Esther, Joe, & Psalms

So from a previous post you know we've been learning the "Books of the Bible" with this rap/pop song. I love it and the kids do too. I have heard them both singing it randomly. Reese was singing it this morning while I was fixing (true southern term I know) her hair.

Reese: "We got Esther, Joe, and Psalms. These are the gospels go and make disciples."

Me: "Reese, it is JOB not Joe and those aren't the gospels. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Those are the gospels."

Reese: "Well, I like Joe better and all of them make disciples."

 I almost corrected her again but didn't.

Because she is right.

Maybe not about the "Joe" part but about how the whole Word of God "makes" disciples. You can't have the "gospels" without the Esther, "Joe", and Psalms. You can't read any them and not be changed.  Or if you can you better "check yourself before you wreck yourself." (Sorry, I had to :) )

Thankful for wisdom coming from my 5 year old even if she likes 'ole Joe better.

And you should hear her say Habakkuk...priceless. I can't even type the word I think she is saying because it is hers. Have not a clue what she is saying.

Vomiting, Sidekicks, and Her Momma

Today has been "interesting." Interesting is the term I like to use when I really don't know what else to call it.

Around 5 am
Reese: Mom, my stomach hurts.
Me: Do you have to throw up? Do you have to poop?
Reese: No, I just need some water.
Me: Okay (she drank the water on my bedside table and got in my bed)

And then it happened just like it does every time.
Reese: Mom, I am going to "fhrow up" and then buckets of vomit. I was lying on my stomach so she was vomiting on my neck, shoulder, and back. I couldn't move. She was crying. I was trying to get Josh to help. I know that this is something moms do. We get vomited on. But Reese is 5. We have tried to have the "you go to the toilet" speech but poor thing just can not. And we did this 3 times. THREE TODAY.

And you know your mom is in the medical field when you ask for Zofran. By name.

Now the stomach bug is gone and Reese is acting like Reese. While I was giving her the 4th bath of today....

Reese: "Sidekicks do whatever you say."
Reese: "Mom, did you know I have a sidekick?"
Me: "You do?"
Reese: "Yeah, it is daddy."
Me: laughing
Reese: "And bubs"

After the bath we are snuggling, eating saltines, watching American Idol and this girl has on a midriff shirt.

Reese: " Look at her shirt! Her belly is showing."
Me: "I know."
Reese: "What is wrong with her momma?"
Me: "I'm not sure but she must not have seen that shirt."
Reese: "I guess she didn't."

Hoss

I walk in to have lunch with Reese and she is sitting with 6 boys. I sit down with her and they were talking about getting to go play outside and running around the track. All of the little boys were talking about how fast they run and how they could all beat each other. One of them looked at Reese and said, "We all can beat you because you are a girl."

Reese looked at me. Her little face was priceless.

She looked straight at that little boy and said, "You got another thing coming hoss."

I burst out laughing.

The little boy looked confused.

Reese was smiling.

Then she looked at all of them and said, "I'll beat all of you."

Poor, poor boys. They have no idea.

Let me help you

I try to eat lunch with the kiddos once a week. This week I was in a hurry and forgot that my eyeliner was in the car. So, when I pulled up to the school I put it on real quick.

When I sat by Reese at lunch she looked straight at me, licked her finger and said, "Girl, let me help you," and wiped my eyelid with her finger. Apparently, some of my eyeliner had gotten on my eyelid.

She then told me to "check myself" in my camera on my phone.

Extra Prayers

On the way to school we pray. We each take turns. The kids usually fight over who goes first, you know being holy and all. This morning was the usual. It was decided that Reese would go first. She was just a praying and after "Amen" John Rhett started right up.

John Rhett: "Lord,"
Reese: (interrupts) "I forgot to pray for something."
John Rhett: "Reese you are interrupting me. You can say your extra prayer when I am done."
Reese: "You are going to need an extra prayer if you don't let me say mine now."



Well, Hallelujah.

He holds her

This past weekend we had a rescheduled trip. We let the guys come along this time. In April of last year, we had planned a "girl's trip" to the beach. It was early one morning the week before the trip that I received a text. One I definitely was not expecting...."I can't go on the trip. I think I have breast cancer."

Shock. Panic. Faith. Can all of those feelings be wrapped up in a few seconds. Yes, I am sure they can.

I remember falling on my face. Praying and crying. I called Josh. He did the same. Maybe not falling...he was at work but his tone, his concern. I knew he was doing the same thing.

I have an unique perspective. As a medical professional and friend. My mind races. When I first started as a nurse, I worked in oncology. I gave chemo. I loved patients and their families. I've held their hands and seen last breaths. I've experienced sacred. The medical professional, well, we learn to be stoic. The friend, not so much. The friend loses it.

We met Lisa and Doyle in 2008. We were at a party and our boys were playing. We talked all night and if you some of you know all of us...I am sure you can see how that was possible. :) Our sons ended up in the same pre-school class the next year and the rest is history.


So, this weekend was a time to reflect. Time to rejoice. After almost a year of diagnosis, chemo, hair loss, weight loss, mastectomy, reconstructive surgery, reconstructive surgery gone wrong, more chemo, scans after scans...Lisa is cancer-FREE. She continues her journey this week. Radiation. Hysterectomy. Reconstructive Surgery. We were just sitting on the couches talking. Shocker I know.

And I saw it.

 I can still picture it in my mind and it moves me to tears. Lisa was talking about His faithfulness through tears and laughter. She mentioned her thoughts on dying. That cancer is now part of her reality.  Although we know our God is healer and she is CANCER-FREE...(did I mention that), she has found joy in the fight of fear and faith. Joy that found her during the darkest moments that I am not privy to. Joy that found her when she was vomiting and bed bound. Joy that gets her through each day.

That kind of joy is strength. Strength found through scars. Nail scars. And that moment in the mountains, I saw it. Sun beaming in on her as she sat snuggly on the couch just talking. Sacred.

I saw what it is to know you are held.

I kissed her (almost) bald head when we left and said, "I love you." I couldn't have hugged her if I wanted to. I would have fallen apart. But when we got in the car, I looked at Josh and cried.

The Savior of the world. He holds her.

Student of the Month

 Today we will celebrate John Rhett as "Student of the Month."

We are so proud of him. He is a very good student. He likes to call himself a nerd.

That just makes me smile.

Because Josh and I both are nerds too.

Last evening, I was putting the kiddos to bed. After prayer time, which trust me I need to be video taping their prayers because they are so pure and so funny...

John Rhett: Mom, tomorrow is my student of the month recognition.
Me: I know. I am so proud of you.
John Rhett: Reese, have you ever gotten student of the month.
Reese: What's that?
John Rhett: It is where your teacher notices that you have been a good student. Maybe you got better at something or were well behaved.
Reese: I'm never going to be student of the month.

She has high ambitions that girl.