Leaving a Boy coming back a Man

My first born declared last year he was ready to kill a deer.  He was really excited about the prospect of bringing home a trophy.  The idea of actually "hunting" was a whole other story.  Let's just say he is more interested in talking and moving then sitting quietly and waiting.  This year we noticed some deer coming into our back yard to eat left over pears and other fruit.  So Eric had the idea to set Gage up in our play house as a deer stand.  Our Preacher was interested in shooting a Doe as well, so After Christmas they set up to hunt in the backyard.  Around 8 am Eric and I watched as the deer began to walk from the pine tree.  We were both giddy and nervous, wondering what was taking so long for him to shoot.  Finally when the deer turn broad side, Gage shot and killed it.  Mr. Don than took 2 shots and hit one running off.  When Gage came in the house he was shaking from head to toe.  Mr. Don said they were practicing patience waiting for a perfect shot, But even he admitted his shock when Gage killed  it dead in it's tracks.



 #Mom lesson
For the past two years Eric has been taking Gage hunting but it is so much more than that.  Every trip is filled with discussions of life.  Last year Eric was explaining the rut, "Son, this is when a Buck tries to have sex with a doe." "Dad if that is what is going on around here, I don't want anything to do with it."    Eric and I have decided no matter how uncomfortable a topic can be we would rather our boys hear the truth from us instead of the world.  This way they can have a healthy base for the information they are exposed to.   Every time he begins to ask questions I am not ready for him to ask my heart breaks as he heads off on another hunting trip.  His childhood innocence is leaving quickly and I want to hold on to these moments of magic and fairy tale.  I have to remind myself it is our job as parents to train him in life not hide him life.  I am so proud of the man he is becoming and tuck these wonderful memories in my mother's heart.  It is not easy but I look forward to the day it will be worth it. 

It's all fun and games until someone licks a worm.

We had WONDERFUL Weather this month, which lead to us working outside.  As the boys were exploring, they decided it would be fun to fix up a boat to put in our pond.  My Parents were visiting so Pops helped the boys clean out and wash up the boat.  Soon it was time to test it out in true redneck style.

After walking to the pond Nonna and I Found just the boys in the boat, Hutch was driving the trolling motor swirling around in circles.  Thankful my dad was just playing a trick on us and got up from the bottom of the boat.  My Plans were to watch but of course the boys talked me into letting them ride me around.  This was no Peaceful trip, Curtis only knows One speed, it doesn't matter what directions he is going or what is in front of us, He was going fast.  And Hutch was fixated on dropping the anchor so we could fish.  Eric finally gets in a position to fish and tells Hutch he can drop the Anchor.  The only problem was no one had Tied the anchor off.  So it disappears to the bottom of the pond. 

So the boys no longer have the trolling motor or the Anchor to play with so they are ready to fish.  If you know anything about fishing with your Husband, he quickly gets intense on catching a fish.  Which means dealing with the boys becomes a hassle that falls to you.  Let us remember I am not a fan of gross slimy stuff.  So helping the boys put a worm on their hooks is not on my list of Fun afternoon activities.  Soon my son Curtis realizes this and begins to torture me. 

For some Crazy Reason at our house whenever something is gross my husband challenges the boys to eat it for money.  Why this happens is beyond me but The boys have tried all kinds of things for cash.  So when Eric offered up a dollar to lick the worm Curtis was all about it.  Which of course meant my other boys also licked it because they could not be out done by their little brother.  When Curtis challenged Eric for a dollar per lick, My husband stopped the challenge at 2 dollars. 

The biggest surprise, we caught some fish. 

City Girl Lesson:

Boys will be boys.  Before I had my children I thought this was all about kids but it is something men never grow out of.  My Husband can challenge the boys to do anything and they will.  Climb a tree, Throw a water balloon at their loving mother, attach a lizard to their ear, eat fish food and the list goes on and on!  I just don't get it, and I know most of you reading this may thing that I am crazy for letting this go on.  BUT being a gross boy has a lot to do with making a Man.  The same man I depend on to kill snakes, be my personal handyman, and bring home the bacon started out as a curious gross boy.  Thankfully He had Real men in his life to challenge him to do uncomfortable stupid things.  As women we struggle with understanding how this works but If you want your boy to become a Man Let him be gross.  LET the men in his life train him to face challenges and fail, LET him learn to be strong when he feels frightened, LET him not be scared of worms and bugs (even if that means he tortures you with them).  I don't know how it works, that is a man secret.  It makes me appreciate all the Real men in my life that are willing to pass this secret along to my boys. 

