On Sunday morning, I had to go on stage to present a gift to one of our youth who is graduating. I had gotten teary-eyed, so when I came back to sit with Bella and Elias, Bella said, "Why are you sad?". I said that I wasn't sad and that they were happy tears. She looked quizzically at me.
Have you ever noticed that small children don't cry happy tears? Or at least, I have never witnessed it.
As I was driving yesterday, I thought about the verse in the Bible that says that there will be no tears in Heaven. I have thought that when it said that there would be no tears in Heaven, maybe it just meant the tears that were from sadness and sorrow. When I think about being reunited with my loved ones and meeting Jesus for the first time face-to-face, I can't imagine not crying from it.
But then I thought again about what causes me to cry happy tears. It is normally because I know that the moment won't last forever and that I have no control over what the future holds for me or for those I love. No matter how great a moment is or what relationship I have with someone, eventually it will change or end. Even memories will fade and be replaced.
When I get to Heaven, I no longer will have to feel the bitter sweetness of moments that can't last or the unknowns and vulnerability of loving someone so much. So I don't think that happy tears will be necessary in Heaven. I will not have to worry about the unknowns about loving so much it hurts.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Tooth Fairy Failure Part III
Elias lost another tooth last night and the tooth fairy forgot to come again! I really need to get my mom license revoked!
I don't know if God gets involved with matters of the tooth fairy or if it was just my guilty conscience nudging me, but I woke up to what I thought were the kids talking. I looked at my clock, realized it was 6:30, had a few seconds of agitation that they got up before 7, then realized that we had forgotten to do the exchange again last night! But then I listened again and realized that I didn't hear anything. I came out and the kids were still sleeping. I rarely ever wake up before the kids and often it takes them yelling or saying "Mommy" repeatedly in my face to wake me even then!
So I had to sneak into Elias' room in broad daylight and try to finagle the bag open that held the tooth and put the money in without waking him!
We had decided to get a special tooth fairy bag to put Elias' tooth in and hang it on his bed post. We told him that we would call the tooth fairy and tell her and that she would be happy because it would be easier for her to find his tooth without waking him up. We put the tooth in a silk cinch top jewelry bag that I had in my closet, thinking we were so clever. Well, I didn't realize how hard it would be to find a tooth approximately the size of a grain of rice in the bottom of that bag or how hard it would be to get the strings that went down over the post so effortlessly back off of the post! I am thankful that our boy is a very heavy sleeper because I made enough noise for the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, and Easter Bunny combined!
We have got to get this Tooth Fairy thing figured out, because Bella is a fairly light sleeper. I am sure she would not sleep through early morning visits from the tooth fairy!
Then Elias comes out when he wakes up 30 minutes later and says, "You know the worst part about me keeping losing all my teeth? The Tooth Fairy brings me less money now. She only gave me a $1!" Josh said, "When I was a kid, I only got a quarter. Elias looked at him in disbelief and said, "What? That's crazy!"
I don't know if God gets involved with matters of the tooth fairy or if it was just my guilty conscience nudging me, but I woke up to what I thought were the kids talking. I looked at my clock, realized it was 6:30, had a few seconds of agitation that they got up before 7, then realized that we had forgotten to do the exchange again last night! But then I listened again and realized that I didn't hear anything. I came out and the kids were still sleeping. I rarely ever wake up before the kids and often it takes them yelling or saying "Mommy" repeatedly in my face to wake me even then!
So I had to sneak into Elias' room in broad daylight and try to finagle the bag open that held the tooth and put the money in without waking him!
We had decided to get a special tooth fairy bag to put Elias' tooth in and hang it on his bed post. We told him that we would call the tooth fairy and tell her and that she would be happy because it would be easier for her to find his tooth without waking him up. We put the tooth in a silk cinch top jewelry bag that I had in my closet, thinking we were so clever. Well, I didn't realize how hard it would be to find a tooth approximately the size of a grain of rice in the bottom of that bag or how hard it would be to get the strings that went down over the post so effortlessly back off of the post! I am thankful that our boy is a very heavy sleeper because I made enough noise for the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, and Easter Bunny combined!
