We have been learning this verse in our class at church! Rafa and I have really been enjoying teaching the 3-5 year old group during the second service. The girls have been talking about it a lot during the week.
https://youtu.be/L8ioi931oKo
No, I feel sorry for you!
“I feel SORRY for you!”
I was too stunned to say anything. I just stood there, gripping the little hands of the kids the lady just sneered at.
During our recent trip to Iowa, I noticed that people didn’t say anything to me about having three kids. Maybe larger families are a little more normal in the Midwest? Maybe people are nicer? In Washington, when I run errands with all three kids, I get a lot of comments. Usually it’s just a variation of “You have your hands full!” (To which I usually reply, “So is my heart!”)
But on a sidewalk in front of a stripmall Papa Murphy’s, this lady shouted it at me. Her facial expression was pure disgust. My kids were oblivious, thankfully. Lucius was perched on my hip, cooing to catch my attention and reaching for my hair. Mariel was at my side holding hands with Giana and listening to the song she was making up about sunshine.
So, random angry stranger, even though my brain didn’t work quickly enough in the moment for me to reply to you, here’s what I would say now:
I feel sorry for you, that you would speak contempt for these little ones. These kids are children of God and future world-changers.
John 15:4
https://youtu.be/jGJXh6KR_24
Lunchbox and legacy
I packed lunch for Rafael in an extra-special container today. He’s using the same lunch pail that my Grandpa Max Crabtree used when he worked at Titus Manufacturing, while simultaneously being a full-time farmer.
For many years, Grandpa worked 20 hour days between the factory and the farm. When the grandchildren had an opportunity to select items from the house, I picked this because it really said a lot about my grandpa’s character. I still can see his massive, calloused hands gripping the handle or taking a rare break to drink tea out of the plaid thermos inside.
Although their work couldn’t be any more different in nature, Rafael has the same spirit of hard work that my grandpa did. That’s why I decided it was time to take the lunchpail out of the back of my closet and fill it with my dear husband’s lunch. What better way to honor the legacy of my grandpa than to use his things the same way he did.
Grandpa gave Rafael his seal of approval to my husband and the two of them, despite polar opposite backgrounds, enjoyed many conversations. They are both embody a real man – loves one woman, cherishes their children, provides for their family, stands up for what is right, and leads their family in the fear of the Lord. My favorite moment though, was when Rafael shared the gospel with Grandpa on New Year’s Day 2015. They both had a tear in their eye when Grandpa nodded “yes” and Rafael prayed to our Savior.
Grandpa’s legacy wasn’t about wealth in the bank account, although he eventually got through those lean years of extra shifts to provide a comfortable life for his family. What he did leave behind for me and my family were riches beyond measure. “Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread” (Proverbs 30:8) – one meal (in a lunchbox) at a time.
Going to the mmmmoon
We are nearly through the second unit of Giana’s kindergarten curriculum and it is going great. We are going at about half speed, which should be a good fit for us to finish in time for what would be her state “official” kindergarten start in fall of 2017.
We had such a fun time yesterday. We listened to MMMbop. We built a rocketship to the moon. We talked about how we are like the moon – it doesn’t have light of its own but reflects the light of the sun, and we reflect the light of the Son! We talked about the sound the letter M makes, like mmmmmmoon.
Giana really enjoyed her worksheet today. I asked her to draw four things that start with the letter M. She drew marshmallows, melting (Ice), Mom, and a mosquito! The only thing I helped her with was looking up mosquitoes on the internet, so she could see what they look like, count how many legs they have, and see if they had a tail. I’m so proud of my creative and curious girl.
Matthew 5:14
Easter Verse!
https://youtu.be/l2ojFFZ4kQM
John 8:12
This is a special verse. We started our Kindergarten curriculum three weeks ago. We spent the first two weeks on the introduction and focused on creation. We are now almost done with the first unit about the sun! Giana learned the accompanying verse about the true light of the world.
https://youtu.be/SMTDsDcpsrM
Psalm 27:1
1 John 4:8
We learned a love verse this week!
https://youtu.be/r1ZjMBM6ghA
The little melodies we make up really help her recall the verses, but we still take time periodically to review. Since we are starting a new curriculum this week (My Father’s World Kindergarten), we will hold off on learning a new verse and instead review a few of the past ones each day.
Matthew 5:16
We got back from our first visit back to the Midwest since we moved in July. Our verse for travelling and spending time with our family was Matthew 5:16. Giana did a great time in letting her light SHINE!
https://youtu.be/omj5AOZ5tCE