With recent temperatures dipping below zero, Raphael doesn’t experiencemuch of the outdoors these days. But he sure does like to watch out thewindows. At any moment of the day, I might hear him call out excitedly,“A bird!” or “A squirrel, Mama!” And yesterday, despite the cold, hegot a little taste of the outdoors.

We were out for most of the day and by the time we returned home,it was already dark outside. And crazy cold. In the van, I bundledlittle Raphael and then carried him swiftly through the frigid coldtoward the house. I might have been in a hurry, but Raphael certainlywasn’t.

He gazed up toward the sky and sighed. “Stars,” he said dreamily.

I stopped. “Who made the stars?” I asked him.

“Juliette,” he answered with confidence.

Okay, so maybe we need to work on Genesis with this one. I didappreciate the sentiment, though. In his little world, the brilliantnight sky is so lovely and alluring that it simply must be the doing of his capable and talented older sister.

“Moon,” Raphael announced next, pointing upwards. His small round face and bright eyes shone in its glow.

“Yes, moon,” I repeated.

I hugged my bundled little man close and the two of us spent amoment breathing the icy air and gazing through the darkness at thetwinkling sky. Thank you God for this glimpse of heaven. In my arms andin the sky. Thank you for the cold which makes us seek warmth. For thedarkness which makes us seek light. And for small people who remind usto stop once in a while and look upward. With wonder.