I just had the most interesting conversation with my 2 year old. Drew has been initiating many conversations about "God" and "Jesus" lately, often surprising me with his unprompted comments. During a recent breakfast, he talked about Grandpa Tice being in Heaven with Jesus. "But his body is in the grave, Mom?" I talked about it with him as I often have done since my Grandpa's funeral last December. I've been amazed at what an impression it all made on Drew, not even 2 years old then, and how he still brings it up.
Anyway, tonight while relaxing on my bed he said a lot of cute, funny things. I was talking to him and trying to read a magazine, and after he almost pounced on my tummy I said, "Careful! Don't hurt me!" He replied, "Well Jesus can fix it!"
Then he said, "I can't see God."
Me: "I know you can't see Him right now, but you can see him in Heaven someday. And you can talk to God. When you pray, you are talking to God." He listened intently to everything I said. Then I asked, "Would you like to talk to God? What would you like to say?"
Drew: "Yes, I will talk to Him. " Then-this cracked me up- "GOD! (almost yelling) WAKE UP!"
I tried not to laugh, he was so serious...but it was so funny! I explained that God never sleeps. Drew then told me that God "hears when babies cry" and "holds them when they take naps". That really got me misty-eyed; he said it so sincerely.
I love taking the time to listen to little children and wish I did it more!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Vacation in Branson
We arrived home this Sunday afternoon from a week of family fun in Branson. Thanks to my Grandma's generosity, Tom and I and children, and my parents and siblings, were able to stay in spacious condo units near Silver Dollar City. As the kids get older and have more commitments, and with some of us in school and work, finding time to ALL be together is getting hard! This worked out beautifully.
Various cousins, aunts, and other adorable relatives were able to join us for some festivities as well. We wore ourselves out at SDC, boating on the lake (in which none of us females were successful in getting up on the water skis), flea market shopping (Hey, us girls are bargain hunters! And when we went to Starbucks afterwards we discovered we were all using gift cards-it was pretty funny.), miniature golf, go-carts, tennis, and lots of swimming.
The downer was/is that Hosanna has been dealing with heat exhaustion, so she wasn't able to join in as much. We've been giving her electrolytes and keeping her out of the sun as much as possible.
I did remember to bring my camera, but I forgot batteries. And never remembered to pick them up from the store. But, my brothers were taking a lot of pictures as usual so when they post them on Facebook I'll probably steal them.
Other news:
Tom crashed his radio airplane. Poor guy, he never really learned how to fly it well and then the last evening we were there he decided to fly it...into the concrete. He thinks it's fixable. I'm not so sure.
I re-discovered my love for Almond Joys. Buying those mini size candy bars was a waste of time. I should have gotten the biggest size available! I think my body needs coconut. Or almonds. Anyway, I've been taking care of myself, that's for sure.
On vacations we make 98% of our food (Tom and I went out to dinner, once, with Mom, Dad, and Mara) and tend to stock up on things we don't normally keep around like chips, chocolate pudding, candy bars (Snickers actually have a lot of protein), Gatorade, beef sticks, etc. The kids loved it. I loved it (think: Almond Joys). Our family dinners consisted of meats that Mom had already cooked and brought along, such as sloppy joes, or shredded pork sandwiches. She's amazing like that! Then we all added our special sides. There was a lot of hodge-podge (it seemed like we consumed an unusual amount of pork: Italian sausage, breakfast sausage, bacon) but that's part of the fun.
During some of our downtime, in which we watched TV-I think there were about 8 to go around-I learned some new tricks for roasting chicken that I am dying to try out. I also watched 5 minutes of ,"The Man from Snowy River", "The Lion, Witch, & Wardrobe", "High School Musical 1 & 2", "Pride & Prejudice", and something with Bruce Willis. Now I remember why we don't have TV--
One, I would be addicted (I'm weak that way-esp when it comes to new ways to roast a chicken)
Two, It's a time waster (see number One)
Three, I'm not missing anything, when it comes right down to it (except a lot of stuff I don't want to know)
Four, what a lot of junk!
Five, the commercials are insanely long and usually leaving me wondering where everyone's clothes are and why they walk around in underwear, and
Six, Tom is way to busy to watch it anyway so with all those factors why have it?
It's nice for vacations, though. Especially when all the kids are watching Animal Planet with their mouths wide open during the "tapeworms and other disgusting creatures are living inside me" episodes.
I'm really grateful we had the opportunity to get away from Tom's crazy-busy-gone-a-lot work schedule, and hang out with no Internet, barely any phone, and a bunch of hilarious and wonderful people. Smiles all around!
Various cousins, aunts, and other adorable relatives were able to join us for some festivities as well. We wore ourselves out at SDC, boating on the lake (in which none of us females were successful in getting up on the water skis), flea market shopping (Hey, us girls are bargain hunters! And when we went to Starbucks afterwards we discovered we were all using gift cards-it was pretty funny.), miniature golf, go-carts, tennis, and lots of swimming.
The downer was/is that Hosanna has been dealing with heat exhaustion, so she wasn't able to join in as much. We've been giving her electrolytes and keeping her out of the sun as much as possible.
