Good Things About Eli

I know I talk about how hard it is to raise a boy. Eli is oh so hard compared to Katie. But today I realized some wonderful things about raising my boy!

Eli has a beautiful heart of worship. He loves to walk around the house singing songs to God! He's not the most theologically correct, but he's so passionate!

I also love how loving he is. He wants to hug and kiss me and tell me he loves me everyday!

He's always cracking jokes too! He has been working so hard at telling them, and they make no sense, but he's really trying!

I also love how he is so eager to learn new things.

He really is a blessing. I love him and he's a true blessing in my life. I thank God for him!

More cute quotes...

Katie was working on learning the 50 states. She was having a hard time remembering Hawaii and Alaska. Finally I said, "Hooooloooo.." and she'll say Hawaii. It was hard to remember Alaska until I said "Sarah Palin'sss..." and she'd yell out "ALASKA!!!" Yep, we liked that show on the TLC.

Eli was looking around today and said, "Hey Mom. Everything has color. My shirt has color. My pants have color. The walls have color. Outside has color. Everything has color! God made the world of color, not that other guy." It took me about 3 hours to realize he was talking about a commercial he saw that was advertising Disney's World Of Color show at Disneyland! And he's right! God made all the color, not Walt Disney! ;)

Charlie Browniest

This year I have not been able to get into the Christmas spirit as I have in years past. Usually by this time I have already watched every Christmas movie we own and gotten all of my gifts purchased, wrapped and sent. But this year I haven't gotten into it. I'm not sure why.

Last night we watched "Merry Christmas Charlie Brown" on TV (so blessed America still allows that show on network TV!) At one point Linus says to Charlie Brown "Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you're the Charlie Browniest." This struck a chord in me. I'm feeling very Charlie Brown-y this year. Buying gifts and decorating and even watching movies is not what it's all about. When Linus got up and read from Luke 2 my heart was warmed.

"For unto you in born this day a Savior who is Christ the Lord...

That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

Yes, indeed. Christ the Lord is what Christmas is all about. My heart was filled with joy and hope for this year's Christmas season once again.

Today, my son asked if Santa would bring him a present because he tried to be a good boy this year. My heart sank again. I was so good at teaching Katie the truth of Christmas. She really understood that we celebrate Jesus being born. But somehow I've missed the mark with Eli. My apathy this year may have given room for Santa to fill the place of God in my sons way of thinking. Well, not anymore. I am getting back to the basics. I'm going to take a clue from Linus and the shepherds and remember that Jesus is worthy to be worshiped. Jesus is not just the reason for the season. He is the reason for living!

Confessions

I home school my kids. You probably already know that if you're reading my blog. But what you might not know is that sometimes I am jealous of those who don't. I rarely talk about it, because all the other home school moms I see seem to love it and are doing a fabulous job of it. I, however, see my house and think how much better it might be to just put the kids in school. I get envious of the moms who take their kids to school and then have 4-7 hours to clean the house, get the shopping done, or even just take a shower in peace. I feel guilty when I have these thought and feelings because I know that homeschooling is what God has asked me to do. I know all the great benefits of homeschooling my kids; I see the growth and development in Katie almost daily at this point. I know that the messy house and lack of showers is just a season. I know all the logical things I would be telling another home school mom who is feeling this way. But knowing all the right answers and feeling the tiredness and jealousy are two very different things. All I can do is hold on to those logical thoughts at this point and know that God does indeed take all things and make them not just a good thing but a blessing in His own special way.
This Thanksgiving I am thankful for my great relationship with my daughter. I am thankful for my ever supportive husband, my energetic son and a God who takes my feeble efforts and makes them work together for good simply because I love Him!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Fun With Adverbs

Today Katie was learning adverbs. I gave her a list of words and let her make silly sentences. Here's what she came up with...

Knights toddle mysteriously.

Dancers cry awkwardly.

Turtles leap shrilly.

Eagles lumber fiercely.

Spies battle gracefully.

Babies wink cautiously.

Some are a little more accurate than she planned, I think!

Tree House

Today I was looking out of my bedroom window and thinking how much I love my bedroom. The last house we lived in my bedroom was the biggest room in the house (Yes, the biggest in the whole house!). This house it is very small, but I love it so much more.

I began to wonder why. Why do I love this room so much? I think it's because I feel like I'm in a tree house. Growing up I always wanted a tree house. And living in my favorite house I almost had one (but it was on the ground, under the trees). Looking out of my bedroom now all I see is trees. I feel like I live up in them and that makes me think of beautiful times in my favorite house growing up.

You may be wondering why I keep saying "favorite house growing up". Well, I am 37 years old and have lived in 22 different houses. I can describe all of them to you rather simply (ie: the pink one, the attic one, the white long one, the mountain side one and etc), but in this one I am just describing it as "my favorite". It was a farm house that had chickens and ducks and horses and rabbits and more animals. And it had trees; beautiful, tall, fun trees! I loved that house.

Living in Scotts Valley I am reminded of my childhood a lot. The people up here are so friendly and laid back. The weather is warm, but has a bit of the cool, misty mornings. And the trees growing high to the sky. It's just beautiful.

I know I've written about my love for my house before, but I just realized another reason I love it. I am getting old and sentimental. This house reminds me of good times in my childhood and that makes me happy!

I was a bad mom!

This morning I had a bad mom moment. It was funny though. Let me tell you about it...
Eli got mad at Katie and yelled out "you're dumb. D. O. dumb".
Katie and I started laughing and Katie said "D. O. spells do, you dummy. D.O.M.B. spells dumb".
I said, "DUMB is dumb. But nice job trying to spell kids.". Then I walked away.
About 2 hours later realized that I should have told them to not call each names. I was just so happy they were spelling that I forgot to correct them.
I know, I know. Bad mom. But it was funny!