Man! What were those little green guys' names? If I were extra-motivated, I would look it up. But this post is not about THAT Land of the Lost. This post is about my house.
Husband bought Sweetheart a Gameboy last summer. She really needed it because ALL the children at her daycare had one and we were clearly letting her grow up scarred and unpopular because she didn't. No, all kidding aside, he just wanted to buy her one (and she had been asking.) Well we haven't seen that little pink wonder for many months around here. I've wondered about it's wherabouts a few times, but being unmotivated as I am, have done little about it. Apparently it's even too much trouble for me to say, "Hey, where is your Gameboy?" However, now that daycare has started back up, she is in a finding frenzy.
So tonight we started looking. The search began at Grandma and Grandpa's house. That's the last place she remembers playing it with her cousin. Grandpa patiently took the couch apart and flipped over furniture. The girls ran around the entire house with a flashlight. No luck.
So, we came back home. I suggested they look in the coat closet. During the winter, since neither one of them can actually reach a hanger, they just sort of fling their jackets into the closet while shutting the door as quickly as possible before anything tries to escape. Needless to say, the bottom of the closet is...well, missing.
Upon digging, we uncovered the entire dollhouse family that has been missing, one ceramic tea cup that has been lost from Little Bit's tea set, 2 plastic dishes, Mrs. Claus from our Fisher Price Christmas set (along with the sleigh and 1 reindeer--who knew she would just ditch Kris like that? It's shocking, really.) and 1 book.
We did not find the missing library book that I just had to pay for. We did not find the Gameboy. Hmmm.
I decided to look just one more place before the girls went to bed. There are 2 laundry baskets of baby doll stuff that have been sitting in our bedroom floor for a few weeks. I need to go through them and toss a bunch of stuff when the girls are not looking. I started looking in those and uncovered.................Grandma and Grandpa's mail that I picked up for them when they were out of town 2 weeks ago!!! Oops. Luckily, only one bill will be just a teensy bit late because of their youngest daughter.
So, a few things we had been looking for, a few things we did not even know were lost, but still not those items we actually were hoping to find.
I'm thinking those Sleestaks must be to blame! (It was driving me crazy--I looked it up, OK?)
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Today (If I Could...)
This morning I had to go back home to pick something up after I had already dropped the girls off at daycare. Now, it is a rare occasion when I am in the car by myself. Today I thought...
wouldn't it be nice if I could just swing by and pick up my friend Jennifer in my new Nissan Altima? (OK, it may not be a sports car, but after 3 years of driving a mini-van, it feels pretty good!) We could ditch the kids for a few hours and go to Chili's or The Olive Garden for lunch and talk away for the better part of 2-3 hours? I would totally do that if I could!
OK, so the fact that she lives several states away is an issue.
And I have no idea who we could ditch our collective 5 kids with for several hours.
And we would just end up talking about our kids and husbands the whole time and then miss them and run back home to them.
BUT I TOTALLY WOULD, IF I COULD.
I met my friend Jennifer in the 8th grade. Without getting into specifics about our ages and all, let's just say that 8th grade was some time ago. My church youth group was going to spend the weekend at her church having a youth group weekend retreat. She was sitting at the registration desk checking people in. I noticed she was left-handed. I ALWAYS notice when people are left-handed, because I am too. That's how we struck up a conversation and we have been friends ever since.
So, we have never lived in the same city? No problem! We started writing letters back and forth in 8th grade and we remained pen pals for years. Our church youth groups got together for church camps, etc. so we ended up seeing each other in person at least 2 times a year. She's the kind of friend who I can go months without talking to her (even though that hasn't happened in a LONG time) and we just pick up where we left off.
Thank goodness for the invention of e-mail! I know, Big Mama never thought it would take off, but it has saved our aching little hands. And our friendship. Because who has time with our 5 collective children to sit around and write letters? And find stamps and envelopes? And mail them? (Sometimes we can't find the children!)
We have been e-mail pen pals since like 1995 or 1996. We have written our way through many pregnancies, several miscarriages, many moves, job changes, babysitter searches, breastfeeding, and lots of everyday nothingness.
I love her to death. She's short and cute and I feel like Gigantor when I'm with her. She's worries and thinks about things more than any one brain should be capable of doing. And I totally get her.
That is why today, if I could, I would take her to lunch.
wouldn't it be nice if I could just swing by and pick up my friend Jennifer in my new Nissan Altima? (OK, it may not be a sports car, but after 3 years of driving a mini-van, it feels pretty good!) We could ditch the kids for a few hours and go to Chili's or The Olive Garden for lunch and talk away for the better part of 2-3 hours? I would totally do that if I could!
OK, so the fact that she lives several states away is an issue.
And I have no idea who we could ditch our collective 5 kids with for several hours.
And we would just end up talking about our kids and husbands the whole time and then miss them and run back home to them.
