Kid's Say the Darndest Things

 We have a rule in our house that if you don't know what a word means you can ask and you won't get in trouble for using it.  About a week ago we oh so joyfully and peacefully and not-snapping-at-all at each other decorated the tree after countless days of begging from one of our more party oriented sons.  It took longer than normal being in a new home and figuring out where everything should go. 

I often feel the tension to want to create special holiday memories but still maintain some sanity and order with three little men.  Not too worry, my kids are bound to say or do something memorable along the way.  And though I'm a little nervous about what you will think about me as a parent, or my missionary children, I have to write this one down so I don't forget it in years to come. 

After the tree was up we were discussing where to put the extra lights when one of my sons volunteered, "I know where you can hang them, Dad."

"Oh, where is that?" hubby replied.

"You can hang them on your A_ _" he cheerfully suggested.

Hubby and I exchanged the: Did he just say what I think He said  look across the room.  Yes, yes he did.  Do we laugh or scold or both???

Then he followed it with, "What's an A _ _?"

Hubby quickly took him into the other room away from his other brothers to explain what that meant.  It was all for naught though bc a few mins later he returned to the peanut gallery on the couch chanting, "Hang them on your A _ _! Hang them on your A _ _!" 

"Well okay, boys, decorating is done!  Let's go play!"

This seemed like the most appropriate pic to follow that story.  (If you are wondering who the extra chic is, she isn't my daughter or my sister.  She is the wonderful woman who keeps us sane with date nights and sees all our junk and loves us anyway.  She is living with us this year in our basement.)

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Just a few days after that incident Thing 3 (who is now a whopping 4 1/2 years old) announced to me, "Mom, I'm a heavy drinker." 

"Really?" (again totally perplexed where they pick up these phrases, we don't have cable and never watch TV except for the Packers of course).

"Yeah, I drink a lot of Almond Milk."

"Oh, okay."  I decided it would be too complicated to explain that one to him so I just let it drop. 

The Brain Transplant - A Spooky but True Story

      I’m not a big supporter of the spooky side of Halloween but I am a fan of free chocolate.  All those Mounds bars that my kids don’t want are happily consumed by this momma.  So in the spirit of free candy and all that is good and chocolate, I share this true and spooky story with you.

The Brain Transplant

 “I found your brain,” the mother said to the father in passing one autumn evening.  She looked down the hall at her husband on the couch next to their seven-year-old son.  Seeing the younger one’s wide-eyed reaction she immediately followed with, “Yeah, Thing 2, every boy has a brain transplant when he turns eight.  We didn’t tell you because we didn’t want you to be nervous.”

“What?!?!?!” the nearly eight-year-old boy replied with fearful disbelief.

“Yeah,” the father chimed in, “the brain your mom found was mine.  See, here it is.” He holds it up for Thing 2 to see.  “But don’t worry, you really don’t remember it. That’s why I can’t remember much from my childhood before I was eight.”

“Nuh uh! You guys are just teasing me!.....Right?! That’s not your brain,” Thing 2 says with a lot more question than conviction. 

At this point the mom is seeing $10k lost if only she had a secret video of this whole conversation to capture and send off to AFV.  Her son’s wide eyes are priceless and she can barely hold back her grin.

Later that evening the nine-year-old male child with a mostly unhidden smile tells his younger brother, “It’s true.  I had my brain transplant last year.  And when you get your new brain you know all your math facts. It’s kind of nice.“

“Nuhh Uhhh!” shouts Thing 2, still not certain but pretty sure his family is trying to freak him out.

She isn’t sure what made her do it. It wasn't planned, it just came rolling off her tongue. Somewhere along the way of raising three male offspring she exchanged her clear conscience for a good laugh. Perhaps it was all the years of potty mishaps, tantrums, and endless sibling squabbles. With three sons you learn to laugh before you dissolve into tears.  Like when one small boy manages to splatter vomit on five surfaces in the bathroom, just inches from the toilet. 

