Fearless

     I just came in while ago from the rain with Madalynn.  I'd gone out on the porch to see about her

and Macklynn.  She called from puddles by the driveway for me to "put on your bathing suit and come play".  We slept in until 11 am, after getting home past 1:30 last night and I was expecting to lounge around all day.  I couldn't tell her "no", so although I did NOT put on a bathing suit, I did get McKala's rain jacket and Melody's boots.  When's the last time you abandoned everything and jumped into a big 'ole puddle?

     We raced up and down, then got on the trampoline because she wanted me to see what it does when it's wet.  Then, we got in the swings my Dad made for them and for some reason she designates the blue one as mine.  She'd asked me last week if I remembered how to swing, so I had to take her up on it.  When my backside had enough of the squeeze, I pushed her as she laughed so hard she snorted.  Her drenched hair hung in her face.  I loved her in that moment so much that it hurt. 

     That's about as "fearless" as I got this week, but I have other stories.   Thursday, when Madalynn came screaming bloody murder down the hall, I was gearing my mind up for something really bad.  I ran outside to see that Macklynn had a snake on his line.  I assumed like anyone would that it had taken the bait; but, no, its 3 foot fat body was hooked.  Michael reeled it in and pinned it with a stick, long enough for someone to hand him Macklynn's hatchet to lop its head off.  Madalynn was enthralled while we all stood by squealing as the head rolled around opening and closing its mouth.

     After Macklynn removed his hook from the scales, he raised the body up by the tail.  Madalynn had to have a go at it, too.  I was never that fearless.  I know the head was gone, but still!

     That night I had dinner with a friend who is brave in her honest pursuit of Christ.  We need friends like that to promote our own fearlessness.  Friday night, after we filled in for a job Mike intended to volunteer for, we went to pick him up from his 2 week "deployment" in Mississippi.  He has plenty of stories from the townspeople about the tornado.  One man was in his wheelchair when it hit his place, knocking him over behind the front door.  The section to the left of the mobile home was swept up while the door protected him from the debris.  How can he have fear now that he's seen what God can do?

      Mike's always loved chainsaws and got to cut down the remainder of a giant tree.  He had some expert advice, but I think to do it alone was fearless.  Miranda and her Betta fish were there alongside him.  She had its glass jar with tall shoots of bamboo buckled into the passenger seat, as she passed from Georgia, through Alabama, to Mississippi!  For a while longer her sister still lives there in Georgia, so it tickles me that she packed up everything, including the fish, and took off.  She says she kept "the bass" down so as not to disturb him ;)

     Miranda's here now.  She's come back home and think what you want about it, but what I know is that she faced her fears when she moved out to begin with last Fall.  This was the girl who would have panic attacks, pondering things late at night when she was away from home too long.  This was the girl who we couldn't get to perform on stage with the dance class until she was nearly 12.  This was the girl who wanted to leave her 8th birthday party because it was too loud and packed.  In my eyes, she's fearless.  She knows now that she can make it out there on her own. 

     Saturday night Michael took a very special girl to her prom.  She has an equally special childhood friend whose brother escorted them all.  The circumstances, "I" think, were orchestrated by God himself.  I especially enjoyed freshening her up after dinner.  She lights up a room, doesn't know a stranger, has unmatched wit, and will stare you down for a straight answer.

     Michael's been fighting allergy symptoms and while we were eating, we were afraid he wasn't gonna be much fun.  After the prom, the foursome went bowling and we snuck in.  The lights were strobing; the music was thumping, and they were STILL dancing.  She was "gettin' down" after each bowl and Michael, free of his sport coat and twill shirt, was pumping his hat bouncing up and down!  The escort said you could see him jumping up 3 feet above everybody at the prom.  Ha! Turns out instead of having to defend (which he had determined he would to no end) his decision, they were a big hit.   Sounds like they danced their hearts out, even drawing people in.  You know, sometimes being fearless is just what everyone wants to see; might even inspire someone :)

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."  1 John 4:18

     Right now, Mike and Macklynn are watching ocean fishing videos getting ready for the beach.  Macklynn was out earlier in that rain fishing until his hands were numb.  We have a family date planned at 9 pm tonight to watch a new "River Monsters".  Seems like we have another fearless Harper on our hands ;)