Bugging Out

Spotted

Caught

Observed

Released

~ Dorie

Marble Coaster

Dollar Store swim noodles cut lengthwise + lots of tape + marbles + creativity = longest swim noodle marble roller coaster at our house, ever!

Great fun for literally a few dollars.
~ Dorie

Oh, and the added mess...

A Ring of Truth

"What's that?" I ask our youngest.

Smiling to suppress a giggle, "It's my wedding ring. I made it out of tape."
He presents his right middle finger for inspection. "See?"

"Well, if it's a wedding ring, it needs to be on the left hand."

"Really?" he asks.

"Yeah, and on your ring finger."

"This one?"

"Yep. So, do you think your wife is gonna like that ring?" laughingly I ask him.

"I don't know," he slowly replies.

"Someday, I hope God blesses you with a wife," I tell him.

"I'm not sure I want a wife," he confesses.

"Why is that?" softly I ask.

"Well, I don't really like girls. They are icky," he shouts for emphasis.

I start to laugh, but my wise teenaged son enters the room. He's been listening to our exchange. Squatting down to eye level with a six year old, he speaks to him, man-to-man, "That will change. Let me assure you, that will change."

Someday, yes, my sons, someday I pray you will each be blessed with a wife and children,
but for now, I thank God for each and every day I have with you.

It is a blessing to be a part of each change and growth for all my children,
Dorie

101 Bible Adventures ~ A Review

Growing up, I had a very inventive brother who created an adventure out of everything, and almost always took his little sisters along with him.  One day, we would be building forts in the woods, blazing trails, or tracking an animal or outlaw.  The next, we were building rafts to float down the river.  Probably the least wise moment was when we took a few pieces of siding, flapped them like wings, pretended we were birds flying, and jumped off the hill... yeah, that didn't end so well.

With the birth of our son, I thought I knew what boyhood was all about.  However, he wasn't quite as physical of an adventurer as my brother had been.  My son is still adventurous, but more subdued.  He was a thinker, problem solver, and mechanically inclined.  More often than I care to remember, he would have a new toy torn apart, trying to figure out how it worked.

Then came the birth of our youngest son.  He is not like our oldest son, nor does he remind me of how my brother was.  No, this boy is an all out physical adventurer with little fear.  Ever since he could walk, he started climbing, high.  He likes to run fast, test his strength, climb high, and jump.  Having a great deal of energy and quick wit, this boy keeps us on our toes and our knees.

Having a resource like 101 Bible Adventures: The Ultimate Quest For Truth! by Carolyn Larsen, is a great way for me to share nuggets of God's Word with this adventurous, active son.  Each of the devotions is printed on one set of open faced pages and contains a brief introduction, short synopsis, Bible references, a key verse, cartoon illustration, and an application. 

The devotions are based on both Old Testament and New Testament passages.  I appreciated the balance and the variety of selected topics.  Key verses and story summaries are taken from the New Living Translation.  The introductions and applications are written for elementary aged children to easily understand.  Though I found no target age for the book, I would estimate children between the ages of 6 and 10 would find the book interesting and understandable.
~ Dorie

The Fine Print Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers for review purposes.

How to Love a Twelve Year Old Boy

When he looks at me with the same dark colored eyes I saw peer over the edge of his blanket cocoon at just one week old, how can I not think of him as my little baby boy?  Yet time continues on, and he changes before my eyes from baby to toddler to boy to youth. 

And I find myself in a quandary, for how do I love in tangible ways my boy becoming a man?
This is what I have learned...



Let him explore his surroundings, developing his leadership skills, talents, and gifts, expanding his interests, and discovering how to serve others.

Offer help and support, but don't be offended if he doesn't want it.  Instead, be creative in your support.

Value his ideas and opinions.  Sure he is only 12, but God gave him a thinking mind, let him use it.

Encourage him to grow into the man God intended.  Don't get caught up in comparisons, and become critical.  Instead, be his biggest cheerleader.



...but most of all, I must remember, 12 is a stepping stone along the way to manhood...there is purpose in these adolescent days, and I don't want to wish them away, no matter how difficult the day may be...

~ Dorie




Possible Resources for the Journey

for parents ~
Bringing Up Boys, by Dr. James Dobson
The Way of the Wild Heart, by John Eldredge
Raising a Modern-Day Knight, by Robert Lewis

for parents and boys ~
An Honorable Boy, by Michelle Zoppa
Boyhood and Beyond, by Bob Schultz
Created for Work, by Bob Schultz
Practical Happiness, by Bob Schultz
Every Young Man's Battle, by Stephen Arterburn

Signs of a New Season

"Mom, is my voice different?" he asks from the back seat.

"Yeah, it's changing.  Do you not hear the difference?"  I glance up in my rear view mirror trying to catch his facial expression.

"No.  A girl in my Sunday school class told me my voice is changing."

It had been so evident to us and obviously now others.  His voice was deepening, cracking, changing.

The signs of a new parenting season are appearing; just as a new season creeps into the world around us.  The days shorten, leaves slowly change color, and the air turns crisp.  Each is an indicator of the autumn abundance to come.
~ Dorie

...continuing my gratitude listing...

727.  our oldest son's voice deepening, indicating the changing of seasons in life

728.  gradual ease into adolescence for him (and us!)