Whatever it was that made her say it, the mom knew she needed to put this seven-year-old’s brain at ease.  After a few hours feeling less guilty and more amused than she should she decides to fess up to the truth.

“Thing 2, you are right, that isn’t your Daddy’s brain.  It is coral.”  Just as the relief is registering fully in his big brown eyes she adds with a twisted grin, “They don’t really let you keep your brain after the transplant.”

“Nuhh uhhh!!!! It’s just coral!  They. Don’t. Give. Boys. A. Brain. Transplant!!!!!”

She just smiles and walks away…some days I really think they should!

Record of Faithfulness: Remembering Jo

Since Heather’s sudden death four years ago I’ve wondered if it would be easier to accept if I had had a chance to say goodbye.  Or is a freak accident a mercy?  No suffering, no lingering, no knowing all you are about to lose?  My husband put it well when he said Heather’s death was “traumatic.”  Jo’s was just plain painful.  Having had grief both ways now I’m not sure one is easier than the other, just different.

________

Sept. 10, 20013

                Jo died yesterday.  It was hard to see her so frail and in pain.  Cheeks sunken, breath broken, body swollen and suffering.  This was not the vibrant woman whose personality instantly filled a room.  This was sin’s consequence staring back at me – not her sin, but everyone’s.  Death was coming to steal, plunder and destroy all the goodness God had breathed into Jo – all the life.

 My heart agrees with  these words, “We were never meant to experience (death) because it was not part of the wise Creator’s original plan.  Since we have forever wired in our hearts, death is an inconceivable, dark reality.” (Forever, Paul David Tripp, p.44).  The dark reality is all the ordinary days and special celebrations where she will be dearly missed.

                My heart breaks over the separation, no matter how temporary.  I know Your heart breaks too. Through loss I better understand the emotion behind Your Words in the Garden, “What have you done?” (Gen.3:13). There is no accusation in those words, only tears. 

But You had a plan in mind to rescue us. (Rom. 6:23). Instead of judgment You hold out Your nailed scarred hand and welcome us into Your embrace.  No more shifting the blame with Adam or hiding with Eve. No more covering our shame.  Just Love.  Just forgiveness.  Just cleansing and Life, bought at the highest price.  Life celebrated with each day we live by faith here on earth and in heaven forever.

Jo knew this faith.  She lived for this Love.  She didn’t do it perfectly, no one does. . But when it counted the most, in the midst of cancer, she did not waver in her faith. One of my treasured memories with Jo is hearing her teach on thanksgiving while battling her illness. She never stopped asking for more time, and more importantly, when she didn’t get what she wanted she did not turn away from You.   

Jo brought glory to You, the One who gives life, the One Who is Life. The One Who is celebrating with her right now a life well lived in service to You, and all there is to come… forever. Well done, my good and faithful friend.

___________

Yesterday I found this note from Jo along with a journal she gave me shortly after Heather died.

“This is a journey we didn’t ask for, and don’t even really want to be on – yet here we are.  Should God move – when God moves – in a special way, a record will tell of His faithfulness. All my love, Jo”

This is the beginning of my record of your faithfulness my friend, words cannot describe the present sorrow nor the hope I hold onto at our future reunion.

This is the way We Celebrate 13 Years of Marriage

 When we bought our house this spring there was a tall fence blocking the view of the front (and all the dirt and weeds). You can sort of see the fence to the right in this pic. Before we even moved in hubby ripped off the fence but two tall posts remained. 

For our anniversary I requested we tackle this project in lieu of the diamond  necklace I'm sure my  husband had picked out for me.  :)

 As with any joint project in marriage, it started out with negotiations.

Me: What would you think of re-landscaping the front this weekend?

Hubby: What did you have in mind?

Me: (thinking quickly... as an ENFP I have a feeling of what I want, not a detailed step-by-step list in mind)   Ummm, I liked the idea of cutting back the posts and putting up a split-rail fence.

Hubby: What else?

Me: We could put in a couple of rows of plants and flowers in front of the fence...(if it doesn't snow first). 

Hubby: I'd like to have a specific plan before we start. 

