Iron kids

Although it's monsoon season, sometimes it rains across the street but not on our property. Seriously, the rain clouds are really selective. So when our garden needs water we still have to get it at the farm and transport it back to our house (our well has too much boron and sodium and since we use a drip irrigation system it accumulates in the soil instead of being flushed through. We'll have to do flood irrigation if we want to use our well water). Here are some pictures of when we first started transporting it. We took the tailgate off our truck because it was broken so when we first started transporting the water it would occasionally fall off the bed of the truck because of the vibrations on the road. We didn't have the whole "slam-on-the-brakes-to-scoot-it-forward" thing down yet. When a tank has 200 lbs of water, it can be pretty heavy. It took David, Julian and Jonathan to get it back on.

 So, the kids keep coming up with creative things to do while we wait for the tank to fill up. For several weeks they went to the puddles looking for tadpoles. Recently though, they decided to take up running.

 

Like good colporteurs, they have their hand on the door handle and when I stop they jump out and begin running across the field. Their goal is to get to Jane's house before I come to get them.

They run to the end of the field and then swing a right and keep running till I pick them up. They run for about a mile!

Actually the other day they wanted to keep going all the way to our house (2 miles!) so I drove slowly beside them while they ran. Orion got tired so I held his hand out the truck window while he ran/walked.

Our neighbor was out of town for a bit so we fed his horses and cleaned his dog kennels. The kids wanted to run there instead of driving (.6 of a mile there and .6 of a mile back). We ran together the first time but the dog knocked them in the mud and we had to get a ride home from their mother who lives next door. The kids were not smiling when they fell but by the time they got home they were laughing.

So, the next day they still wanted to run, but I followed them in the truck in case anything happened ;)

 

I just feel proud of them for being so enthusiastic about exercise. I remember trying to take a walk with them a couple years ago and they would want to stop every 10 feet and play with dirt or pick up a rock or pick a weed. Now we get places much quicker :) I love that we live out in the wide open spaces where they can run if they want to without the fear of getting hit by a car or something. I'm thankful to give them the opportunity to develop sound constitutions that will bless them for the rest of their life.

"Many children have been ruined for life by urging the intellect and neglecting to strengthen the physical powers. Many have died in childhood because of the course pursued by injudicious parents and schoolteachers in forcing their young intellects, by flattery or fear, when they were too young to see the inside of a schoolroom. Their minds have been taxed with lessons when they should not have been called out, but kept back until the physical constitution was strong enough to endure mental effort. Small children should be left as free as lambs to run out of doors, to be free and happy, and should be allowed the most favorable opportunities to lay the foundation for sound constitutions."  {Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students page 79}

Turning on the "wee-wees"

Well, my daughter already knows what she wants to be when she grows up. An am-blue-yence driver. I keep telling her it's am-bu-lance but she likes her way of saying it better. Several weeks ago after church potluck we drove out to the main road and just to the right was a totaled car. "That's Rich and Eileen's car!" we recognized immediately. After a quick survey we saw them safely inside Janice and Byron's car being checked out by the paramedics. Ironically they were HIT by an ambulance driver. They were turning left into their mobile home park (just a mile from the church parking lot) and the ambulance driver behind them apparently looked down to turn his lights on while beginning to pass them on the left and T'd them just as they were turning. Reports say he must have been going at least 60 miles an hour. Thankfully they had guardian angels and they were driving a Subaru (well known for their safety) so after spending a night in the hospital, all they had were bruises and Rich needed some staples on top of his head.

We stayed there and watched the whole procedure. The kids absorbed everything. They stared intently while they strapped Rich onto the stretcher and slid him into the back of the ambulance vehicle (the one that hit them got the front right tire completely knocked off so it was on the side of the road.) Another one came to take care of things. They loved watching the tow truck driver lift the messed up car onto the back of his truck bed. They saw how Eileen had tubes in her nose to give her oxygen. All of this they took mental note of so they could act it out later. 

 I've told the kids time and time again that we put our seat belts on so that if we ever get into an accident, we would be more safe. We've driven by accidents before and we've said a prayer for those involved but this experience really left an impression upon them and now they are independently safety conscious.

