he dreams a dream

He dreams of flight.
He wants to be a pilot when he grows up… and grown up isn’t that far off, I realize, as I look up into his eyes. Once upon a time I would giggle with him over what he wanted to be… cowboy, police man, car designer… and dream along with him.  It hurts to be honest here, but this is not my favorite dream.  It just isn’t.  But I will not utter one word against it... because I know, and believe this: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. {Jeremiah 29:11}  It is the only place I can go when the worries get the best of me.

 

Last weekend, he flew.  He didn’t just ride… he flew the plane, with Julio’s instruction.  Out to the beach, down the coast, and back around again.  I knew that this would be the make it or break it moment… but as my own Mom said, what teenage boy wouldn’t be hooked?  Not mine.  That’s for sure.  Before his feet ever left the tarmac his grin reached wide.  And after?  Oh… well, I repeated that verse again. 

 

Two years ago, watching the story of Daphne Sheldrick’s amazing dream on the big screen, my eyes rained down tears.  The reality hit me, there in the theater, larger than life.  How dare I even begin to dream for them?  To do so would only hold them back from what they are meant to do, who they are to become.  Because what if I dream too small?  The corners of my mouth turn up and I remember that yellow printing on a dark green Bearstone box... Mom, how far can I dream?  I don't have that answer... but I know that whatever they dream it will be beautiful, because it is their own, and that only God can take them there.

a laughing place

The weekend was crazy, which is not that unusual.  But it was crazy good, which made it okay.  And these people made me laugh, which was perfect.  It made the running here and there and everywhere all worth it. I wish we could have stayed there on the beach and celebrated longer... but there were glasses to pick up...

You can only expect your husband to superglue his glasses together for so long... and really, he glued them together five months longer than I expected.  And he'd probably still be gluing the temples on if one hadn't fallen out of his grasp and into the storm drain!  This falls into the most-used category of our life- you have to laugh.  {Did I ever tell you about the other time glasses went down the drain?  Itty bitty pink prescription sunglasses, only a week old... right down the toilet.  My fault... and it was days before I could really laugh about it!}

Laughter... it is always a gift I am thankful for.

-my favorite hymn in church sunday {as the deer}
-time with friends, celebrating a bithday
-getting some things checked off the list!
-finishing up a few last things for disney {not packing... still ON the list!}
-finishing up t-shirts & water bottles for the national youth gathering
-hearing happy in my daughter's voice
-my son, showing up at my office just to say hi
-not having to pack lunch today
-celebrating 5 years at a job i didn't think i wanted
-how he cares for me, even when i am unaware {or asleep!} thank you for rubbing my back, i'm sorry if i kept you up with my coughing!
-finding my favorite earring
-a brave sister, who was willing to take on cub camp this year {170 boys?!  EEK!}
-conversations with a nice young man
-love, love, love...

life lately... {and hawaiian shirt thursday}

We've been busy... and not.
It seems like summer has barely begun, and is already racing away.
So what to do, but wrap up one more school year and make time for fun and dreams and dreaming.   And this boy?  The Florida native who loves looking like a tourist?  And just says I'm going to the mall and drives himself? 

Is now a high school junior.
In total disbelief I asked him can you believe you are half-way through high school?!  He looked at me with that look and said yes. I don't think about his perspective... the daily grind of sleepy mornings, homework and testing, and feeling every single day like high school may never end.  If I do take the moment to think about it, I remember it well, and with a smile, I nod.  Well, yes, I guess you can believe it. 

less one, but blessed, oh blessed...

We are settling into life as three instead of four {four instead of five, if you count the cat, which I never do, but the kids never fail to!}  The milk is lasting longer and there is less shuffling of cars in the drive.  I notice that Cam has taken to her piano-room-spot-in-the-sun... and I wonder if he has been waiting all this time.  Few texts fly from north to south, and phone calls are rare.  No news is good news, I keep saying.  But all in all, from what we can tell, she is happy and thriving.  And we are thankful. 

Counting blessings on this Monday...

-a rainy afternoon, a cuppa tea and a quiet hour

-the school days winding down... two half-days left!

-actually having a conversation of substance with our girl

-being able to tell that she has found her niche

-celebrating a birthday... and reminding her that we are still three cords

-running into a friend in the aisles... catching up & laughing for a while

-the reply to a good morning text

-a dense clouded day breaking way to blue
-the perfect beach day
-watching a group of goofy boys {big & small} as they celebrated one i love

-paddling away into the ocean with a friend
-the peace we found
-getting things in order for the youth gathering... finally
-and getting excited for disney
-just leaning into him
-laughing with cam
-getting carried away
-a delicious lunch
-a boy's gift of song in church
-sunday night on the couch