Witnessing accomplishments

Out of the blue on Monday, Daniel started clapping.  Grandma Pearl was over to help me get some pre-move out cleaning done.  Daniel is especially enamored with Grandma Pearl so when she started clapping he grinned and copied her.  She was thrilled that she was the first to witness his new accomplishment and he was thrilled to show off his new accomplishment again and again.

It is pretty cute. Oh, these boys bring me so much joy.

Three Boys in a Tub....

I know I must be crazy to put all three of these boys in the tub at the same time but trust me when I tell you I had my reasons.  Not the least of them was the pure glee they each had.  I am certain I will be greeted with eye rolls and "Mom!" someday when they see this picture but seriously, how could I not take one (okay, two pictures).

The one in the middle, the cute, squishy one, he made the biggest, wettest mess of all of them.  That boy loves to splash!  I came out of the bathroom looking like I had "an accident".  The other two giggled themselves right into bed and fell asleep from exhaustion.  If you know anything about their giggles you know Mom was giggling along with them, even when I had to ask the squirrely one five times to put on his jammies (he just couldn't do it, mostly because he took them off inside out or inside in, if you ask him).  The responsible one (who listened & looked at the camera) made sure they all actually used soap which was good since Mom was trying to hide tears and find three clean towels.

There is something about the joy in each of these dear boys' faces that makes me a little teary, even now.  I pray they remain so fond of each other; that their bond as brothers and Andersons will not be broken. I pray they keep each other accountable, out of most trouble, and that they walk through life together, learning and growing about the Great God we serve.

Attitude Adjustment

When I was a kid Mom would offer attitude adjustments by way of twisting my big toe.  It hurt but usually resulted in a squeal or scream and a few laughs.

God offers attitude adjustments with pain as well.

I have been blessed to be able to attend the Thursday morning Bible study at our church.  This is my first crack at it and I love it.  The mixture of ages and view points and insights is amazing.  The study is amazing but difficult.  Who wants to learn that their complaining is a slap in the face of their Provider?  Who wants to know that to covet is to tell the Sustainer, "You are not enough."?  Who wishes to hear that their critical tongue cuts off their fellowship with their Father?

I do.

Frankly, I need an attitude adjustment and can see that God has had me in the midst of one for over a year.  Breaking free from the negative environment of work has really opened my eyes to how much of a whiner I was while teaching.  It makes me almost sick to think of the mar that put on my witness to my co-workers.  Apartment living revealed a deep seeded coveting and worldly desire for material things.

And now this week.... criticizing.  I call it being analytical but God isn't fooled by my clever cover up.  I have a feeling this week will bring about the biggest attitude adjustment yet.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?  My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3: 9-12

Danger Men

My once very "fareful" Elijah is transforming into a daredevil.  My always "on the edge of disaster" John is remaining so.  My adorable, stationary baby is motating and "helping.  See for yourself.

Learning...together

My sister often comments that she is without the mothering gene, which is just ridiculous, but she didn't ask me.  I am the one missing crucial genes.  Like the one for teaching small children.  Like the one for how to decorate my home.  Like the one on how to convince 8 month-olds to sleep through the night.

But, John and I, together, are learning.  Last week we delved into the "Letter of the Week" preschool curriculum I found online for free.  Often you get what you paid for but in this case I hit the jackpot.  I can whip up lesson plans torturing 8th graders with analytical questions on any story but ask me to teach a small child and I run to the corner and cry.  This curriculum lays out language arts, math, science, art, social studies, music, and character/Bible lessons.  We are skipping the studies on composers and artists; somehow I don't think John will miss that.

John seems to be enjoying himself and even figured out the other day that letters are everywhere.  "Hey mom," he said while we were in the van, "that sign has the letters O and P on it."  I might not be too bad at this small child teaching thing but I should disclose that he did cry the first day because tracing straight lines was too hard.  (If only he knew about algebra, now that is something to cry about.)

My favorite is Wednesday because we do art.  Last week it was apple stamping and this week was bubble painting.  We also really like Friday because we get to cook: apples last week and brownies this week.

What am I learning?  How to be a mom whose focus is her family.  It is much harder than you might think.  I constantly have to remind myself that this is where God wants me to be right now.  It is so outside of my comfort zone to exercise patience, love, forgiveness in a never ending cycle all day long.  My affirmation comes in smiles from Daniel and declarations of letters from John and in the peace my heart feels.



Lesson #1: Chalkboards are way better than worksheets.



"Don't tell Elijah it was me!"