I Dare You...

The boys LOVE basketball.  They especially love to play at their Grandma and Papa's house because when the net is lowered they are able to dunk on it.

This was on Easter Sunday.

So on Monday, yesterday, I decided to show the boys how I could dunk on our lowered net...

The lowered net that they aren't able to reach, THANK GOD!!

Because I ran up and dunked, with two hands and closed my eyes because I was afraid the ball would hit me in the head.  

Well the ball didn't hit me in the head.  No it didn't.

What did hit me in the head was the backboard. 

I was lying on the ground unable to move and yelled to Jonah to get the next door neighbors and call Grandma.

I am so proud of my boy, he was amazing.

Within moments my neighbor was there along with my mom and sweet sister.

I took my very first ride in an ambulance.  It was all very dramatic with the orange board and safety straps and gurney.

Today I am thanking God that I am just badly bruised and scraped.  Nothing is broken, just sporting a sweet  noggin on my forehead, along with a mild concussion.  Who needs botox when a backboard can do the trick?? 

Joe was feeling guilty because the basketball net had blown over a couple of weeks ago and he had been meaning to take it down.

We are all so grateful that it was me and not one of the kids. 

My precious babies were so worried...I was a mess thinking about how traumatic the whole thing must have been for them.  

Micah was so concerned.  He is the one who dared me to dunk...

He made me a card and told me that he was going to sleep in daddy's spot so he could check on me all night.  My precious boy.

I feel the love!!

So I'm not going to dare any of you to dunk...

But I am going to dare you (and me) to something else...because life can change in the blink of an eye...

I dare you to take every moment you have with your loved ones and gratefully cherish them!!    

Give thanks to the LORD,  for he is good.  His love endures forever.  Psalm 136:1

You Have My Heart

Just yesterday he was bundled in my arms as I rocked and rocked him to fall asleep for that cherished two hour nap he took...

Just yesterday he was waving around light-sabers and saving the galaxy from evil emperors....

Just yesterday he was wobbling and falling and grabbing on the boards as he learned how to skate...

And now he reads himself to sleep with stories about Poseidon's son saving the planet....

And now he plays competitve hockey and only uses the boards to sneak in a hard check...

And today he left for 5th grade science camp away from this crazy stalker mom and all of her control for four days...

And this mama bear bit back the hot tears in the gym this morning...

As I handed over the health form and my precious firstborn into the care of mere aquaintances I  could have sworn my heart fell out and hit the hardwood floor...

And as he gave me a quick hug and pat on the back when no one was looking I saw a sparkle in those adorable blues that reassured me he was extremely eager and excited to experience this adventure.

I could also see that he was more worried about me missing him than him missing me.  My sweet boy...  

And as he stepped up onto the big yellow bus and turned around and waved at me I was almost sure that I would explode into a million pieces because of the love overwhelming up inside of me...

Sometimes it takes the worried what-ifs to bring us back to the reality of the goodness of the here and now...

How much I take it for granted when growing pains are shooting through and two heads are butting up against one another because they are so much alike...

As I watched him board I realized that my heart didn't fall out on the floor back in the school...it didn't burst into an explosion either...nor did it fall out into those tears that I swallowed...

Instead, my heart drove off on that school bus to Camp Michindoh early this morning with that beloved son of mine...

And I know he will hold on tight to it for me until he returns on Thursday....

Until then I will be praying hard and waiting desperately for his homecoming. 

I will be singing this song all week...check it out!!  (and the tears will be flowing hot and fast)