When I grow up.....

This morning Carter told blurted out "When I grow up, Mommy, I want to be a Pastor!".  Be still my heart!  That was one of the sweetest things that could come from him.  Not because that is what I want him to be, but because it is from HIS heart and it shows me he has a heart for God.  He's always been very aware of God, creation, and heaven.  We have a lot of talks and there is nothing like the innocence of a child of God.  No one is without blemish or sin, but there is something about a true childlike faith that I think just warms the Lord's heart. 

 Our little Carter in 2006

I don't know what God's plan for Carter is, but I just pray that he will follow Him all the days of his life.....even Carter realizes how much he is loved by God and how special he is!

"The Dump"

Today Carter was walking around the house with a bucket and a hat on.  He would go back and forth between rooms pretending he was bringing his trash to the dump.  I found this so amusing.  Before the dump, he was "strawberry picking" with his "wife" (Emilie).  He's in a great imaginitive stage right now.

I love the fact that there was no shame in simply pretending to bring his trash to the dump.  No- it's not glamorous, but it's life.  Tim has to do that once in a while.  I have to say, I think the reason I found it so great is that I used to go to the dump with my dad every Saturday.  And can I tell you a secret?  When I am at my parents' house even at my age.....if I'm there on a weekend and have the opportunity, I STILL make my dad wait for me so I can go to the dump with him.  Why is it that those are the memories that stay with us?!  It's those small things that we remember.  Not the toys we had or the what's-her-name that was at our tenth birthday party.....or the grades we got or that time we sat in a time-out.  It's the everyday moments we share with our children that they will remember.  One thing Carter loves is going to the Home Depot with Tim, among many things.  And I love that 

We will never be perfect parents, but may our children remember the time we spent with them and how we spent it.......whether at home or at the dump.

Quick Quotes

All compliments of Carter, of course.

Lily- "Carter, is that your friend over there?"
Carter- (looking up) "No.  There is my friend!  GOD."

Lily- "Who's boat is that?" (we have our neighbors boat on our property)
Carter- "Oh, it's a LONG story."

After receiving a surprise outside our door today:
"Play Dough- boy I am glad to see that!"

Don't Talk to Strangers.....

Sometimes I feel like (even thought my kids are little) the things I say go in one ear and out the other.  Welcome to motherhood you say!  As most of you know, my kids are anything but shy.  Never have been shy, and never will.  Because of this, the kids tend to make friends with anyone- young or old!  Doesn't matter who they are or where they came from.  If they speak, bark, cry, or meow (among other things) they WILL befriend you.

The worst of it started about three months ago.  I had ordered groceries online (yay!) and the only delivery time was between 6-8 am.  I hoped it would be 8.  That morning, Tim left early.  Next thing I knew, Carter was in my room saying that "they" were here.  I assumed he had seen the truck outside.  I said "Where are they?" and he said "They are by daddy's backpack in the living room."  Hmm....that's weird.  So I throw on my bathrobe and head out to the living room.  And there they were.....all the groceries.  And there SHE was.  The grocery lady.  Standing there in my living room.  She says "Oh, he's so sweet!"  Yup.  Carter had opened the door and let her in.  She had unloaded all the groceries.  And all the while, she never wondered where the mom was, or didn't think it was strange a three year old was all alone?!  I was horrified!  It was then I attempted the "stranger talk" with Carter.  Unfortunately, we've had a few since, and they don't seem to be helping. 

So for the past couple of weeks we have- for the first time- had a consistent mail lady coming.  We used to be a "pick up route" and whoever made it to deliver the mail- and whenever they delivered it was up to them.  This new lady comes every day at a normal time and she drives the mail truck (which my kids love....the other people always walked). 

Today she happened to come right when we were getting home.  Of course, my kids, not taking any of the "stranger" talks I have taught them to mind, went right to her and started talking.  She was very sweet, thankfully. 

Here is what went down:  She now knows the kids names, ages, and birthdays.  Carter invited her to his Chitty Chitty birthday party and then proceeded to tell me that if he invited her, she would say "Thank you-that is very sweet, Carter."  She will be back tomorrow, her name is Mary, and she's no longer a stranger.  This is everything that went on between her and my kids.  Guess they don't even need me! 

