Another Gracism

A conversation between Micheal and Grace on the way to dance last night:

Grace: Dad, I like the name Crystal.
Dad: That's nice. I like the name Grace.
G: Dad, I want to change my name to Crystal. I don't like the name Grace!
D: But I think Grace suits you.
G: But Dad! Can I please please please change my name to Crystal?
D: No Grace. It costs too much money.
G: How much? I'll give you three choices: $100, $1000 or $1,000,000?
D: Grace, it is very expensive to change your name. I think it's $1000.
G, mumbling in the back seat: I bet it's a million...

Cheese Balls

A conversation between Micheal and Grace when they went to Sam's and picked nothing but junk for our turn to bring small group snack:

Micheal: We didn't buy anything healthy...
Grace: It' OK, Dad. Cheese balls are healthy, cheese is good for you...
M: Really? What do you think cheese balls are made of?
G: Cheese... and balls!

Grace-ism

Overheard while cooking dinner tonight, as Grace was showing me a blanket (colored coffee filter) that she made at Sunday school for Baby Jesus in the manger:

Dad: What are you giving Jesus?
Grace: A blanket
Micah: A headache!

=0)

But really - what a thought! I wonder how often I give Jesus a headache? Probably way more than I would like anyone to know!

Grace-isms, Take 2!

OK - I remembered another one, and now she just said another goofy thing, too...

In a conversation about Jesus as a baby, this was discussed:

M - Jesus came to Earth as a baby...
G - who never, ever did anything wrong, not even crying!
M - Is crying wrong?
G - Yes!
M - What about when Jesus was a baby and He wanted to let His mommy know He was hungry?
G - Jesus never ate at all until he could talk!
M - What about when He wanted to let His mommy know He had a really messy diaper?
G - Jesus didn't wear diapers!
Hubby - Yah! Jesus was potty trained from the womb!

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And then tonight I grabbed the children's Bible when Grace was already thinking I should read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' and this is what she said

I already know all about how Jesus was born! He was born, and then his mom put Him in a manger and He laid there and laid there and laid there!

Eloquent, isn't she? We read them both.

A Few Grace-isms

Grace has been so funny lately, it's hard to remember all the things she says and does that make us laugh. Here are a few overheard this weekend.

As I was trying to get her to hurry and get in the shower on Sunday morning, Grace stripped, ran into the bathroom, then exclaimed with great expression, hand movements & arm waving, "CRAP!!! Daddy's already in the shower!" (Dad needs to say 'crap' less, way less, evidently.)

But it made us laugh.

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Then at supper Grace did something (wish I could remember what that was!) and it reminded us of that comment in the morning so we told Micah about it. Grace had already finished her meal and was in the living room as we laughed about what she said and we could hear this, getting progressively louder,

I can hear you in there talking about me.
I don't like when you talk about me.
Stop talking about me.
You should SHUT UP!!!

We don't use 'shut up' at our house, or try not to, but she sure got the context right.

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And a conversation between grace & I as we decorated the tree:

G: Mom, can you hand me that wreath ornament?
M: (hands her the ornament)
G: Thanks, Mom! That was worshiping Jesus.
M: What???
G: When I ask you to do something and you do it, you are listening to me and that's a way we worship Jesus!
M: Really?!?

OK, we have discussed that when children obey their parents, that is a way we worship Jesus and a way we make God happy. Evidently this also works when parents do whatever children say? (I don't think so!)

Grace-isms, Wisdom and More Thanks

Me: Tomorrow afternoon, Daddy & I both have to be at church for worship practice and your brother will watch you.
Grace: I don't like when he watches me because he doesn't like me because I don't listen to him!
Me: Then you should try to listen to him.
Grace: But it is SO HARD to listen when you aren't here to see me listen!!!

Grace: I'm so happy this brand new show is on!
Dad (sarcastically) : Good, Grace. It's all about making you happy.
Grace: No Dada. You should only want to ever make JESUS happy!!!

