It's the Little Things

There was a moment of quiet with all 4 kids in the car on the way to my 3 year old's swim lesson.  We'd just dropped off the friend who'd spent the night with my 9 year old.  It was a welcome silence following 18 hours of 5 kids.

I took a deep breath.  I could relax.  Just my 4 kids now.  No extra child I had to worry about who wasn't used to the routines or rules or food at our house (but really this boy is great and his family has similar values and expectations as ours, so he blends pretty well into our household).  As soon as I had that thought I marveled at how Little Girl is just one of my 4 kids now.  Not so much the new kid, now home over six months from Ethiopia.  I remember back to the early days when she was not used to us and we were not used to her.  Not to say that everything is perfect now, because it's NOT.  But, she has adjusted amazingly and we do know her now.  And I can typically anticipate most behavior.  So huge what God has done knitting us all together in such a short time!

Then I hear it.

A small giggle from the back seat.

Then a pause, some quiet, before the adorable giggle again.

It is Little Girl and I wonder what she's laughing at.  There is nothing obvious and none of the other kids are laughing.

The pattern continues.  Giggle, pause, giggle, pause.

It hits me.  The windshield wipers!

It's a light rain and the giggle comes every time the wipers swish across the front window.

It's not the first time she's seen the wipers, we've had a lot of rain since she came home.  And sometimes she seems so Americanized.

But, it's still there.

The joy.  The wonder.  The delight.  Over something so commonplace to most of us!

Find more Thankful Thursday here.