Will's New Robe

Will volunteered to be one of the three Kings in the Nativity during the Christmas play at his preschool.  His teacher recommended little bath robes for costumes so I went and picked one up at a consignment shop today.  If I had known how happy a robe would make him I would have gotten one long ago!!  He made detailed plans for having snuggle time with me in his robe, got excited about how comfy it would be to wear during his play, asked if I liked my robe or his robe better, learned to tie it, shared it with the dog then shook the hairs off, asked questions about when and how we wear it (with clothes or underwear under it, to sleep in, to eat breakfast in, etc.)   Basically it has entertained him ALL evening!   

SPOILER ALERT:  (read this after you watch the video)  After I stopped filming and turned on the computer to upload the video Will asked me where I wanted him to sit so I could get a good view of his robe.  I told him I would have a great view wherever he sat.  After he sat down on the couch across from me he said "So, can you see my robe?"  I told him that I could and he said "Well, maybe you could look at the robe instead of looking at the computer."

I started this post last night and I'm finishing it this morning.  He woke up early at 7 a.m. this morning while I was downstairs making Jerry's lunch.  He was disappointed to see that I had already gotten dressed since he was looking forward to our plans for lying in bed watching TV in our bath robes.  I explained that I had to put on clothes to take out the trash but I promptly followed through with our robe-snuggling plans.  (I know he won't want to snuggle with me for much longer so I have to take advantage of it now!)  He spent the whole morning tying, arranging, comparing, and commenting on his robe!  I was worried when it was time to get dressed for school, but he didn't complain - he just made a special spot on his dresser for his robe.  : )

Never underestimate the simple joys in life!!

Feeling Better!

I could definitely tell Will was feeling better yesterday.  Here is a round of blanket wrestling with Daddy!

A Visit to the Lake in November!

This weekend was absolutely beautiful!  Sunday especially was so sunny and warm.  Jerry was off from work on Monday for Veteran's Day and we were really looking forward to being outside and enjoying the nice weather.  Unfortunately over the weekend Will started with a sore throat, developed a fever, and then ended up with red, oozy eyes.  We made a visit to the doctor this morning and the poor thing has an upper respiratory infection, double ear infections, and pink eye.  It hasn't been a fun couple of days at the Rucker house!

Thankfully we made it to the lake for a picnic and some play time
before Will started feeling too bad.

Napoleon tried everything except swimming to reach that goose.
The goose never paid him any attention.  I guess he figured
out pretty quickly that Napoleon wasn't interested
in getting his feet wet!

Reassurances

Like many Americans, I woke this morning and signed on the computer to see the election results.  I read only the first few words of the headline – enough to learn that Romney was defeated.  My heart fell into the pit of my stomach and stayed there for quite some time.  How could so many Americans choose to believe that Obama’s socialism is the right path for our country? 

My biggest fears were for my son, of course.  Did the majority of parents really cast a vote to leave a legacy of debt to our children and their children?  And what about the Christian values that we use to guide our lives?  Aren’t those same values good enough to guide our country too?  Don’t we want to teach our children to put their faith not in hand-outs but in hard work and persistence?  Isn’t it the role of charities and the Church, not the role of government, to help those in need?

I spent most of the morning dwelling on those frustrating questions, among others too numerous to detail.  On the way to Bible study I told Will about the election results (he’s been very interested in the whole process).  His response was, “I’m going to have a hard time when I grow up.”  I felt horrible for him.  I wanted to think of something to make him feel better but all that came to mind were sarcastic reassurances like, “Don’t worry sweetie – in four more years there will be enough government programs in place that you won’t even have to worry with finding a job!”  So I bit my tongue and said a silent prayer asking for a better attitude.  I think my prayer was answered because I immediately knew what to tell Will and what to focus on myself:  There is no continuing city here, but we seek one to come, and God is in control. 

I explained to Will that there are lots of things in this world that we don’t agree with but what’s important is living our lives by what we learn from Jesus in the Bible.  Other people might make poor choices but we don’t have to.  And while it may be hard to see at the time, God has a plan for everyone and everything and his plan will come to fruition no matter what.  God can even use our mistakes (like electing Obama again!) to further his plan for the world and for us.  We also know that this world is headed for a path of destruction but that as God’s children we don’t need to fear what comes of this world and this country because God has prepared a place for us already. 

So take heart that while this country may be on a path you don’t believe in, the One Leader we do believe in is still in control.   

Visiting with Laurie & Bryon

Laurie, Bryon, and Breeann came to visit this weekend!  We had such a nice time, but as usual, I forgot my camera!  We took the kids to Slinky Action Zone where the kids played until Will's face was bright red!  We rode to State College for dinner and had ice cream at the Penn State University Creamery.  I still didn't have my camera but I did snap a picture of Will and Bree with their HUGE cones of ice cream!

Generosity

I'm in the middle of cleaning house before Laurie & Bryon arrive this evening (YAY!!! I can't wait!!!).  But I had to pause to post this before I forgot.

We listed one of Will's toy race tracks on Craigslist recently to try to clear out some space.  Someone wants to buy it for her son for Christmas and based on our conversation I gathered that money was pretty scarce for shopping.  I thought it would be a nice lesson in sharing for Will to include with the track some of his many, many cars for the little boy.  I explained to him that someone wanted to by the track for their little boy for Christmas, but that I didn't think they were as fortunate as we are to have extra money for presents and so many toys.  I was in the middle of saying "You have so many cars, and I was thinking..."

I didn't get any further before Will ran off to his bins of cars.  My eyes started to tear up because I hadn't even said it yet, but he was going to get some cars to share with the little boy.  He came back carrying a whole bin of cars and said.......

"I'll sell this whole bin for only nine dollars!!!!"

Yes, you read right!  Will wants to be generous by selling his cars to those less fortunate!!  Maybe he thought it was nice to give him such a good deal!!  Who knows, but I had to laugh at that one!!

To give Will credit though, when I explained that I thought it would be nice to choose some cars to GIVE to the little boy he was ready to give him the whole bin.  : )

As I type this I realize that his reaction is mostly a reflection on me.  Obviously I need to do a better job of modeling generosity.  Isn't the Christmas season a perfect time to work on that!

Bin of cars for sell at the give-away price of only nine dollars!!