The Best Gift Ever

The other night I put Josiah to bed which is usually Daddy's job. I have to admit I was not overjoyed to be spending time with him at bed time because Josiah has a very hard time listening to me when he is very tired. Daddy is far better skilled at calming him before bed and talking to him about his day. For some reason that is just good Josiah and Daddy time. For what ever reason it was that I was putting him to bed, I was not having a joyful moment.
We got through all the getting ready for bed stuff like brushing teeth and going potty without too many arguments and then we sat down on the bed for story time. I was tired so I told Josiah we would only be doing one story tonight and that it would be his Bible story. He complained a little, but I insisted.
I picked up his Bible and started to read. I do not remember the story we read, but in the becoming a man of God section, it talked about receiving gifts and it asked what was one of the best gifts he had ever gotten.
My sweet little boy looked me in the eye and said, "I think the best gift I ever got was my mommy!"
Boy can we be humbled by our children so quickly. I felt terrible for not wanting to spend this precious time with my son and then was blessed so much by his loving attitude.
Our conversation did not end there. We continued on to talk about God's gift to us. We talked about Jesus, God's son, coming to earth to die on the cross to save us from our sins. He had several questions about sin and about salvation and how that really happens. I told him that we have all sinned and that we cannot make it right with God except by asking Jesus to be our saviour. When we do that Jesus comes into our heart and lives there.
Josiah asked me, "is Jesus in my heart?" I said no I don't think so and that for Him to come into our heart we have to ask Him to and that we have to believe that He died to save our sins. Then he said, "let's do that right now!"
So, we did and I really don't know how much he understands, but the Lord knows his heart and we will keep praying for him and talking to him about salvation.
The next morning he came running into the bedroom to ask me if Jesus was still in his heart. Every day since he has told me that he just wants to tell Jesus that he loves Him.
My heart is joyful and I have learned from my son this week that I should cherish every moment with him since I never know what I might miss.

A Josiah Funny

So, yesterday Josiah and I were reading books together. He chose the book A Mother for Choco which is about adoption and how some families don't look alike. After reading the story a couple of times we began to talk about how Choco did not look his mother Mrs. Bear. I asked him if he thought that he and I looked alike. This is how the conversation went from here:

Josiah - Oh! No!
Me - how do you think we look different?
J - Well, I have short hair and you have long hair.
M - anything else?
J - I have a small bottom and you have a big bottom!

Needless to say I about fell on the floor laughing. He did not think my response was very kind or appropriate. We ended our conversation with things about us that are the same.

Just had to Share

I just have to share a funny Josiah story:

Last night after dinner Josiah says, "Hey Dad. Come play with me." Greg gets into the room to play with him and Josiah looks at him with a very serious expression and says, "Now, we can play rough, but if you hurt this arm again I will have to knock you out!"

Got to love boys!

Never a Dull Moment

Christmas was wonderful. New Year was tiring and this last weekend was relaxing. Monday was one last day of fun at home with Mommy for Josiah. We spent the day at the zoo because who knew it could be 70 degrees in January. We had a great time. The day was just wrapping up with Mommy at the computer updating some files and Josiah and Daddy playing superheros in the other room. Life was peaceful and I had been rescued several times by Batman and Concrete man. How fun it is to hear them play. Until of course I hear a screech and them uncontrollable crying.
Josiah very seldom complains of pain. He and Daddy were wrestling and somehow Josiah hurt his elbow. He would not stop screaming in pain. So, what could a mother do? I scooped him up and ended up at Urgent Care. Several x-rays later and several bouts of blood curdling screaming, the Dr declares Josiah is fine and should go to school on Tuesday. "These things have a way of seeming so much better when friends are around," he says.
After a very restless and pain filled night I, like any other great Mom, send my poor baby to school. I tell his teacher he is probably fine and to call me if he is in too much pain.
I pick him up from school at the regular time. Josiah says his arms is still hurting and his teacher tells me that he hasn't used it all day. He held his right arm at his side all day and refused to move it. Any time I touched it he screamed and cried. After lunch and several phone calls to Greg and my parents I scoop him up once more and go back to Urgent Care (the same Dr was going to be there). The Dr. takes one look at him and sends us to the Pediatric Orthopedic doctor in town. We spent 3 hours there waiting to be seen. Another round of blood curdling x-rays, a twist and a turn of the elbow from the Dr. and Josiah is now sporting a beautiful blue cast. Yes it is broken! Don't I feel like Mother of the Year!

A Picture Speaks a Thousand Words!

