He Gives Drama to His Mama

Well, hello there young man. 

Look at that hair, will you?  The color of a brilliant sunset.  Then there are those perfectly placed freckles and full lips...

As crazy as he makes me, I love this face.  Aren't these two gorgeous?

My first-born was God's way of breaking my will.  My stubborn, prideful, selfish will that believed I could control all circumstances around me with my determination.  From the moment the nurse placed him on my chest, I began a journey of sacrifice and humility that I will be on until the day I die. 

I became a mother, yes, but I also became so very intimate with my flesh - my ugly, angry, controlling flesh that desperately needed a Savior.  And I'm thankful for that.  I am.  But I sure haven't always been so.

I can take you to the spot in Houston, Texas where I would take this boy daily into my bedroom for spanks, and talks.  It's also the place where I would fall to my knees - literally - in tears of frustration over this child.  I couldn't control him.  He controlled me, it seemed.  I couldn't make him DO RIGHT.  He made me DO WRONG everyday.  I felt like such a failure.

I remember the years he turned 3, 4, & 5 thinking - "We made it.  We made it.  Praise God, we made it to 3, (or 4, or 5)."  I would inwardly sigh, so thankful that we hadn't killed one another in the course of 365 days.

This year, I've watched him grow so much.  Taking responsibility.  Not giving up.  Recognizing his own need for a Savior.  A Redeemer.  He's turning 10 soon, and I'm going to say on that day with a smile,

 "We made it, buddy.  We made it." 

O Danny Boy

 Well, here we are at the blondie - the second child of my loins.

 (Do women have loins or just men? Is this appropriate for a blog?  Perhaps not.)

I just took this picture in the snow today. 

He is just a few short weeks away from eight. years. old. 

Dang.  Double Dang.

 This is where I would prefer him to stay. Around 4 or 5, great set of baby teeth, and still little enough to snuggle in my lap.  Now?  Nuh-uh.  No way.  Not gonna happen.

Here's a classic DB moment - kissing on Jonny as a baby.  He has loved being a big brother. 

A natural nurturer.  Try saying that 10 times fast!!

  He just has a knack with other kids and loves to take care of them.  It's pretty dawg-gone precious.

DB has been a big eater since the day we brought him home from the hospital.  This is the kid at McDonalds who comes up to me after a Double Cheeseburger, fries, drink AND a cherry pie and says,

"Can I get something else, Mom?" 

That's when Aaron and I look at each other and just dread the teen years.

Right now he's about an inch taller than his 4th grade older brother. 

It keeps things pretty even around here. 

Because as you'll read soon, he's a challenging older brother to live with.

The Business of Being a Jonny

 Once upon a time, we thought we'd never call him "Jonny."

That was before we got to know him very well.

Back when he used to nap right next to the loud playing of two older brothers, we assumed he'd have the laid-back personality of a "Jonathan."  And then we hit about 2 and a half, 3 years old.  I think that's when the party started.  And probably when the "Jonny" stuck.

This is a boy who is always ready to have a good time.  Picture Tigger in a 5 year-old's body.  Every morning, every morning, he is the first to wake up and bounce right up the stairs, then bounce into our room, assuming we have just been waiting all night to see his adorable face again.

Just like a Tigger, he never seems to get injured very easily.  He simply bounces.  For example, last night at a basketball game, he fell backwards down the bleachers, hitting his head pretty dang hard.  Everyone around us gasped as he lay there.  He paused, then smiled huge and said, "That didn't hurt at all!!"  Then he jumped up and smiled at all the attention.  Gotta love 'im.

 I love that he's little enough to still cuddle on my lap.  I love his ability to have fun no matter where he is. 

I love his one-liners:  "Hope!!!  Knock it off or I'm gonna call 9-1-1!!"

He wears me out.  In a good way.

This picture should've been my warning....I had a major charmer on my hands....

Chick-fil-A

I interrupt this "Kiddo Update" to post this beautiful video by Tim Hawkins. I have recently discovered this wonderful comedian and I dearly love him. Go watch everything on YouTube he's ever done.

I think I'll go write a love song to Chick-Fil-A too....

