Because of Him

This evening I was touched by the thoughtfulness of Z. He and Nev were grouped in age together at a local Easter Egg Hunt (dash) and I was watching from a distance. As it started Nev had her basket on her head as a hat. I figured that was going to be a problem but had no way to do anything about it since we were blocked by a bunch of other parents.

I watched as they started the hunt and she ran about 3 steps and then panicked: where was her basket? She couldn't possibly pick up eggs without the basket. Her brother was long gone, of course with task in mind. She turned back searching for me, the expression on her face heartbreaking the parental crowd thinned enough and I went to her, I pulled the basket off her head and handed it to her and told her she was okay (she was crying), and to go see if she could find an egg. I watched as she picked up one and then it was evident that all the eggs had been claimed. Her brother found her as he was charged to do and then from a distance I saw a huddle around her. When they emerged from the group everyone was happy.

They described to me what had transpired when they found me. Now looking through the pictures I am touched even more to see what I couldn't at the distance I was.

Without any adult interference just the sorrow of his sister he took it upon himself to make all things even.

In the pictures I can see her meet up with her brother, shoulders slumped in defeat.

I can see Z's appeal to the other hunters on her behalf. You can see in their faces what kind of a response they received.

He later told me he gave her half his eggs and then asked other kids around him if they would share just one with her.

It's a simple thing. A Christlike thing. A small act that makes me such a happy mom. Because of Him, Because of Jesus Christ my children know how to see a need and fill it, see a broken heart and mend it. They learn to serve as Our Savior served. Z ended up with less eggs than his sister.

Afterwards they had a raffle for a few gift baskets. In a tender mercy Nev's number won the raffle.

Which means that Z was even more unbalanced with the one he worried over, but it was all okay. 

As a parent, standing back and watching my children take care of each other is one of the most rewarding things. Their innocence, and charity is inspiring. 

May the beauty and awesomeness of Our Savior's gift and sacrifice be evidenced in types all around you. 

Happy Easter!

#becauseofHim 

Because of Him I'm a better Mom, Because of Him my children are better people, Because of Him I learn to love more perfectly. 

Detour

What is it that is so interesting and lovable about a good old steam train? And as lovable as Thomas and his friends are, I'm sure the Reverend was just making use of an interest that already existed for children in the formative toddler years.

In any case, in our family steam trains have held the interest of our toddlers regardless of their gender, though typically the boys are more obsessed for longer. 

We've taken the kids on the new electric trains, and it's cool but not as fulfilling as we had hoped. In the town where we live the trains are still older, not steam but at least not space age looking. 

We drive right next to some tracks every day to pick up the preschooler. Some days the itch to see a train or drive over the tracks is just too great and the two youngest are clear and persistent in their burning desire. 

After parenting these two for years I have it pretty well figured out when they are STUCK on an idea and since the most likely collateral damage was a bit extra in gas we turned right instead of left. We wove back and forth each block west following the rail line and driving across it only to return to it's crossing a block later.

And I smiled.

Their excitement at each crossing as our van bumped over the rails was the stuff that contented sighs are made out of. 

El Galeon and Andrea

We came up to St. Augustine with Gary for work so we could go to El Galeon together. It was too late last night after travel and work to go on it so we looked at it on the bridge and watched the drawbridge go up and down in front of us. 

We saw dolphins in the intercostal and ate dinner, watched a magic show walked the shops, a confection store, etc. I picked up some macaroons, a new favorite. 

This morning we checked out of the hotel after the power flickered a little and went to get tickets for El Galeon, but they weren't doing tours today because of the tropical storm. Gary and I were so disappointed. But here's the good news: the ship is docked til the 23rd. Still bummed but at least we'll have another opportunity, potentially. So we tailed along as Gary visited clients. Yay for a portable DVD player and a creative mom making Simon says style silent faces etc while Gary was on the phone. Gary decided to visit clients further north and hope for potential weather improvement to see El Galeon on the way home. 

We rode a car ferry, and got out of the van in the poring rain to let the kids enjoy the ferry to the fullest. :) Our change for the ferry was 4 water logged bills. 

We stopped to see a container barge while Gary booked a hotel. We discovered that Gary was missing his AAA card and we spent some time searching for it. He was bemoaning the fact that Giddy had probably lost it while playing with his wallet a few days ago. I called for a new card, punched the hotel in the GPS and we were merrily on our way again. 

We were driving along a costal road and I commented, "Instead of going home you are taking us storm chasing following the tropical storm Andrea north." He said, "it is on the other side of the state," "ya, but it's got to cross the state sometime, and there's the arms..."

We continue driving and see debris scattered and garbage cans upturned and things generally out of order. People are out inspecting stuff. Further along shingles ruffled and missing and then a deck in pieces smashed up against a palm tree etc.  We pull over and ask someone and they said it was a tornado that passed through just about ten to fifteen minutes ago. Our hotel is just up the road so we continue on and then I notice power lines down across the road and Gary stops because the road is blocked by police, we ask a volunteer for the best route around the downed power lines and turn around. 

