Leaves Fall...in the Fall.

A few days ago, the boys and I went on a walk to collect different types of leaves. I thought it would be fun to collect them, and glue them on a piece of paper. Both boys seemed to enjoy picking up leaves off the sidewalk, and putting them in their bag. I think they learned a lot on the walk. We tried to pick out different colors and sizes. We also picked up some pine cones, acorns, and sticks for a later project. All in all, the walk was the best part of this project. They seemed to laugh when I kept explaining that the leaves fall...in the Fall. I'm not sure what is so funny about that...but Mattox has always had a thing for alliteration and such. They also thought it was hilarious that we ran over dog poo; specifically, that I was so grossed out by it. When I used the word, 'grody,' it sent them into hysterics. That was definitely the highlight of the walk for them.

As far as the project was concerned,itt frustrated me a bit. Mattox kept trying to put glue on the leaves that had already been glued onto the paper. I noticed this on one of his projects he brought home from preschool the other day as well. I guess we need some practice with the glue. Ha.
Despite my frustration, I kept hearing a friend (former educator) saying, "It's not the final product....it's the process that's important." So, I tried to relax and let him do whatever he wanted with the glue. LOL

I put glue in a small dish and let them put it on the paper with paint brushes. I thought it may be a bit cleaner that way. I was surprised how quickly Sam picked up what we were doing.

After a few minutes, Sam decided to taste the glue. He only did that once.

Final product....but remember...it's the process that is important. :) 

Does it sink or float?

Today we had some time to kill, so we decided to do an experiment. Nothing big, but the boys LOVED it. We took a pitcher of water, found some random stuff around the house, and tried to guess if it would sink or float. I was surprised the boys had so much fun with this. I will probably do a bigger version of this outside before it gets too cold. I think it would be fun to find things outside and test them out.



Veggie Tales and Soccer Shots

I am sure there are many lessons I will continue to learn as a parent. Some of them are subtle, others scream at you. Last week, I heard a loud scream.

We all have an idea of how we want our children to behave. What we want them to like. What we want them to do. I first noticed this, when I was pregnant with Mattox. I remember shopping at a consignment sale for books, dvds, clothes, etc. I purchased 3 Veggie Tales DVDs that I thought he would totally enjoy. I was proud. I wasn't going to expose him to the junk on TV. He was going to love this cartoon that emphasized biblical principles and grow his character. During those tough moments, when I needed 30 mins of quiet, I could just cut this on...and life would be good. So I thought.

Mattox doesn't like Veggie Tales. He is 3 now, and I have tried to put those DVDs on various times over the past 3 years...to no avail. Veggie Tales has never kept his attention. Instead, it was Barney (God help us all), Thomas, Diego, and now Little Einsteins. Lesson: You can't always control what your kids like.

This lesson was reinforced last week. I had decided to sign Mattox up for something called Soccer Shots. It's an intro to soccer for 3-5 year olds. I thought it would be a good idea to expose him to the game. After signing him up, I told him we would go out to the soccer fields and practice a little bit. So, after nap time, we went to the park. It was a complete disaster. He kicked the ball 2 times and then wanted to go play on the bleachers. He wasn't the LEAST bit interested in kicking the soccer ball. I was so bummed. I had pictured Mattox trying to kick the ball past me as I played goalie. I had pictured me acting as if I couldn't stop the ball and yelling, "Goalllll" at him after he gave his best shot...and there we were. Sitting on the bleachers and watching the airplanes fly over us.

Finally, I talked Mattox into going to the baseball fields. He seemed more excited about that. We hopped back into the car and drove to the fields. I pulled up as close as I could to the field so I wouldn't have to carry Sam the entire way. I parked the car, got out, and heard an odd sound. There was a man on the other field. He was flying a remote controlled airplane. I have to admit, it was cool, and I knew Mattox was going to LOVE IT!. I got Mattox and Sam out of the car and pretended like the airplane wasn't flying over us. Of course both boys were ooooing and ahhhhing over it, so I finally gave up, grabbed 2 juice boxes out of the trunk, and took a seat to watch the man with the plane work his magic. This whole attempt to play ball with my boys was a hot mess. They weren't even close to being interested in ball, but Mattox was having the time of his life with this remote controlled airplane. Mattox sat there and soaked up every word the man said about how it works, and what does what....

Finally the man left and we made it on the baseball field. We ended up having fun running the bases and hitting the ball, but I knew the lesson God wanted me to learn that day. I heard Him say, "You couldn't make him like Veggie Tales, and you can't make him love ball. I have given him many gifts and talents that may or may not include athletics. How sad would it be if I called him to be one of the best pilots in the nation, and you didn't support that. You are accountable to Me....to help him grow up to be what I have called him to be....not what you want him to be."

