Memory for Yesterday - A Sam Hug and a Sensitive Heart

Not much to report about yesterday. It was a stressful day due to the fact that we started school again. Alex does not do well with change and he threw a fit in the morning because he did not want to do his math. The weekend had not gone the way he had wanted. He had wanted to go somewhere and do something but that had just not happened. He was upset about a fight he had Carl and was generally in a bad mood. I was stressed already and did not care to fight with him. I told he could do his math later when his father came home. Luckily my mother came over yesterday and was able to help a little. She finally convinced him to do his math by telling him that when he was done she would go out and buy lunch for everyone. He was done in record time. Thanks mom! All day long though Sam kept coming up and just laying his head on my leg and saying "I love you mommy." What a joy! In the midst of a stressful day he kept making me smile. Also William was so special. He can always tell when I am stressed out. I have this horrible habit a stuttering whenever I get stressed. He was so attentive to me yesterday. He kept asking me if there was anything he could do for me and went above and beyond his normal chores. He has such a sensitive spirit and I hope he never loses it. I was fixing dinner and listening to some music. A song came on that made me cry and William just came over and wrapped his arm around me. What a special moment.

Memory for Today - Attentive Eyes and Burgers

Today was Sunday so we went to church. It was nice to be back. The kids were sick for two weeks and then last week was snow. Today we had five of the kids in the service with us. We are trying to train them to sit through the preaching. They did an awesome job. I had to take Nathan's notebook away before the service even started but he was quiet and was not a problem. I was extremely impressed with Alex and William. William got that new Bible and he looked up the passages and even took notes. Alex, who normally has his head stuck in his drawing notebook ,was paying attention the wholes time. It was so good to look at my two older boys and see such attentive eyes. They are growing up so fast and maturing into nice young men. I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for them in life.
About the burgers, my husband makes the best burgers in the world. I am not kidding. They are better than any restaurant. The kids wanted to go out to McDonald's after church and get burgers. Lately I have not been able to tolerate any fast food. I mentioned to Carl that I did have a taste for a good burger and not the fast food kind. He decided that tonight for dinner he would make his famous burgers. He came home from church and put all my Christmas decorations away while I took a nap. I was not feeling well this afternoon. He then braved the cold and drizzle to grill me hamburgers outside. I bet people thought we were crazy. It made me feel special that he was willing to do that for me and take over a lot of the household duties lately. He truly is a man who is seeking after God. I am a truly blessed woman.

Memory for Today - Daniel's Smile

Today, just when I needed it, I got a good dose of Daniel smiles. He has this habit of just coming over and climbing in my lap and cuddling. He has such a wonderful smile that is so contagious. You can't help but smile back. Just when I needed it today he came over and just climbed in my lap and snuggled with me for a few minutes. I think it is amazing how God gives us exactly what we need right when we need it. I was just not feeling very well all day and was just worn out. I think the holidays were just catching up with me. I really needed his smiles and cuddles today. He is so precious to me and a wonderful blessing from the Lord.

Memory for Today - Bible Excitement, Appetizers, and Movies

William made the commitment to read the New Testament in 90 days. He has been reading the Bible for a while but has not had one to call his own. He has been using an old Matthew Henry Study Bible that I got a long time ago. It is big and falling apart. Today I surprised him by taking him out to buy a new one. He was so excited. We spent an hour in the store trying to choose between two selections. He chose a Teen Study Bible (KJV). He got a great deal too. It had one of those engravable name plates on the back where someone had ordered it and then not picked it up. The name plate was blank so I did not care. We ended up getting a $40 bible for $12. He was able to get a really cool cover too. He is at his desk right now ringing in the new year by reading his new bible. How convicting!
At the end of our day we continued a tradition we started last year. We had appetizer night. The kids have looked forward to it all year. We had buffalo wings, pigs in a blanket, garlic bread, brushetta, chips and queso, pizza rolls, and mini eclairs. Real healthy I know but we only did it once a year. We then ended the night watching three movies. The Last Airbender - talk about a movie where you can have a theological discussion with your children. We kept having to pause it to answer the kids questions. We also saw Nanny McPhee. Good and again we were able to have some good discussions. My favorite of the night was a surprise. On a whim I rented Ramona and Beezus. I cried several times. There were some discipline problems but all in all it was cute and clean and had a good ending.
Well, that is all for today or should I say yesterday because it is now 1:00 am on January 1, 2011. Happy New Year to all. I am going to go read by Bible before I go to bed. There is nothing like having your 10 year old son challenge you to read the word of God. God is good.

Memory for Today - Simple Smiles

Sam has gotten into the habit of wanting to wear a spider man costume that we got for free. He wants to wear it everyday. It just makes me smile to see him running around. I keep a blanket downstairs to snuggle up with on the sofa. He will go and get the blanket and bring it to me. He will say "Mommy, web you." We play this game where he pretends to spread webs all over me and I throw the blanket over my head. It is so cute. Today I had to run errands and did not feel like going through the ordeal of taking the costume off of him. I called Carl at work and we met him for lunch. He was wearing the costume the whole time at lunch. It was amazing the amount of chuckles and smiles that we received at the restaurant. It is amazing that a little child in a spider man costume can bring a little joy into people's lives. It was a blessing to me and to those in the Wendy's. Also Caleb was sitting next to me at lunch. At the end he just leaned over to me. That is his way of saying "Mommy, hug me." Well, what kind of mother would I be if I refused that cute little boy his hugs. Again, I saw several people in the restaurant smile. In the midst of my life I need to remember that children are a blessing from the Lord and I need to cherish those times when they bring a smile to my face. I need to seek out and do things to bring out those beautiful smiles.

The Importance of Memories

My mother recently visited her mother in West Virginia. Since she got back I have seen a change in her. My grandfather died a few years ago and at the end he remembered no one. My grandmother has started doing the same thing. With my mom having the brain tumor last year she has also started to forget things. I think all of these things combined has really scared her. My two sisters and I received Christmas gifts from her that made us all cry. For years my mother has kept papers and pictures and things from our childhood. I had no idea that she kept those things. On Christmas morning I opened a gift that made me cry the hardest I have cried in a while. Inside was crafts I had done in school. Papers and awards. The most precious things was my baby book. I did not even know she had kept one for me. It brought back so many childhood memories. She also included a journal that she had started. The first seven pages included memories she had of my childhood. At the end was a challenge to keep memories of my children. She asked me to fill the journal with what my days are like. She said even if I write that I had a bad day and leave it at that. Now I admit I am a writer. I love it. It is my passion. These past few years though my life has been full of diapers and schooling and the taking care of my little ones. My moms gift and challenge though has really struck a cord with me. I need to write down the little things. I need to do this so my children have their own memories that they can pass on to their children and grandchildren. Traditions need to be passed down from one generation to another. My mother told me that I need to record them because one day I will start to forget. I am convicted that I have not been diligent about this. I get so caught up in the day to day that I don't record the special times I have with my wonderful children. My mother has given me a challenge this year and I intend to take up that challenge. I think it is a good one for all of us take.

For Tara - Baby Feet

Oh Tara. I love baby feet too.