children

Tell Me the Story of Jesus

March 9, 2009 by Amy 4 Comments

Ever since Christmas I think Lexi has been fascinated with the birth, life and even death and resurrection of Jesus. Several times a week right before bed Lexi says “Tell me the story of Jesus”. And if you try to start anywhere in the story except “Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem” you’ll find yourself starting over again. I keep it simple and to the facts and don’t try to explain the whole thing of WHY Jesus came but we have to start somewhere right? So this is what I tell them:

Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem and tried to find a place to stay. All the hotels (LOL, we don’t use inns) were closed so they had to stay in a stable (at which time Lexi interjects “Mommy, that’s a baarrnnn.” in her little drawl). Jesus was born and put in a manger. Jesus grew up and did wonderful things but some people got mad that so many people liked him so they decided to kill him. They put him on a cross and nailed his hands and feet to the cross and he died (And don’t even think of skipping those details because Lexi will make you go back). They put him in a tomb and three days later, he came alive again. He stayed on earth for 40 days and then went back to heaven and one day He’s going to come back and get us.

And that’s almost verbatim what I repeat. In fact, I stopped about halfway through that paragraph to put them to bed and Lexi asked me to tell it.

Well, in Target Saturday I saw in their Easter display they had an animated version of the Passion of Christ and they asked to get it. They’ve watched it at least 3 times since then. And it’s awesome. It points out all the parts I just told except they really play up Judas and the Sanhedrin’s decision to crucify Christ. Mary, Martha, the soldiers, Pilate, the earthquake, it’s all in there. And they really get it.

Lexi was watching it today and in part of the movie it says Jesus died for peace and Lexi pipes up “and so we can go to heaven”. I love that she’s amending a DVD and that I taught her that.

Tonight in our youth small group, we talked about why knowing that God created a perfect world mattered. And I realized that Jesus is only half the story. You have to start at the beginning.

So one thing I added tonight was the question ‘Do you know WHY Jesus came to earth?’ They said no, so I said:

When God created everything it was perfect and you remember when he created Adam and Eve (which they know from church and were like Yesss!) and they disobeyed God? When we disobey God and do something bad it’s called sin and we can’t get into heaven with sin. So when Jesus came and died on the cross, he took our punishment for us. You know when you get in trouble and Mommy punishes you sometimes? Well, Jesus takes our punishment for all the times we sinned and if we believe in Jesus, he takes our sin away and we get to go to heaven.

And Emma said, “I believe in Jesus.” and Lexi says “me too”. And I said, “Me too because Jesus is awesome.”

So Proud

March 6, 2009 by Amy 4 Comments

So proud of Emma tonight. She told me after school the new big thing at school was all the Dr. Seuss books. Now, I bought her a Dr. Seuss book before she was born and a few more since then but they’ve always gone unnoticed. Any time I’d try to read them, she’d be highly uninterested. But she was insistent on telling me several times Mrs. Teacher had A BUNCH and they all rhymed. I was happy to show her several of the books we had and she started carrying them in her arms. And then. She read two of them. All by herself. That’s the most she’s read in one sitting to date.

So proud I could shout loud
on a cloud I’m so wowed.

Like Father, Like Daughter #2

March 5, 2009 by Amy 3 Comments

See Like Father, Like Daughter #1 for reference.

So I’m sitting here and Lexi says for me to look at the TV. I lean over to see she wants some swimming My Little Pet Shop puppies. They do this a lot, telling me to look at the TV for toys they want. Darn commercials.

I go back to work.

Next commercial comes on and she wants me to look at the TV, “Mommy, can we get that?”

I lean over to see the TV and it’s an OxiClean commercial.

Lexi: If we got our dollys dirty we can get them clean. Can we really get it?

Bank, Here We Come

March 4, 2009 by Amy 3 Comments

The girls made little piggy banks tonight at church to save money for a missionary fund. Lexi asked me for money and I said I didn’t have any so she said…

Mommy, can we go to the bank and buy some money??

Upcoming Events

March 4, 2009 by Amy 3 Comments

So, I have a few upcoming events that are on my mind as of late.

Premiere of Dancing with the Stars
American Idol Top 12
Premiere of Castle

JUST KIDDING

Real life stuff actually.

Wilmington! Heather and I are going next weekend. We may be leaving Thursday, maybe Friday morning. I’m getting really excited to visit One Tree Hill territory and actually meet some fans, some of whom visit my OTHblog regularly.
Our Disney trip! It is in 23 days. 23 days. And I haven’t planned anything except our dinners. The kids packed their toys last night. Of course they will be unpacked by tomorrow, but still. I need to PLAN!
Lexi’s State pageant in June (here is the qualifying pageant from last fall). I just got her packet today. The thing I hate is they require a full page ad that has to add up to $250. Which means I have to solicit family, friends and businesses for an ad spot which honestly I hate. I’m just trying NOT to wait until last minute. I wouldn’t have even done the pageant but Lexi keeps asking about it and if she’s into it, well, that’s fine for now. She says she’s doesn’t want to do it next year when I can’t go on stage with her so this might be our last pageant. And honestly, it amazes me how she lights up on stage. It is so foreign to me. I get a tad nervous just walking on stage with her and I’m just the background.

Girl Who Called Snake

March 2, 2009 by Amy 3 Comments

At the dinner table.

Lexi, dramatically: Emma, I’m serious. You have a spider on your elbow.

*giggles*

Emma, even more dramatically: I’m really serious, Lexi. There is a snake right behind you.

*giggles*

Me: Girls, you really shouldn’t say that. What happens when one of you actually have a spider on you or a snake near you and you say you’re serious and you don’t believe her and then one of you get bit and it really hurts?

Lexi: Mommy. You have a snake on your head.

Southern (Almost) Spring Snow

March 2, 2009 by Amy 5 Comments

The snow started about 6 last night and stopped some time during the night. School was canceled by 5 yesterday. I’d guess we have 4-5 inches. The girls were up at 7 begging us to get up every 15 minutes. I think it was 8:30 by the time we actually walked out the door.

Unfortunately we couldn’t make a snowman. The snow was so fluffy it almost seemed fake. We did get a few snowballs in. And one from Emma hit Lexi square in the face and caused a meltdown.

Then Scott was pulling the girls around and he let go of Emma to keep sliding by herself and she went right under a tree. She didn’t like that too much. I actually caught it on camera except right when she goes under the tree, the fence blocks my view. Skip to :55 to get to the good part (may need a few for the video to process).

The girls were over it after that. We came in and made eggs and bacon and made it all better.

Reading: She’s really getting it

February 26, 2009 by Amy 5 Comments

Tonight we were driving through the parking lot of Wal-Mart. I drove in on the grocery store side but we were going in to buy High School Musical 3 so I wanted to park on the other side. I, of course, was rationalizing all of this out loud to the girls. As I turned down the front of the lane Emma says, “No, I want to park at the Market.” I was a little shocked to see the word “Market” above the doorway to the grocery store entrance and asked Emma how she knew that and she said, “I read it.” She asks me what does m.a.r.k.e.t spell and I tell her Market of course and she says, “Yeah, I read it.” I think we both might have been a little shocked and I of course made a big deal about how great it was. I don’t imagine that word has come up in any readings she’s done so far so that tells me she’s really, really getting it.

I still remember a moment almost exactly like that when I was 6 or 7. We lived near the local community college around here at the time and we drove past the school and it has (and still has) TECH written diagonally on the side of the building. I remember saying “Tech” out loud and I still remember the surprise (and pride if I remember correctly) in my mom’s voice when she said, “Yes, that’s right!”

Funny how things go full circle. I just hope my love of reading is next.