While eating dinner at a restaurant tonite the conversation turned to my approaching birthday (#31). When Trevis turned to Parker and asked him, "So, do you remember how old Mommy is going to be?" Parker very loudly started free styling, "Oh yeah oh yeah, Mom is 41! 41!" Happy Birthday Mom who's 41!!!" I quickly told him to quiet his voice and try again to which he started whispering, "oh yeah oh yeah... You're going to be 14! 14! Oh yeah... Happy Birthday!"
Ok, so there is nothing wrong with 41 (or 14 for that matter) when you are actually 41 (PLEASE no nasty emails)...It's just funny that when you are 4 years old your sense of age and time are so abstract. Basically anyone who can ride a bike without training wheels and can stay up past 8 is O-L-D! Guess that would include me:)
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Lemon-AID
Parker made a really fun placemat at school. We were talking about how he made it and if his teacher Ms. Bonnie helped him at all. Here's the conversation that followed:
Me: Park, did Ms. Bonnie help you with that?"
Parker: A little bit. Mom! Ms Bonnie put lemonade ALL over the placemat!"
Me: She did??? Did she put it on anyone elses?
Parker: "Oh yeah everyone had lemonade all over it."
Me: "Really? Was it an accident or did she mean too?
Parker: "See, right here this is lemondade and it keeps the placemat shiny and from getting dirty."
Me: "Ohhhh you mean Laminate. Ms Bonnie laminated the placemat for you guys."
Gotta love the evolving vocabulary of a toddler!
Me: Park, did Ms. Bonnie help you with that?"
Parker: A little bit. Mom! Ms Bonnie put lemonade ALL over the placemat!"
Me: She did??? Did she put it on anyone elses?
Parker: "Oh yeah everyone had lemonade all over it."
Me: "Really? Was it an accident or did she mean too?
Parker: "See, right here this is lemondade and it keeps the placemat shiny and from getting dirty."
Me: "Ohhhh you mean Laminate. Ms Bonnie laminated the placemat for you guys."
Gotta love the evolving vocabulary of a toddler!
BOY "STUFF"
Yesterday for the first time I offered up the option of the movie Cinderella while we were in the car. All of Parker's "girl" friends LOVE princesses and talk about them constantly so when I asked Parker if he wanted to watch it he excitedly said "Yes!". After about 30 minutes of watching, he says to me, "Mom, I'm not into this. Girls like princess movies but boys like... we like... well, I like boy movies not Cinderella movies. Can you please put something else on?"
Haha...We have never really talked about that before but he instinctively knew. All that singing and eyelash fluttering just wasn't for him! I guess we'll just tuck that DVD away for Lillie.
Haha...We have never really talked about that before but he instinctively knew. All that singing and eyelash fluttering just wasn't for him! I guess we'll just tuck that DVD away for Lillie.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Can I have a witness?
We had to take Lillie to the doctor this afternoon for another UTI (related to her Kidney reflux). Unfortunately, these visits are very traumatizing for her (and me)since they require her to be held down, catherized and poked and prodded. Usually we keep Parker at home but because it was last minute I had to take him with me. Our pediatricians office was nice enough to "occupy" him while his little sister was hysterical in the examining room. When the nurse brought him back after a few minutes she told me that while they were out in the office area he stopped what he was doing and told her he wanted to pray. Right there in a real quiet voice he said, "Dear Jesus, Please be with Lillie and help her to not be scared and be happy again and make her healthy and AMEN." The nurse said that the other nurse and 2 receptionists were just astounded that a child so young could have such a heartfelt spontaneous prayer.
A year ago I started blogging about my desire for my kids to be spontaneous prayer warriors, to pray without ceasing and to pray for the big and little things b/c God cares about it all. What an amazing and awesome witness our little 4 year old is becoming. It makes my heart more than proud and excited that he is developing a relationship with Jesus. One that he can take with him to bed, at meals, and in the doctors office!
A year ago I started blogging about my desire for my kids to be spontaneous prayer warriors, to pray without ceasing and to pray for the big and little things b/c God cares about it all. What an amazing and awesome witness our little 4 year old is becoming. It makes my heart more than proud and excited that he is developing a relationship with Jesus. One that he can take with him to bed, at meals, and in the doctors office!
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
For name sake!
Convo with Parker at naptime
Parker: "Mom, I really wish you named me Samson when I was a baby."
Me: "Samson? Really? Why is that?"
Parker: "Because he is really really strong and can carry big things on his back."
Me: "Well, Daddy and I thought Parker was a pretty cool name for a cool little boy."
Parker: "Well... you and Daddy should have thought about it longer. You could have named me Samson."
