I'm excited to enter into this new season in our new home. I can't wait to open the windows, open the screen doors, and explore our new neighborhood with the kids. We moved in in October, worked worked worked, and now that things are finally starting to feel like normal, we can ENJOY.
It's been a good winter, truly. Doing school with Ellie has made it fly by; our days are not boring. I asked her the other day if she's happy she stayed home for school this year and she confidently said yes. I asked her why and she said "Well because I get to hang out with YOU everyday mom." GREAT with me! I asked her what she DIDN'T like about it and she said "nothing. It's perfect." I was worried that she was getting a little bored with our routine, but I guess not. She IS around kids all the time though...I haven't
ostracized her from humainty, haha. She has done soccer, swimming, and now she's doing gymnastics. That all gives her chances to be around her pals. What I've loved most about having her home though is that I've had (and continue to have) so many opportunities to teach her how to love and serve her family. There's something to be said for that, ya know? We've had ample chances to talk about (and live out) how we properly treat our "annoying sister." We've had lots and lots of conversations about helping around the house and why that's important. She's been able to be involved in the day-in-day-out memories of Griffin's first year of life. We've gotten to have somewhat regular times reading the Bible together.
And... I got to be here when she slipped and said "Oh my god." It broke my heart. Just a few days ago she was really excited about something and said it. When I confronted her about what she said her response was, "it's just an expression mom!" So sad. She didn't get it. She had heard someone else use it as
just an expression, therefore thought it was ok. But that allowed me to talk to her about how GOD is not an expression but a name. And why God's name is holy and respectable. Unfortunately, she said it again the following 3 days. THAT led us into talking about self control and reading James 3 together. It was fun to translate James 3 into 6 year old layman terms...she got it. HeHe. We've been doing well since then. I'm sure this is just the first of us talking about our tongues and what comes out of our mouths. ugh.
Emma has been as precious as ever. She LOVED her winter session of swim classes and was ecstatic when we started a new session this week. She loves singing the "alligator song" at the end, and jumping off the wall. It's pretty funny listening to her explain it to other people, too. Half of what she says is just mumble jumble because she's so excited. She's been enjoying her dates with Nana and Daddy's milkshakes too. Griff makes me smile ALL the time. I sooo look forward to him waking up in the morning and going in to see those legs a kickin' and that smile on his face. Man he rocks!
