Canon Andrew's "Birth"day

I had to run into the Dollar General tonight, and when I got back, my baby's world had totally changed. Ever have a moment like that? You turn around and something totally life altering has occurred under your very nose? Well that's what happened tonight with Canon.

I got back in the truck and Connor said, "Mom, Canon just asked Jesus into his heart."

So calmly. Just like that. As if he said, "Mom, Canon would like a drink of water."

I just turned around and looked at all of them. They all had big, goofy grins on their little faces. I stared blankly for a second and then said the most articulate thing I could think of:

"What?"

"Yep," Connor proudly said. "I helped him. But, I'm not sure if I did it all right, so you may want to do it with him again - you know, just in case I missed something."

Missed something??? Hmmm, like waiting for Mommy to return from her 2 minute run into the store?? Something like that?? :D

I told Canon to come up and talk to me for a second. I asked what brought this about. He said, "I thought it was a good day to do it."

Well, how do you argue with that logic? Like I even wanted to, really. He's been asking so many questions lately of Kelly and me. Every time he's done asking questions, we've asked him if he wants to ask Jesus into his heart. And every time, he has said "Not today. But someday I will."

Connor may have missed a few points, but he did a pretty darn good job leading his baby brother in his prayer. Just to lay their minds at ease, however, we prayed again, together. Wow.

Have any of you had this experience? To lead your little ones to salvation? It's so amazing. And humbling. There are days when I feel like I'm totally messing this job of mine up. How could the Lord possibly entrust me with these awesome little kiddos? Other days when I think he's testing me beyond my bounds of sanity (J/K, kind of :D). Then there are days like this. A day that alters eternity for one little boy - MY little boy. And I was there to witness it, to take part in it. I can't imagine any moment being more precious. I am so very thankful to my God.

Isaiah 11:6

Summer Days

Oh, I just love summer. I love to swim. I love to sail. I love to play in the sprinkler. I also love to read a book in my air conditioned home on 95 degree days - who's with me?!?

We have had a great summer. Nothing huge since the South Dakota trip; Chloe's birthday and sleepover, yard sale with mom and my sisters, swimming lessons, VBS and a weekend of camping and sailing for the 4th of July. But it's been a great summer.

We decided to trim down on extras this summer, and just veg. I love that word - veg. Actually, I don't think it's really a word. It definitely doesn't look like a complete word, but oh, well, I love to say it anyway. (And I'm usually a stickler for correct grammar! :P) We've done the summer reading program through our local library. The kids get these great rewards like free corn dogs from Sonic, a free book from CPO, and other awesome deals. It's the simple things they are appreciating this summer, and I'm learning right along with them that simple is good. I'm almost dreading the end of summer when we get into the usual rigamarole of school, co-op, sports and what all else I have the insane desire to cram into our calendar. Kelly is always telling me to cut something out, but am I the only one out there who is afraid of depriving my kids of any and every opportunity available to them?? I will be honest when I say that I feel like I'm under a microscope sometimes; that people who "love" me are inspecting and dissecting everything Kelly and I do for our kids. I don't regret our decision to have me stay at home with the kids and to homeschool them. But I do want to show people that we are thriving...so why do I sometimes feel like I need someone to throw me a life preserver?

I've been a follower of Jesus since I was very young. He's my comfort, my Rock, my Savior. The lover of my soul, my Living Water. I know He is the only one I need to please. I need to remember these lazy days of summer in a couple of months and remember that it is for HIS glory that I do what I do. It is for HIS approval why I live how I live. And it is for HIS reward that I am working, not this world's.

I haven't decided when we'll start on school this fall. We are already having co-op meetings, and they are getting me excited about the year ahead. But I still have a lot of summer to share with my kiddos, and I intend to soak it up! Do the same with your family. Love!

My Grandparents

There is a place I used to go often that is so very important to my family. Our grandparents lived there. My dad was raised there. I have spent countless summers there - Camp Wakonda in Racine, MO. This place is important to many people because of the love and friendships formed there. That is one reason I love it so much. I have also truly felt the Lord's presence by the stream, in the tabernacle, and even in my cabin during bedtime devotions. But what else makes it so special for me is that I feel my Grandma and Grandpa there, too. A piece of our family's history is etched in the soil, hovers in the air so pungent that it's almost tangible. I know how very much it meant to them; and since I was a little girl, it's meant so very much to me because of them.

My cousin April is blessed to have a book of poems of my grandmother's. She sent this to me today and made me reminisce about how I used to spend the summers of my youth. I love to see the perspective of Grandma, observing her husband and all he did in the place he loved so much.

KEEPER OF THE GROUNDS

THE CONTRACT CALLED FOR YOU TO CLEAN THE POOL
AND MOW THE GRASS, AND CHECK THE LIGHTS AND FUEL
AND KEEP THE WATER STANDARD HIGH
AND KNOW WHERE TOOLS WERE KEPT, AND WHY,
AND CLEAN OLD BIRDS NESTS OUT OF EVE AND RAFTER -
NO CARE OF YOURS - THE CHILDRENS GRIEF AND LAUGHTER -
KEEPER OF THE GROUNDS

BUT THEN THERE CAME A DAY YOU WANDERED NEAR
THE ARCHERY CLASS, AND IT WAS VERY CLEAR
THE VOLUNTEER INSTRUCTOR DIDN'T KNOW
ENOUGH ABOUT THE SPORT TO BRACE A BOW,
AND YOU HAD TAUGHT A CLASS THE YEAR BEFORE -
SO NOW YOU ADDED ON THIS ONE JOB MORE -
KEEPER OF THE GROUNDS

I SAW A FIRST YEAR CAMPER FAR FROM HOME,
CONFUSED, UNSURE, A PARAGON TO SOME
BEGINNING COUNSELORS. THEY FAILED TO UNDERSTAND
AND AT THIS TIME I SAW YOU LAY YOUR HAND
UPON HIS SHOULDER; SAY YOU UNDERSTOOD.
IN HALF CARESS, HALF IN DEMAND, YOU SAID, "BE GOOD"!
KEEPER OF THE GROUNDS.

A HOMESICK LITTLE GIRL WAS VERY SAD -
WANTING TO SEE HER PET SKUNK - AND HER DAD-
WOULD A WEE, GREEN GRASS SNAKE HELP TO DRY HER TEARS?
BRING BACK A SUNNY SMILE? ALLAY HER FEARS?
I THINK SHE NAMED IT FREDDY AFTER YOU.
AND TOOK IT HOME WITH HER WHEN CAMP WAS THROUGH -
KEEPER OF THE GROUNDS.

THE GRASS MAY GROW A LITTLE HIGHER NOW -
SMALL JOBS HAVE REALLY MULTIPLIED, SOMEHOW!
BUT TEACH THE LAD - CONSOLE THE LASS -
A YOUTHFUL LIFE IS MORE THAN GRASS -
AND AS YOU GO ABOUT YOUR WORK EACH DAY
A SMILE, A WORD OF CHEER, WILL MARK YOUR WAY.
KEEPER OF THE GROUNDS.

WRITTEN BY INEZ MAY PRICE CRAKER

This poems makes me smile. I can see Grandpa taking over the archery class ~ hear him telling the little boy to "be good", helping a homesick little girl.... can't you? *sigh* i do miss them. thought you would enjoy. love ya.