After 13 years of marriage this response is not surprising.  He is the opposite of my personality, an ISTJ who likes to have a plan, not a feeling to guide him.  Lucky him, he married me to add all the go-with-your-gut instinct he lacks.  Lucky me, I married him, to actually get the job done right the first time, within budget and efficiently.

Me: Okay, I'll call our friend who is a master gardener and see if she has any suggestions.

Saturday morning rolls around and we finalize our plans with a bit of tension and more negotiating.  After soccer we agree to at least get the fence done.  If there is time we will go to phase 2: mulch. How is it that those Home Depot and Lowes commercials make this look so much easier, more exciting and less stressful on a marriage???

 

While hubby patiently drills away at the fence posts, the garden expert comes over and consults with me about plants.  Seeing as there really is no "we" in the fence project beyond my idea to do it, I work on painting the Adirondack chairs.  (I'll digress here to tell you that my sweet, sweet husband knows my sentimental side.  These chairs were a gift from my dear friend Heather and her husband when we bought our first house a decade-ish ago.  They sorely needed refinishing.  When we moved here the chairs came in pieces with just a white base coat on them.  Hubby surprised me by re-assembling them for a couple weeks ago.)

Sunday arrives, our 13th anniversary.  After church and the Packers (who won BTW), we move onto phase 2.  Hubby digs out the clogged drain pipe in front while I make my first trip to Lowes.  I return with 14 bags of mulch and various drain parts that the Lowes employee sort of knew I might need but didn't seem that much more sure than I was.  

As we are spreading the mulch I think about those chairs and where we are going to put them.  The potential flower bed that will look soooo pretty (dreamer side of an ENFP) until I never get around to weeding it (reality side of me) is actually a nice flat place for two comfortable bright red chairs.  The best part is chairs won't need weeding and will add color all year long.  

I tentatively broach the idea of a change of plans.

Me: What would you think of putting mulch in front of the fence instead of plants?  And our chairs and a table out there?

Hubby: I think that it could work.  Pavers would look really nice.  (He considers the extra cost for a few minutes and labor involved.  Suddenly my unplanned feeling merges with his logical budgeting expertise.) I think the wood chips are a great idea!

Me: Great!  I head back to Lowes for round two. 

I love projects that make a big difference but take very little time.  My attention span is pretty limited. Doing mulch means no waiting until spring to plant!  And we can always add some plants later anyways. 

 And that is how two very different people with opposite approaches to just about everything re-landscape together.

 

Part of the reason I wanted to do this for our anniversary is bc I wanted a project we could do together.  Sure the selfish side of me would like to just have my way, starting off the day wandering through the nursery and grabbing whatever plant looks pretty.  And I'm sure my husband would have rather finished up a few other things last weekend than start a new one with me. But that is the wonderful thing about marriage.  Two people forced to lay down their preferences, seeking to honor and love the other...and occasionally by God's grace, getting it right. In this case, a much improved landscape-nice.

Oh, and we did get cleaned up and have a very nice date out that night!  Patio seating, fire place and a mountain view.  LOVE!

Now I think I'm going to go finish that other chair...stop and by and have a sit with us when you are nearby!

This is the Way to Get A Woman

Me to Thing 1(9 yrs old): When you recite your poem you have to look your teacher in the eyes or you will get marked down.

Thing 1: But I don't like making eye contact.

Me: Well, it is an important skill you have to learn in life.

(As often happens, Thing 2 interjects some interesting comment into the conversation)

Thing 2 (7yrs): Yeah, if you want to get an attractive woman someday you have to make eye contact. 

Well, there you go. 

Based on the awkward stance and distance between T2 and the neighbor girl on the first day of school  I don't think I need to worry about him bringing home an attractive woman quite yet.

But I look forward to meeting her when that day comes. 

This is the way...

