Things kids say

Ryan put a screensaver on the computer for Timothy. It looks just like a fish tank: gravel, plants, and five fish wandering around. Ryan and I are in the kitchen when we hear the question, “Dad, do fish sleep?” Here’s our new answer for these tough questions, “I don’t know, Tim, we’ll have to do some research.” Tim’s response, “Okay, Dad. Maybe they sleep in the wintertime under the ice and they wake up in the spring and stay awake.” Here’s an answer for those of you dying to know if fish sleep.

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/bio99/bio99047.htm

Things Kids Say

Sarah has been learning her address. I also refer to scripture verses’ addresses, like John 3:16. I think she may have been confused.

We are all singing “Deep and Wide” in the car when Sarah pipes up, “Wait, I know the other address to that song, Wide and Deep! Wide and deep!”. (Honey, you mean verse, not address.)

We were expecting guests one evening and Timothy was excited and wanted to watch for their arrival on the porch. When their car pulled in he ran in the house and stated, “Our customers are here!”

Mark is rubbing at his eye, “My eye is poking me.” Well, actually…”Mama, can you take it out?” Let me get a washcloth…

When Mark sneezes, he tells himself, “bless you.”

Mark saw the blowing snow outside and declared it to be “powder.”

I was wrapping up Ryan’s large yellow extension cord.
Mark says, “What you doin’ Mama?”
“Wrapping daddy’s cord for him.”
“Like a cowboy?”
“I suppose so.”
He seems satisfied and begins to walk away, talking to himself, “Daddy a cowboy, yup, yup.”

Tea Party

Hello Captive Audience, (hee, hee)
Our morning at the Westphal Home.

The Quest for a cup of coffee. Day started at 6:35 with a small boy asking for “o’s, please, Mama.” O.K., I’m up. What time is it? It’s still dark out. Why are you awake before 7:00?

Boy sits at counter. I pour o’s. I start to make coffee. Second boy is up. He is demanding oatmeal, loudly. Sent to his room for not asking nicely. Goes back up, loudly. Bleary eyed daughter arrives on scene. Asks politely for oatmeal. I start the oatmeal.

Boy 1 eats o’s, spills some, asks for papertowel and juice. Reformed boy arrives on scene, demands juice, loudly. Boy 2, (formerly reformed) is sent to room for more reformation. Give Boy 1 juice. Girl asks for water. Twice-reformed boy returns. He says “please” at a reasonable decibel level. Oatmeal is finished. Where was I on the coffee? Boy 1 says his tummy hurts. He has to go potty. Take boy 1 to potty. Boy two demands juice, loudly, while we are in the bathroom.

Girl needs bathrobe. Boy 1 is going “beeps”. Boy 2 has mysteriously quieted down. Wash hands, return from bathroom, help girl with robe. Boy 2 is eating grapes; quietly. Boy 1 says his tummy hurts, he lays on couch and asks for “big blue” (The wonder blanket). Settle Boy 1 on couch.

Coffee? I actually start the coffeepot. Little girl has finished breakfast, and heads upstairs to play, two boys join her. Big bleary-eyed boy arrives on scene, needs to cuddle. I take advantage of this for two minutes. Other children need the “tea set”. I explain the location and they get it ALL ON THEIR OWN. I hear them playing. I pour a cup of coffee.

Little girl wants to have a tea party. I tell her to set the little table. She goes up for more cups. She reports there’s been an accident, upstairs. It’s the liquid kind. Boy 1 has had an accident upstairs, on the tea set. I ban the children from the room and first, clean up the little offender, and find new clothing.

He goes potty, boy #2 goes potty, Sarah goes potty, Tim goes potty. I begin clean up upstairs. It was not a little accident. I put the offended pieces of the tea set in a bowl and give it to Tim to give to Sarah to put in the sink to be washed. The bowl spills in the hallway. A blanket and several toys, and parts of the floor mat have also been offended and must be cleaned. Get that done, start the laundry. Clean up hallway. Employ two older kids to help wash tea set in bath tub (so little spoons don’t go down sink drain.) Leave to help boys solve dispute. Find another liquid accident. Not that kind. Boy #1 has spilled Tim’s water bottle all over the top of a tote. The fan is standing in the middle of the puddle. Yes, the fan is on. It is creating waves in the puddle. Carefully shut off fan and go to get a towel in the bathroom. Briefly explain why electricity and water are NOT friends.

Arrive to find big boy standing in tub of water with teaset. He couldn’t reach the cups. Bring towel upstairs and wipe up water (and fan). Mediate another small dispute between boys. Help wash and dry tea set. Wipe up water on bathroom floor. Supervise the tea party.

Finally, take sip of rather cold coffee. Rejoice that my children are happy and healthy. Take picture of tea party. Glance at clock, not even 8. My day has begun.

There is a season

There is a season..
I am cleared for take-off. Into the unknown, of course. You can only predict and plan your life so much and then, we’re outta here. For those of us who know Christ, it’s a hopeful end that isn’t an end at all.
We heard a man who ministers in music all over the world on Sunday. He described himself as an “adrenaline junkie”. He told this story. He was on a plane whose landing gear malfunctioned during take-off. They had to prepare for an emergency landing. This guy was so excited that he had to try to keep from smiling as the stewardess explained the crash position. And then, yes, he was in the row that had the emergency door! Was he willing to be Assistant #1? Absolutely! It would be his job to open the emergency door and help people exit. This guy was thrilled. The plane flew around to burn up most of its fuel and headed down for the landing. Even while assuming the prescribed crash position, our guy couldn’t help but peek out the window. There were NO other planes and there were fire trucks waiting. Our guy was really excited now. As they landed, the pilot touched down on the two good landing wheels, and eased onto the bad one ever so slowly. The wheel held and they had a normal exit. So our guy was now disappointed that he didn’t get to open the door. Most people would be terrified. Not our guy. He also talked about how the flight attendants went person by person to make sure everyone knew the crash position. He emphasized how our position with Christ needs to be one of prayer, of constant communication. It was a great point.
Ryan also made an interesting point that is well worth sharing. Yes, this guy may be an adrenaline junkie, but even more than that, he wasn’t afraid of death. His relationship with Christ was so close that this emergency situation did not evoke any fear in him at all. That’s really how it needs to be.
One of our friends, Dave LeYanna, died this weekend. As his obituary states, “he departed and went to be with his Lord.” He was one of those people who knew. He knew Jesus and that was enough. He was an extraordinary man who looked forward to eternity, knowing life here is temporary.
So are you prepared for take-off? Do you have fears about death lingering in the corners of your heart and mind? Go to God with them. Go to God every day. Get ready.
“There is a time to be born and a time to die.”