Today

Today was another special day in the life of a child.

First trip to Disney World? Meeting Santa Claus? Loosing your first tooth? Getting a pony?

No.

Better.

Today, we had another play date with a celebrity.

Today, Marek came to our house.

Marek – the kid both my kids talk about constantly. The kid of which Veronica randomly asks what he would be doing at that moment. The family we have to pretend to be when we play. The kid who comes to our house in his Robin Costume.

Thanks for the fun. Thanks for the aftermath, too, Marek. I was in the middle of this, relishing every breath with two heads on my chest for over an hour. Felt as sweet as it did four years ago.

Join us in Marching for Babies tomorrow!

Thanks to you all who mentioned walking. Here is some information for those of you who can join us…

Registration is at 9am. I hope to be there shortly after. Our family will hang out at the Kid's tent - there will be a bounce house and face painting there, so join us! (We can't hang out afterward, but it will still be there after the walk.)  If you want to find us to walk along side us, please be at the kid's tent by 9:45. If you have any cash or checks to give me, please try to be there closer to 9:30, so I can get it all turned in before the rush.

Parking is a big issue (as far as considering your time). Victory Field is offering free parking, but it is limited. If you have a zoo membership, I recommend parking there and then walking over (go between the zoo and conservatory and you'll see the bridge to cross the river).

Feel free to bring strollers or wagons, if you need to! The route is fairly easy to cut down if it's too long for you.

Looks like it will be a sunny day, so bring your sunscreen! :)

Thanks for your support for babies, our family, and giving us a way to celebrate Julianne and David. If you can't find us, or have any questions, please call my cell phone at 317-840-3759. 

http://marchforbabies.org/kring

Wordful Wednesday

Veronica

• Veronica was being quite bossy to Thomas, giving him many potential consequences for not eating his dinner. I explained to her that her input was not necessary and that she was not the boss. She looked at me with genuine surprise and said, “Oh, I forgot!”
• “You need to hide somewhere I can’t find you. I’ll show you… Hide here. Now I’ll go count.”
• She’s so proud to be Grandma’s pal, “Grandma, I’m 61.”
• “Hey! A baby cow is a calf – just like a calf-ateria at school!”
• I asked, “What song would you like me to sing to you tonight, Veronica?” She replied, “It’s something very special to me. It’s something we haven’t sung in a long time.” I questioned, “What is it? (I was very curious as she has asked for Rudolph EVERY night, sometimes twice, for the last 18 months.) Her answer, “You have to be quiet when I ask you. It’s very special to me. It’s… Spiderman!!”
• Playing in the tub, I overheard her say, “You make everything difficult and I’m so not nervous by you! You’re everything I’ve always wanted. I love you, Papa!”
• “Our friend, Jesus; and our sister and brother, Julianne and David; and Santa – they are the only ones who can see us right now. Right, Mama?”

Thomas

• We were playing Uno with Wheel of Fortune kids’ meal cards, so Thomas was making up things as he went. Stacking the deck (not to win, just to have his favorite looking cards). He said, “I want the ‘well done’ card.” (Wild?) When he won he was quite proud and said, “Yeah, but I cheated you.”
• “Mama, is this mine from when I was a little boy?”
• He’s been quite interested in “tip, tap, toe.” (tic, tac, toe)
• “Daddy, I like this book, Hop on Pop. Daddy, sometime can we hop on you?”
• “You know why Pa, Curt and Uncle Danny are so silly? Because God made them that way.”
• “Mommy, is daycare too exciting for us? Is it too happy for us?”
• One morning Thomas woke to find scratches all over his hand this morning (probably from playing in the bushes the day before). He said, “Someone thought this was my boo-boo collection, but it’s not. It’s my boo-boos.”
• While watching Veronica singing as she rode away on her bike, “She’s an exciting girl.”
• “It’s not a very school day because I’m so sleepy.” Translation: I’m tired because I was up at 4 am asking if tomorrow is Christmas and then very upset because it’s so far away. That, and I look for an excuse not to go to school everyday.
• “My head is dizzy with words,” said as he spins around and collapses on the couch… His response to my criticism of his whining.
• Reading, “Jesus loves me, this I ka-n-ah-wa” I interject, “That ‘k’ is silent, so it says ‘know.’” His response, “That’s crazy! That’s not very nice to do!” I think my boy understands phonics just right.
• Passing by Julianne and David’s gravesite, “Wait, Mommy. We have to say a prayer. Thank you God for giving Julianne and David  up to Heaven. I love Julianne Jane and David Thomas. Amen.”
• One night at bedtime, Thomas asked, “Mom will you ask God to fight the bad guys? ALL the bad guys?” I answered, “Thomas, God can hear everything you so, so he just heard you ask.” Impatiently, he said, “Will you just ask Him already?”

Both

K: We’re heading to Bethlehem.
T: OK. Take care of Him and He’ll grow a long time.
V: I’ll get his bed ready.
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V: Mama, could you please sing me one more song?
Me: I already did that. It’s time for bed.
V: But, I’m scared and I need one more song. Can Thomas sing to me?
Me: Yes.
V: Can you ask him? (I ask)…
T: Long pause followed by a sigh… I can sing her 12 songs.

