6 Years And A Whole Lotta Life Later

Today Jed is 6 years old. I know that 6 really isn't that old in the grand scheme of things, but when Justin teasingly said that 1/3 of his life living at home is gone, I couldn't help but get sad. 6 years has flown by. Since Jed's birth we have lived in 3 states, 5 houses/apartments, 4 jobs and have had 3 more children. That's a whole lotta life right there! What is sad is that it feels like we have slowed down a lot, but the fact is, life is just now starting to "happen"! We are gearing up for another move (thankfully in the same state), new jobs and back to school for Justin--sometimes I feel we are moving backwards instead of forwards.

Back to Jed: this week he got his first loose tooth, and I cried. He has been anxiously waiting for this huge milestone in his life to happen (all his friends have started loosing teeth--hence the anxiety) When I asked them what they thought the Toothfairy does with all the teeth, Jed thought she builds her castle with them, Jadyn thinks she keeps them all in a buried treasure. Then I asked how much money they thought she leaves, Jed was absolutely certain she leaves $1,000.00. However, Jadyn thinks she only leaves 5 pennies. I tried to convince them that a dollar would be a great amount--Jed was stuck on that thousand though! (oh, will he be surprised!) He has grown up into a boy. His long, lean frame shows no more signs of chubby, cuddly baby fat. His facial features are distinct, and his sense of humor is sadly maturing. He now loves to stay up late and watch "that funny show" with Daddy. (thankfully, he doesn't get why everyone laughs, but just enjoys laughing when everyone else laughs--I remember doing the same thing watching Johnny Carson in my parents room when I was his age) He is now at the age that he will make memories--he will remember where we lived, certain friends, places we go....This makes me want to make thoses memories happy ones for him--as they will be a part of who he grows up to be. How I need to remember that his experiences and the words I choose to use, or more important the tone I chooseto use, will all be a part of how he is molded into the man he will be. By the grace of God, I pray for my oldest son: that he will be a man of Godly character, a man of integrity, a heart to love even the unlovely, to give above and beyond what is expected because he desires to bless those around him, a man who values what God values who has a passion for the lost, one who has an incredible relationship with his family, his brother and sisters, who will honor and love his wife above all other earthly things; and will have a heart to love and have a relationship like no other with his children.

Happy Birthday Jedidiah! I love you!
Mommy

Obedience Brings Blessing, Disobedience Brings Consequence

This little saying was spoken by Travis Cottrell at the Beth Moore conference I attended last weekend. He talked about how his wife reminded their 3 little ones this on a recent trip to Walmart. I liked the saying, so I stole it! I have been repeating it to the kids off and on this past week, and today was able to put it into full practice. I had been trying to explain what the saying meant by telling them about different ways blessings and consequences happen. I didn't think they quite understood, but today, I am convinced that they understand and hope that their memory will serve them correctly in the future.

After Jed's speech session this morning, I decided we could run to Walmart and pick up just a few things we needed (mainly potting soil for the flowers I purchased on Saturday, but ran out of soil...and milk). Jed convinced me that we should drive the extra few miles to the new Walmart because it was so much nicer and cleaner, and of course because the friendly Spiderman is at our neighborhood Walmart. (the boy watches too much tv!) So, I am happy to oblige, because yes, it is in fact way nicer then the old one. I remind them all that with obedience comes blessing--which today just might be a donut, but with disobedience comes consequence = no donut. 1/2 mile into the trip Jadyn starts interrupting my conversation I am having with Jed. This brings a great opportunity to talk about obedience--doing what I ask her to do by not interrupting. This is followed by a melt down. Blakley then decides to start "bugging" her brother in the back seat, which leads to brother being irritated and frustrated, which leads to pushing, threatening, pinching, and whisper yelling (you know the yelling you do so that mom and dad don't hear you.) As we pull into the PERFECT parking space I inform them that their disobedience in the car has led them to consequence and no one will be getting a donut. I instruct them that they need to all stop crying because the consequence is a direct action of their disobedience in the van. As we get out of the van, standing outside in the parking lot I turned and looked at my beautiful blessings all still crying at the top of their lungs so, we climb back in the van, buckle up, and head home. So much for my perfect parking space. No potting soil for my flowers, no milk and no friendly Spiderman at our neighborhood Walmart. Instead, we had a lesson in obedience and disobedience, sometimes you just gotta teach the lesson instead of what my flesh wanted to do. My flesh wanted to grab my kids by the arm, "whisper-yell" threats into their ear that they better be quiet and obey in the store or they will "get it" when they get home. The silence all the way home, the apologies each of the kids made to me (on their own--no prompting) and the attitude they have had since being home shows me that lessons learned are possibly inconvenient and take time, but isn't a lesson learned better than a threat made out of frustration and anger?

