Last Friday morning I smiled as I was greeted with a heart-shaped moth outside the kitchen window.

When these instances of hearts started frequently and randomly showing up, I thought maybe at first I was just being fanciful. Perhaps I was looking too much into them? But then I made the discovery that I wasn’t the only one. There are at least 3 other people I know of who recurrently receive the hearts, especially as it pertains to their children. Two of these women are mothers of special needs children. With permission from her amazing mommy, I introduce you to Kayli ~

Kayli has trisomy 18 like Nora and is 4 years old. She has been through a lot in her sweet little life, but with God all things are possible. Kayli not only receives heart-shaped love notes from God, but the heart-shapes are also literally a part of her! Both of her ears reveal a heart-shape ~

And then most amazing of all, this is an MRI of Kayli’s beautifully designed brain!

I held Nora in my lap as I was reading about Kayli’s awesome hearts. Norns had just had a bottle and was suddenly getting gaggy which prompted me to quickly exchange my phone for a burp rag. She expelled a little more than a burp, and unfortunately my pants and the couch were sitting ducks. I had to laugh at what I saw ~

In other words, “NO! You are not imagining this!!!”

Heart-shapes are part of Nora too. If you look closely at Nora’s pretty blue eyes, her pupils are heart-shaped, especially her left eye. I know some of you have noticed in previous posts! 😍

Nora has been known to leave behind heart-shaped sweat marks, the lotion I rub on her, more often than not squirts out into my palm in the shape of a heart, heart-shaped clouds and spots of sky, puddles, street tar, leaves, drops of water, trees, moths, wood grain, rocks, reflections and spots of sunlight, puke stains and let’s not forget the adorable cheeky stickers she was wearing after surgery!!

I can find at least 10 theories on the origin of the heart shape. Everything from swans kissing to body parts, but none that stood out as true and accurate over the others. In all likelihood it was invented by man at some point(s), somewhere(s). But so was language! God fully and adequately utilizes the tool of language to communicate with us, so why not the symbol of the heart, the universal sign for love as well?

Throughout the Bible the heart is referenced, outside its context of vital organhood ~

In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. (Psalm 33:21 NIV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (Proverbs 3:5 NIV)

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21 NIV)

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV)

… Just to mention a few.

••••••••••

“I love my Mommy!”

“Dis is spose to be my bedroom, but I decided to take over the living room instead. Dat way I can have a TV in my bedroom… and a kitchen… Me n Mommy were up here organizing tings.”

“Eenen I have my own deck off my bedroom too. I like to go out der n drink. I drink milks.”

“I’m wild bout walks! Cept I got myself all tired n stuff.”

“It was a beautiful day, so Mommy let me stay seeping in my stroller outside. Mommy painted while I was night night.”

“Eenen it’s time to watch n smell dinner! Why’s no one got milks bottles?”

Saturday we had plans to clean and organize storage things (stuff and junk).

“Dat don’t sound like too much funs!! But go head!!”

Because it was such a beautiful day it seemed criminal to remain indoors. William decided we should meet for lunch and go out on the river!

Standing by beautiful flowers on the way down to the dock ~

Spots of rainbows surrounding the sun in the middle of the day!

As nice as it is to get the breaks from life, it’s always such a joy to get back to this stinky little mermaid!!! She is so loved!!!