May 2 – “Day of Reclamation”

It was a day of reclamation.  I like the sound of that.  Kind of catchy.  Not that there was really anything of earth-shattering import that occurred, really.  But there was reclamation involved nonetheless.

First, Nathan had a desire to reclaim his mobility.  He had some errands to run, but April went to her final review for nursing board exams and forgot to leave him the car seat.  Without it his options were to remain stuck in Jamaica Beach or to illegally strap Cailyn into the back seat of his truck until he could get to our house and borrow our car seat.  Now how could I let him do either of those?  I opted for Option Three instead, and took him the carseat.  He was pulling down some old cable wires around his house.  Looked like the former tenants must have had four different kinds of cable access.  There were cables strung and looped and twisted in every direction under his house.  He had Cailyn’s help, so he was up on a ladder pulling some of them down when I arrived.  She was dragging the fallen cable into a pile.  They seemed to be working quite well together.  I hated to intrude.

Before we made the switch, Cailyn asked me an unusual question: “Do you wanna see our food?”  Can’t remember ever being asked that one before.  Of course I agreed, and she happily bounded up the stairs and took me on a tour of their kitchen.  Yes, literally a tour.  She opened the refrigerator to show me the food inside.  Then the pantry.  And then she encouraged me to look atop the fridge.  Great to see that plenty of food was available.  Good job supplying for your family, there, Nathan.

The second reclamation project was a bit more extensive than switching out a carseat.  Yesterday was the day that Baby Noa Rae Vaughan came home.  And we still had her brothers at our house.  They were more than ready to reclaim their home and family.  When we got the call from Kel that they were on the way home, the boys jumped into action.  All their clothes were gathered up.  Toys were put away.  Wii games and Highlanders were collected into their respective carrying cases.  It was time to go see Baby Sister and Mommy.  Sorry, Dad.  You didn’t make the cut this time, but they saw you the night before.  You are old news.  We bundled up MeeMaw into our car and the boys and their dog Lucy into the other. 

When we arrived they carried in the poster/kite Chris had had them make as one of their projects.  It was very cute.  Several pieces of construction paper taped together that Jachin and Micah drew pictures and wrote “Welcome Home Noa Vaughan” on.  Then Josiah helped Chris tape streamers on the bottom like a kite’s tail and a ribbon on top so it could be hung up.  Mommy beamed at their thoughtfulness.  And of course they each wanted a turn holding Baby Sister.  Bless Christina’s heart, though.  She assured them they would have many turns, but right then it was MeeMaw’s turn to hold her.  Mom was surprised, to say the least, to have a tiny baby in her hands, but she seemed to love it.  Thanks for the thought, Christina, and thanks, Boys, for giving her the first turn.  Chris served up the spaghetti lunch we brought over, got the kitchen cleaned up, and we headed back to our house so they could all reclaim their family life at home.  Or maybe take a nap.

Psalms 89:11 says, “The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it.”

Father, help the “Kel Family” get acclimated.  Fill their new family dynamic with your love.  Amen.