I found out just how much Hailey likes Toby Mac tonight. I feel I need to go ahead and lock her away until she is 30. Tonight, I am thankful for two older sons who will take care of any guys before I have to meet them when she becomes a teenager:
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Gavin asked why a nurse came to our house the other morning, so Nicki was explaining to both Gavin and Tristan that the nurse came to do different tests so we could increase our life insurance.
Here’s how the conversation went (paraphrased):
Nicki: “If daddy died, life insurance would help pay to bury him.”
Tristan: “We can bury daddy in the backyard and pack the dirt down real tight so no one would see him”
He says he learned it in school!
I am glad my family has big plans for me when I die. I think I may go ahead and make Tristan the executor of my will, it sounds as if he will be frugal with what little money I am able to leave behind. 
Join the Conversation. Have you had any interesting conversations with your children lately?
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I would like to introduce you to a church and ministry in the inner-city of West Baltimore. Their name is Charm City Church and their pastor is Mike Kemper. You won’t find him on Facebook or Twitter but the church does have a website (charmcitychurch.org). The church cannot support Mike full-time so he works a full-time job during the week, like me to pay the bills. There is one thing special about this church, their people love people and they are doing all they can to bring revolutionary compassion to those most people in society would consider unlovable, dirty, broken, addicts, unwanted……..I have known Mike and his family for years, they have been great friends to our family. He doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk and he walks the talk. He has a genuine love for the people of his hometown. He is driven by the gospel of Jesus to see their lives changed.
They have an amazing ministry called MetroKidz, led by Colleen Smith, where they weekly minister, mentor, and educate around 120 kids from one of the darkest and most crime-ridden areas of Baltimore City. I’ve personally visited their church and taken a missions trip to this area. I can’t describe it in a blog post, but I walked away about three years ago when Nicki and I went to visit and made a promise at that time that when we launched New Passion, Charm City Church would be part of our missions support. We’ve been able to do that over the last several months at $50 a month and because of the faithful giving of New Passion’s people, beginning in 2011, we are going to be able to increase that to $100 a month.
But, all of us have the opportunity to help them right now and it will cost you nothing!!! Go to this link (right now): http://greenroofgiveaway.com/nominees/nominee-detail/?nominee_id=32 and vote for their ministry to win a new roof (up to a $30,000 value) for their building. You can vote everyday until the contest is over and I hope you will do that! It is easy and free…so why are you still reading this? Go! You can find out more about their ministry and watch a video while you are there voting….Go, Go, Go!
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Nicki found these video clips from Gavin the other day on her digital camera. I combined the two for Gavin’s first episode of G TV. Apparently, when we are not around he feels liberated to video whatever is on his mind. This may be fun in years to come?!
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My little “oldest” son Gavin turns 6 years old today! I must say that I am extremely thankful to God for giving Gavin 6 healthy years of life, for protecting him in ways we’ve known (through a horrible car accident 3 years ago) and in ways that we will never know. I am thankful that the Lord has given Gavin abilities that some children do not have as well as gifts and passions such as art, soccer, and doing anything creative that comes to his mind.
I love my boy. I love how he thinks he is strong enough to beat me up, how he helps his younger brother Tristan, how he hugs me in the morning, before he goes to school, before he goes to bed, and just because. I love that his way of showing me love sometimes is a drawing or doing something out of his passions and gifts. I love to watch him get excited about something and watch his words get scrambled trying to explain what he’s excited about. I love his faith and purity in believing that Iron Man would answer his invite to his birthday party. I love to hear him pray at meals and before bed, especially when he prays for the “sick, the hungry, and the poor” – I think you could understand that I could go on and on all day about all the ways I love Gavin, so I’ll stop here, however…
I have to admit that as I think about Gavin turning 6, it is a little saddening to me as well. I use to hate hearing adults say, “It seems like it was yesterday…” But, the fact is, that is reality, especially once you become a parent. Time flies by, years literally seem like days, and as I reflect back on 6 years with Gavin, I realize that the next 6 years will be here in what seems like a few days. If I had my way, I would not let him grow up anymore. Even though children are challenging to raise, I don’t want to lose what I have with my son where he is now. I will no longer have a 5 year old Gavin, and reality stinks sometimes!
So while I am joyful for the life my child has been blessed with and who he is as a person…I am a little disappointed that I no longer have him at 5. Happy Birthday Gavin!!!
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…about “Onalds” (Translated: McDonald’s)
Everyday Nicki has to drive by McDonald’s to take Gavin to school…everyday Tristan begs to go to McDonald’s. McDonald is Tristan’s hero, he can be asleep and if we come within 3 miles of a McDonald’s his special radar goes off and he starts calling out for “Onald’s!!!” “Onald’s!!!”
The typical conversation goes like this…
Tristan: “Onald’s!!!”
Mommy: “No Tristan, we don’t have the money for McDonald’s”
(Repeat 10-20 times)
Today, this is how the conversation went at home…
Tristan: “Onald’s!!!”
Me: “What Tristan?”
Tristan: “Onald’s!!!”
