Celebrating Zachary

Zachary recently celebrated his tenth birthday and officially exited the single digits.  In honor of this milestone, I’m sharing ten things (certainly not an exhaustive list!) that I love about my youngest son.

1) Zachary was born at the beginning of baseball season.  Is that merely a coincidence? My boy loves this sport, and I love watching him play! He is one tough catcher who’s had some pretty amazing plays at the plate.

2) Determination and perseverance have always been strong traits of my youngest son. When he has a goal, he pursues it with all his might and is not easily deterred. As a seven year-old, he never gave up on his desire to play catcher. After many pleas and much practice, he was finally granted the opportunity and has been in the position ever since.

3) Zachary has always had a keen interest in animals (except snakes and spiders). I love his sensitivity towards God’s creations and his eagerness to know more about them. 

4) Zachary’s favorite place to be is outside - playing sports, fighting enemy soldiers, or riding one of his many scooters, bikes, or boards. I love that he typically chooses playing in the yard over playing video games.

5) From trashcan robots to a system of bells used as a wake-up alarm, Zachary seems to always be working on a new invention.  It amazes me how he conceives an idea, devises a plan, puts together various materials, and with a little trial and error, achieves his objective.

6) I love one-on-one time with Zachary, whether it’s reading together on the couch as he shares insightful questions and expressive comments or going out on dates for which he eagerly asks and often offers to pay! I also love his strong hugs – a perfect fit for me.
                                 

7) Zachary loves hats of all kinds.  I think he looks most stylish in the fedora he bought from a vendor in Times Square, but I also like the safari hat he purchased at Animal Kingdom.

8) Believe it or not, this tough, energetic boy has a sensitive side coupled with a desire to help.  When in New York City last year, he responded to the many homeless folks by giving some his water bottles, snacks, and change. He was touched by their need for not only physical sustenance, but also spiritual nourishment and wished he had Bibles to hand out, too. 

9) Zachary is a nonconformist; he approaches life in his own unique way, rarely taking the direct or expected route.  He flips, dives, and leaps through life with confidence and vitality.

10) Zachary has a deep desire to be more Christ-like, no matter how hard that may be for my energetic, unconventional child. He reads God’s Word with inquisitiveness and seeks specific Bible verses that will apply to his struggles.  He also prays regularly for his family, friends, pets, and our President.

 

We love you, Zachary, and are so thankful to God for your life!!!

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-3a  

(This is one of Zachary’s favorite verses because he says it applies to everything!) 

Our Own Little Zoo

Any reasonable person would consider a home with three sons to be much like a zoo and find no rationale for adding animal friends to the chaos.  After all, three energetic boys have their own mouths to feed, bodies to groom, and habitations to clean.  Furthermore, they make plenty of noise, participate in much activity, and play rather wildly together. 

Of course, our sons are growing up, becoming more independent, responsible, and able to care for themselves.  So although their very active lives give us much to do, we recognize the benefits of having pets and recently gave our permission to add two more to our home. Two more to the two we already have. 

You see, we have our “family” pet – a five year-old cockapoo dog for whom each member is responsible in some way.  Mike and I provide for Baci’s financial needs and keep her hair and nails trimmed.  The boys feed and bath her and take her out when needed. We all give her lots of love and play time.

Just over two years ago, Zachary added pet number two, a brown gerbil he earned the right to purchase.  Rino (no “h”), now a senior adult in gerbil years, belongs solely to our youngest son.  Zachary buys his food, cleans his cage, and manages every aspect of his gerbil’s life. Much like his owner, Rino is highly creative, designing new nests almost weekly; no two have ever looked exactly alike!

Rino mostly ignores Baci. Baci would like to eat Rino and is at times highly disturbed - yes, even after two years – by the presence of this tiny creature in our home.

So why add a pair of small birds to the mix? Perhaps our curiosity and willingness to adopt these pets was in part because my own grandpa raised birds for a time when I was a child.  I remember being mesmerized by dozens of birds of various types – parakeets, cockatiels, cockatoos, finches, and so forth – flying in his backyard building designed for that purpose.