This is the way the four year old likes to talk on the phone:

This is the way the four year old gets me to put in one more video so I can finish my conversation with Jesus:

This is the way he exercises while I do my work out video:

This is how the seven year old brother wakes up after the four year old has watched two shows and jumped off the fireplace 500 times:

This is how the four year old "helps" make my bed:

This is the way the seven year old likes to view most of life, perched up in a tree. Sometimes way way higher than this momma on the ground would prefer. But she keeps her mouth shut...most of the time. 

This is how the nine year old looks in his first pair of glasses:

This my favorite way to spend my Sat mornings, watching my nine year old have fun playing soccer: 

And this is where I store these memories for the day when no little boys do flips on my legs during my Quiet time, crawl under me while I do an Updog, make a fort out of my bed pillows, slowly wake up under my favorite blanket, celebrate over another goal scored, or giggle while wiggling fingers under my bathroom door. 

Grateful...a Warning to Other Parents

Sunday we were eating lunch after church, swimsuits on and ready to head out for a fun afternoon at the pool.  Thing 2 started asking a lot of pointed questions about batteries and water and electrocution. I didn't think much of his questions since we were headed to the pool and he is a boy.  But something Someone prompted hubby to randomly ask T2, "Why are you asking?  Did you SWALLOW a battery?"

"Yes. I did."

My heart started beating faster. "This isn't a joke.  Did you really?" I asked.

"Yes. I had it in my mouth and it just slipped down my throat."

Hubby immediately gets on the phone with a nurse, I call to see if Urgent care is open and text my best friend who is also a nurse.  We are suddenly not off to the pool for a fun family afternoon, instead we are making our first visit to the ER in our new town.  Quickly. Thankfully my folks are visiting so they were able to stay with the other Things.

At the ER they take us right back and the nurse proceeds to call poison control.  Here is where I get a little angry when I think back to that horrible day.  Poison control tells the nurse, no biggie, just take and x-ray and it will pass.  This is NOT the reaction I was expecting. My nurse friend had told me they can burn them and to get help right away.  I'm thinking, This is a big deal! But I figured they knew better. So time passes, we get the xray, see the battery (one of those round button sized ones from his little laser pointer toy) in his stomach and sit around and wait some more to see the doctor.  After a while the ER doctor strolls in with the x-ray and casually asks T2 what he swallowed.  When he hears it is a battery he says "you aren't going anywhere!" and rushes out of the room.

My heart starts racing again.

More time passes as the MD consults with a pediatric surgeon who is at another hospital.  We are told that since it is past his esophagus this is good.  But it still needs to come out immediately.  We drive to another hospital across town where the pediatric surgeon is waiting for us. They rush us right in through the ER. By then T2 is complaining his tummy hurts, no kidding - it is literally burning him from the inside out.  I'm praying like crazy for God to keep it in his stomach where they can reach it and that it won't burn him or damage anything.

They get T2 all hooked up and he is asking TONS of questions about everything they are doing.  His stomach might hurt, but it didn't curb his curiosity.  Then we are ushered out to a waiting room across the hall.  A little while later I see a nurse go in with some supplies.  Another nurse comes down to explain that he had a lot of food in his stomach they had to get out first (yes, he didn't tell us until AFTER he had eaten his whole sandwich!) But looking back I wonder if that helped move it down out of the more dangerous esophagus zone.

While we are waiting I'm thinking.  And praying.  And thinking some more.  T2 has always been an oral kid.  And I'm constantly on him about putting things in his mouth.  I think he was afraid to tell me about the battery. He thought he would get in trouble. That is what scares me the most.  He wasn't going to tell us.

He gets a lot of tummy aches so if he had complained at the pool hours later we wouldn't have done anything about it.  Probably would have chalked it up to pool water.  But he was afraid that he might get electrocuted at the pool with that battery so he started asking all those questions.

I NEVER would have thought to ask him if he had swallowed one and I am so GRATEFUL God brought it to light before it was too late.  (An answer to a frequent prayer of every mom for God to protect our kids, reveal when they are doing wrong and need correction, or in danger).

In that waiting room I also thought about all the parents that wait all the time for their children's test results, surgeries, chemo, answers to unexplained illness.  This scare gave me a small taste of what they go through and a larger perspective on their suffering. I'm not saying from my few moments of fear I know what they are going through, but I know a little better how to pray for them.

