The Quest!

Today is a wee bit better,

I think…

I want to be careful before declaring restored health, but the sun was shining and the nausea seemed less and when I looked in the mirror the pained look on my face seemed like maybe it was gone.

So I got a little adventurous. (It’s been almost a month, I’ve missed the usual antics.)

Will is 4 and as a baby never was attached to any sort of comfort feature, no thumb, no pacifier, no blankie. When he turned 2 he formed such attachments and they are still going strong. I would find him with his pillow sucking his thumb of all things. Who starts sucking their thumb when they are two? Will does. He was a bit of a fussy child, I would have gladly introduced the pillow and the thumb had I any indication it could bring this measure of soothing.  We have named said pillow, “sucky-thumb pillow”. It’s kind of lengthy but quite descriptive.

So Wednesday, Kent, Trent and Justin left our house to accompany Grace Bible Men’s Basketball to their Regional Tournament. In their haste and clearly not thinking during departure, someone snagged “sucky-thumb pillow”. I would think that anyone who lives in this house and breathes the air in these walls, knows what “sucky thumb pillow” looks like and the need that it is for some.

So yesterday morning, Will began searching for “sucky-thumb pillow”, he was distraught. We lose it often but when we do a full on press, it is found. Well, we couldn’t find it anywhere. He was moaning, “Hope, I just need my pillow, so – so bad!!” Then he found Gillian and started the same song. We looked everywhere. We endured the attempt at a nap without it and then bedtime, oh why haven’t I ordered another robin’s egg blue pillowcase, why do we have just one.

When Kent called last night I had an “aha” moment and inquired at the possibility that “sucky thumb pillow“ may have left with his crew. In fact it had.

AGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

 But then,

 what’s this?

 The pillow wasn’t in Wisconsin. It was actually in Kent’s truck in Howard City where the bus picked them up. Howard City is only a big half an hour.  So this morning...

It was sunny today,

 I felt like maybe a quest was in order.

Will was on board.

 We left in a blaze of glory. I didn’t have the van, I had Trent’s car, the one that doesn’t have the proper restraining devices required by law for children under 8. We were almost to Newaygo, when Chris Tomlin’s song, Our God came on the radio. I was so busy praising God for just a glimmer of health and the sun and a quest that in my singing loudly “Our God is greater, Our God is stronger, God you are higher, than any other….” That my foot must have felt the compulsion to press further down to the floor.  Anywho, I saw this special looking car and glanced at the speedometer, to realize I was violating some of the laws of the land. I quickly asked Will to buckle up, he couldn’t, he’s 4 and he didn’t have the special powers sucky-thumb pillow gives him.

I pulled over as that special car pulled up behind me acting like there was a party going on. Lights flashing…woo hoo!! I resisted the urge to explain that I had been confined to my home for nearly a month, I was on a mission of utmost importance to the return of sleep in our home and that I was praising God for all He had done for me. The officer asked where I was headed,

“Howard City”

“Did you realize you were speeding, ma’am?”

“No, officer, not until I saw your car and then I glanced and saw, yes in fact, I was.”

“So I got your attention?”

“Yes, sir you did!”

“Well, you caught mine as well, you were going quite fast.”

“I am sorry, officer.” I handed over the paperwork and thought, I deserve all of this, but it’s o.k.

While the officer was gone I looked back to check out Will. He had on a pair of snow goggles and he said.

“Am I going to jail?”

Laughing, I said, “No honey, mommy may have to pay some money for breaking several really important rules, but you aren’t going to jail.”

When the officer returned he asked how old the young man was.

“ He’s 4. “, was my sheepish reply.

“You know he needs to be in a booster?”

“Yes, officer I do, I am sorry.”

He sent me off with a warning and to be more cautious.

Sucky thumb pillow was found and retrieved and has brought some peace back to our house.

Upon reflection there is much to be thankful for,

Will and my safety

Mercy

Praise

Adventure

Humor

But most of all I was just so overwhelmed that I had received a tiny slice of my life back. Oh the crazy insanity that I have missed so much. I mean really how is it possible that within 5 miles of my house upon my first venture out I get stopped. Oh yes, that’s how I roll.

                                                        (Will holding sucky thumb pillow)

So I am just thanking God for continuing to reveal to me more of who He is and that sometimes while praising Him, He may choose to bless me in a way that I don’t deserve in any, way, shape or form! He did that today. 

And I am so grateful!!