New Territory

Mara: Mom, can you buy me some perfume?

Me: Why do you want perfume?

Her: Because perfume makes boys come around you.

Me: (After choking on my coffee.) Do you want boys to come around you?

Her: Yes.

Me: Why?

Her: So I can get a boyfriend.

Me: (After being revived from cardiac arrest.) Why do you want a boyfriend?

Her: So we can fall in love, get married, and have kids. I want to manage my own family when I grow up. (She really used those words.)

Oh. Sweet. Mercy.

I do believe I have a tween on my hands. That makes my blood pressure go up, my palms sweaty, and my prayer life more active than ever before.

I want so desperately to teach her that beauty comes from inside, and that nothing is more beautiful than a girl running after God with everything she is. And the world will contradict both of those definitions of beauty.

Lord, help me protect, teach, love, discipline, and raise up these young women. I'm feeling overwhelmed right now and honestly down right scared. Lord, thank you for loving my girls more than I do. Please protect and raise up Godly husbands for each of them.

Mercy, I need some more coffee!

Seems like a perfectly good day to go skating.

After reading the President's address to school children yesterday and asking a couple of questions to Mara's teacher, we decided that Mara would indeed watch the speech live at school. I talked to her this morning and told her that she was going to get to hear the President of the United States talk to her today. I reminded her that his name is President Obama. Her response?....."Momma, that's kind of like Joe Mama!" Ok, that teaching moment was over so I just told her that I was excited that she would get to see the President today.

When she got home I asked her if she saw the president today. She said yes, so I asked her what he said to her.

Mara: He said that you never know if you can do something unless you try.

Me: Wow, that's awesome Mara. So we should always try our best, right?

Mara: Yes, I think I want to try skating.

Me: So what else did the president say?

Mara: Mom, when can we go skating?

Me: Mara, what else did the president talk about?

Mara: I really want to try skating.

Me: Do you remember what the president looked like?

Mara: Ummm....

Me: Do you remember his name?

Mara: Ummmm.... I don't know Mom, can we go skating now?


So evidently the President talked about skating today...or so my five year old thinks! Aren't you glad that there was so much controversy over a speech about skating.

A Three-Year-Old's Perspective on Heaven

Remember this post about Mara talking and thinking about salvation and heaven?

Well, now it's Emily's turn to get you thinking and laughing.

The other day while we were heading home, Emily pointed out her window and asked...

Emily: Is that out of town?
Me: Yep, that's the direction we go when we go out of town to see DeeDee and Grand.
Emily: No, I'm talking about out of town...you know where we go when we die.
Me: You mean heaven?
Emily: Yes, (pointing out the window) is that heaven?
Me: No, heaven is really far away, but we will get to go to heaven when we die.
Emily: I want to see what Jesus looks like.
Me: Me too Sissy, I can't wait to see what Jesus looks like.
Emily: Well, remind Daddy to bring his camera.
Me: (speechless)

I love how her little mind works... She knows what's the most important part of heaven and wants to be sure Daddy 'brings his camera' to capture that most important part!

She's at it again!

Whew, two nights of good sleep and I'm a new woman! I feel SO much better.

So you remember some stories of Emily keeping me humble? According to her I have gray hair, a big booty, whiskers, stinky breath, and smell like a worm.

Well, she's at it again and this time not at my expense.

We ate supper the other night at Nana and Poppa's house. After dinner, Poppa sat down on the couch and Emily said, "Poppa, it look like Sam is in your tummy, but it's just food."

Then while wrestling with Daddy she had one of his hands in her hand, and she said, "Daddy, why is your hand all crumbly?" He looked at her like 'what?', and she said, "Look at the lines. Your hand is all crumbly."

So along with all of my flaws, she also thinks that Poppa has a big tummy and Daddy has wrinkly hands. I'm just glad she's giving me a break for a little while....spread the humbling love!

"Better Out than In"

...as Shrek says...

While walking out the door this morning Emily says, "Oh Mama, I'm so glad I got that fart out."

Yep, my three-year-old would make a great teenage boy!

What they really think of me...

These little questions have been going around on a note on Facebook. I asked the girls the questions this morning and the answers are too funny not to share. I asked Mara before Emily was awake, so the few answers that are the same really crack me up!

Ok, here they are....

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Mara: No, ma'am. (Yeah, I feel bad about that one!)
Emily: I love you. (Feelin' a little better.)

2. What makes mom happy?
M: When we say yes ma'am.
E: When I love on you.

3. What makes mom sad?
M: When your daughters are hurt.
E: When I don't obey.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
M: By making funny faces
E: By making funny faces (Seriously?...I didn't know my face was so funny!)

5. What was your mom like as a child?
M: Sometimes you wore pigtails. (I think she's seen pictures at Nana's house.)
E: I don't know.

6.How old is mom?
M: I can't tell.
E: I don't know, tell me!

