The gifts keep giving...we keep growing

We are a month into 2007 and we continue to do random acts of kindness for people, both strangers and people we know (see December 2006 post). It has been an amazing lesson for my kids (and admittedly, myself). A few of the things we have done this month...

1- We left some pennies on the horses at Meijer so other kids could ride: This seems small but it was ALL Parker's idea. I was impressed that he thought of it.. It only costs a penny to ride the horses but do you know how many times I have told my kids they could ride the horses when we were done shopping, and then I couldn't find a penny! After our shopping excursion 2 weeks ago, Parker suggested we leave pennies on the horses before we left so other kids could ride... What a great idea right? Especially for the mom who has a cart full of groceries and her diaper bag is loaded with everything but diapers and her wallet is buried somewhere on the bottom of it all. The funniest thing was that we called it our "secret mission" and Parker wanted to "hide out" afterwards and see if any kids used the pennies. Sure enough, a mom with 2 toddlers came by and used them!

2- Helping a stranger: This was a spontaneous act but while at the post office one day, we saw an older lady struggling to get some boxes out of her car. It was cold, the parking lot was slippery and she was pretty elderly. I asked the kids if they would want to help her which Parker VERY excitedly jumped at. So, we offered to help her carry in a box (and an envelope since Lillie was also eager to help) and afterward the lady introduced herself and asked Parker and Lillie their names. As we were getting ready to leave, she held out her hand and said, "It was a pleasure to meet you Mr. Parker and I think you are a fine young man." He looked so proud and I was once again reminded of his love language (words of affirmation). He just thrives on praise and encouragement! That night we read the story of The Good Samaritan and my plan was to relate it to the old lady. Well, wouldn't ya know, Parker actually brought it up before I did! He's really getting it! Oh me, a mom, of little faith sometimes.

3- Warming hearts- It's been VERY cold here the past few days. So cold actually, that Parker suggested we just stay inside and not go anywhere (you know it's cold then) We spent the afternoon drawing and cutting out hearts,decorating them and making little scarves to wrap around them. We then sent our "heart warmers" to several people we know who would LOVE to get some mail. This was messy but oh so fun and it actually warmed my heart too... I think this is going to be an extended project that we will do again in the next few days (the cold weather is here to stay for a bit) You never know, you may be a lucky recipient of a heartwarmer!

4- Closet Give Away- This was a little out of necessity but hopefully the lesson learned here was "Share what we have b/c really, it is not ours. God gave us everything we play with and wear!" After Christmas and then Lillie's birthday, I felt it was time to clean out our closets and give some "stuff" away and make room for the new. I thought I might hit some opposition and even contemplated about doing this "in secret", after the kids went to bed. The more I thought about it though, the more I wanted them to help and learn that holding onto things is unhealthy and not to mention not Christian-like. I actually had to stop Parker from giving away toys he loves and plays with! Lillie was a bit young for this activity proven by her naive willingness to put her blankies and Dora doll in the box (if she truly knew where they were going, I think she would have run the other way) Anyway, Parker and I sorted through his toys and clothes and made a box to give to friends, one to give to strangers (Goodwill), and one for garbage. We got rid of A LOT of things and afterward we prayed and thanked Jesus for ALL our blessings (this led to a vocabulary lesson on the word "blessing" (which in itself is another blog!).

We are trying... really trying to do something everyday to make this winter more bearable, more enjoyable, not so cold (literally and figuratively), and definitely a learning experience. In the scheme of things, our kids are only young and impressionable for a short time and I am attempting to make the most of that time. My prayer is that they will take something from these days together and carry it with them the rest of their lives.

Blind as a frog?

Parker has a little obsession (ok, a BIG one) playing the classic arcade game Frogger on our computer.

This afternoon while making lunch I looked over at Parker and saw him sitting at the computer with his eyes shut and the frog jumping to his death every time he pressed the arrow key. Curious as to what he was doing, I asked him to which he replied, "Oh, Daddy said I was so good at Frogger that I could play with my eyes closed. But Mom, I can't see anything!"

What's your flavor?

