Seth Saying Risk....

To Lily......

"ooooo..... you just got whooped by a boy!!!!"

It's been a good couple of days....

You never know how your words may change someone's day.   I've had 3 blessings of words in 3 days.  The kind that I can't stop thinking about and will probably be able to live on for a while now.  Two of them have to do with Silas... which makes me think.  They are words that only have this effect because it was said to a mom of a child with special needs... I say that because the same words, I wouldn't think twice about if it was said to any of my other kids.

This mom had no idea....

It was at a typical taekwondo class... well not typical so much because Silas did awesome, no time outs, he barely gave his super, patient instructor a hard time.  A woman who has two girls in his class came up to me and asked me which class Silas was going to go to next, because they just tested and have other options for class times.  I didn't think much about it because I usually wait for the instructor to tell me which class would be best for Silas because I don't want him to be any more of a distraction than he has to be for classes.  Because although Silas is doing well in TKD, it has taken him a long time to make his little bit of progress that he has made.  He tests ALLthe young people's patience that work with him during every class.  I know it's obvious with the other boys in class whisper to the other kids, "He's in time out EVERY CLASS."  :)  
He has been with these two girls, in particular, for several months now and he knows them and they are very sweet to him.  After their mom asked me and I didn't really give her a clear answer, it became clear that she wanted an answer!  She told me when they would be in class and began to say,  "I want them in class with Si."  I gotta say, I may or may not be crying as I write this... That simple phrase made my whole night.  This mom WANTED to be in my boy's class. The same boy, that at times, distracts her girls from learning, that, at times, runs crazy across the room and has to be refocused back to the class... again, taking away from her own girls class time.  After telling her that we would definitely be in the class they were in, I went straight to my car and.... called my mom to tell her. :)  She got it... she was just as excited. :)

So that's it... that's all it took to give me this extra encouragement with this little boy that I love so much, but am often discouraged because it takes so much repetition and consistency (that I don't always have the energy to give him) to discipline and train.  Some one wanted to be with him.  That's what I want for him!  I want kids to like him.  I want parents to look at him with gladness and not pity or resentment.  We sometimes get questionable looks when we go places.  It can be disheartening at times and other times, irritating.

This simple conversation made up for all of it.  <3 nbsp="" p="">

Seth + Dolly

Seth: Mom!? Do you know how much I love Dolly?

Me: I know you love her a lot!

Seth: No.  You don't know.  My arms aren't big enough to show you.

Our New Family Member..... Dolly

After a few months without our Ethel and Norman we have finally gotten  new kitty.  We names her Dolly after, of course, Dolly Parton!  Rob and the kids got her for me for Mother's Day but we only brought her home in October.  She has already brought our family so much joy and laughter.  Ethel and Norman were already almost "seniors" when our kids were born so they have never been around a kitten and the fun and playfulness that that brings.  It has been so fun watching them learn to play and watch her pounce and jump. :)  Silas didn't even know you could pick up cats!  I think Dolly wishes he never realized that. :)  She has fit in perfectly with us and we are thankful to have a little furry friend to cuddle.  Zelda loves her too! :)

Conversation with Seth...

Seth.... half naked as usual.....

Me: Your belly button looks like a butt.

Seth: What? Where?.... (contorts his body to look).....(throws head back and chuckles)  .... Ohhhhh....Classic Mom... classic mom.....

Double Digits

I didn't have the time to sit down yesterday and write about my favorite girl on her birthday.  But....

Lily reached the big 1-0 yesterday.  Lily is just about the coolest girl I know.  One of the things I admire most about her is her ability to love everyone.  She has never met anyone yet that she doesn't get along with.  Mostly this is because her interests are so broad.  She loves to do EVERYTHING!  This girl would spend her life learning everything possible...if there is a camp or class to do something... she is asking me to do it.  She works until she can do it and then wants to learn more.  She puts her heart into everything from taekwondo to guitar to math to pogo sticking.  Lily is pretty much everything I wanted to be as a girl.  She makes friends easily. She's athletic. She's smart.  She doesn't take herself too seriously and knows how to laugh at herself if she makes a mistake.  She loves God.  She loves people.  She's serious.  She's hilarious.  She's beautiful inside and out.

I love this girl so much and incredibly thankful to God for letting me borrow her.

Happy (one day late) Birthday, Lily Marie.

Baseball

Me: Seth, how was baseball practice?!
Seth: it was GREAT!!!  Mom! if this house was really tiny... I would have hit it OVER the house!!!

Me:  Awesome!