Skip to main content

blessed on the beach (with the crazy people)

 

 

I’m a sappy head.

 

 

Which is why I established a family tradition of praying in the New Year on the beach when we were just newly weds.  We’ve always lived (or been) close to the shore on New Years.  Delaware.  Rhode Island.  Tanzania.  And it just makes my sappy heart feel all warm and fuzzy to stand before the powerful vastness of the ocean and dedicate our lives anew to the One who created it all! 

 

 

Also, it’s fun the heckle the crazies who brave hypothermia every New Year!!!  There were three of them on our little rinky dink beach this year.

 

 

Jonathan says, “Hey, who wants to take a dip with those crazy people?!” 

 

 

The two big kids immediately shout “NO WAY!” 

 

 

Trevy (true to form) shouts, “MEEEEE!”

 

 

Now for a little back story.

 

 

It also happens that there is snow on the ground this year.  And for the first time in as long as we can remember we felt like we could actually take the kiddos sledding.  It was to be their maiden voyage!  I just knew Trevy would love it.  (I couldn’t have been more wrong)  And it’s a rite of passage as New Englanders!

 

 

So away we went.  To find Potato Hill.

 

 

Which we discovered is HUGE!  And very crowded! 

 

 

Trevy was terrified.

 

 

Toby just slightly less so.

 

 

Fearless Bristel had the time of her life! 

 

 

But wouldn’t you know it…the last trip down the hill was drama laden.  Because I’m convinced our family is cursed!!!!

 

 

Trevy and I were freezing our patooties off at the top of the hill.  His cheeks may have been frozen into a frowny face.  He was NOT a fan of sledding or watching those who were.  But I wanted to watch them go for the last time.  So there we stood, waiting for them to stop lolly gagging at the bottom and get the heck up here so we could pile in the van and go.  I had NO idea what they were doing.  Jonathan, Bristel and Toby were on all fours…rooting around in the snow.  I thought one of the kids must have had an iPod in their pocket.  I wish!  Nope.  Turns out they were looking for half a tooth.  Half of a front tooth.  Half of Tobin’s permanent front tooth!!!!!

 

 

So fast forward to our New Year’s prayer moment several hours and lots of emotional upheaval later.

 

 

We park the toasty van in view of the waves.

 

 

Jonathan and I have a lot on our hearts and minds this year.  It’s been a heavy year for us in many ways.  Not a bad year.  Just heavy. 

 

 

Jonathan asks me to open the prayer…each of the kids taking their turn (except Trevy who was still nursing a grudge that we wouldn’t let him swim!) and Jonathan would wrap it up.

 

 

So I pray.  I confess my heart wasn’t entirely in it.  I was upset about Toby’s tooth.  Upset about Trevy hating sledding.  Upset about some financial issues.  Upset about other drama.  And my heart was just not as tender as I wished.

 

 

Bristel prayed sweetly.

 

 

Trevy said, “NO!”

 

 

And then came Toby’s prayer.  Some days that boy drives me positively bonkers.  Who knew boys could be moody?!  But then some days…I have glimpses of the man he’s growing into…and it leaves me breathless.  He is a beautiful.  In the soul.  His prayer was one of those moments.  I don’t remember it verbatim but my favorite line by far was something like…

 

 

Lord, our family is tough.  We can take a few hits and still get back up.  I mean, I broke my tooth.  But I know You don’t care about the outside.  You want my heart to be what people see as beautiful.  And Trevy.  He’s been through so much and he still smiles.  And that’s beautiful too.

 

 

The rest was lost on me because by that time I was a snotty weepy tender hearted mess.

 

 

Gosh, I love my family.

 

 

Even in the cursed drama laden moments.

 

 

These are my people.

 

 

My tribe.

 

 

The joys and loves of my life.

 

 

And even with broken teeth, missing brains, plus the run of the mill life drama…

 

 

I am feeling wonderfully blessed to call them mine.

 

 

And by the Grace of God we’ll make it through another year.  Hopefully, with the rest of our teeth intact!!!!

 

 

But if not…I now know a dentist who can do a bang up job of creating a fake!

 

 

…danielle

Comments

Brenda Rhodes said…
I think I am in love with your family. I always come away from your blog smiling. Oh, if you knew how bad I needed to smile tonight. It's been a really rough day with too many tears so...Thank you! (and my daughter broke off her front tooth when she was about 12 or 13 and the dentist patched it. She will be 32 this year and still gets compliments on her beautiful teeth!)
Danielle said…
XO

And now that I'm over all the mommy drama...I have to confess, he had teeth to spare (his daddy and I are both toothy peeps) and his smile looks GREAT!!!!

...danielle
Anonymous said…
This is precious. Ok, missing teeth and half a brain - you will never be with out a story. Good grief.

Popular posts from this blog

No, I don’t know him personally

  I’ve had several emails today asking if I know Mike W. of Marissa’s Bunny personally.    Trevy’s blog was linked on her site.  Although it’s not now.     I’ve posted here and there at his request.  Because…well…we’re a community.  Us IS families.  And Marissa is wicked cute.  Her daddy has a way with words.  Also who wouldn’t want the world to know about an iPad give-away?    But aside from that…I know about as much as you do.    We’ve never met in person.    Our only communication has been cyber.    I’m a ginormous sap and as such would love to believe that all is right.  That the sweet, beautiful families who were promised iPads will be getting them tonight.  Tomorrow at the latest.  That no one has been lied to.  That the personal thank you for your generosity email I sent him on behalf of other IS families I’ve grown to love and was thrilled to learn w...

I sure hope...

they grow back curly! Saw the "unknown" flashing on the face of my cell phone and knew who it was. Who it had to be. Dr. Fellow. My eyes met Grams' and I nodded. Grams has a pool, see. For super hot days like today. We're also having a septic installed. Which meant no water or facilities at my place. But those weren't really the reasons I was there. Close to mom. The purple ringing thing in my hand was. Only I wasn't prepared for it to be ringing SO darn soon. Shortly after lunch instead of dinner! I swallowed. Took a deep breath. And clicked connect. Dr. Fellow has a very nice phone tone. Clear. Hint of compassion. If only a stitch of humor were added...it'd be heavenly. But there was no humor. Just business. He's very direct. I'm learning that about him. Which explains his short hello. Followed by immediately pushing into the news. Being that it was a unanimous consensus. The entire surgical committee feels Trevor is a good candidate. And then p...

it ain't sexy livin' on an island...

Especially when you have to cross bridges to get ANYWHERE. Very LARGE bridges. The crests of which I inevitably get stuck at. Speaking of...why is it that at the tippity tops of our bridges...the railings always open up? To reveal an eagle's eye view of the white capped depths below? I HATE that. And sure enough...in route to Dr. Pedi yesterday...they must have seen me coming cause traffic ground to a halt at the top of the Mt. Hope Bridge. Where I felt less than Hope-ish. My palms gushing my nerves onto the steering wheel for a good 15 (felt like forever) minutes. Not just things medical bring out my cowardly lion. Heights do too! Anyway... Grabbed an iced coffee and chocolate cream filled to settle my nerves on the way. And we arrived on time...in one piece. Of course. Dr. Sick-Visit-Pedi breezed in chart in hand. Glanced down. Then at Trevy. Then said... "He has a history of Infantile Spasms?" Surprise and speculation in her voice. We get that a lot. It...