randomness

Across the room, my four kids are sitting at the dining room table. Each of the girls have acquired for themselves coloring books. They separated out the crayons so that they each have some. The boy is more interested in watching the girls color, than coloring himself. I am struck by the sight of this. They all used to be so little! 

Time has flown by so quickly. It seems like we women say that so much, especially in relation to the growth of our children. These kids used to be babies! Now, here they are, writing and coloring and reading and growing. 

This morning the lobster asked me if I wanted him to reenlist. For the first time since having children, I told him no. I think he was baffled that I actually said that. He sat there in silence for a couple of seconds just looking at me, then looking out the window, then back at me. He is used to him being the one tired of the Army, and me being the one that says, "Keep on going. We can do this." I just don't feel that anymore. So will this be it? Will we separate from the Army twelve and half years after going into it? I don't know. It's ultimately his decision. It very well could be that this deployment will be our last and that this will be the end. Five times to the middle east is kind of a nice "complete" number...right?

I wonder how my oldest triplet will handle the chaos that is about to descend. As much as I work to prepare, train and equip my children for our current lifestyle, and the things that may come along with it, she doesn't comprehend things like the rest of my kids. Her brain functions differently. The strain of goodbye is effecting her greatly. Stress brings out autistic behavior immensely so. Children with autism deeply struggle with change in routines. Her particular weakness is with emotion. She can not handle them. She has been hurting herself again. I can see her slipping away into herself again. I know we will make it through. I know God will continue to give me insight and understanding in ways to reach her and connect with her. It is always interesting how God helps us handle the stuff that comes our way...

As I was deep in thought about triplet numero uno, triplet numero tres comes walking over to me from the table marching. She has the coolest personality ever. She literally thinks funny! I wonder what the circus is like inside her brain. She emanates funny thoughts. While coloring, she was making the funniest facial expressions. She walks around with such a silly spring to her step. She has always been such a firecracker. I wonder what it was like in her world to create such a fighter in her.

Well, I had better get off of here. I need to get some cleaning done on this house. Plus, the lobster looks like he needs a laugh or something, so I'd better start thinking funny thoughts... a man walked into a bar and said ouch! :) Have a great Saturday!