Summer 2017

This summer has been full.  Not just busy but enriching, full of time together, full of laughs, new adventures and a new phase of staying up and sleeping in (a little).


Mason began the summer wondering what he could/would do this summer to earn some summer spending money.  In the past Mason has sold lemonade, cookies, flavored popcorn.

I suggested the brothers began a stick collecting business and go yard to yard offering to pick up sticks and pull weeds...Micah was game but Mason thought that sounded too much like work.

Mason was thinking of selling popcorn again but he had zero dollars so he was going to hire Micah as his investor but didn't want to share any of the profit so he continued thinking.

I asked him to think of what he really enjoyed doing.  Immediately he said, "I love to play football and basketball!"  So, when I suggested the idea of a clinic or camp for younger kids his wheels began to turn.

Mason made a flyer, carefully planned the details of the clinic and how much time it would take for each of the activities and we posted on instagram and Facebook and with in a few days he had 12 k-rising 2nd graders signed up $5 per kid and his only upfront money was $2.00 for some Popsicles he advertised as a snack during the clinic.  The clinic was awesome!  He decided to hire his friend Brice for $5 to help as his assistant and he finished the clinic with $55 in his pocket for doing something that he loves.  Next week he and Landon Hull are hosting a basketball clinic since the football clinic went so well.

Micah has been devouring books.  He LOVES to read.  When we don't know where he is we can look   in some of his favorite reading spots.  The screen porch, a bonus room chair, or under a blanket on the couch.  He is reading some Jr Classics, Box Car Children, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, books Mason has already finished....He and Mason both are on their 3rd sheets of the library summer reading challenge.  All of the reading that Mason and Micah have been doing has inspired Ethan to learn to read too so he is only 4 but is reading books!  I found a "Dick and Jane book" and Ethan is actually reading on his own!  American Ninja Warrior has been a favorite TV show for all of the boys to watch and Micah and Mason construct courses of their own on our playset and playgrounds we visit. Another fun part of Micah's summer is that he has been having a sleep over every night.

Earlier in the school year Ethan and Micah decided they would like a playing room and a sleeping room. So we moved Ethan bed into Micah's room.  Well, one night they asked to sleep in the same bed and what began as one night of a sleepover has become a norm of these two brothers not only sharing the same room but sleeping in the same bed.  This new arrangement has been fun but I have recently discovered that it has made Ethan EXTRA attached to Micah.  Micah went to a sleepover at Caleb's house and Ethan cried and cried because Micah wasn't in the bed with him, and even asked for us to pray that Micah wouldn't miss him as much as he missed Micah.

At dinner Ethan has been eating lots of new foods he's always eager to try anything! One of his new favorites is grilled onions.  And some guaranteed phrases out of Ethan's mouth at dinner time will be "Thank you mommy for dinner", "Lets have a conversation", "What do you want to do tonight? Play Pick out of the hat"  Ethan is always smiling, NEVER stops talking, and ALWAYS wants to play a game! There has never been anyone more fun to play battle with than Ethan- He jumps up and down with each card turn and if there is a battle he squeals with excitement. Recently he is also discovering that he likes to win so some tears are shed when he doesn't  win every game.   Ethan's vocabulary is outstanding and he is actually very funny with his quick whit and fast response time.  He is a little man in a petite four year old snaggletoothed boy.

Our family has been enjoying a new addition to our Carowinds passes this year- 2 Meal Plans.  Micah has ventured onto some taller roller coasters and Ethan has been so content to just be with everyone and wait for the brother to ride rides.

Last summer we drove 2 hours to the Mt's to go river tubing and this year I did some research and discovered we could purchase our own river tubes and float down the Catawba river.  So we have floated twice already and love it!

We've eaten at restaurants, walked from our house to pelicans for snowballs, played at carowinds, visited new parks, enjoyed the cool AC at the library shows, read lots of books, watched lots of cooking shows, watched Despicable me 3 in the theater, played on the low ropes at the white water center, Mason had a missions camp while Micah and Ethan participated in Unity Presbyterians Super Hero VBS.  This week, for the first time Micah is old enough to join Micah at Victory Sports Camp while Ethan attends "his VBS" at Grace church.

