"Caleb requires energy" is an understatement. The boy is on the move almost all of the time. He LOVES to be outside. He wants to play ball with me, kicking it up and down the street. He loves wrestling with Daddy and Jon David and Luke. During the day, when it's just me and him, he follows me around the house, either getting into what I'm doing, playing with something else in the room, or pulling on my pant leg, loudly complaining about his need--whatever that might be (often, he just wants to go back outside). He is very vocal about his unhappiness and desires. Unfortunately, he is not yet old enough to enunciate what those wants are. Meal times are no exception. He often reaches for a variety of items at the family dinner table. Eventually, he wants down, and meanders over to my chair, and pulls at me until I get up. He then climbs up in my seat and enjoys whatever he can find on the table (that I cannot get to fast enough...). Relaxing? Enjoyable? These are NOT words to describe eating with Caleb Thomas.Recently, the constant creation of messes and interruptions of my activities and nagging, pulling, fussing, and well, just plain belligerence, got to me. And I had a thought that I believe God may have used to encourage me. I had been reading in Joshua, and came to chapter 14. This is when Caleb comes to Joshua and says (I'm skipping around in verses 6-12): "You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God...about you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. ... I, ... followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years.... So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day.... the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said."
I couldn't help but wonder what kind of toddler this Caleb might have been? The thought makes me smile. Maybe my Caleb will become great like his namesake. Do you believe that a name can impact a person?
Recently, Jon David, Caleb and I were outside enjoying puddles on rainy day:
And then, randomly, Jon David asked me to take a picture for his album cover??!! Evidently, he's coming out with a new CD. Um. Wow. Not sure who all's in the band. But, check it, homies:
OH, and then all cool factor is put aside as he dons his dance move (learned from Daddy!)
Below are some Caulley boy moments, for your pleasure. ;)"Sitting on the back porch with Daddy:"
"Sittin' in front of the tube:"
"Morning cuddle time:"
And well, my man:
Let's just go ahead and cover the cheese: "Handsome!!" and "I love this man!"
