Katie said the following to me several nights ago, so I don't remember what facilitated it. I enjoyed it, though and thought I'd share it. I chuckle to myself every time I think about it.
"Mother, I'm very hard to please, and you need to try harder."
Dad was within hearing and proceeded to lecture her on why this was not an acceptable thing to say or even think. I suppose this illustrates why the Bible and God-fearing parents are necessary. Our hearts are born wicked, and left to themselves, they only get worse.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Getting Ready For A Staged Christmas Picture
I finally did it. I set aside everything for several hours to press collars, curl hair, and dress my kids up for our annual Christmas picture. My favorite of all of the pictures to come of the endeavor was this one.
Titus doesn't have brothers to ridicule him yet, so he didn't know that wanting to try his sister's curlers on was inappropriate for a boy. I'm sure he'll be glad when he's older that I shared this picture with you all. But if you are fearing for his masculinity, I just asked him as he was laying in my arms and looking at me adoringly, "What are you thinking about, Little Man?"
"Poop!"
Titus doesn't have brothers to ridicule him yet, so he didn't know that wanting to try his sister's curlers on was inappropriate for a boy. I'm sure he'll be glad when he's older that I shared this picture with you all. But if you are fearing for his masculinity, I just asked him as he was laying in my arms and looking at me adoringly, "What are you thinking about, Little Man?""Poop!"
Children and the Body of Christ
I referred to an article by Andree Seu of World Magazine some time ago. In the article she says, "Delight covers a multitude of parenting shortcomings. You may be too strict or too lenient and still come out all right, if you delight in your children."
All of us will err on one side or another, either being too strict or too lenient. Matt and I struggle, with greater and lesser success at times, against our tendency to be too lenient. I don't want my child to be at the mercy of his passions because I was too lenient, but I also do not want my child to struggle with the complications that can come from an overly strict upbringing. Because we are not infinite, omniscient, and because we are fallen, err we will, the struggle for balance will continue through this life. I trust that the struggle is part of God's will for us as parents and for our children. It is good because He is good and loves us.
A few weeks ago I heard of a friend's child being called spoiled. I admire this friend's consistency and goals for her child, and so I puzzled over why someone would call her child spoiled. Certainly if that child is spoiled, I shudder to think what they would think of my children. This child has a delightful personality that I enjoy. She is confident and happy and quick to engage others. She is not sinless, and she is still very much in the training years, only a toddler. I would not expect perfect performance from anyone in training, and I know her parents take training seriously.
As I puzzled over this reaction to such a child, I wondered if some people think children should only sit quietly in the corner and never disturb their own comfort. I was not like this child with the big personality, considering everyone a friend. I love to see this, because I know the pain of being in a group and shyness causing such discomfort. I think it is a great strength and asset when a person isn't mindful of the risk of rejection and can really serve others with their personalities. I would hate for this little one to be taught that she is not valued, especially among the community of believers God has placed her in.
Jesus opened his arms to the children and rebuked his disciples for trying to keep the children away. It seems to me it would follow that children and their individual personalities ought to be embraced with open arms by the body of Christ on this earth. When one calls a child spoiled because he has not been taught to only speak when spoken to and never disturb the peace and quiet of the adults, he probably would be happier in a community with no children. I think they call them retirement communities. I for one choose the noisy life of a healthy, growing church full of Christians in training, whatever the age.
All of us will err on one side or another, either being too strict or too lenient. Matt and I struggle, with greater and lesser success at times, against our tendency to be too lenient. I don't want my child to be at the mercy of his passions because I was too lenient, but I also do not want my child to struggle with the complications that can come from an overly strict upbringing. Because we are not infinite, omniscient, and because we are fallen, err we will, the struggle for balance will continue through this life. I trust that the struggle is part of God's will for us as parents and for our children. It is good because He is good and loves us.
A few weeks ago I heard of a friend's child being called spoiled. I admire this friend's consistency and goals for her child, and so I puzzled over why someone would call her child spoiled. Certainly if that child is spoiled, I shudder to think what they would think of my children. This child has a delightful personality that I enjoy. She is confident and happy and quick to engage others. She is not sinless, and she is still very much in the training years, only a toddler. I would not expect perfect performance from anyone in training, and I know her parents take training seriously.
As I puzzled over this reaction to such a child, I wondered if some people think children should only sit quietly in the corner and never disturb their own comfort. I was not like this child with the big personality, considering everyone a friend. I love to see this, because I know the pain of being in a group and shyness causing such discomfort. I think it is a great strength and asset when a person isn't mindful of the risk of rejection and can really serve others with their personalities. I would hate for this little one to be taught that she is not valued, especially among the community of believers God has placed her in.