Brandon first showed interest in owning a parakeet several months ago, and finally worked up the courage to broach the topic just before Christmas.  Mike and I agreed on the condition that he take full responsibility for the bird, including all financial costs and its general care.

On the last day of 2012, Brandon excitedly bought home Crusoe, our third pet.  Named after Daniel Defoe’s famous title character, Crusoe carefully studies all that is around him.  His curious, yet mild manner reflects that of his owner. He has quickly developed a trust in Brandon and will chirp or squawk if he is away too long.

Nicholas soon began scheming for a small pet of his own, but Mike made it easy for him by simply asking if he would also like one. Nicholas eagerly acknowledged his desire, and based upon the same conditions given to Brandon, we consented.  Nicholas chose a parakeet and immediately began making arrangements to purchase a cage and other items. 

On January 18, we welcomed Fife to our home. Like his namesake, Deputy Barney Fife, he has big aspirations (flying), but is short on achievement (bumping into walls and falling to the floor). Initially temperamental, Fife is now becoming tamer and more tolerant of humans. We are beginning to see a sweet bird emerge from that guarded little fellow after all.

That’s our little zoo – three sons, two birds, a gerbil, and a dog!  We’re quite content with the responsibilities, the rewards, and the little creatures God has entrusted to us!

“Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind….' And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:24a, 25b

Celebrating Nicholas

Our weeks have been full of celebrations lately, but the ones these past few days centered on our middle son Nicholas, who celebrated turning twelve years-old on Wednesday.

In honor of his twelfth birthday, I’m sharing (in no particular order) twelve of the many characteristics I love about this sweet boy of mine.

1) Nicholas is my die-hard South Carolina Gamecocks fan.  We cheer loudly together during games, get dreadfully nervous together when they are close, and give huge hugs and shouts after big wins. 

2) Once a cuddly kid always eager to curl up in our laps, Nicholas has become a little more reserved in recent years. However, he still gives incredibly wonderful hugs!

3) Collections of nutcrackers, baseballs, and ships adorn Nicholas’ shelves.  His granddaddy encouraged the love for ships by giving him a model of the USS Constitution several years ago. Nicholas was thrilled beyond words to visit the real “Old Ironsides” this past September.  

4) Nicholas loves comics – reading and drawing them. And he loves to laugh.

5) Forget the latest movie star! Nicholas prefers Don Knotts’ films over any others. He received four for Christmas and had a tough time choosing which to watch on his birthday.  

6) Compassionate and thoughtful, Nicholas remembers when someone is sick or hurt and will faithfully pray for them and ask how they are doing.

7) This past year gave Nicholas his best hitting record in baseball, placing him third in the batting order for his team.  He is super fast on the basketball court and never afraid to go for the ball or the basket. Football has become his most recent fascination.  He loves playing with his friends in the yard and watching games on the weekends.

8) Our young man is a gentleman, especially with his Mama – always opening doors for me, lending a hand when needed, and being sensitive to my feelings and responsibilities. 

9) Nicholas is not a fan of school, but he does possess a love for reading.  Chuck Black, who writes historical Christian fiction, is his favorite author.  He also recently read Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol and Alexander Dumas’ The History of a Nutcracker during Christmas break.

10) Loyal to his friends and brothers, he would quickly stand up for them in any situation.

11) When he grows up, Nicholas wants to be a police officer.  He even chose to attend the police department Christmas party instead of the youth party, which was happening at the same time.  He is fascinated with every aspect of Mike’s job and, without hesitation, considers his dad to be his role model, mentor, and hero.

12) Nicholas has been a Christian close to half of his life and continues to grow in his walk with the Lord.  He often recognizes when he is wrong and will quickly apologize and try to resolve it. He sincerely wants to make good choices and do what is right.

