The Zoo, May Day, and Christopher’s Prayer Request

Last Monday, the kids and I went to the Tulsa Zoo with our usual gang of friends–three Mommys and six kids altogether. Let me tell you, that was an adventure! At least we had gorgeous weather, and the kids had a blast seeing all the animals. Will remembered the zoo in Wichita, so for two days before we went, all I heard was, “Zoo . . . giraffe, long neck! monkeys, oo-oo-oo! elephant, water, long trunk!”

Christopher learned a song recently at Bible Study Fellowship that I think is so cute. I make him sing it for me multiple times a day. One time, he sang it in the car, and when he finished, Will said, “Great job!” It is so sweet to see their friendship growing and to hear them encouraging each other.

Another fun thing we did this week is something Mommy has been waiting for years to do with the kids. When I was growing up, we had a special May Day tradition. Every year on May 1, we would make a paper basket and cut some flowers and hang them on the door of our neighbor and friend, Katherine. She is one of my mom’s closest friends, and her birthday is May 2. I remember taking the May Day basket over, ringing the doorbell, and hiding behind a tree. Katherine would come out and wonder aloud who could have brought these lovely flowers, and I could come running out, yelling “it’s me!” and get a big hug from Katherine. I’ve always hoped that when we moved back home, I could continue the tradition with my kids. So on Thursday afternoon, we went to Katherine’s house, put the basket on her doorknob, rang the bell and ran to hide. As soon as Katherine found them and wondered who they were from, Christopher came running, “It’s me!” with Will trying hard to keep up. The kids really enjoyed it, and I loved having a visit with Katherine!

A small thing that cracked us up the other day–Will is constantly hurting himself and tells us, “I hurt head” or “I hurt foot”, etc. The other day, he fell and said: “I hurt . . . (looking puzzled and touching his wrist) . . . What is this?!? I hurt it.”

Christopher has decided that we need a new baby in our family. At first, he told me that I should choose Caroline (their one-year-old cousin) to be our baby. I explained that Caroline already has a family, but that we can ask God to make a new baby for our family. Christopher has been faithfully asking God for a new baby, and it has prompted several interesting conversations and questions. He wanted to know how I will know when God puts the new baby in my tummy (well, the constant vomiting is usually a good clue!). When I talked with him about God’s perfect timing and tried to prepare him to wait for this for awhile, he said, “Yes, Mommy, God knows the day and the hour.” (Yes, they recently studied Matthew 24:36 at Bible Study Fellowship.) Christopher has decided that we need a girl baby, and yesterday he declared that he plans to name his new baby “Sarah.” (They were watching The Land Before Time at the gym, and Christopher also mentioned that there is a Sarah in the Bible. Oddly enough, I really like the name Sarah!)

This is what Christopher prayed last night at bedtime–I thought it was so sweet: “Dear God, Thank you for this room and for these toys, but we want a new baby for our family, so will you make one for us please? Great. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.” I hope God says “yes” someday . . . but for now, Mommy thinks God has given us plenty to play with.