An Elegant Princess Is Now FIVE!

Wednesday, the 25th, was Abigail Dawn's birthday. She turned FIVE! I really can't believe it. 5 seems so... BIG! Four is, you know, just four! But five? Wow! My little girl is FIVE. And I've NEVER seen anyone so excited to have a birthday! We were planning for more than a week before the big day. Abigail knew exactly what she wanted to eat: Sticky buns (with pecans), bacon and eggs for breakfast; Pizza and salad for supper (pizza with pepperoni and olives and salad with little red round tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, and the white dressing - poppy seed.) Oh - and she wanted an ice cream cake with a white snowman as decoration. And, she did NOT want to know even a hint of what prizes she was going to get. If Phinehas even began to mention something he wanted her to have she, with wide eyes and a very serious voice, would say, "Phin, don't tell me! Its supposed to be a surprise!"

Abbi's special day began with her FINALLY being able to wear her birthday skirt - as well as new leggings and a shirt AND a birthday crown of flowers.

When she was arrayed in all her five-year-old splendor, she and her Papa went on a date to Dunkin' Donuts. She wanted an iced mocha latte and a bagel (but ended up eating a gross donut). When they got back the table was all set up and we were waiting for our company. Since there was a little bit of a wait till they arrived, Andrew took the boys out to help clean up Abbi's big present - a bike (a hand-me-down from cousin Angel) Oh my! I wish I had a picture of her face as she was riding for the first time! Andrew was holding onto the back while she was peddling, as if in a dream - it is good Drew had a good hold on her; if he didn't, Abbi might have floated up to the clouds, bike and all!

Soon enough, the party company came for brunch - my parents and my sister and her family.

We all had a lot of fun eating yummy food and playing with the kids. Then Abbi opened her gifts. Goodness! I've never seen a child so thoroughly enjoy the process of peeling back the paper ever-so-slowly, then completely enjoying each present before moving on to the next one.

After gifts came cake! Andrew's mom divulged her secrets about how to make a very yummy frozen treat. It was a success!

For supper we had, of course, pizza! And salad. But the festivities were not yet over for the NEXT day Abbi had a whole new set of prizes from Andrew's family!!! Abigail hadn't been expecting anything so she was, as you can imagine, tickled! You'll get to see some of those pictures later. I do think Abbi's absolute favorite prize was the pair of cowgirl boots from Aunt Kitty and Uncle Kyle. She would have slept with them on, if we'd let her! Gone is our fairy princess, quickly replaced by the cowgirl queen from the wild west! How fun it is to have a girl!

Teaching By Example

My! I love my man!

In the early morning of each workday, I get to crawl out of our warm bed and tramp downstairs, all blurry eyed and dream filled. Hot coffee is waiting and, better yet, a warm ‘good morning’ embrace from the Carpenter.

My! I love that man!

He quietly readies himself for work and I quietly ready his lunch, trying to put in delightful treats that not only taste good but are also somewhat healthy. He is usually off 25 – 30 minutes later and I get to stand in the kitchen window watching him pull away. Each day my heart travels up the road with that man; he keeps it well.

My! I love that man!

When the kids get up an hour or so later, the first thing Phin asks is, “Where is Papa?”

“You know son.”

“At work in the city!”

Our children have, in their Papa, a wonderful example of a hard worker. Currently, we are working on teaching diligence to the children – that they may do a job efficiently and well. Actually, it seems like we’ve been working on this for a long while. Sometimes when Phinehas is unloading the dishwasher or sweeping under the table he’ll stop and, with his little chest all puffed out, say, “Am I a dil-i-gent worker, like my wonderful Papa? Am I doing a good job?” Often I can say, “Yes, son! You are doing a wonderful job! You’re growing to be an excellent worker, just like your Papa!” Sometimes I need to say, “Well… no not really. You’re just standing there talking about doing a good job. Hop to it and get working and when you’re done I’ll let you know if you did a diligent job or not.” He is learning, and it is a delight to see him progress (though, if I’m honest, I’d have to say that sometimes it tries my patience as it is a s-l-o-w process!)

Abigail has started doing the breakfast dishes by hand. Yes, we have a dishwasher, but the breakfast dishes are few and it is a good job for her. She is happily doing her job to be a blessing to Papa and to learn how to be a ‘good woman’ some day. When I compliment her, especially when I tell Andrew about her accomplishments, she glows from within! Yes, she is a wonderful helper to me, but I want to teach her how to be pleasing to her Papa – and one day, her husband. She is surely on the right path!

