"Some thoughts for my scrapbook called a, "Blog".....

I love age 3. I am loving every second of being able to talk to, share with, reason with, explain to, and answer questions from a very inquisitive, insightful, and intuitive 3 year old little boy. Elijah Brooks gets his ability to talk and carry on a conversation honest - we have some talkers in our family! To say that Elijah Brooks talks all day long would be an understatement! When he went to Charleston last weekend for the wedding, I realized just how much I missed his constant talking and asking questions! I won't lie and say that some days I wouldn't enjoy some "quiet", but I realized last weekend how much he and I are in constant communication with each other, at all times, about all things. His mind and his world are just exploding now and I feel so blessed to be the one who gets to teach him about his world. I wish I had more answers than I do for him, but most of the time he is quite satisfied with my answers - though they be far from perfect. I am finding that I am probably learning as much as he is most of the time as I usually have to fumble my way through some of his questions!

Recently we have been talking alot about having a grateful and obedient heart even when it's difficult and we don't want to. There is always something to be grateful for - always.  Last night out of the blue he said, "I am so glad that I have a Mommy and a Daddy"...., "I am so glad that I have a house"..., "I am so glad that I have food". Today as he and I were out walking taking our "nature walk" around the neighborhood he said, "I am so glad that I have a family Mommy, and I'm so glad that you are walking next to me".  I am also noticing leaps and bounds of improvement in the obedience area. He is really beginning to understand the biblical concept of obeying authority even when he doesn't want to or feel like it. His responses to me have improved greatly in the last few months. Yes, we have ups and downs, but it is so encouraging for me to begin to see that he is desiring obedience - not just to avoid the consequences of disobedience, but desiring it because God commands it. It is even pleasing to him when he obeys now - he is eager to obey (of course not all of the time), but huge strides of improvement.  So, while our home just got alittle more chaotic in some senses, it just calmed down at the same time and is a pleasant place to live. I thought the discipline issues were were having would escalate when Ellison was born, but just the opposite is happening. Elijah Brooks is actually more obedient and compliant now that she is here. It really is amazing how much freedom there is within firm boundaries - exactly what Scripture promises. Elijah Brooks is learning that he does have alot of freedom to live and move....., within a boundary. He is also learning that there are consequences when he crosses that boundary and that freedom can be taken away. The Bible truly does have something to say about every area of parenting - thank you JESUS for your WORD to us that guides us in every area of life.

Elijah Brooks is also teaching me a great deal about patience. I thought I would be the one teaching him, but it turns out he is the one teaching me most of the time. I confess, a crying baby frazzles me. I am working on it, but it just makes my blood pressure rise and my nerves frazzled. Ellison has a louder cry than EB did, and she absolutely hates her carseat!  That's abit challenging. I guess I should be thankful that she doesn't hate her bed! Could be worse - could always be worse. Well, EB and I have been talking alot about patience recently. All of life is a teachable moment. I have been telling him that it's easy to be patient with people when they are doing what YOU want them to do, or giving YOU what you want. But, it's much harder to love, be patient, and bear one another's burdens when they are not doing what you want them to do. Yesterday while we were driving, Ellison started in on her fit of rage (or her fear of the car, or reflux - jury still out on why she is screaming so in the carseat).  I could feel my entire body tensing up wanting to rescue her, but knowing that I couldn't on the interstate. All of a sudden from the backseat, a midst the screaming, I hear, "Dear Jesus, please help Ellison to feel better and let her know that You are with her. And all God's people said, Amen".  What a beautiful expression of patience my 3 year old showed to his little sister. He could have handled that situation a hundred different ways including screaming back at her because he couldn't hear his music. But rather he chose to "bear with her", and pray for her.  He taught me so much in that moment. It wasn't easy for him to have self-control or patience with his sister - in fact, it was hard. But, that's what we as Christians are called to do - to love when it's not easy, to be patient when we don't want to, and to bear with one another and give alittle grace.

What a privilege it is to teach my children, and to be taught by them.

Thank you Jesus for YOU, and thank you that you love me when I am unlovable, patient with me when I am stubborn and rebellious, and that You give unlimited grace to this sinner.