Guess this is just the first of many things Daddy and I did wrong
Parker: "Mom, I really wish you named me Samson when I was a baby."
Me: "Samson? Really? Why is that?"
Parker: "Because he is really really strong and can carry big things on his back."
Me: "Well, Daddy and I thought Parker was a pretty cool name for a cool little boy."
Parker: "Well... you and Daddy should have thought about it longer. You could have named me Samson."
Guess this is just the first of many things Daddy and I did wrong
Friday, December 08, 2006
Ponderings while the kids nap
"GOD IS NOT HOLY
GOD IS NOT HOLY, HOLY
HE IS HOLY, HOLY, HOLY"
Not a profound statement, nor a genius one, yet i do get goosebumps thinking how holy holy holy God is. It also gives me hope, encouragement and humility. It's a quote from my new favorite book, "IT'S NOT ABOUT ME" Rescue From the Life We Thought Would Make Us happy by Max Lucado. I just read it for the second time and will probably read it a third after the holidays.
Friends and Family: YOU will be receiving a copy of this book from me in some shape (may be used) and in some form (might have to be the Big Print edition or on CD) and at some time ( I need to get my hands on at least a dozen copies) and I promise you, you will love it! It is not deep theologically, yet it is a very good reminder of who we really are in relation to God and what we are doing on this place called Earth.
I don't want to give too much away b/c I really think it is best for you to experience it first hand as a reader but this book is changing my life (and hopefully as a result my husband's, kids, and other people I come into contact with on a regular basis). Not in the drastic, "Hallelujah I have seen the light!" sort of way but more in the subtle "The words and concepts stay with me throughout the day and even into the night sort of way".
Without going into too much detail this book came at a VERY good time. I was feeling discontent in my role as a mom and wife and my walk with God was at a stand-still. My days are as predictable as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. There are days when if I have to build one more Lego tunnel, partake in another tea party with Elmo, Dora and the naked doll with the creepy eyes and cook one more meal in my crock-pot I think I might go insane! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, my full-time job as mom to Parker and Lillie and as a wife but there is a monotony and exhaustion factor which leads to stress at times. This book really helped to put things in a better perspective... one I hadn't thought about in relation to parenting. Here's the quote from the book that changed my thinking: "He (God) does not view history as a progression of centuries but as a single photo. He captures your life, your entire life, in one glance. He sees your birth and burial in one frame. He knows your beginning and your end, because He has neither."
Whoaaa....make you want to read more? I do feel like I need to say that there is of course no substitution for the Bible. It's inspired so therefore reading it will transform a life in even more intense and drastic ways than any other book out there. However, just like book clubs help bring new perspectives to a book, authors can bring new perspectives on the Bible and if you are open to those thoughts and ideas they can help bring a new point of view or an angle overlooked previously. That's what this book is doing for me (and hopefully for you too, soon).
I have wanted to share this book many times over the past few months but I was absorbing it and mulling it over and connecting it with everything I already knew about God and His Glory. I seriously think I could have a separate blog about this book so I will stop now. One more quote to entice you with and I'll be on with my monotonous, predictable life (but one that is becoming more fulfilled, content and God-inspired)
"Trace the tree back to the seed. Trace the dress back to the factory. Trace the baby back to the mommy. Trace God back to...to... to... No one. Not even God made God."
...and we get to serve Him in ALL we do!!!!
My prayer: Lord, I pray that my salvation reflects your Glory. You are amazing and perfect and everything I strive to be but will never be. You created me to bring honor to your name and although I fall short of that all the time, you will never cease to love me. All I can say to that is simply, Thank you!" AMEN
GOD IS NOT HOLY, HOLY
HE IS HOLY, HOLY, HOLY"
Not a profound statement, nor a genius one, yet i do get goosebumps thinking how holy holy holy God is. It also gives me hope, encouragement and humility. It's a quote from my new favorite book, "IT'S NOT ABOUT ME" Rescue From the Life We Thought Would Make Us happy by Max Lucado. I just read it for the second time and will probably read it a third after the holidays.
Friends and Family: YOU will be receiving a copy of this book from me in some shape (may be used) and in some form (might have to be the Big Print edition or on CD) and at some time ( I need to get my hands on at least a dozen copies) and I promise you, you will love it! It is not deep theologically, yet it is a very good reminder of who we really are in relation to God and what we are doing on this place called Earth.
I don't want to give too much away b/c I really think it is best for you to experience it first hand as a reader but this book is changing my life (and hopefully as a result my husband's, kids, and other people I come into contact with on a regular basis). Not in the drastic, "Hallelujah I have seen the light!" sort of way but more in the subtle "The words and concepts stay with me throughout the day and even into the night sort of way".