A Little Update on the Kiddos

 We'll start with this lovely little girl.  Here she is in Eagle's Nest, having a little snack.  She loves hanging out here in the mornings while Mama teaches. 

Sweet Hope-isms:

 - saying "I Wuv You!!" when I put her to bed

- ecstatic when Daddy comes home

- still loves Strawberry Shortcake and starting to want Barbies

- her idea of bliss in 2 words:  Happy Meal

- wearing size 5T and she's still more than a month away from her third bday

- adept at wrestling with her brothers *sigh*

- meticulous about putting things back in the fridge (mama loves this)

- kisses me sloppily on the mouth when I leave to teach my classes

- calls her brothers "the boys" - example, "Where boys go?" 

- wonderfully feminine for being surrounded by little men :)



If Jonathan wrote me a Valentine.....

I wrote this to show as an example for my English students as we were playing with Valentine poems and they had to write one in this form....I tried to imagine what my 5 year old might say....

I love you more than fruit snacks
And goldfish in a cup
I love you more than Root Beer
And movies in the truck

I love you more than light sabers
And the fighting sounds they make
I love you more than birthdays
Even DQ ice cream cakes

I love you more than Legos
And money in my jar
Please be my Valentine Mom
I love you most by far

Superbowl XLV - The Memories

Fourteen years ago, I sat in my living room with Aaron in South Haven, Michigan.  We were just a young married couple when the Packers won the Superbowl in 1997.

What a different experience last night!

I think I wanted the Packers to win more for my children than anything else.  They will remember last night forever.  HUGE Thank You to Brother and Sister for a great party!
(And these great pictures!)

 Okay, now everyone make your angry FIGHT face!

 This looks like it was the 3rd quarter, when we were all frustrated...

Little boys

Big Happy Boys

On Being a Teacher...

Here is a clip of something I wrote when I dove back into teaching this past year. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I have no greater joy than to hear my children are walking in the truth.”

3 John 4

When John wrote those words from the New Testament, he wasn’t speaking about literal children, but his “spiritual” children – those he’d had the privilege of teaching and instructing in the faith.

As I child, I remember this verse on a picture in our home. It grew deep in my mind, motivating me to bring my parents the great joy of knowing I remained true to my faith as I left home and became an adult. Once I became a teacher, I understood John’s perspective as I felt such joy watching my “spiritual” children grow and walk in truth.

Teaching with excellence, being relevant – these are natural products of teaching with a heart of love for students. As I study each class, I determine which methods fit best. For some, it’s class discussion - being able to share ideas and grasp knowledge verbally. For others, it’s physical movement - moving the desks into a different arrangement, or acting out a short story can keep them from drifting mentally. Visual students love to view short film clips or take notes from a colorful overhead transparency, presenting a word picture of the topic at hand.

I enjoy using all of these techniques to keep students engaged and curious as to what might happen each day when they walk into the room. The classroom must have clear expectations and boundaries, but there is also joy to be found in spontaneity.

In the last 15 years, I’ve learned a lot about being spontaneous and flexible. After teaching full-time in a Christian high school for 4 years, I came home to raise our first son, Greg – now a third grader at Community Christian School. The next 10 years brought 3 more children! Each day was a lesson in patience, perseverance, and self-control.

The unique personalities and learning styles of my own children have given me a new understanding of grace I can bring to the classroom. Children cannot be raised in a Christian home and then simply expected to be perfect mini-adults. The teen years especially are times of trial and error, fly and fail, sink and soar. Parents and teachers are on a team together, encouraging each child to learn and grow forward, not berating them for another mistake or a slip-up. It’s our responsibility to love them unconditionally and present him or her with Biblical truth on a consistent basis.

I am a firm believer that enthusiasm in contagious. When I show an animated, warm spirit, the students can’t help but “catch it.” An emotionless, cold classroom is a defunct classroom. But an atmosphere of joy produces greater learning and greater influence for eternity.

Teaching is an overwhelming responsibility, just like parenting. As a mother now, I have 3 John 4 on a plaque in our foyer, making sure our children understand where our real joy comes from. Being an instrument of God’s love in a child’s life, watching that child walk in truth – nothing on earth can bring greater joy.