Speaking of Abigail, I now know how I sound when I sing. It isn’t as fair and as lovely as I had hoped! This past spring I had a very bad cough and it really messed up my throat (excuses, excuses!). Since then, I feel as though I cannot sing very loud, nor do I have any semblance of range (not that I had a good one, before!) Anyway, for those of you who know the song In Christ Alone, you may recall that there is a point that the melody jumps a little high: “… What heights of love, what depths of peace, when FEARS are stilled…” Well, when Abbi is singing she jumps about 3 octaves and screeches out the word “FEARS” in a backbone tingling, hair-standing-on-edge, eardrum-bursting squawk that makes me cringe. I want to stop my piano playing and tell her adamantly to stop goofing, each and every time! But, when I look at her little face I can see that she really isn’t trying to be funny! In my heart of hearts I know that she is, yet again, just emulating her mother… teaching by example.

Time to Stop...

This morning I was so blessed and amazed by my little girl – my little girl who is almost 5. As I was changing Lydia’s diaper in the bathroom, I heard the unmistakable *tink* of dishes being banged about. When I entered the kitchen, there was Abigail, with her wispy, bed-tussled hair and a sweet gentle smile on her rosy cheeks as she hummed quietly while emptying the dishwasher - of her own accord. What a source of joy she is to me! I wanted to gobble her up. But then, before the morning had passed, I found myself once more being utterly offended that AGAIN she was trouncing on and bullying her brother – especially when she was supposed to be doing a specific task! I was so frustrated and spoke more harshly than I should have, correcting her in anger rather than with calm justice. Why do I take simple childish things so personally? All I need to do is deal rightly with them as they come, rather than viewing each insurrection as a personal affront. Why is that so hard?

I don’t know. But I so want to change! I so want to have ‘the law of kindness on my lips.’ I so want to speak the truth in love – even and especially to my children! I so want healing to come from my mouth – not destruction. It so grieves me to hear the harshness of my voice echoing back to my burning ears. I wake every morning crying out again to the Lord to please, fill me, guide me, and help me to be swift to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

Yet, when I stop… when I pause and wait for Him… He does answer! And when I think back on the past five years of my life as a mama I DO see the marks of His fingers on my heart. I see the places He has molded, shaped and formed. I can look back on my life and see a small part of the picture He is tirelessly weaving, the story He is daily unfolding. I am reminded of His patience, His kindness, His goodness towards me. I know that as I continue to yield to His guidance, His hand, and the challenges He brings me, He will change me so that I am daily being conformed to His image. I then remember that when I stop… when I pause and wait for Him, He is there! Always ready to guide! It is only when I rush heedlessly ahead that I end up tripping on the pitfalls.

So… time to slow down. Time to take a breath and lift my eyes up. Time to stop and listen to the chirp of the birds out back. Time to stop… and fully look at the 1,000^th picture that Abbi has drawn today. Time to stop… and hug little Liam who always says, “I love you” with a “BOO!” Time to stop… and admire the latest engineering marvel built by young master Phinehas. Time to stop… and smile at a Lilly and watch her face blossom and bloom before my eyes. Time to stop… and adore and be adored by the man that has been given to me, my best friend, my closest companion.

Our Phenomenon

Phinehas: What is a phenomenon?

Me: Something amazing.

Phinehas: Do you think I’m a phenomenon?

Me: Why?

Phinehas: Because I’m cool looking and handsome looking and I ride on a flying horse.

Me: Yes, son. You are definitely a phenomenon!

See the flying horse below, as well as Abbi's banister horse.

Late mornings - Ahhhh!

I didn't officially get out of bed til 7:30 this morning (save for the 30 minute semi-wakefulness when I was up to see the Carpenter off). Yes, you read it: 7:30. Granted, there were two little boys cuddling with me for the last 35-40 minutes, but I was still in bed, warm, cozy, and luxurious! I finally pulled myself from my nest in order to wake Lydia up so she could have her breakfast. Yes, I had to actually wake her up! She was totally in dream land!

And what did I gain from my luxury? Not much. Only momentary satisfaction. The laundry was late in getting started (oh, wait. That happens every day). My brain was late in waking up. And, I didn't end up making my bed til after lunch.

Was it worth it? Yeah.

At least I'm not going to be late in getting into bed tonight! Maybe I'll be back on track tomorrow...

