Yesterday, during our morning Lord’s Day service, we were responsively reading God’s Law as summarized in the 10 Commandments.  At home, when we read the 10 Commandments, our copy says not to covet your neighbor’s donkey.

So, when the congregation was reading about not coveting your neighbor’s wife, or manservant, or maidservant, or his ass…etc…Aaron looks at me with a huge grin and says, “Or his donkey!”

Good, he HAS been paying attention =)

Today, hubby and I took the kids on a little drive to my OB appointment, and on the way, Aaron (3 3/4yrs)  looking at the sidewalk next to the van gasps loudly and exclaims, “Mom! Look! Humans!!!”

My appointment went well, I am 29 weeks along and little Isaiah, a.k.a Izzy, is doing great.  I’m a little anemic, so I need to eat more leafy greens.  I’m already looking forward to being done with this pregnancy and holding little Izzy in my arms.  I’m also looking forward to having the option to put him down when I want to. He’s getting really heavy and my back’s been complaining.

A few days ago, Josh was wrestling with the kids. He was lying on the couch and Gabe, Aaron and Emmie were all piled up on top of him. It was so fun to watch! Then, Gabe excitedly exclaims, “Daddy! There’s not enough kids on you!”

So I asked Gabe, ” Should Mommy have more babies so more kids can wrestle daddy?”

He grins and says matter-of-factly, “Yes.”

We had a rough (for me) but exciting (for the kids) morning.  Aaron, Emmie and Owen and I were playing in the back yard.  I had my attention on Owen, helping him try to stand up. I looked over at Aaron and he had something in his hand. It was a syringe. I yell at Aaron to throw it down and he obeys.  I am praising the Lord that the cap was on the needle. 

I took all the kids inside and washed Aaron’s hands up really well.  Then I went back out and using ziplock bags (so I didn’t have to touch it) I put the syringe in a bag.  I called hubby, crying from anger that someone would throw a syringe over our fence. Nevermind that we have small children who pick up anything that looks interesting, and two little ones who still put things in their mouths.   

I called poison control, then made an appointment to take Aaron in to the pediatrician tomorrow afternoon. I’m hoping to get some blood tests done to make sure he hasn’t contracted anything scary. I’m not sure if he opened the syringe and poked himself, but he has a mark on his palm that could be from a needle prick.  But then, he was playing with some wood chips that could just as easily have made a prick mark like that. We’ll see. I’m not overly worried and am praising God for the peace He’s given me.  

I also called the police and had an officer come out to the house to get the syringe.  I was hoping they could fingerprint it and see if they could track down the person responsible for it being in our yard.  But the officer said they reserve fingerprinting for things like murder and burglary.  I then asked if he could send it to a lab and see if there are any diseases present that Aaron could have been exposed to.  He said he would, and took my information so I could be contacted if anything shows up.  He did comfort me in telling me that with hepatitis and HIV, the viruses die soon after coming in contact with air,  even in a matter of hours.  

Aaron was excited that a real policeman came to our house. He spent a while trying to explain to the policeman about how cool his (Aaron’s) boots are.  He was also very fascinated with the officer’s gun.  He told the officer, “The police will throw you in jail if you drive too fast!” Aaron also told him all about the “bad guy syringe” he found.  The officer talked to Aaron about the importance of not touching syringes and that he should instead tell mommy or daddy if he ever finds one again.

It’s been an emotionally charged few weeks for me, but today was the kicker.  I am so ready for a nice peaceful day.

Tonight after dinner, Gabe, Aaron, Emmie and I were playing Simon Says.  It was Aaron’s (3 1/2) turn to be Simon.  His first command, “Simon says poke your eye up in the air.” Huh? I tell him, “Ok, what else does Simon say?” He continues, “Simon says put your nose in your mouth and bite your teeth off.” Ok.

 After an interesting game of Simon Says, we did our devotion. We read Psalm 150. We learned about all the different places and ways we can praise God.  After reading we sang some praises to God. The kids chose the songs. Gabe (4 1/2) said, “Let’s sing Be Thou my Vision in French.” Sorry Gabe, I’m still working on Spanish.

Today I was drinking a can of Ginger Ale. Aaron (3 1/2) wanted some but I told him no.  He asked, “Is your soda going to make me bounce on the walls?”

I vaguely remember telling him some time ago when he wanted a drink of my Coke, that he couldn’t because I didn’t want him bouncing off the walls (hyper). It’s funny how little ones take everything you say seriously, and literally.  

There is a brand of diaper rash cream named Butt Paste.  We had some given to us a while back and despite the name I love the product. It is one of the best I’ve used on my children.  Well, now whenever I put anything on my kids’ little tushies, whether it’s vaseline, desitin, or any other rash ointment or cream, they affectionately call it “Butt Paste”.  And they know that Butt Paste helps “ouchy butts” feel better. So, there’s the backround…

All four of my kids have been throwing up for the past few days. Aaron must have had an “ouchy mouth” (sore throat) from throwing up so much, because he came to me yesterday,  with the most sweet, you-must-pity-me little voice and asked, “Mommy, can you put some Butt Paste in my mouth? I have an ouchy mouth.”

You know, it can actually get physically painful to hold in laughter, when all you really want to do is comfort your sick little child.  

Aaron (3yo in 6 days!) has been showing a greater interest in praying this past week. He’s been asking to say the blessing before we eat.  Here is his first completely self-formulated prayer…

“Thank you for this food. Thank you for Madison (his friend), and Emmie and Mommy, and Gabe. Thank you for this food. Please help everybody not to be stuck. And thank you, in Jesus name, Amen.”

I especially liked his next prayer…

“Thank you for this food. Please help us to obey without complaining. Please help us to be like Jesus. *then he mumbled for about a minute and I couldn’t hear what he was saying*In Jesus name, Amen.”

I get discouraged sometimes at how my kids treat each other. But then don’t we as parents fail in this area too? Josh and I have been noticing with our boys, that there have been moments recently when they have been making obviously conscious attempts to treat each other kindly. Aaron wants to pray. Gabe asked forgivness for something of his own volition last night.  I have been wondering for quite sometime now whether God will ever bless the efforts Josh and I are putting forth to raise godly children. I am encouraged to know that He is. It is a slow process. But then, so is my own sanctification. It took me 17 1/2 years to have a conciousness of my sin and have godly repentance.  And I was raised in a very stable God-honoring Christian home.  I don’t know why I expect every administration of discipline to single-handedly regenerate my kids.  I need to trust the Holy Spirit to work in my kids’ hearts when it is time. And patiently do my mommy job in the mean time.

10 points for anyone (besides my hubby =) who can name where this dialogue came from.  This dialogue took place between my then 31/2yo, Gabe and 2 3/4yo Aaron. They did the best they could

Gabe: “Guero! Look alive! *slaps Aaron* There is a man sick…*forgets some words*…I need for you to pay him a visit.”

Aaron: “But the sister and I…”

Gabe: *interupts Arron* “Go now! So the sister and I may speak of pony things.”

Aaron (3yrs  in 2 1/2 weeks) was lying on my tummy today. 

I said, “Did you know that you used to be in mommy’s belly?”

“Yeah, can I go back into you belly?”

“Sure!”

Aaron gives me a big grin, “Open your mouth!”

*I open my mouth*

Aaron comes closer to my mouth and frowns, “I’m too tall.”