Precious In His Sight

Weekend before last, my sister Kellie, her husband Tracy and Ms Kelcy came to visit from the coast. They arrived late on a Friday night. Kelcy walked in the front door, her eyes tightly closed. She’d been told on the six hour drive over that she had her own special room and she wanted to be “surprised”.

I remember many such long trips as a child, and that when we arrived at my grandparents house, that a time of magic, fun, and good times always waited. Although I can’t compete with Kelcy’s grandparents-all of whom have way bigger Mastercards than I do, I still get a piece of all that infamous Mastercard “Priceless” action.

When I was a kid, some of my best new toy scores occurred upon our arrival in Spokane. Bounding into my grandparents tiny living room was like entering heaven. Indeed there was no better time to be alive than when I got to line out all my old Hot Wheels and introduce them to the new ones my grandparents had waiting for me. Imaginary roads lead all across the living room floor, creating an obstacle course not to be easily out done.

Naturally, as I led Kelcy to her new room, there were several new Hot Wheels Sets waiting for her on the bed. And naturally in her hands she carried a carrying case that she’d packed especially for this trip. In that case were all her favorite cars. Baby fast car. Baby Sports car. Mommy fast car.

Kelcy had big plans. She and Uncle Tim were definitely going to play cars.

And uh that would be no skin off my back.

Introducing Kelcy to “Kelcy’s Room”, she clambered up onto the bed and surveyed the hot wheels cars and ultimate city packs. She wanted to open them immediately. Which according to her mom, was not an option. Silly mom-that only meant that Kelcy would wake them up at dawn and be knocking on their bedroom door.

Later that night as Kelcy slept under a nearing full moon, in “her” special room, the silver glow from the reflection of a Pend Oreille moon guarding over her, seemed a carefully crafted Hollywood movie shot. So perfect all the dancing shimmers on the water below, so still her sleeping figure, so comforting the tall shadows from the Bull Pines; it was the most untarnished moment. After months of frustrations with the house project this sleeping child signified that all of that was totally worth all the effort to create this place. I hoped this might become a new favorite destination for her to visit and learn and be a child full of imagination, joy, and creativity.

Being a kid is a dang good time. Even if, you aren’t still one, as Kelcy told me, “Uncle Tim, you can still pretend.”

I’m pretty good at pretending.

The thing about being an uncle, and it’s something I somehow managed to embrace despite being not so good at diaper changing and discipline, is that I get a front row ticket at the opportunity to watch this amazing and inspiring person grow to become her own unique precious soul. I am reminded of that song from Sunday School days gone by where Jesus loved the little children, all the children of the world, red and yellow, black and white, and that they are precious in His sight. I think for the first time I am totally getting that precious in His sight stuff.

The image of a sleeping angel, under a guardian mountain moon, comes to mind.

As the weekend progressed, Kelcy and I continued to be all about pretending. I always had the camera at hand. I snapped pictures trying to capture these moments, documenting this new experience, the freedom of play, and the curiosity that at this age knows no boundaries. I found myself living one of those perfect moments that are all too fleeting this side of heaven. The wonder of being five is no small gift. Kelcy mostly didn’t pay attention to the camera. She was so involved in looking outside and hoping to spy a moose or wild turkeys or deer that the act of capturing random moments of her journey didn’t register.

Since an infant, Kelcy has loved animals-but she also loves planes, trains and automobiles. I’d like to think this is genetic. Especially the way she lines her cars and trucks up around the room. Just like I always did. Everything is ordered. Each car has its place. There is precise placement amongst the chaos, and if you are still, Kelcy will patiently explain this to you. I also learned that if one is quiet and unobtrusive, one can hear in her sing song voice a never ending dialogue that is spoken between vehicles. To her, each car has a story, personality, and motivation. Just like in the Disney movie Cars, vehicles can and do talk to one another. And, I can attest that they have some very interesting conversations.

At first I think my sister was a bit concerned about all of Kelcy’s masculine interests. In fact Kevin, Kellie and I conducted a thorough princess intervention a few years ago-painted her room pink, filled it full of princess lamps and dolls and dresses- what Kevin affectionately coined the “Princess Explosion Room.” But thankfully only a little of that “intervention” rubbed off. Kelcy still likes her hot wheels, her trucks, and best of all, most of what her uncle Tim is into.

Which also happens to include the outdoors. Every square inch of it. I mean the kid loves the world around her and everything begs a question.

Why are the pine beetles trying to get into the house? Why do they stink? Where are the wild turkeys? Where are the deer? Where does that river go? If I throw a rock, will it get to the river? How many rocks do you think you have? Will it snow? Why don’t you have a lawn?

The questions kept coming.

I couldn’t really answer most of them because as much as I love this landscape, my knowledge is limited.

Then came that one question-the one that I wasn’t expecting, or at least hoping to field, for at least ten years. It went like this:

Uncle Tim, does Kevin have a room, his very own room?

Gulp. Where is her mother when I need her most? Still sleeping of course. I took a deep breath. God, please let this go well. Let there be no further questions.

I quietly explained that Kevin and I had a room together. And that was that. We moved right along to the next subject, which it just so happened to be was if mommy would approve of Ice Cream Bars for breakfast.

Now that’s a question I could answer, with a totally straight face.

Of course she would!