Eliana loves a good tea party. And, apparently, no one can throw a tea party quite like... Corban?
Well, perhaps the iced-molasses cookies he fetches from the pantry help a little. Or that he insists on pulling her chair out for her and seating her first. Or the way he charms her dollies by seating each and every one in a circle around the tea table.
Whatever it is, when the time comes during our school hours for Cor to break so I may work with Micah, Eliana catches his hand and drags him down to her bedroom, shouting "Tea! Tea!" Micah and I smile and return to our work, serenaded by silly songs and giggles from down the hallway while we labor over phonics.
On Monday, the usual giggles were absent. In fact, it was very quiet. I had almost made up my mind to head to Eliana's bedroom and check when she rounded the corner and ran past me. Are her legs...lumpy? I followed her to the living room.
She danced in front of the cd player, pointing and shouting gibberish. I muffled a laugh as I looked at her outfit. Purple Sunday dress. White tights, pulled over her jeans. Pink slippers. Even a purple bow barrette, clumsily pulling half of her bangs out of her eyes.
Corban joined us wearing his Sunday best; sweater and khakis. He proudly announced, "We're going to dance!" I turned on some Christmas music, and stood back. He knelt, placing his left hand on her waist, and instructing her to place her hand on his shoulder. She did so, giggling, (ah, there were the giggles!) and they began to dance.
Needless to say, Micah and I didn't finish phonics that day. We clapped and sang, laughing and encouraging the two dancers. The look on Eliana's face was dreamy, and Cor looked very pleased with himself as he dipped her from side to side and back to the center again.
And when Eliana awoke from her nap later that day, she had eyes only for Corban, straining to reach for him as he passed us. He took her, and they walked away from me down the hall, chattering and looking into each other's eyes.
And I pressed my hand to my heart to hold that ache of love inside.
Well, perhaps the iced-molasses cookies he fetches from the pantry help a little. Or that he insists on pulling her chair out for her and seating her first. Or the way he charms her dollies by seating each and every one in a circle around the tea table.
Whatever it is, when the time comes during our school hours for Cor to break so I may work with Micah, Eliana catches his hand and drags him down to her bedroom, shouting "Tea! Tea!" Micah and I smile and return to our work, serenaded by silly songs and giggles from down the hallway while we labor over phonics.
On Monday, the usual giggles were absent. In fact, it was very quiet. I had almost made up my mind to head to Eliana's bedroom and check when she rounded the corner and ran past me. Are her legs...lumpy? I followed her to the living room.
She danced in front of the cd player, pointing and shouting gibberish. I muffled a laugh as I looked at her outfit. Purple Sunday dress. White tights, pulled over her jeans. Pink slippers. Even a purple bow barrette, clumsily pulling half of her bangs out of her eyes.
Corban joined us wearing his Sunday best; sweater and khakis. He proudly announced, "We're going to dance!" I turned on some Christmas music, and stood back. He knelt, placing his left hand on her waist, and instructing her to place her hand on his shoulder. She did so, giggling, (ah, there were the giggles!) and they began to dance.Needless to say, Micah and I didn't finish phonics that day. We clapped and sang, laughing and encouraging the two dancers. The look on Eliana's face was dreamy, and Cor looked very pleased with himself as he dipped her from side to side and back to the center again.
And when Eliana awoke from her nap later that day, she had eyes only for Corban, straining to reach for him as he passed us. He took her, and they walked away from me down the hall, chattering and looking into each other's eyes.
And I pressed my hand to my heart to hold that ache of love inside.
30 fellow travelers shared:
And that brought tears to my eyes, as so many of your posts do! You, my friend, write an excellent post. And you are blessed.
Wow. That picture is breathtaking. You MUST frame it. You must. Thank you for writing this. What a beautiful story of sibling love!
What a testament to his parents Corban was today! What a sweet lesson he has learned watching his momma and daddy, and how Elliana's heart must have felt treasured! Thank you for sharing this today...I needed some "good" sibling stuff to absorb after a very long day of two brothers fighting.
