My niece decided to write a song about me last night.
Or to put it correctly, she decided to rewrite a song about me.
It goes something along the lines of, "You're an auntie, in the army of cuddling." Actually, she alternated between putting me in the army of cuddling and the army of kissing. Apparently this means I'm open to cuddling and kissing anyone, or so this adorable five year old put it.
Last night was one of those nights where pretty much the greatest thing in the world is to be an aunt who is hanging out with her niece and nephew. My brother and sister-in-law went out for dinner and a play last night, so when I finished my day of practicum I drove out that way to take care of the kiddies. Along the drive my phone rang. After putting it on speaker phone (of course), I answered. It was my niece double-checking that I was still coming and wanting to know my ETA. My nephew then came to the phone and told me that he loved me and that I had better make sure I pray to God that He keep me safe while driving.
What followed was an evening of legendary epicness (at least in the world of Auntie-dom). After a supper of chicken fingers the three of us nestled in to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas. And yes, I am referring to the "good" one that is narrated by Boris Karloff. We then prepared a massive bowl of homemade popcorn and I made up hot chocolate for each of us. Upon special request I brought my all-time favourite Christmas classic, Santa Claus is Coming to Town to watch.
(I do so love a man with facial hair).
Sadly, devastatingly so, I opened my DVD case to discover that the DVD was missing. This was a pivotal moment in the evening: would we mope, drowning or sorrows in hot cocoa and pop corn or would auntie reach into her little bag and be able to pull out other options she had brought along?
It was the latter and the result of this decision is that my niece and nephew are now completely in love with Home Alone.
Oh yes, they were making this face and screaming all morning :)
The highlight of this great evening? My nephew didn't want to leave my side and actually fell asleep in my arms while playing with my hair. And my niece decided to sneak down the stairs this morning shortly before seven so that she could come and cuddle with me.
I had breakfast with my family, went to a craft fair with my sister-in-law, and then drove back to my home (pretending it was not pouring rain but instead snowing). And now I am snuggled within the folds of a blanket while drinking coffee and snacking on the rather vast assortment of chocolate in my possession (hooray for care packages from Charming).
So why am I sharing all of this?
Because all I could think of today is how incredibly blessed I am. I just finished the second week of my short practicum and it was great. I was teaching this week too, and being in a classroom interacting with students was fantastic. I discovered that ninth grade boys really enjoy talking with me, and the lovely cord that hangs from the front of my car for cold weather creates a mysterious aura about me to some of the eleventh grade boys I teach.
My dad came to town this week for a conference and I was able to meet up with him for dinner. I haven't seen my parents in two and a half months so it was wonderful to get to spend a few hours with him.
It has been an exhausting semester with several "interesting" little hurdles that have enjoyed popping up along the way. Yet God has brought me over them all (though not without my fair share of scraped knees). And this week has just been one where it seems like God has given me reminder after reminder that I am loved (as I write this all I can feel is my nephews three year old arms around my neck as he says "I love you so much" while pressing his cheek against mine).
I realize this isn't something deep, philsophical, or life-changing. But this week has been filled with moments where I have been reminded of who God is. Not because anything "big" has happened, but because of things like my niece and nephew's excitement to spend a night with me, or because the street I drive to my school everyday is lined with trees that have been lit with white Christmas lights, or because I have been able to run underneath a starry sky.
Or to put it correctly, she decided to rewrite a song about me.
It goes something along the lines of, "You're an auntie, in the army of cuddling." Actually, she alternated between putting me in the army of cuddling and the army of kissing. Apparently this means I'm open to cuddling and kissing anyone, or so this adorable five year old put it.
Last night was one of those nights where pretty much the greatest thing in the world is to be an aunt who is hanging out with her niece and nephew. My brother and sister-in-law went out for dinner and a play last night, so when I finished my day of practicum I drove out that way to take care of the kiddies. Along the drive my phone rang. After putting it on speaker phone (of course), I answered. It was my niece double-checking that I was still coming and wanting to know my ETA. My nephew then came to the phone and told me that he loved me and that I had better make sure I pray to God that He keep me safe while driving.
What followed was an evening of legendary epicness (at least in the world of Auntie-dom). After a supper of chicken fingers the three of us nestled in to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas. And yes, I am referring to the "good" one that is narrated by Boris Karloff. We then prepared a massive bowl of homemade popcorn and I made up hot chocolate for each of us. Upon special request I brought my all-time favourite Christmas classic, Santa Claus is Coming to Town to watch.
(I do so love a man with facial hair).
Sadly, devastatingly so, I opened my DVD case to discover that the DVD was missing. This was a pivotal moment in the evening: would we mope, drowning or sorrows in hot cocoa and pop corn or would auntie reach into her little bag and be able to pull out other options she had brought along?
It was the latter and the result of this decision is that my niece and nephew are now completely in love with Home Alone.
Oh yes, they were making this face and screaming all morning :)
The highlight of this great evening? My nephew didn't want to leave my side and actually fell asleep in my arms while playing with my hair. And my niece decided to sneak down the stairs this morning shortly before seven so that she could come and cuddle with me.
I had breakfast with my family, went to a craft fair with my sister-in-law, and then drove back to my home (pretending it was not pouring rain but instead snowing). And now I am snuggled within the folds of a blanket while drinking coffee and snacking on the rather vast assortment of chocolate in my possession (hooray for care packages from Charming).
So why am I sharing all of this?
Because all I could think of today is how incredibly blessed I am. I just finished the second week of my short practicum and it was great. I was teaching this week too, and being in a classroom interacting with students was fantastic. I discovered that ninth grade boys really enjoy talking with me, and the lovely cord that hangs from the front of my car for cold weather creates a mysterious aura about me to some of the eleventh grade boys I teach.
My dad came to town this week for a conference and I was able to meet up with him for dinner. I haven't seen my parents in two and a half months so it was wonderful to get to spend a few hours with him.
It has been an exhausting semester with several "interesting" little hurdles that have enjoyed popping up along the way. Yet God has brought me over them all (though not without my fair share of scraped knees). And this week has just been one where it seems like God has given me reminder after reminder that I am loved (as I write this all I can feel is my nephews three year old arms around my neck as he says "I love you so much" while pressing his cheek against mine).
I realize this isn't something deep, philsophical, or life-changing. But this week has been filled with moments where I have been reminded of who God is. Not because anything "big" has happened, but because of things like my niece and nephew's excitement to spend a night with me, or because the street I drive to my school everyday is lined with trees that have been lit with white Christmas lights, or because I have been able to run underneath a starry sky.
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