Finally another nurse emerged across the hall and gave us a thumbs up sign.  Some good friends showed up to pray with us and support us.  Soon after the doctor came out to give us the pictures and tell us everything went smoothly.  He did have some burns in his stomach but they weren't too bad.  We were lucky.  She told us if it gets stuck in their throat it can burn them within an hour and some kids don't survive.  I'm glad she wisely shared that bit of info AFTER the battery was safely out of him.

Incredibly, this was the THIRD battery removal from kids she had done that weekend alone.  She was surprised to hear of the misinformation that poison control gave the nurse and promised to call them.  She also indicated they are trying to get these little batteries off the market.  I don't know how to do that but I do know how to get them OUT OF MY HOUSE!

I bought back from my kids the laser pointers they had picked up at Wal Mart with their allowance.  It is the only toy they have that the batteries aren't screwed securely in. I've also had a several conversations with my kids about telling us right away if they accidentally swallow something or someone is hurt, and not to worry about getting in trouble.

 I knew that batteries don't belong in your body but I didn't realize how dangerous they are.  That is why I'm sharing this even though it still keeps me awake at night. I hate even thinking about it but am continually grateful it all turned out okay.  Please learn from our mistake, warn your kids how dangerous they are, even if you think they are too old to worry about it.Thing 2 is SEVEN years old.  It wasn't his four year old brother who swallowed it (though he recently stuck a lego in his nose). T2 was just curious what they tasted like (why, I don't know!) and swallowed it by accident. Remind them again that they can come to you and won't get in trouble if they do accidentally swallow something or do something that might hurt them. And pass this warning on to another parent.

 Raising boys is not for the faint of heart!  And I can't always keep them safe as much as I try.  But I can and do pray for them.  And knowing they quickest route to the ER and Urgent care doesn't hurt.

On Being a Mom and a Teacher

I was really nervous about this day, more nervous than I expected.  It wasn't so much that I just sort of had an idea of what we were going to do (after camping all weekend and spending zero time final prepping).  It wasn't that I didn't think I could teach my kids; I've done it their whole lives after all!  It wasn't even because I'd have three BOYS to keep in line and get new information into their brains.  It was more about my relationship with one of my boys in particular.  I think this summer has been a challenging transition for him and  it is playing out in his over all behavior.  If I'm already struggling to get respect and obedience for the simple daily chores how in the world am I going to do it as a teacher?

A good friend and successful home schooling mom (her son is in college) recently reminded me of

1 Corinthians 13:1- If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

regarding teaching.  She warned me that I could have very smart and accomplished children but if I do it without love they are going to be really messed up! (my words, not hers). Yes, I need to be teacher and mom and disciplinarian and loving them well is doing all three.  But if I do it without all the other things listed in the rest of that passage defining LOVE (patience, kindness, gentleness, etc) then I will have failed.  

And of course I can't do any of it.  Not on my own.  I have to daily draw upon the fullness of my Father's love for me and let it spill over to my kids.  If I try to do it on my own I just end up a noisy gong in their ears giving one more lecture and ultimatum.  That is NOT what I want them to remember from home school. 

I want them to remember the nature walk we took this morning, our discussion on what and why we do the Pledge of Allegiance, the poem they memorized on Individuality for HIStory and our discussion on discretion for Bible. These are the things that get me excited about home school, uniquely crafting their education around our family's values/faith.

Being a teacher and a mom is a tricky balance I'm far from mastering. But I know where to start with both - showing them the same love that He shows me daily. The sacrificial love that took Him from His Throne in Heaven to a dirty manger full of hay to a cross of shame. The powerful Love that rose again and bids me to do the same in Him (Galatians 2:20).  The gracious love that welcomes me to let go of my mistakes, receive his forgiveness and start over and over again. This is the love I want to show my kids, both as a mom and a teacher.  And I can only teach it as well as I receive it from my Savior.