Saturday Snuggle

The twins are very good at staying in their beds all night. In fact, until recently, they would holler for us in the morning to ask if it was ok to get out of bed.

Lately, they have been coming into our bed in the morning to snuggle a little bit. They’ll even talk in their room until it’s a little later and never come in our room before 6:30. Usually they are ready to go, so it’s pretending to be puppies and baby “chickmonks” (chipmunks) which are rather spunky animals.

This morning, Veronica gently placed her hand on my face and kept it there while we rested. They both had a lot of questions about Easter while we snuggled. At some point, I turned to face Veronica to answer her questions facing my back to Thomas.. Judson said while Veronica and I were speaking, Thomas asked Judson, “What do you think they are talking about? Easter? A surprise for me?”

Pining for Easter

Every morning for the last couple weeks, one of the kids wakes up to ask, “Is today Easter? Tomorrow?”
Today we made some Easter Bunnies to prepare.

Bunnies by Kasey, Thomas, and Veronica (L to R)

Kasey’s has the most colorful whiskers.

Thomas’s has the only colorful body (sprinkled with red hearts).

Veronica has the only multi-colored ears.

The Rosie Report: Tears of Joy

Hallelujah!!!!!!!!

Yesterday's post was all about life, death, new life... Well, today I read the best post I could have!! Click below to see what has me so happy and rejoicing in the miracle of life that couldn't be more timely for Easter!!

The Rosie Report: Tears of Joy: "Well, I can hardly believe what I am about to type, but I have it on good authority (from my Aunt Cindy, nurse extraordinaire) that there is..."

A Matter of Life and Death

Last week Veronica came home to tell me that one of her classmate’s father had passed away. I was amazed that I had to hear that from her, but she was adamant about it, and was just so matter-of-fact about it. I kept probing, amazed that she didn’t seem phased by this. I asked, “Aren’t you sad for [your classmate]?”

She looked me in the eye, and simply said, “No, [classmate] can still talk to him.” She was mistaken – it was her classmate’s grandfather. However, her perception of it made me catch my breath.

The other day, Thomas ran out into a parking lot. I sat him down to have a serious discussion with him. I hadn’t ever brought up death before, but just getting hurt didn’t seem to make an impact on him. So, I said, “but you could die!”

He looked at me and calmly said, “I want to go to Heaven to see my brother.”

I am amazed at their acceptance of death. It is truly a faith-driven peace. Of course they don’t know yet the heartache of losing someone they love. They only know the joy their brother and sister must have living in Heaven with Jesus. Living a life of love and watching over those they love. Together.

This last interaction with Thomas terrified me, of course. We have glorified Julianne and David’s existence in Heaven. After all, isn’t that our goal – to obtain eternal life with those we love, with our Lord? We want them to know their brother and sister and not be sad about it. However, I don’t want to make Heaven a goal before their time… I explained further to both of them that Heaven is where we want to be, but not before God wants us to be there. We won’t all go at the same time and although I’m happy Julianne and David get to live in Heaven where we will someday join them, I do get sad that I can’t hold them. I would be sad if I couldn’t hold Thomas and Veronica. They seemed to understand this. (And, I admit that I reverted to the, “If you get hit by a car you may not die. You could be hurt very badly and have to be in a hospital for a long time.” – This seemed to work too.)

I do try to dwell on their amazing acceptance of faith, family and Heaven. I am amazed at how proud Thomas is to have a brother. How Veronica feels special that she has a sister and TWO brothers. Thomas has even been able to deal with some new separation issues by knowing he can talk to his brother in his heart. Veronica feels she is not alone because her sister can see her. One night, Thomas told me he would be alright because his brother would rub his back.

These two can tell you the story of Good Friday through Easter. They can tell how how horrible it must have been for Jesus to be nailed to a cross. I had tried to share as little as possible about what was going on, but they kept asking. And, they wanted to hear the answers. They accept the answers. They are also excited to tell the story of Easter day (and why the Easter Bunny decides to celebrate).

At Christmas, Veronica and Thomas were happy that Julianne and David were able to be at Jesus’s birthday party with Him. They seem to be happy to know that their sibling get to participate in another exciting celebration in their own way. They are excited to share with these people they don’t even know… but yet they do.

I have never seen God, but I know Him. He talks to me in many ways. He speaks to me even louder when he shows me how Veronica and Thomas can reach for something unseen, grasp it, love it, hold onto it and want to understand it daily.

He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. ~ Mark 10:14-16

I have lost two children. Two children have made the realization of being a family with four children possible. Their faith makes my faith grow stronger. Our faith keeps our family strong.

As we approach Easter, I am so thankful to know that we are given life beyond this one. As rich as this life can be, it’s a life that will only be richer – shared with all those we love and without the hurt of this world.

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Postscript and invitation:

At the same time, I am reminded at those who love this special family we have. Those who have supported us through our ups and downs. Those who love our family in it’s entirety. It really is overwhelming. I’m excited to celebrate this the week after Easter through the March for Babies. A cause where God has given us people who use their resources and knowledge to work toward giving families chances. I walk for all babies. You can join me here: http://www.marchforbabies.org/kring