Chris and I have enjoyed our evenings on the screen porch watching deer eat from our crab apple tree, (which are also a new daily addition to Micah's diet- he loves to climb the tree and search for a snack of his own...Micah is so adventurous) Chris and I have read a new parenting book "Parenting 14 Biblical Principles that Can Radically change your Family" and are excited about the new path Chris is exploring of becoming a property investor.   We think we will be purchasing our first rental home really soon, thanks to a connection from Jason and Kristel.

Still to come for the summer is a short family weekend in Asheville before we drop Mason off for his last year of Camp Rock, a family celebration of Phillips retirement, a possible McDowell Park family camping night, a trip to Fripp Island for a week of family vacation, and a big party at Grand maw and Papas house to celebrate Dads 70th birthday.  And all of the in between family dinners, family board games, pool games, trips to carowinds....this summer has been full of family time- which is my favorite time!!

I love you

Chris and I have been married 14 years.  FOURTEEN.  On one hand it feels like forever and on the other like yesterday.

A couple of years ago we decided to make our anniversary a family celebration.  We have both sets of grandparents in town and all of our kids aunts and uncles so we have plenty of willing sitters but we decided that we want to take this one day and remind the boys how much their mom and dad love each other.

The first year we started this tradition we packed a picnic lunch, headed to freedom park and let the boys all drink a can of Dr Pepper to celebrate as they munched on their sunbutter and jelly sandwiches.

Last year we made chicken parmesan, got out the china and lit some candles as we coursed our way through a romantic dinner around our dining room table.

This year Chris took Mason to the store and they picked up some flowers for me, we wore nice clothes, went to lunch at Momma Ricatta's, one of our favorite restaurants, followed by dessert and coffee at Amile's a french bakery.

We get out the wedding scrapbook, pop in the VHS recording of our wedding and giggle at how young everyone looks and laugh as the wedding singer hits the high note and we take the opportunity to make our boys feel uncomfortable as they watch us kiss and get teary eyed.

We also remind them of how much we STILL love each other and even though they have friends, good friends, who's parents have separated or are divorced that we will NEVER stop loving each other and being committed to making our marriage work. We want them to know that we got married because we were best friends and we loved the Lord and our marriage is a gift from HIM.

One year I asked my dad - an amazing artist- to write Romans 12: 9-21 in calligraphy so we could have it framed to hang in our house as a reminder of how we want to live in marriage and as a family.

"Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  Live in harmony with one another.  Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.  Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "it is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord.  On the contrary:  "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this you will heap burning coals his head."  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

No doubt we have messed up as parents, played our parent card all wrong. As I read the scripture above I smile with a full heart because God is allowing us to learn to live out His word.

We fail, BUT-we have always loved each other whole heartedly, sincerely with a deep genuine love. The older our boys get I know they can see it.

My heavenly father wants me to know how much he loves me.  In the NIV Bible, the word love is mentioned 551 times.  Thats a lot of ways God says he loves me.

Even when you think someone knows it you should keep saying it anyway -- "I love you"

Ethan is so good at this.  He will randomly come up and grab my cheeks with both hands to give me a kiss on the lips and wrap his little arms around my neck to whisper in my ear "I love you mommy"

Mason blushes at this and Micah laughs.  When I tell the older two I love them they say, "I know" or "you too"

Love covers a multitude of sins and keeps no records of wrongs and we need to never tire of saying "I love you" in the good times when you're all happy and in a good mood and in the bad times when you need to apologize or forgive.

I'm now requesting that when I say, "I love you Mason or Micah" That they respond with "I love you too mom"

Love Must Be Sincere.

Words

After School today I took all three of my boys to the doctors office for Masons 10 year old well visit. At the time it seemed like a fine thing to do.  Micah and Ethan were crazy- climbing on the chairs, crawling on the floor, climbing on each other- totally embarrassing me- but for this post I wanna focus on Mason.

He's growing so tall, and handsome developing a very athletic build as he keeps up with his favorite pass times- anything that requires a ball- he has awesome hair, great style, really enjoys his devotion time with Chris at night but I still get requested to tuck him in occasionally.  His maturity level is amazing and I am so proud of who he is. - He still has moments where I have to remind my self that he's still only a 4th grade boy but I've discovered  he likes having things expected of him, he doesn't want me to baby him and even though he pushes back on things we both know the resistance is what he needs sometimes to continue to grow. He's confident in most every area of his life because he always seems to succeed and do well at everything he tries (he gets that from his daddy)

His first grade teacher, Mrs. Hedrick, gave him an award at the end of the year "problem solver award" and ever since he has really owned that title.

