I have been trying to get over a horrible stomach virus the last few days. It came with a quiet entrance and has lingered with an evil vengeance. Thank goodness for my husband's flexible schedule (a pro of being a minister, even though the cons can be that he may be out at 2 am counseling with a suicidal teen), I have been able to be with my daughter, but not right in her face, as he has run interference and tried to keep her occupied outside the house. At times, I have been too nauseous to speak, or be spoken too, but nothing has made me too sick to receive my daughter's sweet words or actions.

Before she and Joshua have left the house to go over to the office for him to do some work, or have just left to get out of the germ infested building we call home, she has never hesitated, completely unprompted, to say the following things: "Bye, mommy. I see you later, mommy." Running to the couch, "I kiss your head, mommy!" Nothing has been sweeter in my moments of feelings of total sickness than hearing those words and feeling her sweet kisses on my head! Just one of the many moments I have to come of shedding tears over the wonderful things about my daughter. What a blessing it is to be a mom!

Jovey and I got an opportunity to go and help my mom and dad, mostly mom, do some organizing and throwing away of some stuff before they prepare to move in the future, due to their retirement. Jovey was a sweet granddaughter and kept them smiling the whole 3 days. As we met Joshua, my husband, at Frisch's so that he could pick me up instead of making the long drive to Maysville, she ate her meal very well and in the middle, put down her cheeseburger, put her hands beside her ears, straight up in the air, and said, "I a rabbit, mommy!" We all just sat there, since she had never done that before and to think what had gone through her mind to spark such a dramatic monologue, we had no clue. Whatever it was, it was super cute, I must say. Sometimes, I believe that God whispers in the ears of children, just as he does us, but either the message gets lost in translation or it goes in just like it should and achieves just what He wants, it makes us smile and appreciate the life that He gives us all.

So Jovey, my almost 2 year old daughter, learns at frightening speeds all that is around her. A couple of days ago, she stood at the front door of our home and ran excitedly to me saying, "Mommy, I see a yellow school bus!" I asked her to repeat the phrase, as I half believed I heard what I did. Sure enough, she repeated, "Mommy, I see a yellow school bus!" I just replied, "Really?" We had seen an episode of Mr. Rogers 2 days prior in which Trolley was dressed up as a yellow school bus, and thus, she saw the real thing and was ecstatic to make the connection. I continue to stand in awe of the creatures that God creates us to be. How amazing that even at such a young age, things begin to click. I pray that as she learns other things about this world, she will soak all that she can about God and his everlasting, unconditional love for her and others around her.