We have got to get this Tooth Fairy thing figured out, because Bella is a fairly light sleeper. I am sure she would not sleep through early morning visits from the tooth fairy!
Then Elias comes out when he wakes up 30 minutes later and says, "You know the worst part about me keeping losing all my teeth? The Tooth Fairy brings me less money now. She only gave me a $1!" Josh said, "When I was a kid, I only got a quarter. Elias looked at him in disbelief and said, "What? That's crazy!"
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Something inspiring I just had to share...
"My Name is Pride" by Beth Moore
My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
I cheat you of your God-given destiny…
because you demand your own way.
I cheat you of contentment…
because you “deserve better than this.”
I cheat you of knowledge…
because you already know it all.
I cheat you of healing…
because you are too full of you to forgive.
I cheat you of holiness…
because you refuse to admit when you are wrong.
I cheat you of vision…
because you’d rather look in the mirror than out a window.
I cheat you of genuine friendship…
because nobody’s going to know the real you.
I cheat you of love…
because real romance demands sacrifice.
I cheat you of greatness in heaven…
because you refuse to wash another’s feet on earth.
I cheat you of God’s glory…
because I convinced you to seek your own.
My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
You like me because you think I’m always looking out for you.
Untrue.
I’m looking to make a fool of you.
God has so much for you, I admit, but don’t worry…
If you stick with me you’ll never know.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Funny kid stories
It seems lately my kids have been especially comical and/or quirky. When they say or do something funny or a situation occurs, I think, "I will never forget that!" and then by the end of the day I struggle to even remember the gist of what they said, let alone the actual words.
So, just for memory sake, I will share some funny events in the life of the Wilsons...
1. We were leaving a restaurant the other day and there was a concrete slab with the word "Electric" in big block letters stamped across it in the grass beside the curb. Bella looked down at it and said, "Oh, mommy, someone died. Who does that say it was?" - To her credit, it did look a lot like a tombstone.
2. Elias has been telling stories and at the end saying, "I know. Right?", like he has heard adults say. It is just cute to hear him tell stories like an adult.
3. Last night Elias FINALLY lost a tooth that has been loose since fall. The dentist at his last 6 month check-up thought it would be gone by Christmas. Toward the end, it was turning grey and sticking almost completely perpendicular to his gum. But it would not come out, even when we resorted to using pliers, not once, but twice! It finally succumbed last night to a chocolate chip in a brownie he ate at a party. He was then able to pull it the rest of the way with a tissue. An apple or taffy I could see finally doing the deed, but a chocolate chip?
4. We are the worse parents/tooth fairy stand-ins ever! The last time Elias lost a tooth, we forgot completely about putting money under his pillow. Luckily, there had been a blizzard that night, so we told him that the tooth fairy couldn't make it through the storm and so she came the next night and brought double the money for not making it the first night. Unfortunately, Elias shoved the $2 in his wallet with the rest of his allowance without looking at it and thinks he only got $1, even though we assured him we were pretty sure the tooth fairy brought $2! Then this morning, I woke unexpectedly at 6 a.m. and realized that the tooth fairy had indeed forgot to come to his bedroom again! So I quickly got up and took in money, but was not able to find the tooth! I was just praying that he wouldn't find it when he got the money out when he woke up! I think that the tooth fairy needs to set a reminder alarm the next time Elias loses a tooth!
5. Before Elias' 7 year check-up, he asked me what they would do or what he would have to do during his check-up. I told him that the hardest part was that they would expect him to say, "Super Cala Fragalistic Expialidoshus". So before the doctor came in, he kept asking me to repeat it. I told him I was just kidding after two or three tries. Then when the doctor came in, who is awesome with kids, he asked Elias how he was doing and was chatting with him and when Elias told him about me picking on him and how he was trying to practice that word, the doctor automatically said, "Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious. If you say it loud enough you'll always sound precocious." Elias who has only seen Mary Poppins maybe one time and didn't even know where I got the word from was in awe of his doctor's rhyming abilities!
