It's going to be amazing, baby!

Today, Ian and I had a wonderful opportunity to help decorate our church for Advent, while spending some special mother/son time together. Ian has been looking forward to this for a while. He was so excited at the thought of getting to help hang Christmas lights like he has watched Daddy do in years' past at home.

When we got to the church there were people in various parts of the church working on hanging garland, enormous wreaths, wrapping big Christmas trees with lights, etc. As Ian and I walked in, hand in hand, he quietly said to me, "Mama, I don't think there's anything here for me to do." I reassured him that there was. We met with the coordinator and Ian told her what he had told me. She let Ian know how excited she was to have him there to help and told him she saved a special job just for us. They wanted us to decorate the Christmas tree in the "Bride's room", or parlor, up near the church offices. We were handed a bag of ornaments (mostly non-breakable, thankfully) and strands of lights. As we waited, Ian noticed a pretty gold angel ornament that was intended for the large trees near the sanctuary, and he asked if we could put it on "our" tree. The coordinator smiled and handed it to Ian - he was excited.

As I wrapped the tree in lights, Ian organized the ornaments and pile of hooks. We talked about the terms volunteer, serve and ministry and what they mean. We talked about how one simple act, like decorating a tree at our church, is serving others and it's serving the Lord with our time and talents. We also talked more about the upcoming Christmas holiday and why we as Christians celebrate Christmas. Even though I'm sure Ian would have probably rather have been playing model airplanes at home, he hung in there and genuinely helped, talked with me, and listened. I will cherish that time with him; the memory of our first "service project" together.

So tonight as I'm making dinner for Mark and me, the kids were sitting across from each other at the kitchen table eating theirs. That's when I overheard an awesome conversation that I will never forget. Now granted Anna does not have true words yet, but she was listening to Ian and responding with noises as if she was speaking as clear as a bell. Anna began to reach up with both arms and Ian was trying to guess what she wanted. Here's how the conversation went....

Ian: "What do you want, Baby?" (Yes, Ian usually adds the word Baby to statements because we often call Anna "Anna Baby")
Anna: Uh! (as she reaches both hands to the sky)
Ian: "Oh, you are reaching for God. He is way up in the sky."
Anna: A little coo of a "uh-huh".

By this time I had turned around so I could see what they were talking about and just watched without them knowing.

Ian: "Did you know that God is going to come back down to Earth from heaven and we will get to meet him, Baby?" (with a huge look of excitement on his face)
Anna: another coo of "uh-huh".

So then I interject, "You're right, Ian. Jesus is going to return someday and all of the people who believe in Him will go live in heaven with him. We will live with the Lord forever."

Ian: "We all get to go see heaven and stay there forever with Jesus?" Then he looks to Anna and says, "I can't wait. It's going to be amazing, Baby! I will meet Jesus and get to sleep on a big, fluffy white pillow...a big cloud. Yeah!"

I was speechless. Part of me wanted to chuckle at his innocent thoughts of bouncing on a big puffy cloud and the other part of me was in awe of how a four year old little boy could possibly wrap his mind around such an awesome spiritual concept - without being afraid. And does he ever have it right; it will be truly amazing to meet our Lord and Savior face-to-face. Until then, I will continue to thoroughly enjoy the tenderness of a child's spirit whom I know already has a special place in his heart for the Lord.

Race To Nowhere

After reading an online article titled "The Enrichment Black Hole" I came across information about a documentary that is about to be released nationwide and thought it was quite intriguing, called
Race To Nowhere. The premise is that kids in the States are over scheduled, under too much pressure to achieve at young ages so they will succeed later in life, and how kids don't get time to simply create, play, and grow into adulthood anymore. I can't wait for local screenings to become available or for Netflix to carry it.

Check out the trailer at http://www.racetonowhere.com/node/4494.

I'll also be interested to see how this documentary either supports or conflicts with my recent insight on parenting from the book titled Rite of Passage Parenting. The book promotes raising kids with clear-cut rites of passage at various stages of childhood so they are taught responsibility for their actions, while preparing them for the REAL reality of adulthood, basic coping skills, and self-sufficiency. The rite of passage theory is to give children a clear line between childhood and adulthood.

