July 7 at my house

Monday:  We arrived at my house a little after 10am. The kids told me they were "starving", so I got out the loaf of Cinnamon Bread and started toasting two pieces at a time (I just have a 2-slot toaster) and buttering them just right for them to enjoy. We consumed the entire loaf!

Young Gregory Callaghan is learning to play "CHEST" (!) and is really beginning to remember all of the specific moves each piece is allowed and not allowed to make. Today, he was quite insistent that we play a game; so we did, naturally. Cal made some very good moves! I did aid him a little bit by telling him he would be in danger if he moved to so and so space, and then I showed him WHY. He has a multi-tasking brain and this game seems to highly satisfy him.

Dear Erin was cuddling up and taking care of our Baby James (named after Grandpa Jim). Erin just had her 7th birthday. She has a lot of "womanly" love in her heart and enjoys taking care of this little baby doll.

I also reached up high into the toy cupboard and brought down a bin the kids hadn't seen in probably a year. Inside is a quite complicated "transformer", where you can combine all the separate "number" transformers into one LARGE transformer. It has quite good directions, but it's just not something my brain deals with very well at all. Brendan, however, thrives on this kind of stuff--so does Aidan. Brendan is the only grandchild, so far, who has been able to construct the entire transformer. The other kids were really intensely watching how Brendan connected the pieces.

However, we ran out of time before Brendan could finish, so we put it back into its bin for another day. Then we drove over to their house where they all took their individual 30-minute turns on the downstairs TV. 

While they were doing that, I put on my pink rubber gloves, rolled up my sleeves, and did some very rewarding cleaning. There is something inherently satisfying in taking care of things, don't you think? I wish I had done a better job showing my boys that maintaining our toys, rooms, yards, homes, etc. is just a part of everyday life and it is GOOD. A person gains a very healthy PRIDE in keeping their environment beautiful and clean and in working order. I will say, that's one thing my mom drilled into our heads--although I can't say she put a very positive "spin" on it. 

But think about it !!!! There is nothing whatsoever negative about picking up after yourself and having a place to put your books, art supplies, LEGOs, puzzles, etc. so that any time you want to use them, you know exactly where to find them--and they are NOT broken into smithereens or forever lost. Plus, I think the Lord wants us to live with order rather than chaos--it's just all-around better for our mental health.

Thank you, Lord, for creating order and beauty and giving people the ability to appreciate Your gifts to them. Please help us to take better care of Your amazing provision for us.