A Smile, an incredible experience (long post warning)

Yesterday, I had an incredible experience happen. Of all places, in the Kroger grocery store parking lot.  It has been a very hectic two weeks for our family.  We have litterally not had dinner at home and as a family in over a week and a half.  This is highly unusual for us as we strive to put dinner as a family, as a priority.  This past week we had close friends give birth to a new baby boy, named Jaxon, who has been in the NICU since his birth, diagnosed with pneumonia.  He is expected to be there at least another 5-6 days.  So between meetings, mowing, family coming in town, and other engagements, we've also been down to the hospital a few times to visit and hang out with our friends while they wait for God to heal their precious baby boy.  The added activity has taken it's toll and the girls both awoke yesterday very tired and not wanting to go to school/daycare.  I decided that after work, I would pick up Morganne and we would just sit and watch a movie at home, just her and I.  Some much needed down time.  We did this in place of our usual Tuesday routine which is, leave work at 2pm, pick up Morganne from school at 3pm, go the the grocery, then go pick up Kaelynn, come home and make dinner or go to bible study if it's scheduled.  So, once Justin got home from work, he stayed home with the girls and I ventured out to the grocery by myself. A needed break for me too, right? 
Tuesday nights are much more crowed than Tuesday afternoons.  I rarely venture out in the evenings if I can help it.  When I first got there after heading through the produce section, a very pretty lady with white hair caught my attention.  She was a little older (older than my parent's), and she was with a very mentally handicapped man, that I would guess to be her grown son.  He was very interested in his surroundings and a very happy guy, pointing out kids in carts and trying to talk to every stranger like he knew them.  The one thing that caught my attention the most was the way this woman handled her son.  She had the prettiest smile and a very relaxed attitude about everything.  She would entertain her son's interest and kindly guide him on to the next isle.  I ended up crossing their path a few times throughout my grocery trip.  Each time, I just couldn't help but smile at the two of them.  I've often thought that having a handicapped child would be very tough.  Having a mentally handicapped child, in my mind however, would be one of the toughest things to ever endure on this earth.  I have no doubt that the ability to parent a mentally handicapped child, love them continually, and still have the energy to go about everything else that life throws at you, is a strength and endurance that only God can provide.  My Mom set the example early in life to not be afraid of "different" people, whether that's a mentally challenged person, or someone from a different race or ethnicity that I was not familiar with.  For this example, I am very grateful, and I'm also thankful that my husband shows the same unconditional love for those around him and hope that my girls will learn this too. 
Back to my experience in the grocery store....  While shopping in the meat section I came across a Mother with four young children, trying to convince one young son to get out of the cart car so that his crying sister could get a turn.  I truly felt for the mother and sent a thank you prayer up for the fact that Justin was home with the girls for this trip.  I commented to this mother that I appreciated her frustration and challenging circumstance (hoping to help with the embarrasment that often comes when kids get unruly in public places!).  After picking up my meat I proceeded to the check out line.  I noticed immediately that the pretty lady with the handicapped son where checking out in the line next to me.  The son must have either known our cashier, or saw her often and felt that she was a friend, because he came up and gave her a big hug asking her how she was doing.  Caught off guard slightly, but thankful for the hug once she realized who it was, she politely told him thanks but that she needed to get back to work.  His Mom chuckled slightly and with her ever present smile, gently pulled him away trying to get his focus back to their food so that she could pay.  I just smiled at the interaction and continued checking out.  The lady and her son walked out ahead of me and ended up being parked only a few cars away.  A man met them as they got to the car and helped get the son into the car so that the lady could pack up the groceries.  I thought to myself, this must be the father, and I was even more impressed with this lady's commitment to her son that having the option to leave him behind in the car with his father, she still chose to take him inside.  Making her trip harder, but most definitely, possibly making her son's day. 
I think of all the times that I get so frustrated with my girls and lose my patience. Parenting is hard work.  I find myself yelling more than I would like and I really do pray often for the patience in dealing with my kids, that I would think (trying to imagine from their perspective) before I respond in many situations.  I've blogged about it before, I fail a lot, but I think I've improved from where I was even 6 months ago, but it's a battle every day.  I thought of this lady and her daily "battles" with her son, but how she seems to really take them in stride, possibly learning along the way to just relax and be thankful for God's blessings.  I got to my van and was about to raise the back hatch when I looked up and the lady from the store was standing about 10 feet away from me looking in my direction.  We made eye contact and she said "You are so sweet."  Surprised, and not fully comprehending what she had said I replied "awww, thanks, but why?"  She again repeated, "You are just so sweet. You are glowing!"  (No, I am not pregnant, people ;c).)  Again, not fully understanding what she was saying, nor understanding why in the world she was saying it, I responded again "aww thanks.  I think you are so sweet in how you interact with your son. He's adorable."  I'm not good with words, especially with strangers, and thinking on my feet.  It was the truth however.  She smiled even bigger at the mention of her son, and quickly responded "You must know the Lord."  Now, this comment immediately gave me chills.  Every Christian's goal is (or should be) for people to see Christ in themselves.  I have always felt this way, but between my feable human tendencies and my stubborn ways, I have never had someone say that they saw Christ "in" me.  I have always felt like I have fallen short in this goal.  I responded to the lady "Yes, I do, very personally."  She walked up and gave me a hug and once again told me what I was so sweet and was glowing, and that she knew I must know the Lord well.  Wow.  What an experience. 
After loading my groceries, I got back in the car and prayed, that God would show me what I was supposed to learn from this encounter and thanked him for the confidence boost in his "bigger" plan.  I don't share this to boast at all about my actions.  I don't want anyone to think that.  In fact I'm more writing this down, simply so that I can remember the interaction and the feeling that I got seeing Christ working in the world around me.  I hope that someday, if I see Christ in someone else, I won't hesitate to tell that person.  We are told not to expect rewards for doing what Christ wants of us, but sometimes it's nice to receive a little encouragement.  I may have helped make that lady feel a little happier for the moment, but her attitude and actions that I observed with her son, have impacted me and how I want to parent, two completely healthy children, with more patience and love and to always strive for others to see Christ in me- including my kids.  I also learned that maybe God wants me to just keep my mouth shut and smile more.  "They will know us by our love", right???
Thanks for reading.  God is good. 

Morganne's first hair cut!

It was time to cut these golden locks.  I was so hesitant because it meant losing the bright blond baby hair, but it was becoming a battle each morning and after baths. We went to our good friend Cassie and Morganne did great.  Of course I brought along my camera and saved some of her precious blond hair.  It was 4.5 years in the making....

 

Before

 This is a funny picture.  It looks like Kaelynn is a bit leary of Morganne's haircut.  In reality it's an action shot as she is passing the time spinning in the empty chair next to us!

 

Enjoying a well earned sucker and showing off her new length.  Love these girls!

 

And because I couldn't have a post all of just Morganne, here are a couple quick shots of Kaelynn recently too.  She is rotten to the core- and she knows it!  Definitely keeps us on your toes.