Prayers

Eli is an earnest pray-er. He remembers when we mention someone who is sick or sad or needs help, and he'll pray for them at night and at random times throughout the day. It's precious and heart-melting.

And at times it's comical. :)

Last night was a prime example. My parents (Pop-Pop and Mom-Mom to Eli) and my neice Jacey (whom Eli absolutely adores) left today on a trip to Maine. We've been talking about it for a while, especially since the three of us are going to Maine in a few weeks, too. So last night Eli prayed, "Dear God, Pop-Pop and Mom-Mom be safe on airplane, and dear God, no lobster bite Jacey. Amen."

The best part was that his prayer was so heart-felt, motivated by his deep concern and care for Jacey. Eric and I smiled at each other over his head and saved our laughter for later. Oh, how we love this kid!

To the Lake

We spent Saturday at Lake Ray Roberts with some friends from church. I wish I had gotten a picture of all the kids, but there were twelve of them, and you can imagine how difficult that would have been! :) We all had a blast! We're thankful for a pretty place to swim and good friends to enjoy it with!

This and That

- Eli loves to swim. We spend a good chunk of most days in the water. He loves goggles too. He is particularly fond of this pair, which he calls his "nose goggles." He carries them everywhere and puts them on in the house and pretends to swim across the floor on his belly.



-My grandparents came to Texas from Pennsylvania this week, and we so enjoyed spending time with them! They are truly two of the most godly people I know, and we just soak up every second we get to spend with them!



-A couple random facts: There is a small cardboard jewelry box with five dead cicadas in it sitting on my coffee table. There is a rubber snake named Pete that comes with us on most outings. I love little boys.

-The cousins minus Charlie. Cooper and Jacey refused to smile, but Timothy and Eli look happy enough! :) They love each other so much, and we all pray that their good relationships continue for the rest of their lives!



-Eric revels in any sort of building/construction project, and Eli does too. Here they are at work on a new set of cabinets they're building...



-And finally, something that made me laugh today... Eli has a dog pillow pet, and his cousin Jacey has a unicorn pillow pet. Eli has no idea what a unicorn is, but I guess he played with Jacey's pillow pet while he was with her today. Tonight he said, "Jacey have a pillow pet like me! A CORN pillow pet!" I laughed and then said, "U-ni-corn." He looked at me blankly for a second, trying to register what I was saying. Then he giggled, pointed at me, and said, "No, YOU a corn!" :)

He Makes Us Laugh

We have a little book that has a bunch of different activity suggestions for dads to do with their little boys. Eric picked it up the other day and read a random one out loud. Eli was nearby, but we didn't even know he was listening.

Eric: "Involve your son in important painting projects."
Eli: "Amen."

Apparently Eli feels strongly about painting! :)

Wade in the Water

Our summer has been pretty uneventful thus far, which is just how I wanted it to be. We were so busy during the spring that it has been nice to have a slightly slower pace of life for these past few weeks!

We spend at least a couple hours every day at my parents' pool, which is (conveniently!) right next door. And we are rarely without friends, which makes it all the more fun. I love watching Eli and the other kids play while I read a book or talk with friends! :)

Mesquite has a fun little place called the Aquatic Center, part of which is a shallow area with fountains, slides, etc. for the littler kids. We went several times last year, but yesterday Sarah and Heather and I took all the kids there for the first time this summer. Eli was in heaven. Next time we go, I need to remember to bring a camera to try to capture his pure joy. He was so sad when we had to leave, and as we were walking away, he said, "Mommy, I LIKE this place!" :)

I love seeing Eli enjoy the water so much, because being in the pool for hours every day was such a fun part of our childhood summers. I love seeing Eli's slightly sunburned cheeks, bleach blond hair, and tan line right above his white little bottom. :) I love seeing the kids take breaks from swimming to wolf down snacks and juice and then jump right back in the pool. And I love smelling chlorine and sunscreen when I hug Eli. All of this is quintissential summer to me, and I'm so happy that my kiddo is enjoying it!

Stillwater

We got back late this afternoon from a few days in Stillwater, Oklahoma. I had a conference to attend at OSU for work, and Eric was able to take off most of the week from work so that he and Eli could come with me. Work trips are much more enjoyable when I have Eric and Eli with me!!!

We'd never been to Stillwater before, and it's a pretty cute little college town (home of OSU). The drive was hard, though- five hours is a bit too long for a three year-old, and for a thirty year-old, too. :) But Eli was such a trooper, and I think he had a blast just goofing off with Eric during the day while I was in meetings. The hotel we stayed in was really nice- Eli had his own room (it was a two-bedroom suite) with his own tv and his own bathroom. :) And the hotel had a saltwater pool that he had all to himself, since practically every person staying there was in Stillwater on business. And you don't see too many businessmen doing cannonballs into pools. :) We also got to see Eric's dad and step-mom and sister on our way up, so that was a nice treat, too.

All in all, it was a good week. I learned a lot, and we had some really good family time, too. I'm thankful for a job that I enjoy and for Eric and Eli coming with me to make a work trip a family trip too.

A Thankful Heart

I assume it’s just normal toddler behavior, but we have been battling Eli’s selfishness so much in the past few months. The word “MINE” became a big part of his vocabulary, and we have just gotten so sick of hearing it! We’ve been trying to teach him to have a thankful heart, to think of the person/people who work hard to provide him with what he needs and so much of what he wants, to remember that everything good is a special gift from God. And, dare I say it, we are starting to see glimmers of a truly grateful heart in him.

The other day I handed Eli a cup of orange juice, a totally normal occurrence. He took a sip and then handed it up to Eric, saying, “Taste this Daddy! It’s so GOOD! Taste it!” Eric took a sip and Eli said, “Good, right? Really good!” It cracked us up. But I love that he was so grateful for something as seemingly small as a glass of orange juice.

Yesterday he was playing in the big bathtub in my bathroom while I was getting ready, just climbing into it and out of it, having a good time. He said, “I LIKE this bathtub! Thank you, Mommy, for buying this bathtub for me!” Again, it was comical, but I am SO thankful to start to see him apply the lessons we’ve been trying to teach him for months now. When he enjoys something, he is learning to choose the right words to express himself… instead of claiming what he loves for himself by saying, “MINE,” he is learning to be grateful for something to enjoy and for the person who provides him with it.

This has been a big lesson for me, too, as I’ve been trying to teach Eli. It is all too often that I tightly close my fist around something I love or enjoy, essentially saying with my heart and attitude, “MINE.” I am trying to teach myself, as I teach my son, that everything good is a gift from the Lord. Instead of claiming what I have as my own and trying to protect it, I need to instead express my gratitude for each and every gift and willingly share it.

Being a parent is humbling work! I am thankful, though, for the sin that God is revealing to me in myself, as I try to parent my son well! Hopefully after 18 or so years of parenting we'll all have hearts that are a little more thankful and a little less selfish! :)