Day Nineteen Hundred and Fifty-Six

The Hard Lessons

 

Little Miss Sweetheart looking so cute at the park, even after getting bitten not once, but twice on the playground. I didn't realize it at the time, but her battle scars are quite intense and when I finally saw the broken skin teeth marks right before her nap time as I took off her shirt, I was filled with a grief that I'd never felt before. After the incident, she was relentlessly clingy and weepy. I couldn't figure out why and thought she was just being dramatic. Not so. Now I know that she was actually afraid and in pain and I feel so bad she had to endure what she did. But she's ok and doesn't even notice the wounds. Growing up is hard sometimes, and though I try my best to protect her, I know my efforts won't always be enough. She's going to have to endure a lot of hardships and pains in this life and one of my deepest prayers for her is that when faced with confrontation and brokenness, she'll cling tightly to her trust in the Lord. 

Yesterday fared a lot better at the park for Bearett, who came away with a new friend and just a scrape on either palm when he decided to run in the parking lot and tripped after being disobedient and not holding my hand. It could've been worse and thankfully, he quickly learned his lesson. He's growing tremendously here. Yesterday was a hard day of listening for him, but we made so much progress and though we have a ways to go in that department, his heart is solid gold. He's such a friendly boy and makes people smile wherever he goes. I've absolutely loved and cherished our time watching him thrive here these past few weeks and I'm  sure going to miss him when he says goodbye. 

 

But that won't be happening for a couple more days, so I refuse to dwell on it just yet! Instead, we're soaking in every last minute and guiding him just as we guide our own. Every night before bed, he now asks to read the Bible and gets excited to pray. He's learned and recognizes the stories (and pictures) of Creation, Noah's ark, father Abraham, Joseph and his "mean brothers," Moses and Pharaoh, Moses and the Ten Commandments, David and Goliath, Daniel in the lions den, Jonah and the Whale, and the birth of baby Jesus. And because he enjoys the Bible with such enthusiasm and joy, we surprised him with his own travel copy of the Bible story book we've been reading to him the past three weeks. He was so excited to read it with his own eyes and hold it with his own hands while Uncle Adam read it out loud to him and Mimi. What a sweet and treasured blessing and answered prayer. Thank you Jesus.