Category: Uncategorized (Page 131 of 188)

H loves the vacuum cleaner. It’s like a party in his living room. Even better, he wants to participate. So when the blue monster makes an appearance, he goes out to retrieve his golf club caddy from the Florida room and wheels it back and forth wherever Mommy missed a spot. Absolutely adorable.

The first reaction to help fuel the fire for this cleaning tendency was for a miniature vacuum to appear. Like his miniature grill. And miniature wheelbarrow. And miniature rocking chair. And miniature basketball hoop. I guess if you weren’t careful and you arrived through the back door at our house you might feel as if you just stepped into Wonderland where everything is a size too small.

But as I was telling Husband this evening, I think I’d prefer H not get a vacuum. I really like that he’s using his imagination and the next closest thing to a vacuum in his miniature world happens to be a golf caddy. It pushes, it’s long and skinny with a handle… it does the trick. It takes a lot more imagination to see objects in a new way rather than adding to the collection of objects.

He does not get this imaginative gift from his mother. My gift of creativity is definately not in the land of make believe, though I wish it were. So I was telling a few friends tonight that because I’ll be spending more time at home with the kiddos, I need to be extra responsible to provide a variety of activities that encourage imagination. My old go-to is “where’s a ball?” but that probably needs to be reserved for the times that I just need. him. entertained.

So what I need is a list. I’m super at lists. I can check them off. (See? No creativity required). Songs to sing, activities to provide. Perhaps Monday morning we’ll do songs but Wednesday afternoon we’ll craft it up (which is a whole new world of needing lists and a book of ideas). I want to make “normal life” possible for H to not just watch but participate. We’ve been making these type of attempts at cooking (he LOVES!) but surely there’s a way that he can do some hands-on with the other things of life. Ways that we can open up the world to seeing things in a new light. Where golf caddies become vacuum cleaners.

Thanks to the world of Little Tykes and Baby Einstein, there are always ready-to-buy versions but I really think that they’re lacking. We just can’t buy imagination (though Playskool would like to market it like they can). So I’m trying to come up with a way to encourage that through birthday-ness, which will be here before we know it.

Of course H gets bored with his toys and we have to keep a constant rotation going, but I’m wondering if there’s a way that his gifts could be plastic-less – and not just because of some BPA warning. What kind of objects that could be purposefully placed in his path that he could play with using imagination and not just by following the instructions? A paper towel roll has as much credence in this house as the toy barn because the paper towel role can be a telescope, a megaphone, a magic wand AND a baton. The barn is… well… a barn. But we do have fun naming the animals.

So I need ideas on some “suggestive selling” to those who like to give H things. What common objects make the best toys that could become a part of H’s repertoire? How do we not just ask for a paper towel role (because, let’s face it – the grandmas will be disappointed)? And would I be Bad Mom of the Year if I asked for a list of suggested activities to go with said objects? You know, something I could check off? Because if he were to receive, say, a bag of rice, I would not be able to come up with something to put it in so that the imagination could come bursting forth. We’d probably just cook a chinese-inspired dish for dinner. But he would help cook it.

Now here’s where you come in, my bloggy friends. Comments must abound. Tell me what to do. So that I may check it off the list.

I’m a visionary type. Looooove to dream big. Often times unattainable dreams. And the number of instances in which I let my ideas run away with my mouth in the presence of KLM typically lead me to trouble, such as instances of driving around at 9pm taping bags of freshman kits to mailboxes. The reason we work well as a team lies in the fact that I’m brilliant in ideas and she’s brilliant in delivery (not that she hasn’t had a killer idea or two in her day – but I’m often beyond grateful for her delivery capabilities).

But there is something to be said for simplicity. I’m learning that with little ones. Vacations don’t need to be grand excursions – the beach at Indian Lake has as many magical sand castles to build as one on the Mexican Rivera. Animals are as exotic at the county fair as in the African safari, because they’re all new to explore.

So when I slow down, I really enjoy days like yesterday. So many of H & M’s cousins made an appearance at the fair! They rode rides, ate pork burgers and danced around the midway (ok, some of them were throwing stones and laying on the midway. Namely, mine).

Not everyone gets to see their cousins on a near-weekly basis at times. Not everyone operates in a way that we each grab a stroller and keep on the lookout for runaway toddlers. At one point my cousin Brad retrieved H just like he was his own. Call me crazy, but I felt like it was a sacred moment. My kids are blessed.

I do love the simplicity of sharing times with family. Riding rides, eating unhealthy food, just enjoying the presence of one another. And I love that my family values it enough that some come from many miles to make sure their kids are a part of it as well.

Blessed. Another marker for my list of this beautiful life.

A few weeks ago, Mark the Youth Director asked us each to share why we were present at the meeting, committing to a year of youth-filled Sunday nights. He shared about the amazing summer he’d just wrapped up and we each took turns trying to explain why we’d spend a few hours each week with the kids. I had trouble putting my finger on it – my generalization was when they had one of those aha! moments. I do love that moment.

But this Saturday took the cake. Well, cupcakes, to be more specific. One of the kids from my youth directing days pledged his love and commitment to a beautiful young lady, and I was privileged to be a witness. I watched as he couldn’t stop giving her kisses (I’m pretty sure he paid people to clink their glasses). I heard the speeches as Casey’s family said all the wonderful things about him and praised the man that he has become.

I put on my big girl pants and didn’t cry. Out of sheer joy. For him.

Over the past few years, communication dwindled with Scott, like so many others that I thought about and prayed for for so long. Messages in passing, prayers when I remembered his trips and lots of asking his dad about how things were going. So when the invitation arrived I nearly piddled on the floor with glee.

Oh, what an evening. The beauty of love realized and Christ celebrated. It was enchanting. To top it off, we were seated with another wonderful family of which I have fond memories, and I had the opportunity to chat it up with several other kids-who-are-no-longer-kids. Extrovert hangover, for sure.

But back to the beauty. I took it upon myself to steal Scott away for a few, just to tell him how thrilled I was for his joyous day and to offer best wishes on his marriage. And I did make sure to ask (albeit, 5 hours too late if his response was negative) if the lucky lady *knew* what a wonderful guy she had in him. I think she does.

Scott tried to tell me “thanks” for “all you’ve done for me.” And the compliment was appreciated, but completely backward. Sure, I put in a few hours planning bible studies and events that had a goal of helping him grow in his relationship with Christ. Maybe it did, but only God really knows. And as it says, I’m just watering the garden, I can’t cause anything to grow anyway.

But as I was watering a seed that was planted & tended long before me (by a whole family, really), I was standing in pouring down rain. I was soaked to the bone with blessings to just have had the experience of walking through life with Scott, and with so many of the other kids. Even if at an arms length away.

It sounds cliche, I know. I wish I could draw it as a picture or explain it with better words. While helping these kids was nice, what really makes my eyes well up and my heart skip a beat is seeing them so insanely content. Exploding with love. Ready to take on new challenges. Loving others. Seeking God. There’s no other word I can use to explain it except beautiful.

I don’t say that with an air of wearing a sticker that says “I helped make that” (I’ve read the studies and I’m cool with it). If I were to pick a sticker that most describes my feelings, it would say, “Wow. What a privilege that God has let me know this kid and watch him grow into so much. How was I so lucky to get to know him along the way? My life is much more rich with this relationship.”

Mark’s question was difficult because it was backward. I feel like the peasant coming up to the offering with all I have, but in comparison to the blessings, it really is only petty cash. Whatever I can offer any student really doesn’t come close when put into the light of the blessing of relationships. To have one, with any kid, is worth far more.