6. Elias had to stay home from school today because he has pink eye, so he went with me to pick Isabella up. When I pick her up, I always ask her what job she had that day (Every day, they get to choose a responsibility for that day, like book helper, song helper, Pledge of Allegiance helper, line leader, light switch helper, etc). Today, when she said that she was calendar helper, Elias said, "Oh yeah, calendar helper is a good one. I always liked to be the calendar helper when I was a little kid." - spoken like the man of wisdom at the ripe old age of 7!
7. Elias and Bella love to play together. When Isabella had her last library story time last week, she made a "Book about me" and on the back it asked what's her favorite thing to do. She said, "Playing with Elias, like he is the big brother and I am the little sister!" I know that may take a stretch of the imagination!
I was hoping to finish with a nice rounded number like 10, but that is all the stories I can think of right now. As soon as I push publish I will probably think of 5 others or they will have another conversation that makes me laugh out loud. I love to eavesdrop on their conversations. Even though I can't always remember their conversations, it is always entertaining and/or endearing. When they talk, they always seem to be the authority on whatever subject they are discussing, especially if it is about me or Josh!
So, just for memory sake, I will share some funny events in the life of the Wilsons...
1. We were leaving a restaurant the other day and there was a concrete slab with the word "Electric" in big block letters stamped across it in the grass beside the curb. Bella looked down at it and said, "Oh, mommy, someone died. Who does that say it was?" - To her credit, it did look a lot like a tombstone.
2. Elias has been telling stories and at the end saying, "I know. Right?", like he has heard adults say. It is just cute to hear him tell stories like an adult.
3. Last night Elias FINALLY lost a tooth that has been loose since fall. The dentist at his last 6 month check-up thought it would be gone by Christmas. Toward the end, it was turning grey and sticking almost completely perpendicular to his gum. But it would not come out, even when we resorted to using pliers, not once, but twice! It finally succumbed last night to a chocolate chip in a brownie he ate at a party. He was then able to pull it the rest of the way with a tissue. An apple or taffy I could see finally doing the deed, but a chocolate chip?
5. Before Elias' 7 year check-up, he asked me what they would do or what he would have to do during his check-up. I told him that the hardest part was that they would expect him to say, "Super Cala Fragalistic Expialidoshus". So before the doctor came in, he kept asking me to repeat it. I told him I was just kidding after two or three tries. Then when the doctor came in, who is awesome with kids, he asked Elias how he was doing and was chatting with him and when Elias told him about me picking on him and how he was trying to practice that word, the doctor automatically said, "Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious. If you say it loud enough you'll always sound precocious." Elias who has only seen Mary Poppins maybe one time and didn't even know where I got the word from was in awe of his doctor's rhyming abilities!
6. Elias had to stay home from school today because he has pink eye, so he went with me to pick Isabella up. When I pick her up, I always ask her what job she had that day (Every day, they get to choose a responsibility for that day, like book helper, song helper, Pledge of Allegiance helper, line leader, light switch helper, etc). Today, when she said that she was calendar helper, Elias said, "Oh yeah, calendar helper is a good one. I always liked to be the calendar helper when I was a little kid." - spoken like the man of wisdom at the ripe old age of 7!
I was hoping to finish with a nice rounded number like 10, but that is all the stories I can think of right now. As soon as I push publish I will probably think of 5 others or they will have another conversation that makes me laugh out loud. I love to eavesdrop on their conversations. Even though I can't always remember their conversations, it is always entertaining and/or endearing. When they talk, they always seem to be the authority on whatever subject they are discussing, especially if it is about me or Josh!
Monday, May 9, 2011
Mother's Day
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| I got a card for mother's day that says, "Mom, you sure had to put up with a lot of obnoxious behavior over the years!...but enough about dad!" I loved it! |
There is an old saying, not sure who first said it, but I have found that it rings true. "You can always tell how a man will treat his wife by the way he treats his mother."
My husband has always been good to his mother. He would tell her that he loved her in front of me even before we were officially dating. And I now have a very good relationship with his mother because of the love and respect he has always shown both of us, in proper proportions.