He can quickly assess and analyze a room, situations, people, numbers and is never afraid or hesitant to take the lead (this is where the "he's still a 4th grade boy" comes in...Micah told me that on the principals last day of school Mason led the entire school in a Chant - "MR YOUNG, MR YOUNG"....i really hope that was okay.)  His determination to complete a game and strive to win, even when his team is 0 and 6 inspires me.  He carries himself with a firmness of purpose and strength.

Today I saw a different side.

While I do know the only thing that really bothers Mason is his own or other peoples blood and injuries (not just seeing it, even just talking about that grosses him out) I don't think I knew just HOW much.  He asked before we went to the doctor if he was going to have to get a shot- In most situations I'm all for letting my kids anticipate something and have to wait for something that they want vs contributing to the societal instant gratification cycle we live in- However, when it comes to doctors appointments I purposely don't ask if they will be getting shots because I don't want them to have to spend the entire car ride anxiously awaiting something they know will be painful.

The nurse came in and commented on how put together he was and handsome- the compliments made him blush-  she carried out her nurse tasks of taking his blood pressure and checking his 10/15 vision and perfect hearing.

Then came the words

Nurse:  "Okay Mrs. Haynes the doctor will be in shortly and today he's scheduled for an immunization."

Mason: "Wait- What? I'm going to have to get a SHOT?" (followed by heavy breathing and extreme worry.)

Micah- "I've had to have a shot, its fine Mason"

Ethan- "Mason- I had a shot, at least mom doesn't make you get the flu shot too"

Me:  "you are going to be OKAY, just relax and Micah stop standing on the chair and Ethan please get off of this grose floor and sit IN the chair. "

No ones words were helping.  All of our words were going in one ear and out the other.  Our words were only breath that you can't stand on. Mason was anxious, and Micah was worried about Mason but still wanted to play tag with Ethan and I felt like a failure, I played this mom card wrong.

Why didn't I ask about the shots?  I know Mason. I know he likes to be prepared for things, he hates to be late, does things in an orderly fashion.  Im new at this whole being a mom of a 10 year old...Maybe now I need to give him a chance to know how to handle anxious thoughts and fears and worries- I missed an opportunity to help him grow through a tough situation.

But God is so gracious to allow me this opportunity to walk with Mason when we were both hit with news we didn't like.

I asked him if I could pray with him he paused the heavy breathing for a moment and looked side to side as if to say "here? now?" out of what I think was desperation, he said yes.  The prayers worked he calmed down and the doctor was able to talk with us and tell us what we already knew that he does indeed still have a stuffy allergy nose (but he also saw what he thinks is a polyp- another story later) and as he was leaving

Then came the words

Doc Smolen- "The nurse will be in with the immunization"

Mason- cue heavy breathing and a tight grip on my hand.

Micah and Ethan - both trying to sit on the same chair while using the magna doodle as a lasso- (at least they are enjoying each others company)

Me-  Mason your going to be OKAY

Again my words brought nothing-

My little (big) boy was facing real fear and anxiety.  I said the first scriptures that came to mind.

Ephesians 4:8 Whatever is true, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praise worthy think of these things and the PEACE of God will be with you.

Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want he makes me lie down in green pastures he leads me beside quiet waters and he restores my soul.

Mason- calmed down- pulled me close put his head on my shoulder.

The Nurse came in and was trying to be nice and comforting with her words she was taking her time - her delay wasn't helping- how could she not see that her words were NOT helping...

I told him I was thankful for the opportunity to be with him right now as he was feeling anxious about his upcoming shot and that I was sorry we didn't know before we came because then we could have looked up more scriptures so we could have been better prepared to face the situation. I told him that I hoped he remembered this moment for a long time- not because I want him to be in pain or to worry, but so that he can remember what got him through wasn't because it was something he'd practiced for or encouraging words from his brothers or me but because of the strength  and ability to stand on God and his words.  God makes us brave, faith makes us able to stand when our own abilities fail us and with God we are never alone.  So in the future if he feels anxious and my hand isn't there for him to hold I wanted him to remember his good shepherd.

