{Happy Bookmarks}

Because we usually have books strewn about the house, we also usually have bookmarks strewn about. I use the term "bookmark" loosely. Anything that marks the place will do, as long as the book isn't left open, face down, squishing the poor binding. (Anathema.)

A receipt. An envelope. A gum wrapper. They all do nicely. Bethie's favorite way to mark her place is by using a postcard. I have a two-inch stack of old postcards ("old" as in from the 60s) that she has confiscated and uses liberally. I like to think she's also learning a bit about geography as she flips through various antiquated shots of San Francisco, Mt. Rainier and the Redwood Forest while reading Nancy Drew. 

One of my favorite ways to mark a book is by using apparel tags. Some of them are so very pretty. Have you noticed? It seems a shame to toss them. I feel so very frugal when I tuck them between the pages of my latest read. And they're nice and durable, too.

I've now gotten my kids on board, and they're quick to set aside promising bookmarks. Especially Aidan.Which can lead to interesting results.

Heidi, anyone?

{Star Wars and Sunshine}

He wanted a Star Wars party with his friends. I said yes. He began to list (in great detail) the many light saber games and duels he planned to stage. I started to pray for sunshine. We both got what we wanted.

Friends, let me tell you something. The Lord cares about the small details in our lives. As we prepared for the party, I prayed that it would be special for Aidan and special for his friends. We pulled our ideas together, and Aidan wrote plans and "bulletins" like crazy (he wanted to hand out programs).  But I still wasn't sure what to do about party favors. I searched Pinterest for ideas and quickly ruled out the option which involved the mother dressing up as Princess Leia. I saw something about using swim noodles as light sabers, but they looked too floppy and I wasn't sure how they would work.

Well. Two days before the party, I had an hour to zip into Fred Meyer and come up with something. I prayed. Often when I go shopping I pray for wisdom and decisiveness (I desperately need both). This time I prayed that a really fun idea would pop into view. And fast. Almost immediately, I saw the noodles. I pulled out a lime green tube and the wheels began to turn. We could cut them in half. And decorate them with duct tape. Boys love duct tape. Voila! A craft and party favor in one. Thank you Lord.

The day dawned beautifully, and Aidan's eyes shined the entire time. The light saber creations and ensuing battles and games were a hit (literally), and I was extremely thankful that Jamie had a few youth group game ideas up his sleeve that could be turned into Jedi training experiences. We weren't wanting for diversions, that's for sure.

As Aidan finally bid his friends goodbye, I again thanked God for the day He orchestrated and for the boy we celebrated. From the friendships and sunshine right down to the "bulletins" that Daddy helped print and the lime green noodles that became super fun light sabers, the Force certainly was with us. And I didn't even have to dress up like Princess Leia.

{Double Digits}

I didn't think he'd ever fall asleep last night. Way too much excitement. But he finally did, and I was at last able to tip-toe into his room to leave a "pillow present" for my almost ten-year-old.

A note slipped under our door this morning (much too early, I might add) confirmed that he not only received the gift, but that he loved it. Such a simple note, but I love what it captures about our Aidan: his spontaneous heart of gratitude, the joy he finds in simplicity, and a bit o' wit to boot.

Last night, as he fidgeted and squirmed in anticipation of the big day, he reminded us every few minutes that this was his last such-and-such as a nine-year-old. His last dinner. His last bite of dinner. His last good night. And his last bedtime blessing. Then, as I blessed my still nine-year-old, he, in his sweet, comical wisdom advised me, "Savor the moment, Mom!" And so I did:

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. 

The Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.

This morning as I looked through the birthday pictures, Phil Wickham's Beautiful started to play in the background. Tears threatened. I thought of the beauty that it is to raise a child. The beauty that it is to be loved by a child. And the beauty in knowing that it's happening. Right now.

Once again, I find myself heeding my son's advice: Savor the moment, Mom.

{A Student Have I . . .}

 

 

A student have I named Miss Kate,

Whose outfits are always first rate:

Heels and a hat,

Then paint ("I'm a bat");

I tell you, my job is so great.

{Oppinsince}

When Drew was little he had a fun set of Winnie the Pooh books. One of our favorites was Winnie-the-Pooh's Opposites. We loved it mostly because of the way Drew pronounced opposites: oppinsince. We still pronounce it this way.

I got to thinking about this word when popping a bit of chocolate into my mouth this afternoon. As I'm prone to do. (The chocolate-popping part, not so much the thinking part.) I was looking at the orderly chocolate squares in my Swiss bar with their pretty little floral prints and still wondering over my reaction just the night before.

Jamie and I had been sharing the bar, and I was taking great pains to make sure that every square was broken right along the lines. Because it tastes better that way.

I was quite pleased with myself when I successfully broke off two perfectly shaped squares. Jamie had no idea that I relished such pleasures. After we had polished off the first two squares, he absently reached toward the bar and snapped off a piece. A jagged piece.

I think I might have yelped.

My eyes widened and I was quite literally speechless. I stammered and gurgled unintelligibly, and he finally caught on. "Oh. I did it wrong, didn't I?" I mutely nodded. He apologized and we both started laughing -- he because it had actually made me speechless, and I because I was so silly to be affected by an imperfect piece of chocolate.

So this afternoon I naturally felt it to be my bounden duty to straighten out all of those jagged edges. Which just made me love him even more. I guess it's true what they say: Oppinsince attract.