My daughter Hayden is hilarious, we have learned quickly with her two very simple truths:
1 - She truly believes she is much older than she is.
2 - She is constantly teaching other kids, reading to her baby dolls, etc.
Over the last few months we have been trying to get a jump on the potty training. Nothing too intense since she isn't quite 2 yet, but at least a start. We have been trying to get her to talk to us about when she needs to go to the bathroom. She has been doing a pretty good job although so far she will just stop in the middle of what she is doing and say " poo poo or pee pee" which tranlates to "I am currently doing this now, are you ready to clean me up?" This morning was the best one yet, not in the fact that she "did a poopie or peepee" but in another way.
We were driving to church and she was playing with her baby n her seat when I turn around just in time to hear Hayden say, "go pee pee baby, you go potty?"
It was one of those moments when my heart just felt great joy. It's just nice to see a concept really take hold. She get's it, now will she really start to do it. I guess she will continue to let us clean her up and eventually we'll get there.
I love my daughter she is the best and funny too.
Tomorrow we
Wiggle.
I've been
tagged. So, I will update about the "Mystery Trip" later, which was awesome by the way. But in the meantime, here goes...
Book Tag
1. How many books have I owned?
Hi my name is Chris and I am a bookaholic. I own over 1500 books, the amazing thing is I am not sure how I got there. It just kind of crept up on me. Actually, everytime I go on Amazon for something other than books I buy books, when I go to the Christian bookstore I buy books, even when I am not shopping for them for my library. There it's out there. I need help.
2. What was the last book you bought?
"In The Name of Jesus" by Henri Nouwen
3. What was the last book you read?
"Following Jesus" by N.T. Wright, "The Challenge of Jesus" by N.T. Wright, "The Present Future" by Reggie McNeal, "The Last Word and The Word After That" by Brian McLaren and the aformentioned.
4. What are FIVE books that have meant a lot to you?
The Jesus Proposal by John York and Rubel Shelly
The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard
Celebration of Disciplines by Richard Foster
PostModern Pilgrims by Len Sweet
A Church That Flies by Tim Woodruff
The Jesus I Never Knew by Phillip Yancey
So many books have meant so much to me. It is really hard to break it down but these have had a pretty profound impact on me, and I am thankful for them. I am constantly reading a lot of books at one time. It's kind of a bad habit, it's just what happens.
These folks are officially "it"
JD
Stu (Grant)
K2
Jason Retherford
On Friday I will leave with a bunch of teens from our church headed on a mystery trip of sorts. I am really excited about this trip for a few reasons. The teens that have signed up to participate have no idea what they will be doing, I mean absolutely no idea. I won't divulge too much right here right now, but let's just say this, it takes a lot of heart for someone to, not knowing where they are going, pile in to a vehicle willing to travel to serve someone else. Knowing it could be really easy or it could be grueling. Knowing it could be a lot of fun or a lot of frustration. Not having any idea what to expect, only expecting to love and serve others in the name of Jesus. Does it get any better than that? I don't think so, especially not with teens.
As a matter of fact I have been struggling everday in my own life trying to figure out more about what it means to live as a Christian in this world. Although I have been a christian for sixteen years, I have been upset and dissapointed in what I have found, I have been angered by what I have found, and I have been saddened to some degree about what I have found. Mainly, the fact that I am not getting it done the way Jesus wants me to. I'm not talking about keeping "Five Acts in Worship" or living to the letter of the self imposed legalism that no man could ever live up to. I'm talking simply about being a Christian. It appears this word has a different meaning to so many people, that is in appearance by how they live. Not that I would judge, but I remember seeing this "your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" and then the one about doing everything you do in the name of the Lord. I guess I don't see that very much, especially not in church.
My wife made a comment to me one time a couple of years ago that was somewhat prophetic and sobering to me. She said, the "people I work with at my school who are not Christians act more like Jesus than some people I know from church." Wow! There is some insight into something, it's a testament from the world right back at us. A sad one but a true one so many times.
So being a christian, I mean what do I see it as? I see it as living out our lives as an extension of Jesus everyday. It means getting outside of four church walls and loving your community. It means not being afraid to expose your heart and mind to anyone you meet in the name of Jesus. It means having a boldness that comes from the Spirit who lives in you, that allows you to be a living sacrifice everyday. It means denying yourself, even when you think you don't need to. It's about loving all of our neighbors everyday as much as ourselves. I am sure I am forgetting something I came up with. I just know I've missed the boat at times. This week it means getting on a van with a bunch of nutty high school kids and doing everything we do in the name of Jesus!
Tell me what I missed, what do you see it as?
That should do it. I've updated my blog. ; -)
Yesterday Susan and Hayden and I went to the Audobon Zoo with her parents. We had a great time. When we got there we had a little issue and found out Hayden was allregic to Winn Dixie Sunscreen for babies. That was a frantic time, Hayden was upset, we were all upset. Anyway, on the way to the zoo Hayden starts singing this song. Susan and I have been so blessed by her, she loves to sing ALL the time and loves to get up on stage at church and perfrom all at just 19 months old. So, in the car yesterday she starts singing "I wuve You, I wuve you me sa fee wa see sa me." It was the sweetest thing, I am not sure where she heard the song but, it was the most beuatiful sound I have ever heard. I'll try and port some zoo pictures later. On the way home we stopped at Cafe Du Monde and got some beignets. It isn't legal to go through the french quarter and not pick up beignets. I am now fatter for the trip.
Added - We got all of the sunscreen off of Hayden and then I bought some Panama Jack sinscreen from the gift shop it worked great and my sweet trooper had a great day! Better than her Dad I might add.