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I had a conversation with a friend last night. She's recently started attending our church and has questions about why we 'let' people do ______ and why we dont' have rules about some kind of dress code and how we can welcome ______ (add people group of your choosing here). And there are two things that come to mind in and after this conversation, one our pastor said yesterday, one I've heard him, and others, say in the past.

1) If you read Scriptures and apply them to others, the result is anger (and I would add frustration and fanaticism). If you read Scripture and allow the Holy Spirit to help you apply it to yourself, the result is healing and a deeper relationship with God.

2) If we (Christ followers) are fishing for people, we can't expect to clean them before we catch them. The church would be empty if we did, as no one is 100% clean.

My prayer today is that my friend would focus on herself, that Jesus would become clearer and dearer to her, and that the ideas from any outside sources would pale in comparison to abundant life with Christ. And I pray the same for myself, my family, and you. God, help us to get our priorities in line with Yours.

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A busy, kind of crabby weekend has left me wishing I could have another one; a weekend where the kids don't fight, the weather is nice, everyone sleeps and then sleeps in, the dishes and laundry are done, and everything lies in preparation for a new week.

39. Wisdom when I have none to offer. From unexpected places, from expected places that I can apply. Wisdom.
40. That this is a new week, during which I may renew my goal to notice the gifts around me!

It's all about Jesus, a Rodent & a Recipe

First snow, Saturday, October 10, 2009

When Grace got up and saw the snow, she said,
"I guess Jesus must have forgotten about Halloween
because now it's Winter!"

She couldn't wait to get out and play in it
and she came in c-c-c-cold!

Sadly, I have a thing for Dairy Queen's co-co fudge (it's SO good you should try it!!!) and have been to our local DQ enough to know the owners by name. When they ordered this sweatshirt and it was smaller than they expected, they knew just who to give it to!

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Last night Grace wanted me to buy her something,
I can't even remember what, and she said,
"Please? Pretty please? Pretty please with Jesus on top?"

This was only an hour or so after she burst into the bathroom and explained to me all about how Jesus created us, so we worship Him. And we praise Him, because He created us. And so we love Him, because He created us. And He created everything...
This went on for a few more sentences, but you get the idea.

Lately, it's all about Jesus. I love that.

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Last week my van started making weird noises, which is always a treat. By Friday it sounded like a rainstick whenever I turned left or hit a bump. I think rainsticks are cool and have always thought it'd be nice to have one to play with just to hear that relaxing sound... but not in my van. And bits of something were flying out of the vents, too. What a treat!

On Saturday, hubby spent 4 hours taking apart the ventilation system of the van and here is what he found:

This is just one of the filters he pulled, they were both like this. And there was more.
About 1.5 pounds of birdseed packed away in the vents of the van for winter. I can't even blame the kids for this. Some rodent is going to be hungry this winter because his stockpile is gone. Hubby made a little video I will try to upload as soon as I can wrestle the iphone away from him.

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Easy Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup

To a pot of boiling water (I use a dutch oven) add:
Chicken, diced (from leftovers or deli if in a hurry), about 2 C.
2 potatoes, diced into even size pieces
1-2 carrots, peel outside, then use peeler to 'peel' coins right into pot
2 pkgs. Uncle Ben's Long Grain & Wild Rice
1 seasoning packet from the rice (use other to taste if you want)
3 chicken bouillon cubes or chicken soup base

Simmer until everything is cooked through and broth is reduced.
It should look like this:

Then add 2 large cans of (undiluted) Cream of Chicken soup.
If it's too thick, then you can dilute with some milk or water to your liking.
Continue to heat on low until heated through.

When we have chicken I often cut up the leftover chicken as soon as dinner is done and freeze it in water in a ziplock bag. The water in the bag keeps it from getting freezer burned. Then all I have to do is add this cube of frozen chicken to the water, all the other ingredients, and I can have a thick, hearty soup on the table in 45 minutes.
Easy & delicious!
Let me know if you make it!

