August Photo Roundup

"But September's almost over!" you say. Yeah, I've been slacking. So here are some photos I always meant to post, but never got a round tuit. They're hard to come by lately. Now that I've found one, I can post these and get on with things.
C-note tolerating some digging fingers for about 60 seconds.
Bathtime fun!
Protective big brother.
Waiting for a friend.
A "callapidder."

Lessons from a Preschooler

It was a beautiful day. A day much like the one in these photos: perfect for flying our spin box kite.
These pictures are from August. We're flying C-note's birthday kite for the first time. Anyways, back to the story. It was last Tuesday. A-team went down for his afternoon nap, and C-note and I went outside. The breeze gently tugged the kite upwards and soon it was spinning in the sky. We went out to the field behind our house, where there was no danger of our kite getting caught in a tree.
What a beautiful sunny day, I thought. I should have brought my camera. C-note is doing well holding the kite by himself. I'll just run in and get it.
"Are you ok by yourself for a minute while I go get my camera?" I ask.
"Yeah."
"Ok, I'll be right back!"
I do the hundred metre dash to the house and snatch my camera. Running back, I could see that he had walked towards the house, dangerously close to the line of pines which seperated the field from the house property. The kite was listing above two of the pine trees.
As I approached, the kite was slowly descending....
"C-note, you're too close to the trees!"
It was too late.
Not only did it land on the top of a tree, the string was wrapped around the one beside it.
I. Was. So. Mad.
Irrationally so.
Why didn't I tell him to sit and wait for me? Why didn't I just stay there and enjoy the moment? Why did the wind have to die down right at that moment? Why did the kite have to get stuck in TWO trees? Why did it have to land on TOP of the tree where there's no possible way to reach it??
ARG!
What was C-note doing while I fumed away in my mind, yanking on the string? Enjoying time outside. Chattering away happily, picking up acorns. Asking me to take their caps off. Running around in the grass.
My normally sensitive boy, (takes after his mommy) barely reacted to this situation. The kite got stuck in a tree. He couldn't do anything about it. It just happened, that's all. Time to move on. What else is there to do?Why couldn't I think that way?
I'm still learning how to let things go, and keeping a rein on my temper. I would never discipline in anger, or lash out at anyone. I must not act or speak unless emotions are under control (being “quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger,” as James 1:19 directs us. To be angry at such a little thing as a kite stuck in a tree? It isn't appropriate to react that way to something so small in the big picture of life. If I am to raise children with godly character, I must strive to reflect that character to them.
I pray that God will work his Spirit in me so that I may die to my old nature, and strive to raise my children to be Christlike!
"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
Eph. 4:22-24

Six Months

Last week our little boy turned 6 months. Such a short time, but also it seems as if he's always been in our lives. He sits up by himself, and expertly rolls either way now, and wriggles his way aound the living room. His pesky...I mean, loving older brother likes to tease...I mean, play with him. When they are having fun and older brother is actually sharing "his" toys, the resulting surround sound giggles are wonderful. He likes to watch and laugh at his brother goofing around, and of course C-note loves the attention!
He's not to interested in solid food yet, he'll have a bit of cereal at dinner time, maybe some butternut squash and banana.
I'm sure he recognizes his own name as well as a few other words. He drools alot, but no teeth yet!

How's Your Heart?

Do you ever get frustrated with the condition of your heart? Do you ever struggle with heart issues like jealousy, bitterness and unforgiveness, a critical spirit, complaining, or a short temper?

The Bible tells us, “Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23).

In this age of extreme make-overs, we transform everything from our appearance to our homes. Join the Christian women blog authors at At the Well, beginning today, to explore a different kind of make-over; A Make-Over of the Heart. They are writing a series of Bible studies on this topic.

At the Well is a website I have recently discovered which is inspired by the text Titus 2:4-5. The goal at At the Well is to encourage Christian women in their role as a "Titus 2 woman."

Music Monday

A new feature on my blog! I would like to share with you some of my favorite songs and artists. Perhaps this will encourage me to blog more! I have much more to post, and a lot of catching up to do. In the meantime, enjoy my favorite Steven Curtis Chapman song. It comes to mind when feeling overwhelmed in my struggles. God is God, and that should be enough for me.

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
"Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?"
"Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?"
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.