Without going into too much detail this book came at a VERY good time. I was feeling discontent in my role as a mom and wife and my walk with God was at a stand-still. My days are as predictable as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. There are days when if I have to build one more Lego tunnel, partake in another tea party with Elmo, Dora and the naked doll with the creepy eyes and cook one more meal in my crock-pot I think I might go insane! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, my full-time job as mom to Parker and Lillie and as a wife but there is a monotony and exhaustion factor which leads to stress at times. This book really helped to put things in a better perspective... one I hadn't thought about in relation to parenting. Here's the quote from the book that changed my thinking: "He (God) does not view history as a progression of centuries but as a single photo. He captures your life, your entire life, in one glance. He sees your birth and burial in one frame. He knows your beginning and your end, because He has neither."
Whoaaa....make you want to read more? I do feel like I need to say that there is of course no substitution for the Bible. It's inspired so therefore reading it will transform a life in even more intense and drastic ways than any other book out there. However, just like book clubs help bring new perspectives to a book, authors can bring new perspectives on the Bible and if you are open to those thoughts and ideas they can help bring a new point of view or an angle overlooked previously. That's what this book is doing for me (and hopefully for you too, soon).
I have wanted to share this book many times over the past few months but I was absorbing it and mulling it over and connecting it with everything I already knew about God and His Glory. I seriously think I could have a separate blog about this book so I will stop now. One more quote to entice you with and I'll be on with my monotonous, predictable life (but one that is becoming more fulfilled, content and God-inspired)
"Trace the tree back to the seed. Trace the dress back to the factory. Trace the baby back to the mommy. Trace God back to...to... to... No one. Not even God made God."
...and we get to serve Him in ALL we do!!!!
My prayer: Lord, I pray that my salvation reflects your Glory. You are amazing and perfect and everything I strive to be but will never be. You created me to bring honor to your name and although I fall short of that all the time, you will never cease to love me. All I can say to that is simply, Thank you!" AMEN
Thursday, December 07, 2006
The gift that keeps on giving...
So, as a kid, Christmas is pretty much all about getting gifts right? Well, this year I resolved to make sure that our kids learned, especially Parker, since he is old enough to understand, that Christmas is also about giving. Back in September I was feeling convicted to make the holidays different this year. Since I have the luxury of being home with the kids I decided that starting the day after Thanksgiving we would pick 2 people every week until New years to bring a "surprise" too. So far this has been a huge hit in our house and everyday Parker wakes up and asks who we are bringing a gift. Even Lillie has gotten excited about bringing "surprise" to people. Here is what we have done so far.. and there is more to come!
1st week- We brought breakfast to the ladies at the library. Parker and Lillie helped me make up a fruit dish and we baked some cin.rolls and banana bread. We love those ladies and they treat us SO well that this was an easy one to start off with and I knew Parker would understand why we were doing it. I wish I had a camera, b/c Parker was soooooo excited when we got there. He ran into the library before I could even get inside with all the food and announced "Order up!". The ladies were so appreciative and Parker hasn't stopped talking about it yet. Lillie, well I guess she is still too young b/c she kept trying to climb up on the counter to steal grapes, lick the icing off the rolls and pick the chocolate chips out of the bread (*sigh*)
We also did an Operation Christmas Child box this first week. We went to the store and Parker filled up a shoebox full of toys and goodies that he would want for a needy boy in a third world country . At first he would pick out a toy and say, "Mom, can I have one too?" but after explaining several times this was for a little boy who wouldn't get any other presents, he started picking out all sorts of cool things. Items that didn't even fit in shoe boxes like, a gigantic 4 foot T-Rex and then he had this great idea to include a pet goldfish (of all things!) I was so proud of him for understanding who this box was for and how happy it would make some boy far away. We packed it all up and he wrapped it (good thing we didn't get graded on that part) and afterward we prayed for the little guy who would receive it. Almost every night he asks me if our box has gotten to "that little kid" yet. We included a picture of our family and our address and I am hoping maybe we will get a response back.