This afternoon I looked out the window and the snow flurries we were having suddenly became heavier and the wind was really gusting and I exclaimed, "Whoa, it looks like a blizzard out there!" Parker and Lillie ran to the window so they could see and on tippy-toes Parker goes "Yeah... but Mom I don't see any strawberries!"

Birthday girl

Happy Birthday Lillie-Bear!!!! You are such a joy (as long as you have your thumb and your blankie) and you're sooo sweet (as long as it isn't nap time). You have brought so much happiness (and pink and purple and frilly stuff) to our lives and we cannot imagine this house without you (and Dora and your princess outfits and your hair accessories and your play food). We can only say sweet and nice things about you (well, except when Dad and I lay in bed at night and call you "Lil the Pill" b/c we recall all the times you knocked Parker's blocks down and got into my make-up. But we don't really mean it) May you grow to love Jesus and know He loves you more than we ever will (I know, it's hard to imagine but He does!) You are precious beyond words!

Love,
Mom (and Dad and Parker too)

Adoption Option

We were blessed and privileged to have our best friend's little girl, Jovey, stay with us for several days. I say blessed because Jovey is the most colorful and brightest 2 year old I have ever met. She lit up our already cheerful and playful house with even more laughter and creativity (hence, the cool outfits that we picked Parker up from school wearing)! I have blogged before about how Parker adores her and has wished for her to be his wife and his sister and now apparently I have some more explaining to do to him. We have close friends who are adopting a baby from Africa. I explained to Parker what adoption was and how it works (in the simplest preschool way I could). Anyway, I guess he only grasped some of the concept b/c as we were getting ready for school, he asked me what Lillie and I were going to do while he was gone. I told him I needed to run some errands and then we would probably go home and play. To which he said, "Oh do you think you can run an errand for me, Mom?" Slightly surprised by the request, I said sure and asked what he wanted me to do. His reply, "I want you to go take a trip to Jovey's house and go adopt her." I explained to him that adoption is for kids who don't have a Mommy and Daddy of their own and that Josh and Lela were Jovey's parents and they loved her a lot. His answer was, "Yea... but... I love her and she needs a brother named Parker."

Don't we all... Don't we all?

Prayer Warriorette

I have written a lot about Parker being our little spontaneous prayer warrior and I guess Lillie in her quiet observant way has been intently watching and learning.

This morning she was pushing her baby doll around in the stroller and she accidentally hit the wall and her baby catapulted several feet into the air and landed with a thud on the kitchen floor. She immediately ran over to her, scooped her up and kissed her and said "shh shh shh". After a few seconds of mumbling something quietly I hear her say "Eeee-men!" I looked over at her and asked, "Lillie are you praying for your baby?" to which she nodded her head and pointed to her baby's cheek and made me kiss it. Then she happily ran off to go and push her into some more walls.

As a mom, I cannot begin tell you how happy it makes my heart that Jesus is living in my children and they know they can talk to Him wherever and whenever. I will NEVER grow tired of hearing them pray and watching them learn more of who He is. Even if it is by imitation b/c as I have observed in Parker, what was once imitation prayer is now authentic and genuine.

My spontaneous prayer: Lord, I know Lillie does not say much but God, she is watching. I just pray that you touch her young heart and become very real to her. It is one thing to imitate what you see and it is one thing to know that there are amazing results when we talk to you. Thank you for her tender sweet spirit. She is sooo precious!

American Critic

We saw a promo for an upcoming American Idol episode that was showcasing people who let's just say, singing was not their gift. Parker looked up at one point and I saw him staring at the TV and then he turns to me and says, "I thought they were supposed to sing good Mom. They sing really really bad like, hurt my ears and I don't like them too much."

YIKES!... and you thought Simon Cowell was brutal!

All those Christmas gifts...

and they want to play in the laundry basket!!!!!

Spiderman Lives (in our house anyway)

Now, you can see firsthand where Lillie's obsession with Spiderman comes from...

