Precious Moments: Helping Others

Every fall our church participates in the Peter Fish (those orange fish banks), where kids are encouraged to collect money to help those who do not have food.  In the past, we have simply put in a bunch of coins on the Saturday before they were due back at church so the boys had something to bring forward.  It bothered me every year we did it because it didn't mean anything and it didn't teach the boys anything except ask dad and mom for money for the fish.

So this year we did it differently.  We have been encouraging the boys to help out extra around the house (aside from their regular chores) and for every time they help out we give them a dollar to put in their fish.  I didn't think it was making much of a difference until today.  I was about ready to start washing some dishes and Brandon came up to me and said, "Mom, can we help you dry so we have money to put in our fish?"  YES!  He was proud of being able to help so he could earn some money to help others--all on a five year old's cognitive level of course, but it's a good beginning.

Blessings

Kiddie Anecdotes

Aside from Saturday's picture taking fest, my camera hasn't made much of an appearance lately.  But that doesn't mean life has stopped.  Here are a few happenings around here:

Brandon:

* For the first time ever, Brandon said his memory verse to someone else, without me around, and got a prize for it.  If you know Brandon, you know he becomes extremely shy and stubborn about doing such things for other people, so we were very proud of him for it.

* Every time Brandon sees the word "Disney" on anything, books, t-shirts, movies, etc, he yells out "Hey Mom, that's from Disneyland!"  I think it made an impact.  ;)

* Thomas has woken up from his LOOONNNG summer sleep, with the coming of the rain.  It's been fascinating watching how Brandon's stories have become more complex.  He no longer wants just one track--he has to have two separate ones because in one of the movies, Hero goes back to his own island.  So now we have the Island of Sodor and "Hero's" Island in our living room.

Micah:

* Micah has started the inevitable, terribly annoying, extremely irritating "Why's".  On the other hand, he's also the one who comes up to me several times a day, grabs my arm and says, "ov u" (love you).  It melts my heart.

* Micah is becoming ever more mechanical.  He spends more time trying to figure out how the cranes work with the Thomas toys, then he does actually participating in the stories.  He has also been trying to figure out how the garage door opens.  He watches very closely every time it goes up or down.

* Micah is our observant one.  Yesterday when we got back from Bible Study I said to the boys that it was time to make cookies.  Brandon said, "Yay, cookies!" and ran off to play.  Micah went to the kitchen, pulled out the baking powder, put it on the counter, opened up the cupboard door and told me to get out the kitchen aid.

* Yesterday at Bible study, I ended up talking to some ladies for a little while after class and was the last one to pick up Micah from the nursery.  When I got there the ladies told me he had slowly watched each of the kids being picked up and then started tearing up because he figured out it was time to go, but I wasn't showing up.

Blessings on your Wednesday.

World Wide Photo Walk

Saturday was my second time participating in Scott Kelbey's World Wide Photo Walk and I thoroughly enjoyed it once again.  According to the website, there were 1339 walks around the world with 31,988 people walking.  Pretty incredible!  The point is to get together with other photographers, learn from each other, take time to stretch your own photographic abilities, and have fun. 

Here are a few of my favorites from the afternoon.

The same type of tree, with various stage color changes.

Go to the kids store and then the wine store for yourself...

The flowers look like they are trying to escape.

I love the contrast between the old world pictures and the new world picture--ipad, music buds, new bus station, but he's wearing an old style hat in new style colors.

Notice anything about the clock?

Even though it was rainy, it was a great afternoon.  I'm looking forward to next October's photo walk!
Blessings

Preciousness

Another Princess of the King has been born and she is all sweetness!

Welcome to the world Jacquelyn Paige Vos. 

Precious Moments: Brotherly Love

Pretty sure every mother has those days, weeks, months when they wonder if anything being taught is going in...kindness, sharing, brotherly love, showing respect...

Part of God's grace is the glimpses he gives in the middle of those times that even though depravity is real, he is working in their little hearts, and it gives this mother's heart joy in the midst of the frustrations.

At supper tonight Brandon, completely unprompted and rather randomly said, "Mom, we need to always love God."  Yes, buddy!!!

And then tonight, while waiting for his bed to be made, Brandon climbed up in the rocking chair.  Micah started throwing a fit because he wanted to be there too.  It was just one more fight in a long string of daily, brotherly fights.  But suddenly Brandon stopped and said, "Micah, there's room for both of us.  Sit here."

Thank you, Lord, for those small glimpses of your work in their hearts, and your grace in showing me those glimpses on some of the more frustrating days.

Mariner's Game

Towards the end of September, Uncle James took Bryan and Brandon to see a Mariner's game.  We sure do have a boy who LOVES sports and especially baseball right now.

Here are the pictures from Bryan's phone.  (He took some on threat that I would call every hour to make sure he was taking pictures if he didn't.  ;))  Pictures are important.

Micah and I enjoyed a nice quiet evening at home, snuggled with a movie together.
Good memories.
Blessings on your weekend.

Looking Forward

RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a horrible reminder of the depraved world we live in, and I despise it!

It robs sleep, but hardest of all it makes a mother watch quite helplessly as her child struggles to breathe for hours on end.  Whether it manifests itself in croup (with Brandon) or brochialitis (with Micah), it is AWFUL!  Yes, there is medication to ease some of the discomfort but for the most part it's a waiting game, waiting for it to run its course.

Thankfully, so thankfully, the medication changes we made for Brandon helped him weather this cold without getting croup. 

Micah and I, however, saw every hour of the clock last night (except for 4am because he got up at 3:45 and 5 am) as we tried every method possible to open his lungs just a little more. 

We are home this morning, not in the ER or hospital, for which we are extremely grateful, but the fight will continue today.

This morning I'm dreaming of the day of Christ's return when RSV will have no part in his perfect world!