I love to hear the funny things that come out of kids' mouths. Here are a couple of things that I read recently that put a smile on my face.
"At our annual
family picnic, my nephew found a salamander in the creek and, quite proud of his
catch, brought it over to the adults setting up lunch. After we all ooo'd and
ah'd about his finding, my brother-in-law told him it was time to eat and to go
put the salamander back where he had found it. My nephew said he wanted to keep
it as a pet. They went back and forth about this for several minutes, when my
brother-in-law said, "How would you feel if someone snatched you out of your
home and took you away? This salamander needs to go back to his home." Dan
looked at his dad, perplexed, then looked at that salamander down in the cup he
was holding, then looked back at his dad. He then replied (in his
you-can't-be-serious voice), "Dad, are you trying to tell me this little
salamander could pick me up and carry me back to his home? I don't think so!" (Picnic in the Park~ Jenny Evans)
"My 4-year-old son
was up in a tree in our backyard one summer afternoon. From his vantage point,
he could see over the fence and onto the road that ran beside our home. After a
few minutes, I heard the jingle of the ice cream truck making his rounds for the
first time that summer. I braced myself for my son to come running in for some
change, but what he came running in for sent me to the floor with laughter.
"Mom, mom!" he screamed. "It's the sing-along mail guy!" It then occurred to me
that he had no recollection of ever seeing an ice cream truck before, but he was
very familiar with the comparable little white mail truck!" (The Sing-a-long Mail Guy~ Rebecca Cleary)
The things that we learn from our children are humbling. Their insight is valuable. I find myself wondering what in the world I would do if Becky and I would have never had any children.
I hope to remember, and enjoy, all that flows freely from the mouths of babes.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
His Touch
One of my favorite verses is that of "The Touch of the Master's Hand." I'm sure that you have all read it but read it again and feel of its influence.
'Twas battered and scarred,
And the auctioneer thought it
hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
but he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bid, good people", he cried,
"Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"
But, No,
From the room far back a gray bearded man
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet
As sweet as the angel sings.
The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its' bow.
"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"
"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.
The audience cheered,
But some of them cried,
"We just don't understand."
"What changed its' worth?"
Swift came the reply.
"The Touch of the Masters Hand."
And many a man with life out of tune
All battered with bourbon and gin
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like that old violin
A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice,
He is going and almost gone.
But the Master comes,
And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the Touch of the Masters' Hand.
(The Touch of the Master's Hand~Myra Brooks Welch)
It doesn't matter who you are or in what stage of life you are in, with His touch, we are all equally important. It is through His touch that we are able to have more than we can even comprehend, in this life and into the next one, too.
Each of us have talents and gifts that lift the spirit of someone who is troubled or has lost their way, just a little.
Remember who you are...You are important!
'Twas battered and scarred,
And the auctioneer thought it
hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
but he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bid, good people", he cried,
"Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"
But, No,
From the room far back a gray bearded man
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet
As sweet as the angel sings.
The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its' bow.
"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"
"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.
The audience cheered,
But some of them cried,
"We just don't understand."
"What changed its' worth?"
Swift came the reply.
"The Touch of the Masters Hand."
And many a man with life out of tune
All battered with bourbon and gin
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like that old violin
A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice,
He is going and almost gone.
But the Master comes,
And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the Touch of the Masters' Hand.
(The Touch of the Master's Hand~Myra Brooks Welch)
It doesn't matter who you are or in what stage of life you are in, with His touch, we are all equally important. It is through His touch that we are able to have more than we can even comprehend, in this life and into the next one, too.
Each of us have talents and gifts that lift the spirit of someone who is troubled or has lost their way, just a little.
Remember who you are...You are important!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
I Prayed
Today, we spent a day as a family. It was a nice day. We saw some scenery of the beautiful state of Utah.
As we began our day, our youngest, Danny, complained of his teeth aching. Shortly thereafter, he complained that his eyes hurt. Becky told him that he needed to just close his eyes and give them a rest.
We went about our day and enjoyed it together.
