A Sweet Image

We recently attended a relative's birthday party. At the end of the party, the kids all took the balloons and released them outside. Todd, my son, loved this. He was really excited about this idea.

We went to the dollar store a week or so after he had released the balloons. He asked to buy a blue, star-shaped balloon. I agreed. As soon as we stepped outside, he asked to let it go. I asked him to wait until we got home. He fell asleep on the way home, and I forgot about it. The next day he saw it and wanted to let it go. We stood by the car and watched it fly up. He, again, was very excited. We got into the car and he described to me the following....

"Mommy, God just reached down and got His balloon." I asked him what did God do with the balloons. He said, "Oh, He holds them". I asked him did God hold them just for a minute or a long time. He said, "Forever and He knows that balloon was from me".

It hit me. What a touching and sweet image of God. Can you picture God holding every balloon that has ever been released. Todd went on to say that balloons made God happy. I am so glad that Todd, who is only 3, has such a warm impression of Christ. I have not been able to get that picture of God holding balloons out of my mind. Perhaps that is what is meant when we hear that heaven is going to be a happy place. Maybe that is why the Bible says to be like a child. Just maybe we will receive balloons upon our return. An amazing thought from a child's mind!

Hurt

Last night, it was just about time for Todd to go to bed. He had stayed up a little later than usual so he could see Daddy (he had to work late). He had rounded the corner and was running at a fast pace to see Daddy and he ran, full force, into the corner of the footboard. I was on the computer in the other part of the house and heard the impact. He came crying to me for comfort. He wanted me to get the "hurt off of him". As I was calming him down, I kept thinking about how much I wanted to get his pain to tranfer to me so he wouldn't hurt. Through that experience, I was reminded of how Christ must feel on a constant basis. I cannot imagine the hurt he must endure. He tried to take that pain away on that horrific day, yet we turn our backs on Him so often. He was so willing to sacrifice His life for us, and yet we, so often, can be just like those who beat Him and cursed His name. I pray that I can remember the pain I experienced last night when Todd was hurt and us that as a reminder that Christ suffered the ultimate pain for me.

Parenting trials

You know, being a parent can be so hard!! My son really loves to go to the church on Mondays and watch daddy play volleyball. Well, he plays with his friends while daddy plays volleyball. It is a fun thing for all of us. Today, Todd was throwing a fit. I told him to stop or he would not get to go to the game. Instead of stopping, he chose to kick it up a notch. When I told him he wasn't going to go, he got upset. I hated to take that away, but he has to learn to get himself under control. The sad thing is, once he did calm down, he said in a weepy voice, " My friends are going to be sad because I am not there". How sad. However, I know that he had to receive discipline or else he would intensify that response to get his way. Boy it can be hard, though!!!

Dancing with the Stars

I have to admit that I have watched Dancing with the Stars this season. I had never watched it but Jerry Rice caught my attention. I have loved this show. It is all about hard work and dedication. I even voted to keep Jerry Rice in the finals. I will admit that he is not the best dancer, but he is the most out of his environment. Drew is the best dancer and deserves to win. He has dominated. Stacy is good, but not as good as Drew. I am looking forward to the ending! Who do you think will win?

Cabo San Lucas

My husband and I just returned from a 4 day all expenses paid trip to Cabo. It was a lot of fun. The weather was perfect!!! We stayed right on the beach so we could walk down to the beach. We also enjoyed a sunset cruise, although it was cloudy. We were able to see 4 whales that looked amazing. It was one of those times when you enjoyed the creations God has given us. We got lost at one point and saw the citizen's real living conditions. We are such a blessed country!

Wished I had another child.

My husband and I have been trying to have another child for a year. This has been difficult because we were able to get pregnant right off with my son. I have a wonderful relationship with my mom and would love to have a daughter to share times with like my mom and I have. What is the most frustrationg is that people that do not want children have them all of the time! I was going to the mall the other day and saw a woman with 7 children and another one on the way. I wondered if she wanted that many children or if it was against her religion to take birth control and she is hoping to not have any more. I hope that some day soo we will be able to have another child: boy or girl. But, atleast God gave us the most wonderful son!!!

Todd and Santa

Thanksgiving

This is the first Thanksgiving I have felt that Todd had some concept of what was going on. We decided to make placemats for his grandparents and us. We traced his hand and made it into a turkey. He colored and stamped all over it. Then I asked him to tell me something he was thankful for dealing with that person. He really understood. This is another eye-opening experince that reminds me of two things: he is not a little baby anymore and our time we have spent praying and talking about being thankful for things God has given us was making a lasting impression. What a great time!!

You did WHAT!!!

As I have mentioned, I have a 3 year old son. He is the joy of my life, but today he decided to sure test that!!! I had taken a shower. He had gone and started the water in his sink and stopped it up. He came in my room laughing and saying that the water was going everywhere. He was not underestimating this. I walked in his bathroom and water was everywhere. In places, it covered my toes!!!! I t was under his sink. It took about 10-12 towels and a sheet to sop-up the mess!! What was he thinking?

Sense of Humor

My son has been funny for quite some time. However, a great deal of that was unintentional. Last night, he was funny and he knew exactly what he was doing! We were going to go to Burger King to eat. He began to say that it was closed. I argued back that it was not. We continued this back and forth until I asked why it was closed. He could not explain it well, but he attempted to actually give me an answer and it all was believable. I started thinking that my husband had tried to take him on Saturday and it was closed. I finally started to weaken my stance and believe this may be true. Then he began laughing and said, "No, Iam just playing with you"! Now that was humor. As my husband said we have got a sarcastc kid on our hands! He is growing up so fast!!!

Haircut

Well, we managed to get my son's haircut, again. Boy, I do not know why he hates them so. I have to say, he did get his ear clipped. However, that was sooo long ago! He did it this time without shedding a tear. We were glad it wasn't the physical hold-down this time. I guess in life we all things that we strongly dislike. That is part of life!

why is it?

Why is it that people.....
1). Appreciate people when they are gone
2). Turn on people when we disagree
3). Feel the need to ALWAYS be right
4). Judge people by outward appearances not the heart


It seems that we are lost as a people. We are often so far from where we eneed to be. I often wonder what God would tell us if he were here today. I am sure he is shaking His head. After all, would we want Him to use these criteria? I don't think so!

Sleeping Child

As I mentioned, I have a 3 year old boy. He is above average for his size. He looks like a 4-5 year old. Last night, I went to open his door when we went to bed. He was all covered up so I could not see that he is so big. I looked at him and it took me back to his baby days. He had his hands beside his head, just as he did as an infant. for that moment, it was as if he were a baby again. I love those memories. They are so precious. Time really flies! Each age brings different joys and, of course, trials. What a blessing my son is!!

The Moon

I was driving to the store with my 3 year old tonight. He wanted to find the moon and watch it as we drove. He suddenly got very excited. He said "Mommy, the moon is following us to the store". I was confused at first until I realized that it looked like the moon was moving when we moved. He was saying that it went everywhere we went. That was a statement that made an impression. That is the way we should view Christ. No matter where we go, He is there if we choose to locate Him and follow Him. That is such a comfort and one that I need to rely on regularly!