Jude - A couple of things

This boy is almost 5 years old WOW!

There are a couple of things that I think about when Jude flitters across my mind...

I smile and still think to myself, he is our Asher, our happy.

His teacher stopped me at Gatorland a couple of weeks ago and said "I just want to tell you about Jude" (in her beautiful British accent) "we had just finished packing up at circle time and Jude stood up threw up his hands in the air and said "I love school" "he just takes everything in, he is so observent and involved, I don't really know what to call if but it is very unique to Jude"

I call it....JOY

Jude's birthday is coming up and Mrs. Chong sent a note home with the upcoming Birthday celebration dates. Jude says, "Mom, I am at the top of the list" explaining to him that it did not mean his birthday was tomorrow was interesting! We took down the calendar and started crossing off days...currently 23 days and counting...excitingly

so at the Drake home Birthday's mean fun stuff, you set the meal, the activity, you get to celebrate at school and of course Mother serenades you each moment with one of many I love you birthday songs :).

Jude was thinking about what dessert he wanted at school...here are him comments

"Star Wars - Drew loves Star Wars"

"Mom Spiderman - Spiderman is Max's favorite"

"Mom, Caroline loves Cats!"

I said, Jude honey, what is your favorite it is your birthday...

"vanilla with icing" then right away "mom can we have an everything cake so everyone can have their favorite"

This is our Jude, obviously not "ours" because niether of his parents only think about others but OUR GIFT, Thank You Jesus!

***another story just because***

Last Wednesday morning, Jude decided to come and start working in the kitchen..Now this is not new, he is my cookie making dropping (onto cookiesheets) sidekick, but this time it was DIFFERENT. He went to the drawer grabbed a knife and started putting jelly on the boys English Muffins. THEN....a couple of hours later Mom and Dudley were here, we got home and are sitting in the front room and I hear quite the banging, jumping, climbing noises from the kitchen.

Now remember I have boys, this doesn't alarm me, there are no shreeks or screams or loud crashes so I just continue enjoying our visit.

Jump, feet feet feet feet - 2 cups on the table

banging, climbing, feet feet feet feet feet - 2 more cups on the table

this continues until there are 7 cups total and feet feet feet I hear the fridge open and close feet feet feet feet he fills all 7 cups and hands out 3 of them (there were only 4 people in the house at the time) after beautiful smiles of delight at the thanks he received he goes and sits at the table watching the other cups....

glancing sideways from time to time and I see these words....these are for everyone but not for Jude "Jude, I say, thank you so much for my water, would you please join us and have one too" Yes! he says and drinks down the water quickly. Then he comes and sits, his brother plays piano and Jude watches

WATCHES (always watching, always listening)

sure enough mom finished her water, he grabbed it right away and refilled it. When Julian was done the water adventure soon finished, I cleaned up the cups and the boys enjoyed the visit as well. But Jude

he's changing somehow, older, wiser, more capable yes, but his heart is growing, not fuller of himself but fuller of others. WOW, i smile, our Asher.