Our Kids Are Better than Your Kids

Well maybe just for today! Today if there was a perfect kids contest I would enter ours because they are simply the best.  I would probably use their pictures from when they were little because they were really cute then, but maturity, independence and life experiences hasn't treated them too badly. 

Kevin is still sick.  What else can I say.  Today I realize that he is just going to need some TIME.  And it just so happens that we don't have anything planned for the next three months, so we do have time.  This go around has been a little rougher and adding to the fact that he has all kinds of new medications in his system, he just can't get stabilized.  He ate about 5 bites of lunch, the first food he's had for a couple of days and, fingers crossed, it's still down.  The team up here on the 8th floor of LDS Hospital are doing everything they can to get him back to good health.  If I were to ask Kevin he would probably say, "This is boring!"  Last night he pushed the nurses call button and the gal at the desk asked him what she could do for him and he said, "I was just lonely and needed someone to talk too."  I'm not sure what that says about my conversation skills, but it says that Kevin's hangin' in there, and still has a sense of humor and we all appreciate that.

So now about those perfect kids we have.  Yesterday Kevin and I left for the hospital and the kids went into action.  The "firework" incident, as Tiff calls it, required a complete two room cleaning job and some laundry and I just walked out and left it for them.  They scoured the bedroom and bathroom, did the laundry, went to church, packed Kevin and overnight bag, packed me a lunch, and headed to the hospital to do what they do best, lift Kevin's spirits.  Then after the visit went home and made cookies, which I hope Kevin will soon be able to eat. Seeing our kids in action yesterday reminded me of something I have thought about before.  This challenge has come to our family at a time when we have every ability to overcome it.  Our kids are all right where they need to be.  Tiff has learned to deal with 27 eight year olds, she can certainly take care of Brandon and she does his Spanish homework for him.  Meg, the best cleaning lady is home from school to make certain that not one germ gets in our house and Brandon; what perfect timing you have to get your drivers license and be so independent, who needs their mom anymore.  And me, well what else do I have to do.  I recognize many people have life's greatest challenges at the most inconvenient time, when they have to wonder how they can keep their family functioning,  but I see one of the tender mercies of the Lord, in preparing us and allowing us to have our lives in order to accept and overcome this challenge, for that I am grateful.

Tiffany, Megan and Brandon you are and will always be our greatest joy.  You are everything we would want you to be and more.  The hardest day of your dad's life was the day he had to wonder if he would be there to see many important future days in your lives and that day he committed to do whatever he had to do and go through whatever he had to go through because he will be there.  You are the reason your dad has every bit of determination to fight this battle and he will win.  He fights for you and because of you and with you.  Never forget families are forever!