The second week I asked Parker on Sunday night who he wanted to "surprise". We came up with a few ideas and I figured as the week went on we would think of some more. Well, it had been in the 70's for almost 2 weeks and out of nowhere on Thursday morning we woke up and it was frigidly cold. On our way into town that afternoon to get a movie from the library we saw the mail carrier walking and Parker mentioned how funny she looked in her ear muffs and scarf. I had the idea to get hot chocolates for the carriers since it was almost time for all of them to wrap up for the day. So, we bought a bunch of DQ hot cocoas and brought them over to the post office. None of the carriers were there yet so we just left them and went on our way. Parker mentioned in the car that he was sad b/c he wanted to "give the mail people the hot chocolates". I told him that sometimes the "surprises" were just that and we wouldn't get to see the people getting them. Well, on Friday morning when we went to go get our mail, I opened our box and it was stuffed with thank you notes for the kids and stickers and smiley faces. Parker called it a "party in our box". Everyday since, Parker has wanted to bring hot chocolate to the post office! We don't even know any of the carriers which made this "surprise" sort of fun and we gained 4 new friends in the process!
This week we also brought bright yellow flowers to two people we know but don't see often. Who would have thought flowers could bring so much joy but I guess since the weather has turned colder and dreary, some flowers are just the cure for the blah's. Parker and Lillie each picked out a bouquet from the store and we hand delivered them to two of the sweetest older ladies we know. Lillie did not want to give them up but after some coaxing from Parker she relinquished them (with just a few tears). The one lady owns a consignment store and so as a thank you she let the kids pick out any two toys in her store. You better believe that they want to go and give Ms. Norma some more flowers:) I was worried that receiving something in return might defeat the purpose of this whole idea but so far they have not expected anything from anyone else.
We're in our 3rd week and our first surprise this week was ALL Parker's idea which made it even more special for him. As we were getting ready to leave for school I asked him what he wanted for lunch when he got home and he said a peanut butter sandwich and then he whispers to me, "Mom, can you bring one for Ms. Bonnie? She really likes peanut butter." I wasn't sure this was exactly true but I asked him if he wanted to pack some treats and a snack for her. So he went into our pantry and picked her out a granola bar and an orange and a box drink. When I went to pick him up he came running out and said, "Mom! Ms. Bonnie forgot her lunch today and she is going to eat my snacks!" He was soo happy to help his teacher out and she was grateful for something to eat in b/w classes!
So, what began as an idea to instill love and thoughtfulness in my children during a time of year that can be self-centered, stressful and busy, busy, busy, has turned into a kind of social experiment as well. Parker and Lillie are beginning to think that "surprising" people is the norm and I am beginning to think that we are going to make this a year long activity rather than just a holiday time one. I am having SO much fun with this and I think in some ways this is my answer to the prayer of HATING winter. I hate (actually despise) cold, snow, ice, frost, coats, scarves and gloves! But in the midst of it all, we have found some fun ways to make the most of it and even look forward to a wind chill factor. That's not to say I won't be thrilled when we can deliver ice cold lemonade to someone instead of hot cocoa but I am beginning to think that this winter will be bearable, maybe even ((GASP)) enjoyable!
1st week- We brought breakfast to the ladies at the library. Parker and Lillie helped me make up a fruit dish and we baked some cin.rolls and banana bread. We love those ladies and they treat us SO well that this was an easy one to start off with and I knew Parker would understand why we were doing it. I wish I had a camera, b/c Parker was soooooo excited when we got there. He ran into the library before I could even get inside with all the food and announced "Order up!". The ladies were so appreciative and Parker hasn't stopped talking about it yet. Lillie, well I guess she is still too young b/c she kept trying to climb up on the counter to steal grapes, lick the icing off the rolls and pick the chocolate chips out of the bread (*sigh*)
We also did an Operation Christmas Child box this first week. We went to the store and Parker filled up a shoebox full of toys and goodies that he would want for a needy boy in a third world country . At first he would pick out a toy and say, "Mom, can I have one too?" but after explaining several times this was for a little boy who wouldn't get any other presents, he started picking out all sorts of cool things. Items that didn't even fit in shoe boxes like, a gigantic 4 foot T-Rex and then he had this great idea to include a pet goldfish (of all things!) I was so proud of him for understanding who this box was for and how happy it would make some boy far away. We packed it all up and he wrapped it (good thing we didn't get graded on that part) and afterward we prayed for the little guy who would receive it. Almost every night he asks me if our box has gotten to "that little kid" yet. We included a picture of our family and our address and I am hoping maybe we will get a response back.