FINALLY- she gave him the shot-

Mason- he laughed- wait? What ? thats it? its over? ---

OH if we could always be on the other side of our worry and anxiety would it even exist?

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.  He guides me in paths of righteousness for his names sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, you annoying my head with oil my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Jenga

Last night after tucking Ethan in the bed I walked around the corner to my two older boys playing Jenga on the bonus room floor with Chris.  We have some short shag carpet in our bonus room so in order to play the game of Jenga where you balance rows of three wooden blocks vertically until they form a tower while each player has to pull out a single block from the bottom of the tower and place it on the top without knocking over the tower - you first - must grab a hardback book from the shelf.  Without the sturdy foundation the game will be over before it can even begin.


I sat there and watched them playing and thought about how much I want to give them Christ as the foundation for their lives and how my greatest desire is to build them up into the knowledge of Christ.

Ephesians 2:19-20 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.

The only way I can keep my world from crumbling in and falling down is if I remove ME and put Christ as the ultimate cornerstone.

Ephesians 2:22 goes on to say And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his spirit.

The Holy Spirit is making us (my little family) His dwelling place.  Together we are being built.

Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house, the Labors labor in vein.  I have to keep Christ the cornerstone

God is building my life and has given me all these "little blocks" that make up my life and I want to be the one in control of every single one of them.

My BLOCKS:  

Awesome Husband Block

Three beautiful boys (that are a lot of work) Block

Talented music teacher Block

Super Volunteer Block

If I'm finding my identity in my kids and having an awesome husband and being a great music teacher and super volunteer that everyone loves instead of FIRST placing my identity in Christ then when the "blocks" don't stay where I want them to or begin to get off balance a bit or wont budge the way I was hoping then I will feel OUT OF CONTROL, like I'm falling and crashing to the ground as everyone else celebrates their Jenga moments.

When I am losing my temper because they aren't helping- I've lost Christ as the cornerstone and probably need to enforce more discipline or just ask for help

When I am embarrassed that they aren't remembering to use manners like the other children we are with- I've lost Christ as the cornerstone and need to extend myself some grace and remember that I really do have some great kids and as Andy Stanley says theres no win in comparison.

When my kids do well at something and I pat myself on the back and pride rears its ugly head- I've lost Christ as the cornerstone.

Ultimately, most importantly, I need to remember to solely make Christ my cornerstone.  THEN, with confidence I can expect Ephesians 2: 8-10 to be true: "For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your won doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  We are Gods workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Christ is the cornerstone.

If everything else crumbles and falls He still stands.

He is building my little family to be his dwelling place.

2 Corinthians 4:7 -9 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.  We are hard pressed on every side but not crushed, perplexed but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed.

Day by day Im praying God will help me make him the foundation of every single area of life so that he can build us.

alone

Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.  Psalm 46:10-  this isn't a request God makes but a command.

I lift up my eyes to the hills.  From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.  Psalm 121:1-2-  I get the picture David was alone when he penned that verse.

ALONE- having no-one else present; on ones own.  indicating that something is confined to the specified subject or recipient.

when I'm alone with God am I really making HIM the specified subject or recipient or am I still me focused? -

Me-

A- afraid
L- lost
O- offended
N- noticed by no one
E- excluded

A- approval of others
L- looking for acceptance
O- others thoughts drive me
N- nothing of value
E- envy

Alone with God and I hear something different

A- aware
L- loved
O- open
N- new
E- excited

A- all that I need
L- lead by him
O- overcomer
N- not alone
E- encouraged

A- adopted- His child
L- level headed
O- obedient
N- not lacking
E- enough

1 John 3:1 How great is the love the Father as lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

getting alone with God making him the sole recipient of my thoughts and ridding myself of the opinions of others allows him the opportunity to lavish his perfect love over every part of me.  

Eye Sore

The house at the end of our street sat empty for a while and when the new tenants moved in they brought with them a new choice of paint for the front of their house and a hobby of fixing up cars.

