But, I don't Wanna Go To Bed!

No matter how early, or late, we put our older two children to bed we hear this cry. It could be after midnight and they'd still say it. It is also always said just as the child is getting into their pj's. If we've let them stay up late and remind them of this, they insist that they did not stay up late enough and need to stay up later.

Our third child, on the other hand, often puts herself to bed early. She will decide she's tired, ask for her bear and head up and get into bed. This is also the child who rolls over and is instantly asleep. (Wish I could do that!)

Recently I've caught myself saying this same phrase to my husband. Why? I know I'm very tired. I know I have to get up early in the morning. I know I will need to deal with 4 children during the course of the day and all the miscellaneous stuff that goes with them. I know that I'm not actually being productive right now, but I do write better at night if I could rev up my intelligence. Again, Why? My only answer is, peace and quiet. I've even been staying up later than Matt. It's very peaceful with them all in bed. No one demanding anything, no noise. It's just me, doing whatever useless thing I want to do.

I felt guilty for a while that I was accomplishing nothing, for either my family or myself. Then I came across this quote by Max Lucado and it sums up what I've always believed, but couldn't put into words or convince certain people to believe.

"The next time the challenges 'outside' tempt you to shut the door and stay inside, stay long enough to get warm. Then get out."

Elizabethisms

Matt (about Elizabeth being matter of fact tonight): Elizabeth is full of wisdom today.

Elizabeth (to me): I'm full of lots of words today.

Hope Quote

Hope is often very matter of fact when she talks. For example...

Matt: Hope, what's that on your shirt? dirt? chocolate?

Hope, looking down: It's poop. And then she goes off to play.

Sammy's Little Brother

Matt has always wanted Sammy to have a brother. Sammy wants someone to share his room with him and play with him like his boy cousins do. For the most part, he doesn't mind having three sisters. Thankfully one of my nephews, who is the same age, lives only a few blocks away. The two of them play well together and it satisfies Sammy's desire to play active, crazy boy stuff. I'm very grateful that my nephews parents decided to stay in the area, and their son is one of those reasons.

Meanwhile, Matt and I wanted to get our children involved with missions and helping out others. With the kids being little, we are limited in ways we can help. Currently we try to help by providing meals for people who might need it, helping other parents by watching their kids, and trying to demonstrate common courtesies to strangers.

Yesterday we decided on one more step. We wanted to expose our children to ministering to people who live in other areas. Heading over to the Compassion International website, Sammy picked out our Compassion child. He now has a "brother" who lives in Indonesia. He is very excited about him and can't wait to send and receive letters from him. Both he and Elizabeth will be helping to support this little boy. They both receive tokens for the extra chores that they do around the house. Each month they will donate tokens to our Compassion child to help support him. They also will be writing some of the letters.

I'm excited to see them be excited for this new adventure and look forward to watch our new "son" grow through the years.

Creativity/Creation

My husband often tells me I have too many "projects" going at one time. He doesn't seem to understand the need I have to create things. Whether it's knitting, cross stitch, writing, gardening, planning parties for the kids, or making some new culinary delight I love to create. Even if no one appreciates it, or even sees it, does not seem to matter, although there are times I enjoy having people know what I've done. It's growing to be an obsession of mine, learn something new and create from that knowledge.

Most people I know have the same drive, maybe not as insistently as I do, but they have it, even my husband. My kids do, they build with Legos and blocks, pretend play, and even color to create. Where does this desire come from that drives us to create things, even if no one sees them but ourselves?

Our Creator has placed his thumbprint upon us. He loves creating, just from the shearer enjoyment of it. I believe He placed this desire in us. In our small creations, we can understand His love of creating and can identify with Him. Just one more way that He shows Himself to us and shows that He is not just some distant, uncaring being.

Quotes of the day

What is the difference between unethical and ethical advertising? Unethical advertising uses falsehoods to deceive the public; ethical advertising uses truth to deceive the public.
- Vilhjalmur Stefansson

A waist is a terrible thing to mind.
- Jane Caminos

Purge and Toss

It is so nice to purge and toss things. Old things. Broken things. Redundant things. Toys, ideas, moldy food, magazines, books, shoes, etc., etc. Today I tossed, will be sending to the Salvation Army, clothes. It felt so good. Not only to clean out and organize, but to enjoy the fact that I can no longer fit into those clothes. They are all too big. Some of the pants I can't keep up without holding on to them. It is so exciting! I will need to purchase clothes for next summer, yeah! While I have enough clothes for the fall, as of now, I plan on continuing to loose all of this extra baby weight. As I continue to loose, I will continue to have clothes that no longer fit me. I'm hoping that by Christmas I will have, not want, but need to go shopping for new winter clothes. My ultimate goal is to be able to fit into my wedding dress next year, for out ten year anniversary! I will be able to do that, just need to keep at it.