Reflection

I plan on posting later today about how thankful I am for my little boy; then I read this post from one of my friends and wanted to make sure I shared it.

Jamie helps confirm how precious each and every minute of life really is, regardless of how old or young we are.

Please take a minute to read her post and contribute what you can.

I need all the help I can get

Tonight it was Baby Bear's night to pray before dinner, which is always interesting because he usually says exactly what's on his mind. He's been known to ask for the dog to find a new house and for his sister to quit acting crazy. And considering he's got Jesus on speed dial, I always try to be on my best behavior when I'm around him.

BabyBear: Dear Jesus, Please help Mommy to exercise and watch TV. And thanks for the food. The End.

Me: (GLARING at A.) Don't say a word. Not one word.

It may help to note, that I'm on a get healthy crusade this year and determined to get rid of the "baby weight" once and for all. I've been spending a lot more time on the treadmill when the kids are around.

Hey, if he's got a better connection, I'll take it!

Are you there God? It's me, Baby Bear.

This weekend, I was upstairs and asked Baby Bear to run downstairs to grab a notebook for me. He came back with the phone book. I let him know that I wanted something else and as he went back downstairs, I heard the following conversation:

Dear Jesus,

She didn't want the phone book. She wanted the notebook with the yellow sticker.

Amen.

I just stood still and I'm pretty sure I tilted my head to process the whole thing (kinda like the dogs do when we say 'spaghetti').

Yesterday, we were putting up the Christmas tree and he had a similar conversation:

Dear Jesus,

I'm ready to put the star on the tree, but she won't do it until last.

Amen.

So, I'm not sure how to feel about the whole thing. He is three and I want to teach him the importance of prayer, but I don't want it to be his outlet for recording the issues that he has with me.

If I stop analyzing it, it is pretty cute and I love listening to his conversations!

Teaching toddlers to pray

We have been working with the kids for quite some time teaching them how to pray. After thinking about it, I have decided to start documenting some of their more memorable moments.

One that happened quite some time ago, but is worth repeating came from Mooka. We had told her that she needs to talk to Jesus about things that she is thankful for and not always focus on what she wants. Immediately afterward, she prayed this prayer:

"Dear Jesus, thank you for making me so beautiful. Amen."

Then tonight it was her turn to pray before dinner.

"Dear Jesus, thank you for mommy and daddy. Please let the teachers give me a good prize at church for my birthday."

At least she's honest.