Putt-Putt

Putt-Putt (not just mini-golf, but specifically Putt-Putt) has always been a holiday-weekend tradition for my family. Here are some shots (click on the photo to view more) of the Sutherland kids participating for the first time (well, first time old enough to know what was happening).

This picture here is my personal favorite.  Daddy was taking Emma’s picture and asked her to “say cheese”.  She did – in sign language!  Honestly.  No one prompted her to do this, and she did it so matter-of-factly, as if this was certainly what we would have all expected!
 

Children, Meet the Government

Today I was talking to the children about persecution and how in some countries, really bad things can happen to you if you are a Christian.  I asked the kids, “What would you do if the government came and told you that you would have to say you hate Jesus, or they would put you in jail?”

Luke said “I would say I hate Jesus.”  When questioned further about why, he said, “I have to obey the government.”  We talked about the story of Daniel, who chose to disobey the king when the king outlawed praying to God.

Then I asked Emma what she would do.  She said she’d “whack the government with a stick from the instrument basket.”  As you can see, my children’s different personalities are clearly reflected in their different reactions to “the government”.  Both of them need a little work!

Updates as Promised

Here are some highlights from February, March and April …

February 7 – Ruth’s 1^st Birthday



March 2 – Snow! (Yes, in Virginia!)
There are some pretty good (OK, I’m the Mama, so I’m biased) videos of snow play on Phanfare, too.



March 3 – New Things
This morning, we took Ruth to the pediatrician for a persistent cough.  (Yea, snow in Virginia, but mostly gone by the second day!)  At the drug store, I picked up a prescription for Ruth, new hair clips for Emma and a set of army men for Luke!





April 18 – Pictures for Mother’s Day
We took these pictures to use to create Mother’s Day gifts for Nana (the picture with Austin) and Nannie (the picture without Austin).  (Outtakes on Phanfare!)





As usual, these pictures are linked to the complete albums on Phanfare, so click to see more.

Making Deals

When I go out into the garage to do laundry, Luke and Emma love to join me.  Recently, the favorite activity has been riding on a hand-me-down bike with training wheels.  Sometimes there is a bit of squabbling over who will have the first turn.  This morning, before we headed out to the garage, I told the children that they would have to decide between the two of them who would have the first turn, or no one would get to use the bike at all.  Here’s how the conversation went.

Emma: I think I should go first.

Luke: I think I should go first.

Emma: Lukey, how about this?  Let’s build each other up and let Emma go first!  (So much more Spiritual if you just add in Biblical language!)

However, just a moment later, Luke graciously and without prompting offered to let Emma go first and off we headed to the garage.  (I instructed Luke to stop by the candy drawer in the kitchen and grab an M&M!)

Upsetting Parts

Today during Bible Time, the children and I were reading the story of 1 Samuel 4.  The wicked sons of Eli, the high priest, take the Ark of the Covenant out to the battlefield where the Israelites and the Philistines are engaged in battle.  In punishment for the wickedness of Eli’s household, 30,000 Israelites are killed, including Eli’s sons, and the Ark of the Covenant is captured by the Philistines.  When a messenger returns to the city to tell the news, Eli is so overcome that he falls backwards off his seat, breaks his neck and dies.  The Scriptures make a point of saying that it was the capture of the Ark of the Covenant that was the part of the messenger’s story that was distressing enough to cause Eli to fall backwards.  He was more concerned about the dishonor of the Lord even than he was about the death of thousands of men, including his own sons.

And it came to pass, when he [the messenger] made mention of the ark of God, that he [Eli] fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.

This evening at dinner, the children were excitedly explaining the story to Daddy.  Luke was vividly relating the part of the story where the messenger comes to Shiloh, and rushed to the part where Eli falls and dies.  Wanting to make sure they didn’t miss the main point of this part of the story, I said, “But what was the part that upset Eli the most?

Emma said, “His neck!”

Kid Speak

OK, I know I promised that I’d start updating you on real things that are happening (or that have happened) with us.  And I will.  But before I forget them, I just have to record some of my favorite conversations of late.

We’ve been learning about the states and the only personal connection I could think to tell the children about Mississippi was that it’s the state where our pastor went to seminary (i.e. “went to school to learn how to be a pastor”).

Luke: So where does Pastor Bullock live now?
Mama: Well, now he lives in Virginia with us.
Luke: Oh … but what planet does he live on?

