Chapter 41- Just a Juice Box

Hey y'all!!! I hope you are all settling into the routine of the school year. Between work, grad school, parenting, and other responsibilities we are staying very busy. It's a great kind of busy.

Dani Marie is as full of life as ever! She is in her third year of dance lessons, learning to write her name, and enjoying her new Bible class at church.

Today has been the most wonderful day. Why????? Just a juice box....

It started earlier today, I was thinking about sonograms. I saw one today that belonged to a friend, and I was amazed. I looked at the tiny features in awe of the amazement of creation. For a split second, I wondered what it must be to look at your own image of the baby growing inside you. I quickly pushed the thought of mommy hood curiosity from my mind and went about my evening.

The magical moment happened when I was picking Dani Marie up from her Wednesday night Bible class. She is in the Cubbie class, which consists of 16 pre-schoolers. (Bless those sweet teachers!) I stood in line making casual conversation with a few other moms. Dani Marie's teacher came out and handed me her new book. Then it happened. The teacher informed me that there would be a snack rotation. She asked if I would mind sending snacks for next week's meeting. She said nothing much just a juice box and a small snack. She suggested Goldfish or crackers of some kind. I assured her I would be glad to help.

She walked back in the room and shut the door. I couldn't believe it! I know this might seem like nothing much, but it was such an amazing moment for me. You see, for years I have been envious of snack schedules. Isn't that silly? Of all things.

I spent years coaching my niece's little league. I would always watch the "cooler moms". The ones with the coolers full of Gatorade and Little Debbie cakes. Someone belonged to them. Really belonged to them. They weren't just borrowed from someone else.
For years I have written notes to parents of my students asking for party snacks. It never fails that I have a super mom who agrees to send some delicious homemade cupcakes or make special brownies. I always look at those moms as they bring in the treats. I think how amazing it must be to have someone belong to you. Your own child to make Halloween or Christmas party treats for, not just students you borrow for a portion of the day.
For years, I would watch the band parents dish out pizza and popcorn at the concession stand. I worked duties of my own because of my job as a coach, but not because someone belonged to me. Those band moms with the buttons serving the pizza, they were on snack duty because one of those band members belonged to them.

Those are the "mommy" things I longed for most. I mean the sonograms are amazing! I'm sure there is nothing like seeing your own. It's the "mommy" things that come after that have always been the most amazing to me. The way all these snack moms always seemed to have such full lives. They often look tired and scattered. The cupcakes are not always perfect. Sometimes they arrive to school smashed. The band moms don't have perfect hair, but they are often drenched in sweat from slinging greasy pizza. The cooler moms, well sometimes they would even forget to bring the right number for the entire team. It didn't matter though, it was just the fact that their name was on a list to serve because someone belonged to them.

So tonight...... someone belongs to me! For the first time, I'm officially in charge of a snack. I mean it was not all typed up or even official. It was just a casual request to provide "just a juice box" and some crackers, but to me it might as well have been a crown. I smiled all the way to the car. I am so thankful for the opportunity I have been given.

I never saw Dani Marie's face on a sonogram, or two pink lines on test to let me know she was on the way, but I don't need those things to be her mommy.
What I did get, what I do have, is the opportunity to bring snack cakes and juice boxes to her little friends as they learn about Jesus. Why???? Because she belongs to me.... This precious, beautiful, tiny girl belongs to me. Such a a reminder that I belong to HIM and he certainly knows how to heal my heart in the most unexpected ways.

Love y'all!