Child-like Faith

This afternoon, on our way home from school, A overheard the tornado report on the radio. She immediately said that we need to pray for the people in Oklahoma. I was so proud of her quick and accurate response to the seriousness of the situation. So, we prayed in the car, and I thought about the all too many times I fail at being the mom I wish that I could be. But somehow, A has survived, despite my failures, and I was reminded, by my five year old to bring our concerns to the Father, and "turn that tornado right around God and send it back to where it belongs." Thank you, A. And thank you Father.

Shining Moments

Each week this spring, one child in A's class is God's Masterpiece for the whole week. This week, A is the God's Masterpiece student. She brought in a poster about herself, explained the photos to her friends, and then her classmates said the things that they liked about her. What a great way for all of the students to be reminded again that they are God's unique and special masterpieces!Last week A had her Awana Sparks' awards ceremony. She was excited to get her award, and we are proud of her! This year, she learned all of the books of the New Testament and 24 verses.

Fun

Last night I let all of my inhibitions fly out the window, and I got down and played with my kids. My version of play is different than theirs, and last night, I let them lead. We rolled/threw/bounced balls through legs and arms. We, the three of us, all fit into the playhouse in our playroom, where JD served us tea, vegetables and fruit from the "kitchen." We also read stories in there. It's good I don't have back problems. It was a fun night. After prayers, A said, "Why do you always pray last, Mommy? Tomorrow, you should go first." Aaahhh. Fun AND being considerate of others. It was a very good night.

Flubber

Last month there was a family event at our church that gave each child a bag of flubber. Very thoughtful, indeed. I forgot about it, until last weekend when my daughter and her friend rediscovered the bag of wonder and decided to put it in their hair. It came out in the bath, and no harm was done. . . . or so I thought. Tonight I was playing with the kids in the playroom, and discovered a two separate puddles of flubber on the carpet - dried on for dear life. As we're all peering down at the mystery, I said, "I have no idea how I'm going to get that off the carpet." My very wise daughter said, "Well, you could go on-line and find out." And so I did.

Happy Easter

Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival

A, JD and I had our 3rd annual trip to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Woodburn, OR. It was a B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L day. The tulips were gorgeous, there wasn't a cloud in the sky, and the sun made a rare, yet all-day appearance. (I am seriously vitamin-D deficient.) The kids were excited to go, too. Here are some of the highlights:

Good Friday Service

Tonight, A sat with me during our church's Good Friday service. During our communion time, she asked if she could draw on the back of my bulletin. I gave her the paper, and then forgot about it until after the service, when A held up her drawing. It brought tears to my eyes.

Random Catch-ups

A and JD have been swimming every Saturday morning since January. They like it, and they're getting comfortable in the water. Both of them are in the beginner class and are working up their confidence to put their faces in the water for a few seconds at a time. I like it too. Their lesson starts at 9:35, which means we don't set the alarm on Saturday, and yet we've been productive by 10:30 in the morning. Swim on, my children.We sit on A's bed every night to read books. When I stepped away to fold laundry, A decided to take over my job.
A has learned to tell time this spring, and she asked for her own watch as a result of her new knowledge. Just a month before this occurance, I saw a watch that I thought she would like but I thought it would be a while before she learned to read a non-digital clock. Nope. One month.

Question Mark

Earlier this week, A discovered that JD's toothbrush had red toothpaste on it (his is usually clear).

She said, "How did it turn red?"

Then she paused and said to me, "If I were writing that sentence right now, I would end that sentence with a question mark!"

Books

Books. I love them. I've been buying some for the kids and saving them for when they get a little older. But, I guess they weren't much of a secret. When I slept in this morning until 8:30 - yes, you read that right - my kids were in my craft room "playing." JD found the books and wanted to read them. When I woke up and realized what was going on, I said, "Okay, but I was saving those for when you get older." In all seriousness, A said to me, "Mommy. They're books. I READ books." Well, okay then. Let the reading begin.

