A Tough Shopping List

We had the girls do their lists to Santa Clause and I think that Sophia has figured out there is no Santa Clause. But she just not quite ready to let go of the fantasy yet, just in case! I'm OK with that. I'm happy to keep "my little girl" just a bit longer. But what she asked for speaks to the beauty of my daughter's spirit. She hopes that Santa can bring an end to world hunger and peace on Earth. That's it. That's her list. My daughter impresses me, what can I say?



Sophia has turned into my generous child. Although she struggled with the sudden abundance of "stuff when she first came home, she has learned, is still learning, what is truly important in this world. I am so incredibly thankful to have this child in my life.

Some Days You're the Windshield

And some days you're the bug.

Some days you hear your kids talking about how smart, pretty or fun their mom is.

And some days you hear your youngest daughter saying, "Ha! Mom's not even CLOSE to being young!".

Apparently today. . . I am the bug. And an old bug at that!

The Reason For the Season

Nathan and I have prided ourselves on the fact that we've managed to keep the commercialism out of Christmas since the girls have come home. We always stress that the spirit of the season is giving to others, not getting "things" under the tree. We've tried to instill in the girls the idea that it isn't the amount that is spent on a gift, but the thoughts, the love, that went into it's selection or creation. We have constant talks with the girls to help them understand that Christmas is a celebration of Jesus Christ's birth, not Christmas trees, Santa and presents. Overall, I think we've done a very good job. But we also have a toned down version of Santa Clause, lights and decorating. It's a fine balance, but one we've managed to maintain.

Until this year. This year, my mother thought it would be a good idea to let Mary look through all of the toy catalogues that she was getting in the paper. This year, instead of writing a letter to Santa asking for a few small gifts, she asked for several, very expensive things that she saw in those evil catalogues. Instead of being thankful for what Santa did bring her last year, she complained to Santa that she didn't get EXACTLY what she wanted. She went from being a grateful, thankful, generous child last year, to being spoiled and selfish this year. It's a change that I do not like.

Don't get me wrong. I know she's a child. I know the lure of bright, shiny, new things. *I* have trouble looking through catalogues without getting a case of the "iwantit's". I know I have years left of trying to instill our values. But I also feel that our parenting efforts are being undermined. I suppose that's what I'm most upset about really. The fact that my mother disregards our value system and lets our girls do what they want, gives them things we don't want them to have, and encourages disobedience by making excuses for the girls when they do wrong.

So this year, we're toning down Christmas even more. The girls will have two gifts from us and Santa will leave one. And from now until Christmas morning we'll be stepping up the "Reason For the Season" talks.

It's a Bugs Life

If I were an insect, I'd cross the street if I came across this guy.

Maryism For the Day

Mary: Hey Dad, did you know that all of our trees are girls?

Nathan: No. Why is that?

Mary: Because they all have skirts on them.

Hmmmm. . . . The trees have skirts on them. Girls wear skirts. The trees must be girls. I'm not sure that my philosophy professor would agree, but her logic seems sound!

Just Because

Mary was so excited to wear the wig. Finally!

Amazing Nature

Today we interrupted out regularly scheduled classwork to watch a spider weave her web. Absolutely fascinating to watch as she pulls her silk into pattern. Beautiful. Just beautiful.