Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Headline opposites

With 5 kids, no jobs, "better to end our lives"


"$155,000 puppy is clone of beloved lab"
I like to quiz Liam in the car to see just how much he can comprehend. He has an amazing memory and can tell me things that I said to him weeks ago! We have recently been working on stoplights and what they mean. I ask him "Liam, what does green mean?" and he says "Green means GOOOOO!" I ask what yellow means and he says "SLOW DOOOOWN!" and he knows that "red means STOP!" It's so cute when we're sitting at a red light and he says "Hafta wait for the light to turn green, Mama! Green means GOOO!"

Liam likes to ask questions about God on our rides home. I have no idea why. I taught him that Jesus is "God's son" and that God lives "far away" up in heaven. He likes to crane his neck and look straight up out the car window and say "I can't see him! I can't see God, mama!" I will say "where is God, Liam?" and he'll tell me that he's "far away in the clouds." He also knows that God is "very, very big." It's inevitable that he'll say "can I go to church now?" when we're in the midst of these discussions. He really does love to go. He alternates between thinking God is at church and God is in the clouds. It's interesting to see how his little heart seems to feel something about God that even I can't feel. It doesn't even have to be God, it can just be love. He feels love in a way that amazes me.

I'm happy to teach him about God and about church, and I'll be happy to teach him about evolution and science when he's older. I believe that God and science go very well together. It's awesome to be able to glimpse his hand in it all. And I really think it's there. I mean, when's the last time you made a planet?! I'm an Intelligent Design kind of girl. Maybe Liam will be, too. I can only give him the knowledge, the rest is up to him.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Just something I don't want to forget...

"I would like to help change the world... (but) from the comfort of my regular life."

This was a quote featured on one of my friend's Facebook pages. I had to think about it for a minute to decide how I felt about it. Conclusion? I'm kind of annoyed. The quote suggests that in order to change the world one must do grand things.

I've done some "grand" things in my life, but I don't consider any of them world-changing. Anyone who knows me well knows that for me, simple is better. I went on a mission trip to another continent, and I can honestly say that staying home would have been a more productive use of my time. I won't get into it, and I'm not saying mission trips are bad, but we often use resources and spend valuable time "evangelizing"/"helping"/"volunteering" for things that are less effective than staying home and putting the same energy into our own neighborhoods would be.

I have a fairly regular life. And I'm very happy with it. I have a wonderful husband and an equally wonderful son. For me, changing the world CAN be done right in my own backyard. I can change the world by raising my son well, and giving him the tools to be a thoughtful, loving, compassionate adult. I can be a friend and a listening ear. I can smile at strangers. I can love cute, old people. I can be kind to the environment. I can live my life with purpose and still keep things simple. That's the key for me. Our lives don't need to be extreme in order to be meaningful.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

New Room!

Liam will share a room with the new baby, and we're slowly getting it put together. Liam has his own big kid bed, complete with plush bear rug! He also has a peg rack with plush deer, bear and moose heads. He calls these his "crazy guys"! He loves his big kid bed and sleeps very well in it. The walls are still pretty bare, but I haven't decided what to put on them yet!
Max's side of the room is even more bare, but it has the essentials so far! The changing table will make it more complete. I'm surprised at the amount of space in the room, even with two beds. I think the boys will do just fine together!




Liam

Playing with Playdough...Liam's favorite!
Eating some raisins from an ice cube tray. His idea!

Making a "horn belt" at the Wildlife Sanctuary!


"Be a Baby Bee and Sit in Me!"