Brendan stayed up late tonight, alone with his mama, much the way his journey into this world began six years ago. He started up the stairs a while ago. Down he came before long, announcing that he just couldn't sleep. The truth is, I couldn't either.
His Daddy is travelling tonight, as he was that other night six years ago. I don't sleep as well when he is gone and, especially this night, my head is full of remembering and forgetting and humble awe.
"Just one story, please mom?" he asked. So we read together while the house slept. These lines linger with me:
"Mr. Herriot," he said, "do you ever feel that sometimes when unexpected things happen, they were meant to, and that it works out for the best in the end?"
"Yes," I said. "I often think that." - Blossom Comes Home, James Herriot
I often think that too these days, though it has been a hard sell at other times in my life. Brendan came into our lives at a time when I was quite certain the unexpected was suspect at best and generally to be avoided. I wanted nothing more than 'predicatable'. I wanted to go to sleep every night knowing exactly what the next morning and those that followed would bring. You are chuckling, yes? An impossibility if ever there was one and yet, with that goal firmly in mind, I told my husband no. No, I couldn't move again. No, I can't imagine life being good any other way than this one way. No I cannot do another scary thing. No.
Of course you know what God said. He said the same thing my dear Gram said, "Oh yes you can." And He began to show me exactly that, beginning with Brendan's birth.
I am so grateful for this little man, so full of surprises from the very beginning. So grateful for the journey our lives have taken together. So grateful for 'yes'.
(The story of Brendan's birth is told
here.)
Starry Sky Journal 
He is such a cutie! Happy birthday Brendan! 🙂