They drew pictures for Rich and Eileen and we bought some flowers to take to them. It helped the kids see that it is our responsibility as Christians to find ways of providing comfort and support to people who have gone through something hard or discouraging. Orion was especially pleased with Eileen's response to his picture. He got some white paper and scribbled with a black marker. He gave it to her and said, "This is your car". Her face lit up and enthusiastically agreed, "This is EXACTLY what my car looks light! You are a fabulous artist! You drew it perfectly!" She held it to her chest as a type of souvenir of the experience. They really loved their car and had no idea what they were going to do without a vehicle. (So as it turned out, they had a friend who they had studied the Bible with off and on and he bought a $5,500 newer model Subaru with less mileage for them as a gift! The Lord provides, can I hear an amen?!)

This is the right side of the ambulance that hit them

So, for the last several weeks I've heard siren noises in our house as they rush to get to an accident so they can help people. They turn their "wee-wee's" on as they run around the house going "weee----weeee----weee----weeee" (sounding like sirens). As we drove into town one day Omega said to me "Mom, when I grow up I'm going to buy an ambulance." I tried to explain to her that she couldn't just buy it, she had to work for an ambulance company and go to EMT school. Her dream hasn't faded one bit and it's been more than a month later. The other day she said, "Mom, when I go to church I'm only going to bring my Bible and my water bottle because if someone calls and I have to leave quickly I don't want to take a long time gathering up all my stuff." I was pretty impressed with her forethought. She really wants to save lives!

The experience provided a great teaching moment regarding Sabbath observance too. As we stood there Orion judgmentally declared with a haughty voice intonation, "Mom, they are working on the Sabbath!" I gently reminded him that Jesus healed on the Sabbath and refreshed his memory with a Scripture song we had previously memorized "It is lawful to do well on the Sabbath day." It was neat to see the truth of that verse sink, his countenance softening as I asked, "If we had gotten into an accident today, wouldn't you want people to be available to help us?"

As Paul Tripp points out, we don't live life based on the bare facts, but upon our interpretation of those facts. It's neat to see their wheels turning and be able to help them interpret life through Scriptural lenses and to see them forming their own values and identity upon that platform.

Better than the mighty

Something HUGE just happened. Something noteworthy. I almost want to throw a party and celebrate.

To the average on-looker nothing major happened. But I know. And God knows. (And now you'll know I guess.. :)

My little boy is an over-comer.

It was a relaxing Sunday morning. We just finished eating breakfast and I was rinsing dishes for the dishwasher while Jonathan read to me out of a book called "Born to Run". Omega and Orion were in their rooms playing. Orion, distressed, came calmly walking up to me and said, "Mom, I'm having a hard time with Omega can you help me?"

Wait....did I just hear that right? Is this my little boy coming to me, just like I have been trying to train him to do, asking for help instead of angrily taking vengeance on his sister? Do you realize that was music to my ears? I have been trying to train them to say that FOR-EVER.  What usually happens is Omega comes to me wailing "Orion hit me!...." so then I have to do remedial work as well as train for prevention.

Usually I have them stand in the corner or sit on the couch to have some think time and calm down. After a while they either already know what to apologize for or I ask them questions to uncover some of the heart issues. They can't just say, "I'm sorry for hitting you, will you forgive me?" I help them to see that it was their covetousness or impatience that led to the hitting. They let a toy or an activity control their happiness and in effect worshiped it as an idol. (You would think that little kids wouldn't understand such heavy concepts but they do! To understand this concept more I highly recommend the book "Shepherding a Child's Heart") I help them see that they were not honoring the other person but instead just thinking of their own happiness instead of thinking also about the interest of others (Phil 2:4). So, they say, "I'm sorry for being selfish and not thinking about your happiness. It was wrong for me to hit you (or it was wrong for me to provoke you). Will you forgive me?" Then they give each other a hug and say "We love each other" until they are both giggling. I love watching this happen. It makes me happy every time.

