My Toothless Wonder and a Wonderful Lesson

C has lost his first tooth, and his second. In one day, that sweet big boy of mine grew up before my eyes. He has been wriggling that one tooth for months....not very well, obviously -he complained that it hurt to wriggle it. After the tooth behind it began coming in at a strange and rather painful looking angle, I decided it was time for the professionals to help us out. He was thoroughly devastated at the idea of the dentist pulling it. He prayed for boldness and strength. His prayers touched my heart.

As we entered the dentist office, he and I prayed for the Lord to calm him and give him strength. He looked up at me with those teary, big brown eyes and told me he didn't know if he believed God. Of course, my jaw dropped. I asked why and for him to not say that...how could he not believe? He then said, "because, Mommy, I have prayed for boldness so much...and I still don't have any..." I told him he had to believe...that God would never give him something he could not handle...with His strength and His boldness....and some more stuff about trusting God to take care of him...but, inside, I was preparing for the Great Escape - that kid was about to bolt...I just knew it...

As he walked up to that door, he wiped those tears....and that was it. I saw no more defeat, no more fear even. He was so very brave. He believed. He trusted. The dentist agreed that the tooth coming in was pushing on the teeth around it...as was the tooth coming in next door. So, poor C had to have two teeth pulled. He was such a big boy - so brave sitting there getting his "numbing jelly" and "sleepy sprays". I had really doubted him and Him. I was preparing myself to hold the kid down and talk down a tantrum. I was trying to recall Bible verses to call out to him. But, I didn't have to do anything but hold my son's hand. God calmed him and C relaxed. It was a perfect partnership between the two of them for a rather simple (yet scary) task. I am amazed at my Father sometimes...and today, I was amazed at my son also.
BEFORE AFTER

Wow! God uses my children to teach me so many lessons...they remind me of God's love and grace and power and how crucial faith is even in the most mundane moments. They also remind me that I have a huge calling on my life. I am called to be a wife and mom...a homemaker, a peacemaker, an encourager. I am called to share God's love and truths with my children. So, I need to bring my best game. I need to get off the bench - the game is going on all around me. The Lord is doing an awesome work in the lives of those I love. He expects me to be more than a cheerleader, he wants me on His team too. So, C lost two teeth...but his mommy sure gained a much needed kick in the rear...there is work to be done. There are verses to be learned and praises to be sung...I want to be prepared for the task at hand...No more doubt or fear...Boldness comes to those who believe...He will provide!

Like mom, Like daughter

I love music. So does my daughter. I hum and sing around the house and in the car all the time. So does my daughter. I use my hands when I talk. So does my daughter. Here is a moment from today that reminds me yet again that she is a chip off the old block...

S- "hmmmm, la la la, hmmmm, la la la (and other words to her made up song)...."
S- "Mommy, let go my hand..."
Me - "Hey, you know we hold hands when we are in parking lots."
S- "but, Mom, I can't sing my song if you hold my hand...."

Remembering Disney - Days 3, 4, 5

Realizing I am way overdue in posting the rest about our Disney trip, I laugh at myself. I totally forgot that I didn't finish posting our pictures. I did Day 1 to Animal Kingdom and Day 2 to Magic Kingdom...then, I guess the holidays and my computer crash '08 (as I lovingly call it) both got me off track. But, with several friends planning trips to Disney, my mind has drifted back to the wonderful time we had there...so, now on with the Disney trip update...from November...better late than never....
Day 3 - Epcot
We slept in, went straight to lunch with the princesses, then hit the Future World most of the day and the World Showcase that afternoon and night, and then we had a fabulous meal in "France" and watched the firework show. Awesome day!!! The kids did great and really enjoyed themselves...even through the 2-3 hours of rain. The highlight was S meeting Ariel, Aurora, Jasmine, Cinderella, and Belle...what a happy little girl we had. She pranced around in her princess dress all day. Our favorite rides/shows were: Mission/Space, The Seas and TurtleTalk, Soarin, Honey I shrunk, and Imageworks.




Day 4 - Magic Kingdom (...again)
We headed back to the MK on Thursday. We hit all our favorites again plus the other half of the park we did not see on Tuesday. We stayed for the SpectroMagic parade...which was very fun. They lit the castle for Christmas...which the kids thought was cool since it turned different colors...it's pink, it's blue, it's purple...on and on...we had the play by play for a while. During the parade, the kids were going crazy waving and yelling at all the characters they had met throughout the week...C and S were convinced they would remember us. Leaving that night was bittersweet. We were definitely getting tired. But, knowing we wouldn't be back there was so sad.