7. How tall is your mom?
M: holds hands up as tall as she can
E: Twenty feet.

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
M: Knit.
E: Knit. (Well, can't deny that one!)

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
M: Knits.
E: Eats lunch. (I do probably eat, but I don't think it's lunch...more like chocolate or Girl Scout Cookies!)

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
M: Me (So she'll be famous and I'll be the mom of the famous girl!)
E: Loving me. (Awww!)

11. What is your mom really good at?
M: Knitting
E: Knitting

12. What is your mom not very good at?
M: She's good at everything. (I love that girl!)
E: Wrestling. (Ummm, yes....I HATE wrestling and thankfully Daddy is really good at it!)

13. What does your mom do for her job?
M: Takes care of her girls.
E: I don't know. (I don't know either some days!)

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
M: mac n cheese
E: pizza (I think they were both thinking of their favorite foods!)

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
M: When Sam comes out of your tummy.
E: When she loves on me.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
M: A princess
E: A star

17. What do you and your mom do together?
M: Knit.
E: Snuggle. (Can you tell that this girl loves her some lovin'!)

18. How are you and your mom the same?
M: We have the same skin. pointing at her moles (Yep, we both have several.)
E: With our hair. (We have to same hair cut now.)

19. How are you and your mom different?
M: My hair is blond and yours is brown.
E: You're bigger. (And growing everyday baby girl!)

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
M: Because I see you do nice things for me and my sisters
E: She loves on me.

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
M: Blue Coast Burrito
E: Snappy Tomato (Hmmm, I think we've been going out to eat a lot lately!)

22. The best things your mom cooks:
M: Corn bread. (This cracks me up, she doesn't even like corn bread.)
E: Pizza. (Yep, I'm really good at taking it out of the freezer and putting it in the oven!)

So yes, some of the answers stung a little, but others made my heart feel good!

Strawberry Milkshakes

At lunch yesterday we were eating grapes and the following conversation took place....

Mara: (sucking on a grape) Mmmmm, Momma this juice tastes so good.
Me: Yum. I like grape juice too.
Mara: What? This is grape juice?
Me: Yes, grapes have grape juice inside.
Mara: Really?
Me: Yep. If grapes have grape juice inside....what is inside oranges?
Mara: (the light coming on) ORANGE JUICE!
Me: You're right! What about apples?
Mara: Apples have apple juice inside!
Me: Right again. What about strawberries...what's inside strawberries?
Mara: (pausing to think) Hmmmm. Oh, I know....Strawberry Milkshakes!

Sounds good to me....Pass the strawberries!

If it goes through her mind...

...it comes out her mouth. Not me, my three year old! Well, she does get it honestly though.

Emily: (while brushing my hair) Momma, some of your hair is changing.
Me: I know Sissy, is it gray?
Emily: No, it's White!
Me: (laughing)
Emily: No really Momma, I'm not kidding, there's lots of it right here.
Me: (not laughing anymore) Ok Sissy, I think you're done brushing mommy's hair!

About five minutes later....

Emily: Can we watch Barney?
Me: No, let's pick something else...Mommy has a headache.
Emily: Is that what the white hair is....a headache?

No baby girl, gray hair and headaches are two different things...but a lot of my gray hair and headaches are both caused by the same little strong willed three year old who has a tendency to speak her mind!

My Three-Year-Old as an Eye-Witness

Emily went with Phillip the other night to pick up supper, and she saw a girl from her preschool. When she got home and told me she saw her, the following conversation took place....

Me: Wow, you saw Ella? That's neat.
Emily: Yep.
Me: Was she with her mommy?
Emily: No, she was with her daddy.
Me: Oh, we've never met her daddy. What did her daddy look like?
Emily: (thinking for a full minute) He had a round head...(making a circle motion with both hands)...and two eyes (holding up two fingers).

Can't you just hear her as an eye witness telling the cops that he "has a round head and two eyes"? I love it!

A Five-Year-Old's Perspective On Heaven

Mara Lin has been asking tons of questions and talking a lot about salvation lately. Well, she doesn't use the term 'salvation', but rather says..
-Hey Mom, let's talk about sin again.
-Momma, does Jesus cry when we sin?
-When did you ask Jesus to be your forever friend?

She's really thinking a lot lately and learning so much. I'm not sure if she's 'there' yet, but if she's not 'there' then she's very close.

Several nights ago, I asked Phillip to talk to her to see what he thought and here's how the conversation went.....

Daddy: Mara, did you ask Jesus to be your forever friend?
Mara: I did, Daddy.
Daddy: What about your sin?
Mara: I told Jesus that I was sorry for my sins.
Daddy: How does your sin make Jesus feel?
Mara: It makes Him sad.
Daddy: That's right. So why do we get to go to heaven?
Mara: Huh?
Daddy: Do we get to go to heaven because we're good or because Jesus was good?
Mara: Huh?
Daddy: How do you get to heaven?
Mara: You die.

