Mat Man

One of John Caden's favorite preschool activities is building Mat Man while singing the "Mat Man Rock" song.  (It's actually one of Mommy's "favorites" too--there's a great musical interlude during which John Caden and I have a blast dancing together). :)

One Thousand Gifts

"Our fall was, has always been, and always will be, that we aren’t satisfied in God and what He gives.  We hunger for something more, something other," writes Ann Voskamp in her book One Thousand Gifts.  She continues, "How do I give up resentment for gratitude, gnawing anger for spilling joy?  Self-focus for God-communion.  To fully live—to live full of grace and joy and all that is beauty eternal…an emptier, fuller life...How did Jesus do it? He turned His eyes. ‘And looking up to heaven, he gave thanks...'  (Matthew 14:19).  He looked up to heaven, to see where this moment comes from.  Always first the eyes, the focus.” Thus Ann begins her journey of intentionally giving thanks/counting graces "to keep her gaze fixed on God."  As she "wrestles to name graces--- to see glory in the moment" she begins "the list. Not of gifts I want but of gifts I already have…I don’t even know they are gifts really until I write them down…Gifts He bestows…it is sort of like…unwrapping love...To name a thing is to manifest the meaning and value God gave it, to know it as coming from God…To name a thing, in other words, is to bless God for it and in it.” In her journey she learns that "...to give thanks is an action and rejoice is a verb and these are not mere pulsing emotions.  While I may not always feel joy, God asks me to give thanks in all things, because He knows that the feeling of joy begins in the action of thanksgiving...I am mother-tired, but when my soul doth magnify, my time doth magnify...Every breath’s a battle between grudgery and gratitude and we must keep thanks on the lips so we can sip from the holy grail of joy.” Ann concludes, "A life contemplating the blessings of Christ becomes a life acting the love of Christ.”

Motivated by Ann's "dare to live fully right where you are, my gratitude journal is lying open on its permanent home on the counter, enumerating moments, making a ledger of His love.”

And making it even a sweeter experience--Anna is counting her own graces right alongside me!  I love the accountability that God is already providing through my daughter--my sister in Christ!

“Bless the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits.” Psalm 68:19

Taking it Literally

While discussing the character trait of being "humble" during our character-building homeschool time this morning, I explained: "Being humble means not seeking personal attention or being prideful or bragging.  Philippians 2:4 talks about how God wants us to take our eyes off of ourselves and look not only to our own interests but to the needs/interests of others."  A puzzled look came across John Caden's face. Quite perplexed yet curious he asked, "But Mommy, how can we take our eyes off of ourselves?"  As he was raising his hands to his eyes to try to see if they could really come off, I quickly came up with a better explanation. :)

Art Class with Mrs. Heilman

Art class with Mrs. Heilman (a friend from church) is one of Anna's favorite weekly homeschool activities.  They've done a little bit of everything this year...learned art vocabulary, drawn self portraits, painted a nativity scene, learned to fold/cut paper dolls, made objects from clay, etc.  

Miss Peggy

Dear Miss Peggy,
Although we are excited in knowing that God has great plans for you and your family as you move to New Jersey, we will never forget the blessing you have been to Anna and John Caden as their gymnastics coach over the past 3 years.  You have meant so much to our family.
- Do you know that if it hadn't been for you we probably wouldn't be doing gymnastics today? (Remember Anna's first trial lesson and how scared she was of doing "pizza rolls" and how you had to hold her hands and jump with her to get her to jump on the trampoline?  Remember talking to me on the phone afterwards and convincing me to bring her back?)
- Do you know that while John Caden sat in the green stroller and watched from the sidelines, nearly every week he would ask "When can I have Miss Peggy?"
- Do you know how many Kleenex we went through when it was time for Anna to be moved up and out of your class?
- Do you know how many times John Caden randomly says throughout the week, "I love Miss Peggy"?
- Do you know that John Caden's favorite day of the week is Tuesday--because that's his gymnastics day?
- Do you know that on Wednesdays John Caden starts asking how many days before it's his gymnastics day again?
- Do you know that on Anna's gymnastics days, John Caden doesn't like for us to drop Anna off and leave-- he pleads, "Please, may we stay so that I can sit and watch Miss Peggy?"
- Do you know that one of the sweetest prayers I've ever heard John Caden pray was for you?  "Dear God, Thank you for Miss Peggy.  Please help her to be silly with me at gymnastics."
- Do you know that you get more hugs from John Caden than even his own Mama does?

We love you Miss Peggy! You will always have a special place in our hearts!

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back. (May I add--may you often think of John Caden being your little shadow always at your back). :)

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

One Man Band

A cute singing boy, a little pink piano, and Daddy's guitar---what else do you need for a one man band???

Sibling Love

Anna convinced John Caden to stand beside her for "one quick second" for a picture today -- surprisingly he honored her request.

John Caden's Morning Rituals

 He "feeds" his "puppies"-- painstakingly taking the time to make sure their ears are not in their bowls, etc...

and then he's off to chasing trains around the house.

There's nothing much cuter than seeing a boy sprawled out on the floor with his beloved trains!

Hooray for Spring!

Hard Working Boy

So proud of this boy!!! John Caden shoveled mulch for 4 hours to help us get our dump truck load of mulch spread out before the rain came.  When I told him at the end of the day what a hardworker he was he humbly said, "Well, Poppa was a good helper to me."  Thank you John Caden! (And so grateful that Poppa could come and be your "helper").