"Quiet" times with Kids

 Before becoming a mom I had no idea how precious sitting quietly could be!  I certainly under appreciated the fact that any time I wanted to I could open my Bible, journal and pray uninterrupted (i.e., have a "Quiet Time"). For the past nine years it seems my sons without fail wake up at the "crack of the Bible" (so the saying goes).  It. REALLY. IS. UNCANNY. 

Some exhausted years I've responded less than lovingly to their interruption of my morning routine. But with more experience... and sleep... I've mellowed a bit.  Now I can without mommy-guilt pop in a video for the unexpected, and by unexpected I mean totally expected (sorry I hear a LOT of Phineas and Ferb in the background of my days), and sit down in another room to enjoy my time with Jesus. 

The other morning as I settled into the couch with my coffee a little boy appeared.  Thing 2 (7yrs) is my snuggler and it isn't enough for him to be near me on the couch, he was practically on top of me. I almost shooed him away while trying not to spill my coffee as I scooted halfway off the couch.  Then I remembered an awesome post from a great friend I'd read recently about teaching others to have quiet times.  If I don't disciple my own kids I have no business spending time discipling others.

So Thing 2 and I flipped over to Psalm 1 and read it together using her method.  It wasn't the first time I'd had a quiet time with him but it had been a long while! Too long.  I encouraged him to draw a picture of what we talked about and broke it down to a few key words I hope he will remember.  Follow God's plans/guidelines for you = have a fulfilling life. 

Here is his page from my journal:

I'm certain I won't forget that lesson for awhile.  I hope he won't either. 

My life in the Mountains:Same life, different Views

Well, we aren't on the prairie anymore.  But besides the view outside my window life remains pretty much the same.   I find that settling into a new home together in a new town with different things to do reminds me once again how much I love my life.  I'm so grateful that I get to stay home and raise my sons, and not just because I'm a terrible morning person that would never make it out the door every day to an outside job. Though that could be a big part of it!  I love how they make me laugh every day, I love the little conversations I get to have with them (that are really often very big).  I love (well I should love) how God continues to transform me on the tougher days of parenting through quarrels and bad attitudes.   I know not everyone has the choice to stay home and I appreciate that I do...most of the time!

What most people ask me is, "How do you like CO?"  It is impossible to answer that without comparing it to my old life on the prairie.  The important things (like I mentioned above) get to stay the same.  Other things are different:

We have a lot more kids on the block in our new home to play with (yay!).
We have a tiny back yard compared to our old view of the prairie (sigh).
But it has a big play set so hubby didn't have to build a tree house (yay!).
And we have mountains to look at on the numerous bike paths (yay!).
No awesome swimming pool, really I had NO idea how spoiled we were in our old town! (sigh!)  The couple times we've gone to a pool the Things want to know where the sand box, water slides and play equipment are.  Sorry charlie, it is just swimming!
We have awesome trails to go off roading and hiking all around us! (Yay!).
And a new overhauled transmission in our jeep so we can make it to those trails (sigh!)
We are going back to the home schooling experiment in just another week (sigh...errr, yay!  no, really, yay!  I think!)  The Things didn't get into the charter school they have been waiting a YEAR to get into (it is THAT good), but they did make it into the home school option where they go one day a week.  
I have a couple new friends, at least I'm hoping they will be my friends :) and am enjoying connecting with old ones (yay!).

The boys have made the transition much better than I expected which is a big answer to prayer (Yay!).
I'll leave you with a few recent quotes:
 As we drove through town I pointed out the Garden of the God's to my parents who are visiting.

T1 - It is breathtaking.  You just walk around in a big circle.
My Mom - We should go then sometime.
T1 - NO!
Me - Thing 1, what does "breathtaking" mean?
T1 - It is tiring!

After a week of camping in our "new" pop-up (yay!):

Me: WE all smell and need to go home and take baths!
T3: Yeah!  We stink like pigs!