Then I have them re-do the whole scenario two times. First, they role-play the scenario where they share and negotiate a good outcome for both of them. Then I have them role-play it again where if they can't come to a good negotiation one of them comes to me calmly and says, "I'm having a hard time with _____ will you help me?" (Instead of saying, "So-n-so isn't sharing! - tattling and being an accuser of the brethren - I have them take ownership of the situation by saying I'm having a hard time with so-n-so, will you help me." Occasionally Omega will come to me for help but thus far Orion hasn't gotten to that point until today. Explosions of passion have been something we've been training him out of since he was two. I praise God the episodes have become less frequent, less intense and the duration have become much shorter. Self-control is being gained much more quickly these days (so for you mothers who are reading this and have become discouraged with your little one, I share what Janice shared with me "keep bending the twig") . Patience and self-control are being put on and anger and hastiness of spirit are being put off. Staying consistent, self controlled myself and praying for him have been my weapons in this warfare!)

The following quote is one that often gets me choked up.

God requires parents, by self-control, by an example of solid character building, to disseminate light within the immediate circle of their own little flock. No trifling, common conversation is to be indulged. God looks into every secret thing of life. By some a constant battle is maintained for self-control. Daily they strive silently and prayerfully against harshness of speech and temper. These strivings may never be appreciated by human beings. They may get no praise from human lips for keeping back the hasty words which sought for utterance. The world will never see these conquests, and if it could, it would only despise the conquerors. But in heaven's record they are registered as overcomers. There is One who witnesses every secret combat and every silent victory, and He says, "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."  {Adventist Home, 443} 

I highly value affirmation. In my past it has been a main motivator for whatever I did or didn't do. But now, I seek to please God (Gal 1:10). But, it's hard sometimes to hear God's affirmation. Sometimes the only thing I ever seem to hear is "You're a sinner. Your best is filth. You can't do anything without me. I love you though." Hmm....that takes some getting used to when you thrive on affirmation. This quote reminds me that though I may never receive praise from man, God sees my life differently and in heaven He thinks very highly of me and I'm a winner :)

My little boy is a winner too. God registered him today as a mighty conqueror. 

Silly

When I was young I can remember being really silly with my friend Juanita. We'd make up dumb words or phrases. We had a code language even where we'd put "sm" before every word (ie: smoo smou, smant smoo smow smith sme smoo sma smings?" = do you want to go with me to the swings?). We used to pretend we were on a deserted island while we both ate half a cantaloup with a spoon. We'd door-bell-ditch. We'd go romping in mud puddles after it rained. We'd dress up in bizarre outfits and do our hair crazy and let our imaginations take us wherever we wanted. We had pillow fights. We'd prank call people. We'd build forts out of blankets.

I've realized being a mom that I've completely lost my imagination. I have to really force myself to be silly for more than two minutes. I just don't know how to be really goofy. The things I used to find funny....I just don't find funny anymore. Some people might say "I've matured"..."I put away childish things."....

The problem is that my kids eat and breathe goofy. They thrive on silliness. From the time they wake up to the time they go to sleep they find a thousand things to laugh about. They are non-stop giggles and imagination. I want to be "one of them" but I don't know how. Omega invites me all the time, "Mom, do you want to play with us?" "Sure" I say, but then I don't know what to do. When I do try to make something up they tell me I should be doing something else. So, I default to just being the photographer.

I saw this picture on facebook and it was a good reminder to treasure each age and stage and moment of my children's life. They, like me, will grow up and won't be able to remember how silly and cute they were. They will forget how they said certain words and what kind of faces they made. But I don't want to forget. 

 So, here are some moments where I didn't know how to join them in their fun so I just took pictures :)

Omega got the courage to get her face wet in the bathtub and do funny things with her hair.

If I could put Orion in gymnastics I would. This kid always wants to be doing flips or crawling like an animal or posing like a stink-bug.

They got "married" (see Orion in his suit pants and Omega in her "wedding dress") I guess doing flips is part of the celebration process :)

I had these mesh bags in the truck to dry my sunflowers and the kids turned them into an opportunity to make their faces distorted so they could laugh at each other.

I'm driving along, coming back from the farm and I look over and think to myself, "my kids are hilarious. They look so retarded right now."