I was laughing so hard at that last response that the meaningful conversation was over. I LOVE all of her questions and her sweet, sweet faith though!

Sweet, Sweet Family Time

Last weekend we went on a live nativity hayride at a local church. It started with cookies and hot chocolate then continued with a hayride to several 'scenes' around the church grounds. We saw the prophets foretelling the coming Christ, the wisemen complete with real camels, and the shepherds with real sheep and angels in the sky (Hmmm, the angels were in the sky but the sheep were on the ground!). It ended with a sweet experience up close with the Christ Child.
That's me and the girls in the foreground of this picture. We had a great night to remember for a long time. When we were leaving, Emily asked if baby Jesus was going to get to go on the hayride too. We know what was her favorite part!

Why I Love Preschool Christmas Programs

#1....You can stand right between a wise man and baby Jesus and no one tells you to move, and everyone thinks it's cute.

#2....You can pick your nose cause there's at least four others doing the same!

#3...The string on your hat is not just to keep it on. There are hours of entertainment wrapped up in that tiny little stretchy thing! Connie, I've got lots more of these great pictures I need to email you. I love that little guy!

#4....When you hold up your sign backwards (or not at all) it's cute and not at all embarassing.

#5....It's ok to check every two minutes to make sure Mom is still looking at you.

#6...And absolutely acceptable to wave at Mom every five minutes.

#7...And if she happens to look away for a second, you don't even need to hesitate to holler "Mom" in the middle of the program.

#8....As if all of this wasn't good enough, you get to see the big guy when you get done!
I LOVE preschool Christmas programs! They let the kids be kids, and how precious to hear them sing about the Christ child.

Bandaids come in brown?

Emily fell in the parking lot at school a couple of weeks ago. It wasn't too bad and she didn't need a bandaid...but to her, bandaids are magic. Yes, I resort to the bandaid magic often!

I didn't have my purse though so I asked the preschool director for a bandaid. She brought me one and as I was putting it on Emily's hand she excitedly said, "Hhhhh! Momma, it's brown!"

It cracks me up that she'd never seen a brown bandaid. Now the Dora and Barbie ones we have just won't do....she wants brown ones!

Flat Turkey

Since I seem to be on a roll with sharing about the cute things the girls say, I'd better tell this one before I forget.

The girls spent last Saturday at Nana and Popa's house. At lunch Nana had turkey salad....

Mara: Nana, what's that smell?
Nana: It's my turkey salad. Do you want some?
Mara: No thanks, I like my turkey flat.

You know what Mara? I prefer my turkey from Lenny's or Subway too! We'll let Nana keep the turkey salad!

Two babies?

I was finishing getting dressed this morning and heard....

Emily: Mommy, do you have two babies?
Me: No, there's just one baby in my tummy.
Emily: Ya, but it looks like there's one baby in your tummy and one baby in your booty.

So I have whiskers, stinky breath, smell like a worm, and now I have a big booty. It's a good thing I don't have any feelings though cause they might have gotten hurt!

Just call me Worm

Emily: Mommy, you don't smell like a mommy.
Me: What's a mommy supposed to smell like?
Emily: Like a mommy.
Me: Oh, ok....well, if I don't smell like a mommy what do I smell like?
Emily: A worm.
Me: A worm? Ok, well there are worse things to smell like.
Emily: Yep, like cat poop! (remember this post)

She must have thought I needed another dose of humility. Well, this 'worm' mommy loves her anyway!

Where do cherries come from?

Emily had on a shirt the other day that had cherries on it. That sparked the following conversation....

Emily: Mmmmm, I want to eat some cherries.
Mara: Emily, we don't have any cherries.
Emily: Uh huh, they're right here on my shirt.
Mara: Emmy, don't be silly...cherries don't come from shirts, they come from milkshakes.

Mmmm, I love those cherries on the top of milkshakes, and I love that in Mara's four-year-old world cherries come from milkshakes! Oh to be four again!

Should I be embarrassed....

...that my three year old is a fan of this guy?We were watching the Bee Movie the other day.
In the scene where Barry is on the windshield talking to Mooseblood (the mosquito going to Alaska)...Emily says, "Hey, he sounds like Marty!"
She was talking about Marty from Madagascar (which we love!).
You know...this guy....

I laughed so hard cause yep, Chris Rock does the voice of Mooseblood and Marty!

Yep, still humble.

Remember this post about Emily keeping me humble. Well, here's another one....

The scene: Yesterday morning laying in my bed cuddling with Emily.
Me: (sleeping)
Emily: Mommy, your sleep sinks.

Thank you Emily for pointing out all of my flaws including my whiskers, chubby back, big booty, and now morning breath! I love you anyway little booger!

Sibling Love

Emily: Mara, come quick. Becca's gonna get a spankin'. Let's watch!