Big Government, Big God, Big Daddy
The two youngest were in the kitchen with me this morning when our 4 year old, out of the blue and matter of factly, said, "I'm voting for Mitt Romney's plan." Oh, really. I think the obvious is we all have heard an overload of political ads. The kids also hear Espi and me teasing about who and what we are voting for. The best part is hearing the full name of a significant political leader coming out of the mouth of a preschooler, and the addition of the word "plan" at the end was awesome. What would have topped it off is hearing our almost 3 year old add, "I'm voting for Barack Obama's plan. Wanna play race cars?"
I am thankful for our country, truly grateful that we American's get the challenge to think through the issues and candidates and voice our choice. From my small world, there is plenty I'm not pleased with about our nation. Much involves the way we treat each other and work together at the leadership levels, to say it simply. But there is much about our country that is extraordinary and many men and women apart of our history and our todays in all fields of life that are honorable. Learning of or knowing such citizens is a breath of fresh air. Whatever comes out of this election, may we lift our leaders and nation up in prayer often because truly we can do nothing without Him. Remember Daniel in the lion's den? His words in Daniel 2:20-23 remind my little mind of the great mystery that Our Creator is the true establisher of presidents and governmental leaders. Those words of Daniel are here:
“Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever,
For wisdom and power belong to Him.
21 “It is He who changes the times and the epochs;
He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to wise men
And knowledge to men of understanding.
22 “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And the light dwells with Him.
23 “To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise,
For You have given me wisdom and power;...
For wisdom and power belong to Him.
21 “It is He who changes the times and the epochs;
He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to wise men
And knowledge to men of understanding.
22 “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And the light dwells with Him.
23 “To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise,
For You have given me wisdom and power;...
Just reading the first two chapters of Daniel recently, I am in awe of this man: feared and honored God, quite kind and courteous, a wise, cool headed thinker. Our Creator and Savior God, with whom light dwells and wisdom and power belong, holds this world in His hand and to Him we are accountable for our choices. May we grow as a nation, as individuals to bless our Maker.
Last week after coming home from her day at enrichment, H shared that she was asked in history class, "Who is the most important person in her life?" Her response was her daddy. Why? Because she loves playing and talking with him. Oh, I love that. And I hope I'm a close second.:) Big Daddy's birthday has passed. His way of celebrating involves as many of his favorite foods as possible. The food choices lasted for several days. One of my favorite "gifts" to him was capturing words from each of the kids about him. I love hearing their sweet thoughts. I got the idea from here, then adapted the idea into an accordion-like card including the kids and my responses. Here are our words about the sweet man of the house and some photos from the last couple weeks:
[the best tree on the property for all to climb]
BY ad AGE 2
he is __ ft. and __ in. tall. I DON 'T KNOW THAT. IT'S TOO HARD FOR ME.
he weighs __ lbs. IT'S KINDA TOO HARD.
his hair color is BROWN.
his eyes are BROWN.
his favorite tv show is FOOTBALL.
he likes to go to CHIPOTLE.
his favorite food is PASTA.
his favorite drink is COFFEE
& TEA.
for fun he likes to WORK .
i love it when my daddy WORKS.
my favorite thing about my daddy is HIS EYEBROWS. [What was he thinking? Mustache maybe. I don't know!]
I LOVE MY DADDY.
[clean and spiky]
[the kids' colorful treasures from around the yard]
BY af AGE 4
he is 20
feet and 22 inches tall.
he weighs 21 pounds.
his hair color is BLACK.
his eyes are BROWN.
his favorite tv show is BRONCOS.
he likes to go to CHIPOTLE.
his favorite food is WAFFLES,
EGGS , & HAMBURGERS.
his favorite drink is COFFEE
& TEA.
for fun he likes to PLAY
WITH US.
i love it when my daddy PLAYS
WITH US.
my favorite thing about my daddy is HE PLAYS WITH US.
I LOVE MY DADDY.
[evening light during an after dinner walk]
[counter clockwise: two men, mushrooms, Santa with a couple reindeer and helpers, a boat riding a tidal wave]
[bringing her art home from Thursday enrichment]
BY h AGE 7
he is 6
feet and 1 inch tall.
he weighs 143 pounds.
his hair color is BLACK.
his eyes are BROWN.
his favorite tv show is FOOTBALL.
he likes to go to TEXAS
ROADHOUSE.
his favorite food is ENCHILADAS.
his favorite drink is SWEET
TEA.
for fun he likes to TEASE
US.
i love it when my daddy PLAYS
WITH ME.
my favorite thing about my daddy is HE IS NICE & FUNNY.
I LOVE MY DADDY.
[a couple days of snow]
ALL ABOUT MY MAN
BY lulu
he is 5
feet and 10 inch tall.
he weighs 190? pounds.
his hair color is BLACK
& GRAY.
his eyes are BROWN.
his favorite tv show is TEXAS
LONGHORNS.
he likes to go FISHING.
his favorite food is ENCHILADAS.
his favorite drink is SWEET
TEA.
for fun he likes to LET
HIS KIDS CLIMB ALL OVER HIM.
i love it when my man SURPRISES
ME WITH A LITTLE HUG OR KISS.
my favorite thing about my man is HE CARES FOR US SO THOUGHTFULLY.
[Espi helping AD complete a puzzle on Poisson Rouge]
I LOVE MY MAN.
(Oh, by the way, I asked the other two kids if they would share who gets their presidential vote. Both said Mitt Romney, too. Espi and I talk pretty neutrally about our leaders and the candidates; so to hear what is appealing to them is pretty cute. However, I am sure at least our youngest's answer was just "following the crowd." :))