The Treasures in our Hearts

One verse I think of often when something one of the children may say that hits my heart is “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). I had one of those moments on Saturday. Our three youngest girls went to a little girl's birthday party and had so much fun. Before we went, everything was in a rush. Norm was also going to a meeting, and we were both leaving at the same time. Our van would not move. Some belt broke in it, so, we had to quickly move the girls into Norm's truck and Norm took our son's truck to the meeting. It was the first time I had driven the truck with the three girls line-up on the bench seat. The two youngest fought over who was going to sit next to mama! So, one sat next to me to the party, the other on the way home. On the way home our Katie was looking at the rings on my hands and asking me about them, and who gave them to me, and why. I told her daddy gave me both rings.

She asked me why I never take them off, and I told her it's because I am married to daddy and we both have rings on and we are married to each other and love each other and it's to show that (probably even in similar terms told). At the birthday party each of the girls got rings that open up and have lip-gloss in it. These are BIG rings! By the time we got home, Katie had used up all her lip-gloss (!!) and then gave me the ring. "Here, you wear this too, cuz I will love you forever too." Oh, my! What a treasure! I hope she will understand if I don't wear it forever that I will love her forever though! :)

This is our week for two special birthdays, and another milestone for Jessica. Benjamin will turn 12 this week, and Jayson will be 16. These are our two boys that found Matthew, so we will make it a special week for them. I can see the concern of our girls, and they keep asking for ways to earn money to get the boys "special things". My heart hurts with and for the boys, knowing though they don't say much, it's just all so different for them too. There's a void. And for Jessica, we rejoice too. On Jayson's birthday 8 years ago she had her first open heart surgery as a baby just over a year old. She went through another open heart surgery a few weeks later. All this resulted in a 10 week ICU stay. We were told she'd need surgery every 3-5 years to "replace parts." So, we rejoice that it will be 8 years that God has given her since the surgery. I mentioned in our last cardiology appointment how the cardiologist said to keep doing what we are doing. Keep praying! And pray for our boys too. I know it will be one of mixed emotions for all of us.

Why buy expensive toys?!?!? We read lots of old books and see how content the children are with things they make. These are oatmeal boxes - those boxes of individual packets. The girls make their own little "house" - the walls of oatmeal boxes and then a sheet over the top. They had so much fun. And they pushed it all down, and started over again!

And my last picture here we thought was quite adorable. Bethany took her "Sunday afternoon nap" ON the dog. She ADORES this chocolate lab (that also was Matthew's). She follows her around and can do anything to her. The dog was sleeping, and she laid down on top of her with her pacifier and was out. One of our twins did pick her up later and put her on the couch so she did not have an abrupt awakening if the dog got up, but we thought it was quite cute!