Let's just hope they both keep their friendly personalities and I'll keep relying on the Lord to watch over them and keep them safe!!

In other news, today Carter kissed me and told me he didn't want me to die......

.....stay tuned for THAT talk.

Race Car Mom

Just a little something to add to your day:  Yesterday we went to a friends house for dinner.  After we arrived, Carter hopped out of the car, gave me a big hug and said "Thank you, Mommy!" I was a little confused so I said "For what?" to which he responded.....

"For driving super fast down the highway!"

I love that he THINKS I drive fast.  I'm sure if you asked Tim, he would think differently!!

Who says minivans can't be race cars?!

Welcome to the Neighborhood!

So a new neighbor moved in across the street.  It's a young couple.  Yesterday, the husband came over to ask a question and introduce himself since the kids and I were outside.  We chatted and I answered his question.  Then he was ready to leave.......or so he thought.

Let me clarify that I had never met or seen this person before- and neither had my kids.  So- the man is about to leave when I look down.  Thank goodness I did.  Carter had hooked a bungee cord to the man's shoe lace and connected it to his bike.....all while we were talking.  I was horrified.  All I could think to say to Carter was, "Carter, we don't hook people we just met."  Yup, couldn't come up with anything better. 

Needless to say, the neighbor was very understanding.  I'm not sure if he was faking it or not, but I have to say- his wife is pregnant with their first baby (A BOY) and for a minute, I think I saw sheer terror in his eyes.

BOYS WILL BE BOYS!

They are Precious in His Sight.....And He In Theirs

Easter Sunday was such a wonderful day!  The weather was gorgeous, the service was amazing, and time with friends was treasured.  The kids were very excited about Easter this year- especially Carter.  This year is different than the years past.  He is getting old enough to truly understand Easter and why we celebrate it.  We did the Resurrection Eggs, as I had mentioned before, and we tried to read a different Easter book in the couple of weeks leading up to it- some just for fun (Easter Bunny!) and some more serious.  His heart is so precious and lately he has really been grasping who God is and what Jesus did for us.  Easter was no exception- he woke up and I said "He has risen!" and Carter responded "He has risen indeed!"  All day he was very excited about this. 

What I really wanted to share is something Carter did.  Usually he goes to Sunday School while Tim and I attend the service.  I thought it might be  nice to be together in the service for Easter, so I asked Carter if he wanted to come in with us.  He was quite excited at the prospect of coming to "our class" with us, as he calls it.  He was such a good boy and he stood with us as we sang some awesome songs of Christ's resurrection.  When it came time for the teaching (sermon), Carter sat nicely drawing in a notebook I had brought in for him.  All of a sudden, Carter taps me on the leg and whispers (loudly, as a three year old would) "I drew a picture of Jesus."  I looked down, not expecting to see much, but what I found brought tears to my eyes.  Carter had drawn Jesus (belly button and all) with thorns on his head and crosses on his hands (so sweet).  We talked about Jesus dying in great detail this year- so this is Carter's impression of what Christ did for HIM and for all of us.  When we talked about the story, it made Carter sad that Jesus had to wear the crown of thorns and that it hurt him.  It was so precious to me that he understands what he does at such a young age.  This drawing will be so dear to me at he gets older.  I hope I always have a child-like faith as Carter does.

After this, Carter continued his drawing and this time made it clear that he wanted to draw the tomb.  He began, and when he was almost finished, he asked Tim (again, in a very loud whisper) to help him draw an angel.  I again thought it was so sweet that he understood the story so well and that he was excited that Jesus was not there- that He had risen!!  My favorite part is that when his drawing was finished, he leaned over to me and asked me how to spell "He is Risen"......and after telling him letter by letter, he wrote it out and completed his drawing of the tomb (stone and all).  May Carter's drawings speak loudly- and may he always have the courage and the excitement to share his faith with others! 

Happy Easter everyone- He Is Risen!!