3 Topics in One Post....

Topic #1) I need a little advice from you more experienced parents out there (and if you have a child older than almost 2 1/2, then you're more experienced than us).

Our sweet and cute little guy -- who can play oh so very nicely....



has entered into a stage of being quite disrespectful at times -- especially toward me.

I know this is normal, but I really want to lovingly teach Luke how to be respectful in his talk toward anybody -- but especially toward his parents.

To be honest, some of his disrespectful talk comes from what he hears from me....that is, raising of the voice (please tell me the rest of you do this from time to time). So, I'm praying for God's help in this area. I'm diligently working to do better.

But, in the meantime, how do I lovingly work toward more respectful talk? Luke is just learning to talk, and I want to really work on this now (I realize this will be a process, but I don't want to wait until he's 16 to work on this).

Luke does spend time out in his room (when being disciplined), and I have to say that almost every time it happens, it's because of talking disrespectful to me.

Any advice out there????

I'm reminded of this verse in Hebrews....

God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God. Hebrews 12:8-11 (The Message)

Topic #2) This year, for Christmas, I have been the procrastinator -- at least relative to how I've been in the past. Usually, I have ALL of our Christmas letters/photos out the week after Thanksgiving. This year, I finally got them all out this week.

Sure, I NEVER have all of the wrapping completed until Christmas Eve, but I haven't even yet started.

It's not that I'm not in the "Christmas Spirit," because I am. In fact, November and December are my favorite months of the year.

Yes, I have been sick this past month, but I'm better. That's not an excuse for being this behind.

We send packages to our friends in Washington state and to our friends up in Manitoba (Canada). I managed to get the package to Washington last week. They should receive it in time.

As far as Canada....These photos were taken this morning....



Yep, that's a box that's NOT yet sent.

Last week, I even picked up two customs' forms to fill out -- not knowing exactly which one I'd need for this package. So, I filled them both out -- to make things easier at the post office with a 2 year-old.





Yep, Luke and I did get to the post office this morning. The package has been sent off. (And, in case you're really wondering -- it was the bigger customs' form that was needed).

Nope, our friends in the country up north will NOT get their package in time. But, they've been informed of that.

(But Tammy -- if you're reading this, it's on its way).

Soooooo -- what is my problem with procrastination here? Is anybody else in the same boat?

Topic #3) If you've been reading this blog for any length of time OR you know Luke, you know that Luke REALLY likes hats -- especially Marc's hats. He wears them nearly all of the time. He takes them to bed (if you look at this photo of Luke sleeping closely, you'll notice a hat near his head that he did fall asleep with the night before).



Even with Luke's limited speech capabilities (which is growing everyday), he tells EVERYBODY (whether he knows them or not) about the fact that he's wearing Daddy's hats. And, Luke's even been known to tell complete strangers that they too are wearing hats (if he runs into somebody who is wearing a hat).

Anyways, recently, Luke's hat collection has increased to include Marc's stocking hats.

Admittedly, it's very cute. This photo was taken a couple of Sundays ago....Luke wanted Marc to look at a magazine with him (and, Luke's wearing shorts because his Daddy wears shorts around the house -- even in the winter. Luke must do everything Daddy does).



And, here are another series of photos taken of Marc and Luke, playing an invented "game" called "Boom Boom."

(Basically, Marc bounces Luke up and down while saying, "Boom Boom." Then, Marc proceeds to life Luke HIGH up in the air).

Notice the stocking hat....