H is a Rascal!

We take our children to Church every Sunday and believe me. . .for a little 5 year old that is not an easy task. She tries to sit patiently but she is a rascal and gets into trouble easily. The glare doesn't work, separating the kids doesn't work. . .finally usually after a few threats of some sort I have to drag her out of church til she calms down.
This past Sunday she was not letting my son sit in his seat. Every time he moved to another spot in the pew she was behind him. She wanted him to sit in her lap but his was becoming distracting for me, Rami and the rest of the church members behind us.

Finally. . .I took her hand and dragged her into the waiting area in the back of the church. I could hear the priest read the gospel and she was ignored by me until she came to her senses.
She came up to me and pointed into a room off to the side. "Momma, what is that room?" The very dark room was the reconciliation room, where you go to confess your sins to a priest. I told her that.
Hmmmm. . .I could see her wheels turning.

After a while she told me she was ready to go back inside and be a "good girl."
I told her she is always a good girl but sometimes she makes poor choices.

As usual after a scolding, H is my best buddy. She climbed into my lap and cuddled with me quietly for the rest of mass.
At one point she whispered into my ear. . ."When do I go to recoliciation( she mispronounced)?"
I told her not until 2nd grade.
She whispered, "Then I am going to have a lot to tell the priest!" She was beaming with a silly grin ear to ear!
That rascal!

My children teach me every day. Even when I think I am teaching them. . .
R and I have been reading Huckleberry Finn together every night. It is fun to read together especially since it is a book I never read either so we are discovering a book together!
As you may know, Huckleberry Finn takes place when there is slavery and they Mark Twain uses the "n" word to say black man or black woman. I have been just saying "black person" or what ever in place of reading that word.
We decided to go to the library half way through the book to borrow the movie to watch. During the movie they use the "n" word. I finally had to explain what that meant because R doesn't have any idea of prejudice or slavery.
So, we are back to reading to book and again I say "black man" in place of the "n" word and R says "Where does it say "n"?" I point to the word and he begins to look for it in the book. "There it is again Momma!" "Why do they say that?"
So we again have a discussion about ignorance, fear, prejudice and the like.
He asks me if we know anyone who feels that way toward black people. . .and I hesitantly say yes. He asks who? I mention someone who he really admires. Then without a blink he says the most Christ like thing I have ever heard come out of his mouth. . ." Mommy. . .was he just never taught that we are all sons of God?" "We are all connected! So, if he feels that way about a black person. . .he obviously never learned we are all connected!"
Lesson #1000 from my son. . .Judge not lest you be judge!

Merry Christmas!!

Crazy Hubby Runs 40 miles in the Trails!

Early December my hubby, Rami, ran 40 miles in a trail race in Pine Mountain, GA!
Yes, poeple run that far just becasuse. . .and they like it!
The kids and I met him at every rest stop and then drove to the next stop. We defrosted in the car after waiting for 15-45 minutes at each stop. We were fffffrrreeeeezzzing! But it was so great to see him and he said it really helped him get through the race, seeing us at every stop!






















The kids couldn't wait til Daddy came running by! R and H would run ahead and try to find him!! It was such a fun day and Daddy was the hero!
Midway through the race Matt and Rami stopped for a quick pic! After the race they had steaming bowls of chili for the racers! Yum!

Some of the crazies. Matt Rose (second from the left) is my hubby's coach and he ran the entire race with Rami. He was so wonderful!
Jeremiah? Sashquash? Mountain Men? Oh! Its a silly man bet. "Bet you can't stop shaving til the race?"

We are so proud of our Daddy!!!!

He may be crazy but he's ours and we love him so much. He always does what he says and that makes me happy to call him mine!

Helen. . .here we come!

Helen, Georgia... what can I say. Rami's family come here for the week and had a house in Helen. We went out to visit them. What a scene. Men dressed in leiderhousen, women barely dressed in German frauline dresses. Hats and large beer steins, candy apples and freezing weather. . .and my kiddies had fun. We took a horsey ride too!