School Called (Kind of)

This post is a response to my recent moment at the pulpit, where I shared that social media can often make people feel inadequate because of all the "successes and praises" that people share.

I thought I'd share one of those things that rarely gets mentioned on social media. Those things we aren't proud of but happen every day! I'll go first and maybe you'd like to chime in on your [not so] shining moments as a parent.

I went to pick up the little guys from school today and encountered the teacher of my older son. They had their annual swim day so I asked if my son came home with his towel. She said, "I don't know, but did he tell you what happened at the pool?"

"No." I replied, "What happened?"

Pride started welling up inside me. "I bet he jumped in to help someone who was struggling in the pool," I thought. I even stood taller as she began to share the story.

Isaac had been in the bathroom with a group of boys who were attempting to flush someone's underwear down the toilet.  

As each word exited her lips, my shoulders slumped a little more.

No- he didn't actually participate in the flushing, but became "guilty by association" for being in there while it happened.

*SIGH* 

That's it. My shame for the day. What else is there to say?

Home

All of my kids have been readers and my youngest is no exception! Xzavier learning to r

Maybe it's nostalgia that reminds me that Xzavier is my last to have all these firsts. I've enjoyed every part of watching my kids learn and feel so blessed to have been home to see it all happen!

The other night Will and I and the kids were laughing at some of the funny video clips we have on the computer. One of them was Savannah, Isaac and Jaden outside when I caught them singing. I quickly grabbed my camera and caught them. In the midst of the song, Jaden (with his deep toddler voice) interjected his favorite part of Gavin Degraw's song Chariot.  When we finished I was in tears. Will grabbed my shoulder and said, "Aren't you glad you were home to see that?" 

I've always known how blessed I was to stay home with my kids. Blessed of God through the hard work and determination of my husband to make sure it happened! 

Book Review: Heroes and Villains of the Bible

I was so happy to receive this free copy of Heroes and Villans of the Bible through Thomas Nelson to review. It was something I had been excited to do because of my four children that are just at the right age to benefit from this "adventure" Bible.

Heroes and Villains reads like a comic book with fantastic illustrations and stories my kids have heard for years. The difference is that now instead of the stories being told to them, they are seeking them out themselves. 
It's a great way to get your kids in the practice of daily Bible reading.

It's not a complete Bible but it's a great place to start with stories of the faithfulness of God, obedience and disobedience and the repercussion of both.

My Baby isn't a Baby

My last baby lost his first tooth today. Maybe he lost it last night. The reason for the confusion is that we didn't notice it was lost until 9:15a.m, two hours after we woke up.

While combing Xavier's hair he smiled in the mirror and I said, "Hey, your tooth!" He threw his arms in the air and screamed, "Ah! My tooth!!" I said, "Wait, where is it?" He screamed again and ran out of my room screaming excitedly, "My tooth, my tooth, where is it?"

Honestly, I thought there was no way we'd see it again. I mean when and where did it get lost? He'd already had eggs, bacon and pancakes. I figured he swallowed it.

I suggested we crawl on our hands and knees from his room to my room as a place to start. Then I realized that he had come to my bed in the wee hours of the morning. Will thought he probably knocked it out in his sleep. I told them to start looking in the bed.

Isaac, our nine year old seeing his opportunity to help runs to the bed and starts throwing the pillows everywhere and voila'!! The tooth was there, just waiting to be found!!

Xzavier has been nervous for weeks thinking through how his tooth would fall out, wondering if it was going to hurt or bleed. Now he's so proud. He's looking forward to when his next one falls out.

As his mom, I'm proud too. But I keep thinking, how did we get here? Wasn't it just last week when I was juggling a newborn, two toddlers and a kindergartner?