sound I can think of that I experience on a regular basis that doesn't originate somewhere tangible.
Light, particles, electricity - that's cool, too. But really, when I think about light, I'm more dumbfounded by a lightbulb than by lightning. Guess I'm just used to bright stuff coming out of the sky.
But sound? Seriously. That's amazing.

One of the longest, most intense storms of my life blew through last night.
I didn't hear the storm at first, but Ben did.
I woke up to his fussing in the monitor, only to realize that it was thunder woke him.
I rocked him for a short bit, waiting for the storm to pass.
When it was clear it was going to be a long night, I brought him back to bed with me.

Laying there awake, watching the light display, I couldn't help but remember laying in between my parents on scary nights. The same clap of thunder that can feel like the end of the world in a room alone is nothing more than an annoyingly loud noise when you're nestled between the two most important people in your life. I remember praying that my dad would fall asleep before the storm ended so that I wouldn't have to go back to bed alone.

Last night for the first time, I got a glimpse of what it was like for them. With all our windows open (Oh, how I love June), the thunder was so loud and so sharp that with each clap, Ben would jolt up like a popcorn kernel exploding. He was so zonked that he never opened his eyes, but he would reach to touch my arm, or leg. As soon as he was sure of my presence, he settled back in.

When he was first born, I felt like a pregnant lady who gave birth. Not long after that, I became a mother - in the Hallmark sense of the word. You know, "You give so much and expect so little in return" kind of thing. I'm just now starting to feel like a mommy. By mommy I mean Ben's favorite person on earth. His security.

I'm here to tell you that's the best feeling in the world.

What's NOT to be thankful for?

I got it good.

Last Sunday, Keith and I had the privilege of sponsoring Lily's baptism. I'd pray for my niece whether I was her godmother or not. But the honor of standing in front of my "home" church and committing to do so is a pretty big deal in my book.










This weekend, we stole away for a little R&R... in a heart shaped hot tub :)


I have friends who argue over who's turn it is to dog sit.
I have a husband who makes me laugh just by doing what comes naturally.

We go to a church that makes me weep.
Tears that respond to children making confession of faith, racially mixed parents adopting yet another race's child, worship leaders who sing with my soul. Sermons that could be personal letters addressed to me.

Then we get home... to our house... the house that we own...that's still cool, even when you spend all day raking...


And as soon as we spend more than 10 minutes outside, there is a neighborhood full of kids playing in our yard.


And at the end of it all, the whole family heaps on the couch. At the moment, I'm not sure which one is snoring the loudest.


But my heart is still and glad. And oh so thankful.