It's all in my job description...

This morning my two-year-old said, "Mama, I need face to face. I need your face!" I don't know exactly what it meant or where he got it from, but it was totally adorable and I love having him press his little face against mine.

During school, Gavin was feeling tired and unmotivated. Still, he pressed on. He had to read that whole sentence to find out what happened to that duck. It was intriguing..."A...fat...rat"...oh! it was suspenseful! A fat rat bit Tab!! That was about all we could handle this morning.

Caden on the other hand was energetic and ready to learn! He sat on my lap and demanded to be taught. We went through the entire alphabet and he repeated all the sounds the letters make.

I have the best job in the world!

True Christianity

This is the last paragraph I read last night in the C.S. Lewis book, Mere Christianity.

I think all Christians would agree with me if I said that though Christianity seems at first to be all about morality, all about duties and rules and guilt and virtue, yet it leads you on, out of all that, into something beyond. One has a glimpse of a country where they do not talk of those things, except perhaps as a joke. Every one there is filled full with what we call goodness as a mirror is filled with light. But they do not call it goodness. They do not call it anything. They are not thinking of it. They are too busy looking at the source from which it comes.But this is near the stage where the road passes over the rim of our world. No one's eyes can see very far beyond that: lots of people's eyes can see further than mine.

I thought this was a beautiful way of explaining what true Christianity should be. When you keep your eyes on Jesus, you are less concerned with yourself and doing good. Any good you do is not because you are trying or because of rules or a sense of duty, but because your focus is on Him and he changes you and your attitude and your desires. You do good because He is good and He lives in you.

Boys in the Snow

Yesterday we drove inland and had our annual visit to the snow. I wasn't quite sure how Caden was going to react. You never know what to expect his reaction to be. He thinks he doesn't like the outdoors, but once he starts playing in it he realizes it's not so bad. I think he takes after me. I like to be warm and toasty, curled up under a blanket reading a book. Gavin is like his Daddy. He likes dirt. Give him rocks to climb, water to splash in, and mud to play in and you'd think he was in heaven. The first few times we went to the beach, Caden would cry if you put him down in the sand. Now, he's 2. He's figured out what this whole beach thing is all about. He loves it. He also discovered that he loves snow. He wanted to just dive right into it. He spent most of his time on his knees digging holes and packing snow. It was like he was on a mission.

When You Give a Kid a Camera

When you give a five-year-old a camera, there's no telling what you're going to get. Gavin was so happy to get a camera today. What was junk to us a beautiful treasure to my precious boy. He ran around taking pictures of everything you can imagine! He took the most hideous pictures of me that I have ever seen. I'm talking in my jammies, first thing in the morning. I'm a zombie, but he's snappin' away. Sheer joy. He took close-ups of his toys, and his brother and even spent a long time trying to focus on a beetle he found in the hamper. Maybe one day he'll be like his daddy, taking beautiful photos of God's creation. But for now he's content with snap shots of his toes.

I Hate Winter Flu Bugs

Dampness...coldness...dreariness...sickness...yes, it's winter in Humboldt County! You know it's inevitable. It will rain. The sun won't shine for days. You will get sick. Here, you endure the winters to enjoy the beautiful summers.

The sun is actually shining today. Birds are singing, and you can hear the sounds of people mowing grass in the distance. I have no idea if it is as warm as it looks out there. I've been inside for days. I briefly left the confines of my house yesterday to go down the street to the store. We were out of coffee and half and half. It was an emergency.

Other than that I have been living my life vicariously through facebook. I wouldn't call myself "addicted" neccessarily...oh wait, yes I did. It's right there in my last post. What else am I supposed to do? I've had sick kids who just need to lay on their mama. I get bored. Caden just wants to be in my arms. That's it, no exceptions. So, I've been holding a sick boy with my left arm and facebooking with my right.

Anyhoo. Sickness. That's what I was planning to talk about. It started with Gavin then the Hubby got it. I got it from him and was down for the count. Then, we all looked to Caden. It seemed as though he had escaped! But at long last, his little body could fight it off no longer...

And that, my friends is why I am sitting here writing this instead of enjoying this beautiful sunshine!

Random Things About Me

1. I love Jesus
2. I love being a wife
3. I love being a mom
4. I have to have coffee first thing in the morning, or else
5. I don't think I want anymore kids, but
6. Sometimes I think I would love to have more kids
7. I tend to plan things to death
8. I enjoy cooking and cleaning
9. I hate television with a passion
10. I believe life begins at conception
11. I'm a very different person than I was 5 years ago (Thank you, God)
12. I miss my family
13. My husband is awesome
14. I always knew I would homeschool my children
15. Politicians scare me
16. I'm in the proccess of reading the Bible cover to cover for the 4th time
17. I got married barefoot on the beach
18. Quoting Veggie Tales movies is a regular occurance in our home
19. I grew up in a small town, population about 2800
20. I'm learning the power of prayer
21. I have wonderful friends, I don't know what I would do without them
22. I enjoy knitting
23. I would love to go to Isreal or India, if only I didn't have to fly over the ocean
24. I have the best job in the world
25. I am trying to trust God istead of being fearful of the future
26. I'm addicted to facebook

A Day in the Life of a Mother

It is a day like any other day. I thought I would just jot down some of the things that happen around here that make being a stay at home mom all worth it...Things that make me laugh hysterically and remind me that I love my life.

First thing this morning, Gavin made a tent, a shelter, and a bug trap in the living room. He's ready for the day!

As I'm getting Caden (2yrs.) dressed after his bath, he randomly said, "Arrrg Matey!"...where on earth did my child who is just learning to talk get arg matey? I have my suspicions.

Gavin (5yrs) calls me from the living room. I find him in a tall hamper with the lid on it. Apparently he needs more fish. He couldn't get them himself because he is, of course, is in the hamper.

For the last hour I have been unable to fold my towels because Caden is now a bird and is VERY protective of his towel nest.

Gavin is now out of the hamper. That must have been the loud crash. There was no crying or screaming, so I guess everything is ok. He has made a harpoon and is catching whales.