So, guess what I get to do tonight after Justin gets home, dinner is made, eaten and cleaned up, baths are given, Bible stories are read and nightlights are all on--Yes, I think I have a date with our friendly Spiderman at our neighborhood Walmart!

Sign Language

Well, I mentioned it last week and sure enough this week wasn't any different--just a different kid. Monday morning Jed woke up not feeling well. We had just got back in town--the kids spent the weekend at my in-laws and I figured that he was just totally worn out from playing outside for 4 days with his cousins. By noon his fever was high and he was obviously really sick. Of course, the doctor was closed for lunch so at 1:15 I got a hold of the nurse who I was hoping would just send a prescription in for me (as I thought he had a sinus infection), luckily, she thought Dr. Gray needed to see him, so I texted Justin (who was in staff meeting) and he snuck out during prayer in order that I would not have to wake 2 of the other 3 from their naps to haul them all in to the dr. office. At this time, Jed was moaning and very convincingly telling me that he could in no way walk and would need to be carried. (this put no doubt in my mind that he IS his father's son--I felt like I was taking care of Justin when he is sick--praise God Justin is rarely sick because it literally WEARS me out!) I get Jed to the Dr. and he is broken out in goosebumps and is hovering at a 102.9 degree fever. The nurse immediately gives him motrin and has him lie down to bring the fever down. We finally see the Doctor, go down stairs to get the throat culture--which I already knew was going to be positive because Jed gets a very distinct smell when he has strep and I smelled it carrying him (all 50 pounds I found out when he was weighed) through the parking garage,up the elevator to cross the skybridge, in the elevator back to the 2nd floor, and down the hall to Dr. Gray's office. So, we have the prescription sent to Walgreens, get back to the van and head to Sonic (a tradition after a visit to the doctor). Later that night, Jed's ear starts causing significant pain. I call my best friend at 10:30 pm (who else would you call at 10:30 at night?) and she leaves ear drops in her mail box, being as her daughter just had an ear infection. So, I send my wonderful husband--who snuck out of his staff meeting early, to Kristen's house at 11:15 at night (we had a couple over that we are conducting premarital counseling with) to retrieve the ear drops so that Jed would not be screaming all night. As I was holding Jed on the couch with him every few minutes grabbing his ear and moaning, he looked up at me and in his most calm voice and matter of factly he says, "Mom, I guess I am going to have to learn sign language." After a little giggle that he would think of such a thing, my heart broke. He was so calm and in his little mind he thought that he was never going to be able to hear again and he was ok with that. That's my boy~such a tender heart, so brave and strong. It is days like this that I am proud to be a mom. To comfort, love, and hold--when all they want is to be held (or carried) by their Mommy--life is good, God is good, I am blessed.

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

Jed did it at 3 1/2 months. Who knows when Blakley and Jadyn did it, because I: 1.)never even got a baby book for Blakley and 2.) even though I did purchase a baby book for Jadyn, never got past the guest list from her shower, so I don't have any real records of the girl's "firsts". I know I am a horrible mom when it comes to this kinda thing. So, anyway, I was thinking he was never going to do it--I mean he will be 7 months in 12 days--what was the hold up. Is it because he is the baby, my sweet, sweet boy who may possibly be my last baby? or Because I rarely let him play on the floor due to the fact that his brother and sisters love to play with pennies and marbles, therefore, I am constantly picking them up and I have a fear of him choking? Probably. Well, since being back in town after seeing my cousin's son, Noah, who is 3 days older than Judson roll and roll and roll, I figured it was time to spread his wings and let him "roll". It only took 2 days, and once he got the hang of it-he rolled and he rolled and he rolled and he rolled! It was so cute! Now I am feeling better in the mom category--now we just got to work on him sleeping all night!!! Did I mention that Jed also crawled at 7 months and walked at 9 months---we are far behind, but that is ok, because Judson is so precious and sweet and easy going--he may be 18 months before he decides to get up and walk.