Jesus opened his arms to the children and rebuked his disciples for trying to keep the children away. It seems to me it would follow that children and their individual personalities ought to be embraced with open arms by the body of Christ on this earth. When one calls a child spoiled because he has not been taught to only speak when spoken to and never disturb the peace and quiet of the adults, he probably would be happier in a community with no children. I think they call them retirement communities. I for one choose the noisy life of a healthy, growing church full of Christians in training, whatever the age.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
More Violence, Please
Netflix has a great feature called Watch Now making it possible to stream movies directly from their site. I was choosing a cartoon for the kids to watch the other night, and I settled on a Hans Christian Anderson cartoon, The Emperor's New Clothes. Kate and Titus loved his story The Ugly Duckling, so I thought this would go over well, too.
A little while later Katie came out and said, "That wasn't very interesting. There was no violence. I need more violence."
"You need more violence?" I asked, trying to stifle the giggles.
"Yes. I need more violence."
A little while later Katie came out and said, "That wasn't very interesting. There was no violence. I need more violence."
"You need more violence?" I asked, trying to stifle the giggles.
"Yes. I need more violence."
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Katie Said The Following To Matt...
"I'm an artist. Do you have any art related problems, Daddy?"
Kids are awesome!
Kids are awesome!
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
It's Just A Figure Of Speech
Katie and Titus have colds. One of the symptoms for Kate has been alternating body temperature. I checked in on the kids before I went to bed, and Katie was still wide awake. I offered to let her come into bed with me. Matt came in to tuck us in, and Katie explained to us why she was so glad we let her sleep in our bed:
Kate: I was getting prickly from being too hot in my bed. I was sweating like a hot pig.
Matt: Sweating like a hot pig?
Kate: Sweating like a hot pig.
Me: Couldn't you just say sweating like a hot girl?
Matt: Yeah. Pigs can't sweat. That's why they wallow in the mud.
Kate: It's just a figure of speech, Dad.
Kate: I was getting prickly from being too hot in my bed. I was sweating like a hot pig.
Matt: Sweating like a hot pig?
Kate: Sweating like a hot pig.
Me: Couldn't you just say sweating like a hot girl?
Matt: Yeah. Pigs can't sweat. That's why they wallow in the mud.
Kate: It's just a figure of speech, Dad.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Best Reformation Day Ever
We celebrated Reformation Day this year with an excellent service and fellowship at Grandpa Powell's church on Sunday, and then by exercising our freedom from religious tyranny by dressing our children up in costumes and collecting candy from neighbors last night.
Matt and I had a ball making these costumes. Matt took great pride in fashioning his son's armor and Kate helped me with her bat costume. She looks perfectly harmless in the light of day, but she scared young children in the dark of night. A little boy, probably about two, stared her down and tried to scare her away, and she made a little bee cry and cling to her mommy.
With delight in their eyes, they ran from house to house. Katie rang the doorbell and flapped her bat wings until someone opened the door. At the last several houses, though, she would tell our neighbors, "I'm a bat, but I can't flap my wings anymore because I'm tired."
At one house, we passed a boy dressed in black wearing a monster mask. Titus, taking his duty as a knight seriously, aimed his sword and chased after the monster.
I called to him, "Titus, you can't kill the monster!"
"Why, Mommy? Scary monster."
It was hard for him to abandon his duty so easily, and I was very proud of my brave little man. This was always Kate's response to fear, too. When her daddy or I would scare her, her first response would be to fight. There would be obvious fear in her eyes, but she wouldn't hide. I've always found that curious.
As a result of lots of candy and staying up too late, I had to read the kids two stories before they were settled down enough to peacefully stay in bed. It was clear, stories or spankings. Thankfully stories did the trick.
Katie and Titus posing with our jack-o-lanterns.
Katie grew the little pumpkins in her garden.
Matt and I had a ball making these costumes. Matt took great pride in fashioning his son's armor and Kate helped me with her bat costume. She looks perfectly harmless in the light of day, but she scared young children in the dark of night. A little boy, probably about two, stared her down and tried to scare her away, and she made a little bee cry and cling to her mommy.
With delight in their eyes, they ran from house to house. Katie rang the doorbell and flapped her bat wings until someone opened the door. At the last several houses, though, she would tell our neighbors, "I'm a bat, but I can't flap my wings anymore because I'm tired."
At one house, we passed a boy dressed in black wearing a monster mask. Titus, taking his duty as a knight seriously, aimed his sword and chased after the monster.
I called to him, "Titus, you can't kill the monster!"
"Why, Mommy? Scary monster."
It was hard for him to abandon his duty so easily, and I was very proud of my brave little man. This was always Kate's response to fear, too. When her daddy or I would scare her, her first response would be to fight. There would be obvious fear in her eyes, but she wouldn't hide. I've always found that curious.
As a result of lots of candy and staying up too late, I had to read the kids two stories before they were settled down enough to peacefully stay in bed. It was clear, stories or spankings. Thankfully stories did the trick.
Katie and Titus posing with our jack-o-lanterns.
Katie grew the little pumpkins in her garden.
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