Chess the Two of Us

Christian loves to relax with a good game of Chess. Of course, Mike and I have no real idea how to play the game.  In fact, I just learned the rules trying to teach Christian to play a couple of months ago.  Christian has the basic moves memorized and knows (for the most part) which way each piece can go. However, as far as strategy, we are all clueless...research is in order. Speaking of order, order is in order.  No, that doesn't have anything to do with anything, other than it's a true statement that just seemed to go right there. So, Christian and Mike set up the Chess game the other day, and I got some pictures because I thought they were cute.  And cute is what you're going for when you're playing Chess, right? Christian is very deliberate, but he plays Chess the same way he plays Chinese Checkers (there is a lot of,"If I did this...you could do this...). Christian had fun explaining the rules to Mike, but I'm not so sure that they were all that clear... This is a game that I could obsess about.  I like to win.  I like a challenge, a puzzle.  I am trying to decide if I should remain in my blissful (not really, it drives me crazy not to know the point/strategic process of this game) state of ignorance or learn up on the "why" of Chess.  Hmmm.  I will have to come back to this. In the meantime, it's fun to pretend like we know what we're doing.  And it's good time spent with Christian...who will probably turn out to be some kind of mad Chess playing, all-time undefeated champion. And we can say it all started here!

An Easter Celebration

Today Christian's class had their Easter Egg Hunt and a small party in their room, preparing for this special holiday. When I say "holiday" I mean it in the most sincere way that I can-the day we celebrate our risen Lord Jesus, his victory over death and the power of sin, the reality of forgiveness and the depth of his love.  It is indeed a holy day. The children were asked last month to bring in a dozen plastic eggs and an egg carton for the hunt.  Each egg was to have one letter written on it, and together each dozen spelled out "JESUS IS RISEN."  Each child searched for eggs to fill in the holes in their carton, with the matching letters to the eggs.  It was a wonderful way to do an Easter Egg hunt, and they had a great time searching.  What is more precious is when the first kids finished filling up their cartons they continued to look for eggs in order to help their friends.  It was very sweet. "Christian, is something on your mind?" Some of the moms hid all of the eggs beforehand, and the great thing about doing it this way is that each child ended up with the same number of eggs, but they were different from the eggs each child brought in and with treats inside! Christian would pick up an egg, identify the letter, and check his carton  to see if the space had been filled or not. If it was an egg he needed, he would add it to his carton. No stone unturned, no bush unexplored... It was the perfect day for an egg hunt...sunny, warm, beautiful. Has he resorted to hatching his own eggs? A full carton, a complete sentence!  "JESUS IS RISEN." What a sweet class! After the Easter Egg hunt we returned to the classroom for a craft, a special book reading, and a snack.  The craft was a miniature garden, the scene of the empty tomb, made on a sturdy paper plate. Each plate had soil on it; the kids added a stone, rolled away from a tomb, as well as moss, an empty cross, and some plants. Here is the "tomb." Christian then added some moss all around... Each child worked diligently and with great attention to detail.  I love how unique each one turned out, even though they used the same materials. Michaela helped him a little... And Eliana was trying very hard to get in on this action.  Alas, her straps held her firmly in place... She did manage to get a cookie, though. And sadly, my camera battery died right at this point. There was an Easter story, along with the snack, and the children had all sorts of wonderful things to say about it. Regarding a miracle..."A miracle is when Jesus walked on the water and he didn't sink." (Not directly related to the Easter story, but in answer to the question,"What is a miracle?") "That was a great story!" "Why did they kill Jesus?"  The reader of the book said that they didn't like him...and paused to search for the words to explain such a sensitive topic...Christian said,"Because they thought he was lying and that he wasn't God, so they crucified him." Christian's teacher talked about how they had discussed earlier the mystery and the miracle of the Easter story; she asked what that miracle was and several hands went up.  The answer came,"When Jesus raised from the dead." These simple statements are so powerful, especially coming from such young ones.  How delightful that they can learn to honor and praise the Lord from the very beginning of their lives.  This was a joy to be a part of. I have to confess here that I have been struggling lately.  Maybe it's obvious from the more recent posts.  But being a witness to a seemingly small classroom activity has had a big impact on me.  Life is a series of steps, sometimes forward, sometimes back.  Sometimes more backward than forward...  At times like this (the stress of moving on everyone, sleep deprivation because Eliana is still a terrible sleeper at night, guilt over all the things not getting done) I need a reminder of the bigger picture.  Stepping back to look at it just might get me going forward again. I am grateful to have spent this time with Christian and his class.  I ended up being blessed!  Jesus is Risen, indeed!

A "7"

As I was reading tonight, Christian was working on something in his bed.  Here is the project he had going on...

"A seven!"    

