Crying while reading

I've been crying while reading in the past few weeks. How do I explain this to my children? Here I am, reading a story to them, and I begin to cry about it. Ack! Here are two examples.

1. We have been reading the Jesus Storybook Bible every night along with the books of their choosing. I love reading these stories to them and am rather impressed at how the author has tied every story to Christ. As I'm reading the story of Abraham sacrificing Isaac, I begin to cry and can barely get through it. Although I am very familiar with the story and have heard and read it many many times, this is the first time I have read this version. It hits me in a new place and I'm so very overcome with how Abraham would sacrifice his son! I do not want to sacrifice my son! Nope! I don't think I could do it. Then, to think that God did do it for me! It was overwhelming.

2. When I was a little girl, one of my favorite books was "When the Sky is Like Lace". My sister Tricia and I would beg my dad to read it to us. . . only dad would do because he would sing

the songs in the book. We still comment to each other when we have seen a bimulous night. (I know it isn't a real word, but it is in the book!) I love this book so much that while we were dating, Gary bought it for me on ebay because it was out of print. What a great gift! Since I can't find the copy of the one he gave me (I believe I have it packed in a box of dating treasures in the basement. . . ah. . . another post about my not being able to find things!) I resigned myself to the fact that I might not be able to read it to my kids for lack of having the book. Then, BEHOLD! Apparently, it was re-released sometime around 2004 (give or take a few years) and I stumble upon it at the library. YES! I sit down with Noel and read it for the first time. I cry. I can hear my dad's voice. I can picture my sister and I on either side of him choosing our favorite pictures. My pigtails hurt a little. My feet are peeking out from under my nightgown. . . . I so desperately want Noel to love it as much as I do. I cry as I turn the last page. . . "The sky, the sky. . . Oh Look at the Sky! It's going to be perfectly bimulous!" (Pregnant Pause) Then she asks if we can read Superhero ABC. Perhaps another reason to cry. :)

My kids are growing up. Penny began walking this week. The three older kids are watching Blue's Clues in Spanish right now. . . and they are understanding it! Garrison is wearing 6T, Simon is drawing better than me, and Noel skips everywhere she goes. I love them so much I can hardly stand it. Perhaps I'm a little emotional where my kids are concerned. My guess is that if you are a parent, you are too. I'm glad I won't have to sacrifice them, and I really hope they'll be thankful for the upbringing that they had in this house. Lord, thanks for choosing me to parent these four, and may I be worthy of them.