More talk about the states.
Mama: Who lives in Pennsylvania?
Luke: Mr. and Mrs. Szabo … and the fire trucks!  (Mr. Szabo, Auntie Donna’s father, is a fire chief and took Luke to see his fire trucks when we were in PA for the wedding)
Mama: But do any fire trucks live in Virginia?
Luke: Nope!  They all live in Pennsylvania!

And the continents …
Luke: What is the name of that really big continent?
Mama: That’s Asia
Luke (speaking very confidently, but confusing Asia with Antarctica): Nobody lives there.

And the Oceans …
My parents and Josh were in San Diego, CA for a week while my dad was there for a business conference.  Pop-pop called to talk to the children and told them that he could see the Pacific Ocean.
Mama (later): And where are Nannie and Pop-pop and Uncle Joshua this week?
Emma and Luke: In an ocean!

In family worship during a discussion about the important and special nature of God’s Word.
Mama: What if you went to the mailbox one day and saw that you had a letter … from God!
Emma: I would give it to the church.

Again, in family worship, we were talking about praying for a lady at church who had an infection on her leg.
Mama: We should pray for Mrs. Goff.  Children, do you know who Mrs. Goff is?
Luke: Is she the one who works at the place that cuts hair? (referring to another lady at church who recently had knee replacement surgery and is also our hair stylist)
Mama: No, that’s Mrs. Hedgecoth.
Luke: Oh, yea, ‘cause I know that Mrs. Hedgecoth has a wooden leg.

Luke: Now I am three, but soon I will be four.  And when I am done with three, I will give it down to Emma.  And when she is done with her two, she will give it down to Foofie.

Luke (in a thank you card to a family who had us over for Sunday lunch): I liked the goop [sauce in the chicken casserole] the best.  It was good than eggs.  It was even gooder than the chicken.  Thank you for all of the kind things you do to us.

Emma (while popping the bubbles on some bubble wrap by jumping on them): I’m popping foot bubbles!

 

Good-bye and Hello

It has been quite a long while since I have posted, and a lot has happened in the meantime that I need to catch you up on.  But not in this post.  This post is dedicated to explaining why I have been so long silent, and why I am now posting again.

Good-bye.  This post is a way to officially and publically say “good-bye” to the dear little one we lost to miscarriage in January.  We were about 8 weeks along, and we miss this dear little one whom we will never get to meet or hold on this side of eternity.  He or she is gone from our day to day lives, but never forgotten.  Our fourth child has preceded us to glory.  I couldn’t bear the idea of not ever posting about our fourth child.  He or she will never appear in our Christmas pictures or even have a name.  But the idea that this little blessing would go without any official mention in the records of God’s providence to our family was unbearable to me.  It has taken me this long to be able to write this post.

Hello.  Part of what has finally enabled me to write again is the joy and enthusiasm I have to share with you that we are about 11 weeks along in the journey towards welcoming our next blessing (what we will always think of as our fifth child, but others will see as our fourth).  Especially in this time I want to proclaim God’s goodness, His steadfast faithfulness through sorrow, and His abundant mercy and compassion to His children.  We, who deserve nothing, have been so richly blessed with five children.  We look forward, Lord willing, to holding this newest little one in November.  This pregnancy has, perhaps, been the sweetest one yet.  What joy and happiness to hold my three darling babies, while carrying another growing inside.  May God enable me to endeavor to serve Him in a manner worthy of the treasures which He has entrusted to my care.

Foofie Tricks

Ruth’s recent accomplishments include making funny noises and standing up in her crib.  Click the still image above to go to our Phanfare site and see the videos.  (They’re short.)

More Dead Animals

Today I was having another conversation with the children about raw chicken.  Why?  Because it seems that the very moment I grab a couple of raw chicken leg quarters out of a Ziploc bag, somebody needs something from me.  So I have explained on a few occasions why we have to be so careful about keeping raw-chicken tasks separate from other tasks.  We were having that conversation today.

Mama: Remember what we said about raw chicken?
Luke: Yea, it’s made out of dead cows.

My Gem of the Day

The children were playing in their room.  I needed to go out to the garage to get something.  Emma asked if she could come with me and I was delighted to have her tag along.  I scooped her up and carried her on my hip.

Emma: (delighted) Thank you for carrying me, Mama.
Mama: Oh, Emma, I love to carry you!
Emma: (warmly) I love to carry you, too, Mama!