Today, I am thanking God for the boys--Ethan and Ezra!

I often find myself thanking God for the elder children in the house. They are not as much underfoot. Nor need they be prodded much, for the most part, at making themselves useful and helpful. Sometimes, I do find myself wondering at the wisdom of having a large family, though I repent quickly, when I do.
I do remember, when I was expecting Ezra, Aunt Gail reminded me that I would find much joy in the younger children, as Grandma Ruth and Grandpa Bob did with Robby and Paul. The thought of children born, as it were, out of turn, is something that is not a taboo subject in our family. We are unashamedly prolife, as a family and we are aware of the providence of God, in His timing of precious surprise packages into our family.
This morning their waking and the path to the bus was especially blessed and a precious reminder of the days before they were here. I remembered homeschooling and reading about a precious set of boys that were provoked by eachother to dress and wash and where everything that they did was a contest of firsts. The boys were at it. Our dear border collie is constantly nipping at them not to hurt eachother. They are in constant competition with eachother. This morning, I set the timer for them to get washed and teeth brushed. Ezra {our heel-catcher} was swiftly on the ball for this contest. Ethan didn't even flinch. Unusually, the job was finished before the teens got on the bus. I remembered closing my eyes, when my heart was smitten with grief that I hadn't my baby Ben and wished for two boys to do just that and when I opened my eyes there they were. Here and in the flesh, like Pinocchio. I was rejoicing out loud at God's reminder of this precious gift that I was enjoying. Evelyn said, you mean you wanted boys like Fritz and Ernst in Swiss Family Robinson.
That led us on a journey of the Ernst that I knew. I said, I did not remember that Ernst was in Swiss family Robinson. She said, not only that they fought and fought. I said, I know. I started introducing the children to the Ernst that I knew and loved...Dr. Lang. I said, he was thin and walked like this. "Dr. Laaaaaannnnnng!" he answered the phone and the chill of the stethoscope on our bodies. What is a broken hip says Ezra? Why did he walk like that? Don't ask that question. Not 10 minutes after the story was over, he fell down the steps and then banged the front part of his hip on the corner of the furniture. I said that is your hip. Perhaps you will be a hip doctor, I said. We jested that the good Dr. couldn't let him go to school today not knowing where his hip was. LOL.
Daily mercies and protection and guidance we are grateful for.