... and my kids wonder why I cry.
A few days ago we read in the
Children's Calendar about harvest time and how
God calls people the harvest. So I decided that our school time for that day would be spent reading
Wee Willie Wheat. (We don't take a terribly academic view on school yet, can you tell?) My mistake was in
reading trying to read the introduction to the kids when we were done. We recently visited Dave and Lisa in Walla Walla, and since it was Dave's brother's death that inspired the book, I thought it might be interesting for them. But as I sat there and cried and couldn't read any more, all I could think was, "I sound like my mother. I probably look like her too. I never could understand it when I was my kids' age!"
But for those of you who don't know the story, don't fault me for my weak emotions. First off, the author of the story's mother died when she was only four years old. That's how old Kate is. Stephen died "shortly after his sixth birthday." That's
exactly how old Nathan is. I started crying right there. And
then Nathan asked what happened that made someone so young die.
Hopeless Mommy, can't even answer a question! But when I had controlled my voice just a little, I told the story of how, on the last day of Stephen's life, he asked, "What can I do to please the Lord Jesus?" and she gave him a chore to do. And when he'd finished he came running back and said, "Now what can I do to make the Lord Jesus happy?" And when he was done another chore he came running back with, "Is there anything else I can do to make Jesus happy?" and she asked him to go get the mail. But when he was up by mailbox, by the edge of the highway, a truck came around the corner, didn't see him, came too close to the edge, and hit him, killing him instantly.
Then I told my kids that he was happy, very happy. But his Mommy was sad. And if they died they would be happy, but I would be sad. I think they found that very easy to believe right then!
A couple days and a little research later I see I didn't have my story quite accurate, and I forgot to tell them about his "Won't Heaven be wonderful, Mommy?!" quote that same day. But it's the same basic story.
John 12:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Yay, no more poopy underwear to rinse out! (At least not as much). I have been trying harder to potty train her this last month, so much so that she's been in underwear (or only leggings/pantaloons) most of her waking hours every week day (I mean, c'mon, I know she's capable of it, she has to figure out what it feels like before she has to go.) Her only 'morning chore' has been to go potty whenever I tell her and keep her underwear dry. It is sometimes successful. Thankfully we've had a really dry summer, so I can keep her outside a lot of the time. 
Twice a couple weeks ago I took her out in public in underwear (short trips, where I knew we'd be near a bathroom in an hour), and both times she did not pee in her underwear! :) ... She only pooped in them :( 
