Spring 2012 ~ Blessed

Spring has come so much faster than I ever dreamed. We needed late winter/February to last longer, because we were trying to create a yard and plant grass. So we've been in hustle mode, trying to capture the moment of a clean slate, a graded yard ready for seed. We did it. Barely. I say we, because even tho I didn't spread the seed or the straw, I swept leaves burned debris, hacked at roots to make way for the bulldozer Eric brought home to finish the prep work. We now have grass coming up and hopefully it will last. Of course, summer has come in April, so I don't know, but at least we tried.
I finished Classical Conversations yesterday along with the boys. It was my first and solo year as of date for tutoring. It was a love-hate relationship we had with the amazing Monday scheduled community classes. I tutored and it was just too much for Henry. It was great for Jack, but as tutor, I often had to sacrifice time/emotion/energy serving the group instead of the individual (Henry). I thought it might be different. It wasn't . My precious director even mentioned to me one day about our initial discussion about which class I might be tutor. ....... Hind sight....
When you know something about your kids, go with it. My gut feeling. I have been a person who could push through anything. Anything, if need be. But this one was tough because the adreneline & positive smile doesn't morph over to your kids, who have decided mutiny would just be a whole lot more fun than active participation. (ironically, my kids can't get enough of Cycle 3 grammar today....)
I am humbled as I've been reading about Piper, who even now may have entered into Heaven's gates. She's a precious 3 year old I only met at a Christmas Parade, but knew was on a time table that wasn't working in her favor. She is a patient currently at St. Judes, her little body collapsing from the symptoms of Leukemia. She's 3. Her mother has been blogging along the way, for which I'll never be able to express adequate thanks. Her reverence & gratitude even in the face of the eminent death of her precious baby has been awe inspiring. Friend who know her situation, are grieving & praying by her side all along the way as she continues to keep us there by her side tangled in the cords that keep Piper alive, lying by her side. Jesus is there, holding her as she holds her baby, in a bed she knew from almost the beginning would be her end.
Jesus grant me the blessing of the grace she's demonstrated.
Keep me from my shallow existence when I become preoccupied with the color of my hair & the buldges I'm not sure I like. Help me hug my children when I want to strangle them.
Lift my raggedy body up when Henry asks me for the millioneth time 'will you play tennis with me?'
Jesus you are so real to me right now. You found me while I hid safely amongst the debris of my world. Not your world.
Thanks for blessings 'gifts' fills the halls of this salmony-pasty-khaki-wanna-be house.
I have shed like all those who read Susannah's blog, more tears for a family I've barely met. But they have been ambassadors to a Hope that's available to everyone. Everyone. A solid hope that in a blink of an eye, she will see her baby Piper, and we'll be united with God and see Him in Glory.
Find me Lord, please, redeeming the time, not selfishly consuming it.
I have to run, can't even sync the pictures of all the amazing activity around the house. The boys swim out the window in the kiddie pool, paddle tennis balls in the driveway and sing History sentences from CC that I'm grateful they remember.
If you visit the Needam family, pray for them, you'll be circled at the throne with thousands, who are there on their behalf. http://www.needhamcrew.blogspot.com/
(' Piper Jean Needham ran into the arms of Jesus today, April 3, 2012 at 3:35pm.')