I did remember to bring my camera, but I forgot batteries. And never remembered to pick them up from the store. But, my brothers were taking a lot of pictures as usual so when they post them on Facebook I'll probably steal them.
Other news:
Tom crashed his radio airplane. Poor guy, he never really learned how to fly it well and then the last evening we were there he decided to fly it...into the concrete. He thinks it's fixable. I'm not so sure.
I re-discovered my love for Almond Joys. Buying those mini size candy bars was a waste of time. I should have gotten the biggest size available! I think my body needs coconut. Or almonds. Anyway, I've been taking care of myself, that's for sure.
On vacations we make 98% of our food (Tom and I went out to dinner, once, with Mom, Dad, and Mara) and tend to stock up on things we don't normally keep around like chips, chocolate pudding, candy bars (Snickers actually have a lot of protein), Gatorade, beef sticks, etc. The kids loved it. I loved it (think: Almond Joys). Our family dinners consisted of meats that Mom had already cooked and brought along, such as sloppy joes, or shredded pork sandwiches. She's amazing like that! Then we all added our special sides. There was a lot of hodge-podge (it seemed like we consumed an unusual amount of pork: Italian sausage, breakfast sausage, bacon) but that's part of the fun.
During some of our downtime, in which we watched TV-I think there were about 8 to go around-I learned some new tricks for roasting chicken that I am dying to try out. I also watched 5 minutes of ,"The Man from Snowy River", "The Lion, Witch, & Wardrobe", "High School Musical 1 & 2", "Pride & Prejudice", and something with Bruce Willis. Now I remember why we don't have TV--
One, I would be addicted (I'm weak that way-esp when it comes to new ways to roast a chicken)
Two, It's a time waster (see number One)
Three, I'm not missing anything, when it comes right down to it (except a lot of stuff I don't want to know)
Four, what a lot of junk!
Five, the commercials are insanely long and usually leaving me wondering where everyone's clothes are and why they walk around in underwear, and
Six, Tom is way to busy to watch it anyway so with all those factors why have it?
It's nice for vacations, though. Especially when all the kids are watching Animal Planet with their mouths wide open during the "tapeworms and other disgusting creatures are living inside me" episodes.
I'm really grateful we had the opportunity to get away from Tom's crazy-busy-gone-a-lot work schedule, and hang out with no Internet, barely any phone, and a bunch of hilarious and wonderful people. Smiles all around!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Silver Dollar City, Here We Come!
Susie E and Rachel H
Naomi and Sarah H
Me, Hosanna, and Kaylee on the swings
Trouble! Rachel H, Grace M, Sarah H, Clara M, and Naomi
Friends
Yesterday I took eight (8!) giggly girls to Silver Dollar City. Here are the two youngest (Kaylee and Hosanna), enjoying the sights and smells of the candy shop and showing off their lovely "coffee filter flowers" painted in the craft room.
Monday, June 8, 2009
A Four-Leaf...Strawberry?
Hosanna found this funny looking strawberry in our little strawberry patch!
Monday, June 1, 2009
If I could send a note to Heaven...
Dear Amy,
Happy Birthday! What, you are 28 already?!? Seems only a couple years ago we were celebrating our 13th and 14th. June was a much anticipated month since our birthdays are so close. I admit, though, I'm not nearly as eager to turn 27 as I was to turn 13! You know, I've still got that magnet you gave me for my 14th birthday. It came attached to a Marjolein Bastin card-we both shared a love for her artwork and I think her cards were the only ones we exchanged. The years added up to a whole pile of them. I sure do miss sending and receiving one from you in June.
Lately I've been thinking about you and Skittles and how you loved those things. I always contended that chocolate should take first place, but you insisted that Skittles were the winner because they didn't melt! Most years I gave you a bag of Skittles and you gave me a chocolate bar. It was a happy arrangement.
Today I'm remembering you and June days of the past, and the beauty of your friendship and the Lord's love in our lives.
I'll be seeing you-I'm not sure when exactly, but when we're together again we've got some June birthdays to catch up on.
Love,
Rachel
P.S. Enclosed is a bag of Skittles!
Happy Birthday! What, you are 28 already?!? Seems only a couple years ago we were celebrating our 13th and 14th. June was a much anticipated month since our birthdays are so close. I admit, though, I'm not nearly as eager to turn 27 as I was to turn 13! You know, I've still got that magnet you gave me for my 14th birthday. It came attached to a Marjolein Bastin card-we both shared a love for her artwork and I think her cards were the only ones we exchanged. The years added up to a whole pile of them. I sure do miss sending and receiving one from you in June.
Lately I've been thinking about you and Skittles and how you loved those things. I always contended that chocolate should take first place, but you insisted that Skittles were the winner because they didn't melt! Most years I gave you a bag of Skittles and you gave me a chocolate bar. It was a happy arrangement.
Today I'm remembering you and June days of the past, and the beauty of your friendship and the Lord's love in our lives.
I'll be seeing you-I'm not sure when exactly, but when we're together again we've got some June birthdays to catch up on.
Love,
Rachel
P.S. Enclosed is a bag of Skittles!
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