 

Isn’t there so much to love about this kid?  Gratitude fills my heart for the blessing of Nicholas, and I celebrate the son God “fearfully and wonderfully made” and entrusted to us!

“Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” Psalm 139:14

A Taste of Christmas

Many traditions surround the Christmas holidays, but one that has particularly grabbed my attention this year is the tradition of baking.  Sure, we bake all year long –cakes, brownies, cookies – sometimes for special occasions and other times for no real reason at all.  But Christmas is different.

The bar in my kitchen has become another holiday decoration of sorts – and a tasty one at that – as it holds an array of seasonal delights during the month of December. Each tray, tin, bowl, plate, and basket holds special meaning.

 

 

The boys insist each year on purchasing holiday shaped pretzels from Sam’s Club. A ceramic winter bowl always holds our Cuties. A couple of plates arrive after Mike’s office party, where we have a reputation for working together to “steal” our favorite homemade goodies in a Sneaky Santa game. 

Some of the sweets that adorn the counter must be made by my own hands each year; my family insists! The fudge is a recipe I immediately adopted from my friend Stephanie after she delivered some to us one Christmas Eve morning. M&M cookies and peanut-butter chocolate chip cookies are standard.  The sugar cookies iced and decorated with Christmas sprinkles (by Zachary) were requested this year by Nicholas for their book club friends.

 

 

And M&M bars – ah! – those I have finally perfected after years and years of much difficulty in getting them to bake just right.  My mom passed along that recipe, and her ability to cook them to perfection encouraged me to keep trying until I finally figured it out, too. 
 

 

The most meaningful Christmas treats on the bar – and thus the ones I like the most! - are those which have been given to us.  Brandon was given sugar coated almonds and a loaf of gingerbread by some of the kids with which he works at church. A sweet T&T girl gave me a red snowman tin of cookies and mints.  Several Sunday school class members blessed us with tasty foods. And one precious, older neighbor brought a basket of goodies about ten minutes before another retired friend brought a dish of homemade zucchini parmesan, just in time for dinner!
 

As we bake, eat, and enjoy the tasty treats of the season, may they prompt us to “Taste and see that the Lord is good!” as Psalm 34:8a says.  We can taste His goodness for ourselves, just as we taste those delicious baked items, by seeking a relationship with the One who came to earth, the One whose birth we celebrate, the One who gave His very life for us – Jesus Christ.  This is what Christmas is all about, and those delicious homemade goodies made and given with much love are a sweet reminder of the blessings of our relationships with others and, most importantly, with our God and Savior. 

Preparing Our Hearts for the Holidays

I haven't had as much time as I would like to write for our blog lately.  Homeschooling the boys, as well as normal wife and mom responsibities, take up so much of my time.  But I was asked to write a post for the Southeastern Women's Life blog "Walking Worthy" on Preparing Our Hearts for the Holidays.  Here is a copy of that post from December 10.

An assortment of boxes, bags, and tins of various shapes and sizes filled our living room a couple of weeks ago. Christmas music played throughout the house, with amateur voices singing along in delight. Even our dog sensed the excitement in the air and curiously followed the heels of her human companions who pulled from bins a wooden reindeer, a nativity set, several stuffed snowmen and Santas, and various sentimental ornaments from Christmases past.

After almost eleven months of anticipation, the time for preparing our home for the Christmas season had arrived. We decorated our tree, hung stockings from the mantel, strung greenery and lights outside, and placed the wreath on the front door to indicate our readiness.

Without a doubt, our home is prepared for the holidays! But are we just as enthusiastic and diligent in preparing our hearts for the holidays? Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. With so many distractions, preparing our hearts can easily be overlooked. So how do we keep our focus on what is truly special about this time of the year?

