Lego Guys and Christmas Trees

Today, Caleb wanted to show me the Lego guys he had made for Jude.

So, he pulled them out of Jude's stocking, and we looked at them together.
He's quite proud of them.

Every day, we have conversations.

Conversations about Jude...about Jesus...and about Heaven.

Today, as Caleb was sitting in the chair that I had rocked him in as a baby...

the chair that I had hoped would be Jude's as well,

 he asked me, "Mommy, why did I 'chose' to go to my cousins'?

I didn't get to be with my baby brother much."

We sat there...being sad together.

We talked about the plans that God has for us...for him...for Jude.

And, we talked about the hope of Heaven.

Caleb then said, "He's the first one in our family who gets to see it."

"It will be so cool."

"There will be two Christmas trees for every person!!"

Not sure where the tree thought came from, but I love his heart.

In one of the little books I read about children and grieving,

they said that children Caleb's age won't remember much of what happens during this time.

The important thing is that in the midst of all the questions and confusion...

they have an overall sense that they are loved.

We want to love him well.

As we look back over the decisions we made,

we are so thankful for the Lord's guidance with Caleb.

We see His hand guiding him to Illinois, where he was loved and cared for so well.

And, we see His hand guiding us to leave soon after returning home and spend tons of money

so that we could be the ones to tell him about his brother.

We are thankful for both of the decisions we made.
And, we are thankful that He promises wisdom to all who ask for it (James 1:5).
He is faithful to all His promises.

Thank you so much for praying for us.

In many ways, because of you we will look back upon this time

with a very clear sense that we were loved.