Interview with the kids

Interview with the kids - January 2016

E - Evan; age 7

L - Luke; age 5

With side comments from me in parenthesis.

1. What is something I always say to you? 

L: I love you

E: I love you
(Awwww, I maybe I am not a terrible mom!)

2. What makes me happy?

L: Hugging

E: Us being happy

3. What makes me sad? 

L: Spanking

E: When we are sad, sick or hurt.
(Uhhh, Luke, are we talking about ME or YOU here?)

4. How do I make you laugh? 

L: You just tickle my feet. That will make me laugh more gooder.

E: Scare me and tell me jokes.
(Well, maybe I am a little terrible for laughing at my child when he is frightened.)

5. What was I like as a child? 

L: I don’t know.

E: You grew up in a school in the 80s and moved on to different grades. I think you were kind and caring child.
(The 80's....really....you wanna go there??)

6. How old am I? 

L: Well you’re not 5. (Captain Obvious)

E: 37

7. How tall am I? 

L: 10!

E: I have no idea about that.

8. What is my favorite thing to do?

L: Snuggling

E: Hmmmm, be with us, and snuggle with us, and go places with us.

9. What do I do when you're not here? 

L: Pick me up.

E: That I do not know. You probably go out shopping for yarn to knit scarves for people who need them.
(I am going through an arm knitting phase.)

10. What am I really good at? 

L: You’re really good at making us laugh and having fun.

E: Making us happy.

11. What am I not very good at?

L: Playing video games.

E: Making us sad.
(Luke has always been my honest one.)

12. What do I do for a job?

L: You cuddle at your job.

E: You work at a school called St. George’s and you are the computer teacher. You teach 1st grade and SK.
(I can hear Beth screaming POLICIES and PROCEDURES!!! My SG folks will get it.)

13. What is my favorite food?

L: Soup and salad

E: Chicken Soup
(really....really?? I think I have eaten soup twice in front of them.)

14. What do you enjoy doing with me? 

L: Snuggle

E: I enjoy playing with you and spending time with you and cuddling with you and just a lot of stuff.

Snow Dust!!!

Snowmeggedon was predicted this past Thursday. As a true southerner, we boarded up the house and prepared for the worst. This is how I prepare. #screwmilkandbread

When we woke up, the adults were sadly disappointed with Jonas's showing. There was no blizzard, but just a dusting of snow on the ground. I am not sure the boys understood this wasn't 'real' snow. They thought it was the best ever.

The rest of the day was spent lounging under covers, near fires, on pillows with friends and family.

 


And no snow day would be complete without a sweet treat from the kitchen! Who cares if I am the ONLY person in the house that likes these....

Service Day 1: Union Mission

I *kinda* cheated and started my New Year's Resolution before the new year. Evan and I went down the The Union Mission to help serve the homeless on New Year's Eve.

I found The Union Mission through a general google search of volunteer possibilities. After researching and reading about their mission and the design of the program, I knew I wanted to involve my family. The Union Mission has SO many ways you can volunteer: serving meals after chapel (which happens before every meal), making hygiene packs, babysitting for the women's bible study, Friday night family nights...this list keeps going. I called the volunteer coordinator and asked if I could bring my 7 year old to serve lunch and he said, "We'll see you tomorrow."

I have to admit...I was very nervous. I am not sure why I was nervous. I wasn't afraid. I was nervous. Would Evan say something that might be perceived as offensive? Because trust me, with the amount he talks, it was definitely a possibility. Would I know where to go? What to do? I had so many questions down to should I wear these boots or something not name brand? No earrings, right? Seriously guys....just keeping it real.

Like I mentioned, there is a chapel before every meal. We arrived a little before 11 and were guided to the front row. I don't even sit on the front row of my own church! But there we were. I texted John that I was the only female in the room, which made me even more nervous, but I was trying very hard not to show Evan. I found myself asking him multiple times, "you okay?" But in reality, I was probably trying to convince myself. At one point, he said, "Of course, mom. I'm fine. We're just sitting here." <gulp>

This chapel was lead by New Dimensions Church and was like nothing Evan has ever experienced, but he followed along and shouted 'Amen' when told and 'Hallelujah' when told. He clapped and swayed and listened intently. At one point he leaned over and asked me, 'what's a crack addict?' I told him I'd let him know in the car. <gulp again> When the chapel leader leaned in and snorted his bible to demonstrate how he gets high now, I had to laugh, but thankfully so did everyone else in the building. Again, I told Evan I would explain later. (like when he's thirty)

 

We lifted our hands one last time for the final prayer, and I finally breathed a sigh of relief. Because, again - keeping it REAL -  that was the hardest part for me. Now it was time to serve.

