Longfellow

 I have been on a poetry kick lately. Over a year ago I found a book, copyrighted 1929, called 101 Famous Poems. We read more then half of it, mostly as bedtime discussion fodder. Some encouraged great discussion. Others were simply called "boring" at first glance. Almost all of them have stretched our vocabulary.
 When we moved the book was packed away and forgotten, until about a week ago. Zion was given an assignment, as part of one of his classes in our homeschool co-op, to write a poem. His trials with that inspired me to find the old book again and see what else we could learn from it. I am so glad I did, because "old" almost always makes me happy!

 First, Zion's finished poem.

Lazy Daisy

makes me crazy.

Sloppy, floppy

is really droppy.

Food goes everywhere,

along with her shedding hair.

I eat my food, there she begs,

jumping on her deer-like legs.

She makes Missouri furry.

Crazy Daisy is so Lazy.

 Canaan's quote is: "I COULD write a poem. I just don't want to". 

 Apparently I have not inspired him enough yet. 

 I would like to share last night's reading. It inspires me!

 A Psalm of Life

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,

Life is but an empty dream!

For the soul is dead that slumbers,

And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!

And the grave is not its goal;

Dust thou art, to dust returnest,

Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,

Is our destined end or way;

But to act, that each tomorrow

Find us farther than today.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,

And our hearts, though stout and brave,

Still, like muffled drums, are beating

Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world's broad field of battle,

In the bivouac of life,

Be not dumb, driven cattle!

Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!

Let the dead Past bury is dead!

Act,- act in the living Present!

Heart within, and God o'erhead!

Lives of great men all remind us

We can make our lives sublime,

And, departing, leave behind us

Footprints on the sands of time.

Footprints, that perhaps another,

Sailing o'er life's solemn main,

A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,

Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us then be up and doing,

With a heart for any fate;

Still achieving, still pursuing,

Learn to labor and to wait.

It was a beautiful way to end the day, and I thought a beautiful thought to start with also. 

 Leave footprints, my friends, footprints that will encourage those who come later. 

Blessings, 

                                              

Lost in the Woods

 I was re-reading some of my old posts, again. They really are more of a journal than anything. Watching my children grow, right on the computer screen, is bittersweet. When I started this blog Canaan had just turned 4 and Zion was not quite 2. Canaan will be twelve in just 5 weeks and Zion is now 9.
 When I first started writing, almost every word was "adorable", and worthy of posting. (of course!) Now, I think they would really prefer I not call them adorable...

 We live in base housing right now. The duplex itself is really nice, the neighbors are wonderful, and the street has lots of children. However, there is not much of a back yard, and what is there is NOT fenced in. So, Daisy has to be on a leash when she is outside.

 The up side (as well as the down side!) of that requirement is that I am forced to go outside with her. The snow days were really hard on this southern girl, but now that the weather has cheered up taking Daisy for a walk is a joyful experience.

Spring is here!

Color is popping up.

Things that were hidden now show their lovely faces.

And the promise of more to come shows prominently!

This base has a nickname.

"Fort Lost in the Woods"

These two pictures give an idea as to why it is called that. The top picture is about 100 yards from our back door. We come up with a different fun story on a regular basis about why a random concrete pad is in the middle of the woods.

This picture is a five minute walk from our house. 

Nothing in sight except trees! 

 But the beauty you can find while "lost in the woods" is unending. 

 Side note of proud mommy bragging: While on the above mentioned walk Canaan said "Mom, look at that interesting quadrilateral." When I quizzed his little brother as to what made the shape a quadrilateral and not a square, Zion answered correctly.
 My boys make me proud! Not so much "adorable" any longer, but definitely amazing young men.
 I am so very blessed!

Blessings to you, 

Yakkity yak

Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't just learn to use Facebook.
 Not that I don't know how. I just don't make it part of my daily life. I would have to learn to take the time to post as things happen. Today my life was just full of fun little moments that I have to share - and since I don't use Facebook, this is where my words end up.

 This morning Zion walked up to me, out of nowhere, and said, "Mommy, when I grow up I am going to save the Pandas".

 I nearly cried (while I laughed) at the pure zeal - and the absolute faith he has in his ability to solve the problems of an endangered species. There is still such easy faith at age 7.


 As I type, the toads are background noise. From all the way upstairs. With lots of enthusiasm.

 Andy discovered toad spawn the day before yesterday. They have obviously been very busy! We had eggs once before, but the grownups ate them. This time we removed them from the tank and gave them a little space of their own. You live and learn, right? The first tadpole hatched today- it has begun!
 Since we have 25-30 eggs in a tank, I figured I better educate myself. Canaan and I watched Youtube videos this afternoon, trying to prepare for what comes next. Looks like we are going to be busy for the next 4-6 weeks! Eggs hatching. Tadpoles swimming, changing, and growing. Lots of learning.
 And I will just let Canaan think that "frogs make a lot of noise when they lay eggs". Of course that is why they are loud!

 Canaan recently decided that he wanted to make a stuffed animal. He dug through my fabric stash, searched youtube for ideas, and had a pattern drawn up and started within an hour. I must admit that I ended up doing more of the sewing then I wanted - but he did more then I expected too. (Can you tell that I was not thinking positive when we started this project?)
 I think he turned out pretty good for a first try! He might need a little more stuffing though.