Thank God for 2nd chances!!!! (literally)

Ok, so God is speaking to me and it's not subtly... It's actually rather loudly and in an "in your face" kind of way. The thing is, I haven't quite figured out all the message. I may be a little slow, or maybe He is trying to get me to think a little about this. I know for sure He is trying to get me to be still and quiet (something that seems almost unobtainable most days with 2 small children running around at my feet).

It started January 2nd (actually if you want to get technical, it started Jan 1st when I prayed that this year I would be more open then ever to God's word and really live out what He teaches me). So, I began a new bible study during my quiet time and the VERY first lesson was on Matthew 18:23-35. If you are unfamiliar with this story it is the story Jesus tells on grace and the importance of forgiving others.

Brief NLT version: There was a king who checked the bank accounts of what others owed him. He found out one man owed him over $100,000. This was a huge amount of money to pay back and the servant did not have the money. When the king found out the man had nothing to pay, he told others to have the man sold along with his wife and children and all had as well. The servant fell on his knees and begged the king for patience. The king felt pity on him and forgave ALL his debts! Later, that same servant came across a fellow servant who owed only about $10. A much smaller amount then he had owed the king. He grabbed this servant and in his anger demanded that he return all $10 back to him that very moment. The servant got down on his knees and begged for more time to pay the money back, but the first man would not listen to him and threw him into prison. When the other servants saw what had happened, they told the king. The king called in the servant who he had forgiven and said to him, "You awful servant! Because you pleaded with me, I forgave you a HUGE debt that you owed me . Shouldn't you have done the same towards your fellow servant that I did for you?" Then the angry king sent him to prison and demanded that he stay there until the original debt had been repaid. Jesus told this story as a reminder to us. We should forgive others because God has forgiven so much in us.

So, you're sitting here thinking "yup, good story... but can you just stick with the cute and funny anecdotes of your kids?" Well, I thought the same thing and then last week while listening to a podcast from a preacher we know he starts preaching on this very story (coincidence?)... AND THEN...this weekend Parker comes home from church and his bible lesson was on... you guessed it... Matt 18:23-35!!! No subtly about it... God is speaking to me and it is getting LOUDER!

One lesson I am getting from all of this is the idea of disciplining my kids with grace. I'm not talking about having no discipline or consequences (b/c we have all been out to eat and to the mall and seen "those" delinquent kids...(lol:)) but showing my kids grace and forgiveness and most definitely 2nd chances when they have done something wrong! After all, didn't God give us the greatest 2nd (and 3rd and 4th and 22,256th chance, etc...) when he sent His son Jesus?

I think about Parker and how sensitive his heart is and his desire to learn about God and what He is all about. I cannot think of a better way to demonstrate the love that Christ has for us then by granting grace to him in times of disobedience and bad behavior and reminding him of how much God loves him (that He sent His son to die for us). I have been thinking about how God parents me. He does not parent with fear. I don't choose good decisions b/c I am afraid of the consequence. Rather, I WANT to do good and obey because I know it pleases him and this is what he expects of me. I think the same can apply to my kids. They should not want to obey us because they are afraid of the punishment and or outcome if they don't, but they should obey and make good choices because they know it makes us happy and that is the expectation we have of them. Make any sense at all?

It's balancing that grace along with the discipline and instruction that I am still trying to figure out. I know God will give Trevis and myself wisdom as we journey on this parenting adventure so I am not too worried but at the same time I want to get it "right" (whatever "right" may be in this situation). Normally, when I have had a parenting dilemma or question in the past I have gone to the gurus and professionals in the field of Christian parenting or bent the ear of a friend. I have read LOTS of parenting books by well known and well respected authors and I can honestly say that grace and forgiveness in discipline is not a topic written about in much depth. So, as I muddle through this idea I am feeling a bit alone and slightly overwhelmed. I do not want to be a doormat, to be taken advantage of, or have this "bite me in the bottom" (so to speak), yet, I know that God is speaking to me and telling me that this is definitely something I need to begin to work on and become conscientious of when disciplining and instructing Parker and Lillie in love. My hope and prayer is that it will eventually become automatic for me and that they will comprehend the message sooner than later (maybe I'll even have some good examples and stories to share this year as a result).

