Tag Archives: family

Praying, Hoping, Loving

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Easter Bunny
Creative Commons License photo credit: rolandojones

This morning, we were sitting in the van at the bus stop, right on the side of Highway 29.

It was about 7:15, and since we had a little time before the big yellow bus would be stopping to pick up Lucas on its way to school, we were checking out the little black birds and robins hopping around in the grass.

And then we spotted a little rabbit, in between two telephone poles, and way too close to the road for comfort.

“Don’t go to the road, little rabbit!” we all said aloud, though the rabbit was far away and oblivious to his audience.

But with each little meandering hop, the little bunny got closer and closer to the cars, trucks, buses, vans whizzing by … sure destruction!

I could see the splat in my mind. I certainly didn’t want to witness it with my boys!

Lucas decided we should all pray.

“In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.” Lucas, Atticus, and I — good Catholics — made the sign of the cross on our chests: “Amen.”

As I thought to begin a prayer for our new hopping friend, Lucas started one of his own:

“Dear God, please protect the little bunny rabbit and don’t let him get hurt on the road. Amen.”

So precious! My heart is full of joy, peace, and love just writing it. (And missing, as well, since today is the day we have to let him go for a week…)

And such that I am, I couldn’t let the life-lesson opportunity pass.

“Sometimes, you guys are like that little rabbit,” I began (probably with my teacherly tone, though I’m not sure I would recognize it myself), “on the edge of getting hurt or getting in trouble. And we try to do everything we can to keep you away from it.

“Sometimes, we have to go right up to you and pull you away, especially if it’s really dangerous, like walking in a parking lot or not getting lost in a store.

“And other times, if it’s not life-or-death, we stay back a little — praying, hoping, loving — to let you learn how to stay out of trouble on your own. Because eventually, there will be times when we just can’t get that close, like when you’re in school, Lucas. Or when you’re at Susie’s, Attie.

“We can’t be right there beside you guys all the time, and you need to be able to figure out where the road is for yourself.”

By the time my little lecture was over, the bunny had hopped into the taller grasses at the far end of the yard, out of danger for the time-being, at least.

We cheered.

Then, the bus came and went, my little one inside, going down that big highway, and Attie and I drove on into our day, me praying, hoping, and loving.

50/365: Atticus’ Kids Period

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Picasso had his Blue and Rose periods; El Greco had his Cretan and Italian periods.

Four-year-old Atticus is now in his “Kids Period.”

Every time he breaks out the paper and markers or crayons, he’s drawing kids. Kids with candy. Kids with bumps on their heads. Kids with one arm. Purple kids. Blue kids. Green kids. Kids under clouds. Kids under the sun.

I asked him why he loves to draw kids.

“Everybody likes kids,” he shrugged.

When Atticus draws a picture, he wants me to write down its name, the date, his name, and the person he’s decided to give the picture to. These two are for Kevin’s aunt Melanie and her daughter Kelsey.

30/365: Boys in the Woods

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My boys spent some time in the woods today.

They crossed the creek, braved the briars, and skirted the snake. And they returned to me full of energy, with a renewed bond between them and bearing new “Indian names.”

Kevin is “Badger”; Lucas is “Wild Cat”; Atticus is “Stalking Wolf”; and I am “Spirit Moon Water.”

More on the Native American theme later. 😉

17/365: A Child’s Vision of Family

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This is our family as envisioned by a five-year-old Lucas, who is now six. He drew the picture and asked me to write the names he wanted on it.

I’ve spent a lot of time appreciating it over the last year or however long it’s been hanging on the fridge.

The main thing I love about this particular piece of art is that our family is all together. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen very much anymore.

And we all look happy.

We’re not holding hands, but our arms are outstretched toward each other. (One of mine actually is right in front of Atticus’ face.) We’re enjoying each other’s company.

I also notice:

  • Kevin is tallest in the picture. In reality, 17-year-old Ryan is at least an inch or two taller.
  • My head is biggest … but so is my smile.
  • Ryan’s hair is longest. It really is by far.

At the beginning of last summer, I went through the artwork box I’ve kept for Ryan all these years, hoping to weed out some things that aren’t so keep-worthy. But it’s so hard for me.

Seeing those little hand-print turkeys and cotton-ball Santas takes me back to a time when my firstborn was my baby. I look at him now and wonder where he went. As much as I love Ryan today, I miss that little kid.

And I know that someday I’ll look back on this picture by Lucas and all the other artwork that he and four-year-old Atticus make with a smile and a catch in my throat.

16/365: New Perspective

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We celebrated my dad’s 70th birthday today with lunch at The Mayflower, birthday cake, and an afternoon (into evening) of conversation. His birthday was on the 13th, but we couldn’t all get together earlier in the week.

When they went to pick up the cake, my dad requested that they add that “70” to it, although, my mom said, he hasn’t been feeling that great about turning 70. I guess he decided to embrace it in a physical way. I’m all for that!

Notice that the cake in the picture is upside down. Kevin saw it this way on the counter and asked about the “OL,” thinking for a second somebody’d already eaten the “D.” But it’s actually the “70,” upside down.

It got me thinking about how just a little change of perspective can make a huge change in the way we interpret things. Sometimes all it takes is a tiny change of scenery to bring new life to the same-old.

Next time you’re in the midst of something you really don’t know how to handle, or something you’re really bored with, or something you’re totally resenting having to do, take a second to breathe and tilt your head a bit. Try to find a different angle to come at it from.

I think you’ll be surprised at the results.

The Atticus Song

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NOTE: I’m still working on getting this uploaded from my new phone. I think I may have to resort to using a cord (of all things :P), since I can’t get the phone hooked into my WiFi (the PW that works with my laptop & iPod is wrong?), and the video is too large to send over the 3G network (according to the phone). Done! I used the cord. 🙁

When Atticus wanted to know how to spell his name last year, I came up with his little song to help him remember it. I’ve tried many times to get a recording of it, but finally one day this week, he was in a mood to sing and to see himself on video. 🙂