Flashback Friday & Wrapping up the Week

My baptism, 1971

Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Cloquet, MNDad, Mom & Me
Easter, 1974ish?

Facebook friends have probably seen these, but I felt like putting them on the blog anyway. I am kind of enamored this morning with the idea that things could be easier. We (people in general) just make things so complicated. Remember when you were young and you thought how you couldn't wait until you grew up because then you could do whatever you wanted? Of course you do! And, if you are over 30, are you laughing at the naivete of that idea? I'm still wondering when that's going to happen for me... So, no wisdom today, just working on making things simpler, and these pictures remind me of a simpler time.

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I am more determined each day to recognize people I see making life a little brighter for the people around them. Or thanking people for making my life a little brighter. Or encouraging people... I think personal correspondence is a lost art. I know I stink at it, but I want to get better - who doesn't like getting a nice note in the mail that just says, 'I'm thinking of you!' ? And I'm a chronic card buyer. I love cards. But they don't do any good unless you send them to someone. duh! Anyone else do that? So... if you're nice to me, or nice near me, maybe you'll get a card telling you how I caught you at it! I don't even think I know the current postage rate...

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Grace was having an (over-tired, over-stimulated) screaming fit on Wednesday because she wasn't going to get a sticker for something. Hubby calmly told her (way to go honey!) that it was a consequence of not doing what she was told. Grace, without missing a beat, yelled,
"I HATE CONSEQUENCES!!!"

Don't we all? And don't you wish you could yell about it? Sometimes? I do.

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Have a great weekend! I have next to nothing on my calendar, and I can't wait! Here's to a simpler life where people are recognized for loving on someone other than themselves and the consequences of disobedience are covered by grace!

First Day of Pre-K!!!

Today is Grace's first day of Pre-Kindergarten!
She is so excited she was up SUPER EARLY!Here new Hello Kitty backpack filled with new school supplies
and a Hello Kitty lunchbox filled with breakfast
to eat at Auntie Amy's.

She has to be up early to leave.
This is what it looked like outside.

Excited to leave, despite the early morning.Hope the excitement lasts!

Also a couple tidbits from our trip to get school shoes:

Grace: Mom, can I get some of these (ugly silk) flowers?
Me: No
G: For my birthday? (in about two weeks)
Me: Ummm, probably not. You are not going to get absolutely everything you want for your birthday, Grace. (She's been asking for birthday stuff for at least 2 months)
G: That's OK, Mom, just tell someone else to get it for me!
(I'm sure I've explained that her love language is totally receiving gifts, right?)

And as we were driving:
Grace: Mom, it must be fall! The birds are all flocking & ready to fly south for the winter. Look, there's a whole gunk of them.
Me: What's a 'gunk'?
G: You know, a whole bunch of birds together.
Me: You mean a flock?
G: No (with great patience), a flock is what they do, a gunk is when they are all together.

Who knew?

Look What I Can Do!

Grace had her first ballet/tap lesson tonight. Of course, she has been a ballerina in her head for a long time now, we are just letting it out to play. Last night we made a trip to Target to purchase tights, leotard & ballet slippers. All pink with a little skirt on the leotard. She wanted to sleep in them. Here are a few snippets of her amazing first official ballet experience.


When hubby found her trying to put her tights on OVER her leotard and told her they go UNDER: "Dad, you're not going to dance lessons - you don't know anything about dancing!"

"I'm so beautiful."

"Dada, I'm gorgeous!"

(who doesn't wish they could be free enough to say that about themselves?)

(This is the pose I got when I asked her to show me how pretty she is)


"Watch me twirl - it's a pirouette!"

"This is how I shuffle: one-two-three-four-shut-the-door!"

Little attitude here.

Checking herself out in the mirror the whole time.
(She IS beautiful, you know)

She had a ball, went right into the class without a hint of shyness, paid attention, tried really hard, checked herself out in the wall of mirrors at least 34 times and was sleeping 5 minutes after her head hit the pillow tonight!

