Perspective

The boys and I have been talking about snow this month. We've made our craft snowmen, and read some great winter time books. You really have to "invent" the season of winter when you live in a place where "Brrr Cold!" means it is below 50 degrees.

So for perspective, I showed the boys this blog picture.

Brennan's response shows our Houstonian perspective well - "Mom, that must be where the Eskimos live!".

Book Club Time!

It's time to discuss "The Christmas Box".

Brief Synopsis for those who have not read this book - A young family which is struggling to get by financially answers an ad for a live-in family to cook and do lawn work for an elderly lady. After they settle in, the father begins to have strange dreams in which he envisions a stone angel. As he becomes swamped with his work and his duties as the family's provider, the dream haunts him more often. When the older lady finds out that she is dying, she determines to impress upon the young father the importance of not letting work get in the way of family time together with his wife and young daughter. Very brief, but you kind of get the gist :).

There is a definite lesson to be taken from this short story - Never take any moment for granted. Savor each person in your life, each and every day. This really hits home for me right now.

I have always loved small children. I never wanted to do anything else except have lots of little ones and spend my day playing games, reading books, and makings lots of great crafts with my kids. After Brennan was born, I embraced this dream wholeheartedly. When Nicholas joined us, I remember sitting on the floor with the two of them, living the moment. I remember nothing but the joy.

Something has happened over the past few years. Life has intervened more often. I have found myself "getting through" the boys' routine, but for what? Nothing too worthwhile. It was such a subtle transition in my mind that I hardly realized that it had taken place.

The lesson from reading this book has brought my altered priorities into the light in a very real way. I suddenly realize that my guys are growing up all too fast. I have spent the last week attempting to get back to "savoring each moment" (Hence the light blogging :) ). When they go out to play, I normally would get on the computer. The past few days I have joined them outside instead. I have refused to answer the phone for large parts of the day. The TV has been on less and we have been reading lots of books.

To top it all off (sometimes God is really trying to get a message into my head!), Brennan's Religion lesson today tied into this topic beautifully. It was the story of Jesus and the Children. In closing, the book stated "We should also have special care for children and love them as Jesus loved them". What a difficult challenge for moms each day! Yes, it is easy for me to say that there is housework that has to be done and meals to cook. These reasons are all true, and it might be necessary to reject a child's request for a book or help at a particular moment. But often times I find myself merely using those words as an excuse. It comes back to saying "yes" whenever you possibly can to a child's request, especially when it is a very real need for attention, for love. To respond to them just as Jesus would have.

This week has been fantastic. I feel like I have reconnected with each of my boys (all 4 of them). This has been my gift from reading "The Christmas Box". I truly hope that I don't forget this important lesson again!

Nutmeg has her incredibly insightful thoughts as well. Emily also has her post up too! Celeste has a fantastic post up - Thanks!

Anyone else?

Feeling the Love

We were outside in the front yard enjoying the beautiful weather. Jonathan was in the neighbor's yard, listening to their teenage boy practice the drums. Philip came up to me, tackling me with a big bear hug. As I sat with Philip in my arms, Jonathan suddenly realized what was happening. He immediately ran over to us, arms out wide, chattering "Mom, mom". Or so I thought.

As he arrived closer, I heard him more clearly. And he was not saying "Mom". It was a distinct "Mine, mine" chattered over and over. With those words he ran headlong into me, knocking Philip out of my lap. Jonathan can pack quite a punch for a featherweight, momentum and all.

Seeing that he was now the only little boy in my lap, he sighed rather contendedly.

The real question is do I feel more loved? Or do I feel like a security object, much like a favorite toy?

Probably both. And I'll take it (And yes, we will teach him to share Mom's lap with the others. The other boys never did this. Jonathan sure has an interesting personality - very mild mannered, until there is something that he really wants. Then, watch out!)

Escape Artist

I know, I know. With four little boys, we should have dealt with this problem already, but we haven't. Jonathan can now climb out of his crib. With great dexterity, he can pull himself up and over the rail.

Why haven't we gone through this with the others? Well, Brennan and Philip were both evicted from the crib at 18 months due to the arrival of the next sibling. Nicholas wasn't the climber that the others were, and was very content to stay cuddled in his bed.

Now with Jonathan's newfound ability, questions emerge. Do we keep putting him back? Do we get Philip a twin bed and give Jonathan the toddler bed? And if we do that, what do we do with the crib? I cannot bear to take it down, even (hopefully) temporarily! As trying as it may be at times, I am not ready to be a house without a baby!

Decisions, decisions!

And just one more before bed...

I will host the Bloggy Book Club on Feb. 28th. We are reading "The Christmas Box" and it is 80 quick pages, so you still have time! And if you find yourself with loads of extra time (hahaha), you can also read the two backstories "Timepiece" and "The Letter". I read all three this last week and I could not put them down!