For what seems like close to two years my neighbors yellow house has its front partially painted bright blue and he has been working on a car in his driveway.  If your my friend or family member I've probably complained to you about this.

One day they started to paint and then for some reason just stopped... mid board they just put the roller down. I cannot figure it out?  Maybe they ran out of paint? Maybe they decided they didn't like the color? BUT, they just quit, stopped working?? What happened? Who does that?

The car on the other hand, I see him working, I know he's out there, his hands are dirty, I hear the tools.  If its rainy or even a chance for rain he will put up a tent or hang a big blue tarp to protect the car.  We're talking BIG EYE SORE.

From what I can tell the car has never moved other than when it has been up on jacks so he can work on the belly of the car. I often drive by and ask myself, "What is he doing? How can there still be work to be done? Will he ever be finished? Forget bigger yards and better lots, THIS is why people should live in neighborhoods with HOA's..."

The outside of the house looks the same.  The outside of the car looks the same.  Maybe part of the car used to be gray or blue, I've stopped paying much attention. Honestly, what used to be kinda an eye sore is now more of a fixed fixture for the end of our street, a land mark. I actually tell people, "When you see the driveway with the cars that are being worked on or the yellow house that is partially painted blue you'll know thats our street."

Yesterday I was on a run, complaining again in my mind about this neighbor as a ran past and then....

Philippians 1:6 "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

1 Samuel 16:7  "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.  The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

These verses came to me as I was running past this house and its reminder of God working on me hit my heart in a different way.

-OUCH, Hmmm-

Do others notice the work God is doing in my life?  Am I an eye sore to be around when I've not allowed God to do the work that needs to be done?

Why do I care so much what others think of my outside appearance or how my family appears to others? I know that regardless of the events that transpire at the restaurant complete with spilled drinks, trips to the potty and at least one boy not being able to sit for the entire meal or the raised voices and slammed doors after a game that someone didn't win that we are a family that loves each other, that we are working at being great communicators and that we are being built up in HIM.

Colossians 2:6-7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,   rooted and built up in him, strengthend in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

SO  I'm choosing something NEW...what used to be an eye sore and bother for me to drive by at the end of the street is now a prayer trigger for me to smile and THANK God as I'm leaving my house, probably a little later than I wanted to because someone had to finish the consequence for their actions, couldn't find their shoes,  forgot to get their water bottle or didn't remember to potty after I asked them to like 5 times before, that my little family is a work in progress and we are on this journey together and even if no one else can see the inside that I know that our little family dinner conversations, bed time bible stories, and a father that leads us well is truly a gift.

I pray that Chris and I would always see the "work" that we have to do as parents as a blessing, a gift worth protecting.  And that God would do a greater work in me regardless of what others think- honestly, they are thinking of themselves not me anyway.

I don't know whats going on on the inside of the neighbors house or what the engine of the car looks like but I am now thankful for the reminder that I am a continual work in progress until my Jesus returns to take me home.

Lord help me not to compare or to judge my neighbors

Matthew 7  "Don't judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  Why do you look at the sawdust (or grease) in you brothers eye and pay no attention to the plank in you own eye?  How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speak from your brothers eye."

Lord, work on me-even if that means you need me to start or stop doing something abruptly that others wouldn't understand. Soften me to see areas where I am at first bothered and want to look away in a new light.  Help me to know if my friends and neighbors need encouragement or help and give me the ability to always overflow with thankfulness.

I have seeds

This happened in Spring 2016 Im just getting around to writing about it. Mason was 9, Micah 6 and Ethan 3.

Chris was out of town on a missions trip with some men in from church to Colombia South America.  I am home with the boys.  As I'm tucking Micah in the bed he asks me how babies get inside of a mommy.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME KID? Don't you know that you're a boy and DADS have"The Talk" with their boys?!!

I answered the way I have in the past, "God puts the baby in there"

This usual answer wasn't cutting it for Micah.

Micah- "No, Mom, HOW does the baby get in there? How does it become a baby. Because in school, you know we have those incubators with the eggs and baby chicks and we are learning about chickens and frogs and how they grow. Well, do we start as an egg inside of the mommy and then when we are mature enough we hatch out? And I know you said that you have to have a mommy AND a daddy and boy and a girl to be the parents of a baby but what does the boy have to do with the egg?"

