Tuesday, March 1, 2011

The Busy Season Is Upon Us...

Today (2/28) is a big day in the Peck household...lil'...er, ahem, sorry...big ol' Brandon turns 4 today!  Happy Birthday big man!  On this day in 2007, your Mommy and Daddy learned how exponentially love can and will grow...you came into this world wrapped with a great big bow and we have never been the same.  So proud of the gentleman you are becoming and the way you are carrying the torch as both big and little brother…not an easy task and you bear it well.  Have a great day buddy!

And so, with the coming of February 28, the festivities begin.  Not just B’s birthday, though…in 11 days, Marcie and I will celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary (except for all these kids seems like just yesterday)…the day after that, Marcie will celebrate her 33rd birthday…two days after that, T will celebrate his 9th birthday (and I’m not even going to begin discussing those emotions).  So the busiest two weeks in the Peck family’s lives have begun, and, as usual, we are all running in different directions and give quick hugs and kisses as we pass in the driveway.  Maggie just kind of stares at us with this little “why are you people so worked up” look and then retreats back into Mommy’s arms with her favorite “as long as you’re not taking me” glance out of the corner of her eye.  As for me, well, I decided to join the party and trump them all…utter nonsense that I should have to wait until August to celebrate “Kevin”…so I plan to have gall bladder surgery as soon as absolutely feasible (ugh!).

God did decide late last week and over this past weekend to allow the cold bug to waft freely through our home, thumping all five of us right in the nose (and chest) and slowing down the speed of real life for a few days.  It was a neat, but slimy opportunity to simply watch our new family of five be together…really together…like all in the same 15 square foot vicinity…ok, a little too together at times (ha).  But even with the piles of tissue and bottles of meds, this new little family had a chance to love on each other and continue to build a trust that only hugs, kisses, snuggles and time will allow.  While she is very content and happy most of the time, Maggie knows Marcie’s hip and shoulder well…and she now knows comfort and love and safety can always be found there.  Cries become whimpers there…whimpers become sniffles…and sniffles become sighs…finally.  And even though there is still a little bit of apprehension, a little bit of occasional inconsolability when it comes to the men of the house…she is learning slowly but surely that the boys and I are trustworthy too.  And I will argue with her ‘til the end of time to convince her that I love her unconditionally and that she can trust me absolutely. :)  Her brothers seem up to the task as well…and they’ve never exhibited the patience it takes to boil water (ha).  She’s a game changer, folks, in every sense of the phrase.  Shhhh...nobody tell her she already has me wrapped.

We feel good…this feels right.  She holds her own with her brothers.  The big brothers worry about and defend her.  Mommy and Daddy are parenting and loving all of them in a way that didn’t fully exist before we spent three weeks on the other side of the world.  We see it differently now.  We saw our very own burning bush.  Many would say we saved an orphan...and sure, we added to the “one less” column…but the truth is, she saved us.  She and her story were exactly what we needed and this season of life was exactly when we needed her…and God knew that all along.  Humbled…