Day 5 - Hollywood Studios
We saved HS for the last day. We knew there would be lots of characters to sign autographs, shows to watch, and Fantasmic that night. So, we were excited to get there. C was most excited...Star Wars was a must see! He rode the ride, but nothing compared to seeing him train as a Jedi on the stage. He then fought Darth Vader! He was soooo into it! He had the game face on - ready for the battle. We had the best time cheering him on. Our favorite ride was the Toy Story ride - sooo much fun! I have a picture below of us shooting our 3D guns. Beauty and the Beast was a terrific show to keep S and I busy while the boys rode Tower of Terror. Then, off to Fantasmic! We had a GREAT last day!!

tomato, tomahhhto, zucchini, bikini

So, today, C and I were having a heart to heart. He has had a bit of a five year old attitude lately. It was time to sit down and figure some things out. After our little discussion, we were quietly snuggling for a moment...sweet time. A little hugging was a must after a talk like that...behavior management is exhausting. Then, he broke our silence with a strange question.
C - "Mom, I don't have to ever wear a zucchini, right?"
Me - "Hmmm...Son, I have no idea what you are asking me."
C - "Well, girls wear them, right...not boys."
Me - "C, do you mean a bikini?"
C - "Oh, yeah, that is what they are called....bikinis. Boys don't ever have to wear those, right?"
Me - "Nope, you are safe, kiddo...no zucchinis/bikinis in your future. I promise."

I will never look at zucchinis the same way.

a moment on my soapbox

Soapbox time...you are forewarned....beware...

I have been thinking....we as a society do not give our children enough credit.

Having several family members in the education field, I have heard story after story of how parents are angered when their child is not chosen for a team or ranked in a competition or given equal playing time ...parents believe little Johnny's self-esteem will be harmed if he doesn't make the team or get the prize. So, our schools and organizations have swayed under the almighty pressure of the angry mob (maybe not to the extent of a mob, but I am on a roll here). All this does is tell our children that losing is just unacceptable, that doing their best is simply not enough - they need to be the best instead, and that they need to be good at everything. I just do not understand it...

Now, I know I sound a little harsh. I realize I am old school. But, I think a good, healthy "no" is good for a person every once in a while. A "sorry, you didn't make the team this year" shouldn't break a child's spirit (unless that spirit is shallow in its foundation). Granted, sadness will occur. Without a doubt, disappointments are hard to face at any age. But, disappointments will come for all of us. Why can we not realize that the "no" can be just as good for the child as the wanted experience...maybe even better for them. I simply do not want my children to be so unsure of their "uniqueness" that they are devastated when a "no" is given. I want them to dig down deep inside themselves and find the strength to plow through. I want my children to know that they are special and that they have God-given talents and skills. Our Father simply does not make us equipped to be good at everything. We try. We fail. We succeed. We excel. We fail again. Failure is not unacceptable ....not trying is. We all have had our journeys to find what we are gifted to do and what we aren't....I know I will NEVER be a mechanic or a geography teacher or a tennis pro...I would love to whack that ball across that court...but, well, not happening...I will survive...don't feel sorry for me...I have accepted my deficits..as sad as it is....

As I am watching my five year old son build a cabin with his lincoln logs, I notice he has an inate ability to create awesome structures with the most interesting stories behind them. God made him for a purpose...gave him talents /skills/ personality to meet the need. Now, when he tries something and doesn't succeed, this mama will give a hug, an encouraging word, remind him to try/try again, fill him with the truth that God made him unique, and then leave it at that. No protesting and no pleading to the director/coach from this lady. We will simply build that foundation a little stronger by praying...for God's purpose to reign...for the ones who did get "the part" to shine...and for my son to find his place where God wants him....We won't give up trying if it is on his heart to try...but, we will take every success and failure in stride knowing God has a purpose for both in life and a purpose for my son's response...as in everything, that purpose is to give God glory.

Now, I pray my soapbox doesn't fall in when that "no" is given. I pray the Mama Bear in me will slumber on. I pray my "cubs" know their Maker, know their purpose, and know their #1 fan is pulling for them...I pray that our journey as we try new things is the adventure that molds us into the people we are to be...I pray we take every yes and no with the grace that only He can give us...and learn the lessons that only He can teach.

Stepping down from my box now....

Friday's Funnies

We have all heard the cute things children can say when they get their words mixed up, how funny their interpretations can be. Well, this week, I have heard some doozies from my two little guys...

1. When S got up this morning, she said she needed to blow her nose because she was "all stocked up"...

2. After eating a good dinner last night, S asked for a chocolate kiss for dessert. C replied that he could not have one. When I asked him why not (he had had a good dinner too - no reason in my mind why he couldn't have one), he said because he had had "snores" at school. Hmmm..what? He then explained that he had already had chocolate at school when they made "snores". He told me that he only needed to have one dessert a day because they were not good for him to stay healthy... ohhhhhhkayyyyyy....maybe I should lay off the good food versus bad food talks for a while....I'll have to explain what "snores" are...they are not half as fun as smores...and so much louder...