Luckily Soccer Shots got canceled because not enough kids signed up. I can't say I was disappointed.  HaHa.

The Not So Creative Mom

I am what many would consider, a not so creative mom. I must confess...I haven't taken my kids to see Santa, we don't bake cookies, and we don't sit around and color. We read books, play with trucks, trains, and airplanes, and watch a lot of TV. Too much TV, probably. As I watch my children's respond to the ipad, I am excited to have a new tool to help educate my kids. However, the guilt sets in at night, when I realize how much time we have wasted in front of a screen. Compared to other homes, I probably do a decent job of regulating media time, but at the expense of a lot of gas and money being spent at places like Monkey Joes. None of these things are bad, but I do feel the need to play along side my kids in a more creative way. As I look at other blogs, I am a bit overwhelmed by the moms that seem to be so creative. I get on Pinterest, and feel very insecure about my inabilities as a creative thinker. I am just not made that way. However, I really would like to try some of the ideas I have read about with my kids. So far, I have only tried glow sticks in the bath tub, and they were a big hit. Very inexpensive...and fun to watch. Over the next few months...and hopefully years, I am going to try to incorporate some of these activities. I will probably blog about them, in hopes to inspire other moms out there that are, 'not so creative.' I marked my calendar for something new every week. Hopefully I will get to them all. However, I'm not going to stress if I don't. Attached are pictures of 2 sensory bins I put together. The 1st one was for Sam (my 1 year old). I thought I would try it on him 1st. The 2nd, for both of them after they wake up from their nap in about 5mins.

 

This is a plastic litter pan (brand new of course), with rice, construction magnets, noodles, and some spoons. Sam really liked this. I was impressed that he could pick up small pieces of rice on the floor and throw it back into the plan. All of this stuff, I had laying around the house.

 

This is the one I put together today I purchased a large bin from Walmart ($7) and a bag of rice ($4) and everything else I had from home. The construction trucks we have collected over time. The letters I am pretty sure I got from Target out of the dollar section. The poms just added a little texture and color...they are inexpensive too. Hopefully it's a hit.

 

The goal isn't to become Supermom. It's just to be the best mom we can be. That is a journey...and it takes time. Even as moms, we are constantly being...Woven and Spun.

 

Child of Mine

Dear Child of Mine,
I thought now would be a good time for me to introduce myself. My real name is Lauren, but you can call me Mama (at least, that's what my other 2 call me). I am not sure who you are yet, but I want you to know that I have been thinking a lot about you. Long before you were even born, God put YOU on my heart. He hasn't given me any other information about you. I don't know your past. I don't know where you are. I don't know what you look like. I'm not sure if you are a boy or a girl. I certainly don't know your name. Although I don't know much about you yet, I do know that God has brought you into my home. I know you are 'fearfully and wonderfully made in the likeness of Christ.' Everything else...well,we can discover later. Until then, let's just say you and I already have a lot in common. Let me go ahead and introduce you to the other members of your family. Your dad is named Christopher, but we call him Chris. He is a red head. There aren't that many of them around. He is laid back and gentle. He is totally trustworthy. He always tries to do the right thing. He is very talented and you will learn a lot from him. He will love you with all of his heart too. Just like me.
You have 2 brothers. Mattox is 3. He is working on sharing. Hopefully by the time you arrive, he will have that down. He loves trains, trucks, and about anything that has an engine. He is very sensitive and smart. He makes me laugh without trying, because he is also very serious. Sam is your other brother. He is only 1, but is very big boy. I am saving his hand-me-downs in case you want them. Sam is the comedian of the family. He takes after dad. He knows what he wants, and if he doesn't get it, you will hear a big screech. It's a bit ear piercing, but after a while, you should get used to it. He also likes transportation. He is learning so much right now, but know this; you are in for some good laughs with him as your brother.
I think you are coming to a pretty cool family. We aren't perfect or rich, but we have a lot to offer. We are all on this journey together...here to lean on each other, learn from each other, support each other, and uplift each other. The goal? To become all that Christ would want us to be. To serve Him. You see, just like you aren't going to be in your temporary home forever...we won't be here forever. There is a bigger picture. I don't want to get too deep too soon, but just remember that. The bigger/eternal picture.
We will have to keep our chins high on this journey. It will be LONG. Way tooo long. There will be setbacks. Honestly, it will probably be one of the hardest journey's dad and I will ever go on. But the good news is God has already walked it out. Step by step. So...when things seem to be going nowhere, and you feel stuck and alone..like no one cares about you. Remember that I do. Remember that I think of you often. Actually..more like constantly. In God's timing, you will help complete our family. Until then. Hugs, Kisses, Prayers, and all the love a mom can give. :)
Love,
Mom

Ps. This is a recent picture of us at the beach. Sorry you missed it. But no worries, many more to come.