There is so much going on in his head that I don't know or hear about.  I would love to know what inspired this.  Was it something in the story (I don't recall anything about a seven in The Secret Garden)?  Maybe it just emerged as he moved the coins around.  Who knows?  What I do know is that Christian is funny, creative, smart, passionate, intense, caring, and sweet.  Seven words for my son.

And here is something else that I think is noteworthy.  The blanket that he is wrapped up in is a small quilt that I bought from someone at the online store etsy; this person was donating all of the profits from several of the things she was selling to the Cora Playground Project (a playground at the church where the McClenahan's attend, in memory of Cora).  Many etsy sellers were doing this, and Cora's mom is selling some things to benefit the playground as well, but they sell so fast they are hard to get.  Christian has slept with this quilt every night since we've had it.  He knows I purchased it for Cora's playground, and he knows her story.  I think it's sweet that he wants to snuggle up in it.  He has a big heart; I pray that will remain true.

School Days

Christian has been busy at school, and I thought I would share a few of the projects and assignments that he has completed recently.  They are hanging up in the hallway for parents and other interested folks to see.

The class studied the presidency and Abraham Lincoln a couple of weeks ago, and this is what Christian had to say about what it would be like to be the President of the United States.

If you need a translation, this says,"I want to be president so that I can write a dissertation about John Calvin.  I would land in people's yards in my helicopter."

Priceless.

This is what he had to say about Abe.

"He made lots of speeches.  He was born in a log cabin.  He told funny jokes.  He had a black beard."  And here is his Lincoln, black beard and all.

The class just finished a unit on castles; these are Christian's thoughts on castles along with his drawing of one.

"My castle is in Rome.  My castle is special because it has 3 diamonds at the top.  The whole classroom lives in my castle."

Seeing the results of his hard work in the classroom is so wonderful.  His creativity will always enchant me, even if I don't get to live in his castle!  (Although it doesn't say only his classroom lives in the castle...)

Losing and Winning

Losing-as in my marbles.

Winning-as in Michaela's first soccer game of the season.

They did such a good job.  Unfortunately, we arrived a little late.  That would be because of line number 1 up there.  Christian and Michaela both had soccer this morning at 9 am.  He, practice; she, a game.  Well, I went to bed last night (after an event over at the church at which they stayed late and therefore got to bed around 9:45) thinking,"So nice that we don't have to get up early tomorrow, no alarm to set for 7:30.  Aahhh!" 

Everyone was up by 8:15 or so, had breakfast, and began playing and just hanging out.  I went to do something (back to line number 1, I have no idea what it was) and glanced at the clock: 9:09.  "OOHHH NOOO!  YOU GUYS HAVE SOCCER!  HURRY, HURRY, GET YOUR STUFF ON, WE HAVE TO GO, NOW!"  Well, since now everyone thought the house was on fire, and Christian was asking why I scared him and Michaela was throwing her Pink Panthers uniform on the floor and telling me,"No, Maroon Strikers!", and Eliana was chanting,"Shoezon, shoezon?" our morning was off to an excellent start.  All I needed was the William Tell overture playing in the background. 

I raced around getting clothes, and shin guards, and cleats, and they got water bottles, and who has the baby?  We managed to get everyone in the car and arrive at the soccer fields at 9:21.  And I didn't speed, either.  I am a law-abiding citizen. 

Michaela was able to play the second half of the game, and Christian got in plenty of practice.  Later, I apologized to them for forgetting their soccer this morning, and promised to give them all the dessert they wanted for the rest of the day.  I didn't really do that.  I did tell them I was sorry, but they just had their normal amount of junk today.  What kind of mother do you think I am?

It was great fun to watch the girls' team.  They played so well together.  They were passing the ball, booting it down the field, blocking the opponents' shots, and going for goals from further away with more confidence than last season.  This season is going to be a kick to watch, because I think they'll just get better.  Why yes, I did mean to be such a dork, and write "kick" in that sentence.

I peeked at Christian every few minutes and noticed him doing a good job across the street.  Michaela's game just happened to be at the same time and on the same school's fields as his practice.  How convenient for me!  Especially on a day like today.  He has good control over the ball, and I could see him during the drills, dribbling away, practicing shooting into the goal.  And then, his favorite thing, they had a scrimmage game-shirts and skins.  He always manages to be on the skins' team.  Even as little boys, they love to lose the shirt and strut.  What will he be like when he's 14?  17?  Oh my.  Let's not skip ahead that far, eh?  Are you trying to give me a heart attack?

Tomorrow is the start of a new week.  I am looking forward to a fresh start.  Marbles, you may roll hither and yon, under all manner of furniture, and disappear into an abyss of giant dustballs and long-forgotten toys and socks, but know that one day I will find you because we are moving and the furniture will be relocated and everything will be cleaned up and returned to its rightful place.