I had a great weekend and I got the privilege of watching my son following in his daddy's footsteps. He put so much work into coloring pictures for me and preparing me a perfect present. He also was very gentlemanly all weekend to me. I am very proud of the man he is becoming.
Bella also worked hard on her card and gifts for me. She loves to please me and looks up to me and it is scary! I hope that I am teaching Bella how to be a woman who loves God and her family in the same way Elias is learning from his dad.
I am very blessed!
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| Me an my mother-in-law. |
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| Josh and his mama. They don't look anything alike, do they? |
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Break my heart for what breaks yours....
I think that one thing about being involved with Compassion is that it continually reminds me that I don't live alone in this world and that everyone has struggles and often we cannot imagine others' struggles unless we hear it or see it from them directly.
Today, I was going about my day as usual. I have been feeling stressed and upset about many things, as I often can become. I went to my mailbox and was pleased to see that we had received letters from the Child Survival program we sponsor in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
As I opened it while sitting at my counter with my lunch before me, I saw a picture of a beautiful women, with skin the color of mahogany, and two precious-looking girls standing in front of her. The littlest with her finger sticking in her ear, like little ones sometimes do at picture time.
But they were standing in front of a tent, which I learned in the letter was their home. And I am not talking about a deluxe canvas edition like I once saw on television that wealthy executives were using to go "glamping" (a new trend for the elite who want to get into nature, without actually having to sleep in nature). I am talking about your standard, run-of-the-mill, 5-person Coleman tent. The letter said that she, Ambroise, lived there with her husband and 4 children.
Now I don't know if you have ever slept in a 5-person tent, but when they were taking the measurements to decide how many people could sleep in these tents, they must have been using midgets, because no 5 people I know could fit in them comfortably.
This family of 6 isn't going to be there for the weekend either. It is their home. So, all their possessions also must fit inside this small area with them.
Have you ever been in a tent when the sun comes up in the morning and you instantly feel like you are in an incubator? The average temperature in Haiti varies from between 77-84 degrees, depending on the time of year. And the ground is normally hard packed dirt.
I saw this picture and read the letter that said they were thankful to have the tent as their home, since many they knew did not have anywhere to live. And that she was thankful that she had a job as a cook and preschool teacher, since there is no work to be found for her husband. She was also thankful that through the Compassion program they get food that they are able to cook their food at a neighbor's, since there is no room for cooking in their tent. And that her daughter, Etienne, who had a bad skin condition received medical care. In the picture, the skin on her round cheeks is beautiful and smooth.
I said out loud to God, "But, Lord, they live in a tent." And as the words left my mouth and hit my heart, tears sprang to my eyes and I said again to myself. "They live in a tent." - And the earthquake was over a year ago.
All the things that I complain and stress about on a regular basis suddenly felt so unimportant. All the things that I can say I do for others suddenly seemed way too little. Because 100s of people in Haiti, maybe even thousands, are thankful because they have a tent as a home.
As I sat at my counter, in a house that always is a continual comfortable temperature, eating my sandwich that I prepared from my refrigerated meats and cheese and vegetables, I realized that it is so easy to get comfortable and forget how comfortable I am.
That is why I am thankful for my relationship with Compassion. Because I am always introduced to people like Ambroise and Etienne. And even though my heart gets broken often from it, it is the best broken heart I could have. I realize that God put us on earth together at the same time for a reason and I don't want to forget it.
In honor of Mother's Day, you could help another mother in need. If you would like to support a child survival program, you do not have to write letters. It is $20 a month and will go to support all the mothers and babies enrolled in the program until the children are old enough to go into the child sponsorship program. You will receive a letter a couple times a year from a mother whose child is in the program and from the pastor of the church where the program is facilitated.
You can visit this address to get more information or to sign up to sponsor a Child Survival Program. http://www.compassion.com/contribution/csp/default.htm
If you have any questions, please feel free to send me a message.
Today, I was going about my day as usual. I have been feeling stressed and upset about many things, as I often can become. I went to my mailbox and was pleased to see that we had received letters from the Child Survival program we sponsor in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
As I opened it while sitting at my counter with my lunch before me, I saw a picture of a beautiful women, with skin the color of mahogany, and two precious-looking girls standing in front of her. The littlest with her finger sticking in her ear, like little ones sometimes do at picture time.