729.  honking geese flying overhead migrating to warmer areas for the winter

728.  setting sun glistening on geese feathered wings

729.  V formation of flock's flight

730.   golden sunshine on changing leaves

731.   not quite frozen water, crisp air, but not quite cold

732.   dinner at the park with my family

733.  playing on the play ground equipment - tire swings and slides

734.  children tossing the football with my husband

735.  shutters freshly painted

736.  dog darting through the house

737.  laughter in the early morning hours

738.  pumpkin spiced coffee

739.  another go of apple bread, this time made with the help of my oldest daughter

740.   completing a promised dinosaur craft with my youngest

741.  youngest's excitement completing the project, and his finished product

742.  breakfast made by my husband and children

743.  a late start to Saturday morning activities due to a later game time

744.  finally getting fall decorations out and about the house

745.  sharing some of my favorite childhood books and stories with my children

746.  oldest daughter's budding writing skills as she writes a chapter book of her own

747.  oldest son mowing entire lawn

748.  smell of freshly mowed grass

749.  dog rolling in the grass

750.  setting the hammock outside again since the rains have stopped for now

751.  spending time relaxing in the fresh autumn air

752.  going through the boys clothing and finding they only need a few items for cooler weather

753.  spending part of an afternoon in one store and getting all the children's cooler weather clothes shopping finished

754.  good friends for our children

755.  extended family attending the boys games, cheering for them

...and so it continues...

The Coach's Son

One Saturday morning, the coach's son spent twenty minutes before the actual game running up and down the flag football field.

Then that very same coach's son lost his flag before the game even started, and had to find it before he could play.

Once he found his flag, he refused to wear the required mouth guard and tried to hide it in his pocket.

Meanwhile, he kept running to his mommy for water, apparently he was thirsty a lot.

Once he was on the field, the coach's son had to be picked up by the his coach and put into his spot on the line for defense.

Then, the coach's son missed pulling a flag, because he was too busy kicking up grass running around the field.

When his team finally got the ball, and the coach's son carried it down the field, he got his flag pulled, ending the team's chance for a touch down.

After the game, in which his team lost, the coach's son said he loves playing football!

The coach is the Drummer and the coach's son is our youngest.  The Drummer enjoys coaching his team and sharing a love of football with these preschoolers and kindergartners.  And the rest of us thoroughly enjoy watching every week as these little ones play, or not, whatever the case may be.
~ Dorie


...continuing my gratitude listing...

711.  watching preschoolers and kindergartners play flag football

712.  enthusiasm and love for the game

713.  our youngest wearing his jersey hours after the game, wanting to wear it all day - he loves being a part of the team

714.  watching seventh and eighth graders play flag football in the second game of the day

715.  our oldest, on the field, playing hard with his team mates, loving the game, learning skills, developing team work

716.  the difference in a matter of years - learning skills, team work, understanding and execution of plays, amazing to see

717.  testimonies shared during half time

718.  meeting families from the community who we probably wouldn't have met otherwise

719.  fathers and children camp out trip - our three oldest attended with the Drummer

720.  bonfires on cool autumn evenings

721.  time for just our youngest and me

722.  putting together puzzles, playing games

723.  apple bread and desserts

724.  field trip to a science center for our oldest and a few of his friends, and all they learned

725.  finding our daughters have only a few clothing needs for fall and winter

726.  being asked to read more aloud


...and so it continues...

Cherished Gifts

A change has transpired.  At first I hadn't even noticed.  Now, it is obvious.  No longer does he seek me out to cuddle or kiss his cut finger, nor does he bring me weed flower offerings anymore.

Our mother-son relationship is shifting and changing as adolescence pushes him onward from little boy to man.  It is exactly how it is suppose to be, and I do not expect him to remain a babe, but it doesn't make it any easier.  There are days I joyfully anticipate his growing maturity, and there are days when I cry as time slips by quickly, forever gone. 

And then there are days like last Thursday...when I cherish the gift of today. 

A few more hours remained before our guests would arrive.  The lists of preparations extended onto two sheets as the house needed a thorough cleaning inside and outside.  Children scrubbed, swept, and dusted alongside of me.  I doled out jobs as fast as they could finish them.

We were partway finished when I sent our oldest son outside to gather the dead hanging flowers.  Heat and neglect were their downfall.  Wilted and barren, the flower bags that once graced our fence with precious hues of white, purple and red had become an eye sore.  They needed to go. 

A few minutes later, I joined him outside to check the progress.  All the bags were down, dirt and debris discarded, and bags gathered.  Everything was in order, except two pretty purple blossoms.  Over a misted covered glass table, these flowers trumpeted for attention. 

They were lovely.

"Where these from one of the hanging bags?" I asked him.

"Yeah, I saved them," he replied walking up beside me.

"They are beautiful."  I said.  He reached for them.  I stopped him.  "Oh, don't move them.  I want to photograph them right there." 

Turning to retrieve my camera from inside, I heard him chuckle.  He's use to my impetuous photographic efforts, and sometimes, like today, he joins me.  "I think I'll get my camera, too."

For the next ten minutes we both stood, sat, and squatted.  Both of us attempting to find the best angle and lighting to capture these purple petunias.

After showing one another our photos, I stepped back inside refreshed and ready to begin a new task.  Briefly, I wondered what he had intended to do with those flowers before I interrupted with the photo frenzy. 

An hour later, I began clearing the kitchen counters.  As I slowly made my way around the corner, I saw them.  Purple petals rising from the bottom of an old salt shaker.  How beautiful!  The light danced on each petal.  I gasped.  Could he have saved these for me? 

My oldest son entered the room.  Glancing over to him, I asked, "Are these for me?"

Sheepishly, he smiled, and ducked his head.  As he lifted his gaze, he softly replied, "Yeah, Mom, they are for you."

For two days, they stood beside the fuzzy dandelion my youngest son had given me.

Both flower gifts equally cherished.
~ Dorie

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Understanding Tears