The Note

It is dark outside. She is tired from working one job, and is wishing she was finished with her second job. The frustrations of the day way heavy, her heart is crowded with complaining. Luckily, she just finished cooking and cleaning up supper, and homework is in the backpacks ready to be delivered to all three teachers tomorrow. As she sits at her computer working, an unusual quiet can be heard in the house. Then the “whispers” start in the next room.

Don’t ask her again! She has already said no once.

Let’s ask Daddy, he might let us do it.



You know if Mama says no then Daddy will say no, too.


He might say yes if he could just read over the paper.


Call him at work, and talk to him about it.


No, I think he needs to SEE the paper. That might help him decide to let us do it.

(A boy walks innocently into the room.)

Mama, what time is Daddy coming home?

Daddy called and said he is working very late. He won’t get home until after you are asleep tonight.


( A frustrated boy walks back to his room.)


What are we going to do? Daddy really needs to SEE this!


(More quietness as three boys are deep in thought.)


I know! Let’s put it in his Bible tonight!


Yes! You know he’ll read his Bible before he goes to bed no matter how late he gets home, and then he will see it!

The sounds of relieved boys fill the house.  The quietness is gone. The Mom’s heavy heart is lightened. Her complaints and frustrations of the day seem petty and minimal. Thankfulness glows warmly in the place that ungratefulness had darkened. She stops working to write a quick note to the man who is helping her grow three men from the sprouts of young boys. She pens words of thanks to him for being the man and the Daddy that he is, and slips it in the place she knows he will most certainly find it.

Things With Wings

The day finally arrived, August 16, 2010. Landry has been counting down the days, hours, minutes until this wonderful event of KINDERGARTEN! I have known it was getting closer and have been trying to be excited with him, but to be truthful I have not been excited. It is one complete chapter closed in my life of Motherhood. I know Avery and Riley have both been to kindergarten. It is not something new for me to go through, but yet there was always Landry still doing the “baby” things! And now all of the baby moments are fully behind me, and my heart is saddened by that. I have ALL big boys now.

Many of you that know me personally, know that I have been on an emotional roller coaster as of late, and the tears have been flowing freely for many different reasons! Last week I opened the mailbox to find a postcard from Landry’s teacher telling him she was looking forward to having him in her class. Of course, this set me off again. Avery began begging me to please stop crying because he just couldn’t stand to see me cry anymore. Thus, I have been trying to hold it in for those few moments when I am alone.

Today, Landry looked so big in his desk with his little plaid shirt and new transformer tennis shoes. He was so proud of himself. He got his crayons out and began to color the butterfly paper his teacher gave him. Butterflies were so appropriate for that moment…butterflies are things with wings. Wings give freedom. Wings give a chance to discover new things, go new places. Wings give encouragement to leave the nest.

As much as it hurts me to think about, I know that the Lord has also given my three sons wings. I recently watched one mother cry as her only daughter discovered her wings and walked down the aisle to meet her new husband. This morning, I cried with another mother whose son is spreading his wings and going to college at the end of this week. I watched my now 4th grader roll his eyes when I tried to kiss him goodbye, and looked into my now 7th graders eyes as he silently pleaded with me NOT to take his picture in his new classroom. Wings not only give freedom and discovery, but they also bring about much change. But, like that butterfly that struggles out of it’s cocoon to unfurl its new found freedom, wings bring life and beauty. Wings make the world a new place of wonder. So, as I begin on this elementary trek with my youngest son, I am going to do my best to encourage Landry to experience all that he can and to spread those wings! I have high hopes that they will always fly him back to his Mama!