Parental epiphany on patience!

"Be patient! That means, if you ask for something. Be quiet and wait for it. Don't keep asking, whining, and crying about it. Most of the time, I have already started to answer your request, but you don't stop begging, long enough to realize it. I can't do things instantly all the time. You need to learn to be quiet and wait!"

I think sometimes we need to hear things as a child would. We need simple language. I have been pretty whinny with God lately, and it was almost as I was smacked in the face with this epiphany as I scolded my daughter about patience.

So, yeah.... Patience... It is a tough virtue, BUT once we recognize that we might be failing at it, it's easier to stop kicking and screaming, pick our selves up off the floor and brush ourselves off. Fold our hands and wait for the granting of our request.

The cuteness of today…

Today was filled with random acts of cuteness.

Around 7am this morning I hear the kids arguing (not the cute part) and I hear Jeremiah say to Alexis “You are not my boss. You were in mommy’s tummy just like me!”

Later, my kids went shopping and purchased their very first item with money they SAVED by doing WORK! They are now proud owners of a Captain America shield and real high heels! They worked very hard for this money. A cute moment a couple weeks ago was when we were in the Dollar Store and Jeremiah saw something he wanted. I told him he could spend is money on it, if he wanted it. But then explained how it would take away from the money he was saving to work for his shield. He thought about it for a minute and with a smile and slight chuckle said “Oh, I was just kidding, I just wanted to show this to you. I am going to go put it back now.”

This evening, I listened to Joshua crying and complaining in my bedroom with daddy. So I went in there to see what the problem was. He was just crabby from no nap today. Justin and I then started talking and little dude walked out while complaining. About ten minutes later he came back in, with a baby bottle in one hand and a half gallon of milk in the other hand. (which he got from the play kitchen in the family room) He walked up to me, opened my hand and put the milk in, then opened the other hand and placed the bottle in. I laughed and asked him if he wanted milk. He then of course very confused, cried as I walked away into the real kitchen to get the real milk and his big boy cup.

These pictures are courtesy of Jeremiah:

America's Got Talent - YouTube Submission?

My kids are weird, but cute!

Lake Pleasant / Sedona

my baby likes salsa

Until We Meet Again…

 

Here are some of my favorite memories, with people I really miss.

 

Uncle Mike, thanks for spending the day teaching me how to ski! Oh and how to start my 1987 Chevy Blazer with my dipstick… that was a cool trick to show the boys!

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A week before my great grandfather died (at 99.75 years old) I went with my orchestra class to play Christmas music to him and the nursing home he was in. Afterwards, I went up to him to give him a hug, and he said “It was sure nice of you to come play for your ugly old great grandfather” This was his personality! But the best part… it was the last time I saw him, and he knew who I was, even with his failing memory.

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Of course this picture is one of my favorite memories of my Uncle Bill, because it has another two of my favorite people in it! However, a memory I would like to share is one with him and my cousin Daniel. On my 18th birthday, my cousin decided to make me a gift. It was a picture printed on copper sheeting, made with the tools from my Uncle’s circuit board shop. On the day of my birthday, I drove by my uncle’s house and saw him and my cousin sitting in the garage working hard on something. Later that evening, I saw my gift and was told that they spent all day working on it and the frame. My heart was touched, because two people whom I loved, loved me!

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Donna and Joe, My favorite memory of Joe is when we went to a  Willard Family Reunion. During which all the kids got to sit together. All the kids and Joe and Donna – not sure how that worked out – anyway, toward the end of our meal, Joe offered (or bribed) us all a whole dollar if we would finish our food. We did!

Donna, I guess would be when I saw her most creative invention: A paperclip cord that hooked her phone to her belt loop.

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No great memories – but I still miss my doggies!

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I loved spending my summers with Gary and Geri at their house in Missouri, they were MY summer grandparents. I think a neat memory was when we were visiting them in California, and Gary came home from work with a video for us to watch. It was the very first Pixar short film. Not yet released, and it was AMAZING… remember when Toy story came out? Well this was many years before that – so you can imagine the shock.

