It's A Pink Kitty!!

I am always laughing at what comes out of Collin's mouth, and try to document what I can remember (which isn't much, haha!).  However, lately Grace has been competing with her brother for the title of family clown!  She understands making a joke now, and frequently says the wrong answer to a question just to be silly.  She will do anything to make her brother laugh :)  Today while driving home from Collin's school we were taking turns playing the "I'm Thinking of an Animal" game where one person thinks of an animal in their mind and the others take turns asking questions to guess what it is.

Grace is very smart, and fully capable of playing the game correctly, however she loves to say "YES" to anything you ask her & knows that she can answer the questions incorrectly or make up false information to be funny.  Here is how her turn went:

Grace: I am thinking of an animal.

Me: Does it swim in the water?
G: No.  It has a pink nose!

Collin: Does it live in the jungle?
G: YES!

Me: Is it a monkey?
G: No

Collin: Is it a tiger?
G: No.  It has a pink nose!

Me: Does it have fur?
G: It has pink fur!

Me: I don't know any jungle animals with a pink nose and pink fur.
G: Its a pink kitty!!!  (Laughing hysterically)

She cracks us up, just like her brother does :)

In Collin's Words

While driving, I overheard this conversation that was taking place in the backseat:

Grace: you want to sing a song?

Collin: yes!  I will sing you a princess song, even thought that's sooooo annnoooying!  Because I am a boy and boys don't like princesses.

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Collin's loves to make up games & his most recent made-up game was called "Teenager", where he pretended to be a "Teenager" by running around like a wild man, playing air guitar, singing loudly, and asked if he could "get dressed crazy".  I asked him how he knew what a teenager acted like and he said it was from the "Love You Forever" book...I think he nailed it :)


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After school conversation:

Collin:  Mommy, I had a rough day
Me:  I am sorry sweetie, what happened?
C: What does a rough day mean?
Me: It means that bad things happened to you today
C: It was a rough day
Me: What happened?
C: We didn't go to the playground today
Me: Is that all?
C: Yes

LOL - that's a rough day for a kindergartner!

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Kindergarten Boy

How did I get to the point where I am taking my child school supply shopping...for elementary school?!?  Wasn't it just yesterday that this was Collin James: 

I blinked my eyes, only for a second, and here we are today:

We had a great time, talking about life and about kindergarten.  I am trying to prepare him as best I can for school.  We talk about how not everyone knows about Jesus.  That we should always tell them about Jesus, but that they may not be ready to believe in Him.  We talk about how not everyone in his class will be making good choices, and I coach him on ways to make good friends and how to tell if someone is a good friend.  I know that God has called Collin to this school, and I know that it will be a wonderful year, but I also know that there will be challenges along the way.  My mommy heart wants to keep him in my little bubble, and we have prayed about many options for him this year, but Son & I are confident that this is the school God has called us to, and I know that God has great things in store for Collin!

Just a few weeks ago we were in the school office ordering uniforms.  It is a small public charter school, however it is a huge blessing to our family since the principal and office administrator are both Christians.  As we were preparing to leave Collin said he had a question.  He was acting shy, but after a little encouragement he decided to ask the ladies in the office.  

He asked, "Do you know about Jesus?"

Wow.  Convicting.  In that moment my five year old is a better disciple of Christ than I am.

I already knew the ladies were Christians, and was glad that they could assure him of how much they love Jesus.

But my mommy heart worries about this first time an adult or a peer he looks up to answers his question with "No." 

But I trust in God.  Collin is not my own but on loan to me from God.  However much I love that little boy, God loves him more!

Of course after some serious conversation & some serious shopping we had to get a treat.

He drank that chocolate milk in about 30 seconds!

Looking forward to a wonderful year!

Half and Half

We were eating Shrimp Lo Mein for dinner and Collin was singing a made up song about Chinese noodles.  Son asked Collin, "Do you know what you are?  You are half Vietnamese."

Collin asks, "And what else?"

I asked him, "What do you think?"

Collin's reply: "Texan!"

I told him he was exactly right! :)

Love that boy, and mommy is training him right!

How Birth Order Is Determined - the scientific reason

Collin -  mommy, do you know why I was born first before Grace?

Me - because that was God's plan for our family.

C - No, it's because when all the babies were in your tummy we were having races and contests, and I was the winner so I was born first.  Then Grace was next.

(Can you tell he's my super-competitive one?  Everything is a contest & somehow he makes the rules so that he always wins.  We are working on a humble spirit & putting others first.)

The Refining Pot

I always thought that I did pretty good handling God's tests.  How arrogant of me.

We are selling our home and had been waiting 2 weeks for an answer that could impact us financially.  I had been fine (or so I falsely believed).  I was "trusting" in God to deliver the answer (the answer that I wanted).

Surely, if God had made it clear to us that we were to make this move that He would make it easy on us.  But that isn't biblical thinking, there is no verse in the bible that says "If you do what I ask you to it will be easy".  Not even close.

While at the pool with friends I received an email with the answer that we had been waiting for.  However, it was the exact opposite answer from what we were hoping for.  I was angry, no longer able to enjoy the morning, more harsh to my children than they deserved as we were packing to leave, and basically acting in a way that was the exact opposite of actually trusting in God.

After putting the kids in bed for naps I sat down to respond to this disappointing emailed answer.  My Bible was next to the computer.  In the rush to get ready for our fun day I had also neglected my quiet time this morning.  I knew that my heart was not right, and I knew that the only thing that could change that was time with God.  I pushed aside the computer and opened the quiet time book.  One of the first verses I read:

"The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests hearts." Proverbs 17:3

Ouch.

I had just failed a pretty simple test - in an epic way.  I can "trust" God while waiting on an answer, but pretty much pitch a huge temper tantrum when I do not get the answer that I wanted.  But my heart was wrong.  My desire should be for God's answer, not my own.

But do you know what the best part is?  That despite my failure, God still promises to work all things for good for those who love Him.  And, despite my shortcomings and sinful nature, I do love God desperately, and deep down, I know that His plans are infinitely better than our own.

I am praying and pleading this verse today:

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 52:10

Thank you God for using this day and this disappointment to teach me a truth about the contents of my heart.  Please help me to have a renewed, right heart so that when it is tested, it is pleasing to You.

I can't wait for my kids to wake up so that I can sit down with them, apologize for my harshness, and read these verses to them and talk about the importance of the contents of our hearts.

Big Brother

This boy has such a heart for his little sister.  He continually amazes me with how much he loves her and considers her in everything.  Tonight at choir he earned two toys from the treasure chest and for one item he chose a ballerina toy that he knew Grace would love so that he could give it to her.  This is not the first time that he has chosen to get a gift for her over a toy for himself.  I could not be prouder, my heart is bursting ❤️

Then, at home he wanted to read her bedtime story for her.

I love how they love each other :). Yes, they often have their fair share of brother & sister arguments...but they truly love each other & it makes this mommy very proud!

In Collins Words

Collin: Mommy, when you get married, do you have to kiss the other person on the lips?

Me: Yes

C: Then I think I will marry Kerrigan!

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Grace toots & I asked her if she needs to go potty.

Collin:  no, she's just relaxing and has too much air.

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While driving down the road...

Collin: mommy look!  You are driving 80!!

Me:  ummm, no I'm not.  It just looks like that because you can't see the 70.

C: I think you should go 120!

Note to self: control my speed & prepare myself for Collin's 16th birthday!!