Tag Archives: Kid Stuff

Bend It Like Anna.


God has been dealing with me on a thing or twenty that I’ll share later in the week.  Today, I just had to post some pics of Anna in her first soccer game ever.  Because, I love her.  And, she makes me laugh so hard.

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She really enjoyed herself and her over-sized soccer shirt that could double as a dress.  That didn’t stop her from getting in there in and dominating posing on the soccer field.  When she noticed I had my camera aimed at her cute self, she decided to turn, stop, and smile.  Headed tilted and all.  Instead of taking the picture, I did what any good mother would do.  I yelled, “Go!  Go!  Your team is on the OTHER side of the field!”  So, she returned to face her fiersome opponents. 

When she wasn’t winking at me or striking a pose, she did manage to take the ball away from her opponents and teammates.  We were so proud when she handled the ball so well, kicking it with all her might towards the goal.  So what if it was the other team’s goal.  She was in the zone. 

The Chargers did lose.  But, please don’t tell her.  When she asked who won, I said her team did.  Because, all good mothers lie to their children for the sake of their self-esteem. 

In other news, my good friend, Shari, came out for a visit.  She made it just in time for Anna’s soccer game.

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Shari looks a wee bit more excited than Anna here.  But, no worries.  The High School Musical backpack Shari gave her won her right over.

Is it just me or does Shari favor Beth Moore in this pic?  Take a closer look.

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It kind of makes me want to persuade Shari tell me more about the disciple, John or somethingoranother.  But, alas, we will just shop instead.

That’s all folks. 

 

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She Can’t “Tuch” This.

John Henry left a note for his little sister on his bedroom wall.

 

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It’s taped above his skateboard and reads, “No Anna you cannot tuch it my skatebord X.”  I can only imagine that the “X” at the end means he isn’t playin’ around.

These kids.  They make me smile.

X,
Dusty

 

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The NAV Bible (New Anna Version)

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Last week, Anna got into trouble at Pre-School.  When I found out about it, I let her know that she was in trouble, and I would have to tell her dad about it.  John Henry, self-appointed Sheriff of Moral Order, also got involved.  Here is how the conversation went.

Me:  Anna, I’m going to talk to your dad when we get home.  This is unacceptable.

Anna: (Crying) NO!  Don’t tell Daddy!  Don’t tell Daddy!

Me:  Anna, I can’t keep this from your Daddy.

John Henry:  Anna, the Bible says we should not keep secrets from one another.  [A bit of a stretch on the truth shall set you free.]

Anna:  (Sobbing) Well, my Bible says different things!

I could not help but laugh.  Her Bible says different things.  Oh, how we all, at some point in life, pretend our Bible says something different.

Her quick wit didn’t save her from being disciplined. 

But, it almost did.

Have you ever been unable to discipline your child because of his or her wit?  I bet you have!

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Our Little Circle of Love.

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For more than twenty-four hours, Kris and I searched for his wedding band.

“The last time I saw it, it was on the kitchen counter,” I told him.

“I know.  Me, too,” he agreed.

So, we searched.  And, we searched some more.  Until finally, we had exhausted all of our options.

All save one.

The morning that followed our search mission, Kris cornered Anna.

“Baby doll, have you seen daddy’s wedding ring?” He gently asked her.

“Hmmm.  I think I have.  Let me check.  YOU STAY RIGHT HERE!”  She ordered.

A few seconds later, Anna hand delivered Kris’ wedding band.  He praised her, but also told her how special the ring is to him.

Later that morning, I followed Anna into her room, and asked, “Where was daddy’s wedding band?”

She pulled a little box out of her school backpack and showed me where it had been resting.

“Anna, did you take daddy’s ring to school?” I asked her.

“Yes!  I wanted to show my friends!”  She said.

So, she did.  And, we know that there is, indeed, a God of the universe, because, that circle of love made it back home. 

I pray years from now, she shows that same ring to her friends, and says, “My parents are great examples of what love, pursuit, and commitment are all about.”  Except, I hope she tells us this time J

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Filed under Kid Stuff, Love, Marriage

Friday Funnies.


My kids make me laugh.  Here are some of their recent quotes.

John Henry:  “Everybody was born in a hospital except Jesus.”

Anna (When I told her Nan was on the phone to talk to her): “Tell her I’ll talk to her tomorrow.”

John Henry (In response to Anna telling him a boy at school bit her): “I don’t usually use my anger, but I will use it on him if he does it again.”

This next quote is courtesy of one of Anna’s pre-school teachers.   Here is the conversation that followed when Miss Audra informed Anna that her cat was pregnant:

Anna:  “Can I have one?”

Miss Audra:  “Sure!  What color?”

Anna:  “A rainbow sparkly kitty.”

Miss Audra:  “I don’t think my kitty will have rainbow sparkly babies.”

Anna told me that Miss Audra’s cats have not “hatched out yet.”  She has also invited her pre-school teachers to come to Cabo and Georgia with us.  They told me they are very excited. 

Aren’t kids the best ever?

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Don’t drink the Kool-aid. Tee-hee.