Lost Little Lamby

While outside today, I told the children the following story:

Once upon a time there was a shepherd, a Good Shepherd, who took good care of his sheep. He led them to the greenest grass, the freshest water, through patches of the sweetest clover. When he would cry, “KieeeeYiiieeee KieeYieeYieeeee!!!” his sheep would spring up from wherever they were and run to answer his call. He carried a sling and a pouch with stones just in case a wolf or a bear or a ferocious lion would come, wanting to devour one of his helpless sheep. Each morning as he brought the sheep from the fold, he would count them: “1, 2, 3…97, 98, 99, 100.” When he reached the high pastures where the grass was greenest, he would count them: “…97, 98, 99, 100.” He would count them before he ate his lunch of bread and cheese and after he would count them after his lunch. He would count his sheep before he led them down the mountain and again as they filed into the fold at night. Then, he himself would lie down as the gate so that no enemy could get his precious sheep.

One evening as the sun was setting he was readying to lead his sheep down the mountain. “1, 2, 3, 4...97, 98, 99…” He started again, “1, 2, 3…97, 98, 99…” And once more, “…97, 98 ,99…” One was missing!

Now, what do you think he did? Did he think, “O well! I have the other 99. It is getting late. That naughty sheep shouldn’t have wandered off! Too bad for him! I’ll just go home, now, without him!”

(Both Abbi and Phin answered yes with a sad, resigned nod of the head.)

But, no! He didn’t! He left his 99 sheep and searched and searched for his lost lamby! He looked behind rocks and bushes, over the edges of cliffs, by the stream… everywhere he could! He looked and looked and listened and listened until, finally, he heard the soft bleating of a lost little lamby! Then, he went to it and picked it up and carried it back to the others, rejoicing!

What did this story lead to? Well, a lengthly time of playing Shepherd (or Shepherdess) and the lost little lamby. Either Abbi or Phin would take the curved stick that one of them found on some previous venture into the woods and be the Shepherd and the other would scamper away in search of a good place to hide. Then, the Shepherd would rise up and call to the lost little lamby. Well, Abbi would call.

Phin, when he was the Shepherd, would walk a few steps… then pause, looking around with his hunter eyes, searching, searching for his little sheep. Then he would run a few steps toward the gentle “baahh!” coming from Abbi’s hiding place. Abbi sure played the part of a weakened, scared little lamby.

When Abbi was the Shepherdess, she would immediately call out with her shrill, clear voice, “KieeeeYiiieeee KieeYieeYieeeee!!!” (but about 3 octaves higher than what I had done). She didn’t have to wait long to hear a VERY LOUD, “BBAAAHH!!!” coming from wherever Phin was hiding. Then she would rush over, face filled with care, ready to comfort the once-lost-now-found lamb.

I like this form of hide-and-seek - "Lost Little Lamby"! For some reason, the kids ‘get the point’ better than every time we’ve tried to play real hide-and-seek. They actually stay hidden until they are found!

How fun!

Play-dough, A Blanket, Sewing and the Proper Use of a Couch

A couple days ago, as we all excitedly ran to the door as Papa was pulling into the driveway, I found a package from an old friend of ours on the doorstep. In it was a lovely quilt, handmade especially for none other than Princess Lydia! So far she has had a few brief 'tummy times' on her new blanket (she doesn't like to be on her tummy), extended times of just layin' around grinning at her siblings, and one incident of spitting up on her lovely gift. Fortunately, Martha (the quilter) chose a selection of colors that are in no way diminished or marred by the distinct splat of milk-revisited. Here is the little Lilly, pretty in pink on her new blanket:

Speaking of handmade, Abigail has completed her first sewing project! She made a pillow for her little cousin, Ezibelle (who is just 4 weeks younger than Lydia - my sister's baby). Abbi cut the pieces, ironed them, pinned them and helped guide the cloth through the sewing machine. Then, she ironed and pinned some more, and finally stuffed the pillow to soft perfection! She wanted to try the pillow out for a couple of naps before giving it to Ezi (for Christmas), but I convinced her that we should keep it set aside so it stays very nice. She wasn't hard to convince!

And, I couldn't resist taking the following pictures so that all may see how to properly use a couch. I wish you could have heard the cacophony of squeals and giggles that were bouncing off the ceiling; fortunately, the children didn't fly that high, and there were no collisions!

Finally, here are some pictures of the children thoroughly enjoying their play-dough.