The indoor spring cleaning is done, or is it really? Like laundry, cleaning is never done. Since it nice outside, we spend every chance we can get outside. This morning was great because Henry and I were able to go play in the dirt once Harrison laid down for a snooze.
We, along with a group of friends, transformed a part of our landscape three summers ago into a memorial garden for our son, Hudson. It's a beautiful reminder of a beautiful soul that once touch the hearts of many. In its prime, the garden blooms in every shade of color and is home to creatures of every kind. I intentionally pass by that part of our home to adore its warmth and beauty.
This morning I asked Henry if he wanted to help put some new soil in the garden. Henry is on a mission to earn money lately so he can make perhaps the biggest purchase of his life. He wants a John Deere motorized tractor. Every day he asks if he can have one, and I tell him he needs to talk to his dad. So his dad finally cut him a deal regarding the cost, but in order for Henry to come up with his share of the tractor, he's been doing odd jobs for us around the house earning a couple quarters and a few dollars here and there. He's also solicited jobs from the neighbor and humbly picked up dog poop one day last week. So for a dollar and quality time with Mom, Henry eagerly pulled up his sleeves, gathered his gardening tools and got dirty. (Let me know if you have a tractor that you'd like to sell. We're looking for a gently used gator.)
While we were out in the garden, Henry and I had the cutest conversation about his brother in heaven. Here's how it went.
"I love my other brother, Mom"
"Who's your other brother?"
"Hudson."
"Where is he?"
"In heaven."
"How did he get there?"
"God took him. He's magic!"
The moment for me was really touching. To spend time with one son, talking about a brother that he doesn't remember, but only knows because of stories he has heard and pictures he has seen. It's a reminder to me how trusting we are with our faith. To believe when our eyes cannot see and hands cannot touch. Our sweet little man may not be here in a physical sense, but his spirit is alive in our hearts.
"Hey, Mom. Will you hand me my yellow shovel?...Thanks Mom.
You're the best! Dad, he's a nerd."
