My Faith and Joy… and Boys!

I am trying to do my best to impart the wisdom of the Lord to my children.  Lately, I’ve been working specifically with Becky on how to deal with to difficult situations.  She has a bit of a temper, and I’ve struggled with not losing my own when faced with her tantrums.  The Bible teaches us to avoid knee-jerk frustration and instead react with peace and joy when we are faced with obstacles: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”  (James 1:2-3).  So, when Becky starts losing her cool because something isn’t going her way, I’ve been holding up two fingers and calmly stating, “Two choices.  You can get frustrated, or you can be joyful and fix it.”  To my surprise, this often gets her to stop, look up, giggle, and repeat, “Be joyful and fix it.”  Then, I suggest a course of action to help her get what she wants.  For example, she sometimes falls to the floor in a crying heap when Susie takes a toy away from her.  So after she chooses to “be joyful and fix it,” I instruct her to ask Susie, “Please may I play with the toy after you’re done.”  In response, Susie usually says, “When I’m done,” and then hands the toy back to Becky after a few minutes.  This dialogue isn’t fool-proof, and doesn’t always end well, but it does serve to help cool the tempers involved, and also helps me to keep my own head and not lash out in similar frustration. 

I only relate the above conversation to shed light on what happened a few days ago.  While trying to throw together a makeshift dinner and holding Jimmy at the same time, I dropped an open can of red kidney beans (in a light sauce, no less), which splattered all over the counter, floor, kitchen mat, and me (Jimmy emerged un-sauced).  I angrily exclaimed, “MAN!” as I surveyed the damage and tried to figure out how I was going to salvage dinner, and how I was going to put Jimmy down without having him crawl through the wreckage.  Becky appeared at my side, smiled brilliantly up at me, and said, “Be joyful and fix it!”  I kissed the child right then and there.  Oh, how I needed to hear that, to be reminded of God’s wisdom that we are to face all obstacles, whether they be boulder-sized or kidney bean-sized, with joy.  We are to seek a peaceful resolution that pleases God and preserves our testimony as children of God.  And in that moment, God reminded me that my own children are watching.  And they’re learning.

Dinner was very good that night, even with scraped-back-into-the-can beans.  Joy has a way of making even last-minute meals taste better. 

I found a few more pictures of our trip hiding away on my phone.  I miss our Pennsylvania friends and family already!

Here are the girls learning how to play video games:

And here is Jimmy learning how to lick the glass door:

And here are Jimmy and Jake learning how to enjoy football like big boys! 

I figured before we slip our way into 2012, I had better post our Christmas morning pictures.  Even though Christmas was a week ago, it still makes me smile to think of all the happy little kids (and big kids) that morning!

Oh, and thanks to my aunt and uncle for the adorable Santa outfits for the kids.  We all loved them!     

2011 was an amazingly wonderful year, and we thank God for His many blessings.  Happy New Year!

I had to take my little guy to the pediatrician today to get him checked out.  He’s been pulling on his ear for a while, but wasn’t super fussy until last night.  He was happier today, but was still a little clingy.  The doctor confirmed my suspicions that he has his second ear infection in a few weeks (this time in the opposite ear).  It was a traumatic appointment for him because he had to get multiple washes to clean out his unusually tiny ear canals so the doctor could visualize the problem.  Hopefully the new course of antibiotics will clear everything up and soon he’ll be back to his healthy, high-spirited self!

Jimmy: “Yeah, I know this new toy is for me, but I’m too cool for things like that.  I’ll let my dad and sisters have at it; they’re easily entertained.  Me, I’m gonna go find a piece of paper to chew.”