Lessons Never Learned

I spent a long time today thinking about what I was gong to write about. I considered writing more about my Women's Bible study on the Tabernacle and what I have been learning. I thought about writing about the thoughts I have had about our new baby who's face we will see very soon, but none of these seemed quite appropriate after Josiah helped me realize that there are some lessons in life we just never learn quite as well as we should.
Let me take you back in time to the "I do not like Green Marker Stains" post. One I am sure none of you have forgotten!
So, right after Josiah colored his bedroom green I called my mother. My mother's initial response was much like many of yours ...... laughter. She said, "my child - been there.... done that - 4 times!" I said, "Well, that's not very encouraging!" To which she replied, "Oh! Wait! The fun has just begun. Next it will be your make-up. "
Which brings us to today!
I went downstairs for no more than ten minutes to get dinner started while Josiah innocently sat on my bed watching Mary Poppins. WhenI came upstairs to check on him it was far too quiet. When he saw me enter the room he let out a shriek and took off running. I on the other hand, had to do everything in my power not to burst out laughing and give my child ammunition to use at a later time. My mother's words came flooding back. How could I have been so dense as to not heed the warning.
There in front of my eyes was foundation make-up all over my dressing table and anything that had gotten in the way of the portrait my dear son was painting with it. Several of his cars were also a beautiful shade of "skin tone". I could hardly even be upset with him, after all my Mom had warned me and I had not listened and put my make-up away.
We chastise our children for not listening when we, ourselves, have not learned this valuable lesson. I desperately wanted to call my Mom and tell her I was sorry for all the times I had disobeyed her and to thank her for still looking out for me. Too bad it was already after 10pm in South Africa when this happened and I know my parents are going to be up early tomorrow to leave for a mini vacation. I guess they will have to wait until Monday to see that their dear child is still learning lessons about listening. Too bad I didn't pay more attention to what Mom had to say that green day.

A Cry for Help!

So, yesterday I wrote about all the changes that have taken place since Josiah went to school and how this is a good thing. I am rethinking some of that!

Josiah does not have school on Friday, so he and I did lots of fun things all day. Greg left around 6pm to go out with the guys and Josiah and I went to Dairy Queen for ice cream. When we got home, I went upstairs to start running Josiah's bath. This is when things changed!

I am not sure whether the cry for help is for me or if it is something he needs or will need. I am at my wits end. I never intended my blog to become a running commentary on all the naughty things my son can find to do. Anyway, I was running his bath. I went downstairs to call him and found him waiting at the bottom of the stairs for me (clue #1). I asked, "What are you doing?" and of course the answer was, "nothing!"(clue #2) He had some strange looking yellow liquid in his hair and all over his clothes (clue #3). I go into the living room and every pair of dress shoes at the door, the carpet, some cushions and my hardwood floors have buffing compound on them (answer). You know, the kind you use to get scratches out of paint work on your car! I calmly sat him down on a naughty chair and proceeded to clean up. 45 minutes later I think I got it all and from the other room I hear, "I'm sorry, Mommy." We went upstairs cleaned him up and straight to bed. He is now laying in bed playing with his many, many stuffed animals and occasionally crying for his Daddy. A not so perfect end to a nearly perfect day.

Goodbye green marker - Hello blue toothpaste

Yes this is really true! Can you believe it twice in one week. What is a Mom to do?
Early this morning (5am), Josiah came into the room to see if it was time to wake up yet. We have been trying to instill in him that he should stay in his room until the clock says seven, zero, zero.
Obviously it's not working.
Anyway, I sent him back to bed and told him it is not time to get up yet. He came back in about 3 minutes later and asked if he could get a drink of water in the bathroom and then play in his room. With one eye half open I said yes as long as it was quitely. I then rolled over and went back to sleep. Around 6:30 Greg got up and gave Josiah his milk at which time, as usual, Josiah climbed in bed with me. I rolled over and gave him a hug and put my hand in something very sticky. I jumped out of bed only to find that Josiah had an interesting mohawk held in place with blue toothpaste. I marched him off to the bathroom only to find the toothpaste everywhere along with foamy soap and hand sanitizer. Needless to say his milk had to be set on the counter and I sat him in the bathtub. All the while Josiah asking, "Are you going to spray me down?" He does not like to be showered off. Inside I was saying yes, yes, yes to the showering, but I was too groggy with sleep to even care. I washed him off , put some clothes on him and put him back in my bed with his milk.
At that time Josiah puts his arm around my neck and says, "You know Mommy, even when I am naughty, I still love you!" My heart melted and the day wasn't so bad afterall.
This week I think my life lesson is, it is all in the way you look at it!
I didn't take pctures of the mess this morning because quite honestly I just wasn't awake enough to think of it, so here are some pictures Josiah eating his lunch at Wendy's. We went there after school today.

"I learned Kid stuff"

I Do Not Like Green Marker Stains

I do not like green marker stains
Not now, not ever, I say it again
I do not like them on my bed.
I do not like them on my head.
I would not could not on my toy
I would not could not on this boy

I do not like green marker stains
Not now, not ever, I say it again
Not on my leg or on the door
Not on my chest or on the floor
I do not like them on a train
I do not like them on a plane


I do not like green marker stains
Not now, not ever, I say it again
I should have taken a nice little nap
Instead I started this mishap
I would not, could not sleep in bed
With all this mischief in my head



I do not like marker stains
Not now, not ever, I say it again
Mom gets stains out that come from dirt
But not greeen marker on my shirt
She tried soap and stuff and even Shout
Not even Granny could wash them out


I do not like green marker stains
Not now, not ever, I say it again

Inspired by Josiah
Written by Greg
In the style of Dr. Seuss