Omniscience

Several months ago, Chris and I started looking into the adoption process. We aren't sure if this is something we will ultimately do, but we are both open to the idea of God using adoption to expand our family. As I started to read about different agencies/countries, I began to run across several articles regarding the day to day life that many orphans endure (especially abroad). My heart began to break. I have always been someone who carries the weight of the world on my shoulders, but it seems that becoming a mom has intensified this; especially as it relates to orphans, child abuse, or any type of injustice towards kids.
There were articles I read, that literally made me cry. I began to wonder, the age old question, "how can God allow these terrible things to happen to these children." After all, I don't have a face, or even a name, to go with these children I am reading about. On the contrary, God spoke life into them. He created them. He knows their faces, their names, their desires, their needs, their pain, and their neglect. If I know none of this, and yet, still cry over their circumstances, to what degree does this break God's heart? Why doesn't he intervene....EVERY TIME? How can He allow babies to endure hardship that they didn't choose and they can't control? What does this say about His goodness?

In time, I began to doubt God's goodness.

This is ironic, because I know in my life, God has been very good. I have an amazing husband, and 2 beautiful boys. I have everything I want and need. I have food to eat and a nice home. I mean, I get to take a bath every night in a bath full of hot, clean, water. Why would I ever doubt God's goodness.
But I have...and it became very difficult to stand in church and sing, "how great is our God...sing with me, how is our God..." In the back of my head, the details of what I read made it difficult for me to sing these words and mean it. I began to lose the desire to fellowship with God. As my mind bought into the idea, that God's lack of intervention reflects poorly on His character, I started slipping in my walk with Him.

However, it's amazing how He always sends us reassurance in the times when we CHOOSE to neglect our relationship with Him.

One afternoon, after Chris came home from work, I decided to take Summer (our dog) for a walk. I never do this. I know this is healthy, and I should do it more often, but I don't. This afternoon however, I actually dusted off her leash and headed out the door. The sun was starting to go down. The sky, and everything around me, was starting to get darker. As I was walking, and processing this idea of God's goodness, I heard a noise. I looked to my left, in the woods, and saw an owl fly from the ground, to a branch on a tree, a few feet away. I stopped and stared. I had never seen an owl in real life. Maybe I did at a bird rescue when I was 9 or 10, but not out in the open, in real life. It just stared at me, and I stared at it. It sat there for probably 20 seconds, but it felt like at least a minute....then flew away. I started to walk away when I heard in my head, "Lauren, owls are symbols of wisdom...but I know ALL things. Would it make sense for you to explain the complexity of this world to your 3 year old? No. His little brain won't be able to comprehend. I created this world, and I know how it works. If I tried to explain it to you, you still wouldn't understand."

I walked away realizing that what I was seeking, was not really all the answers. Rather, reassurance that God doesn't ignore our circumstances. He does care for us. He never leaves us, even when we doubt Him. Additionally, I was reminded that this Earth is not our final destination. It's also not the final destination for those who endure hardship that is unfathomable.

I still think of that walk I took on a regular basis. As my eyes are opened to the cruel injustice of this world, it makes it easier for me to stand in church and sing, "turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful grace, and the things of Earth (both good and bad) will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."

Turning Lemons into Lemonade.

The7 mile mud run in PA was bitter sweet. I arrived in PA around 8pm the night before the race. We had a few places to go before driving up the mountain to Seven Springs. As soon as I got in the car, I realized something was off. My friend and her coworker were acting a little too close for comfort. It wasn't long before I realized I had been brought along on this trip, as simply a cover up for their affairs. I won't go into the details of the trip regarding this matter. All I have to say, is on this trip, I was reminded of the selfish nature that resides in each of us apart from God.

The race on the other hand was AMAZING. We woke up Saturday morning with a chill in the air. I was a bit worried that I would be cold, but my main concern was getting my hair braided. The last thing I wanted was sticky, muddy, nasty hair, while I was trying to make it through 7 hilly miles. All I can say, is the weather was perfect. The water was very chilly, which was very refreshing. The race couldn't have gone better.

You know those moments when you react in a way that makes you stop and think, "2 years ago I wouldn't have reacted this way." You know, those times when you recognize that you have actually matured? This weekend, I was very proud of myself. I was go with the flow, in a very compromising environment, and definitely turned lemons into lemonade.