Every once in a while, I do a little work.  Oh, settle down.   I don’t like get CRAZY with it or anything.  But, I do have a few responsibilities with my husband’s company.  And, sometimes, I do them
J

Yesterday morning, Anna was begging to make Kool-aid.  The whole “in a bit” response just wasn’t satisfactory.  So, while I was on the phone with an aircraft financing guy (see? I’m kind of vital to our business) I peek into the kitchen and see this:

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I tried my darndest not to laugh while discussing biz-ness.  She used a little medicine cup to pour the sugar in.  Cutest evah.

Seriously.  I am in love with this girl.  Head over heels in love with her.  I love her determination.  I love her mad dancing skills.  I love her. 

Thank you, Jesus, for letting me be Anna Takle’s mommy.  You’re the best.

 

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Dance ‘dan(t)s – to move or seem to move up and down or about in a quick or lively manner


Anna not only has some mad negotiating skills, but she also has some dangerous moves on a dance kitchen floor.  All was going well in this dance number until it was interrupted by a minor wardrobe malfunction.  And, well, she’s a perfectionist.  She quickly ordered that I stop taping immediately.  Actually, she just said, “Don’t click it yet!” 

Just watch.  You’ll see what I mean.  And, you’ll see one of the many reasons I am so blessed.

Have a great weekend!

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The Negotiator

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Living with us is one little girl with some mad negotiating skills.  We have to stand our ground – all tough-like.  Anna, ahem, Angel can explain her way out of and into a lot. 

But, we’re onto her.

And her subtly cunning nature.

Take last night for example.  She futility attempted to talk her dad into letting her watch a movie while she “falls asleep.”  Yeah.  Whatev’. 

Enters Mom.  Before I begin her bedtime prayers, she says to Kris, “Dad, could you step into the hall, please?”  In other words, can you get out so I can usurp your authority by asking mom what you just said no to?  Or something like that.

Do you have a negotiator or sly one?  {Or not so sly in this case.}
How do you handle their attempts at negotiation?

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A reminder that He is Immanuel.


I know I write about my experiences in parenting, well, far too often.  But, it’s where I am.  And, I learn just as much from those experiences as my children learn from me.  I feel certain of this.  I also realize that I tend to write more about John Henry’s seemingly spiritual insights and Anna’s crimes of fashion and occasional use of profanity.  It’s not necessarily that one loves God more than the other.  Hmmm. Well, maybe just a little.  For now.  Or perhaps, one just responds to His love more than the other.  Look, I don’t have the answers here.  I’m just figuring this thing out as I go, or in this case, as I type. 

I write all of the above nonsense to say that my children teach something almost daily.  And, if it’s not a new life lesson, it’s a reminder of how God has called us to live our life.  Yesterday was one of those days.

Upon letting John Henry out of the car, I decided to pretend there was a bug around his feet.  You know.  To scare him.  ‘Cause I’m a good mother who gets a kick out of frightening her children.  Go ahead and send that Mother of the Year Award to Oklahoma, please. 

So, the story went….

“John Henry!  There is a bug crawling around your feet!”  I said frantically in a voice worthy of a daytime Emmy. 

He skirted a bit.  Then, I said, “I scared you, didn’t I?”

“I don’t get scared,” he said.  “God is always with me.”

I probably should’ve felt ashamed at this point.  After all, I was trying to scare my son and he was basically rebuking me with the name of Jesus.  {I blame my own father, because he tried those same antics with me.}  But, I just felt proud.  Then, I felt comforted.  Because, my six-year old reminded me that:

No matter how grim things look….

No matter how desperate we become….

No matter how lonely we feel….

No matter how anxious we are….

No matter how scared we are…

God is with us.  Always.  When we walk through the waters, He will be there.  When we walk through the flame, He will be there.  He never leaves us.  He never forsakes us.  He goes with us all the way to the end.  He goes with us to those terrifying doctor’s appointments.  He goes with us when we drop our child off at her college dorm for the first time.  He goes with when we start a new job.  He goes with us when we walk down the aisle and say I do.  In everything we do, in every place we go, He is with us.

So, wherever you are walking today, know that He is with you.  And, you have nothing to fear.

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!  She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.'”  Matthew 1:23

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He’s so high, high above me.


John Henry came home from school last week and told me, “people who don’t love God don’t know Him.”  I’m pretty sure 1 John 4:8 is one of his memory verses.   I thought it would be fun to interview my children on what they know about God.  Here are their answers. The spelling and punctuation are courtesy of mom.  Grammar and content are courtesy of a 6 year old and 4 year old.

John Henry

That He is our Father.

He sent His son Jesus to earth.

And, He made us. He made Brew, all these animals.  The seventh day He rest.

I pray to talk to Him. We pray to Him anytime we want to.

We praise Him, and we celebrate His birthday.

Whenever you look up, you’re looking at Him.

He died on a cross to save our sins, and He loves us.

Anna

When God doesn’t know us or someone doesn’t know God, we have to pray to God so He’ll talk to us.

God praise us to bless our hearts to breathe.

God is in our hearts so He can hear us, ‘cause He’s so high when we pray.

He lives in heaven ‘cause heaven’s His favorite place to live.

He does lots of good stuff.

And, if we be bad we tell the truth.

And, He makes us by eating food to grow.  If we don’t have food in our tummy, we die and go to heaven.

God bless us with rats to hold and cats to hold.  Rats are like mouse.  Rats are tiny, and they scratch.

And, there ya go.

What do you know about God?

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