Tonight, as we were traveling home, Danny said, "Mom, do you know why my teeth and eyes don't hurt anymore?" Becky asked him why. He adamantly responded with. "I prayed."
Becky and I wonder all the time how two people can be as blessed as we are. Heaven smiles on our lives with mass amounts of generosity.
I love life! Heavenly Father loves us immensely! We love Him, too. It's been a wonderful day.
As we began our day, our youngest, Danny, complained of his teeth aching. Shortly thereafter, he complained that his eyes hurt. Becky told him that he needed to just close his eyes and give them a rest.
We went about our day and enjoyed it together.
Tonight, as we were traveling home, Danny said, "Mom, do you know why my teeth and eyes don't hurt anymore?" Becky asked him why. He adamantly responded with. "I prayed."
Becky and I wonder all the time how two people can be as blessed as we are. Heaven smiles on our lives with mass amounts of generosity.
I love life! Heavenly Father loves us immensely! We love Him, too. It's been a wonderful day.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
A Little Bit Of Knowledge
Today, is a day that I am grateful for the knowledge that I have. Both of our vehicles needed brake pads changed and the oil and filter job done as well. I have done both of these things many times. I'm not a mechanic, by any means, but I figure that I help put together a commercial airliner so I should easily be able to do some of the simple things with a car. The kids helped me jack the cars up and remove the lug nuts from each of the wheels. It was nice to have them close by (and helping, of course.)
I enjoy knowledge and the satisfying feeling it gives to me. Even though, I know very little, I feel grateful for the healthy mind I have been blessed with.
Our youngest son, Danny, asked me while we were working, if I really did know what I was doing. I had to work hard not to start laughing right out loud. I told him that I did, in fact, know what I was doing. His next question followed. "Where did you learn to do this, dad?" I told him that I learned how to do these things from Uncle Spencer. (That is my brother-in-law) "I'll bet you're glad he taught you, huh dad?" I am very grateful that he taught me such knowledge.
These small pieces of knowledge stimulate my mind. It's never too late to learn. I love it!
I enjoy knowledge and the satisfying feeling it gives to me. Even though, I know very little, I feel grateful for the healthy mind I have been blessed with.
Our youngest son, Danny, asked me while we were working, if I really did know what I was doing. I had to work hard not to start laughing right out loud. I told him that I did, in fact, know what I was doing. His next question followed. "Where did you learn to do this, dad?" I told him that I learned how to do these things from Uncle Spencer. (That is my brother-in-law) "I'll bet you're glad he taught you, huh dad?" I am very grateful that he taught me such knowledge.
These small pieces of knowledge stimulate my mind. It's never too late to learn. I love it!
Friday, March 9, 2012
Thanks!
Is there really a better feeling in the world than being thanked by someone?
A few years ago, a young woman from a neighboring town won a scholarship to a prestigious college. Although the inner-city high school she attended was plagued with problems, she overcame them and excelled.
When she graduated, she commended the often-maligned school for its challenging courses and her teachers for their special interest and encouragement.
"I can't say enough good things about the school and the teachers who gave me so much of themselves," she said. "I shall be eternally grateful to them."
Saying thanks not only brightens someone else's world, it brightens yours. If you're feeling left out, unloved or unappreciated, try reaching out to others. It may be just the medicine you need.
'Thank you' needs to flow more freely from our mouths. There are many people who do great things for us, every day of our life. They are deserving of our utmost gratitude!
A few years ago, a young woman from a neighboring town won a scholarship to a prestigious college. Although the inner-city high school she attended was plagued with problems, she overcame them and excelled.
When she graduated, she commended the often-maligned school for its challenging courses and her teachers for their special interest and encouragement.
"I can't say enough good things about the school and the teachers who gave me so much of themselves," she said. "I shall be eternally grateful to them."
Saying thanks not only brightens someone else's world, it brightens yours. If you're feeling left out, unloved or unappreciated, try reaching out to others. It may be just the medicine you need.
'Thank you' needs to flow more freely from our mouths. There are many people who do great things for us, every day of our life. They are deserving of our utmost gratitude!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Music Soothes The Soul
The sound of good music is hard to beat. I heard a song that brought back great memories when I was a kid.
