those eyes......................

there are characteristics endowed to children for the sole purpose of longevity.  if children did not possess such qualities, their parents would certainly murder them in an uncontrolled fit of frustration.  my children are no exception.

two active and mischievous boys produce a wide range of emotions in an often overtired mother.  there are moments when i envision myself pounding the floor after a ten count as two welter weight wrestlers exert all of their strength upon another.  at other moments, i feel as if i am walking through the aviary at the denver zoo with screeches, screams, and unidentifiable sounds abounding around.

however, there are those intangibles that so endear our children to us that we almost supernaturally transcend the chaos.  they seem to provide us a direct line to their souls.  

with my two boys, it is their eyes.  those four huge blue orbs that melt me even in the most virulent rage.  it has been said that the eyes are a window to the soul.  i feel as if i have gazed deeply into their sweet round windows and have been given some understanding.

will's eyes show me the vulnerability behind the mischief.  they speak of empathy amidst activity.  will's big blue eyes often gaze at me with a trusting question seeking understanding.  it is in these moments that i want to freeze the vulnerability and protect it from the harsh world winds.  will, i pray that your trusting, questioning, and vulnerable eyes will retain the wonder.  when will was yet an embryo in utero, dave and i often listened to the moulin rouge soundtrack.  we continually serenaded our first unseen child with a version of elton john's classic, "your song."  "so, excuse me for forgetting, but these things i do.  you see i've forgotten if they're green or they're blue.  anyway, this is the thing i really mean.  yours are the sweetest eyes that i've ever seen."

ian's eyes seem to occupy an extraordinarily large surface area of his face.  they reflect the curiosity and wonder of one suddenly becoming aware of the magical world around them.  his eyes light up when a familiar person enters the room.  his eyes dance with the simplest provocation.  he has eyes that become alive when his big brother comes into view.  ian, i'm mesmerized by your gaze.  you entrance me with your sweetness.  may the world viewed through your beautiful eyes not cause you pain but motivate you to pass on your kindness, curiosity, and wonder.  

the world seems right and morphing closer to the eventual earthly kingdom we all long for when i view the world through the irises of my two little boys.