As the men who are in the program turned the room around from a chapel setting to a dining setting, Evan and I got ready. (Note to self, bring small gloves next time.)

Evan and I were on drink duty. We made about 400 cups of water that morning. Evan handed very single person that came to our table a cup of water and said, "Happy New Year!" At one point we got a little behind and he said, "Mom! Don't keep these people waiting!"

As we skipped walked out to the car, Evan held my hand and said, "That was so much fun! Can we come back tomorrow?" I promised him we would go back, but maybe not tomorrow.

When we got in the car this was our conversation:
Evan: Now, mom?
Me: Now what?
Evan: Now can you tell me what that thing was?
Me: What thing?
Evan: That word that I didn't know.
Me: Oh...um...well...uh...
Evan: Moooooom, just tell me.
Me: Okay, do you know what drugs are?
Evan: I know what drag racing is!
Me: Not quite the same.

So I just told him that the man was talking about a very bad choice he made. So bad that it could have put him in jail or even die. He knew that when he made the choice, but still made it. We talked about how most people know bad choices before they make them and how sometimes it is just hard to do the right thing. That, I think, he understood.

What I know he understood was on that day, he made a difference. Would the men and women have received their water had we not been there? Yes, of course, but Evan was there. He was able to look at each one of them and wish them Happy New Year. And maybe, just possibly, give them a tiny bit of hope to turn their situation around. I am sure we'll never know, but I like to think Evan's presence that last day of 2015 put a little joy in some else's heart. It sure put joy in mine.

These Hands These Feet

If you are one of the four people who read my blog (hey mom! love you!) then you might know how it got started. I made a New Year's Resolution. Four years later, it's stuck around. And each year, I set and record new resolutions: 2013, 2014, and 2015

2016 is no different.

But this year, it all started with Evan. One December morning before the coffee had entered my bloodstream, Evan decided he wanted to go through all his toys and find the ones he wanted to donate to the homeless. I literally could barely form a sentence because of the lack caffeine in my system. I grunted something about plastic bags and to get started.

When I finally joined the land of the living (aka - finished my coffee), I joined him upstairs. He had some interesting questions. Orphans, St. Jude, homeless...

Then he proceeded to cry, in my arms, for 20 minutes...lots of crying. Big cries...sobs....and snot (on my new sweatshirt).

What 7 year old spends his Saturday morning crying over the plight of the homeless?? Mine. <sigh>

I took a picture just to send to my mom and ask "What am I supposed to do with this???"

Now a lot had been going on in our lives that particular week. St. George's just finished two pretty big service projects: Coins for Carson which raised money for St. Jude in honor of Carson Head, a student who was very close to all of us and blanket making for the homeless. Second graders joined fourth graders for a day of service. They made blankets out of pieces of fleece to give to the homeless. We also have a very good friend who just received their first placement of foster children. A much longer story than I have time for, but these two twin babies have been prayed over for quite a long time. We visited the babies and brought the family dinner all in the same week that the two service projects happened.

My sweet and sensitive boy just had a lot on his mind!

We spent a while talking about all the things he had questions about. I told him that when we have concerns we find a way to help. I told him to always be a helper...that he can make a difference. That's what we call being the hands and feet of God. I explained what this meant to me and how we already do this as a family, but there was always room for improvement.

Once again...this is happening way too often, my son taught me a life lesson. I made him a promise that morning. I told him I would find ways for him to be a helper...to be God's hands and feet. So, I made this my New Year's Resolution.

My goal is to find one type of service to do with Evan each month. He really wants to focus on homelessness and kids that are less fortunate. After some research, I have some ideas:
Union Mission - Serving meals to the homeless and making hygiene packs
Sack Lunch Saturday (I made this one up) - making sack lunches on Friday night, including a fresh baked cookie, and delivering them to the homeless downtown on Saturday.
Book Drive for Hope House and Porter Leath
Meals on Wheels with MIFA
Collierville Food Bank collect, deliver, and sort canned goods
Delivering and Sorting Thanksgiving Meals with Hope Church
Adopting a Angel at Christmas

If you have any other suggestions, I would LOVE to hear them!

What I don't want to hear is what a good mom I am, because I am not. Most days I can't even check the 'mediocre mom' box. This wasn't even my idea. It was Evan's. We all, as parents, like to find what our kids are interested in and help them blossom in it, whether it be sports or music or in our case, service. I wish I was as good of a person as Evan. I just hope this small thing I can do to help him allows him to see that he can make a difference.