Good Morning, Wait maybe just Morning.

To scream or not to scream that is the question.  I am trying because of my screaming habits to wake up at least 15 minutes before the chaos starts at my house and read Jesus Calling (amazing book).  This morning was all about trusting God and being Quiet.  Right in the middle my alarm starts blaring because we hit snooze instead of off.  I try to continue to focus on scripture But the boys wake up and to start the day before I am ready. 
Here is my perfect plan, the boys get dressed from head to toe (clothes have already been set out the night before) and put up their PJ's, I feed them breakfast while I read a bible study then they clean up their dishes. Next they should brush their teeth & Hair then clean up the bathroom.  Lastly they get their backpacks (which also were set out the night before) so we can head to the bus.  The plan is set out to make them responsible and me less stressed so I can avoid the screaming habit.

 

Now that was my plan this is what Actually happens.  It was picture day so I picked out their outfits, which we forgot about last night because we were cutting hair for pictures.   Hutch and Gage put on the wrong size pants and could not figure out why they wouldn't fit.   Curtis is still laying on the floor under his blanket trying to hide. The milk is already in the cereal so the scream is getting in my throat.  After finally getting dressed Hutch starts to put on his play shoes because he can't find his school shoes.  Of course this will not due because they dressed nice for picture day, so the plan needs him to wear his nice shoes.  1st screams comes at Curtis who is now naked standing in the kitchen wanting to eat breakfast.  I find Hutch's shoe (in the closet on the shoe rack).  Now Curtis can't find his shoes. At this point I am giving up on pictures and he can wear play shoes.  Yet another scream comes about breakfast because the cereal is soggy.  During the bible study (Guilt filled mom reads about not worrying because God will take care of you) Gage reminds me I said I would make lunch for them today.  So I begin to put their lunch together and scream yet again rushing them off to brush their teeth and hair.   I now realize I have not put fruit in their lunch and can't find the apples.  Thankfully Eric appears and saves me because the boys now can't find their backpacks because the left them in the car.  As your can guess, Full Scream mode is upon everyone as we rush off to the bus stop.

Mom Lesson:  As I find Gage's lunch box in the front seat, see Curtis school shoes outside in the yard and pick up the PJ's, I am in full Guilt Mode because yet another morning the boys left with my voice screaming in their ears.  I look in the magazine basket and see an article in thriving Family about "Perfect isn't the point" Looking beyond unrealistic Expectations to enjoy the moment.  I may not have found God in my set time for Him but in that moment He gave me a huge Hug and said it's going to be OK.  The article talked about GRACE, we are not expected to be perfect and if we try to be perfect we WILL FAIL.  I am still going to try to plan ahead and teach my boys to be responsible but I hope they will know that when everything goes wrong God still loves us.  I am still working on my screaming habit and I would love to end this post saying I figured it out BUT I haven't.  I am a work in process that Lord loves and right now I am OK with that, Well at least until tomorrow morning.

 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Camp Wiregrass

My Dad has been a Director at Camp Wiregrass 3rd & 4th grade for many summers.  The session has always been a High energy and Fun filled week.  But the last couple of years my brother has introduced a new level of entertainment by adding Skits to reinforce the lessons the kids learn each day.  This year he had 3 high school students travel back in time to meet the "real" apostles and see the stories first hand.   Now when I say "real" apostles  I mean.  Peter, Mr. Jeff, who appears on stage with a faulty bread.   John, Mr. Benny, who is peaceful and calm with a proper Old English accent.  Paul, my husband Eric, Who is  Uncle Si in a dress.

Day two we studied about the Story of Paul on the road to Damascus.  As the younger Good looking actors portrayed the Story.  The Older apostles added the humor.  Such as the time when Paul fell to his knees in fear at the bright light that blinded him, Uncle Si added that he was really not that afraid just a little concerned.