My prayer: Lord, I know this is the time of year when people are resolving to lose weight, slow down their lives, quit a bad habit, etc...but this year I desire to parent like you do. With an unconditional love that is so enormous that I cannot even comprehend it and with a firm, yet loving hand you guide me to make decisions that exemplify you and your kingdom to those around me. Help me to be that parent to my kids. There is nothing I want more than for my kids to follow you, love you and proclaim you and the scary (yet thrilling) thing is that I know I am your vehicle to teach them those things. Give me overflowing patience (you know I need it) abundant energy (in stronger forms than caffeine) and keen wisdom (my mommy-brain mode needs fine tuning). Thank you for loving me and showing me grace EVERY day even when I know I do not deserve it. Now, please just help me pass that same message on to my kids. AMEN!

A trip down memory lane...

I have had this blog for almost 2 1/2 years now and this is the first blog entry I ever wrote back in October 2004. As I was reading it, I realized I still had the same exact feelings about being a mom and thought it was worth reposting...

Seasons of Life 10/04
I have discovered over the years that there are seasons of life. There is the season of college and dating, the season of marriage, the season of working 50+ hours a week and aiming for the next promotion, and at the present moment I find myself in the season of parenting. As with the seasons we each have our favorites. For some, the barefooted days of summer is the best. For others it is the cozy, wool sweaters of winter. I think parenting is my favorite season of life to this point. The joys of parenting have FAR surpassed any expectations I had and because I am a SAHM being a parent consumes my every second of every day. I have wanted an outlet to express this joy and the blessing I have been given and I think I might have found it here. I feel like our days fly by and time is just running away from me. I want to slow things down and make this stage last forever. I know I can't, and so this is one way to keep it all alive. Until recently I use to think I lived a fairly boring life with pretty much the same routine everyday. I realize now though that my life is not boring. It is a gift and one that like the seasons, will be gone one day and I will long for it again. I have this awesome responsibility and privilege to teach Parker and Lillie wonderful life lessons, to play like I am 2 again and to love like I have never loved before.

Lo siento, pero...English por Favor

After calling to Parker who was in his room to come and get breakfast he calls back to me, "Uno minute Mom!!" Humored at the bilingual improvisation I chuckled back "Ok." To which he said, "That meant one minute Mom... in case you don't know."

Always an education around here...

Monkey see... Monkey DON'T!

I have heard from friends and now witness first hand that little siblings often idolize and imitate their older brothers and sisters. Well, Lillie has taken this copying thing to a new level.

Here is my Top 10 I am calling: Ten Ways I Wish Lillie would NOT Copy Parker

10- Pretend she is Spiderman and climb Parker's bunk bed. (Besides the fact that this is dangerous, it is also very difficult to do while sucking your thumb, carrying a blankie and drinking from a sippy. )

9- Go Swimming without a shirt on. (The lifeguards at the community center must think that we practice skinny dipping b/c the second I go to put her in the pool, Lillie proceeds to take off her swimsuit. Frustrating and embarrassing for me)

8- Pretend she is Spiderman and try swinging from the refrigerator door. (Parker also gets into trouble for this, but it is Lillie who is going to dislocate her shoulder, gash open her head and or break a bone. She is not nearly as coordinated or talented as Parker in this arena and she really should stick to things like drawing, dancing, and playing in her kitchen)

7- Be the Daddy when playing with her dolls. (One of her favorite things to do is grab my travel coffee mug (like Trev's) and an old black purse (like Trev's briefcase) and walk around the house pushing her baby in the stroller saying Dad-eeeee!!!!! Parker tries to tell her that he is the Daddy and she is the Mommy but b/c Parker is the Daddy, she has to be one too. It's starting to give me an inferiority complex)

6- Pretend she is Spiderman (see a pattern here) and wear Parker's Spiderman mask and shoot make believe webbing at anything she sees (In itself this may seem innocent enough but the fact that the mask is too big and she hasn't figured out how to breathe thru the 2 little pinholes in the nose part and ends up blowing boogers into it every time is gross! I need to find a Wonderwoman costume and quick!)