Just a quick pic on the phone, so don't judge too harshly!

 The big news around here is that I have another niece. My sister Kelsey had her daughter on Friday afternoon. She came home from the hospital on Sunday, but had to be readmitted tonight. Her bilirubin count is really high and she is having a hard time getting the hang of eating. Since she was only 5 1/2 lbs to start with, losing weight isn't a good thing! My big fat 9 lbs babies had some to spare!
 I haven't heard yet if I am allowed to post pictures online, so I won't. But if you want to see her, send me an E-mail. And please, if you could take a minute and pray for health, (and for peace too!) that would be so very appreciated.

 Blessings, 

Star Wars, Yellow Paint, and Love

 First, a story about Canaan, because he came up with a "witty" reply on his own, and he is so very proud. I can't remember if I ever wrote about his abysmal record with shoes. He went an entire week with two left shoes, no rights. For almost an entire day his third pair, which was the only one he had left, was down to only a left shoe also. He was going to be reduced to wearing rain boots just to go to the commissary. 

 He has a habit also, once the shoes are off, (and somehow separated and lost!) of removing one sock as well. Just one. I continually find him tromping around the house, and even the back yard, in one sock. I am sure you can imagine what that does in the laundry. 

 When we were at my parent's house last week my mom was fussing at him, and asked, "Canaan, where did you leave your other sock?" He responded, without pause, "I gave it to Dobby". 

 I guess I shouldn't have let him watch the second Harry Potter movie!

 He is now so proud of himself for thinking up a silly response that he had faithfully made sure to tell almost all of the family. I love age eight! 

Also while we were visiting my family last week Canaan and Zion could not find their Star Wars toys anywhere. They have a special stash they keep in the basement, just for visits there, and they were desperately needed.

 You see, when Mom and I were digging through the attic for decorative items to use at Mary Faith's shower we also discovered our old dollhouse. Beautiful, 3 story dollhouse, hand built, painted and shingled by my grandfather. We had bought furniture and dishes with our Christmas money through the years. Wallpapered and decorated. And yet, there it was, lonely in the attic, 10 years after the youngest child had outgrown it. (and that's pushing it, since Mary Faith is 24...)

So we pulled it out. We opened the boxes of furniture. The decorated Christmas tree with handmade Christmas gifts. The cross stitched blanket for the master bed.

 And my boys declared that their Star Wars men would fit perfectly in there. Canaan justified it nicely, saying in his best 8 year old tone, “It's okay for us to play with it, since it's yellow.”

 I guess if it had been pink it would not have been okay. But yellow passes the gender allowed test in 8 year old dollhouse playing. Especially if you are putting Star Wars characters in it, gleefully making them use the porcelain toilet.

But ...they could not find their Star Wars characters.

The hunt was on.

Who, who do you think was the one to find them?

Why, mommy of course.

When I discovered them buried underneath a stack of pillows I teasingly asked Zion, “Who's the best Mommy in the world?” He replied, “You (dramatic pause)... except for Nani.”

 For anyone who doesn't know, Nani is what he calls my Mom. And really, how could I argue with that statement. As much as I would like to be the best Mommy in the world, I certainly can't imagine taking that title away from my Mom! So I just ruffled his hair, gave him his Star Wars characters and sent him up to create the coolest yellow Star Wars meeting room ever. (complete with a replica of a foot pedal sewing machine.. but I digress)

 One of the devotionals I am reading this year is “The heart of a Mother”, compiled by Wayne Holmes. It has stories from famous Christian authors and speakers talking about their mothers, and how they affected their life.

There are some beautiful stories, encouraging ideas of how to lift up my children and teach them to love our Savior with their entire heart and soul and mind, and to love their neighbor more then they love themselves.

I was blessed with a mother who did that for me. Who taught me how to love from the moment I was born.

But there are so many who didn't have that. At least, not from their mother. And yet, that love is still there. That desire to give love, and to receive it in return. We have a job, a calling, not only to love our children and our husbands, our friends and our neighbors but also the people whom we have absolutely nothing in common with. The people we would argue with about politics, and how to raise children. The people that in our opinion are wasteful or miserly, too serious or too nonchalant.

Even the people that hurt other people.

We have love. 

They want love. 

God told us quite clearly to give love.

Matt 5:44 says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be sons (and daughters) of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous.”

Not everyone grew up with the best mommy in the world (like I did) but everyone has a loving Daddy. They just need to be introduced.

That's our job.

Share His name.

Be His arms.

Shine His love. 

 Valentine's Day is quickly approaching. Love is in the air. While it is on your mind, remember to share not just human love, but God's love too!  

Blessings, 

Track 6

After a month off, I could come up with dozens of cute little stories, and hundreds of pictures to post. I have even had a little "free time" in the last few days- I was sick enough that people have left me alone! The downside was that I was sick enough that even blogging was beyond my energy level.
 Somehow, after a month off I don't know where to start with the stories about us. Where we have been, what we have seen or even where we are going next.
 So I think I will skip straight to what I like best. Simply writing.