A friend sent me this link about a feral ballerina - today was a great day, but this could be tomorrow. She is sleeping in a leotard tonight!

I feel like we are on the cusp of a great adventure! :o)

Another Grace-ism

Heard by Grace's preschool teacher on Tuesday:

Boy: Grace, you are HOT!
Grace: (a small, blushing shrug & smile)
Teacher: (watching & thinking, 'Oh my! Does Grace really know what that means?!?')
Grace: Well you are right, I am kind of sweaty from playing outside...

Ahhhh - innocence!

Parenting, Discipline & Food

I'll let you in on a little secret; I am not so into discipline. And I really should be. Both for myself and our kids. Here's an example. The recurring battle at our house every evening is supper. What are we having? Whatever we are having, Grace doesn't want it. After all the work of planning, shopping, preparing and cooking, even if it was something we have had before and she devoured, she doesn't like it, she doesn't want it, and she's going to make everyone crabby while she loudly lets us know. Add to that parents who either disagree or aren't sure how to 'fix' this and you have a long, exhausting evening.

There are so many different ideas on how to deal with this issue. Anyone remember 'Mommy Dearest'? Hubby doesn't think this is the way to go. He remembers sitting over food that must be eaten well into the evening and is not convinced this changed his eating habits. I agree - he still won't eat peas. Or how about books like this or this? Should healthy food be hidden in food? I'm not so convinced. It seems sneaky and deceptive. And frankly doesn't sound very tasty. There is even one aimed at sneaking healthy stuff in your hubby's food. Yes, your full-grown, mature husband. That may be a fight waiting to happen at our house. I also don't want to offer dessert as a reward. One of our rules has always been that if you don't like whatever is for supper,we are not a restaurant & there is always PB&J. This worked with Micah, not as much with Grace.

And then there are issues dealing with discipline. Dr. Kevin Leman, an authority on such things as birth order, sex, and parenting (I highly recommend his books & give his Sheet Music book at every bridal shower I attend!) suggests this strategy: If a child won't eat, take their plate over to the garbage, scrape off the food, and say something like, "Well, we'll see you in the morning for breakfast then," and neither offer or allow anything else. His parenting strategy is all allowing the child to earn the natural consequences of their actions. Which I agree with. But I confess that by the end of the day I have lazy parenting skills. And so I reap what I sow. I have sewn seeds of (what??? dissent? antidisestablishmentarianism? whatever?) and now have an almost 5 year old who is choosing to assert her formidable will at supper time... each and every night. At the end of the day, is this a battle I want to have? How long will it take to get the point across? How many nights of this? Will any of us get any sleep? Will hubby & I agree that this should be done? Should it be done?

I just don't know the answer to these questions. Micah was a picky eater, but not with this strong will thrown in and now he will at least try things with out a fuss and has even found he likes things he never used to. But it was never this all out war every night. I do recognize this is about more than just food. Any ideas, encouragement or tips to make supper more livable while making sure Grace actually gets some nutritional intake? Anyone? Oh! And even more pie-in-the-sky, how about some great ideas for bringing family meals back with everyone sharing the highlights of their day?
Here's a picture of Grace from when she actually liked (pseudo) veggies like tomato sauce.

Random Stuff, Playing Catch Up

Here's a few blurbs to catch you up, kind of in order of occurrence:
* Grace and I went to the circus. We had lots of fun, did not see any animals get mistreated, but had to stay in our seat the entire time to avoid the randomly wandering clowns (who were scary). Then Grace picked Famous Dave's for lunch and after, we fed the seagulls and threw rocks in the big lake at Canal Park. A perfect 'girl's day'!
* Micah had his last Jr. High band concert with nary an 'Eye of the Tiger' heard. Micheal taught him to tie his own tie.