But they were standing in front of a tent, which I learned in the letter was their home. And I am not talking about a deluxe canvas edition like I once saw on television that wealthy executives were using to go "glamping" (a new trend for the elite who want to get into nature, without actually having to sleep in nature). I am talking about your standard, run-of-the-mill, 5-person Coleman tent. The letter said that she, Ambroise, lived there with her husband and 4 children.
Now I don't know if you have ever slept in a 5-person tent, but when they were taking the measurements to decide how many people could sleep in these tents, they must have been using midgets, because no 5 people I know could fit in them comfortably.
This family of 6 isn't going to be there for the weekend either. It is their home. So, all their possessions also must fit inside this small area with them.
Have you ever been in a tent when the sun comes up in the morning and you instantly feel like you are in an incubator? The average temperature in Haiti varies from between 77-84 degrees, depending on the time of year. And the ground is normally hard packed dirt.
I saw this picture and read the letter that said they were thankful to have the tent as their home, since many they knew did not have anywhere to live. And that she was thankful that she had a job as a cook and preschool teacher, since there is no work to be found for her husband. She was also thankful that through the Compassion program they get food that they are able to cook their food at a neighbor's, since there is no room for cooking in their tent. And that her daughter, Etienne, who had a bad skin condition received medical care. In the picture, the skin on her round cheeks is beautiful and smooth.
I said out loud to God, "But, Lord, they live in a tent." And as the words left my mouth and hit my heart, tears sprang to my eyes and I said again to myself. "They live in a tent." - And the earthquake was over a year ago.
All the things that I complain and stress about on a regular basis suddenly felt so unimportant. All the things that I can say I do for others suddenly seemed way too little. Because 100s of people in Haiti, maybe even thousands, are thankful because they have a tent as a home.
As I sat at my counter, in a house that always is a continual comfortable temperature, eating my sandwich that I prepared from my refrigerated meats and cheese and vegetables, I realized that it is so easy to get comfortable and forget how comfortable I am.
That is why I am thankful for my relationship with Compassion. Because I am always introduced to people like Ambroise and Etienne. And even though my heart gets broken often from it, it is the best broken heart I could have. I realize that God put us on earth together at the same time for a reason and I don't want to forget it.
In honor of Mother's Day, you could help another mother in need. If you would like to support a child survival program, you do not have to write letters. It is $20 a month and will go to support all the mothers and babies enrolled in the program until the children are old enough to go into the child sponsorship program. You will receive a letter a couple times a year from a mother whose child is in the program and from the pastor of the church where the program is facilitated.
You can visit this address to get more information or to sign up to sponsor a Child Survival Program. http://www.compassion.com/contribution/csp/default.htm
If you have any questions, please feel free to send me a message.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Another SCL reference...I will try to make it the last one for a while!
This post from Stuff Christians Like is another that talks about protecting kids from culture.
I have been clamping down on the kids' television viewing a little more and I realize that when I am fully committed to the rules that I set down, the kids aren't nearly as rebellious about them, even if they don't agree. They can see when I am wishy-washy from a mile away! I know that sometimes I just don't want to have an argument, so I let things slide. But, boy, can it become a slippery slope! I learned this before I even had children, from witnessing other's family dynamics, and I swore that I wouldn't be wishy-washy myself. But sometimes being the strongest-willed one in the parent-child relationship can be just so tiring! That is why we need God to guide us as we attempt to guide our children!
I have been clamping down on the kids' television viewing a little more and I realize that when I am fully committed to the rules that I set down, the kids aren't nearly as rebellious about them, even if they don't agree. They can see when I am wishy-washy from a mile away! I know that sometimes I just don't want to have an argument, so I let things slide. But, boy, can it become a slippery slope! I learned this before I even had children, from witnessing other's family dynamics, and I swore that I wouldn't be wishy-washy myself. But sometimes being the strongest-willed one in the parent-child relationship can be just so tiring! That is why we need God to guide us as we attempt to guide our children!
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