From the category: "Why didn’t we think of this in the first place?"

One the very last day of our trip, as noted below, we went to San Croce in Gerusalemme, to venerate the relics there, explore the church, meet some Cistercians and, as it happened, tour their small museum.

I had a small memo notebook in the diaper-tour book-miscellaneous bag I was carrying (canvas, zipper on top..from the 2003 Christian Booksellers’ Association convention. Hah.). The notebook had been a gift from a kind couple who were at the Theology on Tap Thursday night – kind because they saw how restless Joseph was and gave it to him in an attempt (successful) to help keep him on an even keel.

For some reason, I pulled it out at San Croce and gave it to him, along with a pen. Do you know what he did?

He walked around the exhibits, attempting to copy them – or what bits and pieces he could manage. A small what looks like obelisk here, an orb from a painting of the Child Jesus here. He was totally absorbed and committed to his work. It was astonishing. I’d have never thought of having a 4-year old do that…but believe me, now I will.

The artistic streak continues. Today he was painting…the weather was fine, and so he was allowed to paint because the only place he’s allowed to paint is out in the enclosed back porch. You can probably understand. Among the works today: "This is the Pope and his brother in their bunk beds." "This is the Pope and their brother in their hot wheels and someone is chasing them."

I am just working up these graphic novels in my head…Josef and Georg…Bavarians Battling Bad Guys. Or something.