Broken Legos

The following took place last evening. I wish it would have been videoed so I could show facial expressions and get all the wording just right.

I was down stairs last night when Jeremy was getting ready to read to the boys and tuck them into bed. I realized that the conversation taking place in the room above me was one of frustration. I could Jeremy and Isaiah were not happy with Nathan for some reason.

I thought about staying out of it. Jeremy can handle things just fine without me, but my curiosity got the better of me and I ventured upstairs to see what was going on.

Somehow some of Isaiah's Lego pieces, flag poles, were broken. Lego's aren't supposed to break, but Nathan had managed to break about 3 of them. Nathan seems to have short term memory loss when things like this happen. The best we can figure out is that he was swinging Rufus around and possibly hitting the Legos. Isaiah was devastated. The average person, including his mother, wouldn't know this, but he claims they don't sell that set any more so there is no way for him to replace those pieces. This is a tragedy.

I tried hard to explain to Nathan how sad Isaiah was feeling. I asked him how he would feel if someone broke Tiny's (a little stuffed puppy he got for Christmas) leg. He said he would be really sad! I think he even had tears in his eyes. When he was told to tell Isaiah he was sorry I believe his response was "I want someone else to do it". That didn't work.

Nathan gave Isaiah a hug and said he was sorry. Isaiah responded by saying he forgave him and cried the whole time. I wanted to cry for Isaiah.

Everyone was just kind of quiet and feeling sad. Nathan looked at me and said "When can I be happy again? Everyone is being mean." Then he started to get a silly look on his face but tried to make a serious face again. He would almost start laughing then he'd stop himself. He said "I'm trying to be sad". Then he'd almost giggle again.

It struck me funny because it reminded me of serious situations I've been in when you know you shouldn't laugh, but you want to so badly.

If you don't know Nate you may not find this funny, but it made me smile. Now, what to do about the broken Legos...

Snow Day

Jeremy helped the boys build this snow fort. They loved it.
I decided Callie needed to play in the snow too. It started well...

Then went downhill rather quickly

I tried

Back in Mommy's arms. Much better.

Something to Smile about

Things that make me smile:

• Cheesy Chicken Chowder for supper.
• Enough leftovers for tomorrow night's supper
• Callie is almost officially walking (this one also makes me just a little sad)
• She has also learned how to throw things into the diaper pail. In the last two days I've fished out headbands (that she doesn't like hmm..) Noah and a travel size container of Baby Magic baby lotion
• 5 lbs of cheese for $9.95
• Hershey's Dark Chocolate chips for $.99
• One bag of those chocolate chips exploded when it got caught in the conveyor belt at the checkout. I thought it was rather funny, the boys were a bit in shock.
• The fact that you can be married to the same guy for almost 7 years and still really really like him.
• Just deleted this point. Probably not meant for the "Diapers and other Wonders" part of this blog...
• Nate thanking God for the spicy stuff that helps him to not be sick: Ginger Ale
• Isaiah taking apart all his Lego sets so that he can "collect them". I believe the word he was looking for is organize. He's been stealing zip lock bags from my drawer. Jeremy came home tonight with some kind of organizer tray he got at work. Isaiah plans to use it for his Legos. Jeremy brought it home with that in mind -they are a lot alike.
• I smile at the fact that I have a son that is excited about an organizing tray (my parents are smiling now too)
• I will finally be meeting my two new nephews on March 1! Very excited to see the rest of my family too.
• God is still moving and changing hearts, even mine.
• Being able to tell Isaiah and Nathan today that the same God that sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions in Daniel's time is still taking care of us today.
• Pioneer Woman's Food Photos photography contest.
• I recently realized that one of my facebook friends isn't the person I thought she was. She's a friend, but not the friend I thought she was...
• Thankful I have stuff to smile about

I sat down to blog, but decided to just post pictures from our Christmas. I figured they were a bit overdue. I of course posted them all backwards. I was amused to see how the pictures per event dwindled as the holidays went on.

Our last event was Christmas with Jeremy's family on New Year's day. I think we took 2 pictures. :( Here is the best of the two -Isaiah and Lydia.

The Monday after Christmas we took my grandparents (my mom's parents) and visited Matt and Heather. The 3 oldest girls each played their Christmas recital pieces for us. They did great! Ellie "played" for us also. :)

Ellie -almost 3

Chloe -almost 6

Moriah -10

Angel -11

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with just our little family. Christmas Eve we went to a live nativity put on by a local church. I think this is the 3rd year we have gone. The boys love it. We then came home and had hot chocolate and all but Callie slept under the tree. For some reason I didn't take any pictures.

Christmas day evening we had a couple in from church. Overall it was a good Christmas, but I did miss my family. Here are some pictures...

We bought a doll this year!! No doll was harmed in the making of this picture.

My unsuccessful attempt to take at a traditional "in pj's in front of the tree" picture.

At the live nativity

Callie's response to the donkey's "talking". I thought they were very entertaining.

Christmas on my mom's side is never complete without Grandma's cookies. What an amazing lady.

Priorities

Nothing like a birthday and the start of a new year to get my mind rolling on priorities. Actually it's something I have been chewing on for a few months. Well maybe longer than a few months.

Here's the questions

• What are my priorities?
• What does my life say my priories are?

If you were to walk in this room right now and ask me what my priorities were I would probably quickly answer "My husband and my children". And then I would quickly add "And God, but that's a given". A "given". Now there is a fulfilling relationship for you. :(

I've recently been convicted that I say these are my priorities and they are, but my life and actions are often speaking something different.

Too often I know my actions are coming out of a heart that is worrying about what others (you!) think of me. For example (among many):

• If God was my top priority I should be seeking Him instead of seeking what you just posted on facebook; I would be preparing my heart to hear from Him on Sunday morning and hopefully teaching my children the same instead of trying to explain to them why they can not wear the jeans with holes in them and the stained shirt to church. "We don't dress like that when we go to church because we're going to meet with God and we give Him our best!" No, you don't dress like that because if you did the other mother's would think I wasn't organized enough to have better clothes ready for you. Also, since when do we just meet with God on Sunday and only then do we present our best...
• If Jeremy was my my highest priority next to God my "needs" would seem smaller. I may even try to learn to figure how how to understand and follow Lego directions! Now that is love!
• If my children (and husband and home) were next in line I would think of them and their needs before quickly volunteering to give my time to help someone outside of my home. Don't shoot me. I am all for helping others and reaching out and I enjoy doing it. However, I know I am guilty of quickly agreeing to do something because I know other's will see me do it and may even tell me I did a good job and (hopefully) be amazed at my ability to balance home, children AND ministry. Balancing all 3 is possible and I will continue to do it when and ONLY when I know the Holy Spirit is prompting me to do it. Have you even taken almost an entire day to prepare a meal to take to someone else -to bless them -while feeding your kids cheerios and telling them a zillion times to PLEASE FIND SOMETHING TO DO I'M BUSY! I would never do this, but I'm sure some people do...;) (note: I love taking food to people and will continue to do it, but I'm trying to learn to take a breath, look at a calender etc. before committing)

Maybe these seem like odd examples. They are just a few that came to mind while I typed this.

I've set a couple goals for this next year. I'm scared because I'm good at starting things and not finishing. However, I do think I am starting this year with a different heart as far as what and who needs my time and energy. Lord help me!