We had a very sad start to our week. We lost Great Grandma. She was like the Energizer Bunny and always kept running. We took it for granted that we would get to see her each summer. Caroline was particularly sad because she has been talking about Great Grandma reaching 100 years old for years now. She really wanted that to happen. I am really going to miss her. I am going to miss our phone conversations where she would tell me stories about her childhood or young adult years. She was a person who lived life. She traveled and saw the world. Whenever we went to her house growing up, we would always encounter a new food. She always made us just try it. (I like brussel sprouts because of that.) Whenever I see a giant azalea, I'll think of her yard and the massive ones she grew. I will always see faces in pansies and be reminded of her. When I eat pumpernickel bread, I'll think of her. When I see cool rocks, I'll definitely think of her. She was fun. She was fun to talk to and enjoyable to be around. To my friends, I always described her as 'spry' and she was. Active, energetic, brisk. She was incredibly creative and was always working on a painting. She had a very specific way she would hug - tight and yet in a way so she could get a good look at you. I'm going to miss her a lot. I already do. We do.
It's hard to transition from that, but this was the rest of our week.
Josiah had grown his hair really long (long for us). It got to the point that it was getting in his way at jiu-jitsu. He was always shaking his head to the side to get it out of his face. He asked to go to the Salon de Cockrell. He preferred this establishment because they were quicker and he could look at his phone while his hair was being cut. However, at this particular Salon, the hairdresser pays no heed to keeping the client's face clean. That's what you get with free cuts. This haircut actually turned out really nice. I've admired it throughout the week. He developed a stomach bug the following morning, but even through all his sickness, I'd tell him, I'm sorry you're throwing up, but your hair looks amazing!
The day after Josiah's haircut was CC day. Josiah mentioned that he didn't feel well that morning. I actually told him to stay home because Benson wasn't feeling well either, so they could stay home together. At the very last minute, Josiah said he wanted to come. (He had no fever or outward symptoms of anything at this point.) So he got himself ready. He munched on a bagel as we drove there. He went to his classroom while the younger crew and I started the morning assembly time. As soon as the assembly ended, Josiah's director came to me and very calmly said, "Josiah's sick. Yeah. He's going to need to go home." I went to his room and that was an understatement. He threw up. A lot. And not in the trash can. The chair, the floor, his rolly cart with all his books in it. We got that all cleaned up while Josiah sat outside with a trash can. I picked up Henry and Caroline from their classrooms and headed home.
And Benson was off his game, too. The first half of the week he just seemed like he didn't feel well. He was sad looking and did not eat much of his food. He was less playful. Then on Wednesday evening, we noticed his left ear was really swollen. We're not sure what happened, but our guess was a bug or something bit him. Of course, the swelling had gone down by the time we took him to the vet Friday morning. They still checked his ears out and put some sticky stuff in them to help him out. As of right now, Benson seems to be just fine.
This weekend we celebrated something very special to our family. Caroline's baptism. About a month ago at Awana, they were telling the story of Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, but recognized the miracles Jesus performed and knew they could only come from God. Jesus told him that only if he were to be born again could he see the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus asked Jesus how one could be born again. Then it was explained that one is born of the flesh (literal birth as a baby) and born of the Spirit - becoming a believer in Messiah Jesus. Once one professes faith, it is always followed by baptism. When the leader was explaining this at Awana, Caroline turned around, looked at me, and mouthed the words that she wanted to be baptized. Yay!
We set up a meeting with our children's minister at church. She asked Caroline a lot of questions to make sure she understood what she was doing - that baptism was just an outward symbol of a inward decision to follow Jesus. There was nothing special about the water, but there was something special about placing your trust and faith in Him. Ms. Leslee walked Caroline to the baptismal fount and let her look all around. She explained how it would happen so that there would be less anxiety the day of. She also gave Caroline a workbook to go through to deepen her understanding. We have been working through that, but also set up her baptism for today. She was so happy to be baptized close to her birthday. She has been very excited for this day to come. This was just how we wanted it - we wanted it to be her decision when she was ready. A decision that she made without any pressure. Her palpable excitement was just icing on the cake. So, this morning Todd was able to baptize her.
We got to church quite early, so we took pictures every few feet to document the day. ;)
We are so happy for her decision. Faith in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for her sins, and resurrection is the best decision she can make for all her life. We pray she continues to walk with Him all her days.
She wanted to celebrate at Tutti-Frutti, so we headed there after church. At Tutti-Frutti, you fill up your own cup of frozen yogurt and then you can add whatever toppings you like. It is $0.55 per ounce. These two kids racked up $15 worth of frozen yogurt in these two cups! And that is why we've only been to this place twice.
Poor Josiah stayed at home, still in recovery mode. He is doing much better and his one goal at the moment is to be able to eat the meals Caroline picked out for her birthday.
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