Day three we discussed Peter escaping with the angel.  This is Wednesday and our actors have gotten "into" their rolls.  So when the younger actors are portraying the scene older Peter decides they are not "good enough looking"  for him so he takes their place and proceeds to roll through out the audience as he escapes.  When he finally appears at the home of the believers who had been praying all night for his release, the young girl doesn't believe it is him.  But it is not a young girl, it is my brother Seth.  So the older apostles proceed to "girl" him up by adding lip stick.  This time when Peter knocks Seth busts out in full falsetto. "WHO IS IT?" and tells Peter there is no way it is him because he is still in prison because that is why the group is meeting and praying.  After this exchange Peter finally convinced her (or him in our story) and he runs off to tell the group leaving Peter outside standing at the door.

Day Four When our "older" apostle came on stage Uncle Si was speaking with John's old English accent.  Eric had gotten so caught up he couldn't remember how to talk like Uncle Si.  John (AKA Mr. Benny)  had to remind him "You know you talk like "Hey Jack".
 The Lesson today was on Paul and Silas praising the Lord in prison.  The narrator tells the younger "good looking"  apostles to sing and they politely sing "When the saints".  Uncle Si (AKA older Paul) interrupts and declares that music was not good enough and has the Narrator Blare Toby Mac to which the whole stage begins to bust a move. After the music dies down there is an Earthquake on stage and Paul tells the jailer that everyone was still in prison and the Guard is converted.

 

Mom Lesson:  Saturday when we got home from Camp I was asking the kids about their favorite parts.  All 3 boys told us every detail of the skit.  I mean EVERY Detail.  Hutch would laugh out loud as Curtis did the high knee dance like Eric to that "super cool" song.  Gage summed it up best with "It was like the real stories but very Funny"  The remembered details of the Bible stories.  They Thought is was so funny when the characters "got it wrong".
As teachers it is important to make the stories of the bible come alive for these children.  Yes I believe facts are important but how and why they did what they did can change children's lives.  The same Joy from the fruit of the Spirit that allowed Paul to Praise God in Prison is in us.  The Bible is full of unbelievable miraculous stories.  Everything is True and the reason that the apostles were able to act the way they did was Jesus.  And when we show those same Fruits of the Spirit we are also Showing Jesus in us.  The same Jesus that was in those amazing stories.
I know that Uncle Si and funny stunts are not factual but it brings a new angle to the same lesson. People are not cookie cutters, we all learn different so why teach the bible in boring colorless methods.  We need to put as much effort into teaching God's word as we do into teaching ABC and 123.  We need to have as much of a passion of our Children learning bible stories as we do about children learning in school.  We are dropping the ball if we don't make God's word Come alive for our children.  It is the bread of life and we settle for a couple of hours a week to teach our kids the most important lessons there is.  I know we are "busy" but that is the devils biggest Tool.  Overwhelm your senses until you don't have time.  We can find time for what we WANT to do.
I will step off my soap box to say I am as guilty of this as anyone.  But the Work and extra effort my Dad, Brother, Husband, and Friends put into teaching the bible at camp Wiregrass are doing powerful things in our campers life's.  The outside world may look at us like we are crazy but I have memories from Childhood from the same camp that has made me into he person I am today.  I can close my eyes during a song and see the Pavilion full of 80 Kids singing praises to God in my memory as clear as day.  Make that a priority for your children.  It doesn't have to be camp, it can be other spirit filled places BUT MAKE JESUS MORE IMPORTANT than your busy schedules.  Expose your children to life changing moments, where they realize how real the bible is. 

