Never Give Up

Children are so good at "being in the moment."  No matter what they're doing, it's all they're thinking of.  How do children get so smart?  The boys come to me and suggest, "Let's  play the piano" or "Can you push me in the swing?"  Since the requests come two at a time, I check the list running in my head.  "Right after I go upstairs to get your brother's shoes."  Or "as soon as I push your brother around the basement three more times on the bike."  They're just happy that the answer is a sort of "yes," and wait for their moment in the sun.

Andrew's lyrics:  Never give up.  Keep on trying.  This lesson he probably learned from his grandfather.  I haven't done such a good job learning this.  Grampa never gets upset with a situation.  Me sometimes, but never a situation.  A problem is just something to be handled.  And when the boys are present, it never needs to be handled alone.

And Gramma has projects of her own; like a plant that isn't looking so good.  I am hoping that the boys will see new leaves eventually growing from the stalks that are left.  And that the cut off leaves we stuck into a vase will grow roots.

My grandmother had a huge garden, with grapes growing along it.  She had boards between the rows, so I would be able to walk in the garden and help her harvest something for dinner.  Her white house provided a backdrop for plum and apple trees, and flowers everywhere.  My parents had a big vegetable garden and my mother worked in her flower gardens for hours wearing a wide-brimmed hat.  I spent as much time climbing and sitting in trees, as I did on the swingset.

My sons spent there summers under Sumac trees so thick, you couldn't see them inside.  I would tell them, "You smell like boys."  Even Rebecca was told that.  They came home with shoes that smelled so bad from walking in the creeks, they had to be disposed of.  You didn't notice the smell until you were riding in the car with them.  It might be necessary to stop before going home to get a new pair.

There's so much to be learned about life from watching nature.  Especially that the sun and the rain never say, "I've given you enough and I'm not going to do it anymore."  The sun and the rain continue to provide what the plants need with the constancy of God's love for us.

The boys aren't so sure this was a good idea.  But they enjoyed cutting the dumb cane stalks.

One book is being read, and one is waiting to be read.  The fun is always in twos.

Nathan has learned how to find the D's on the piano.  He looks for them in the doghouse between the two black keys.  Lego Man helps demonstrate.  I think Andrew learned this, too.  We'll find out if he gets a turn of his own.

Nolan now turns over both ways, so no more swaddling.  I barely had a chance to learn how to get the new-fangled swaddler on.

Babies are so easy.  Especially if there's only one.

Cheers Nolan!

Nolan shows what he thinks of Grampa.  Grampa usually watches Nolan on Monday nights.  This week I was available, too.  After his dinner, Nolan was passing some air.  Concerned, I asked Grampa if that was usual.  He asked, "Was that Nolan or you?"  I guess that would influence his answer.  I'm sure I laugh the same way Nolan does at the funny things Grampa says.