Tears ... Tender Hearts ... Two Boys ... Transitions ...

Tears are flowing ...

Tender hearts are hurting ...

Two boys are missing the ones they love ...

Transitions can be very hard ...


Mama's love isn't always enough ...

Please pray for my two youngest boys:  Elijah (8) and Josiah(10).  This time of transition has definitely been the most difficult for them.

The past 2 afternoons, I have laid in my bed, rubbing Elijah's back, as he has sobbed himself to sleep.  Why?  Because he just plain misses his Papa and his Big Brothers.  (He misses his Big Sisters, too, but nothing can compare to the brother-to-brother bond.)

Last summer, Elijah had 11 of his 12 older siblings living at home.  He had Gregg (24), Jeremiah (22), Josh (18), and Ben (16) involved in his daily life, in addition to Papa, Mama, and the girls.

Then, for 6 months, we were on the island with "only" the 6 younger children.  But, this included Papa and Ben.  Though Ben is 16, he is so involved in the younger kids' lives.  He loved to take them all out into the woods to play last winter, for hours at a time.

Now, Elijah spends his days with Mama and the other Young Ones.  He misses Papa.  He misses Ben.  He misses the Big Boys.  Gregg moved to Texas in February.  Josh moved across the state in March.  Jeremiah moved across the county in April.  Leaving Elijah and Josiah as the only boys at home.

Elijah spent all of last week with Papa.  Then, after the track meet, Papa had to go back to the island without Elijah.  The next 2 days were TOUGH for Elijah.  The good-byes are always so very hard.

Gregg called yesterday, and talked to Elijah.  Elijah sobbed for 30 minutes, "When can we go visit Gregg?"

We went to Jeremiah's softball game last night.  Elijah said, "Can I ride with you?"  "Can I sit in the dugout with you?"  "Can I ride home with you?"  He just wants to BE with his Big Brothers.

Josiah has taken over the Big Boy role, without being asked.  He proudly took out the garbage and all of the recycle bins this morning before I was even up.  I didn't even know that he knew which days they were supposed to be out by the curb.  It is good for him to be learning these things, but it would be so much better for him to learn them as he walks side-by-side with his Big Brothers, rather than being thrown into the role unprepared.

Please pray for my boys ...