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A special memory of my Mother in Law, Laurie is actually a story I remember her telling, about her son and how proud she was of him. A young Justin, about the age of 3 using all his birthday money to order pizza for the family. I can still hear her say “He marched his little self up to the counter and said, I want to get a pizza” She was proud of her son for his giving heart. The neat part is that her granddaughter, Alexis at the same age wanted to buy pizza for her family with her birthday money! I am grateful, she was willing to tell me stories, so that I can keep her memories alive and give that gift to my children.

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You got to love that great big smile… no really, I have to love it, because it was passed down to my son as well. Every time Jeremiah flashes that smile, I say, “Hi Jim Bartlett, it’s nice to see you again”

My favorite memory would be on my wedding day. Right before I walked out, Jim was there and said “Can I give you a hug, sweetie?” As we hugged, he said “I am glad I got to see you before sonny did because you are so beautiful today”

 

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My favorite memory of my great grandma is when I was about 15 and she taught me to make cinnamon rolls. Those cinnamon rolls were the McIndoo staple for parties as I was growing up. I felt honored to have a chance to make them with her. I really also hold dear to my heart that she was able to be at my wedding.

My great grandfather, died when I was young, but I do remember on several occasions going into his shop and being allowed to pick out three rocks to keep. I still have some of those rocks sitting on my desk today!

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I am shocked that I actually have a picture of my favorite memory of Evelyna. For her 90th birthday I played on my keyboard “This is the Day that the Lord hath made” (My first performance) She said it was beautiful… I believed her because she was so old, she knew!

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This picture is of My great Grandma Louise and Evelyna. I need to scan a better picture of my great grandma. I think my favorite memory of her is…. this is a hard one, I have a lot…. I guess it would be when I spent a few days making fabrosie eggs with her. I think the best part, was not the skill but the time I got to spend with her and the opportunity I got to learn from my family.

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I loved the time we had together, and I look forward to the day we meet again, at Jesus feet!

More Random Acts of Cuteness

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Jeremiah comes running into the kitchen with his new orange gun that his cousin Zach gave him about a week ago. He was laughing hysterically, and said “mommy, my gun got smaller!” ( in reality what he actually had was a different orange gun that he obviously forgot he had. He was astonished that his toy gun shrank during the night)

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Kids refer to bees and wasps as “sting bugs”

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I asked the kids why they were the same age. Alexis explained: “Because we were born together. You wanted two kids at first. You only wanted to get married one time, so you had us. But then you got married another time when you got Joshua in your tummy.”

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Kids were allowed to help themselves to three pieces of candy. I didn’t pay attention, then I over hear my mom and Alexis in the room. Bibi: “I thought your mom, said only three pieces”

Alexis: “Oh, oops, my finger accidently got too much”

She then comes to me laughing saying “Mommy, this is so funny, my fingers accidently got too much so I am going to put these back.”

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Joshua started “jumping” off the pool step like the big kids! (I need to get a video – it’s hilarious!)

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Joshua will only eat with a fork. Ever since is birthday. He just sits and stares at his plate and says “eh” or screams until I get him a fork. Then he eats away! And no it doesn’t matter what it is.

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Joshua sneaks into my purse and gets the mints out. Then he looks at me and says “eh,” if I don’t respond, he takes my hand and puts the mints in it and then says “eh” even louder!

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I walk into Joshua’s room and tell the kids to clean up as I start getting the baby ready. Alexis just stands there with an odd look on her face and asks. “are you going to leave here?” Me: “Yes, when I am done…… why are you just standing there?” She just stares. Me: “What are you hiding under your feet? Did you spill your milk?” She just stares. Me: “Alexis! Did you spill your milk?” Alexis: “yes” Me: “Then clean it up, instead of hiding it under your feet” Alexis: “I am not hiding it, I am just standing on it so you don’t see!”