Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Must be time for lunch

While reading a book with my 3-year-old today:

"Mama, are those hotdogs?"  Pointing to some cattails.

"Does it really have butter on it?"  Looking at a butterfly.

Think like a 3-year-old today.  Have a hilarious day!

Friday, February 19, 2010

Jedi Caspian

Sam

Yesterday I sang him to sleep in my arms.  Today he sings songs he made up.

Yesterday he fit on my lap from head to toe.  Today I don't dare lift him up.

Yesterday he had a wonderfully infectious giggle.  Today he still does.

Yesterday his rolls of fat were countless.  Today I can count his ribs and have to remind him to "put on a belt".

Yesterday his vocabulary consisted of "Oh wow!" and "uh-oh!".  Today he brings home perfect spelling tests. 

Yesterday he stood in the living room and entertained us on his toy drum and kazoo.  Today I listen to the sounds of his piano practice as I do the dishes.

Yesterday he cuddled up with a thumb and his "yag" on my lap.  Today I am blessed when I feel his arms around me.

Yesterday I taught him how to hold a crayon.  Today he brings me drawings of dinosaurs.

Yesterday it took both his parents to give him a bath in the infant tub.  Today he swims the length of the pool.

Yesterday I gleefully picked up the phone to schedule my first doctor's appointment about 2 minutes after I found out I was expecting him.  Today I am already getting a taste of the young man he will become.

Yesterday he was leading his little brother "Ay-deb" around the house and into all his activities.  Today he leads a parade of five.

Yesterday I crept into his room at night and gazed down at a tiny baby, amazed that he was mine to raise.  Today that amazement is deeper as I realize more and more what a gift God has given us in him.

That was yesterday, right?

And today we're celebrating 7 years of Sam.

Happy birthday, Samuel Paul.  We love you so much.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Lay it down

Caleb learned Respect at school today.

"Mama, the school counselor came in again today and we talked about respect.  So, like, she would choose one of the kids to come up and then they would have something, like a book.  Then she would take it away and say, `Mine!'  And then that kid would have to say the right thing to get the book back."

"What did he have to say?"  I ask.

"Well, he would say, `Can I have that back?  You need to go and get a different book."

Hmmm.

Sounds pretty good.

But every single day before school, every night before bed, we pray together with the boys that they would shine the light of Jesus to everyone they come across in school.

Very often, what shining Jesus' light looks like is the opposite of what the world says is right.

So I questioned Caleb.  "Do you think that's the best way to show Jesus' love?  It's definitely better than just grabbing the book back and starting a fight, but is it the best way?"

He thought for a minute.

"Ohhh!  He should say, `That's okay, you can have that book.  I'll go find a different one.' "

Yes!  That's right, Caleb!  Many might call this being a doormat or not standing up for yourself.  As we view a situation like this solely through a worldly lens, we are sometimes hazy on the Truth of what is right.  Sometimes the best is thought of as too stupid, too unattainable, too backward to meld with society.  Kind of like the Sermon on the Mount, I guess.  Who can live up to that?  But we are called to do it.  We are called to walk in His footsteps, to be a servant, to shine His light in any way possible.  We are not called to promote Self (and Self is very good at promoting - it doesn't need much help).

It is so subtle, yet it is there - the world does not have the mind of Christ.  Yet, if you have become a child of God, you do! 

I so want my children to be taught by someone who has the mind of Christ.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Happy 10 Months!


Josiah                                  Isaac

Home's cool

20 Reasons Why We Have Decided to Homeschool

  1. I get to choose who by, when, how, where, my child is socialized.
  2. Making a deposit for lunch money is called going grocery shopping.
  3. God will be the driving force, the explanation, the be all, end all, Alpha, Omega, center of everything they learn.  Amen.
  4. If the jeans have holes in the knees, they're wearable!  (I'll just pull out the piles that are towering in the linen closet).
  5. I will know which media my children are presented with during the course of a day.
  6. My children will use the same manners at dinner as they do at lunch.
  7. Once my children know their letters, they can feel free to move on with it, already!
  8. Reading time can be full of enriching material (such as the Bible) rather than some meaningless Care Bears Celebrate the Holidays book.  
  9. I can see my children's accomplishments and commend them more each day.
  10. We can spend more time together as a family.
  11. Bible reading and prayer can be an integral part of each moment of our day.
  12. When they're hot, they can take their shirts off.
  13. If they want to kiss someone...well, I'll be right there!
  14. Our own private bathroom - no more "stall" incidents.
  15. I get to learn all this stuff.  (some of it for the first time - so that's where Alabama is!)
  16. Learning will happen each day.  And I'm not talking about learning all the words to, "Sam and so-and-so sittin' in a tree".
  17. We can take time off to go and have fun whenever we want!  And that can be educational too! (just don't tell my children)
  18. Rest time for EVERYONE!!!  Hooray!  (This quote was borrowed from Noah)
  19. Homeschooling is the best way for our family to communicate godly values and walking with God to our children.  
  20. God has made it pretty clear to us that this is what He wants for our family.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

If I can do it, you can too!!


This sport is so exclusive that no one knows it's exact title.
It is, however, extremely dangerous and physically taxing.
This picture was taken shortly after his acceptance speech.  As you can see, Caleb
 does not care for the spotlight, barely glancing up at his admiring fans to give
a humble smile.



Noah, the second-place winner, was very
admiring of Caleb's skill and plans to continue his training.  I see
him as a fearsome foe in the 2014 Olympics.




Baby sitter


"I think it's your turn to hold him, Mama!"

Isaac thought Josiah's lap was a comfy place to sit when he got tired of standing by his activity table.

When I think of more winter...