This is breathtakingly sweet, Elise. That ache of love is such a wonderful thing, yes? :)
Hi Elise :) My heart! What a lovely, lovely young man. How blessed your sweetie girl is (and her mommy, too). Love, Q
Elise,
Very sweet. We mammas treasure and ponder these kinds of things in our hearts don't we? Blessings to you and your family,
Carrie.
How very, very special!
and by the way, I agree with Tracy!!
What a wonderful blog you have! How sweet is this post. It truly does inspire me.
You are such a sweet Mom. You and your husband should be so happy to see your children getting along and liking each other so much. What a blessing.
That touched me so! I have had those moments that you described so well - "And I pressed my hand to my heart to hold that ache of love inside."
I am so thankful to the Lord for you, for raising such a gentlemen - our world so needs young men of God who aren't afraid to be tender. And Eliana has such examples in her brothers and her daddy. What a blessing! What sweet children. Love you!
Absolutely precious!!
So very sweet! It is a true blessing when kids have moments like this. It makes all of our parenting days so worthwhile!
So precious! It seems that we have been having quite the opposite around here lately, uggh!
You are raising such wonderful children Elise! You are an inspiration, I am glad The Lord sent me across your path...a bit of light in my day; you are!
Besides the fact that your children are absolutely beautiful, this story is beautiful, as well!
How very sweet! It thrills me to see what a gentleman your Corban is... and Eliana such a little lady. The picture you shared is just priceless. Wish I could have been there to see the dancing!
Lots of love and a big hug!
Oh my goodness...that made me cry! And to think, I had already decided that I had to add this blog to my blog roll because you have an Eliana and I wanted SO much to name my last daughter that. (Dh vetoed it. I've been sad ever since.) Then I read the post and I am hooked for good. :o)
Oh, too precious! What a beautiful relationship between brother and sister!
Oh. my. goodness. That is sooooo sweet! What fun I have to look forward to! Thanks for sharing this precious story, Elise!
What a beautiful picture you gave us. Your words captured it so well. And what precious children you have, Elise! A fine gentleman and a sweet little lady!
~Stacy
Ugh. The dance was beautiful! What a lovely story. The part that earned the Ugh from me was the conviction that hit me when you were smiling at the noises while you were working on Phonics. Isn't that odd? It occurred to me that you've modeled well for your babies joy and love and that they're showing that!
I must remember that love and patience when I'm working with my students!
A wonderful story.
how cute!
You have such lovely children! What a sweet post.
Ahh, that is the sweetest picture and story! Thanks so much for sharing this.
I love seeing my boy w/his sisters too.
Wow! That is so sweet. It is amazing how God knits the hearts of siblings together in love.
How sweet! I can remember being this close to my older brother :)
Hi! I linked over to you from Jaime's blog (shes my older sister) I've been reading your blog for several months now and love hearing stories of your children :)
Oh, how utterly sweet. I can't wait until Ella can have a sibling to share such moments with. And thank you as well for the last letter to Eliana-I needed that.
Okay, with this post and the one above that I can't figure out how to comment on, a secret wish is forming that is about to become not so secret. Do you think the Lord might answer this mother's prayer that your sons might one day meet and fall in love with my daughters? Just think, we could be grandmothers together! Okay, enough silly dreaming. But seriously, your boys will be such catches, what with you as parents and their naturally wonderful personalities! p.s. Got your Christmas letter today, it was as beautiful as I expected!
Love, Sarah
Just beautiful!
...so delightful, so beautiful!!
What a gorgeous eldest son you do have :o) It would seem your little girl is 'in love' with her brother! Wow! I think children are growing up with such a stunning model of love that it is already displayed in their attitudes towards one other at a very young age. You are a good mama. Be encouraged :) And I so know what you mean by this 'ache of love inside'... Such a mystery! And yet it's a good clue as to how the Father aches for us - isn't it?
(...I meant to write "your children"! Sorry!!)
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