In the Game

Christian is playing soccer this fall and is having a great time. Many of the boys in his Kindergarten class are also on his team, and the rest of his teammates are at the same school. I love watching him make friends, and get such an excited look on his face when he sees these other kids. He has had a few soccer games so far this season, and his skills are really improving. It's so much fun to watch him "get it." He often chooses to stay on the fringe, waiting for the ball to come out of the middle of the group. He also executed a great block and was really excited about that. Here are some pictures from his game. You can see he's really watching the ball and the other kids to see what they're going to do. We're proud of him!

Eating?

Is it just me or does anyone else think this series of pictures is funny? She's moving her fork back and forth and side to side, but never taking a bite. And watch her mouth. Maybe I have too much time on my hands.

Monday

Today was not unusual. I just happened to take lots of pictures, and I thought it would be fun to share them. Michaela took some of them (including the sweet close-ups of Eliana, and the one of herself-she looks so much older all of a sudden). One thing this slideshow lets me see is I'm heavy on photos of Eliana. She's doing so many new things, and it's so easy to capture moments digitally! However, I need to share the lens with my other offspring. I'll work on that.

A Sticky Situation

Eliana found a roll of tape on the floor of our schoolroom this morning and quickly figured out how to pull it out.  I thought it was funny and let her experiment with it for a minute.  She was pretty busy for a short time, but it didn't occupy her long enough for Michaela's whole math lesson!  She knows what I'm up to when I'm trying to divert her away from the table where Michaela does her work.  Here are some pictures of her investigation. It's funny, even though she isn't talking you can see what's going on in that little head. She's fun to watch.

Let the Little Children...

Mark 10:13-16  People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.  When Jesus saw this, he was indignant.  He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."   And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. My mind is spinning with the large amount of information I received from several different organizations that were represented at our church today during an "Urban Fair."  There were booths set up all around the Fellowship Hall with booklets, info on volunteer opportunities, mission statements, pictures, and people who work with these organizations or groups all over Dallas.  The need is so great, and not just here in Dallas but all over the world.  There was a guest preacher who shared about some of that need; he is the president and CEO of an international organization that helps bring justice to oppressed and abused people.  All of this information is overwhelming on the one hand and empowering on the other. One of the many times Jesus was teaching, some of the people brought some little kids over to where he was so that he could touch them.  Maybe they were children who had diseases that kept them from having interaction with other people because of the cleanliness laws.  Or maybe they were misbehaving all the time and their parents thought that they might benefit from a touch from someone who had displayed such power already (he had just cast a demon out of a boy).  Or maybe they just knew that Jesus was kind and loving and was a teacher who had authority to bless the people.  I don't know, but here came some folks with some little ones and the disciples tried to shoo them away.  And Jesus was mad about that!  In fact, he told all of those grown-ups that they were not getting close to the kingdom of God unless they became like the children.  Jesus drew near those whom others were trying to push away. He says,"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."  There is a responsibility to "let" the children get close, and "not hinder" them.  We are called to help children know Jesus, approach Jesus, and be blessed by Jesus.  We are not to get in the way, or cause them to stumble, or send them in a different direction by either what we do or do not do.  There are countless ways I can do this at home with my own children, and there are just as many ways I (and we, as a family) can do this outside of our home. I live in such a protected, sheltered place-figuratively as well as literally.  I don’t go outside of this small area that is comfortable and regular and safe.  My kids don’t know what it’s like to live in a dangerous circumstance or what it’s like to go to bed really hungry or what it’s like to wake up in the middle of the night because it’s too cold to sleep.  They have what they need and we are a pretty normal family (no, really, I’m trying to be serious here). I am still processing all that I took in today.  I hope that God will help me to see the practical ways that our family can live out the love he himself extended to children in need.  He touches and blesses-how simple.