A Blur

Since coming home from Illinois, my life has been one big blur. I've even been too busy to take pictures! I downloaded my camera tonight and found only one new picture. One! Aaron and I wore purple last Monday in honor of Epilepsy Awareness Day. It's also called Purple Day. I long for our pre-epilepsy days, I really do. But longing for those days doesn't do anything to help us today. And really, Aaron is still the happy-go-lucky little boy he's always been. He's looking forward to his birthday, although Derek and I told him he's not allowed to turn 8. He can have a party and receive gifts, but he has to stay 7! :)

With just three days at home before taking another trip, my kids did not want me to leave. I didn't want to leave home again, but this opportunity to attend some training was too good to pass up. (And Derek is such a sacrificial husband!) The time passed quickly, even though I traveled many miles to Joplin, Missouri and back. Not quite a year after their tornado, the damage was still very evident. A pile of rubble stands where the high school once stood. Debris still clings to treetops. It's a good reminder that nothing here on earth lasts forever. Our pastor likes to say that people and God's Word are the only things here on earth that are eternal!

This week we're dealing with sick kids. Aaron and Kaleb have colds, Kaleb has a rash on his face that just won't go away, and today Aaron developed the dreaded fever. When he gets a fever, he's usually down for 4 days, minimum. I'm giving him breathing treatments, allergy meds, and a fever reducer. Plus, his Depakote dose has been increased again. I've lost track how many times we've changed doses and meds. (I do keep a written record.)

Derek had five hours of DT's today--very taxing physically. Tomorrow he has an interview within the PD. I'm not sure what we're hoping the outcome will be. Braylen, bless him, continues to thrive at school and at home. This is definitely a good year for him. Sometimes I think he's the only one in our family who has a good day. Well, that might be a bit extreme. Kaleb is plenty happy, even with his cold and his rash. He and Aaron had spring pictures at school today and for the first time ever I didn't tell them what to wear. These pictures show their entire outfit, and Aaron wore navy sweat pants with an orange t-shirt. Nice. Kaleb wore his Cubs t-shirt with matching shorts. Both boys have red noses and Aaron looked especially worn out. He lasted just a few hours at school before I had to come pick him up. (sigh)

Since this blog post is so cheerful (ha!) I need to end it well. Last week Kaleb needed to bring a rock to school. He has this rock he's always called "Buddy Rock." It's shaped like the moon and even looks like the moon. We looked all over for Buddy Rock. I wonder if any other mother of boys has rock collections stashed where I do. I have a plastic container overflowing with rocks, and it's stored in my pots and pans cabinet. Each rock is a gift from one of my sons, so I keep them all. :) Kaleb and Aaron have ice cream buckets and boxes under their beds, filled with rocks. We have painted rocks in the basement. Could we find Buddy? No. Then I hear Kaleb say, "I'd rather have my buddy rock than gold." We never did find it, but I gave him one of my "special" rocks from the kitchen. It's worked out great.

Best of all, last Wednesday Kaleb shared the gospel with his friend (D) at Awana! This is what he told me he said: He asked D if he was a Christian. D said he wasn't sure. Kaleb told D he needs to ask his mom and dad to help him ask Jesus into his heart. Kaleb said to D, "Becoming a Christian will change your life. Jesus will be with you all of the time and you will never be alone. It's the most important decision you'll ever make. And after you do it, you know you will live forever in heaven."

You know what? All of the junk in our lives--the sicknesses, disease, job uncertainty, pain and injury, stress--those things are but a blip on the screen when compared to all of eternity. They blur together and weigh us down and then our son comes along and reminds us what we're here for. I'd rather have Jesus than anything. There's a song for that, and the last two lines say it all...

1. I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold; (or buddy rock!)
   I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
   I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
   I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand
   
   • Refrain:
     Than to be the king of a vast domain
     And be held in sin’s dread sway;
     I’d rather have Jesus than anything
     This world affords today.
2. I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
   I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
   I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;
   I’d rather be true to His holy name
3. He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
   He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb;
   He’s all that my hungering spirit needs;
   I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead