Not long after I finished the previous post, I fed Bennett dinner while Anderson and Paul were still on the golf course. His hastily-made dinner consisted of grits and grapes because Bennett doesn't like the chicken wraps I made for Paul and Anderson (normally I do not make two dinners, but since he was eating alone, I figured I could swing it this time). During the course of explaining to him what he was going to eat for dinner and that he could not have fruit snacks until after he ate his meal, he actually asked me, "Are you trying to be a bad mom?" Honestly, there wasn't any disrespect in his tone or malice in his voice. Sometimes I think he talks just to hear the sound of his own voice.
As soon as he finished eating all of his grits and grapes (yuck, I know), I heard him go to the pantry to get his promised fruit snacks. Then, I heard him start singing a familiar tune with the following lyrics: "hong-a-sing-a-lay, hong-a-sing-a-lay". I thought to myself, "That sounds like Beyonce's Single Ladies, but those are definitely not the lyrics. So I went and stood by him at the pantry to see that he was staring at the fruit snack box that had a huge picture of Alvin and the Chipmunks on it. If you have seen this movie, you know that Single Ladies is the theme song to that movie. Bennett has seen it once, but I'm sure he saw lots of ads for it when it was in theaters and out on DVD, so he had not forgotten. Anyway, he translated, "All the single ladies, all the single ladies" as "hong-a-sing-a-lay, hong-a-sing-a-lay".
He is now sitting next to me playing on his "DS" which is actually a Leapster Explorer. He has a pet dog on it, and he was asking me what the name choices were for his names. One of them is Peaches. He just looked at me incredulously and said, "I don't want a dog named after a vegetable."
I wish I could just keep a video camera running. He'd get some You Tube hits, for sure.
Friday, March 25, 2011
lasterday
Bennett never uses the term "yesterday". Instead, he says "lasterday", though sometimes "lasterday" refers to last week, last month, last year. I love this and refuse to correct him. It's just too cute.
Lasterday, I thought about the fact that it has been way too long since I have blogged. I decided then that I should take a moment to write down a few of the things my precocious four-year-old has been doing and saying lately before I forget. And let's face it, I generally have a five minute retention span, so I am recording these things for posterity as much as I am for my friend's and family's amusement.
Lasterday, I thought about the fact that it has been way too long since I have blogged. I decided then that I should take a moment to write down a few of the things my precocious four-year-old has been doing and saying lately before I forget. And let's face it, I generally have a five minute retention span, so I am recording these things for posterity as much as I am for my friend's and family's amusement.
- I was telling Bennett on our way to Laura's house yesterday that I wanted him to do something (what it was I can no longer remember), and he said, "Of course I will, Mom. I would never let you down. Would I ever let my mom down?" I shall quote this back to him at some point in his life, I'm sure.
- My niece, Cole, was at my house today, so we had some good girl time, just the two of us. I dressed her in a bright pink t-shirt of mine, a pair of Bennett's jeans that were too small, painted her toenails and fingernails, put on some blush, mascara and lipstick, and gave her some jewelry and purses. She was thrilled. She would have loved a pair of shoes, but I had none in her size. Bennett came into the bathroom as we were finishing up our "makeover" and says, "What have you done to Cole? She looks like the ladies in your Bible study." I said, "What do you mean?" He said, "She looks like an old woman." (I am by far the youngest member of my Bible study group-, most of them being my mother's age. And no, that is NOT old to me.)
- Bennett knows that I have a "no potty talk rule" in the house. That does not, however, deter him from trying to sneak opportunities to participate in this activity when he feels he can avoid consequences for doing so. For example, the other day we were riding bikes in the neighborhood, and after about a mile or so, Bennett exclaims in a voice loud enough for many neighbors to hear, "My butt is on FIRE!" ("Fire" was pronounced, "Fy-ah"!) Poor thing. His bike seat is rather hard, and he isn't used to riding that far but is generally restricted from adventuring beyond our street. Anyway, once he saw that his exclamation got a smirk out of me rather than admonishment, he persisited to say it four or five more times before I told him it was no longer necessary to announce this. That did not keep him from retelling this story several times the following day just so he could say the word "butt".
- Last night, Bennett wanted us to play basketball in our playroom on our Fisher-Price Grow-to-Pro basketball goal. (Sidenote: This is a GREAT toy. We have had two of these, one when Anderson was a toddler, and the one that just replaced that last month when the other one's backboard no longer stayed on the post properly, probably due to lots of wear and tear over the last eleven years. We have not had a toy that has been played with more than this basketball goal.) Back to the story, Bennett assigned teams. First he said that he was on my team. Then, he said that married people were supposed to be on the same team, so Paul and I were then teammates. Then, about a minute later he decided that he would instead be my teammate. At that point, Bennett and his brother were roughhousing (this is all before the game even started), and Anderson fell down on a golfball that was left in his pocket. Needless to say, this didn't feel good at all. As Anderson lay on the ground feigning more pain than he actually felt, Bennett turned to me and said, "I guess Dad's gonna need a new teammate." This then led to a discussion about compassion and care for others. (I should add in fairness that he normally is compassionate and caring.)
- This morning we were playing Snakes and Ladders. (It is similar to Chutes and Ladders, only you put the puzzle together first before you play. Very cute game with only 50+ spaces rather than 100, so it goes much more quickly.) Bennett would ask before he rolled the dice, "What do I need to roll?" He wanted to be able to take as many ladders up as possible. I would tell him how many spaces he needed to move (let's say 4 as an example), and then he would ask, "Mom, will you pray that I roll a four." The first time I said, "Sure", so we prayed. Of course, he rolled a four. He asked again, to which I said, "You can pray and ask God, buddy." So, he did pray that he would roll a four. But before he rolled he said, "I think I'm gonna roll a 2." What a perfect moment to explain faith!!! I said, "Bennett, you don't want to think like that. If you ask God to roll a four, then you need to believe you will roll a 4. Just picture in your mind what it looks like to roll a four, then thank God for helping you roll a four." He did, and yes, he rolled a 4. In fact, he prayed a lot during our game today, and I think there was only two or three instances (out of many!) where he didn't roll what he prayed for. I know God was teaching me something during our game as much as he was teaching Bennett something. I've been pondering and praying a lot lately about the way we think and believe and how it affects what happens, and I know this was a moment God was seizing to show me faith in action in a very practical, visible way. What was particularly sweet is when Bennett beat me and said, in his most enthusiastic and consolatory voice, "You got second place!!! That's great, Mom!" (Note: When he got second place in the next game, he wasn't initially quite as enthusiastic about that. But after a good talk about being gracious with wins and losses, his tone instantly changed and he said, "I like second place, Mom!")
- This afternoon he was playing Star Wars with his brother and cousin, Andrew. He was swinging at them with a light saber saying, "I am using the forest, I'm using the forest!" Yes, he meant "force".
Being a mother can be a difficult job. But the rewards of being home with my boys, watching them grow, mature, develop into young men who love God and love other people by far outnumbers the challenges of this journey. I am so glad God gave me boys who keep me entertained along the way.
Friday, January 21, 2011
ta ta...looks like rain
I love this photo of Bennett. I took it a few weeks ago on the golf course. Paul and Anderson were finishing up their hole when it started to rain. Bennett was holding the umbrella and keeping himself entertained while he waited for his dad and brother.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
my anderson
I know I post a lot about Bennett. Having a four-year-old in the family means that there are a thousand laughs a week which translates into a thousand quotes a week which I could post on our blog. Four year olds are just cute, funny, inquisitive, simple yet profound. Easy material for a blog, for sure. I only wish I had a blog when Anderson was four. I regret not writing down more of what he said and did then. Everyone told me to. I didn't listen.
But I wanted to dedicate a post to Anderson today. Anderson is twelve and in the sixth grade. Yes, that means he is a middle schooler. Most people have a knee-jerk reaction to the term "middle schooler" that is generally some form of a wince, but I have to say that we are truly enjoying parenting during this phase of development. Then again, I think Anderson may very well break the pre-teen mold.
Anderson is still very open to Paul and me. He hasn't pulled down the pre-teen partition between us that reads, "Parents just don't understand." Yes, he thinks he knows more than he used to, and he does. With years lived comes the opportunity to gain wisdom from your experiences. I told him recently that I do know that he is getting to the age where he thinks Paul and I may not know as much as he once thought we did, but the truth is we still have more wisdom than he does overall. I did tell him that sometimes he might be right and we might be wrong, and that Paul and I would always try to be open to hearing him out and would always be willing to concede when he was right. That being said, he needed to understand that we are more than likely right because we've "been there, done that, and bought the t-shirt". The thing is, Anderson really is a wise little (well, not-s0-little) boy, and he agreed with what I was telling him.
Anderson goes to sleep most nights listening to the Bible being read on CD. No, we don't make him do this. This is something he does on his own intiative. My mother-in-law gave us these CDs years ago, and whenever Paul and I were sick in the bed or had bad dreams, we would listen to the Bible being read aloud. Anderson took up the practice and has stuck with it. It is pretty amazing how much Scripture he can quote (with the dramatic emphasis and everything since he's heard it quite a bit!). I started reading a chapter of the Bible to Anderson every day when he was a newborn. It is really a blessing to see those seeds that were sown into his spirit bearing fruit in his life. (He LOVES to read, has a way with words, and has great reading retention....maybe that was from all the Bible reading as a baby? :) )
Anderson loves sports and grows more and more competitive with age! And bless his heart, he comes by that honestly. Tonight he was a little irritated that his dad beat him twice in air hockey, but most of the time he handles loss with grace and a determination to get back in the game and win. He loves football and has played quarterback for the last two seasons with the Copperheads (a local football league). This fall, he will likely play for his JV team at school, but we aren't exactly sure about this yet. He may opt to spend one more year in his rec league before playing with and against 9th graders!
In a few weeks, Anderson will begin playing on his middle school golf team. His dad will be his coach, which will be a really sweet experience for them to share. I know I am his mom but I know that Anderson has a God-given talent to play golf just like his daddy. We have played a couple of a times as a family this month, and he astounded me with how far and accurately he can hit a golf ball. He was hitting balls consistently over 200 yards on the fly (in other words, this doesn't include how far they roll after they land). I know he has "the goods" to be a great golfer one day, but football remains his true love at this point, so we'll see what the future holds. Of course, as his mom, I would LOVE for him to love golf--a far safer sport than football--but I trust God has a plan for Anderson, and who am I to interfere with whatever that may be? I am only here to help him discover that plan and follow it.
Every day that Anderson comes home from school, he says he's had a great day. He is happy! I know he'd rather be at home playing and hanging out with his family, but it is a blessing to parent a kid who is always pretty happy, joyful, at peace. He has mentioned to me a few times this year that he was stressed out by school work, taking on new projects and papers that he's never had to be as responsible for. The teachers are taking their hands off of them more and more (and ask us as parents to do nothing for these projects they assign, which I LOVE!), so Anderson was a bit intimidated, I could tell. But he came home today so proud of himself for finishing his paper, outlines, and visual aids at school ON HIS OWN! I'm proud of him, too.
Andersons excels at History and Reading (as I mentioned before). He watches The History Channel for fun. He teaches Paul and me American history all the time (I'm not exaggerating). He just has a knack for it and soaks it in like a sponge. He is so much like his granddaddy. He and Granddaddy are planning another trip this summer to visit more Civil War battlegrounds, and Anderson can't wait! We've told Anderson that we think he would make a good attorney because of his knowledge of history and his ability to soak up information that he reads. Of course, he'd make an honorable attorney, full of integrity, because that is the kind of person Anderson is.
Anderson did make his first (and hopefully only!) trip to the superintendent's office at school a few months ago. It's actually a great story that is too long for me to write tonight, but basically what happened is some eighth grade boys had been bullying the sixth grade boys in PE class. Anderson had told us this was going on, and we told him that he could do whatever was needed to defend himself. So, he did. :) I was proud of him, honestly. Anyway, I believe the kid who was bullying him ended up getting suspended from school. Anderson got off with a little "talking to". And that put an end to the bullying. So...mission accomplished.
Anderson is also keenly aware of feminine beauty now. He is well aware of the fact that God created him to be attracted to girls, but thankfully he doesn't find any girls at his school particularly appealing, so I'm hoping he remains that way for quite awhile.
I've heard for years that parents aren't supposed to be their child's friends but their parents. I understand and agree with what is intimated by this statement which is that you can't put a desire for your kids to like you above doing what is right for them. But the truth is, I am so glad that I am able to be Anderson's friend--that we can talk about ANYTHING (I blush regularly these days), that he chooses to spend time with us and gets excited about family outings, that we can play games against each other and compete and it's a fair competition (I can still beat him wrestling, but he's getting stronger every day). But Anderson entirely understands that I am first and foremost his mother, and I have no qualms about making decisions that he isn't happy with if I believe it is what is best. And he really does trust me when I do make those decisions. He knows I am always looking out for my baby boy. And no matter how old he is, that is what he is--my baby.
As I said before, I know that Anderson is my child, and I am biased. But the truth is, he is an exceptional human being. He came into this world with a peace and joy, and he hasn't let the world steal it from him. He is amazingly self-assured for an adolescent, and He very much loves the God we introduced him to and He is getting to know more and more all the time. He has a strong sense of right and wrong, amazing integrity, and I have called him a compulsive truth-teller for years. (When I picked him up from school the other day, I could tell that he was feeling guilty about something. I asked him what was wrong, and he said, "Mrs. Hamo asked us who finished our reading assignment last night, so I stood up to indicate that I did, and then I realized I hadn't read the last half-page, but I was afraid to sit down because then I thought she might think I lied on purpose." He was really bothered by his mistake, and I told him it wasn't intentional, so he didn't need to worry about it since he was reading that half of a page that evening.) I don't know how many adults say their admire their children, but I sure admire mine.
Okay, so I have bragged long enough. That wasn't my intention, honestly, when I sat down to write about Anderson. But of course, I can't help myself. I love that kid. I think he's mighty fine, and I am more than proud to be his mama.
And since I know that mostly family (and friends who are like family) reads this blog, I am grateful that they won't be offended by my going on and on about my kid.
But I wanted to dedicate a post to Anderson today. Anderson is twelve and in the sixth grade. Yes, that means he is a middle schooler. Most people have a knee-jerk reaction to the term "middle schooler" that is generally some form of a wince, but I have to say that we are truly enjoying parenting during this phase of development. Then again, I think Anderson may very well break the pre-teen mold.
Anderson is still very open to Paul and me. He hasn't pulled down the pre-teen partition between us that reads, "Parents just don't understand." Yes, he thinks he knows more than he used to, and he does. With years lived comes the opportunity to gain wisdom from your experiences. I told him recently that I do know that he is getting to the age where he thinks Paul and I may not know as much as he once thought we did, but the truth is we still have more wisdom than he does overall. I did tell him that sometimes he might be right and we might be wrong, and that Paul and I would always try to be open to hearing him out and would always be willing to concede when he was right. That being said, he needed to understand that we are more than likely right because we've "been there, done that, and bought the t-shirt". The thing is, Anderson really is a wise little (well, not-s0-little) boy, and he agreed with what I was telling him.
Anderson goes to sleep most nights listening to the Bible being read on CD. No, we don't make him do this. This is something he does on his own intiative. My mother-in-law gave us these CDs years ago, and whenever Paul and I were sick in the bed or had bad dreams, we would listen to the Bible being read aloud. Anderson took up the practice and has stuck with it. It is pretty amazing how much Scripture he can quote (with the dramatic emphasis and everything since he's heard it quite a bit!). I started reading a chapter of the Bible to Anderson every day when he was a newborn. It is really a blessing to see those seeds that were sown into his spirit bearing fruit in his life. (He LOVES to read, has a way with words, and has great reading retention....maybe that was from all the Bible reading as a baby? :) )
Anderson loves sports and grows more and more competitive with age! And bless his heart, he comes by that honestly. Tonight he was a little irritated that his dad beat him twice in air hockey, but most of the time he handles loss with grace and a determination to get back in the game and win. He loves football and has played quarterback for the last two seasons with the Copperheads (a local football league). This fall, he will likely play for his JV team at school, but we aren't exactly sure about this yet. He may opt to spend one more year in his rec league before playing with and against 9th graders!
In a few weeks, Anderson will begin playing on his middle school golf team. His dad will be his coach, which will be a really sweet experience for them to share. I know I am his mom but I know that Anderson has a God-given talent to play golf just like his daddy. We have played a couple of a times as a family this month, and he astounded me with how far and accurately he can hit a golf ball. He was hitting balls consistently over 200 yards on the fly (in other words, this doesn't include how far they roll after they land). I know he has "the goods" to be a great golfer one day, but football remains his true love at this point, so we'll see what the future holds. Of course, as his mom, I would LOVE for him to love golf--a far safer sport than football--but I trust God has a plan for Anderson, and who am I to interfere with whatever that may be? I am only here to help him discover that plan and follow it.
Every day that Anderson comes home from school, he says he's had a great day. He is happy! I know he'd rather be at home playing and hanging out with his family, but it is a blessing to parent a kid who is always pretty happy, joyful, at peace. He has mentioned to me a few times this year that he was stressed out by school work, taking on new projects and papers that he's never had to be as responsible for. The teachers are taking their hands off of them more and more (and ask us as parents to do nothing for these projects they assign, which I LOVE!), so Anderson was a bit intimidated, I could tell. But he came home today so proud of himself for finishing his paper, outlines, and visual aids at school ON HIS OWN! I'm proud of him, too.
Andersons excels at History and Reading (as I mentioned before). He watches The History Channel for fun. He teaches Paul and me American history all the time (I'm not exaggerating). He just has a knack for it and soaks it in like a sponge. He is so much like his granddaddy. He and Granddaddy are planning another trip this summer to visit more Civil War battlegrounds, and Anderson can't wait! We've told Anderson that we think he would make a good attorney because of his knowledge of history and his ability to soak up information that he reads. Of course, he'd make an honorable attorney, full of integrity, because that is the kind of person Anderson is.
Anderson did make his first (and hopefully only!) trip to the superintendent's office at school a few months ago. It's actually a great story that is too long for me to write tonight, but basically what happened is some eighth grade boys had been bullying the sixth grade boys in PE class. Anderson had told us this was going on, and we told him that he could do whatever was needed to defend himself. So, he did. :) I was proud of him, honestly. Anyway, I believe the kid who was bullying him ended up getting suspended from school. Anderson got off with a little "talking to". And that put an end to the bullying. So...mission accomplished.
Anderson is also keenly aware of feminine beauty now. He is well aware of the fact that God created him to be attracted to girls, but thankfully he doesn't find any girls at his school particularly appealing, so I'm hoping he remains that way for quite awhile.
I've heard for years that parents aren't supposed to be their child's friends but their parents. I understand and agree with what is intimated by this statement which is that you can't put a desire for your kids to like you above doing what is right for them. But the truth is, I am so glad that I am able to be Anderson's friend--that we can talk about ANYTHING (I blush regularly these days), that he chooses to spend time with us and gets excited about family outings, that we can play games against each other and compete and it's a fair competition (I can still beat him wrestling, but he's getting stronger every day). But Anderson entirely understands that I am first and foremost his mother, and I have no qualms about making decisions that he isn't happy with if I believe it is what is best. And he really does trust me when I do make those decisions. He knows I am always looking out for my baby boy. And no matter how old he is, that is what he is--my baby.
As I said before, I know that Anderson is my child, and I am biased. But the truth is, he is an exceptional human being. He came into this world with a peace and joy, and he hasn't let the world steal it from him. He is amazingly self-assured for an adolescent, and He very much loves the God we introduced him to and He is getting to know more and more all the time. He has a strong sense of right and wrong, amazing integrity, and I have called him a compulsive truth-teller for years. (When I picked him up from school the other day, I could tell that he was feeling guilty about something. I asked him what was wrong, and he said, "Mrs. Hamo asked us who finished our reading assignment last night, so I stood up to indicate that I did, and then I realized I hadn't read the last half-page, but I was afraid to sit down because then I thought she might think I lied on purpose." He was really bothered by his mistake, and I told him it wasn't intentional, so he didn't need to worry about it since he was reading that half of a page that evening.) I don't know how many adults say their admire their children, but I sure admire mine.
Okay, so I have bragged long enough. That wasn't my intention, honestly, when I sat down to write about Anderson. But of course, I can't help myself. I love that kid. I think he's mighty fine, and I am more than proud to be his mama.
And since I know that mostly family (and friends who are like family) reads this blog, I am grateful that they won't be offended by my going on and on about my kid.
Friday, January 7, 2011
more random bennett quotes
I wish I had a tape recorder that I could carry around with me so that I could record conversations with Bennett. Here are a few from the last few days...
Anderson was going to spend the night with his grandparents, so I asked Bennett if he wanted to go also. He typically prefers to be at home with Paul and me, but this time he responds, "Are you and Dad going to go on a date?"
"No, we're not. Anderson just wants to spend the night," I informed him.
"Why don't you and Dad go on a date?" he asks.
"Awwww, that is sweet, Bennett." He wants us to go on a date because sometimes my parents babysit the boys when we are out late.
"Yeah, I want you to leave and go out on a date. Okay? Now tell me to be a nice boy. And if any of my cousins does anything mean to me I will tell the boss, okay? But, who is the boss?"
"Granny and Granddaddy are the boss."
"Okay. Mom, are you going to kiss on your date?"
I smiled and said, "Yes."
He said, "Okay, but Mom, don't wear that lipstick because that is going to get on Dad. Just wipe it off and I will say to you, 'That looks perfect.'"
"Okay, Bennett, I'll keep that in mind. Do you need me to get your pajamas for you?"
"No, I can get my pajamas, 'cause I'm the greatest guy." He says this with a wink and a finger point. I kid you not.
__________________________________________________________________
"Mom, you are twenty-twelve pounds." (I know I gained a few pounds over Christmas, but 2012?)
___________________________________________________________________
Bennett went to school with me on Friday while I coached the cheerleaders. He always takes a bookbag with him filled with toys and games to keep him entertained. Almost every time we leave practice, he is in his imaginary world where he is an actual student at CCS and not a visitor. Our conversation as we drove home went like this:
"Thanks for driving me home from school, Mom."
"You're welcome, sweetie. Did you have a good day?"
"No, a bully got me."
"A bully got you? What did he do?"
"His name was Jack, I think. He was mean to me, but Andrew, my cousin, saved me. I yelled, "A bully is after me", and Andrew came and saved me. And so did Anderson. They got the bully away from me."
"Well, I am glad that they saved you."
"I have homework."
"You do?"
"Yes, just grammar and Bible, but it is really, really hard."
"Well I'm sure you'll do great at it."
"Yeah, but I failed the test."
"Well, I'm sure you'll do great on the next one."
"Yeah, are you going to take me to football practice?"
___________________________________________________________________
Can you tell the kid has an older brother? He is four going on thirteen.
Anderson was going to spend the night with his grandparents, so I asked Bennett if he wanted to go also. He typically prefers to be at home with Paul and me, but this time he responds, "Are you and Dad going to go on a date?"
"No, we're not. Anderson just wants to spend the night," I informed him.
"Why don't you and Dad go on a date?" he asks.
"Awwww, that is sweet, Bennett." He wants us to go on a date because sometimes my parents babysit the boys when we are out late.
"Yeah, I want you to leave and go out on a date. Okay? Now tell me to be a nice boy. And if any of my cousins does anything mean to me I will tell the boss, okay? But, who is the boss?"
"Granny and Granddaddy are the boss."
"Okay. Mom, are you going to kiss on your date?"
I smiled and said, "Yes."
He said, "Okay, but Mom, don't wear that lipstick because that is going to get on Dad. Just wipe it off and I will say to you, 'That looks perfect.'"
"Okay, Bennett, I'll keep that in mind. Do you need me to get your pajamas for you?"
"No, I can get my pajamas, 'cause I'm the greatest guy." He says this with a wink and a finger point. I kid you not.
__________________________________________________________________
"Mom, you are twenty-twelve pounds." (I know I gained a few pounds over Christmas, but 2012?)
___________________________________________________________________
Bennett went to school with me on Friday while I coached the cheerleaders. He always takes a bookbag with him filled with toys and games to keep him entertained. Almost every time we leave practice, he is in his imaginary world where he is an actual student at CCS and not a visitor. Our conversation as we drove home went like this:
"Thanks for driving me home from school, Mom."
"You're welcome, sweetie. Did you have a good day?"
"No, a bully got me."
"A bully got you? What did he do?"
"His name was Jack, I think. He was mean to me, but Andrew, my cousin, saved me. I yelled, "A bully is after me", and Andrew came and saved me. And so did Anderson. They got the bully away from me."
"Well, I am glad that they saved you."
"I have homework."
"You do?"
"Yes, just grammar and Bible, but it is really, really hard."
"Well I'm sure you'll do great at it."
"Yeah, but I failed the test."
"Well, I'm sure you'll do great on the next one."
"Yeah, are you going to take me to football practice?"
___________________________________________________________________
Can you tell the kid has an older brother? He is four going on thirteen.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."
Charles Dickens. I love his writings, A Christmas Carol being my favorite book that he penned. (Shocker, right?) He wrote, "I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." I was thinking of this statement this morning and I began to mourn the end of the Christmas season. I know that I should take advantage of the down time and rid my house of all of my beautiful Christmas decorations, but I just can't. I want to hold onto it for a little while longer.
As much as I would like to have frozen time on December 25th to savour every moment of that day, the reality is that Christmas has come and gone, and there will be 360 more days until it reappears. There is no stopping time. And as a mother who is now 36, I can tell you that I long to stop it on a regular basis--to pause on a special moment, to marvel at my kids at a certain stage just a moment longer, to hold their hands tightly while they let me, to snuggle them in bed while they will still visit me there, and to keep the wrinkles from multiplying and body parts from sagging. Sometimes I think time is an enemy, a thief.
I am powerless to stop time, of that I am certain. None of us can. Only God has that power, and He chooses to allow it to move on in this realm, though I believe there is no concept of time in Heaven. There is one passage in the Bible where He did stop the sun for almost an entire day for a battle because Joshua had prayed for him to do so. So, I guess there has been a moment in our history where time did stop. Hmmm.....that has me thinking.....maybe I should pray about this. :)
Anyway, on to the point of this blog. We had a wonderful Christmas. As is our tradition, we spent Christmas Eve at Aunt Bonnie's with the Bailey clan, and though the absence of Granny and Granddaddy always brings a tinge of sadness, we are always happy to be together. Christmas Eve, my family came over to open gifts and eat together. Christmas morning, the boys opened their gifts from Santa and since Anderson got a new airplane, we went over to my parents' house Christmas morning to fly it and eat breakfast with everyone there. That afternoon, we left for Greensboro and spent the evening with the Brewers. And today, five days later, I thought about this: the constant staples of these gatherings is always three things-- the presence of our God, the love of our families, the joy of the season.
And I guess really what I miss most about Christmas is just that: the presence (not the presents, though they are FUN), the love, and the joy. And what I thought about today when I remembered the Dickens quote was this: That presence, that love, and that joy are constant in my life. Sure, there is something magical about December for me. It always has been and always will be. But the things I love most about Christmas I carry throughout the whole year.
So, I DO honor Christmas in my heart, and I DO keep it all the year. And since time never stops, I will look forward to the time when the season arrives once again.
As much as I would like to have frozen time on December 25th to savour every moment of that day, the reality is that Christmas has come and gone, and there will be 360 more days until it reappears. There is no stopping time. And as a mother who is now 36, I can tell you that I long to stop it on a regular basis--to pause on a special moment, to marvel at my kids at a certain stage just a moment longer, to hold their hands tightly while they let me, to snuggle them in bed while they will still visit me there, and to keep the wrinkles from multiplying and body parts from sagging. Sometimes I think time is an enemy, a thief.
I am powerless to stop time, of that I am certain. None of us can. Only God has that power, and He chooses to allow it to move on in this realm, though I believe there is no concept of time in Heaven. There is one passage in the Bible where He did stop the sun for almost an entire day for a battle because Joshua had prayed for him to do so. So, I guess there has been a moment in our history where time did stop. Hmmm.....that has me thinking.....maybe I should pray about this. :)
Anyway, on to the point of this blog. We had a wonderful Christmas. As is our tradition, we spent Christmas Eve at Aunt Bonnie's with the Bailey clan, and though the absence of Granny and Granddaddy always brings a tinge of sadness, we are always happy to be together. Christmas Eve, my family came over to open gifts and eat together. Christmas morning, the boys opened their gifts from Santa and since Anderson got a new airplane, we went over to my parents' house Christmas morning to fly it and eat breakfast with everyone there. That afternoon, we left for Greensboro and spent the evening with the Brewers. And today, five days later, I thought about this: the constant staples of these gatherings is always three things-- the presence of our God, the love of our families, the joy of the season.
And I guess really what I miss most about Christmas is just that: the presence (not the presents, though they are FUN), the love, and the joy. And what I thought about today when I remembered the Dickens quote was this: That presence, that love, and that joy are constant in my life. Sure, there is something magical about December for me. It always has been and always will be. But the things I love most about Christmas I carry throughout the whole year.
So, I DO honor Christmas in my heart, and I DO keep it all the year. And since time never stops, I will look forward to the time when the season arrives once again.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
i was dreaming of a white christmas...
...and I got one! Raleigh has not had an accumulation of snow on Christmas day since 1946, two years before my dad was even born. I'm not sure that we technically broke that record this year because it didn't start snowing in Raleigh until around 11 pm on Christmas night, but we were in Greensboro where it had been snowing since 1 pm, so we had our very first white Christmas!
The morning of the 26th, Paul, Bennett and I loaded up the van with five sleds and Jordan, Candice, Ava Michelle, and her friend, Abe, and headed over to the golf course at Starmount. We met Elisabeth, Ryan, Molly and Myles on #4 for some sledding. (Anderson was sledding with his older cousins over in their neighborhood, and Miller, Elisabeth's baby, was with his grandparents.)
The snow was perfect. About 4-6 inches of thick powder, perfect for snowball and snowman making and for plastic sleds on grassy slopes. We had so much fun! And I had fun taking lots of photographs with my new camera. Here are a few...
Elisabeth launching at the top of the hill.
Myles and Bennett--best cousins and friends--near the end of their ride.
Paul and Bennett having fun.
Best buddies.
Bennett LOVES the snow!
The morning of the 26th, Paul, Bennett and I loaded up the van with five sleds and Jordan, Candice, Ava Michelle, and her friend, Abe, and headed over to the golf course at Starmount. We met Elisabeth, Ryan, Molly and Myles on #4 for some sledding. (Anderson was sledding with his older cousins over in their neighborhood, and Miller, Elisabeth's baby, was with his grandparents.)
The snow was perfect. About 4-6 inches of thick powder, perfect for snowball and snowman making and for plastic sleds on grassy slopes. We had so much fun! And I had fun taking lots of photographs with my new camera. Here are a few...
Elisabeth launching at the top of the hill.
Myles and Bennett--best cousins and friends--near the end of their ride.
Paul and Bennett having fun.
Best buddies.
Bennett LOVES the snow!
Monday, December 13, 2010
monday's funnies
Bennett has said two things in the last ten minutes to his brother that I just had to write down so I wouldn't forget.
1. He and his brother were teasing each other about girls. Anderson says to Bennett, "You have a singing girlfriend." (He was talking about Selena Gomez.) Bennett gets very upset and says, "No my don't!" I overhear the argument, so I tell Bennett to go to his room and get his pajamas on to separate them since Anderson was headed to his room to do the same. On the way to his room, Bennett stops by the playroom where I was sitting and says, "Mom, my have to tell you something." He continues in an angry, frustrated voice. "Bubba says my have a singing girlfriend and my don't! My dating Cole!"
Okay, how in the world he knows about "dating" is still a mystery. He may be four but he can talk like he's a twelve. I'm sure that has a lot to do with having a twelve-year-old brother.
Oh, and for the record, Cole is a girl (Rachel "Cole"), and she is my niece. That makes her his cousin. First cousin. Yep, but it's okay. We live in the South. :)
2. Anderson and Bennett, clearly chockful of testosterone tonight, were just wrestling in the playroom. What Bennett lacks in size and strength he makes up for in tenacity and determination and fiestiness. All of a sudden, he is hanging onto his brother's neck and back for dear life and saying in the loudest, meanest, most intimidating voice he can muster, "Who's the strongest? Who's the strongest?" He honestly thought he was stronger. In fact, he keeps asking me tonight, "Mom, who's the strongest: Me or Bubba?" He doesn't like the answer, so he then responds, "Nope. Nobody's strong. Only me." Delusion is a powerful thing.
1. He and his brother were teasing each other about girls. Anderson says to Bennett, "You have a singing girlfriend." (He was talking about Selena Gomez.) Bennett gets very upset and says, "No my don't!" I overhear the argument, so I tell Bennett to go to his room and get his pajamas on to separate them since Anderson was headed to his room to do the same. On the way to his room, Bennett stops by the playroom where I was sitting and says, "Mom, my have to tell you something." He continues in an angry, frustrated voice. "Bubba says my have a singing girlfriend and my don't! My dating Cole!"
Okay, how in the world he knows about "dating" is still a mystery. He may be four but he can talk like he's a twelve. I'm sure that has a lot to do with having a twelve-year-old brother.
Oh, and for the record, Cole is a girl (Rachel "Cole"), and she is my niece. That makes her his cousin. First cousin. Yep, but it's okay. We live in the South. :)
2. Anderson and Bennett, clearly chockful of testosterone tonight, were just wrestling in the playroom. What Bennett lacks in size and strength he makes up for in tenacity and determination and fiestiness. All of a sudden, he is hanging onto his brother's neck and back for dear life and saying in the loudest, meanest, most intimidating voice he can muster, "Who's the strongest? Who's the strongest?" He honestly thought he was stronger. In fact, he keeps asking me tonight, "Mom, who's the strongest: Me or Bubba?" He doesn't like the answer, so he then responds, "Nope. Nobody's strong. Only me." Delusion is a powerful thing.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
God's goodness & golf
God's goodness and golf--such a strange blog post title, I know. How in the world will I connect the goodness of God with the game of golf? Well, here you go...
Last night, Paul and I went to his end-of-the-year party for his golf course and its sister courses. I have to admit that I wasn't terribly excited about a golf Christmas party that was comprised primarily of golfers that I do not know. But as it turns out, my second cousin and his wife were there because--unbeknownst to me--they are members at a sister course, so I ended up knowing two more people than I expected to at the party. But I'll get to that part of the story momentarily.
One of the reasons we wanted to go to this party was because they were having a reverse raffle (still not sure exactly what that is?), and the grand prize was $3000 that could be used toward anything at the golf club--including monthly fees, golf clubs, etc. The winner would have more than a year of golf paid in full for his or her entire family. It was a prize that I admit I had prayed for from time to time whenever Paul mentioned it. You see, only people who had won tournaments during the year would be qualified to participate in the raffle. Paul had only played in three tournaments this year (probably because I requested that he not play as much golf this year, so he honored me in that). But of the three tournaments, I think he placed first or second in all of them, so his name was put into the drawing six times. There were 135 drawings, so his chances were probably better than anyone's that he would win some kind of a prize, though of the 135 drawings, there were only 36 prizes, so four of the times that Paul's name was drawn, there was no prize. But by the twentieth drawing, every person whose name was drawn received a prize. And at this point, Paul's name was in there not once but twice.
Paul looks at me when drawing #20 was up and said, "How cool would it be if I won the grand prize and the second prize?" We both laughed, and I agreed that such an event--though highly unlikely--would be such a blessing. Because of the economy, we had discussed downgrading our membership next year which would restrict when we could play but would allow us to pay a lower fee each month.
The drawings continued until the 10th prize drawing, at which point we paused and moved into the auditorium to have a business-type meeting and would then close the night with the final drawings. As we began our exit from the banquet room, my cousin says, "My name is still in the drawing."
"Yeah, I saw that, and so is Paul's name. His is in there twice. I think you two should take the top three prizes."
We both laughed and he agreed that this would be ideal. Of course, I'm sure he had his eye on the grand prize, too!
After a very long business meeting (where I passed the time trying to figure out how to use Paul's cell phone and accidentally called a few folks), the drawings commenced.
They called name #10--not Paul's. Every time they drew a name, I prayed, "Not Paul's name. Not Paul's name." They called #9, #8, #7.....all the way to #5, and still--Paul's name had not been called. Things were looking really good for him and for my cousin, whose name had not been called either. But Paul's chances were twice as good as my cousin's for winning the grand prize.
They called #4, and neither Paul nor my cousin's name was called. That meant that the top three prizes were going to my cousin and to Paul. I was elated.
And then they said it--#3, "Gary Norris". Paul looked stunned. Then slowly, his hands went up in the air in sheer astonishment. He had won both the first and second place prizes. He had won $3,000 to use at the golf course and unlimited tournament entry fees (a prize probably valued at well over $1000). This astonishing win means two things: Paul will not be paying the golf course a dime for anthing for at least a year. And it means that if I want to see my husband in 2011, I better take up golf.
I can't tell you how grateful we felt when we realized what Paul had won. It was amazing. The odds of this happening were well under 1% from a statistical point of view. But with God, statistics mean nothing. He can do anything. And he did. He just gave my husband a desire of his heart--more golf FOR FREE. Paul said to me on the drive home that I could use some of the money we will save to go shopping. Of course, that made me so happy, but truthfully--just seeing the joy on my husband's face was enough. At least for now it is. :)
I stand amazed at God's goodness to us, in every area of our lives. If it all went south tomorrow, God would still be good. That will never change.
But I have to share this--just a few months ago, a local municipality tried to charge us an ungodly amount of money to do some road improvements where we own a business. It wasn't right nor was it fair. Needless to say, we did a lot of praying and asking God to intervene. And he did. We still have to pay more than we should, but they reduced the original charge 75%. But ever since that ordeal, we have seen the hand of God reach down to bless us financially time and time again, providing ways for us to earn more. It was as if He was saying to us, "Don't worry. I've got you. I will take care of you." And Paul's winning those raffles last night was just another reminder that He holds us, He cares for us, and He will not only take care of us but will bless us with heart's desires. What a good God He is.
So if you don't see me much in 2011, you can probably find me on the golf course with my husband and sons. And it won't be costing us a dime. Thank you, Jesus.
Last night, Paul and I went to his end-of-the-year party for his golf course and its sister courses. I have to admit that I wasn't terribly excited about a golf Christmas party that was comprised primarily of golfers that I do not know. But as it turns out, my second cousin and his wife were there because--unbeknownst to me--they are members at a sister course, so I ended up knowing two more people than I expected to at the party. But I'll get to that part of the story momentarily.
One of the reasons we wanted to go to this party was because they were having a reverse raffle (still not sure exactly what that is?), and the grand prize was $3000 that could be used toward anything at the golf club--including monthly fees, golf clubs, etc. The winner would have more than a year of golf paid in full for his or her entire family. It was a prize that I admit I had prayed for from time to time whenever Paul mentioned it. You see, only people who had won tournaments during the year would be qualified to participate in the raffle. Paul had only played in three tournaments this year (probably because I requested that he not play as much golf this year, so he honored me in that). But of the three tournaments, I think he placed first or second in all of them, so his name was put into the drawing six times. There were 135 drawings, so his chances were probably better than anyone's that he would win some kind of a prize, though of the 135 drawings, there were only 36 prizes, so four of the times that Paul's name was drawn, there was no prize. But by the twentieth drawing, every person whose name was drawn received a prize. And at this point, Paul's name was in there not once but twice.
Paul looks at me when drawing #20 was up and said, "How cool would it be if I won the grand prize and the second prize?" We both laughed, and I agreed that such an event--though highly unlikely--would be such a blessing. Because of the economy, we had discussed downgrading our membership next year which would restrict when we could play but would allow us to pay a lower fee each month.
The drawings continued until the 10th prize drawing, at which point we paused and moved into the auditorium to have a business-type meeting and would then close the night with the final drawings. As we began our exit from the banquet room, my cousin says, "My name is still in the drawing."
"Yeah, I saw that, and so is Paul's name. His is in there twice. I think you two should take the top three prizes."
We both laughed and he agreed that this would be ideal. Of course, I'm sure he had his eye on the grand prize, too!
After a very long business meeting (where I passed the time trying to figure out how to use Paul's cell phone and accidentally called a few folks), the drawings commenced.
They called name #10--not Paul's. Every time they drew a name, I prayed, "Not Paul's name. Not Paul's name." They called #9, #8, #7.....all the way to #5, and still--Paul's name had not been called. Things were looking really good for him and for my cousin, whose name had not been called either. But Paul's chances were twice as good as my cousin's for winning the grand prize.
They called #4, and neither Paul nor my cousin's name was called. That meant that the top three prizes were going to my cousin and to Paul. I was elated.
And then they said it--#3, "Gary Norris". Paul looked stunned. Then slowly, his hands went up in the air in sheer astonishment. He had won both the first and second place prizes. He had won $3,000 to use at the golf course and unlimited tournament entry fees (a prize probably valued at well over $1000). This astonishing win means two things: Paul will not be paying the golf course a dime for anthing for at least a year. And it means that if I want to see my husband in 2011, I better take up golf.
I can't tell you how grateful we felt when we realized what Paul had won. It was amazing. The odds of this happening were well under 1% from a statistical point of view. But with God, statistics mean nothing. He can do anything. And he did. He just gave my husband a desire of his heart--more golf FOR FREE. Paul said to me on the drive home that I could use some of the money we will save to go shopping. Of course, that made me so happy, but truthfully--just seeing the joy on my husband's face was enough. At least for now it is. :)
I stand amazed at God's goodness to us, in every area of our lives. If it all went south tomorrow, God would still be good. That will never change.
