Working

When you have children spread out over a wide age range, it is not uncommon for the older ones to reminisce about how much harder life was for them than it is for the younger ones. They like to talk about how much work they did and how soft the younger ones are.

The truth is, they are raised differently. It would be a bit absurd to think that, as parents, we haven't grown, matured, changed, or degenerated in some ways in the past 25 years. Our children at home now are not being raised by the same parents who were at the helm with the older generation. Not only are we different, but our circumstances are different; so things are just going to be different.

But, I thought it might help you "older guys" to see some of the work that was done by the "younger guys" recently. I didn't have my camera out to capture Troy and Shane hauling wheelbarrow loads of dirt from the back garden to create a slope by the house, or shoveling and spreading a dump truck load of rocks. (After ten years it looks like the basement is without leaks!) But, here are some of the woodstacking efforts by Dana, Bryce, and Owen. So, when you come for Thanksgiving and you're enjoying a warm house you can thank your lazy younger siblings.






Our hope is that we are better parents now and that our younger ones will benefit from the changes, but if we're not and they don't and the older ones really feel like these guys aren't getting toughened up enough I'm sure they'll make sure to do what they can to make life harder for them. That's just one of the many benefits of a big family!

Mixed Message

Around our lunch table on Sunday afternoon, everyone shares a thought from the message. The younger children often come up with some interesting quotes but I think this one from today is my favorite:

"Of all the roads, the road to heaven has the most trees."

"Piano Man" Duet

Chet was only home for a day before heading to Wyoming for his Thanksgiving break, but the house was filled with piano music and singing during the hours he was here.

I guess Gabe didn't want to miss a minute of it, because after I put him down for his nap and did a load of laundry I heard some extra notes on the piano. I walked in to find Gabe out of bed and accompanying Chet.

Decorating with Chet

Bryce, Owen, and I went up to get Chet for Thanksgiving break and used the day to help him put a fresh coat of paint on the living room of the apartment he will be sharing with Priscilla in a few weeks (OK, Chet, exactly 6 weeks--he's counting).

I forgot to get a before picture before we'd started with the edging, but it's enough to understand why Chet was adament about painting it. He just wasn't a fan of the red and yellow.


Bryce and Owen took a couple of turns with the roller when they weren't absorbed in the games on Chet's laptop. Bryce found a way to make a game out of the painting. Owen decided he's not quite ready for a painting career,....or hobby. There's just a bit too much finesse involved in painting. He needs something that allows for little more 'slop and jump'. (Yep, he tried both...)



So Priscilla, here's your new living room!

The Perfect Place

Every so often a news story comes out with the title "America's Best Place to Raise Kids" or something like that.

I wonder how many people are scrambling to sell their homes and find jobs in the new celestial city of the year? I hope there are none. At least not for that reason.

The thing is, it's not where you raise your kids that really matters, it's how you raise them. If you teach them, by word and example, the Biblical principals of faithfulness, truth, goodness, kindness, love, gentleness, self control, patience, trust, peace, and obedience day in and day out, your actual physical location will mean very little.

So, when I really consider an answer to the question I'm not ready to put up a "For Sale" sign just yet. After living in five homes in four locations in three states I've found that the best place to raise kids is at home.

Pinkalicious

Children's librarian, Mr. Tom, held this book up to read to the children at story time. Gabe got quite excited. He pointed at the book and squealed, "Lisa!!"

Beware! Quiet Toddler in the House!

I can't believe he pulled one over on me. I'm supposed to be experienced, and ready for all the old tricks kids have up their sleeves. But, I missed this one.

Dana took the three older children to sing at the nursing home this morning and I was home alone for a few hours with Gabe. He was occupied with his cars, lining them all up and driving them along a seam of the couch cushion.

I decided to use the quiet time to get Shane's English assignments written up for the next five weeks (although he's in the public high school he is doing some of the work independently). To ease his bookload I decided to just photocopy the pages he would need from his huge textbook.

I got up to check on Gabe who was still quietly playing with his cars. He was fine. A few minutes later he walked into the kitchen with a tissue, blew his nose, and tossed it into the trash can. I love watching him do that, he looks so grown up, even though half the snot ends up on his face! I checked his face, it was fine, and went back to the lesson plans.

A minute later Gabe was back at the trash can with another tissue and I absently-mindedly made a note of how I'd need to teach him to use a tissue for a couple of blows before pitching it. It took another minute for my mind to kick into Mom-gear and realize how quiet it had become and how stealthily Mr. Gabe was moving in and out of the kitchen. How did I miss it? Something was surely going on.

And, something surely was. I really should have been clued into the fact that Gabe does NOT have a cold of any sort right now and therefore has no need of blowing his nose! He got me. And doesn't he look so proud of himself!