You know the game:
patty-cake, patty-cake, bakers man
bake me a cake as fast as you can
roll it and roll it
pat it and pat it
mark it with an “M”
put it in the oven for Marcus and me!
“YAY!”
Well I taught that hand clap/song/game to my nephew Marcus a few days ago. He’s two and a half and as most 2.5 year olds are, once they find something they enjoy they want to do it again and again and again. So for the past few days, multiple times a day, I hear “P” (because Paigey is still too hard to say) “pat-cake,” with palms lifted in the air ready for me to play with him.
Ask anyone and they’ll tell you that Marcus and I are best friends. Ever since they’ve moved in with my parents we have been inseparable. All day long it’s “P” play this, or “P, build house” and I have loved every single second of it. He has taught me to find joy and wonder in every little thing better than anyone ever could.
I wish I could say that as I was saying good-bye to my sisters, Hailey (my niece) and Marcus tonight, that I played one last game of Patty-Cake with him and it was sad because it we wouldn’t play again for awhile.
But no..
I’m committed to being honest so I have to tell you that I bawled and barley made my way through a game a Patty-Cake with the saddest “yay” at the end I’ve ever heard. He was so sweet sitting there as I struggled through it, and letting me hug him.
But in that moment while I was sitting there crying and he was looking at me concerned and confused as to what was happening, the rest of my family standing around us, I was struck with such an enormous amount of love.
I have to brag on my family for a little bit. They are the most loving and caring people I’ve ever known. And in that moment, all those memories of growing up in a house full of love and care came crashing down on me. During middle school, one of my friends had come over and she said to me – you know how everyone’s house has a smell, one that everyone who lives there always has a faint scent of, well your house smells like love.
I have never forgotten that and it is in these moments that I am reminded just how truly blessed I am. I am who I am today and I am where I am today because of that love, because of my family, and because of our Good, Good Father who has given me such a great gift.
Knowing that state of the world and families today, it is a gift I don’t intend to take for granted. My family has taught me how to love but it is not something I get to keep to myself. I get to share it. The love of Christ that they imparted to me and that I accepted and he has continued to pour over me, I get to take that out into a broken and hurting world. Out into every country and place that I set my foot down and every person I get to meet.
That is incredible. I am humbled and honored to be able to do that.
So thank you Mom and Dad, Samantha, Jordan, Faith, Rachel, Marcus, and Hailey. Your love helps keep me going. I am going to miss you so very much. <3
I appreciate you reading this super sappy blog, I will post one soon with some more factual information about where I stand financially and how you can join along in my journey best, etc. But for tonight, as I drive to Atlanta and meet up with the rest of my squad for launch, I will sit and soak up the love poured onto me as I prepare to give every ounce of it away.
