Star Gazers

There are some moments in life that I hope just etch themselves into my mind so that years from now, when my children are older and time has slipped by, I can return to those wonderful tibdits and recall what once was. Last night was one of those times. A little before 2am, I sleepily wandered down the hall to Luke's room to gently wake my firstborn with kisses. While he strained to climb out of his slumber, I began to tell him that God had a special treat in store for us. I explained that while it was still the middle of the night, we were going to get up together...just him and I...and go outside and watch a special 'shooting star show' in the sky. As he rubbed his tired eyes and pulled on the sweatpants I had brought to this bedside, I could see understanding wash over him and excitement began to replace the sleepiness. Hand in hand, by the light of a single flashlight, Luke and I decended the stairs, grabbed the blankets and snack I had set out earlier in the night, and wandered with whispers into the backyard.

As we settled ourselves beneith our cozy cocoons on the trampoline, I explained as best I could what a meteor shower was, what to look for and why is was so special. Together, side by side, we munched on animal cookies there in the silent, cool night and eagerily searched the sky for its beautiful show. How precious now the memory is of him there beside me; the hood of his sweatshirt about his face while we quietly but excitedly called out time and time again "Whoa! Did you see that one?!". I smile now just recalling it. As the cool evening settled into our bodies and we snuggled deeper under the blankets, the sky seemed to give up its show. There were long stretches between the excitement, and as we whispered, I silently prayed for a special little treat...a bold star to fall across the sky. And I am not kidding...no sooner were the words thought in my mind did the brightest, most brilliant star of the evening go streaming across the sky straight above us leaving a trail in its wake, immediately followed by a second in the opposite direction! A most beautiful sight! I told Luke then that I had just prayed for a star and that God had given us those two to delight our hearts. We smiled together and I was gently reminded that how the Lord cares even about the 'small' details of our lives and longs to delight us. I love that about Him!

We lingered there in the night for awhile longer until our teeth began to chatter and our eyelids started to droop. Then we ventured back into the house and upstairs into the warmth of our beds. As we climbed the stairs Luke said, "Thanks, Mommy for this little vacation. I loved watching the stars with you." A vacation. How cute is that?! And so it was...Luke got to see his very first shooting stars and I got to be the one to share it with him!