Twelve

We haven't had any babies around here for a long time, and that's been cool. Our family is awesome just how it is. Yesterday, though, I kind of wished we had some short people running around.

You see, my baby turned 12 yesterday.



With her big sister getting ready to turn 14 later in the year, it's clear to me that I might not be ready for these girlies to spread their wings as soon as they might want. In fact, that are both preparing to spend almost the entire summer away from us, their parents. Bella is going to a horse camp in Utah with a friend and Madeline is riding along so she can be dropped off in Arizona with their Sauls side of the family, and then she will FLY HOME ALONE. o_O

I guess I better be getting ready for those girls to fly.

Humbled

Today I really, truly got a taste of what my mom has been doing for the past year or so as she cares for my aging grandparents. It was only a few hours and I was wiped out. My mom is made of much sterner stuff than I.

Today I gave thanks that one of my brothers and my sister were LISTENING and HEARD the voices calling to them, telling them to check on my grandparents. Miracles happen. If you don't believe me, I know a few people you can talk to.

Today I watched my own girls jump into the fray to help anyway they could. Isabella rubbed lotion all over Grandmom's itchy back (more than once!) and Madeline volunteered to stay the night at the hospital so Grandmom wouldn't be alone and Mom could get some rest. I thought about how grateful I am that my 12 yr old cousin Catie has been just as willing to help time after time. None of these girls has even flinched when they've been asked to help in ways that would probably disgust people three times their age.

Today I listened as these two proud, amazing people apologized for needing so much help. As if it isn't a blessing to take care of them now as they have taken care of so many before!

I'm only on the fringes of it all. I'm only carrying a tiny portion of the load. My job is to mostly pray and give relief to the weary when I can, which isn't often enough to be honest.

So I'm humbled as I watch angels, both literal and figurative, do God's work.