But I have to share this--just a few months ago, a local municipality tried to charge us an ungodly amount of money to do some road improvements where we own a business. It wasn't right nor was it fair. Needless to say, we did a lot of praying and asking God to intervene. And he did. We still have to pay more than we should, but they reduced the original charge 75%. But ever since that ordeal, we have seen the hand of God reach down to bless us financially time and time again, providing ways for us to earn more. It was as if He was saying to us, "Don't worry. I've got you. I will take care of you." And Paul's winning those raffles last night was just another reminder that He holds us, He cares for us, and He will not only take care of us but will bless us with heart's desires. What a good God He is.
So if you don't see me much in 2011, you can probably find me on the golf course with my husband and sons. And it won't be costing us a dime. Thank you, Jesus.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
can't find the right word exactly
My boys and their words.....they can be so funny. Or not.
This week, out of the blue, I am working on Christmas cards when Bennett enters the room and says, "You're sexy", followed by a slew of giggles.
My first reaction--shock. My second--I want to laugh. Third--I try to get it together so I can address the fact that sexy is a word no four-year old should use, or even know for that matter.
"Excuse me, son? You don't use that word. That is a grown-up word, and you do not even know what that means."
"My gonna be a woman and be sexy." The laughing is now uncontrollable.
My voice gets louder, "Bennett, you are NOT to use a word that you do not understand what it means. That is a grown up word. Don't say that again."
Well, if you know Bennett, you know that he did say it again. If you know me, you know he was disciplined for it.
I know the moment something becomes forbidden, its appeal skyrockets. I kept thinking about this as I gave Bennett strict instructions not to use it. I wondered, "What can I get him to say instead?" I couldn't think of a word then, and I still can't. It seems the ONLY words that make him giggle are potty words.
Like the other day, for example. He was watching the San Diego Chargers game, and they were blowing the game. All of a sudden, out of the blue, Bennett says, "They suck!"
"Excuse me? No sir, we do not use that word. You can say, 'They stink'."
Bennett begins to laugh heartily. "They suck."
"Okay, I am going to have to discipline you," I assure him.
"No, no, no, Mom.....NO!!!!!" And the protesting begins.
To be honest, the hardest part about disciplining Bennett is that I am trying so hard not to laugh (as is Paul, who is worse than I am in trying to hold it together when the boys say something inappropriate). I think this week alone Paul and I have held our breaths on three different occasions to keep from laughing. And Bennett is so onto us. He can just feel when we want to laugh, which only encourages him to keep at it to see how long it takes either of us to lose our composure.
I don't remember Anderson having a so-called potty mouth, which makes sense because Anderson is so much like his dad (who also doesn't have a potty mouth). And Bennett is so much like.......me. Yep, makes perfect sense.
But I did ask Anderson, after the "sexy" incident, where Bennett learned that word. After all, one of the few challenges I have found from having children almost 8 years apart is that the younger one always learns things before the first child did, and often they are things they are not ready to learn just yet. Anyway, Anderson said, "He learned it from Shrek, Mom. You know, at the end of the movie where they have 'Far, Far Away Idol'? They sing that song (he starts singing), "I'm too sexy for my shirt, too sexy for my shirt, so sexy it hurts. I'm immortal, you know what I mean."
"Wait, Anderson. What did you just sing? I'm immortal?"
He smiles, "That's not the right word, is it?"
"No, honey. It's 'I'm a model.'"
We both laughed hysterically. And this time, I didn't have to try to hold my breath.
This week, out of the blue, I am working on Christmas cards when Bennett enters the room and says, "You're sexy", followed by a slew of giggles.
My first reaction--shock. My second--I want to laugh. Third--I try to get it together so I can address the fact that sexy is a word no four-year old should use, or even know for that matter.
"Excuse me, son? You don't use that word. That is a grown-up word, and you do not even know what that means."
"My gonna be a woman and be sexy." The laughing is now uncontrollable.
My voice gets louder, "Bennett, you are NOT to use a word that you do not understand what it means. That is a grown up word. Don't say that again."
Well, if you know Bennett, you know that he did say it again. If you know me, you know he was disciplined for it.
I know the moment something becomes forbidden, its appeal skyrockets. I kept thinking about this as I gave Bennett strict instructions not to use it. I wondered, "What can I get him to say instead?" I couldn't think of a word then, and I still can't. It seems the ONLY words that make him giggle are potty words.
Like the other day, for example. He was watching the San Diego Chargers game, and they were blowing the game. All of a sudden, out of the blue, Bennett says, "They suck!"
"Excuse me? No sir, we do not use that word. You can say, 'They stink'."
Bennett begins to laugh heartily. "They suck."
"Okay, I am going to have to discipline you," I assure him.
"No, no, no, Mom.....NO!!!!!" And the protesting begins.
To be honest, the hardest part about disciplining Bennett is that I am trying so hard not to laugh (as is Paul, who is worse than I am in trying to hold it together when the boys say something inappropriate). I think this week alone Paul and I have held our breaths on three different occasions to keep from laughing. And Bennett is so onto us. He can just feel when we want to laugh, which only encourages him to keep at it to see how long it takes either of us to lose our composure.
I don't remember Anderson having a so-called potty mouth, which makes sense because Anderson is so much like his dad (who also doesn't have a potty mouth). And Bennett is so much like.......me. Yep, makes perfect sense.
But I did ask Anderson, after the "sexy" incident, where Bennett learned that word. After all, one of the few challenges I have found from having children almost 8 years apart is that the younger one always learns things before the first child did, and often they are things they are not ready to learn just yet. Anyway, Anderson said, "He learned it from Shrek, Mom. You know, at the end of the movie where they have 'Far, Far Away Idol'? They sing that song (he starts singing), "I'm too sexy for my shirt, too sexy for my shirt, so sexy it hurts. I'm immortal, you know what I mean."
"Wait, Anderson. What did you just sing? I'm immortal?"
He smiles, "That's not the right word, is it?"
"No, honey. It's 'I'm a model.'"
We both laughed hysterically. And this time, I didn't have to try to hold my breath.
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