Saturday's story

My family is filled with fanatical deer hunters. I was raised with winter Saturdays being girls' days. And, when we did see the guys...they were in camoflauge. Thanksgiving lunch has always been carefully placed between the morning and afternoon hunts. C picked up on the devotion to the sport and was very curious. We planned his first trip to the woods for this morning at 7:00 (yes, late for hunting but early for us). So, I woke him up at 7am to see what it was all about for himself. He was very excited about the idea last night. But, when I woke him, he told me he wasn't quite ready but to tell his daddy he would be up in a minute, to not leave him. Of course, he rolled back over in bed. E and I were not too heartbroken - back to sleep for us too. Ten minutes later though, C was ready to go, very ready! They got dressed in their limited outdoors wear, headed out, walked, talked, examined the "cool" deer stand that looked like a "clubhouse", and had a big breakfast prepared by Pop at the family hunting cabin. Overall, they were gone about 2 hours - that was all it took to cure my five year old's curious nature. He had a great time, but after asking his questions and looking around for half an hour, he was finished. He came back saying how "real" hunters have to stay for 3 hours, not just 1 hour. He went on and on about the "clubhouse"/deer stand. My...how little boys love to explore, how they need to know how things work, how they see a tree as a huge adventure, how they love spending time with their daddys...

Well, when C left, I climbed in his bed beside Sydney hoping to go back to sleep. She was very concerned that I was taking her big brother's place. I told her he had gone with daddy but would be back later. After 5 minutes of interrogation on his whereabouts, I made the simple comment that she sure loved her brother. She grinned and said that he was one of her best friends. My heart melted. I told her how special that was...then, she said, "Cade is one of a kind. God loves him veeeeeeery much. God loves Syney. God loves mommy. God loves daddy too." Then, at peace in her little world, she curled up beside me and rested. My...how children share love so purely...how they see God with such trust...how they feel with their whole heart.

No wonder Jesus tells us to be more like them...

Ahhh - to see this life as an adventure, to see a tree ready to be climbed anxious to find out what a higher perch will show us, to realize that sometimes sleep is overrated when there is a talk to be shared, to rest in God's unending love, to embrace our Creator's workmanship in making each of us special, to believe your "dad" will show you an amazing adventure, and to wholeheartedly know that the person beside you is your friend, your protector, your brother...

I will take mornings like this one any time God sees the need to wake me up a little earlier than usual...

Rewind...New Address

For those of you reading this...obviously, you found my new blog address. This is a copy of my last entry on my old site. I didn't want to lose the entry...so sorry for the rewind....please disregard if you already have read it....

Hello...Happy Thanksgiving!! I am sitting in my sweet mother-in-law's home office changing my blog's address...what a fun process...hmmmm. When I first set this blog up, I had no idea what I was doing...not that that has changed much, but I felt like a new address was needed. So, for those of you who would like to continue following our family's antics....you can now find us at http://allallen.blogspot.com.

Right now...The kids are out with Mimi and Papaw by the outside fireplace, and they are loving it. It is a little cold for mommy out there. But, oh the stories told around that fire...so fun. What a great day so far - we arrived in MS this morning and have enjoyed a fun day with the Allens....lots of play, great food, and resting...just what a holiday with family should consist of.

One sweet story from our pre-Thanksgiving dinner: At the beginning of dinner, Papaw put on a piano music cd and lit some candles. C and S loved it! While Papaw was out of the room, Cade began looking around for him. His eyes danced and he asked to be excused from the table while mumbling about Papaw playing the piano for us. I heard him find Papaw and say, "Oh, I thought you were playing for us, Papaw. But, that is not you." Then, he went to their piano and began playing so softly, so sweetly. He played for a while for us....what a sweetheart. It was really beautiful...I was kind of impressed...no pounding or off notes....precious kid.Ok...time to brave the elements and join the family...Happy Thanksgiving! Count your blessings - twice...I know I will be...

Sorry for the trouble in changing the address.... (and in the double posting of this entry).

Thanksgiving...Where are you?

Over the past few weeks, I have been noticing lots and lots of red/green, Santas, and other popular Christmas must- have's. There are snowflake lights on street posts, for goodness's sake. Wow! It amazes me...the stores have been drenched in Rudolph and jingle bells since before Nov.1st. Of course, they are on the shelves right beside the 75% off skeletons and Power Ranger costumes. I was thinking about it tonight while I was watching my sewing machine fly (so much of my limited brain power is used on pondering life in that basement "mommy" cubby late at night). Most of the time, I go on to bed to continue pondering my deepest life ?s, offer up a prayer, and go on to sleep. Not tonight. Tonight, I need to figure out where the turkey is and how to keep him at my house. Where is the holiday that focuses on thankfulness, gratitude, being content and feeling blessed? The poor ole' turkey is being squeezed out by the greedy pumpkin and the selfish Santa. Please, do not get me wrong. I really like Halloween - dressing up, candy, visiting with neighbors...at one point, I counted over 20 people in my home that night. It was wonderful!! And, Christmas....my goodness, Jesus's birthday, family gatherings, the food, the music, baking cookies.....what a terrific time of year!! But...my point is this - yes, I have one. Halloween and Christmas sell - I get it. Turkeys and Pilgrims do not. Ok. But, I feel like my children are being bombarded with "what did you get?" or "how much candy did you collect?" or "what are you going to ask from Santa?" The real reasons for Halloween and Christmas are being lost. Halloween originated to celebrate the lives of the first Christian martyrs. Christmas is about giving...love, our time, gifts - God's gift of Jesus to us. October's and December's themes of greed are suffocating the life out of November's spirit of thankfulness. I pray that what we talk about and live out at home will teach my children how to get past the ever-popular, heart-set attitude of wanting "more"...always more.