"I believe for every drop of rain that falls a flower grows
I believe that somewhere in the darkest night a candle glows
I believe for everyone who goes astray someone will come to show the way
I believe, I believe
I believe above the storm the smallest prayer will still be heard
I believe that someone in the great somewhere hears every word
Every time I hear a newborn baby cry or touch a leaf or see the sky
Then I know why I believe
Every time I hear a newborn baby cry or touch a leaf or see the sky
Then I know why I believe." (The Lettermen)
My dad had many albums by the Lettermen. They were a familiar sound in our home.
Each of us have memories that are directly connected with songs. I love to think of an especially meaningful experience that has a song associated with it.
I love music! Good music brings my heart a great deal of comfort.
"I believe for every drop of rain that falls a flower grows
I believe that somewhere in the darkest night a candle glows
I believe for everyone who goes astray someone will come to show the way
I believe, I believe
I believe above the storm the smallest prayer will still be heard
I believe that someone in the great somewhere hears every word
Every time I hear a newborn baby cry or touch a leaf or see the sky
Then I know why I believe
Every time I hear a newborn baby cry or touch a leaf or see the sky
Then I know why I believe." (The Lettermen)
My dad had many albums by the Lettermen. They were a familiar sound in our home.
Each of us have memories that are directly connected with songs. I love to think of an especially meaningful experience that has a song associated with it.
I love music! Good music brings my heart a great deal of comfort.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Celebrate Their Successes
I love to watch our children. It is really fun to see all that they do. Their potential amazes me. Everything that they know and all of the things that they can do just blows my mind.
I don't ever want to come across as one of those obnoxious parents who has to talk about how great they think their kids are compared to all of the other kids around. I do, however, want to be a parent who will see the good that our kids do and rightfully recognize them for their goodness.
I am incredibly grateful for kids who are giving life their best shot. I understand that they are as imperfect as are other kids but I love what they are trying to accomplish.
Their sense of humor is refreshing and openly welcomed, in our home.
Becky and I were laughing at the genetics that run deeply when looking at mine and Danny's legs. Becky asked Danny to turn around so that we could see the back of his calves. Becky said that he had my legs. She said to him that he was going to grow up to be like me. She asked him if that's what he wanted. He told her that that would be okay except that dad's hands are all broken up like this. He lifted his hands into the air to show Becky what his hands would then look like. Translation: I'm not flexible at all. The older I get, the worse it becomes. When I straighten my fingers and position my hand like I am about to give somebody a 'high five', my fingers are somewhat bent, and no matter how hard I try, my fingers do not straighten out. We about fell over laughing at his honest response to all that we were talking about.
Our other three children are equally as wonderful. I love their personalities and their goals. Every day is a celebration of something else that good that has happened. I'm all about success! As should we all be. HOORAH!
I don't ever want to come across as one of those obnoxious parents who has to talk about how great they think their kids are compared to all of the other kids around. I do, however, want to be a parent who will see the good that our kids do and rightfully recognize them for their goodness.
I am incredibly grateful for kids who are giving life their best shot. I understand that they are as imperfect as are other kids but I love what they are trying to accomplish.
Their sense of humor is refreshing and openly welcomed, in our home.
Becky and I were laughing at the genetics that run deeply when looking at mine and Danny's legs. Becky asked Danny to turn around so that we could see the back of his calves. Becky said that he had my legs. She said to him that he was going to grow up to be like me. She asked him if that's what he wanted. He told her that that would be okay except that dad's hands are all broken up like this. He lifted his hands into the air to show Becky what his hands would then look like. Translation: I'm not flexible at all. The older I get, the worse it becomes. When I straighten my fingers and position my hand like I am about to give somebody a 'high five', my fingers are somewhat bent, and no matter how hard I try, my fingers do not straighten out. We about fell over laughing at his honest response to all that we were talking about.
Our other three children are equally as wonderful. I love their personalities and their goals. Every day is a celebration of something else that good that has happened. I'm all about success! As should we all be. HOORAH!
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