Enlighten Us, Thess!

While eating fried chicken, Thessaly announced in her Big Girl Listen-To-Me-Voice, "Be Careful when you are eating the chicken! You don't want to swallow a bone." I was so proud of her for remembering and being cautious. She then looked at me with her big eyes, making a scary face, and continued, "If you eat the bone you turn into a SKELETON!" At least she gets the being cautious part!

Deep Thoughts by Jo

"Mommy, you know what I've been thinking about lately?" When I hear these words from my oldest daughter, I know it's going to be a good one. This week her thoughts are pondering how "saying something can change everything." She explained how if she or someone else says something at any particular moment, it can totally change the events that follow. She says that words can make us feel a certain way we weren't feeling before, make us do something or not do something we were going to do before. They just change everything, and we don't even realize it.

For fun, we googled Bible verses on the power of the tongue. There are so many verses that warn us to guard our tongue, yet we (meaning me in particular) throw words out there without a second thought. Proverbs 18:21 states exactly what Jo was trying to get at, "Death and Life are in the power of the tongue."

With a daughter like her, I'm more and more aware of the "sword thrusts" and "healing" my words can bring (Prov. 12:18).

Sister-Brother Day!!!

Saturday, we celebrated Sister-Brother Day. What is Sister-Brother Day you may ask? It is a designated and much anticipated day our family chooses to celebrate, appreciate, and enjoy our sisters and brother whom the Lord has brought into our home. A dear friend of ours suggested celebrating siblings several years ago and it has become a treasured ritual around here. The kids buy gifts for each other, pick a fun event they all agree upon, and spend the day being sweet and kind to each other. This year we started out the day with a yummy cinammon roll breakfast around our family table where SO many awesome and heartfelt conversations have occured and are surely to come.

We opened gifts, played games,and then headed over to Chuck E. Cheese.

One of the things I LOVE about this day, is how they do everything together, and believe it or not, there's NO fighting.

It boggles my mind to think how my kids have been raised in the same house by the same parents, yet each one of these precious children is special in their own individual way. Josephine is such a nurturing tenderhearted big sister. Adela is a bundle of energy and fun. Thessaly is a sweetheart who loves attention and going with the flow. Eben is the little brother who adores his big sisters and is adored in return. Here is a video we took that surprisingly captures each one's personality perfectly.

Sister-Brother Day Video

Sure, they all have flaws, but amazingly it carves a closer groove in my heart to love and treasure them all the more. How much more our Father in Heaven looks down with love to us fabulously flawed souls, each with our own individual talents and weaknesses. May we each appreciate and harmonize with our sisters and brothers the Lord has chosen to bless us with along the journey.

When Mommy's Away

I always find it interesting to take a look at my phone after it has been in the hands of my kids. When they go off and take pictures, I never know what to expect. Here are a couple that gave me a chuckle.

Thessaly's self portrait.

Josephine...a little too happy, and a little too toothless.

Someone catching Thess in the act of playing in the sink. Now we know why the waterbill was so high.

Adela acting out "Happily Ever After" with the dolls (gasp) kissing.

These kids sure do make life interesting!

Falling Short

Going out the front door of my house is a process. It requires a checklist of events in my head to make sure we all get out with our heads still attached.

1. Did everyone go potty?

2. Do we all have shoes on?

3. Why are you bringing that toothbrush?

4. No, you can't take 5 dolls and 10 separate outfits!

5. Hold the door for your sister this time so her ankles don't get caught.

6. Where did Eben put my keys?

7. Who took my cell phone out of my purse?

8. Straight path to the van, we aren't going on a nature hike this time.

9. Lock the door with two hands, because of course it wouldn't cooperate and be easy.

10. Buckle the impossible carseats that require a jigsaw puzzle degree.

This is a regular routine as we exit the premises. In all of the busy-ness, the other day I drove all of the way to the library, unloaded the van (I'll spare you the checklist for this fete), only to discover I left the library bag full of books and our library cards sitting on the front porch. With great frustration, but trying to make light of the situation, I calmly explained to the kids how we had to go back because mommy had made a mistake. We piled back in the van, Eben singing background music of "We gotta get out of this place!", while I commended the girls for their patience in the situation. Adela tilted her head in an understanding and sympathetic manner and consoled me with, "It's okay, Mom! Remember, we all have come short of the glory of God."

Love it!!!

May the Lord have mercy on me, for I come short oh so often.