Today more than 6,000 children will lose a parent to AIDS. December 1 is World AIDS Day. Take a few minutes to learn about this pandemic. I'm sure there's a bunch of information on the internet about AIDS, but if you want somewhere to start, try World Vision. They have a quick test you can take to let you know about the staggering statistics of AIDS in the developing world.
On being thankful:
"I am thankful for a good God that loves me, and toothbrushes and toy rocketships." (dictated to his preschool teacher for a Thanksgiving craft.)
Driving to my brother's house on Thanksgiving Day, we Casey and I were talking about what we were thankful for. Several months ago a Newsweek article brought me to tears with the realization of how much I take my safety for granted. It was an article about bombing in Palestine with a picture of a two year old. In America, the parenting magazines warn us of a two-year-old's irrational fears such as monsters in the closet (or in Coulson's case - robots) etc. As parents, our job is to reassure the child that he is safe and that his parents have created a safe environment for him. So I was thinking of the parents in these war torn areas who aren't able to reassure their toddlers that they are safe and can't protect them from seemingly random bombings when I told Casey, "I'm thankful for safety."
Coulson broke my deep emotional thought: "Fire Safety?"
"Yes, Coulson. Fire Safety."
On Sin and Salvation:
"Why Jesus die?"
"Because sometimes we do things that make God sad."
"Why because things make God sad?"
"Well, God is all good, and you need to be all good to be with God. But we're not all good. Sometimes Mommy does things that make God sad. And sometimes Daddy does things that make God sad. And sometimes Coulson does things that make God sad. Do you do things that make God sad?"
"Yes." (quietly)
"Jesus was all good, but he died because we are not always good, so we can talk to God. Does this make sense?
"Yes, It makes sense."
"Okay." (although by this point, I myself am confused.)
"But why God make Jesus die?"
Repeat explanation above.
"Why God and Jesus?"
How do you explain the meaning of life to a two-year-old? The parenting experts say to keep explanations short, but he keeps asking "Why?"
On Marriage:
"I like your ring, Mommy. I want a ring like yours."
"Daddy gave it to me. Did you know that Daddy has a ring like mine? I gave it to him."
"I want a ring."
"Someday when you grow up and there is someone special that you love very very much - someone not in your family (because we love our family very very much) maybe you'll exchange rings with that person."
"Maybe Noah, because he's not in our family."
Oh, that's a conversation for another day...
From The ONE Campaign, Oxfam's Fast for a World Harvest:
If 20 people sit down at your table, representing the world’s population:
3 would be served a gourmet, multi-course meal, while sitting at decorated table and a cushioned chair.
5 would eat rice and beans with a fork and sit on a simple cushion
12 would wait in line to receive a small portion of rice that they would eat with their hands while sitting on the floor.
The true power of an Oxfam Hunger Banquet is that as you eat your meal, unlike the real world, you see what’s on everyone else’s plate.
Take a moment to fully realize how much we have been given compared to the rest of the world. Sometimes I get caught up in my own little world, comparing myself to others around me and feeling so deprived on our meager resident's salary. Especially here in America, it's so easy to forget about the rest of the world. I'm taking time this Thanksgiving not only to be thankful for all the blessings I've been given, but also to pray for those around the world living without even a fraction of the blessings I take for granted. I'll probably donate to some of my favorite relief organizations: the Mennonite Central Committee and World Vision. If you're interested in helping eradicate world poverty (OK, who isn't?) check out ONE: The campaign to make poverty history. Its purpose it to raise awareness about global poverty and influence political leaders to take real action. A diverse group of organizations have partnered with the campaign from liberal to conservative, religious to secular. And if you join the mailing list, you just may get some emails from surprising people -- I just got an email from Matt Damon (and I think I've gotten emails from George Clooney and Brad Pitt in the past.)
It's already here. I've heard commercials on the radio and seen them on TV. I've received flyers in the mail. I've seen festive yard and home decorations in the stores. I've even seen a house all decked out with lights. The jolly red icon of the season has already made an appearance at our local mall. Yes, the Christmas season is upon us!
Most people dread this early onslaught of the holiday season. I saw one person sadly shake his head as he observed, "Christmas starts right after Halloween these days." Gone are the days when Christmas started the day after Thanksgiving. It's just a marketing scam to extend the shopping season and thus increase the profits.
But our home welcomes the longer season. Casey and I used to break out the Christmas music before Thanksgiving, but we would hide the CDs from any visitors because it was such a taboo thing to do. Like wearing white shoes after Labor Day. But it's a whole new world now. We can listen to our music proudly and loudly. I could even unpack some of our decorations and buy and wrap gifts. I could read books about the Christmas story to Coulson. We are very excited about this new freedom to start celebrating the greatest holiday in November. Critics might feel that this early attention to Christmas robs Thanksgiving of its well deserved attention. I feel the opposite however. Thanksgiving is all about showing our gratitude to God for the good things He has given us. Joyfully celebrating Christ's birth is a great way to show our gratitude and the longer we celebrate, the better.
Of course we'll probably be so busy with kids and work and everything else that we'll forget to celebrate early.
I failed. I planned on taking lots of cute pictures of the boys for Halloween, but when the time came, I just didn't make it a priority. I was busy with everything else and Coulson's not really into cooperating for posed pictures, so I knew it would be a hassle getting the two of them together. But I did get a few pictures a couple days before when Coulson was going to a party. Sadly, I didn't take one single picture of Charlie in his pumpkin outfit - not a costume, just an orange outfit with pumpkins that says "Little Pumpkin." I suppose I can just dress him in it again and take a picture and pretend I took it on Halloween...
Coulson was originally going to be a fireman. We bought a costume that had a coat, hat and plastic fire extinguisher. The fire extinguisher could actually squirt water, but I never told Coulson that. He had enough fun just walking around the house and pretending to put out fires without needing water. Anyway, the coat was soooooo huge and Coulson refused to wear the hat, so I made a last minute call to my sister-in-law to borrow Tigger. This is Tigger's third Halloween appearance. He was proudly worn by Brinton last year and by Lauren the year before that. I don't think Charlie will be ready for it next year, but perhaps Tigger will show up again in 2008.
And Coulson is doing a great job sharing. The first time I asked him if he would share, he said no. So I said that I would take away all his candy if he didn't share and he immediately and happily replied "OK, I'll share my candy." So now whenever he gets a piece of candy, he also gets a piece of candy for whoever else is around. I'm trying hard not to influence what he decides to give me and he's nice and usually gives me good stuff. Last night he gave me M&Ms, which are his favorites. He probably just hasn't learned that you're supposed to give away the stuff you don't like. He's so sweet like that.
