Gratitude Friday...

AK:  Momma, can we get one of these Strawberry Shortcake toys?

Me:  No, baby.  Not today.

AK:  Why not today?

Me:  Because we don't buy new toys every day.  They're a treat.

AK:  Why are they a treat?

Me:  Because they're not special if you get one every day.

AK:  Why aren't they special?

Me:  Aubrey Kate, bottom line here is money doesn't grow on trees so we are not going to buy you a new toy every day.  Sorry, darlin'.

(Oh, yeah, I said it.  About died once the words came out of my mouth but there they were.)

AK:  Why money doesn't grow on trees?

Me:  Sweetie, I don't know that.  You'll have to ask God.

(She goes to the playroom.  Stands smack in the middle of the room...)

AK:  GOD?  CAN I HAVE ONE OF THE STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE TOYS?

(Runs back to me)

God said YES!  I can have one!

(I totally should have seen that coming.)

Me:  Ask Him again.  Pretty sure you heard Him wrong.

These are the conversations going on over at the Evans' joint these days.  There are oh so many more.  We continue to talk about Rosy the Jaguar as if she will some day...soon...be a member of our family.  Currently, we are waiting for her mother's permission to take her with us to the beach.

Not that we are going to the beach.

But in case we do someday spontaneously decide to drive fourteen hours to a beach, we'll be good with Rosy's mom.

Bases.  Covered.

In baby boy news, Rhys is feeling a little crummy.  We had a meeting at church last night, which ran long as church meetings tend to do, and didn't get the kids in bed until close to 9 pm.  I decided to skip Rhys' bath and just put him in his PJ's and down for the night.  Chris gave AK a bath and she cried the whole way through it.  She kept crying, "I'm so tired."

No kidding.

Rhys went down quickly and we got to work tucking in a crying three year old.  

As soon as we closed her door behind us on our way to eat some sort of dinner, we heard Rhys screaming.  He had thrown up everything he'd eaten in the past two weeks.  

It was everywhere.

So much for skipping the bath.  

He threw up again this morning.  Sometime between 7:00 am when I came out of our room and 8:00 am when I went in to wake him up.  I could smell it from the playroom.  

You're welcome.

No gym and "kids' park" for us today.  But he was happy to sit in the grocery cart, the race car cart and the Hobby Lobby cart during morning errands.  He's eaten about three bites of a banana and drank about two ounces of milk.  Every time I pick him up, he lays his head down on my shoulder.

And then I die.

Baby boy snuggles.  They are the real deal, y'all.

What does any of that have to do with my gratitude list?  Almost nothing.  Except that life is never boring and I'm pretty grateful for the two miracles who keep it interesting.  And I'm always grateful for snuggles.  Always.

This week, I'm grateful for the generosity of the people in our life who know our mess and love us anyway.  

Got another batch of hand-me-down adorableness from a sweet friend.  Rhys' entire winter wardrobe is set thanks to her.  Her third miracle (and so last, according her) is about a year older than Rhys.  Perfect time apart.  He's already worn three of those new outfits this week.  Precious stuff.  

Another friend heard his neighbors were donating a little pink car and a Dora...oh yeah, that's right...a Dora tricycle.  He dropped them off outside the front door sometime in the middle of the night.  Almost like Santa.  

I thought Aubrey Kate was gonna pass right on out.  

She's already decided Rhys can have her red car and she will take the pink one.  Of course, she gets the tricycle too.  

I suspect what she really means is she can have both cars and share one with Rhys only when instructed to do so.  Multiple times over.  At least, that's been my experience.

Unfortunately, this means I will have to go outside, and not to the pool where I can soak my feet, and play in the 99 degree afternoon.  But no doubt, she will have a blast and create many a video-worthy moment.

I love how involved our friends are in our life.  Single income, and a teacher's salary at that, they get it.  Life is tight but with such wonderful, thoughtful friends around, we feel pretty blessed.  

Isn't it just so much fun to watch God provide?  He never ceases to amaze.