Thanksgiving is my husband's favorite holiday...I love that about him. He is adament that Christmas does not get too eager to arrive...not until the fourth Friday of November anyway. Yet, this time of year my mind often turns to making our Christmas lists and storing up teeth-rottening treats. My traditions in my home should mirror the pulse of my heart....tonight, I am examining my holiday traditions - October, November, and December's. I want those traditions to reflect that we love the Lord and each other and that we are thankful for His glorious creation. I want my children to look back on the traditions we are building now and think about the love, fun and blessings we have shared. I want them to be in awe of how good God has been to us and to be thankful...in plenty and in want. I sooo want Thanksgiving to be the attitude of our hearts year around and especially now during Thanksgiving week...not just a day on a calendar being squeezed on both sides by trick or treating and writing letters to Santa. I want us to be full of joy...not merely happy...I pray our wanting "more" only refers to more of the things that last.

Ok...I am on my way to offer that prayer and go off to sleep now....gobble gobble....and THANKS for letting me share.

Belated BOO's

Ok - I told myself that blogging was not going to stress me in anyway...that this was simply a way for family and friends to keep up with us since we live away from all our relatives. But, I have to admit I am feeling a bit behind and a bit overwhelmed by the "keeping up". For several weeks now, I have been knee deep in trip planning, then packing, then on our trip to Disney. I don't know about your computer - but, mine takes forever to download a picture to blogger. I just simply have not made the time to do it...I mean, it is almost Thanksgiving and I haven't even posted Halloween stuff yet. So, here goes my "taking a break from laundry" best shot at updating from the end of October/beginning of November.

Sydney and I went trick-or-treating at a local nursing home for our church's preschool ministry project. We had such a great time! Syd had her first real experience asking for treats. She actually did pretty well saying thank you to the sweet people at the home...now posing for pictures was a trick more than a treat...m&ms were definitely involved...I am not above bribery for a cute picture. My little "Aurora" loved the whole Halloween thing - I mean, dressing up and candy - two of her favorite things!

After church, Cade and Sydney posed for some fall pictures for me. They are learning to oblige their mommy and her attempts at catching a good photo. They matched...that never happens...how could I resist???

Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) and Boba Fett (Star Wars) were ready for a night in the neighborhood. They were so excited! Can you tell through Cade's mask?!?

another fall day...

another pile of leaves to jump in...sweet

hugs...

precious memory....

Our beautiful red tree is losing its leaves....

our climbing tree is now our leaf-jumping tree....we played for a couple of hours one day in these gorgeous leaves....I am in awe of God's artwork and blessings!

We are back!

A week in Disney World has come and has gone....we had a blast - soooo much fun! And, we are exhausted! I will post pictures soon and give a few reports on how things went. But, now...I am off to attack the laundry and unpacking ....the kids are napping....so, I'm off to get started....back to reality....I've got to move fast before the end-of-vacation blues catch up with me! I miss Mickey already!

Fall is here...

I have been slow on the blogging lately...the Fall is sooo busy, have you noticed? Life is full of activities, fun, teaching and learning lessons, making memories. I just love this time of year - the leaves changing colors, the cooler temps....God blesses us with a beautiful world to enjoy. My sweet children have had a blast enjoying this Alabama weather...gotta love the 70's! They play outside almost every afternoon. This mama likes that! Well, here are a few pictures from the last few weeks enjoying our Fall... Sydney loved the pumpkin display at our favorite garden center. She was her regular diva self, as you can see..."cheese."Cade, my little engineer, is always coming up with a plan. He decided he could rake all the leaves under his slide for a heightened leaf-jumping experience. I have to admit...I am a leaf-jumping fan. I decided when he was little that he would have leaf-jumping fun every year. I can't explain it. I want him to have this memory of us raking/jumping in/rolling in/throwing leaves. It is our thing...a tradition of sorts. Fun times.....

Speaking of fun...this group knows how to have some! These are our neighbors. Add Sydney in, and there were 6 of them all that afternoon going house to house playing and here...drawing. By the end, I had a lovely chalk rainbow on my sidewalk - all the way down it. We are so very blessed to have so many sweet children to play with almost every day.

My sweetheart...playing outside is so much fun for her...especially when she is with Cade. She is right behind him most of the time, doing whatever he is doing. Thank the Lord, he was given a spirit of patience. He handles her quite well most of the time. Of course, arguments always arrive sooner or later...but their playing together is so special...every time I hear a conversation, see him comfort her, see how she looks at him or hear her ask about him...I thank God for the privilege of raising these two children....my heart is full.

And, my big boy...how is he so big already? I heard a speaker today talk about raising boys in today's crazy world. The Lord grabbed my attention by the mere thought that I am not just trying to raise a kind, well-mannered boy...I am raising a future husband and daddy. I have the awesome responsibility of shepherding a future man of God. I am encouraged by the promise that God is with me for the daunting task, leading my steps/words/actions. I am also encouraged that I have a strong, wonderful man to be an example for my son...to be a standard for my daughter. As daunting as the task is at hand, I am so thankful, so nervous, so excited to see where this journey leads us....

I have to take a step back sometimes to regain my focus...not on the whining of today, or the struggling to get the kids in bed, or the deciding what to do with chicken again tonight for dinner, or if that particular shirt is ironed...but on the ultimate goal for our children. We want our children to love God and to serve Him...what we do day by day will be how we reach our goal...hopefully, glorifying Him along the way....making mistakes...getting frustrated....but growing....what a wild ride we are on....we parents, we have front row seats to the miracle of our children's lives...our own life is a ride of its own...time is a precious gift in our hands...Yes, again, my heart is full...

I know, I know. I get long-winded late at night...pardon my wordiness...(is that a word?) Good night.