So, it turns out that if there is one thing I am really consistent with, it is missing my opportunity to post on Gretchen's blessing party on her blog. I am actually starting to type this on Thursday because I have a few unexpected quiet moments where no one is needing my time and attention. I know, I wasn't sure what to do either! Anyway, I have so much to catch up on, so here goes.
First, on Halloween, the kids and I were at Walmart in the afternoon picking up a few things. The MOPS group that I belong to was going to be was going to be meeting that following Saturday. Our project for the day was to help pack shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child, so the kids were helping to pick out fun items for our boxes. As we went past the bikes and kids' bike helmets, Timothy asked me if they could get new bike helmets. I remembered them having said about a week before that their helmets were getting too small, but since we live in Minnesota and it is quite unusual to not have snow on the ground yet, buying new helmets was not at the top of my list for that day, so I told him, "Not right now." A few moments later, a man approached me. His name is Mike Heikes, a local man who goes around speaking about the importance of wearing properly-fitting bike helmets after having survived a brain injury as a result of not wearing a helmet. In addition to his speaking engagements, he also provides free bike helmets to anyone who needs them, and will make sure that they are properly fitted. He said that he had heard our son ask for a new helmet, and said that he always keeps some in his car. He offered to give us free, brand new helmets for the kids. After checking them to ensure a proper fit, the kids were all set with their "completely awesome new helmets!" I provided the link to his website above, and I feel tremendously blessed to have met him. (I had also met him a couple years ago at a community fair, where he actually provided the kids with their previous bike helmets.) What an incredible ministry by an incredible person!
The second thing was a little bit scarier. Last Friday, the kids and I attended a Bible study at a friend's house. (It is a terrific mom's Bible study group, for which I am very thankful and blessed, and the kids bring things along to work on or books to read.) Afterward, I loaded the kids up in the car to head home. We got just outside of town when Emma commented that Michael was squeaking. As I paused to listen, it only took a moment to realize that this was not just cute little baby squeaking noises. This was a squeaking noise that happened every time he breathed. I immediately pulled over and jumped out the check on him. He was not wanting to open his eyes, and seemed pale. Immediately I jumped back in the car, turned around and headed back toward the hospital. On the way, I called Randy. He and my father-in-law immediately dropped what they were doing and jumped in the pickup to meet us at the hospital. Once there, Grandpa stayed with the kids in the waiting room while Randy came with Michael and I. Of course, once we reached the hospital, he was alert and breathing pretty much normally. Just to be sure, they ran some tests, and everything came back fine. They said that everything looked ok, and they weren't sure exactly what caused that. They told us to watch him carefully for the rest of the day and let them know immediately if there was a problem. He has had a little cough for a week or so, and they think maybe he just had something in his throat that we was able to cough out. Thankfully, he has been his normal, happy self since with no more problems. I am also very blessed to have children who will let us know when something seems not quite right.
A third thing that made my day was this past Monday. Normally, the kids and I are not really tremendously morning people. Abby is probably the closest, usually waking up all bright and cheery and sweet and funny. (This is ALMOST enough to make me a morning person, and at the very least, it always makes me smile.) As the alarm went off, I rolled over and heard Timothy stirring in his room. As I walked out of the bedroom, I found that he was up, dressed and had eaten breakfast. As I found him stripping the sheets and blankets off of his bed, he turned to me with a smile and said, "It's clean sheet Monday, Mom!" Knowing that we try to replace the sheets on the beds on Mondays (starting the week with fresh, clean sheets would be another blessing that makes Mondays a little nicer), he took it upon himself to do the job. (Okay, so as not to lead people on about how wonderful of a homemaker I am, I will come clean and say that although "clean sheet Monday" is something I strive for, it doesn't always happen.) Anyway, he took the sheets from the bed, down to the laundry room and put them into the washing machine, all by himself. He didn't start the washer, but I have never shown him how to do that, so I certainly can't fault him for that! When Emma saw what he was doing, she decided to do the same thing with her bed. Then the two of them proceeded to help each other put clean sheets on their beds. Now again, we do not have completely perfect children (as though perfect people exist at any age!) but I think they are pretty fabulous! :)
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