toys or Jesus?

Caden announced the other day that he loves his toys more than Jesus. I know he knew this wouldn't be recieved well. So I launched into explanations of stuff not being important, Jesus died on the cross for us to be able to live eternally, this would make Jesus feel sad, etc.
A day or two went by and he said this again. This time, he seemed sad when he said it.
Having had some time to think about this, and talk to some people about how I should respond, I said, "Caden, everything we have is from God. Jesus is glad you have toys that you love. Maybe when you think about how much you like your bear and your toys, you could thank Jesus that he gave them to you. But Jesus tells us that we need to love him more than anything else. This isn't easy, but that is how we need to live." So then he started crying..."I need to love Jesus more than my toys, but I don't!"
This made me think of my post about self-awareness. Maybe Caden is just more aware of - or more ready to admit- that he doesn't love the Lord more than anything else in his life. It can be so hard to love Jesus intensely when he isn't physically right in front of me. I have times when I feel really in love with the Lord, but do I feel that all the time? Its very easy to start focusing on the 'stuff' around us, as opposed to what is truly important.
Lord, I pray that you would continue to make yourself real to us!

Yeehaw

Caden has referred to me as "little lady" several times recently. When I asked him where this came from, he insists that he just made it up. The most recent time I heard it was, "Can you wipe me, little lady?"

self-unaware

How many of us truly see ourselves are we really are?

A few days ago, we had one of those moments when both Caden and Alyssa were bawling (for some, by now, forgotten reason). Alyssa, through her tears, yelled, "stop crying Caden!" It seemed that she thought he shouldn't be crying after what had happend, but that her tears were legitimate. Or did she not realize that she was crying as well?

I recall a pastor talking about how we all have blind spots. Something about ourselves that we're unaware of. A critical attitude, lack of grace for others, or maybe just dirty fingernails!
Ask God to show you what yours is. Or, if you're really brave, ask a friend what yours is. :)

Sheets

Who knew laundry could be so much fun?

Supplications

The other night on the way home from church, we were all feeling sort of cruddy. So Caden suggested that we pray for God to help us feel better. I thought, "I'm so glad that my son always reminds us to call on the Lord when we aren't feeling good!" Then he said. "And can you please pray for God to heal me the most?" Ok, so we have some more work to do. :)

She can't be...

2 years old!?
A castle cake!
Here is the usual picture face!
A new apron to help mommy in the kitchen! I start 'em young. :)
B brought over a cinderella sleeping bag and this white bear - big hits!

Grammy and Poppy!

Quote of the Week

Caden said to me, "We buy stuff cheap, thats what we do."

Observant, he.

Lions, tigers, and bears...

Caden and I have talked about how if he sees something on TV that is scary, he should walk away or ask to have it turned off. This would really only happen if he is at someone else's house, please don't think we're watching CSI with him or something. Anyway, tonight, he asked me why he shouldn't watch scary things. So we talked about that, and he said, "but I like scary things." So I asked him what he thinks is scary. He listed dinasaurs, bears and gorillas.

Oh, innocent babe, how I wish you never had to learn about things scarier than gorillas.

Photographer

We have a professional photographer coming to speak to our MOPS group next week, and she asked to take a few pics of the children of some of the steering team members so that she could show some of her work. Here are a couple of the ones from yesterday. It was a bit painful, as neither of my children were really in the mood. But these ones are cute. I don't think the one of Caden really looks like him. Thoughts?