Preparing our hearts can go hand in hand with preparing our homes. As our family contentedly spends time together in the midst of our holiday decorations, we prepare our hearts by discussing the meaning behind timeless traditions. The Christmas tree, for example, is a wonderful centerpiece for telling the story of Christ and directing our focus on Him. The evergreen leaves signify God’s everlasting love for us. The wood recalls the manger in which the newborn baby Jesus slept and the cross upon which Jesus gave His life. The star atop the tree, a symbol of the star that led the wise men to Jesus, is a reminder to keep our eyes on the Lord and always follow Him.

As we bake and eat tasty treats throughout the holiday season in preparation for parties and family gatherings, we reflect on Psalm 34:8a, “Taste and see that the Lord is good,” and we give thanks for the many blessings God has given us. Additionally, we use those goodies as an opportunity to show God’s love to our neighbors by sharing our culinary delights.

The beginning of the Christmas season also begins a series of family devotions related to our celebrations. We have used various books over the years and are currently rereading Lisa Whelchel’s The Adventure of Christmas. The climax of our devotions occurs bright and early on December 25 as we gather with our sons to read the biblical accounts of Jesus’ birth from the books of Matthew and Luke before starting any other Christmas Day activities.

Other ways we prepare our hearts for the holiday include attending church services, giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering, and helping the less fortunate. However, no heart preparations compare in importance to spending time daily with God – the One who sent His Son to be our Savior so many years ago. Without having a personal relationship with God based on Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection and growing that relationship through consistent, daily communication in prayer and Bible study, we will likely struggle to have our hearts ready for Christmas Day or any other day of the year. The best preparation for the holidays is spending time with the One whose birth we celebrate!

“And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at His birth.” Luke 1:14

A Road Trip to Remember!

We recently returned from an amazing family vacation – a road trip spanning seventeen hundred miles and ten states, plus Washington, DC. Numerous hours spent researching minute details and planning our agenda paid off! We efficiently, yet leisurely explored many well-known historical and engaging sites.   

Day 1: Nicholas suggested a picnic lunch at Gettysburg, so we began our road trip early in the morning. Arriving in Gettysburg around noon, we found the landscape serene and beautiful - ironic when considering the amount of bloodshed on this Civil War battlefield. Our favorite section was Little Round Top, a hill full of huge rocks, narrow crevices, and perfect spots for boys to recreate a soldier’s defense in war time.

The boys recited from memory the Gettysburg Address in the same spot Lincoln delivered his famous speech seven scores and nine years ago!

Day 2: We began at Hershey Chocolate World, a very fun and happy place which is home to many delicious sweet treats. 

We then drove a few miles to Indian Echo Caverns, where we trekked underground to explore the murky interior of a cave. Zachary claims this journey as his favorite road trip activity.

Following a picnic lunch, we chose the scenic route to Philadelphia, detouring through Amish country and visiting an Amish farm. We’ll never forget the homemade root beer we purchased, which we later discovered was more “beer” than “root”!

We wrapped up the day with a tour of Valley Forge, another landscape whose current tranquility seems to contradict its heartrending history so many winters ago.

Day 3: A drive through rush hour traffic led us to Philadelphia. Highlights included touring the Philadelphia Mint, walking through the room where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed, and seeing the Liberty Bell.  

While I appreciate the history, my favorite memory from this town may be eating Philly cheese steaks for lunch in the front yard of Independence Hall!

We left Philadelphia around mid-afternoon, crossed the Deleware River just a couple of miles from where Washington and his troops did during the Revolutionary War, and spent the rest of the day driving towards Boston.

Day 4: After another morning of rush-hour traffic, we arrived at Boston Common and began our trek along the historic Freedom Trail. Memorable sites included the balcony of the Old State House where the Declaration of Independence was first read and Paul Revere’s house. After lunch, we climbed 294 steps to the top of the Bunker Hill Monument, a feat that exhausted our already weary legs. 

The highlight of Boston, and perhaps our entire trip, was boarding the U.S.S. Constitution, an incredible ship with a rich history of courage, victory, and patriotism.

Nicholas was overjoyed at seeing the boat he and his granddaddy have discussed so much!

