Thoughtful Gifts

At the end of VBS week at our church, the kids can redeem the tickets they've earned during the week for little knick knacks and toys. When my kids returned from redeeming their tickets, they had bright smiles on their faces and their arms full of toys.

Bear excitedly showed me her arm full of pink dolls, a pink cheerleading set and a foam sword. I asked, "a sword, huh?" "It's for my brother," she explained.

Chipmunk ran back with his arms full of cars and trucks. He then pulled out a little yellow ring with a princess on it and said, "it's for my sister!"

I was surprised. With younger kids, I expect them to adopt an "all-for-me" type of attitude, but no, they each on their own chose a toy for their sibling...and not just any toy, they actually put thought into it and found something they thought the other would like.

What can I say? I was impressed. Again, they continue to teach me more than I teach them.

Quiet Blog

It's been quiet here at this blog. If you ask Matt, he'll say it's because of this. Me? I'd say it's because I've been giving myself some extra needed downtime.

With naps phasing out of our home, my introverted need to retreat has been suffering without those precious two or three hours of quiet in the afternoon. Less time to myself...less time to reflect...therefore, less thoughts crossing my mind spurring me to write.

Instead there's just been more chaos. More metaphorical fires to put out, more times I collapse on the couch with a big sigh, more moments I wonder what goes on in those little heads that belong to my ever-busy children...

Noisy life = Quiet blog.