Hope you can join us!

And because this deserves its very own post!

Brennan has done it! He can officially ride his bike without training wheels or any help (even without a little push!) It has been exhilarating to watch him overcome his fears and zoom around our cul-de-sac. Although I will admit that now it is hard to watch as he has gone from scared to daredevil overnight. We might want to realize some limitations, like no jumping curbs and definitely no purposely trying to play "bumper bikes" with your brother!

We are proud of you Brennan! Congrats!

What have we been up to lately?

Let me tell you just why I have not been able to post as of late:

Science Fair Projects
Valentine's Party
Start of Lenten activities
Sick little people
Finishing that science fair project - In fact, cramming the final details until the last possible minute, which is this weekend. Brennan and I have been working most of today to get his display board together.

*sigh* I really do not want my children to learn procrastination from me.

I Know How the Prodigal Son's Father Felt...

I lost Jonathan yesterday afternoon. It was only for about 10 minutes, but of course it felt like an eternity. The weirdest (or funniest) part was that I lost him in our house. It's definitely not a mansion, so there is some humor to it.

I was finishing up Math with Brennan and Nicholas. I had Philip playing under my feet. I turned to put Philip and Jonathan down for their naps and then I realized that I hadn't seen Jonathan in about 15 minutes. In fact, I couldn't think of where I last saw him.

I called for him, looking in the bedrooms. Nothing. Now Jonathan does like to hide, but usually when I call for him I can hear him giggling. Not this time. So I check closets, the laundry room - level two. Still nada. Now I start to panic.

I make sure the front door is still bolted and the blinds are still down over the back door. Yes and yes. I check the garage - door still closed. And now the tears start to flow.

This sudden emotion sparked quite different reactions in my oldest two as I quickly pleaded for their help in finding him. Nicholas came and patted me on the back with a "It's okay, Mom". Brennan went laughing and shrieking into the living room, as if the entire event was just a game. That's my fun loving one!

Yet it was there that Brennan found Jonathan. In the family room. Curled up in the corner between the couch and end table, fast asleep. With an open book over his head.

No picture of it (although it would have made a cute one!). I snapped up my sweet little boy as fast as I could. And then, we all laughed together.

Balanced Diet

Philip came into the kitchen the other night as I was preparing dinner. "I'm hungry" he roared.

"Well, dinner will be done in a few minutes." I replied.

"I'm a skeleton." Philip exclaimed. "I eat bones and apples!"

Where do they come up with these things?

Pancake Day: The Sequel

Last year, we celebrated Pancake Day, the day before Ash Wednesday. Traditionally, this is a day that all of the white flour and sugar is used up in preparation for Lent. We had a blast with the pancake races (running while flipping a pancake in a pan) and I had every intention of making these festivities a tradition.

I almost forgot. In fact, I would not have even thought about it if it hadn't been for an innocent request at breakfast this morning.

"Mom, can we have pancakes today?" My 7 year old asked.

As I pondered his request, I remembered. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. Today is Pancake Day!

"Absolutely." I replied. We even held our races. Indoors, due to the weather, just like last year.

I'm sure Brennan didn't realize what day it was when he made his request. Even so, the reminder was just perfect!

Thoughts on Decluttering continued...

We were on a family retreat with our parish this weekend. The boys loved romping through the woods. Brennan and Nicholas got to go on their first ever canoe ride with Dad. And Philip became best friends with the camp goose. Actually, I am not sure if the "friendship" was a two way street. It would be more accurate to say that Philip loved the goose and spent the weekend stalking it. I bet that poor thing is glad we are home again!

The talks this weekend centered on the Beatitudes. It dawned on me that I had not ever studied them in depth. And they can be quite deep. Each family was challenged to live out a Beatitude this Lenten season. We chose the first - "Blessed are the poor in spirit".

It is interesting on how things sneak up on me. I don't believe that our family has that much in the way of material goods because, after all, look at what so and so has. The clutter builds, and I think that we need more space to store the things.

Last month we began systematically going through each room of our house, getting rid of that which is not necessary. The family room and master bedroom are done. I am surprised at how hard it has been. Yet it has also been freeing at the same time. I am beginning to understand just why Christ asked His followers to leave what they had. I also know that this must have been excruciating. After all, I am having difficulty giving up items that are much less significant. How could they have left it all behind?

Our family may be out of our league with this "Blessed are the poor in spirit" business! At least I am! But I do know that God appreciates any effort I give, however small. Someone shared with me that "Clutter in the home is clutter in the heart.". My goal for this Lenten season is to free up both my home (nd my heart) so that I can truly offer it all up to Him. That is my resolution for this Lenten season.

As a part of the fun, I am going to keep track of just how many van loads of stuff we can haul out of here. So far the count is two!