 

Seasons of Motherhood

As I sat in Church this morning I had a sudden realization of how quickly life flies by.  There were 3 precious babies that just turned one this month sitting behind me making sweet noises and moving restlessly around.  All of a sudden when one hits his head on the bench and screams out, I realize I am sitting by myself listening to the sermon with no one demanding my attention.  My arms began to ache, I longed to snatch up one of those babies and snuggle.
Yet just a few short years ago I remember sitting in the same pew almost in tears because I couldn't get my babies to act right.  I remember longing for just one moment of worship time without the stress of worrying if my children were ruining the service for everyone else.  At times dreaded going because it was an emotional roll coaster, even when they sat with other people I heard every breath they made.  In time they were trained and now they even participate by reading, singing, praying, or taking up the offering.  Things I dreamed of while I was wrestling with my precious baby.  Yet now I listen to the sweet noise (it is amazing how the tone changes when it is not your child) and long for those days.

Mom lesson:

I can't tell you how many times have I heard Don't Blink or you will miss it.  Believe me having 3 boys in 3 1/2 years, I am sad to say there was a lot of blinking just to survive the baby stages.  I wish you could go back and visit those moments so you can truly appreciate them.  First so you can enjoy your precious child who wanted to wear superman shirts every where for 2 years. Second so you can remember what ACTUALLY happened, You can trick your mind into thinking a 3 year old stubbornness is cute AFTER you have survived it but while it was going on it was awful. 

SO some free advice from a mom who survived so far: 
#1 This to shall pass and a lot quicker than you think.  The Good Lord gives you strength when you ask!  My 3rd baby slept through the night when I brought him home from the hospital, and at the time that was a miracle!
#2  Deal with behavior issues NOW I know it is hard and you are tired but you need to be consistent and give your child a healthy respect for authority BEFORE you have to start training Attitudes and Heart lessons
#3  When a mom with older children offers to help with your precious baby, PLEASE let her.  You need a break and she needs the memories.

There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,

 a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, 

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

 

Whatever season of motherhood you are in remind yourself, there is some mother out there longing to be in your shoes.  Some may want to remember and others may be caught in the chaos. 



I got your Back

Having 3 growing boys means the kitchen is the favorite room in the house.  Keeping "snacks" in the house is a full time job.  I have to get pretty creative with my hiding skills.  You would think the higher the better.  Not so much at my house.  Gage got the bright idea for the brothers to use each other as a stepping stool.  To start with Gage got on all four and told Hutch to climb on top.  When Eric asked what they were doing Hutch launched into a detail description of their goal to reach the Snacks.  Gage screams from below, "Quit talking and get the snacks already."  Hutch was not tall enough but that did not deter my determined 1st born.  They recruited Curtis to the pile.

Eric and I  watched the process fail.  We finally had to leave for school, so my husband easily reached the snacks and handed them to the boys.

Mom Lesson:  How often do we try our best to figure things out our self.  The good Lord is waiting to reach the "snacks" for us, yet we are to prideful and stubborn to ask for his help. 

 Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understandings.  In ALL your ways acknowledge him and we will direct your paths.  Proverbs 3:5&6

Stealing 2nd

My Son Hutch is playing his 1st season of Pitching Machine.  

To best describe his love for the Game, let me draw you back to the days of T-ball.  While playing outfield Hutch's favorite thing to do was play in the dirt.  But this was not the "normal" playing in the dirt,  Hutch was digging with his hat while it is still on his head.  Do you get the picture?   Bending at the waist, digging with his hat that is still on his head.  The worst part, I was standing beside him on the field watching the batter.  Well at least one of us was into the game :).

Hutch is one of the youngest on the team, so if he gets a hit, he literally Jumps up and down on first base and gives "winks and thumbs up" to everyone he knows.  Last night Hutch took off running to second for the steal, which was not the plan of his coach (My husband).  He made it safely and actually made a run with the next batters hit.  The game ended and we went to Tasty Freeze for ice cream to celebrate the win.  Coach Larry asked Hutch " Do I need to call the Cops?  You were "stealing" 2nd."  Hutch laughed and answered ""I didn't REALLY steal the base, Cause I didn't take it home"

Mom Lesson:    "Meaningless!  Meaningless!"  says the Teacher.  "Utterly Meaningless!  Everything is meaningless."  Ecclesiastes 1:2 I have spent more time then I care to admit pushing my boys to be perfect.  Yet my favorite memories from baseball have nothing to do with great plays and wins.  I love the moments when they mess up.  Enjoy your children, laugh instead of stressing over crazy moments.