Absolute Forgiveness

Yes-it's been forever since I "wrote"anything down here, but I just have to journal about one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. I understand that many of you (if anybody really reads this)may not struggle with TRUE forgiveness---not the "oh, it's fine but in the back of my brain I'll never forget you did that " type forgiveness, but the forgiveness that truly forgives. I certainly do, and my better half might be saying AMEN as I type this.

Anyway, tonight our youngest (19 months) was walking around the living room in my high heels (quite a common occurrence around here :) ) She was prancing and stepped on E's toes by accident, and REALLY hurt her (I know this not by the volume of E's cries-DRAMA-, but the red marks left across her foot. ) J just looked at her then the beautiful thing happened. I told J to say "I'm sorry" to E (which she isn't able to verbalize yet) and she reached up to stroke E's arm very gently. She then leaned in to hug Elizabeth and so delicately patted her on the back.
I melted for three main reasons-
1)When J first came here 4 months ago, she bit E several times,pulled hair often, and would pinch when angry. That certainly has lessened, but we still talk about how hands are for loving, softly touch the other person's arm,etc, every time it DOES happen. This time she did it on her own! Such a blessing to me to tangibly see more of the tender fruits from precious baby girl! She is being transformed by His love TO love others.
2)It was also beautiful so see forgiveness sought and offered. What a great reminder to us grown ups, too.
3) I loved the way E forgives! So earnestly, so quickly, without conditions, and very generously. She doesn't need to point out how she's been wronged, the gravity of the error, or the extent to which she was hurt. Forgiveness asked, forgiveness given. So simple, yet how often I make it so difficult.

Thank you Jesus for paying the ultimate price for my hope. Thank you for making it possible for my sins to be forgiven, to stand before the Father because of your great love. Please help me not make it so complicated, between you and I and myself and others. Thank you!

Funny Phrases!

This will not be anything deep, moving, or even funny to some. However, they are some phrases I've heard around here that crack me up and I don't want to forget.

F-"Please stop that, E. You're getting IN my nerves."

C-"Mom, I'm weally, WEALLY hungry. I can't wait for suppa. I think I need an appetiza."

E-"F, do you like my BEAUTIFUL finger nails? (after we just painted them pink :) ) They're lovely aren't they? My husband will like them someday (very matter factly)." Thank goodness the boys both complimented her---just makes life easier. :)

E- I said no more candy. "OK Mom. (very emphatically) I've got a GWEAT idea! (pointer finger up in the air) We can just eat tons of junk tomorrow instead. That way our teef won't wot out tonight!)

F- "Mom, are we going to have 'bracelets' like Emily and Amy Thorington one day?" The actual word is BRACES!

E-"Heaven will be such a wonderful place! We'll see Jesus, sing songs, and maybe even snuggle up to God. Maybe Timmy would like to snuggle with God, too. He's in heaven you know----he's up there not being sick anymore."

C-"Hold on mom. I forgot to swirggle. I just love swirggling, mom. It makes your mouth taste so fwesh." translate---gargle

E-"I think I'll just save the bike Santa gave me until I get a little older. That way I'll be safe!"

F-"Hold on a second, Mom. I've gotta 'chap' my lips." Santa brought him a tube of chapstick and he frequently slowed down the moving along process to "chap" his lips. (translate "lips" to whole lower face)

NOT so funny----Clark came to me yesterday afternoon and TOTALLY out of the blue(like we hadn't talked about him all day) said--"Mom, I have to tell you something. I think I'm wesponsible for Timmy being dead. I dwopped him, dwopped him on the floor---on accident---when he was only three days old. I made him die, Mom. I just know it." For anyone that knows Clark, you know his hands were waving the whole time he was talking. Pensive. Pitiful. I quickly reassured him that turtles fall off of things all the time and that I was sure that wasn't it. It was more likely that he had a virus before he got here that he brought from California----I mean the North Pole. :)
I am purposing to be more aware of the wheels that are turning/processing when I don't even realize.

By the way, spell check loved this. :)