Tamara Henion Photography

My Boy and His Dog

After 15 years teaching full time, teaching now happens every day in our home. It has been like that for 10 years now.  And guess who gets the little boy who hates to sit for anything, whose mind is crazy active and who, at any given moment, is somewhere. Just somewhere. Let me take you back to the ball field a few years ago. To think our youngest was conceived at a ball field would be understandable, but I assure you that didn’t happen. Anything after that, save his actual birth, is fair game. (No pun intended) As soon as he was mobile everyone knew him.  Why? Because he.was.everywhere. And fast!

The bathrooms were an pretty good distance from the quad of fields. I remember one day asking a friend if she’d keep an eye on him while I ran up to the bathroom. Within our circle of moms watching both the game and our other children playing whatever keeps them occupied for the 18 hours (I kid!) we’re there, another friend chimes in.

“I’ll help her!”

Okaaayyy.

Then she says, “I’ve never seen anyone disappear so quickly. One second he’s right on our feet and the next he’s nowhere to be found.”

It was true. Funny thing (that wasn’t so funny as I made my fast trek to/from the restroom) is that this mom was the mom of 4 children including her twin toddlers.  And who was a handful? MINE!  True, true. He is. Comments  from friends and strangers are a consistent thing even to this day with my little guy. He’s a unique guy. A real gem. Always leaving adults both speechless and amazed but definitely entertained. Should that be counted on the plus side? My heart says absolutely yes.  (At this moment, I’m peeking over my screen as he plays with his  Spiderman, rolls a couple marbles around his hand because it “relaxes” him, crosses his arms in front of him in determination not to do what my eyes say he should be doing,  and…there he goes, back to work-whew!) But sometimes my mind just wonders.

Back to the ball field, he loves being outside. Homeschooling on days which require us sticking around home also requires-in no small way-that he gets outside. So, as he headed out with his backpack (for some unknown reason) to walk his dog, I decided to quietly follow him.

Like Dennis the Menace, his path was anything but straight.  It was, however, a wonderful thing to watch. My boy and his dog.

The Late Night Moon over Midlothian, VA.

1. If you’re an insomniac, you know that night time comes too late.

2. Dinner time would make a good bedtime. If only it didn’t get in the way of everyone’s life.

3. Insomnia makes you aware of your surroundings you may never realize otherwise, such as how many times a minute the smoke alarm in the bedroom blinks.

4. Everyone knows that staying awake while counting sheep is a shepherd’s job.

5. Insomniacs know: We’d make a really good shepherd.

6. We insomniacs are hard workers. We can climb mountains, cross oceans, dig trenches, plan parties, visit loved ones, figure out budgets, plan meals, lay out tomorrow’s outfit,            write letters, handle business, remember birthdays, choose a new paint color…all before we get out of bed in the morning and heading to work.

7.  Mornings are rough. Really rough.

8. If you’re an insomniac, by 2 pm you’re exhausted and counting the hours until bedtime.

9. Seasoned insomniacs hate bedtime.

10. A  nice back rub is insomnia’s counterpoison.

11. Coffee is our best friend.

12. Sadly, for an insomnia, our pillow is our worst enemy.

13. However, wakeful nights leave any insomniac with lot of opportunity for praying.

14. The late night moon is an amazing sight.

15. After a good night’s sleep,  every fellow insomniac is ecstatic and thankful for what is so often taken for granted-some rest on the weary body and mind.

Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

 All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.”

May you find sweet rest tonight, friends.