Greatness

This is Bubbaj's first painting. It could be like Picasso or Rembrandt's first painting. Or maybe not since he says, "ewe" when he looks at it.

I know he is destined for greatness. Who knows. Maybe it could be in painting?

New Favorite Phrase

Sissy:  "I know...right?"

Definition:  I concur.  Who in their right mind could possibly disagree.

Hard Work

It was so beautiful here the other day that I got absolutely nothing done.  There are two things I try to do every day no matter what.  1) Pick up the house and  2) make supper.  Neither one of those things got done.  People talk about the memories of their mothers cooking them delicious food and baking them yummy snacks.  Well, my kids won't have those memories, but I hope they have memories of the times we ate out for supper because I was too busy spending time with them to cook.  That day, we took the kids for a walk around the lake.

As we were walking, we visited with the kids about their days.  Precious started telling us about working on a group project at school that day.

Precious:  The boys sat down and told me this is how it should be.  The girls doing all the work.  So, I told them, "Not at my house.  At my house, Dad does all the work."

I could see my husband smiling, trying not to laugh because he knew that would bother me.  And I'm sure he knew how absolutely untrue that statement was.  As I started to speak in protest, Precious realized her mistake and started to further explain.

Precious:  "I mean not everything.  I just mean that he goes to work and you don't."

I guess I should be happy that she recognized that I do actually work hard.  Of course, I hadn't really that day, so maybe she has a point.

Invisible

God brought this video to me on a day that I needed to hear this specific message.  As I watched the woman explain her invisibility, I sat wishing for a solution.  What can I do to make my kids, my husband, my friends, see me?  And then she spoke the truth...there isn't one, nor should I want one.  Their occasional thank yous and scarce moments of gratefulness are all that I will receive in this life.  And as long as God is my source, it will always be enough.  Thank you, Father, for always providing just as much as I need.  And for reminding me that I don't need anything more.

Here it is.

Conversations with God

I was going to title the post "Prayer" but "Conversations with God" seemed much more appropriate.  When my kids pray it's like they're simply talking to God.  They aren't just thanking Him or asking Him for something.  Most of the time they're just telling Him what they're feeling.  I think this is what "being in constant communion with God" looks like.  A never ending conversation with God.

Sissy prayed for her friend that passed away as we were on our way to school this morning.  I wish I could remember the exact words so I could put them here but I'll do the best I can.  I shortened her friends name to "M."

Dear God,

I hope that M is having fun in heaven with you.  I wish you could let her come back for a while, but I know you can't.  I hope M wasn't in pain when she died.  I wish my guinea pig didn't have to die, but I know he's having fun in heaven. 

(Then she continued with her usual morning prayer and this part is exact.)

Help Precious and I to have fun at school today.  Help Daddy to have fun at work.  Help Mommy and BubbaJ to have fun at home.  Amen.

Valentine's Day

Here is what I did for Sissy's class party this year.  As some of you may know one of her classmates passed away this week, so there has been a cloud of sadness over their rooms lately.  I was hoping to bring them some much needed joy.

They drank "Love Potion."



And ate Krispie Kreme heart-shaped donuts.  We played "Guesstimation" where the kids guessed how many of each candy were inside the container.  The closest guesser got to take home the container full of candy.  You can see two of the containers behind the donuts in the picture.  They also made flowers from suckers and cupcake papers.

And there were lots of smiles!

Here are the Valentines the girls made to hand out.
They're ipods made from boxes of conversation hearts and mini reeses.

And here is my super-special Valentine that just turned 2.

Sweet Sissy

I am blessed by my kids on a daily basis.  But there's something super special about being told your kids are a blessing to others.  At parent teacher conferences Sissy's teacher was telling us what a blessing she has been to her.  She told us how just the other day it was a little boy's birthday.  Their class always writes down something special about that person on their birthday.  As everyone was handing in their papers to the teacher, Sissy whispered in her ear, "Here is mine, but I need to sing it."  And as the teacher gave her the floor, she sang to that boy about how special he is.  Her teacher told us that the boy talked about it all day and she heard him excitedly telling his mother about it too.  It does a momma's heart good to hear those things every now and then.