Papa's Shoes

Jack has developed a real love for his Papa.  He calls him constantly, walking through the house saying, "Papa. Papa."  Then he looks at me with a puzzled look and raises both hands up near his face and shrugs.  This is his "Where is he?" sign.  And I tell him over and over that Papa is next door.  When I ask, "Do you want to go see Papa?", his eyes light up and he nods his head with great emphasis.  

So many days we wander over to check in on Papa so both Jack and Sam can see him. Papa tires out a little easier these days and isn't able to play with Jack quite like he did with Sam.   Oh, the miles Sam and his Papa use to roam.  They truly were the best of friends.  And while this makes me a little sad for Jack, I am very thankful for the moments my youngest gets with his Papa.  

The other day we headed over to Papa's place.  The ladies were cooking cakes and Papa was watching.  Sam and Jack insisted on heading outside.  As soon as they went out the door, their Papa hopped up and followed them out.  I looked out the door to see my two little ones playing near the swings and their beloved Papa standing there, saying nothing, just watching.  He stood there for the longest time carefully watching over his two boys as they played.

Soon little Jack got stuck on his tractor and of course, Papa came to the rescue.

After watching my boys play, Papa got a little tired and went to rest in his swing.  When Jack realized he was gone, he walked around looking for him.  When he saw him on the porch, up the steps he went to join him.

And then I observed one of the sweetest exchanges between those two.  Jack walked right next to that swing and plopped down.  He stared and stared at Papa's shiny, black shoes.  I could see the lightbulb go off in his head, "Hey, these are velcro shoes...just like mine."  And so just as he does with his own shoes, he undid the straps to Papa's shoes and sat back smiling, admiring his work.  Then he carefully fastened them back as Papa smiled down at him and told him "Thank you."  And he unfastened them and refastened them, over and over, each time receiving a sweet "Thank you."  And I don't know who was having more fun, the big guy or the little one because one was smiling as big as the other.  All over a pair of shiny, black shoes.  Does love get any simpler than that?