The second week I asked Parker on Sunday night who he wanted to "surprise". We came up with a few ideas and I figured as the week went on we would think of some more. Well, it had been in the 70's for almost 2 weeks and out of nowhere on Thursday morning we woke up and it was frigidly cold. On our way into town that afternoon to get a movie from the library we saw the mail carrier walking and Parker mentioned how funny she looked in her ear muffs and scarf. I had the idea to get hot chocolates for the carriers since it was almost time for all of them to wrap up for the day. So, we bought a bunch of DQ hot cocoas and brought them over to the post office. None of the carriers were there yet so we just left them and went on our way. Parker mentioned in the car that he was sad b/c he wanted to "give the mail people the hot chocolates". I told him that sometimes the "surprises" were just that and we wouldn't get to see the people getting them. Well, on Friday morning when we went to go get our mail, I opened our box and it was stuffed with thank you notes for the kids and stickers and smiley faces. Parker called it a "party in our box". Everyday since, Parker has wanted to bring hot chocolate to the post office! We don't even know any of the carriers which made this "surprise" sort of fun and we gained 4 new friends in the process!
This week we also brought bright yellow flowers to two people we know but don't see often. Who would have thought flowers could bring so much joy but I guess since the weather has turned colder and dreary, some flowers are just the cure for the blah's. Parker and Lillie each picked out a bouquet from the store and we hand delivered them to two of the sweetest older ladies we know. Lillie did not want to give them up but after some coaxing from Parker she relinquished them (with just a few tears). The one lady owns a consignment store and so as a thank you she let the kids pick out any two toys in her store. You better believe that they want to go and give Ms. Norma some more flowers:) I was worried that receiving something in return might defeat the purpose of this whole idea but so far they have not expected anything from anyone else.
We're in our 3rd week and our first surprise this week was ALL Parker's idea which made it even more special for him. As we were getting ready to leave for school I asked him what he wanted for lunch when he got home and he said a peanut butter sandwich and then he whispers to me, "Mom, can you bring one for Ms. Bonnie? She really likes peanut butter." I wasn't sure this was exactly true but I asked him if he wanted to pack some treats and a snack for her. So he went into our pantry and picked her out a granola bar and an orange and a box drink. When I went to pick him up he came running out and said, "Mom! Ms. Bonnie forgot her lunch today and she is going to eat my snacks!" He was soo happy to help his teacher out and she was grateful for something to eat in b/w classes!
So, what began as an idea to instill love and thoughtfulness in my children during a time of year that can be self-centered, stressful and busy, busy, busy, has turned into a kind of social experiment as well. Parker and Lillie are beginning to think that "surprising" people is the norm and I am beginning to think that we are going to make this a year long activity rather than just a holiday time one. I am having SO much fun with this and I think in some ways this is my answer to the prayer of HATING winter. I hate (actually despise) cold, snow, ice, frost, coats, scarves and gloves! But in the midst of it all, we have found some fun ways to make the most of it and even look forward to a wind chill factor. That's not to say I won't be thrilled when we can deliver ice cold lemonade to someone instead of hot cocoa but I am beginning to think that this winter will be bearable, maybe even ((GASP)) enjoyable!
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Do you see what I see?
Conversation with Parker while driving in the car this morning
Parker: "Mom! Do you see what I see?"
Me: "No Park, what do you see?" (Looking around thinking it must be really cool for him to be so excited)
Parker: "Do you hear what I hear?"
Me: "Huh?" (getting the slightest feeling he is messing with me)
Parker: Mom, do you know what I know?"
Me "What Park?" (no, he is not doing this. Is he?)
Parker: (giggling really hard)"A child! A child! Sleeping in the cold.
Oh, WOW! I think we may have Christmas Carol overload in our house. Either way, I was laughing sooo hard I was crying.
Parker: "Mom! Do you see what I see?"
Me: "No Park, what do you see?" (Looking around thinking it must be really cool for him to be so excited)
Parker: "Do you hear what I hear?"
Me: "Huh?" (getting the slightest feeling he is messing with me)
Parker: Mom, do you know what I know?"
Me "What Park?" (no, he is not doing this. Is he?)
Parker: (giggling really hard)"A child! A child! Sleeping in the cold.
Oh, WOW! I think we may have Christmas Carol overload in our house. Either way, I was laughing sooo hard I was crying.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Christmas shopping (Guy Style)
This morning Parker and I were going over our Christmas lists and I asked him what he wanted to get Daddy this year to which he replied very matter of factly, "A backscratcher! A blue one because he really needs one and it has to be blue. Okay mom?" Since this conversation was pretty informative I asked him what he wanted to get Lillie to which he replied again very matter of factly, "A BIG BIG box of diapers! Wouldn't that be so cool Mom? We could get her a big purple box of diapers and she can ride on the box and push it all over the house." (For some reason I think he would enjoy the box more than Lillie but I kept that thought to myself.) I told him I thought both ideas were really good and we would go shopping this weekend. His reply, "Oh, you can go by yourself and I can stay home with Daddy and Lillie." Typical guy. Stay as far away from the mall as possible!
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