True Joy

I feel so happy right now.... I just posted the funniest video in the world. My son tried to catch a roach and put it in a gatorade bottle. I heard what he was trying to do so I grabbed the camera. I guess some people would be put off by something like that, but, for me, I'm just so happy to have my kids doing "normal" kid stuff, as goofy as that sounds. I'm just happy to have some regular drama. This very same son, three nights ago, opened up to Sal and I about the memories that still plague him from before they came to us. He remembered seeing his mother nearly choked to death by her boyfriend. He remembered being called names by this same man. He remembered hearing the sounds of his mother being beaten in the next room countless times. But most of all, he remembers being left at home alone, day after day after day, with his 11 year old sister, with no dinner, and no provisions for dinner, while they worked until well after dark. Today, I saw him smiling and happy and doing normal boy things, and it warmed my heart to no end. I thank God repeatedly for saving my son. After we had talked to Daniel and finally got him in bed, I suddenly heard the sound of soft sobbing. I went in the room, and found that it was Nick. He had heard Daniel talking and crying over these memories. His heart was broken over what his beloved big brother had endured. He climbed up into Daniel's bed and was just holding him and crying over and over, "It's just so terrible that you had to go through that. It's just so terrible!" Daniel and Nick forged a bond that night that I presume will never be broken.
Today, they caught a roach together.
I couldn't be happier.