* My husband got a job!!! After over 2 years (which has it's own separate story behind it), this is his 2nd full week back at work. He's actually back at the same place he left but in another department and they called him out of the blue wondering if he wanted to come back. Ummm.... ya-ah! He still had to interview and wait what seemed like forever to get the call back, but he's working! And I feel like I'm just finally coming up for air after a long, long time.

* We went to stay at my aunt's and she (86) and Grace (4.75) had this conversation while discussing a ragdoll in Auntie's bedroom:

G: What's that?
A: That's a doll my mommy made.
G: Is she dead?
A: Yes she is.
G: You're going to die soon, too, Auntie.

Nice. Luckily, Auntie thought it was funny and she's telling all her friends, who don't think it's funny, at all.

* Have I mentioned that my husband got a job????

* Grace has been watching other kids play their GameBoys at Gramma's and really wanting one. So we had Micah find his (which has been missing, but not missed, for at least 6 months) and we bought it from him for Grace. He had a bunch of games and we traded them in for little girl games like My Little Pony, TinkerBell, Disney's Princess... and had enough left over for a fun case and stylus, too! While we waited to be rung up, Grace paced around the store exclaiming, "This is the best day of my life!" She is definitely a girl whose love language is receiving gifts. It was so fun to see her so excited. Most of the parts are so small, she needed a place to keep all the bits. Auntie had given us a nice zippered bag with a vendor's name embroidered on it (where does an 86 year old get this stuff?) and I remembered a post I saw on a friends blog where she sewed a small pieced area over the silk screened info on some of those cloth bags you can pick up almost anywhere making them look FABulous. I decided to turn it into a special bag for the GameBoy. Here's a before shot:
And here's the final product:
And a close up of the large patch I made to cover the embroidered front:
I used a dish towel I picked up at a garage sale. It's been washed & dried on high heat so many times I knew it wouldn't shrink. I cut out the right size, doubled it, ironed it, turned the edges & whip stitched the edge with my sewing machine. Grace helped me pick the font & color for the words & the pictures & we printed it on some iron-on sheets I happened to have for the printer. Ironed the picture on then sewed the patch over the embroidery on the bag. Voila! A personalized bag. Grace is very happy with it and I hope it keeps her from losing those itty bitty games.

* I shopped with my stomach today and tonight we are having chipotle ranch center cut pork chops, my mom's potato & bacon packets, caprese salad and some strawberries I paid WAY too much for on the side of the road. But look at them! As this is only our 2nd or 3rd day that has been over 80 this summer, it will be weeks before we can pick at the berry farms up here.
* Micah is in Colorado with the Sr. High youth from church. His first missions trip, his first & longest trip more than an hour away from us & from home. A whole week of unloading the dishwasher ourselves. ;o)

* And finally, it's 85 degrees today and snowing in our yard.
The popple trees ('Popple' is a local term in the upper midwest for Quaking Aspen or Trembling Aspen. Populus tremuloides) in our yard do this every year. One day we come home and Summer SNOW! It blows everywhere, fills up the rain gutters and makes a winter wonderland in the middle of summer. The popples have 'flowers' of little, drooping grey 'catkins' that turn into 'fruit' of strings of light green capsules that apparently burst in a coordinated orchestra of fluff that carry the tiny seeds on the wind, looking for fertile ground. Snow! (As I type this, my hubby just coughed, gagged, and spit off the deck: they are easily inhaled!) Here's another shot of just one of the popples lining our yard.

And that's just a smattering of the Wilson's household lately! Whew! More to come... like Jon & Kate +8 (what is the deal there???) and bunches of other stuff like how hard marriage is (can I get an amen?) and 'Kids, Whose Idea were They?' Stay tuned!

Grace-ism

Grace - Mom, You're the big super hero and I'm the little super hero.
Kathy - What's my super power?
G - Feeding the dog! (with no hesitation)
Please note, I do not feed the dog unless Micah is gone. I don't think Grace has ever seen me feed the dog. Great super power, Grace. Thanks.