My Three Sons

I have been tired beyond words-- to the point of being on the verge of tears at all times.  It's made me feel almost sick-- I hate jet lag!!   I just took some medicine awhile ago that helped me get through the last few hours-- and though I'm still exhausted, I can function.  I'm finally ready for bed, but just had to take a few minutes to record how grateful I am for my three boys.

Xander, upon arriving home from school, went straight to the kitchen.  Fifteen minutes later, he came in my room, where I had fallen on the bed and was fighting falling asleep.  "Look, Mommy-- I made you a special snack!"  On the tray were two bagels cut in half and spread with strawberry cream cheese.  On top of the cream cheese was a generous helping of red and green sprinkles ("cuz it's Christmas"), a spinach leaf, and a cherry tomato.  I wish I had had the camera with me!   Of course, he had to stand there to make sure I ate one.  (;  I love that creative, thoughtful little guy!  He wants to be a chef someday (along with many other things, including a father of two girls, two babies, and 49 boys with special needs adopted from China).  (:

Parker, also noticing my fatigue and subsequent lack of patience with the little ones' whining, intervened several times to help out and play with them.  He's very aware of other people's needs.  Love him.

After arriving home late from Parker's basketball game, where I had dragged all the little ones because I couldn't bear to get a babysitter after already being gone from them for so long, it was all I could do to get them in bed.  I asked Taylor, who had just arrived home from his basketball practice and was surely exhausted, if he could please just spend 10 minutes and unload/load the dishwasher.  The kitchen was a mess, it was almost 10:00, and I was just dying to fall into my bed-- but knew that I would be frustrated waking up to a kitchen where there weren't clean dishes or places to eat.  He sweetly went into the kitchen and spent three times as long as I had asked cleaning up.  As he finished, he hugged me and brightly said, "Well, I don't have to ask the question 'Have I done any good in the world today?!'"  That made me smile.  It's a line from one of my favorite hymns:

1. Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.
Has anyone’s burden been lighter today
Because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?

[Chorus]
Then wake up and do something more
Than dream of your mansion above.
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.

2. There are chances for work all around just now,
Opportunities right in our way.
Do not let them pass by, saying, “Sometime I’ll try,”
But go and do something today.
’Tis noble of man to work and to give;
Love’s labor has merit alone.
Only he who does something helps others to live.
To God each good work will be known.

So glad I have boys who live by these words!

--Christianne