Scripture Study

A few weeks ago, we decided to start doing our family scripture study from the actual scriptures instead of the children’s storybooks. Of course, since our children are preschool age, we limit our family reading to one verse per person; and since the children cannot yet read, Anna or I whisper the words into one child’s ear, a few at a time, inviting him or her to repeat them aloud. The children absolutely love feeling like they’re reading, and we love that they’re learning to love the word of God.

This evening, we were reading in the First Book of Nephi, chapter 8. It was David’s turn to “read,” and I was whispering verse 10 in his ear. The following conversation ensued:

Jeff (whispering): “ ‘And it came to pass…’ ”

David: (giggles and whispers something incoherent—a common problem).

Jeff: “Come on, David; say it loudly: ‘And it came to pass…’.”

David: (says something slightly less incoherent).

Anna: “David, please say it nicely.”

David: “And it came to pass!”

Jeff (whispering): “ ‘…that I beheld…’ ”

David: “That I befald.”

Jeff (whispering): “ ‘…a tree…’ ”

David: “A tree.”

Jeff (whispering): “ ‘…whose fruit…’ ”

David: “Fruit.”

Jeff (whispering): “ ‘…whose fruit…’ ”

David: “I dunno.”

Jeff (trying hard not to laugh): “No, David; ‘…whose fruit…’.”

David: “I dunno!!!”

By this point, Anna and I were laughing so hard, we had to pause our reading. ^_^

David's Greatest Wish

While David and I were waiting in the pick up line at Leah's preschool the other day, we had a good conversation about our future baby. First of all, any time we've asked the kids whether they thought the baby would be a boy or a girl, David has always said it is going to be a boy and Leah has always said it is going to be a girl. Naturally! So, David was talking about his hypothetical baby brother as we waited for Leah the other day. He was insisting that we name the baby David. I lightheartedly drew his attention to all of the reasons that would not work so well. ("When I yell 'David' up the stairs, how will you know which David I need?") He quickly decided another David would not be the best idea. I asked him what other names we might use for the baby, and he said "Sarah?" to which I replied that, yes, we had been thinking about the name Sarah if the baby is a girl. He said something along the lines of "Oh, a girl named Sarah? Maybe we'll have a boy and a girl." I told him that would be great, but explained that it would probably be a boy OR a girl.

Fast-forward to this afternoon. David heard me finalizing some baby-sitting with my sister, Aubrey. She has agreed to watch David and Leah while Jeff and I meet with our adoption worker. I had told David earlier today that he'd get to play with his cousin Jacob on Wednesday because Mommy and Daddy were going to go to Indianapolis. While I was on the phone with Aubrey, David asked if we were going to Indianapolis today. I reminded him that, no, we'd be going on Wednesday. Both kids wanted to know why we were going to Indianapolis, so I explained we were going to meet with our adoption worker. I told them the adoption worker would help us when we adopt our baby. I was quick to say that we weren't getting our baby on Wednesday (I knew that would be the next question). David looked at me with his big, blue eyes and a serious face and replied, "Well, could you please tell him that we need a boy and a girl?" I gave him a squeeze and told him I would but that I still wasn't sure it would happen. ;-)

I'm glad the kids are excited about the new baby. I can't help but notice how excited they are when they get to be around their younger cousins and other babies and children at church and play group. They are just in awe, and I think that's really cool!

She Needs Her Privacy

At ages 4½ and almost 3½, respectively, Leah and David still generally share a bath. Thus, it is particularly humorous that immediately preceding this evening’s bath time (while David was running around naked), still-clothed Leah ran into the bathroom and demanded that he stay out. The reason?

“You can’t be in here when I’m changing into my nothing!”

Three-year-old Logic

A conversation between me and David, about two minutes ago, in its entirety:

Me: “David, please give that back to Leah.”

David: “But she’s not screaming for it.”

How can you keep a straight face to that?

Melting My Heart

Sometime last night, Leah made her way into our room with her sleeping bag and spent the rest of the night, sleeping on our floor. When I woke up in the morning (Anna having already gotten out of bed), my little girl climbed into our bed and snuggled in, just holding me as tightly as she could. Talk about the best feeling in the world….

Anyway, given opportunities like this, I always make a specific point to tell my children how much I love them and how wonderful they are. This time, on a whim, I also posed a question: “Leah, why are you such a good girl?’

Her response: “Because you taught me to be.”

Wow. Just… wow.

Not Enough Dora to Go Around

A few days ago, Leah tore a page out of her Dora the Explorer coloring book and starting putting stickers on it. Somewhere along the line, this picture somehow wound up on my bedside table, and a scan (in case you hadn’t guessed) can be seen at right.


This morning, as I walked into my bedroom, I came upon Leah explaining the picture to her little brother. She was pointing out that there were three stickers featuring Dora. “That,” she explained, “is because there are three Doras: one regular Dora, and two robot Doras.”


And isn’t that just what the world needs?

The Simple Answer for Everything

Our family made a shopping trip to Meijer on Saturday, to take advantage of their awesome deals. Among the items on sale: Teddy Grahams, which make a great morning snack for the kids. Strangely, there’s a new kind of Teddy Grahams that’s shaped like Disney Princesses—wouldn’t that be Princess Grahams?—so of course Leah noticed that immediately and just had to have it. (No, we don’t give in often, but Graham crackers are a pretty good choice, so I let her have that one.)

Yesterday after lunch, Leah noticed that Mommy was in the pantry and made a beeline for her, in hopes of getting some of her Princess crackers. Unfortunately for Leah, Mommy isn’t so easily swayed and informed her that no, she couldn’t have any right then, that she’d just had lunch and it wasn’t snack time. So our little girl, with all the indignation she could muster, placed her hands on her hips and responded:

“So change your mind!”

Wouldn’t it be great if life were that simple?