Sunday, January 15, 2012

Hold My Hand





"Mom, MOM, wanna go check for eggs with me?!" Jack tumbles into the kitchen, a circus around my ankles.

I splash dinner's silverware into the sink, shake crumbs out of the rag, sigh at the cutting board, cheese grater, and avocado peels scattered on the counters.

"Sure." I measure out the word, blink into his blue eyes. Sloppy bowls from taco soup frame the kitchen. Still, I dry my hands, slip into shoes and red coat.

He tilts his head, "I like going," he says, "with people I love, so I want to go with you."

We step into the black night, winter air wet around our necks.

"Here, hold my hand," he encircles my cold fingers. "Just follow me," he pulls my hand over the frosty grass. "I don't want you to get lost," he says.

His shoulders square against the moonlight, we stroll to the henhouse, creak open the nesting box to peek for eggs. None, just straw.

And so he clunks it shut, gathers my hand, tugs us back, over the grass and into the house.

While I wipe smears of avocado off the kitchen table, slosh bowls from the sink, call for children to change into jammies, it all feels light, a comma between moments.








Gratitude:

1801. How Jane holds up a picture of Jack's, "The question," she says, "was how do you get salvation, and Jack tried to draw a picture of a person praying."

1802. How the children take the extension cord from their alarm clock and use it to plug in the toaster at the dining room table before I'm out of bed Monday.

1803. Jane from the backseat of the car, "The candy sometimes falls on the floor, and then throughout the year we find some of it and eat it."

1804. Lucy burping one of her baby dolls, "Mom, there was a spider in one of the strollers, and I killed it with my bare hand."

1805. Laundry done in shifts, everyone helping.

1806. Learning again the importance of eye contact with the people I love.






1807. Jack's determination, "I want to be a farmer when I grow up."

1808. Lucy's wide-eyed, "Did you see me DROOL?" when I tuck her into bed. And her matter of fact, "I still sleep pretty well when I drool."

1809. Frank conversations with the people I love.

1810. Stew and a table set for us, family gathered to enjoy it.

1811. Learning when to give small acts of service to our children as tokens of love.

1812. Saying no to small expenses that add up to a lot.

1813. Learning more how my mom thinks about the world and finding it change me.

1814. Jane's scrawling on the chalk board for Craig when he gets home: I love you, Daddy. Thanks for working so hard.

1815. Homemade pizza with cold Pepsi.

1816. Lucy's exclamation, "Mom, when I get in the other kids' bean bags, they whip a banana peel at me. And it's very FUN."

1817. My resolution to let banana peel-whipping be on the list of things I call now fun.

1818. An imperceptible shift toward being a little less sharp, a little more willing to let things go.








holy     experience

10 comments:

Robin said...

What a precious boy that Jack is! I love...He tilts his head, "I like going," he says, "with people I love, so I want to go with you."
That is so PRECIOUS!
Thank you for brightening my day. Have an awesome week! =)

Mary said...

"Hold my hand, follow me, I don't want you to get lost"
What a wonderful moment, it's great that you have posted it here so you can always remember. Thank you for sharing!

Stefanie Brown said...

Beautiful, beautiful list! You're children have such pure hearts. I always leave your space blessed.

Christina Berry said...

What an adorable boy!

Hello, visiting from Ann's place. I hope you have a wonderful week!

Kelly Hallahan said...

Learning when to give small acts of service to our children as tokens of love... yes. and eye contact. I am with you- echoing and hiding these lessons in my heart today. Thank you!

Susan Cowger said...

1813--that's a two way street. You bring perspective to my world I couldn't find on my own. And you are my best partner in banter. (For those who don't know, banter includes fast paced conversation with frequent "REALLY!"s and "YES!"s. Finishing each others sentences and being delighted even if it turns out to be different than what you were thinking is part of the discovery pattern, which also includes books, philosophy and theology, upon which we base our general pooled ignorance, that which we like to call wisdom hahaha). Do I hear REALLY! YES!

Amy said...

I love reading your lists. Always. Especially the things your kids say. I am sharing you with my FB community, they must meet you, too.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Nostalgia/271820116315

Brandee Shafer said...

Love you and your lists and your heart and your kids and your kids' hearts.

Anonymous said...

I always love your lists and the expressions of love between the children and the way they see life. You have a wonderful family life!

Anonymous said...

I noticed the eye contact in this post even before I got to 1806. I love that you do that. And, thanks for the reminder.