 At the dinner table yesterday:
Me: - T1 will you please pass me a napkin?
T1 - slowly pulls it out of the pig shaped tin holder while making pooping noises, "It is pooping out your napkin."
Hubby - (Discreet smile).  "Better than vomiting it out!"
 T1 - What is "vomit"?
Hubby - Throwing up.  Will you hand me one too?
T1 - Sure!  The pig is throwing up your napkin (complete with sound effects).

Sigh...life with three boys stays the same, no matter if you are in the mountains or on the prairie!  And I wouldn't have it any other way.  :)

The Greatest Joys of Mothering

               “I can’t stand it anymore,” my eldest son suddenly appeared by my side, “My tummy hurts and I’m homesick.”

                After some inquiry I gathered that he was nervous about our upcoming move. We snuggled on the couch while I shot up prayers for guidance.  I shared Philippians 4:6, 7 with him explaining that God doesn’t want him to be full of worry and instead wants to give him peace.   We prayed together and then something wonderful happened… my son suggested we get out his Bible and read.  This is the first time I’ve witnessed him turning to God’s words of love for us for comfort. 

                We have read the Bible to our kids since they were babies. Sometimes in spurts through the years when this happens every night.  Other seasons, like more recently with our temporary move in between houses, I’ve let the busyness and fatigue excuse the interruption in routine.  So when my son suggested we get out his Bible I couldn’t say, to my shame, that it is because it is what we do every night.  But even in my lapse of discipline God graciously showed me that He is at work.  Even where I fall short with my children He loves them more than I do and continues to work.

                Thing One and I sat down and opened up his little brothers’ Jesus Storybook Bible (which is the BEST children’s Bible out there in my humble opinion).  I had actually already read to the younger two earlier so I knew what story was coming.  I explained that even though we didn’t have his regular Bible handy , the story in this one was perfect.  It was the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus reminds us that He will take care of all our needs, our only job is to seek Him first.  Thing One and I both giggled over the illustration of the bird pushing a shopping cart.  I marveled once again at how often God speaks to me, and now my children, in our regular daily reading – just what we both needed to hear. I delighted watching God do for my son what He so often does for me in this manner.

                Thing One asked to show me something else in the Storybook Bible.  He flipped right over to Psalm 23, written in perfect kid language.  He told me about the first time Dad had read that to him years before and he realized that God is always with him.  Thing One asked to underline it and we took out a card for him to copy the verses on.  He folded it up and put it in his coat pocket so he would always have it with him.  He is so precious! J

                Later when I tucked him in he said to me, “Mom, you might not know this about me but I’m kind of shy.” I mostly hid the smile on my lips and replied, “Yeah, I kind of know that about you, buddy.”  He replied, “And when you read that verse about not worrying (Phil. 4:6, 7) it kind of made my heart cry.”  I explained that when God tells me just what I needed to hear it makes my heart cry a little too.  It is because I know He is real and loves me and is speaking right to me through His Words of love.

                 For years my husband and I have prayed for our sons, read scripture to them, poured over parenting books, failed to apply them perfectly, modeled repentance and forgiveness, explained the Gospel to them in many different ways, led them in prayers of surrendering their lives to the Lord, and, yes, read the Bible to them almost nightly. As parents you do what you think is best with God’s help and guidance all the while knowing so often your attempts fall short.  But still you  pray that one day your kids will get it, will really Know Him and understand” His wonderful,  Never stopping, Never Giving up,  Unbreaking, Always and Forever love” – DESPITE all the times you fail to model it perfectly for them. (Sally-Lloyd Jones, Storybook Bible).

                That quiet evening a few weeks ago in the living room of our temporary little lake home, God graciously revealed to me that He is answering all those prayers.  He is leading my son into a real relationship with Him.  He is helping him understand as much as a little man can, that He is real and His Words of love are for him.  This is truly one of my greatest joys in mothering.

  I don’t know why I get to do this, why I get to be anyone’s mom, or lead anyone to the Lord, or disciple any of their hearts in how to walk with Him.  But I delight in it and I am blessed by His gracious work in and through me.  All of it evidence of ”His wonderful,  Never stopping, Never Giving up,  Unbreaking, Always and Forever love”  for us all.