Henry's Reality According to Evelyn

Henry is a bit philosophical for a 4-year-old male.  We have been spending A LOT of time in the van driving to and from school and activities.  He asks a lot of questions about God that frequently come up in our van.  Most recently, he asked if there are many Gods.  I told him we believe in one God.  He said with perplexity, "Then how is He in everyone's heart?"  I couldn't explain that one.  I tried, then told him we'll have to have a chat with one of the priests.  On another occasion, he asked who is in our heart, God or Jesus?  "Both," was my reply.  To this my son said, "Wow!  They must be all squooshed up."  I love the laughs that are induced from the comments of my children.  I got a great one as we read, Let Me Hold You Longer, a book that suggests parents are so busy celebrating firsts with their children that we don't recognize their "lasts".  One line went something like, "The last time you tell me you want to marry me when you grow up."  Henry pointed to the illustration of the young son running toward his mother's open arms, and he very seriously told me, "If he marries her, then Evelyn says their children will grow an extra eye right here."  He pointed to his forehead, and I erupted in laughter.  Apparently, Miss Evelyn has explained something about reproduction to Henry so that he has been advised against marrying his sisters, cousins, or mother.  On a long, sunny walk on a brisk morning, Henry inquired about how God put him in my belly when he was "a tiny baby as small as a bug".  He wanted to know if God had to use really strong tape to close the opening in my body that He used to put Henry in there.  He's always thinking and wondering, and I treasure this privilege of being with him daily so that he turns to me with his beautiful questions.

I think my son misses mom when he goes to preschool.  He asked as I pulled into the preschool parking lot, "WHY do you want me to go to school all the time?"  He only goes three afternoons a week.  After I happily reported that friends and family bought magazines from him during the school fundraiser, he got really worried.  "MOM, I don't HAVE any magazines."  Again, more laughter.  Finally, shortly after 6 am this morning my little buddy crawled into my bed for his morning snuggle.  After a bit, he got right in my face, his nose practically touching mine, and said, "When are you going to get up, Mom?  I'm so hungry."  Henry sat on my lap all during Olivia's first volleyball games yesterday, and he was not still.  Robbie chuckled next to me in bed, and said, "You see little monkeys or cubs who are all over their mothers, bothering them relentlessly.  There are similarities."  More laughter.

Olivia is totally excited about playing volleyball and dancing ballet this fall.  She will likely audition for The Nutcracker with the Kansas City Ballet.  Evelyn has been earning gold coins at school for her cooperation and fine behavior at a record setting pace, and she's working hard on school skills.  She started back to gymnastics last week, and she loves it!  She's been doing all sorts of moves on the swing set bar.  Vivian is a talking machine and wearing panties.  What has the world come to when I don't have a baby in diapers?  I'm kind of in a funk about it, rather than celebrating Viv's accomplishment.

This is a beautiful morning.  Robbie and the children are outside playing on the swing set.  I am enjoying my second cup of hot coffee after a scrumptious breakfast of Robbie's "from scratch" pancakes, a new recipe today, 100% pure Michigan maple syrup, melon, berries, and bacon.  Life is GOOD!  Thank you dear God.