5- Drive the Jeep Powerwheels all over the yard and leave me devising stories for the ER doctor when we arrive at the hospital (Once again, an area that Lillie is not as advanced as Parker. He is quite the proficient driver, Lillie, on the other hand, although her desire to steer and be a "big girl" is admirable is actually very dangerous and unpredictable in the drivers seat. She has been known to crash into the shed, try and inadvertently kill the cat, squash my tomato plants and pop-a-wheelie over the back step. Never a good sign when Parker is scared to death and is screaming for his life)

4- Act like a Tyrannosaurus Rex while playing in her crib and roar "Mommm-eeee" as loud as she can into the monitor. (Harmless enough? Yes, but at 6:45 in the morning it's not exactly the wake-up call I envision)

3- Drink "garbage juice" from her tea set. (Most little girls I know love tea parties and sip out of their cups delicately and gingerly. NOT our Lillie. Instead she pretends we are drinking garbage juice (hmmm.. guess where she learned that) and makes loud slurping noises and then dumps the whole tray of cups and saucers onto the floor and laughs hysterically.)

2- When she "toots" or burps she looks to whoever around and gives a hi-five! (For the record, she DID NOT learn this from me! This is ALL her brother and probably his little friends and I am sooo not happy about it! Some manners would be nice here. She is never going to find herself a decent husband (and to that, Trev would say "Good. That's the point! She is living with us until she is 30 anyway)

...AND THE #1 WAY I WISH LILLIE WOULD NOT IMITATE PARKER IS:

1- Stand up while peeing. (This is making potty training VERY difficult and messy! We were making incredibly swift strides in this area until one day Lillie stood up and tried to pee "like Pahpah" and of course missed. She is stubborn about this and is bound and determined to do it like him. Not good for her or me!

*Lillie-bear I love you but you are driving Mommy crazy!!!PLEASE stop trying to do everything Parker does. You are going to get yourself hurt, wet, laughed at and or in trouble. Someday I hope you and I can read this entry together and laugh about it. But right now, I am exasperated and trying to find the humor in it all~

Dora's next adventure

As Parker was getting ready for school this morning I hear him talking to Lillie over the monitor, "Lillie stop. I don't want them. They are yours. I cannot wear them. No thank you!!! Lillie, I said NO thank you!!!" At just about the time I think I should go investigate the situation, I hear Parker screeching down the hall, "Mom, ahhh tell her to stop!!! I don't want them! I said no thank you to her but she keeps trying to give them to me." Then I hear a thud and Lillie giggling hysterically and Parker very loudly and obviously losing patience saying, Lillieeeee.... noooo thank youu!!! STOPPPPP!!!!!!!!" I look down the hallway and Lillie had tackled Parker to the ground and was wrestling him to put on her Dora underwear!

Haha.. I think our son may be traumatized forever by this event. If only I had a video camera on in the hallway at all times! This was one for the archives!

Shopping list jumble

This afternoon I asked Parker to write out a list with a few items that I needed to pick up from the store. One of these items was "door locks" (the kind that you put on the bathroom door handle to prevent kids like Lillie from getting into your makeup, nailpolish, and toothpaste).

Once we were thru with our shopping and on our way to checkout, I asked Parker to read off our list to make sure we had everything. As he was reading thru he says, "Oh mom you forgot "Dora socks". I repeated "Dora socks? I don't think that was on my list." To which he replied, "Yes it is mom. Right here "Dora Socks". So, I leaned over and looked and right there in Parker's handwriting was "Dora Socks." I told him I didn't need Dora socks to which he said in an exasperated tone, "Yeah Mom you do remember? To make sure Lillie stays out of the bathroom. You said you needed Dora socks!"

I know Dora and her backpack can do A LOT of things. I am pretty sure though that her socks cannot keep our very curious Lillie out of our bathrooms...

Parker randomness

Tonite while putting Parker to sleep he randomly says to Trev and myself:
"If a bald eagle, duck or bird ever drop a feather, make sure you get it so you can tickle my belly with it. Ok?"

Yup, we'll do that but until then, we will also use our very accessible fingers:)