Straight From the Little Gardener's Mouth

After some gardening, the sweaty kids cooled off in the shade.

 They each chose a popsicle, and seven-year-old HW said proudly, 

"I can name all the popsicle flavors:

Yellow is lemon.

Green is lime.

Red is strawberry.

Blue is blueberry.

And purple is eggplant."

You Did What?

My older son just walked out of the bathroom after his bath

and stated matter-of-factly,

"Mom, there weren't any towels,

so I had to dry off on the bath mat."

I Haven't Learned How, Yet

I overheard my two oldest kids talking while everyone lounged in the living room waiting for the breakfast muffins to bake. Big sis turned to her seven-year-old brother and said, "Last night your snoring kept me awake!"

Indignant, he replied, "It wasn't me! I haven't learned how to snore, yet."

At Least He's Got Manners

I saw the light shining from under the bathroom door

as my youngest son raced past me down the hall.

I started to call him back to turn it off,

then decided to just do it for him.

I reached for the switch, then

this Post-It across the room caught my eye:

It was neatly placed here:

I laughed until I cried.

Is there anything in the world funnier than 7 year old boys?

Obedient

Eldest son watched quietly from the sidelines while I corrected his brother and sister after they'd had a big squabble. I gave the fussing pair a thorough talking-to, complete with scripture quotes and apologies all around. Then I sent them on their way with extra chores so they could work off some of that attitude.

Watching them walk away, he came to me and put his arms around my neck. "Mama," he said solemnly. "I don't want to get extra chores like they did. That's why I'm always very... obey-ish."

Sounds good to me!

Eleven, and All Grown Up

The three older kids raced out onto the playground for an afternoon of fun. The baby and I sat down on a blanket in the shade of a giant oak to watch the big kids romp.

As they ran from one play set to another, my 11-year-old daughter jumped aboard a swing and exclaimed with delight,"Wow! I haven't been on a tire swing like this since I was a kid!"

Friday Funnies

We have a sacred evening routine in our home. Supper together, baths, Family Devotional Time, then hugs and kisses for Mama.  Then my wonderful husband herds the whole crew into the boys room for a read-aloud book and I have a few kid-free moments to fold laundry or make a phone call or just collapse into an exhausted heap. After Daddy reads, the kids get about 10 minutes independent reading time in their beds before it's lights out.

Last night during their independent reading time the house was quiet and I was working in the room across the hall from the boys. I heard some quiet talking turn into a heated discussion, so I tuned in.

"But it's time to turn the lights out now! I'm tired!" youngest whined at his brother. He snapped the lamp off and plunged the room into darkness.

Middle son replied with "Hey! Turn the light back on! I'm not ready yet. I'm still reading my turtle book."

Youngest stated emphatically, "Look. I'm NOT nocturnal!" Then I heard the lamp switch off again.

Middle son didn't even argue with that one. How could he?

Friday Funnies

I love singing together as a family each evening, and it always warms my heart to recite memory verses together. But the honest, heartfelt prayers of our children are my absolute favorite part of our evening Family Time.

Tonight, as eldest earnestly prayed for each person in our family, she made me smile with this:

"And God, please be with our little sister, who is coming home to us........ gradually."

Isn't that perfectly stated?

These days, this whole adoption process feels pretty gradual to me, too, sweetheart. And, as always, I'm sure God understands exactly what you mean.