The hour was ending as Ms. Sheila made her way from table to table admiring the work of her three to five year olds in Little Learners. As she approached Amelia’s favorite spot, the sensory bin, Amelia opened fire, peppering her with one question after another. Ever attentive, Ms. Sheila attempted to answer each query, …
Me, Myself & I
The house is quiet today but I am not alone. Ever faithful Jake, our Velcro Dane, haunts my steps, following me from room to room, even to the bathroom. He lumbers to the garage door as I fold laundry, pacing, hoping in vain for an early dinner. I take him out and he chases a …
Misled
My room was dark as midnight before seven. I fought sleep as I lounged across my bed, knees folded to hide the light from my phone screen while I read through my daily Bible reading plan. My four grandchildren slept soundly in their respective places as my daughter, in the adjoining room, brewed us decaf …
Follow Me
“Why are we whispering?” Amelia asked, leaning in closer. “Listen.” I whispered. “Do you hear the birds? Do you hear the wind?” She was watercolor painting a butterfly outside and she had nearly finished one side but she was distracted by her little brother as he climbed up and down from his chair. In an …
Eager To Please
“Who wants to…?” Before I got any further, Thomas and Amelia dropped what they had been doing and raced for the kitchen. “I want to do it, Yolly!” Amelia’s words were interrupted by Thomas’s. “You did it last time. It’s my turn.” “No I didn’t.” Whether it’s carrying a piece of cardboard to the recycling …
Outrun You
“Beat you! Beat you!” Ezra’s high pitched squeals echoed the others across the backyard. He runs with his whole body, belly out, arms back, vibrato in his voice keeping rhythm with his bounding steps. The slight grade of our backyard pushes him faster until I’m afraid he may face plant. Still he runs. Amelia challenged …
Peace
“Tree! Crash! Boom! Bang!” Ezra fairly shrieked, little hands motioning above his head. We were playing on the front porch together when the last two aged hardwoods came down. We waited for spring to see how they would fill out before deciding to take them down. Once they were on the ground and the rotted …
Withholding
“You can’t reach it! You can’t reach it!” Thomas chanted as he circled the room, full speed ahead, ball held high above his head. Timothy and Ezra followed him in circles, temporarily entertained. Amelia caught up to him but he evaded her grasp. She quickly tired of his game and wandered off in search of …
Shortsighted
“Timothy, would you like to help Lolly?” I invited. The others were caught up in their own game on a cluster of ride on toys on one side of the room. Timothy stood a little aside, sleepy and frustrated that he had not gotten to the zebra ride on first. In an instant, I was …
Exponentially
What do you get when you inflate one splash pad and add water and two hundred ball pit balls? Happy grandchildren!Thomas, Amelia, Timothy and Ezra enjoyed hours of fun-soaked outdoor play. At one point, Timothy lounged on the edge of the inflated surround mindlessly collecting balls he had been tossing out a moment earlier. When …
A Fitting Reply 