They put all the pillows and stuffed animals under the kitchen table and camped out there for a while.

In the bathtub Omega did Orion's hair and I got them to squish their cheeks together for a quick snap. Of course they have to make growling faces as if they are animals showing their teeth... ;)

Jesus said, "Unless ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter in to the kingdom of heaven." I'm starting to think that heaven will be this much fun because everyone will love each other and delight in the simple pleasures and not be so stressed out that they can't find the energy or the creativity to play.

The Birds and the Bees

Last night I flopped down on Omega's bed, waiting for her to finish changing into her pajamas, brushing her teeth and going to the bathroom. 

 So, when she was ready she came and laid on top of me as if I were going to give her a piggy back ride only we're laying flat. Then she said something I wasn't quite ready for. She said, "Mommy, is this how Daddies fertilize Mommies?"
"Uh oh." I thought to myself, "Here it comes. The sex talk every parent dreads. And she's only 6!"
"No, not quite" I say.
"How do they fertilize then?" She asks, wanting an explanation.
I decide to refer to management. "Go ask Daddy" I say. So she goes to Daddy's office and asks him. He says, "Just like bees!"
"How do bees do it?"
"I'll tell you later."
She comes back into the room and repeats everything Daddy just said.
"I want youuuuuuu to tell me." She begged.
"I know! Let's play the guessing game! I'm thinking of something and you have to guess what it is." She fell for it. I successfully distracted her inquisitive mind toward other things.

I knew it would come some day. I just wasn't prepared for it to come last night! I knew information was accumulating in her brain and the puzzle pieces were coming together, but I wasn't comfortable yet giving her the fuller picture.

Having a garden has been helpful. The word fertilizer is common vocabulary in our home. Every year they help spread rock powder fertilizer on each bed. They understand that it gives nutrition to the soil so the plants grow better. Then about a month ago they helped me shake the corn and watched the pollen fall onto the tassles below. I explained that we were fertilizing the corn. The pollen that fell onto the tassels helped the corn to grow inside the husks. So the Daddy corn fertilized the mommy corn and it grew baby corn.

One time we went to say hi to the cows and Omega said, "I think that's a mommy one...but it's nurse spots (udders) look different." So I had to break it to her.
"Actually that one is a boy." I explained.
"What are those dangly things then?" She wondered.
"Well, those hold fertilizer to fertilize the mommy cows so they can have babies."
"Oh"
Then she turned excitedly to Orion and said, "Orion, there's fertilizer in there!"
I just smiled at their excitement in learning something new.

Then we got roosters for our chickens. Poor hens. They literally get raped several times a day. No courtship, no "look how handsome I am, ya wanna get together?" Nope. The hens practically run for dear life trying to get away and then the rooster jumps on top of them, nips their neck with his beak and bangs away for a couple of seconds and then gets off. The hen then tries to "shake it off" and runs away again. When it's monsoon season she walks away with mud caked to her chest and muddy foot prints on her back. One of our chickens was injured for two months and we kept it on our back porch. Once it was well enough to let out the poor thing got raped like 7 times in a matter of 2 minutes. The kids tried to rescue it a bunch. They felt sorry for her. The kids say that he was "roosting her."

 Then the kids saw grasshoppers on top of each other and they realized, "Oh, the daddy is fertilizing the mommy." Hence, their conclusion that human mommies and daddies do the same. 


Last Friday we watched a video about the human body and of course they had to put a snippet in about reproduction. They showed how sperm swims into an egg and grows into a baby. Omega was sitting next to me and asks, "Mommy, what are those?"
I said, "They're like tadpoles that have to fertilize the mommy's egg so it can become a baby." That seemed to suffice her curiosity. (We have tadpoles that are growing into frogs currently in their little kiddie pool so the whole tadpole thing was very familiar to them right now).

So all of these together led up to the grand finale question she asked last night. I felt like it was just the other day that I was listening to "Let the Children Come Along the Innocent Way" and reading "Reflections of Moral Innocence: Learning to Communicate Sexual Knowledge with Dignity." By Gary and Anne Ezzo. I guess time has flown! Before I know it they'll be asking me about birth control!