Moments of Remembrance

I was supposed to be traveling with my husband and others to Arlington, Va. to join family (Danica flew from CA this morning) and friends in a final time of honoring Christian Skoglund at his funeral service there. It will be most special, of that I am certain. I pray they will be blessed.

But instead I am home doing bedside care for my littlest man. He has been crouping and hacking for days and days, and Saturday saw a relapse. A bit of fever, intense coughing spells, and an ear ache. Sounds like fun, huh? He's hanging in there and so am I.

Bedtime arrived on Saturday night and found Dad carrying his little buddy upstairs. I hustled along in front of them to prepare the bed for welcoming his tired body. As I bounded ahead, full of intention, my heart flooded with thanksgiving for our Merrick. I found myself smiling at such privilege. For a moment in time I felt like a young mom all over again, full of the joy of giving and nurturing. You would think I had never turned down bedsheets for a sick child - one might even have wondered at my marveling as awareness of the privilege of parenting waxed in my soul.

Funny how the specialness can continue, years into it and nine kids later. Yup, it may be old hat in some ways, but true treasure never gets old, just better. And let's face it, there is no better treasure than kids.