aww, aprilms hello kitty pez dispenser has no candy left, but april kept the fun going by jamming three dimes in there. this struck me as cute because aprilms just cute anyway and hello kitty is cute and the little surprises that kids leave behind when you havent seen them for a few days are extra cute. john and michael and april are in virginia beach right now for thanksgiving with grandpaa bill nana vanese uncle billy and aunt melissa and cousin aidan and aunt megan and cousin trinity. i may join them tomorrow or thanksgiving morning. happy thanksgiving. wwe are thankful for prosperity, humility, we are thankful to be genuinely thankful, we are thankful for grandpa bill and vanese for bringing the family together, and we are thankful for goodness, and continual opportunities fto improve ourselves and our relationships and our lives.
note. for some reason as i type directly into this ttext box from my phone, i am unable to capitalize letters or use any punctuation other than commas and periods. and i am also unable to select text to correct typos. so here is this post, i apologize that it is not as english majorey as i prefer writing to be . for that reason, the last blurb on this entry will be nay.n i do not want it to be there, but i am unable to erase it right now. love you all.
ay
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Walk Tall, You're a Spirit of God
Mom memorized this song real quick yesterday on the way to the house to get Michael & April ready for General Conference. She sang the song for them during one of those moments when they're all getting ready and are prone to be babbling about mundane things. As Mom sang this song that Michael (8) and April (4) had never heard before, they were quiet, and they listened:
"Right now I have a prayer deep within my heart,
A prayer for each of you there is a special part.
That you remember who you are and him who lives above.
Please seek for him and live his way; You'll feel his love.
(chorus)
Walk tall, you're a daughter*, a child of God,
Be strong and remember who you are,
Try to understand, you're part of his great plan.
He's closer than you know, Reach up; he'll take your hand.
Long before the time you can remember,
Our Father held you in his arms so tender.
Those loving arms released you as he sent you down to earth.
He said, "My child, I love you. Don't forget your great worth."
Walk tall, you're a daughter, a child of God,
Be strong and remember who you are,
Try to understand, you're part of his great plan.
He's closer than you know, Reach up; he'll take your hand.
This life on earth we knew would not be easy.
At times we lose our way his path we may not see.
But remember always that you are not alone.
He'll take your hand, He loves you! He will guide you home."
Mom substituted the word "daughter" with "Spirit" so that it would be easy for both children to identify with.
The day after General Conference (today), April asked Mom, "What does it mean, 'Reach up, he'll take your hand?"
Mom explained, "When we pray to Heavenly Father, read the scriptures, and live God's will, we're reaching up to Him. When we reach up to Him, he will take our hand and lead us through life."
"Right now I have a prayer deep within my heart,
A prayer for each of you there is a special part.
That you remember who you are and him who lives above.
Please seek for him and live his way; You'll feel his love.
(chorus)
Walk tall, you're a daughter*, a child of God,
Be strong and remember who you are,
Try to understand, you're part of his great plan.
He's closer than you know, Reach up; he'll take your hand.
Long before the time you can remember,
Our Father held you in his arms so tender.
Those loving arms released you as he sent you down to earth.
He said, "My child, I love you. Don't forget your great worth."
Walk tall, you're a daughter, a child of God,
Be strong and remember who you are,
Try to understand, you're part of his great plan.
He's closer than you know, Reach up; he'll take your hand.
This life on earth we knew would not be easy.
At times we lose our way his path we may not see.
But remember always that you are not alone.
He'll take your hand, He loves you! He will guide you home."
Mom substituted the word "daughter" with "Spirit" so that it would be easy for both children to identify with.
The day after General Conference (today), April asked Mom, "What does it mean, 'Reach up, he'll take your hand?"
Mom explained, "When we pray to Heavenly Father, read the scriptures, and live God's will, we're reaching up to Him. When we reach up to Him, he will take our hand and lead us through life."
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Michael's in 3rd Grade!
Over the summer Michael had his tonsils and adenoids removed. It was a fairly urgent procedure because over the past year (and even in preceding years), he'd seemed to develop colds, congestion, and breathing problems that would not go away. Throughout 2nd grade Michael went through several packages of tissue each week at school, then toward the end of 2nd grade, Michael's mom decided to send a mini waste bin to school with Michael because his teacher mentioned that Michael's tissue disposal had become a bit of a waste management problem. Apparently there were used tissues piled on, in, and under his desk. Not very sanitary. So with his new little waste bin under his desk, other students sitting near him started using it too :) I guess it saved them a walk to the classroom waste bin.
Michael had a fun summer. We enjoyed laid-back mornings mixed in with some fun mornings at LA Fitness where Mom could get her wiggles out and Michael & April got to play with other kids too.
Michael enjoyed playing with friends, and he had a few playdates with his 2nd grade buddy Dillon. Dillon is a very nice boy and he has a very nice mom, and Dillon has good manners and a fun, vivid imagination to match Michael's!