As we take the detour I realize the time we spent looking for Gary's AAA card potentially was just enough time to save us from diving through that tornado. Call it coincidence if you want, but I'm calling it one of the Lord's Tender mercies. 

As we come on the east stretch toward the hotel you can tell the tornado ripped down that street, limbs and branches down. Awesome. It's still windy seems to be calming but we're bunked out in a costal hotel on San Fernandina Beach. 

Life is such an adventure. I'll Add some pictures later.

-Coretta

Sleigh ride Florida style

Gary asked me the other night if I missed the snow.
Nope.
But there are some things that are classic Christmas, that just aren't possible the same way in a tropical climate. So we are changing up traditions and trying new things and loving it.

We already went to St. Augustine and rode the Holly Jolly Trolly so what do do Christmas Eve?

 Go to the swamp and hitch an air boat ride. Obviously. ;) Actually, we have some friends who got a gift certificate for an air boat ride for six people. They gifted it to us because they weren't going to use it and knew we would. None of us have ever been on an air boat so we were all pretty excited. It was a cooler day so we bundled up a bit since we'd be against the wind. I was glad to have a use for the hats I knitted the kids. :) Awe look at that ping, ping, ping, ping, ping.

 Olea got to ride the high seat first. Giddy was happy to chill for most of it.

 

 

 Nev was singing into the wind.

 Cranes looking for a place to build a nest.

 The clan of us (driver took the picture)

Zurich wanted to go fast and got his wish. He's watching the dials.

 Pretty Lake Woodruff

 Giddy-Phone before he rejected the earphones.

 Nev was so pleased when she got her turn to sit on the high seat. She sang the whole time and the driver got a kick out of it. He was totally cool with the kids, I always worry because people here just aren't that used to kids, especially four of them at once. He was very accommodating and we had a blast. Gary really is interested in doing a gator hunt or bow fishing via air boat.

 

 

 

 We saw quite a few Gator especially for it being an overcast day but this lil guy was the only one I got a picture of.

As we headed home I said to Gary, "That was a nice sleigh ride; Florida style."

Grandma and Grandpa are amazing

For Christmas this year we did our best to convince Grandma and Grandpa to come here again for the kids.  :) It worked out their time off was when we were planning on re-doing the boys' room. Oh they always manage to get sucked into our projects. But they are so skilled! Don't worry we made plenty of time for play too.

While they were here Grandpa made the kids stilts and a teeter-totter. It's perfect sitting there between the trees. I love it. The kids love it, so that's the best.

Grandma took the scary out of wall paper removal for me and kept the kids entertained so I could paint. Gary and his dad worked on the bunk beds.

Grandma needed bubble wrap for the cute advent calendars she made with each of the kids and at Lowe's the guys picked up a huge role of it. So Grandma covered the kitchen floor with it and let the kids live out a childhood fantasy.

After Gary and I got the basic of the paint done we took the kids out of school and went up to Historic St. Augustine. Since moving to FL we have tried to learn more about our new home state. It's kinda crazy to grow up knowing Utah/ Idaho and west history and geography and barely anything about your new home state.

Nev has also been begging to go with Daddy on a trip and stay in a hotel. Oh they love hotels. I think it might be the phones.

  

 

 First up the Irish Pub for some corned beef
 
 Then the Holly Jolly Trolly

We missed Santa, he left early so we went the next day.
LAME. He didn't even bother to pull up his fake beard.

Nev was so cute with her glasses on and slunked up in her coat with her squishy face. Oh how I adore my lil cherub.

We took a historic tour in a trolly which was really cool.

I could develop a fondness of a local college. :) We also visited the Castillo de San Marcos and Olea took the time to read up as she saw things. It was nice to go again when it wasn't so busy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Nev finds flowers to pick everywhere.

Olea saw a man weaving palm fronds and admired them for a while. He gave her this dragonfly. Pretty cool. Off to the sweet shop.  

While walking the streets of  St. Augustine we got the kids their t-shirts and I saw a shirt and almost said something to Gary but decided not to. While I thought he was paying I went out of the store and was telling Gary's dad about the shirt, next thing I know he comes out all proud of himself with a bright blue shirt on. YUP, that's the one I decided not to direct your attention to. :D Totally goes with the do-rag he was wearing to keep his minor head surgery covered. (He had a cyst removed from his scalp).

Giddy love to pour things.... it's cute to see how exciting it is for him, but exhausting to clean up all the mess.

  We went to Winter Wonderland and played around, the Santa there was much better. We got to take the kids ice skating. Zurich tried it but didn't care for it much. Olea was a pro. Nev was very determined and I was proud of her. Giddy enjoyed it but overall was just plain tired. They even made fake snow out of suds which was fun, but without all the cold. :)

We also went to the Alligator farm and expanded our knowledge on alligators. :)

 A little boy I know was being a pretty big "no" say-er and ready for a nap.

 Grandma and Grandpa came so full of energy giving the kids horsey rides and helping us tackle some pretty big projects, go go go play play play. We were so happy to have them with us and all their help.