As I type this in an electronic journal I think of how much our society has changed in recent decades; especially how we communicate. We don't hand write letters. We rarely pick up the phone and have hour-long chats with family or friends. And we rarely have deep, meaningful conversations with friends and family during face-to-face visits. We type an email or text a quick note. We've lost the art of communication and I am just as guilty as anyone else. It's easier for me to write or type my feelings than speak them, most often. My thoughts seem to come out better when I have the opportunity to use the Delete button when necessary. Delete button doesn't work in normal conversation. Ha!

I have the joy of saying I live in Oklahoma - and, yes, I am serious. I love it here (other than during tornado season). This is home. But when we moved here almost six years ago, I quickly learned one very important difference between Texans and Okies. Here we have the "art of the visit" as my husband calls it. In Oklahoma you can quickly find yourself in a ten minute conversation or "visit" with the cashier at the grocery store. My in-laws and my husband's Aunt have an amazing knack for learning the life story of their waitress over lunch. My father-in-law has even been known to learn more about someone he visits with at a rest stop simply by complimenting their pet dog than I can tell you about some of my own extended family. This amazes me! And I admire it. When Mark's entire family gets together I learn all kinds of interesting things about them. They tell stories. They share family history. It's intriguing (maybe because I haven't heard all the stories a hundred times like Mark has) and it's real.

On another note, I find it interesting how many main-stream, conservative families are now choosing home schooling as the best option for their children. Maybe our US society is so far off balance in the area of education and properly equipping children with necessary life-skills, that a more relaxed and creative environment for study is a better option for many.

So I guess my ultimate point is, as parents of children of any age we need to stop and ask ourselves (as often as possible) if what we are doing either in our own household or as a nation, is right for our children. If there are gaps between what is right and wrong for our kids, we need to recognize that and do something about it.

One truth remains fresh in my mind from day to day - when God blesses us with children we only get one chance to raise them. If I have ever wanted desperately to succeed at a job, it's while I'm working as "mom" with Him as my boss.

Halloween

Halloween was neat this year. Ian dressed up as Darth Vader and Anna went as Super Girl. Both kids looked so cute in their costumes!



This year we opted to take the kids trick-or-treating at a local mall where the store employees pass out candy. It was a safe environment, we didn't have to worry about bundling up in jackets, or being out after dark. The kids loved it.

Anna was really apprehensive about taking the candy from the hands of the store clerks but she got the hang of it. And she'd even say thank you in her own little way - she makes a noise where she actually sounds as if she is saying thank you but can't say the words yet. And then she'd give her famous backward wave. Ian was not only excited to collect candy but to scope out everyone else's costumes.

We stopped at Gram & Pop Bob's house as well as Nana & Papa Willard's house so the kids could trick-or-treat. By the time we got home the kids were wiped out! Fun was had by all.







Ian turns four



Ian making a wish on his Penguin cake.

On Saturday, the 23rd, we had Ian's fourth birthday party and his two best school friends, Jackson and Dalton, were able to attend, along with loads of family.

His theme was Penguins of Madagascar and we had paratroopers and glider planes for the kids to practice their "top secret mission" with. But, when Uncle Mike and Aunt Anh began making balloon swords - that took the cake! The boys wouldn't put them down.

I can't even put into words how excited my son was during his entire birthday party. He didn't just get loud...he literally screamed every word he said. And I have never seen a child so excited for each and every present (or "surprise" as he called them) he opened. He was so precious, too, that he immediately said 'thank you' to the giver of the gift. And after the party he would ask, "Who gave me (blank)?" and then he'd go up to that person and hug them and tell them thank you. It was so cute. He was so appreciative for everything and everyone there.



Sword fight!

The excitement continued well into the night. He couldn't settle down and ended up not getting much sleep Saturday night. Sunday he actually fell asleep on Mark's lap during the church service and slept through the entire sermon and some of the worship music. He was exhausted. And yet, he didn't nap Sunday afternoon. He was so fascinated by his new toys that his brain wouldn't slow down.

 



The Thursday prior to his party was his actual birthday and, of course, I get very sentimental around his actual birthday. Both kids' births were quite eventful and memorable in their own ways. And I praise God for each child He gave to us.




The ultimate party animal with his new Lightsaber
and Imaginext aircraft carrier...and balloon belt and hat.