Michael took a few summer school classes at the college too. He took Robotics & Lego Stop-Animation classes (he LOVED it!!) and he also took a class called "Save the Planet" where they learned about being ecologically-minded (Michael loves stuff like that too), and they made a worm habitat out of rich soil, baby food, and shredded paper, and I think there was a little bit of green foliage mixed in too, I don't exactly remember. But at home it started to smell funny, so I buried it in the backyard. No more smell :) The worms were happy too, I hope. They were three of the biggest, healthiest earthworms I've ever seen! Michael also came home with other crafts inspired by nature too, like crafts including dried rice, beans, glued onto paper into a collage or a picture...Happy Michael!
Now he's in 3rd grade, and thanks to his surgery he can breathe better now. After we'd taken him to the doctor several times over the course of a couple of years, they finally referred him to an ear/nose/throat specialist who diagnosed Michael's problem right away. The doctor let Mom & April look into the Michael's throat with the doctor's instrument, and YES those tonsils were extremely swollen! No wonder that sweet, dear boy had trouble breathing! John was with Michael during the surgery and the doctor showed him the removed tonsils. They were as big as ping-pong balls, John said. Dear, tiny Michael's little throat had been nearly completely obstructed!
Michael has been much more chipper since his recovery. He can now run, do chores, do homework, walk up the stairs, and many other things without having a meltdown or a tantrum! Now we understand that life had been so difficult for him before because he simply hadn't been receiving enough oxygen!
Ahh, good times ahead.
Now in the 3rd grade Michael is beginning viola lessons. He had a choice of instruments, and that's the one he chose! Good choice, Michael! Thankfully this school district takes music education very seriously and does not cut back on that area at all. They fortify our kids with music lessons twice a week! As soon as we moved to Maryland in 2007, when Michael was 3 years old, we enrolled him in Kindermusik because I know that music education is a vitally rich aspect of mental, spiritual, creative, and intellectual growth. Those classes were a bit pricey, however, and now I'm so glad to see the school district teaching the children just as well (if not better!) than Kindermusik.
At recess Michael enjoys the "bug detective" club that he and a lot of friends formed in 2nd grade, now continuing in 3rd grade. Michael is very well-liked by his peers, and life is good :)
If there is any sadness or frustration in Michael's life it is probably due to tension at home between his mother & father. Over the summer his mom & dad began a divorce, and that is a very sad thing for children to go through. But life at home has been more peaceful, and everyone feels a little less tense these days :)
Michael had a fun summer. We enjoyed laid-back mornings mixed in with some fun mornings at LA Fitness where Mom could get her wiggles out and Michael & April got to play with other kids too.
Michael enjoyed playing with friends, and he had a few playdates with his 2nd grade buddy Dillon. Dillon is a very nice boy and he has a very nice mom, and Dillon has good manners and a fun, vivid imagination to match Michael's!
Michael took a few summer school classes at the college too. He took Robotics & Lego Stop-Animation classes (he LOVED it!!) and he also took a class called "Save the Planet" where they learned about being ecologically-minded (Michael loves stuff like that too), and they made a worm habitat out of rich soil, baby food, and shredded paper, and I think there was a little bit of green foliage mixed in too, I don't exactly remember. But at home it started to smell funny, so I buried it in the backyard. No more smell :) The worms were happy too, I hope. They were three of the biggest, healthiest earthworms I've ever seen! Michael also came home with other crafts inspired by nature too, like crafts including dried rice, beans, glued onto paper into a collage or a picture...Happy Michael!
Now he's in 3rd grade, and thanks to his surgery he can breathe better now. After we'd taken him to the doctor several times over the course of a couple of years, they finally referred him to an ear/nose/throat specialist who diagnosed Michael's problem right away. The doctor let Mom & April look into the Michael's throat with the doctor's instrument, and YES those tonsils were extremely swollen! No wonder that sweet, dear boy had trouble breathing! John was with Michael during the surgery and the doctor showed him the removed tonsils. They were as big as ping-pong balls, John said. Dear, tiny Michael's little throat had been nearly completely obstructed!
Michael has been much more chipper since his recovery. He can now run, do chores, do homework, walk up the stairs, and many other things without having a meltdown or a tantrum! Now we understand that life had been so difficult for him before because he simply hadn't been receiving enough oxygen!
Ahh, good times ahead.
Now in the 3rd grade Michael is beginning viola lessons. He had a choice of instruments, and that's the one he chose! Good choice, Michael! Thankfully this school district takes music education very seriously and does not cut back on that area at all. They fortify our kids with music lessons twice a week! As soon as we moved to Maryland in 2007, when Michael was 3 years old, we enrolled him in Kindermusik because I know that music education is a vitally rich aspect of mental, spiritual, creative, and intellectual growth. Those classes were a bit pricey, however, and now I'm so glad to see the school district teaching the children just as well (if not better!) than Kindermusik.
At recess Michael enjoys the "bug detective" club that he and a lot of friends formed in 2nd grade, now continuing in 3rd grade. Michael is very well-liked by his peers, and life is good :)
If there is any sadness or frustration in Michael's life it is probably due to tension at home between his mother & father. Over the summer his mom & dad began a divorce, and that is a very sad thing for children to go through. But life at home has been more peaceful, and everyone feels a little less tense these days :)
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Spring Rain
April & Daddy play in the after-effects of an exciting, warm, torrential springtime rain. They were enjoying the heavy current that was flowing around the corner. They floated little bowls & cups, then I brought them a toy boat to play with :)
Saturday, May 21, 2011
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