I came home this morning from an early run (6:50am) and as I walked in the house I heard the boys already awake and chatting. Ethan is usually an an early riser, but it seemed odd to hear the murmurs of conversation at such an hour so I curiously walked up stairs to say good morning. When I opened the door to Ethan and Elias’ room I found all 3 of them sprawled out on the floor with their pillow or their bed comforters quietly chatting and seemingly just enjoying each others’ morning company. As most know, I am not given to too much emotion, but the scene really struck me as very cool and one to be remembered.
As a kid I always wanted a brother. As a young husband considering being a father I really wanted a boy. I cried when Jackson was born, not just because he was my first kid, but in large part because I had accomplished having a son. With Ethan we found out in advance that we were having a boy and I showed the ultrasound pic of his penis all over my workplace, carried it with me for days and then placed it prominently in a frame in my office… My dreams of having boys and them having each other were being realized. To top God’s goodness and sense of perfection off, our 3rd and not quite planned son, Elias, was born on my birthday.
The last two years we have been blessed with incredible adventures and travels and I honestly believe it has brought the boys closer together as friends. They have shared some very close quarters together in our travel trailer and often woke each other up to chat. So this morning it was just really cool for me to see them instinctively yearn to be with each other talking in the morning. Jackson leaving his room to join the others. Ethan crawling out of the top bunk to join the other two on the floor. The small morning, sprawling, lazy huddle on the bedroom floor. I think that moment really captures the fact that you don’t need 1000’s of square feet to have a family.
[ryan]