We arrived in Plymouth just as the sun was setting, a beautiful sight to behold. We saw the infamous Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower 2. 

We stopped by Cupcake Charlie’s for a sweet treat, only to find it closed. However, the owner flagged us down and gave us five absolutely delicious chocolate chip whoop cakes for free!

Day 5: After an overnight stay in Rhode Island, we drove to Staten Island and took the ferry to lower Manhattan.  Zachary claimed he had never seen so many people in his life! We walked through Wall Street, ate near Battery Park, and visited the 9/11 Memorial – a touching tribute in response to a terrible tragedy. Before heading back to the ferry, we ate supper: pretzels and cheesecake! We returned to Staten Island as the sun was setting behind the Statue of Liberty – a stunning, unplanned delight! 

Day 6: We took an early bus from our hotel in Secaucus, NJ, to Times Square. Our first stop was the observatory deck of the Empire State Building, the highlight of the trip for Brandon. He was amazed at how small and peaceful this big and busy city looks eighty-six floors up!

We then walked along 5^th Avenue, making stops at the New York Public Library, Grand Central Terminal, Junior’s Cheesecake, Rockefeller Center, and FAO Schwarz. We rested on a bench in Central Park before taking the subway back to Times Square for supper at John’s Pizzaria, cheesecake from Roxie’s, and shopping.  Zachary bought a hat from a street vendor.  Doesn’t he look cool?

We all love New York City!

Day 7: After sleeping late and eating a delicious hotel breakfast that included the best bagel I have had in my entire life, we were back on the road. We stopped at our favorite pizza place in Washington, DC, for a mid-afternoon lunch/supper before arriving home at dusk. 

This road trip showcased the beauty of our country - from the peaceful hills and valleys of Pennsylvania to the energy and resilience of New York City; from a humble Amish farm to the mighty Old Ironsides; from the charm of Plymouth Harbor back to the comfort and love of home. The time spent exploring this part of America together as a family is a gift for which I will forever be thankful.

“Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed, it was very good!”Genesis 1:31

Getting Ready for a Road Trip!

Our family is detouring this year from our normal vacation.  Instead of heading south for our usual trip to Orlando, we will be driving north through several states including Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New York to visit a variety of well-known and historical sites. 

Technically classified as a field trip, this vacation has instead been referred to as our “road trip”. After all, who wants a vacation to include more school?  Not my kids!  Even though every day will be considered a school day, no text books, worksheets, or even pencils will be included in our packing.  All of the education will be hands on and will not feel like learning at all. 

Of course, there will be no roller coasters, water rides, stunt shows, or fireworks. Our vacation will not be fourteen hours of play each day, but instead about sixteen hundred miles of driving and more miles walking as we visit many famous places with significant histories.

Although not a Disney vacation, this trip is eagerly anticipated by the boys.  However, in order to rouse their enthusiasm even more, I have encouraged them to learn the history behind much of what we will see, as well as the geography of where we will travel.  I have required assignments such as memorizing the names and locations of the thirteen colonies, studying maps of the states we will visit, watching certain documentaries, and reading Ester Forbes’ Johnny Tremain.  Other assignments, however, are optional and a way to earn spending money for the trip.

Reports written on approved topics related to the trip (such as Independence Hall, the U.S.S. Constitution, and the Statue of Liberty) earn $1 each.  Reciting the Gettysburg Address from memory also earns $1.  Writing a book report after reading a biography of Benjamin Franklin earns $2.  No one can earn more than $10 in spending money.  As additional motivation for participating in these extracurricular assignments, each person that earns a minimum of $5 receives a bonus goodie bag for the car.

The boys have been working diligently and learning much about the sites we will see.  All three have met the $5 minimum to earn a goodie bag.  Each is close to reaching his $10 limit.  We are all much more informed about the places we will visit and are eagerly counting down the days until we leave!

“…that all may learn and all may be encouraged.”  1 Corinthians 14:31b