I took a deep breath and just started answering his questions.

Me- "Well actually you're right Micah mommies have eggs inside them and the dads have seeds and thats why you need both a mommy and a daddy to make a baby.  The egg has to be fertilized with the daddy seed...okay, let me tuck you in"

Micah- "Oh, I see"

Me- "Sigh of relief- that went well"...but wait for it...I had my hand on his door knob... ON THE DOOR KNOB!

Micah- "so you have eggs inside you right now?"

Me- "Yes, actually when God created me he created my body to produce eggs, but they are really tiny and you can't see them, good night."

Micah- "So how does the baby come out? Do you lay an egg? AND how does the daddy seed get from the daddy into the mommy? And if you were born with your eggs does that mean I have seeds inside of me?

Me- "uh umm, (releasing my hand from the door knob reluctantly walking back towards his bed) well....we are mammals so we are born alive, we are actually alive as soon as the seed and the egg meet inside the mommy's womb.  And you know how you have a penis because you're a boy? Well, girls don't have a penis, they have a vagina and thats a special hole for the baby to come out. "

Micah- "Okay well then how do the daddy seeds get inside there and where do they come from how do they get out of the daddy into the mommy."

Me- (with raised eye brows, a scowl and internal scream CHRIS WHERE ARE YOU??????)  "God lets daddies produce seeds too and your penis has a place for the pee pee to come out and also a place for the seeds, which is actually called sperm to come out."

Micah- "okay so how does it get in the mommy? "

Me- (ARE YOU KIDDING ME?) "remember the hole for the baby to come out, the vagina? Well, the daddy's penis goes into the vagina.

Micah- OH, I get it!  Goodnight mom.

Me- (still struggling not to show my sweat-) "I love you Micah, sleep well"

I got up, walked out of his room and shook my head....this is NOT how I thought Micah would learn about the way babies are made.  BUT, I am, NOW, several months later, thankful that before it was awkward, that I was able to lay some ground work so that when Chris does have a serious talk with Micah, "THE TALK" maybe it will be easier.

I thought that was behind us...well, Chris is STILL out of town and the story continues...

We are sitting around the dinner table Me, Mason, Micah and Ethan and then the conversation moves from football to ....

Micah- "Hey Mason, did you know we have seeds?"

Mason- laughing his big brother laugh that conveys that Micah has absolutely NO CLUE what he's talking about- "No we don't Micah"

Mason looks at me for approval. my head is staring at my plate as I try to pretend to need to cut up my chicken nugget.

Micah- "Yes we do, Mom said so, right mom, tell him, thats how babies are made"

Me- praying a neighbor would need a cup of sugar or that Ethan would need to go pee or that someone ANYONE would text me....crickets and all eyes staring on me waiting for a response...."Yes, Mason, you do have seeds, your seeds meet up with the mommy egg to create a baby"

Mason- SILENT- HUGE EYES- LONG PAUSE---- Stands up, pushes his chair in, raises both hands and runs around the kitchen island shouting and laughing, "SEEDS, SEEDS, I HAVE SEEDS!!! I CANT BELIVE I HAVE SEEDS"

Me- thinks to self- "OH no, this is getting out of control, WHERE ARE YOU CHRIS"

Micah- "I told you, I can't believe you didn't know that"

Mason- "Mom, I want to see them, When can I see my seeds"

Me- "you can't they are too tiny and this is something you need to discuss further with daddy when he GETS HOME FROM HIS MISSIONS TRIP....Okay guys, this is dinner time, lets eat our food, this conversation isn't one your three year old brother is old enough to have."

Ethan- "wait- I have seeds too?"

Me- "yes, PLEASE EVERYONE EAT DINNER hurry so we can watch a show together"

All- "but we already had screen time????"

Me- "I know, but its okay, lets just all stop talking and eat so we can watch chopped Jr or AFV or Paw Patrol or whatever is on okay, lets all just eat our chicken nuggets and see who can clean their plate first!"


Gen 2:18- "It is not good for man to be alone, I will make a helper suitable for him"  Ladies- before your husband goes out of the country and leaves you alone with your three boys, make sure he has helped you out and already had "THE TALK" with your little boys.