I am grateful for a heart full.

The past two weeks have been overwhelming for this Ama who lives a very quiet life compared to her Texas family who lives quite the opposite. The first week was spent in Texas caring for all nine, but this last week was spent back in Kansas City having fun with the oldest four.

I am grateful for box trucks without windows in the back end so the authorities couldn’t see that we had four Texans hitching a ride with all the demo trash while we went to get a new mattress to sleep on since we had four Texans for a week.

I am grateful for a sister who borrowed the four Texans for a day and took them to the Kansas City zoo in the rain and gave this Ama a much needed break, and who also helped this Ama accompany the four Texans on their first bike trail ride and loaned us a couple bike helmets for the week.

I am grateful for Perfection practice and trauma every night while we all tried to beat the Perfection clock and fit the pieces into the right slots before the board exploded. Even though it was heartstopping, it was fun to try to beat the time from the previous night.

I am grateful for nighttime Twisters trips to get bedtime ice cream in the hot rod.

I am grateful for the oldest Texan who made me lunch at my office.

I am grateful for a husband who decided four Texans needed bikes while they were here and so he just went out and bought bikes for the week.

I am grateful we didn’t have to teach four Texans to ride bikes this time.

I am grateful for a beautiful trail in the middle of a city, complete with wildlife. Boy Texan was leading the way on Saturday early morning when he yelled, “Ama!!!! A baby ostrich!!!” And sure enough, the “baby ostrich” crossed the trail and ran beside our bikes long enough for all of us to realize it was…a turkey. Shortly thereafter, we stopped to admire Bambi who didn’t mind at all that we could almost reach out and touch. On our rides, we managed to see deer, a beaver, rabbits, a black snake, the “baby ostrich,” and lots of birds. We also experienced a few crashes and learned how to ride the trail and warn the walkers we were passing on the left, like good bike riders – thank you, Angela, for teaching us.

I am grateful for bike rides and lots of activity to wear little Texans out.

And I am grateful for the privilege of caring for these four Texans and their five siblings these past two weeks – my heart is full and my memory bank is stocked up.

God has most certainly showered me with blessings in the form of an 11, 9, 8, and 7 year old…and a 5, 4, 3, 1, and 5 month old, too.