3. S put on her tutu and ballet shoes last night and told us she needed to "shake her bottom"....oh, the teen years are going to be fun! Well, tonight, she did the same thing again but said she needed to "shake out her sillies"....ok, whatever works for ya, sweetheart....

4. During her nap today, I hear a little clanking going on in S's room. I snuck back to her room to find her climbing back in her bed...she looked like a deer in headlights when she realized I had walked in. Then, she grinned...very big. I asked why she had gotten out of her bed. She then, in a very matter of fact way, told me that Lily and Lulu, her babies, were hungry so she just had to make them a cake for a snack. She had a complete picnic set up in her bed. I'm all about some cake too, and in bed, wow, sounds divine...but, mommy really needed her to take a nap not practice her baking skills.

Ahhhh...having kids is always an adventure....what a pleasure!

My Little Girl

She is growing up too fast...dressing up like ballerinas and princesses....pink and purple....baby dolls and purses and strollers...precious coloring sheet gifts(with scribble scrabble as C calls it)...playing tea party....this little girl of mine is ALL girl ALL the time!

Christmas and New Year's memories

Well, it is a beautiful day to spend updating pictures to my recently repaired computer. I have one child playing at a friend's house and one napping. So, the laundry is going and here I am...ready to download/type.

I wanted to post a few of my favorite pictures from Christmas and New Year's. We had such a fun holiday season with E being off work the majority of the two weeks. The highlight of this season was that we enjoyed our first Christmas in our own home. Wow! We loved being home all day on Christmas day....were able to enjoy our church's Christmas Eve service for the first time ever....and we played all day Thursday and Friday...so relaxing. I have said before how my son is a home body. Well, he was in heaven staying home for a week with very few outings...talk about a laid back kid...he would have stayed in his pjs for the whole break, if I would have let him. Now, we did miss being in MS longer - we only stayed a few days...but the time we had there was wonderful. Overall, it was a very special holiday!
This was our Christmas tree...
What a fun day - nice and warm for all the Stinson grandkids to ride Mamaw's yard ride. They begged for rides all day!
Sweet Cousins - C and S with my niece and nephew
My two favorite men!
I made the kids' pj shirts this year and had a friend make the pants...I thought they turned out pretty cute. They even liked wearing them...all day!
We have to feed the reindeer every year - a Christmas Eve tradition. We went to our candlelight service, came home for soup/potatoes, read The Night Before Christmas, fed the reindeer, and let the kids open their gift from us.
We got a Wii from Santa - wow, my son loves some boxing....hot and sweaty in five minutes flat!
Anyone for some chocolate icing???
And, then there was the New Year's Eve party at a friend's home...now, this is the way to watch fireworks...inside in the warmth and away from all that noise...at least, S and her friend, K, thought so....
Popcorn and a movie finished off the New Year's Eve night for all the children...sweet sleepy heads at 11:30...they sure hung in there and had a ball though...while their mommies and daddies played a little Wii - fun, fun!
Happy New Year! We went to a little party to say bye to some dear friends going on the mission field. We had a game night...anyone ever play Encore? 13 friends, good food, and add in some 80's music and showtune songs...you have a great 1st day of the new year!

Back online...

Well, this girl didn't know how dependent she was on her computer until she didn't have if for over a week. It crashed. But now, 47 viruses cleaned off later, I am happily back to tapping the keys, checking email, taking a quick scan of my favorite blogs to catch up on friends...so behind on lots of reading/replying. But, not so overwhelmed - surprisingly.

I think the Lord makes us "be still" in many ways - a cold, a sick child, vacation, a crashed computer. Without my "window to the world", I made so much more time to play and read and rest and pray and spend time with my 3 favorite people in my world. E and I stayed up late talking and watching movies. We played with the kids more. I actually wrote notes - handwritten notes to people. I hate to say that this screen and keyboard took that much of my time...it is actually downright embarrassing. But, hey, I am not above learning lessons in this life. I am not that hard headed - yet. So, with the sheer delight that my computer is back online, I am also tremendously blessed that this holiday season brought me a realization. I have life going on around me every moment. While I will always enjoy making note of this life on my blog, emailing a friend, and looking up the temperature in Ecuador to cure a five year old's curiosity about the equator, I am a little more interested in living life than writing about it, being in the moment rather than taking a picture of it, and not being so bogged down by marking off my "to do" list.

In this new year, I plan on laughing more, being less serious, enjoying my friends more, being more considerate of the needs of others, being intentional with my time with E, C, and S. I plan on giving myself a break that my wrinkles are growing along with my waistline. I plan on being thankful for each day that deepens those wrinkles and each meal that nourishes this body. I plan on exercising more - but, more for my health and to be an example to my children..less about how I look. I plan on spending as much time with my husband as possible, just enjoying his presence beside me. I plan on developing a heart to feel God's pull in my life. He has big plans for all of His children...I plan on being right, smack dab, in the middle of that plan...

I think my pc might be turned off more often in 2009...