 A few weeks before Christmas Andy bought a new CD. He put it in the Tahoe and listened to it as we drove back and forth on all our errands. Shopping, visiting family, running yet another box of junk over to the storage building. One day my mom was riding with us and Andy was flipping through the songs, showing her his favorites. Suddenly a voice piped up from the back - "Aw dad, not track six AGAIN".
 Canaan expressed his displeasure with the constant repetition of the same songs, and got a laugh from the adults in the car.
 But he also got me to thinking.

 How often do we hit repeat on our favorite tracks and forget to listen to anything new? Perhaps even refuse to listen to anything new? Maybe not music, or at least not always music, but with many things. Scripture is what immediately came to mind for me. I cannot deny that there have been moments in my life in which one or two bible verses were what held me together. I clung to them with both hands and my whole heart. However, two verses are only a portion of what He has. There is so much more waiting to fill us up, overflow and spill into the lives of those around us. Read. (Or listen, no one said that the Bible cannot be read to you. Ipod's hold more than music you know) Soak up. Then, overflow and spill into others.
 It is the last day of 2010. Tomorrow is a new year. Consider adding some new "tracks" to your devotion time this year. Read a different devotional author. Try a new genre of music for worship. Memorize a verse that strikes you and use it in a conversation with someone.
I am asking my best friend to meet me every morning with something new, and I know that He will always have something interesting to say about the events of the day. Both for my life, and the lives of those around me. What more could I ask for?
 Let me know where He takes you. I want to add some new "tracks" to my life. Share, please, so I can listen too. Blessings,

We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming....

...for a moment of comedy.

Yesterday afternoon the boys were working in the garage. They took some old boxes and built themselves robots.

They were working in tandem out there, and I assumed Canaan was helping his brother.

I was wrong.

Canaan built himself a T-6000, put it on and wore it around. Zion built himself a robot costume also.

As he was wearing it around, his brother looked at him and said, "Zion, you just look like a broken box."

Poor kid!

Deltoids and multiples of 2

Earlier today Canaan was working on a word find. You know, a jumble of letters that you have to search through in order to find and circle the words you are assigned. It was his "homework" sent home last week from the P.E. class we are a part of. He was very frustrated with it. Daddy helped him for awhile. Mommy helped him with a couple of words. We finally declared that he really needed to work on it by himself. After searching for "deltoids" with no luck for at least two whole minutes (which is an entire lifetime when you are six) he declared quite emphatically and with tears in his eyes that "God just didn't make me for this kind of thing".

Poor kid.

Unfortunately for him, Mom and Dad didn't agree. We insisted that God made his brain perfectly capable of finding words in a jumble of letters. It was just a matter of sitting still and concentrating. (Imagine that!) He was heartbroken. But he sat still. Concentrated. Lo and behold, he found deltoids. And Pectoralis. And even Myocardium.

He also learned about the word procrastination. Eventually, everything catches up with you, no matter how you hope it will just go away! Daddy defined that word for him, and "beat it into his head" several times today!

Later in the day I introduced him to multiplication. Well, that's not exactly true. I had already introduced him. He and multiplication got to know each other a little better today. I wouldn't say they are exactly friends yet. That will take years still. But at least they know each other's names. And more then just the first name. The whole thing. First, middle, last. And perhaps a nickname thrown in for good measure.

Canaan and math are on pretty good terms.

Just don't ask to see his handwriting...

Music

 Just a few musical "notes".... (hahaha)

 Andy plays his Ipod in his truck. It is set on "random", but for some reason, every time you start the truck the first song that plays is "Everybody wants to go to Heaven, but Nobody wants to die", by David Crowder. For some reason that I cannot explain, it is really amusing to hear a 2 year old chime in from the back seat "nobody wants to die"

 But that wasn't what I got on here to say. I have gotten several comments recently about my blog's music. Mostly that there is too much country... I would apologize, but I am not sorry, so it would be a wasted breath. Besides, there really isn't THAT much country. If it bother's you that much, just hit "refresh" and something different is bound to come up. 

 Andy added some new music for me last night. Since he does not every update his own blog, he feels the need to be involved in mine on occasion. He has specifically asked that Corey, (and anyone else who is interested) check out The Mexican Scotsman and Group 1 Crew. I can't say that I would have picked them on my own, but Andy has rubbed off on me over the years, so I gave my approval and let him put them on my blog! 

 Last story. When we were in the truck last Sunday, driving down the road, listening to whatever random Ipod song popped up, I started writing down Canaan's comments. Here are a few.

"The words are too fast".... Rap (don't worry, even the fast words are double checked for cleanliness!)

"They sound like they are on the farm"..... Bluegrass

"Now this is good music".... Rock ("and Roll" according to him, but it is actually more "hard rock" in my opinion, albeit Christian)

 So, if you have musical requests for my blog, let me know. I have my Zion and Canaan songs, (check them out, they are pretty amusing) my sisters song, Handel, Bach, Keith Green, Rich Mullins, even some Elvis, and a touch of rap. If I am missing anything, except the Beatles, please, let me know!