BUT I TOTALLY WOULD, IF I COULD.
I met my friend Jennifer in the 8th grade. Without getting into specifics about our ages and all, let's just say that 8th grade was some time ago. My church youth group was going to spend the weekend at her church having a youth group weekend retreat. She was sitting at the registration desk checking people in. I noticed she was left-handed. I ALWAYS notice when people are left-handed, because I am too. That's how we struck up a conversation and we have been friends ever since.
So, we have never lived in the same city? No problem! We started writing letters back and forth in 8th grade and we remained pen pals for years. Our church youth groups got together for church camps, etc. so we ended up seeing each other in person at least 2 times a year. She's the kind of friend who I can go months without talking to her (even though that hasn't happened in a LONG time) and we just pick up where we left off.
Thank goodness for the invention of e-mail! I know, Big Mama never thought it would take off, but it has saved our aching little hands. And our friendship. Because who has time with our 5 collective children to sit around and write letters? And find stamps and envelopes? And mail them? (Sometimes we can't find the children!)
We have been e-mail pen pals since like 1995 or 1996. We have written our way through many pregnancies, several miscarriages, many moves, job changes, babysitter searches, breastfeeding, and lots of everyday nothingness.
I love her to death. She's short and cute and I feel like Gigantor when I'm with her. She's worries and thinks about things more than any one brain should be capable of doing. And I totally get her.
That is why today, if I could, I would take her to lunch.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
I Was Right--It Was Joyful!
We attended a funeral service today. My 7 year old has been to funerals before, but she was much smaller and probably thought we were at some church. We have also been to "viewings" or "visitations" at the funeral home with both girls. But, we stayed on the other side of the room from the casket and really didn't mention anything about it. Our 7 year old, Sweetheart, is very sensitive. She has been known to break out crying over missing her grandmother. The one she never met. And she's serious.
But today when we entered the funeral chapel, she immediately spotted the casket at the front. "There she is! I see her!" she said excitedly. (She's obviously grown taller since the last time we attended a funeral.) She really, really wanted to go forward and pay her respects, or rather, SEE her. This was a dear 93 year old member of our church who had passed away. The great-grandmother of one of Sweetheart's friends. Sweetheart didn't know her, but we went forward.
We talked a lot today about how that was just her body and the part that made her Mrs. B was with the Lord. Sweetheart went on and on wondering what her NEW body looked like and could she see the video that they just played, and is her heart still inside her and I bet she's so happy to see my grandma and do you get your new body just as soon as you get to heaven or do you have to wait? I am exhausted of questions today!
I was relieved. The whole thing was not traumatic for her. She has a joyful outlook on the whole thing. That's not to say that she wouldn't be extremely sad if it were someone she knows and loves, but still. I wondered afterward what I would have told her if I myself did not have faith. Other children must have questions about death. What do parents tell them when they themselves don't know what they believe?
But we, as Christians, have this glorious hope in the Lord that even a 7 year old can understand. And so it was a joyful day.
But today when we entered the funeral chapel, she immediately spotted the casket at the front. "There she is! I see her!" she said excitedly. (She's obviously grown taller since the last time we attended a funeral.) She really, really wanted to go forward and pay her respects, or rather, SEE her. This was a dear 93 year old member of our church who had passed away. The great-grandmother of one of Sweetheart's friends. Sweetheart didn't know her, but we went forward.
We talked a lot today about how that was just her body and the part that made her Mrs. B was with the Lord. Sweetheart went on and on wondering what her NEW body looked like and could she see the video that they just played, and is her heart still inside her and I bet she's so happy to see my grandma and do you get your new body just as soon as you get to heaven or do you have to wait? I am exhausted of questions today!
I was relieved. The whole thing was not traumatic for her. She has a joyful outlook on the whole thing. That's not to say that she wouldn't be extremely sad if it were someone she knows and loves, but still. I wondered afterward what I would have told her if I myself did not have faith. Other children must have questions about death. What do parents tell them when they themselves don't know what they believe?
But we, as Christians, have this glorious hope in the Lord that even a 7 year old can understand. And so it was a joyful day.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
There is a Black and White
I grew up in church. Attended my first Sunday service when I was probably around 2 weeks old. My husband grew up at the same church. We go there today. (I know, we are pretty boring people.) Both of our daughters began attending church within their first month of life. We rarely miss.
But that doesn't mean we are going to heaven. Lots of people attend church. We also are regularly nice to people. We use our best manners in public. I have helped many lost children find their mothers in stores. That doesn't mean I am going to heaven. Lots of people are nice.
I was amazed this evening to read the comments from this post. I am amazed by how many different, but very wrong, perceptions people have about God. And about their salvation. I was amazed, but saddened too.