Infomercial

I'm not sure if my kids have ever watched an informercial, but I know they were exposed to their first one today when we were watching "Swiss Family Robinson" - such a great movie. When the commercial came on, A's first response was, "press the button to get back to the movie." I told her I couldn't on this one, and she informed me that "Daddy knows how to do that." Does that seem like a prime example of the evolution of technology on the next generation or what? I told her that you can't fast-forward on this show, so A and JD were a captive audience for some sort of amazing vacuum that bends to go under furniture. They were amazed. "You should get that, Mama." And "Wow! Do you think that makes noise?" It's a vacuum. The power of marketing, when a 5 and 3 year old want me to buy a cleaning device. I'm sure they're too young to imply that I need to clean.

God of the Water

This week, on two seperate occasions, while we have been in the car, my kids have been talking about the trinity. Of course, they didn't use that word. But, they said that some kids call Jesus "God the Son." Why? It seemed an opportune time to talk about the trinity. The first time it came up, I did my best to explain it, and made a triangle with my fingers (all while driving). The second time, I began to show the triangle again, when A said, "Oh I know. God the Father. God the Son. And God of the Water."

Worship

A informed me as this week that the song on the radio was one of her "top two favorite worship songs." Just hearing those honest, earnest words makes me so happy. In case you're curious, she said she loves:

Chris Tomlin's "I will follow" and Brandon Heath's "Give me your eyes." If you want to hear the songs, click below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx_04LdPV_Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5AkNqLuVgY

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I love those songs too.

Like an adult

A informed me today that she was like an adult for three reasons:

1) I know when to turn around (in the car)

2) I know how to drive

3) I know how to tell time

"The most important thing is telling time," she said in all seriousness.

Delights

Tonight, I took such delight in the genuine laughter of my little man. He still loves hearing Charlie Brown say, "Good grief!" on a Christmas book we read again and again. We've also been reading a book about a legendary fireman from New York. When he turns to a mother in the book and says, "Just doin' my duty, ma'am" he can hardly contain himself in laughter. I'm not sure if it's the phrase, or my delivery of the line. But it's moments like these that make life so sweet for me. Simple delights in life!

MLK

A: Why don't we go to school on Monday?

Me: Because it's a holiday.

A: Is it celebrating Jesus?

Me: No. Martin Luther King Jr.

A: Oh, I know that guy.

Me: Really? What do you know about him?

A: Well, he said REALLY LOUDLY "I have a dream." Let me tell you the whole story, JD. A long time ago white people and black people didn't get to do the same thing. And that's not fair. So he said "I have a dream."

Me: How do you know all this?

A: Mrs. Hutchin read a book to us and told us all about it.

Nice job, Mrs. Hutchin!

Kisses

Yesterday when I picked the kids up at day care, I promptly gave JD a kiss, like usual. Except then he wiped my kiss away and informed me that he doesn't want me to kiss him at school any more, only at home. I thought I had a few more years before that would happen. Sigh.

While watching a video

While we were watching a video called "The Story of Christmas," and Mary and Joseph were traveling on the donkey towards Bethlehem, A turned to me and asked, "Is Santa in this one?"

Faces

Tonight A asked me if she could draw faces on our nativity set.

Me: Um, no.

A: Why? Didn't they have faces back then?

Happy Thanksgiving

We ventured north this year, to spend Thanksgiving at John's sister's house. We were greated with a few inches of snow, which was a wonderful treat, and great hospitality. Thanks for hosting, Rebecca!

John and his sisters

Before the meal, the kids were getting a little crazy. Nana told the kids to close their eyes and fold their hands, but we didn't actually pray for a few minutes. So they just sat there. I had to take a picture of my guy in his praying pose.
What would Thanksgiving be without looking at the ads? It's a little alarming to me that five year-olds are into it too, but I do remember pouring over the Sears catalog when I was a kid. I guess not much changes.

Our host, carving the delicious turkey!

Rebecca made a delicious cranberry stuffing.

We really enjoyed sledding with the kids for the first time. Their neighborhood had a street and an alley-like driveway that were perfect "hills" for the kids to catch some speed. They really had a great time, and so did we.