True Love

A few weeks ago I got to spend some time visiting my grandparents with the kids. My cousin and I were sitting at the bar in the kitchen one night and Papa came in and sat down and started talking. My Papa can talk. About anything and everything and for as long as you want. Somehow, he got on the subject of his church and my Grandma.
A while back they both had surgery to have cataracts removed. Because of her macular degeneration, Grandma's eyes didn't get much better. Infact, she doesn't see well at all. But Papa's eyes did get better. And he said he believes that God allowed his eyes to get better so that he could take care of Grandma. He does it well. Helps her cook, bake, clean.
He's had to miss out on some things and has taken a little slack for it even, from people who don't understand. But he doesn't care. He is caring for Grandma sacrificially because he loves her and he wants to do what the Lord wants him to do. His words.
To me, that is such a beautiful picture of sacrificial love. The kind Jesus gave. To love and serve regardless of what other people may think or say. To do it because it is right and it pleases the Father.

Hungry!

Saturday night I was working on dinner. Kayla had told me several time that she was very hungry. I guess she couldn't take it anymore. She came in the kitchen and said to me:
"Mom. Number 1, I am hungry. Number 2, my tummy is grumbling. Number 3, I want to eat. Number 4, I want my dinner now. Please."
She gives me great material!!

The Ant Farm

Jack got an ant farm for Christmas. He has been waiting, not so patiently, until spring when we could find some ants to take up residence. Finally a few weeks ago he and Brian caught some and put them in. It's been fun watching them dig tunnels. Jack has really liked watching them outside with his magnifying glass. He has even seen them communicate! More than once, however, we wondered if they were alive. Turned out they were just resting.

This week on the ant farm was a little different, though.

Our driveway was often speckled with plastic Easter eggs. Come to find out Jack and Kayla were using them to catch the ants. Two days ago we added a new ant friend to the farm. Yesterday, they were all dead. Not sure what happened. I guess we'll get the eggs back out and catch some more-maybe?

Lots to Say

So, the other night I was putting Kayla to bed and she said to me, "Mommy, are the things I think about when I'm asleep my dreams?" I love how she put that! It makes me wonder what else she is thinking about but doesn't say.

Not that she doesn't have much to say. Lately she is somewhat of a self-proclaimed expert on what Samuel wants and needs. She often tells me, "Moooommm...Samuel wants ME" as he is trying to get away. Or "Moooommm... Samuel wants to go down the slide" as he is playing with a ball. I hear "Mom, Samuel wants his drink" or "Mom, Samuel doesn't want you to hold him. He wants meeeeee..." I like this little phrase she uses, "Come on, bud, come on. Come to me, bud." When he was a newborn and was fussy I could hear her walking around the house saying in a sweet voice, "It's alright, bud. It's alright." She loves him well.

I don't know how much confidence she has in me on some things, sewing and cooking green beans in particular. She had a bear whose arm had come off and she really wanted to send it to Mimi to repair. As I was getting out my own needle and thread she said, "Remember Mom, just push the needle in and out. In and out." And when I fix green beans, she always reminds me "Remember Mom, nutmeg and oil. That's all you need. Just nutmeg and oil." Then she watches to see that I get it right.

And then there was the time a month or two ago when we took her to get her hair cut. A man sat down in the stylist chair who really did not have much hair at all. None on top and a little around the ears. She pointed right at him and said, "Mommy, THAT guy doesn't need a haircut!"

(By the way, Jack took this picture)

Spring

We have been out enjoying this beautiful spring day! Every morning the kids go out to see if there are any new flowers in bloom, and we love watching the colors on some of the trees as they come out.

Here's a lizard we found this morning. Jack said he could get so close that he could see his eyes. I asked what color they were. "Blue." :)

The Bee

This bee was keeping Jack and Kayla from checking the mail as it hovered around the flowers at the bottom of the mailbox. So, we decided to investigate it a little. We'd like to know the name of this purple flower-they are all over the yard!

This look is Samuel. I see it often. Many times throughout the day, really. Although it is usually accompanied by a little finger pointing straight at me. I know then that I have about a split-second to discern, is this a smile and he is happy? Or, is it a frown and I am being warned?

So which is it this time? You decide.