Folks, there is a right and wrong. There is a heaven and a hell. There is black and white. We are going to heaven because we have accepted the awesome gift that is God's grace. Only because of the sacrifice of His Son are we able to have hope.
Maybe instead of whispering that message, my life needs to start shouting it. Apparently a lot of people still need to know.
The lies are rampant folks....absolutely rampant.
What you feel doesn't matter.
How nice you are doesn't matter.
Yes, your children would be better off with faith.
I forget there are many types of unbelievers: those who think they don't need God, those who don't think there is a God, those who think people can choose the type of god they want, and those who think I am an unenlightened southerner who blindly follows what I've been taught my whole life.
The harvest is indeed plentiful.
But that doesn't mean we are going to heaven. Lots of people attend church. We also are regularly nice to people. We use our best manners in public. I have helped many lost children find their mothers in stores. That doesn't mean I am going to heaven. Lots of people are nice.
I was amazed this evening to read the comments from this post. I am amazed by how many different, but very wrong, perceptions people have about God. And about their salvation. I was amazed, but saddened too.
Folks, there is a right and wrong. There is a heaven and a hell. There is black and white. We are going to heaven because we have accepted the awesome gift that is God's grace. Only because of the sacrifice of His Son are we able to have hope.
Maybe instead of whispering that message, my life needs to start shouting it. Apparently a lot of people still need to know.
The lies are rampant folks....absolutely rampant.
What you feel doesn't matter.
How nice you are doesn't matter.
Yes, your children would be better off with faith.
I forget there are many types of unbelievers: those who think they don't need God, those who don't think there is a God, those who think people can choose the type of god they want, and those who think I am an unenlightened southerner who blindly follows what I've been taught my whole life.
The harvest is indeed plentiful.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Ready to Answer
OK, I'm going to get down on "paper" what all has been bouncing around in my brain since last summer. I read a book on homeschooling because I thought "What if I have to do this one day because we are missionaries?" Well, we are not ready to go to the mission field right now, but I was sold on homeschooling---because of the Christian perspective. I still think homeschooling can be a good thing even if the family is not doing it because of their beliefs--but how much more powerful when done for the Lord!
WHY WE ARE HOMESCHOOLING
1. We believe that God has entrusted the training of these children to us. We do not believe we can properly train them if they are away from us for 6-7 hours a day. I do not want to entrust this training to others anymore.
2. To protect them from outside influences which do not support our parenting goals. To have more control over what they are exposed to and when. To prolong their childhoods by letting them be little girls and not heavily influenced by what their peers are concerned with.
3. To allow the Bible, prayer, and learning about God to permeate everything we do all day rather than being something we mainly do at church.
4. To give our family more time together. To free our schedule to be flexible to allow for what is really important.
5. To include in our daughters' education learning homemaking skills such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, home management, financial planning, sewing, etc. Instead of spending their day with others their own age waiting to join the "real world," they will be participating in the real world every day.
These are just some of the things that have been swimming around in my head. But if someone asks, #1 will be my short answer to why we are doing this. I expect the question to come up as we are now the only homeschooling family in our church. We haven't really told many people we are homeschooling. I have told several people that I am quitting work. And I have already been asked, "What are you going to do?" I told them I was going to be a mom! I cannot believe that in this day and age people still react that way--at church, even! Now we do have stay-at-home moms at our church. I guess because I have always been a working mom people assume I will not know what to do with myself if I stay home? It's such a strange question. "What are you going to do?"
From what I read in the Bible about being a wife and mother, I have PLENTY to do!
WHY WE ARE HOMESCHOOLING
1. We believe that God has entrusted the training of these children to us. We do not believe we can properly train them if they are away from us for 6-7 hours a day. I do not want to entrust this training to others anymore.
2. To protect them from outside influences which do not support our parenting goals. To have more control over what they are exposed to and when. To prolong their childhoods by letting them be little girls and not heavily influenced by what their peers are concerned with.
3. To allow the Bible, prayer, and learning about God to permeate everything we do all day rather than being something we mainly do at church.
4. To give our family more time together. To free our schedule to be flexible to allow for what is really important.
5. To include in our daughters' education learning homemaking skills such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, home management, financial planning, sewing, etc. Instead of spending their day with others their own age waiting to join the "real world," they will be participating in the real world every day.
These are just some of the things that have been swimming around in my head. But if someone asks, #1 will be my short answer to why we are doing this. I expect the question to come up as we are now the only homeschooling family in our church. We haven't really told many people we are homeschooling. I have told several people that I am quitting work. And I have already been asked, "What are you going to do?" I told them I was going to be a mom! I cannot believe that in this day and age people still react that way--at church, even! Now we do have stay-at-home moms at our church. I guess because I have always been a working mom people assume I will not know what to do with myself if I stay home? It's such a strange question. "What are you going to do?"
From what I read in the Bible about being a wife and mother, I have PLENTY to do!
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