As I looked down, Tristan was holding up a penny, asking to go to McDonald’s. Tristan always amazes us with his memory. If we tell him something, at two years old, it is seared into his brain…that’s why we make very little promises to him…he will hold our feet to the fire. Unfortunately, he does not have a perception of money, because a penny doesn’t buy anything, but he doesn’t care, for all he knows, it’s money and mommy never has enough to go to “Onald’s” – Today she is taking the boys for ice cream at Onald’s with Tristan’s penny. It truly was the most adorable thing I’ve seen in a long time!
Join the Conversation: What is the most adorable thing you have seen, besides my profile picture, lately?
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…about his hearts sin condition. Straight from a 5 year old’s mind and heart to his lips. (This conversation took place at MeMaw’s house)
Gavin: MeMaw!
MeMaw: What Gavin?
Gavin: (With hand placed over chest) I hate this sin in my heart
MeMaW: You hate the sin in your heart?
Gavin: Yes, how do I get rid of it?
MeMaw: You have to ask Jesus to get rid of it for you
MeMaw: How did you know about the sin in your heart?
Gavin: From 3D (Our children’s program at church for K-5th Grade)
As a parent I am excited to hear my son acknowledging the ‘sin in his heart‘ and even more his desire to get rid of it and to get it out of his heart…at the age of 5. I am reminded of what Proverbs 22:6 says about teaching our children the right things at a young age so they will stick with it at an older age. That is my daily prayer for my children…that they stay on the right path when Mom and Dad are not around.
I believe education, both secular and spiritually start at home, however I understand that we cannot expect to be the only voice in our children’s lives. That is why I am so thankful for the other voices in my children’s lives, such as 3D at TCAG, my mom-in-law, “Mr. Shane,” and many others who have taken a vested interest in my family. I appreciate my pastor pushing our children’s teams to provide environments that are second to none for the children in our church and the children in our community that have yet to be reached. Just a thought…don’t go at this parenting thing alone!
Other Conversations with a 5 Year Old Posts: Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4
Join the Conversation: Any interesting conversations around your house recently?
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…That is the question and your opinion matters:
Our back screened in porch has been overtaken by Raccoons. We moved into a rental house from my aunt and inherited her cat, a pet door to the porch, and the big container of food that my aunt or her husband comes and fills up for that cat, however we attract other neighborhood cats, plus the raccoons. We have had around 4 raccoons overtake the porch, they range from larger adults, to smaller ‘pups,’ that whimper like little puppy dogs and would almost let you pet them if you tried.
Join the Conversation: Should I shoot the raccoons to prevent them from overtaking our porch? We have two little boys who play in the yard, and my fear is if the raccoon has rabies and bites the cat, the cat could bite the children and then we have a serious problem. We called the animal control department, but they have yet to bring a trap. What do you think? I am leaning towards protecting my children and sending the raccoons to their sandy graves, but of course I would put flowers on their graves.
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This is a special “Conversation With a 5 year Old” post. These are conversations straight from a 5 year olds heart and brain to his lips. Many times Gavin surprises us with his wisdom and knowledge and other times he melts our hearts with his his child-like innocence and purity, and then there are the embarassing times
Today I have two conversations to post about:
Conversation #1 Gavin on New Baby Sister…(Nicki is changing Hailey’s diaper)
Gavin: “Mommy!”
Nicki: “What?”
Gavin: “Hailey pee pees just normal…she doesn’t have a wee wee that sticks out when she pees.”
Nicki: “Oh!”
That would be the overly observant Gavin!
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Conversation #2 Gavin on his favorite and least favorite parts of the Hulk
Me: “So Gavin what was your favorite part of the movie (the Hulk)?
Gavin: “When the bad hulk came out!”
Me: “What was part of the movie did you NOT like?”
Gavin (Less Enthusiastically): “Well, um, I think the part I didn’t like was when that man and that lady started kissing!”
At least I know I don’t have to worry about any girlfriend talk as Gavin starts Kindergarten this year! He’ll be too busy acting like the Hulk beating up the bad Hulk and that is not a bad thing!
Join the Conversation: Have you had any interesting conversations lately?
Other Conversations with a 5 Year Old Posts HERE – HERE – HERE
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Happy Birthday to my little man, Tristan! He turns 2 today! We celebrated last night at Chuck E Cheese with a few family members and had a blast. Thankfully the rides Tristan enjoys weren’t the most popular…it was CRAZY!
Tristan is a personality in himself. He totally demonstrates how two children can be so different. He and his older brother are worlds apart. Fortunately they get along great, both demonstrate their love for each other and for their new sister Hailey. Tristan is wild and crazy and into everything, but he has that special little look that helps him slip by trouble from time to time. One of the most special things that I love about Tristan is his little (but big) hugs. He runs up to us, wraps his short arms as far around our shoulders as he possibly can and then starts patting our backs (usually the top of our shoulders because he has short arms). Its one of the cutest things I’ve ever experienced…he is so genuine. He recently started to learn how to pray when we eat together, he roughly says Jesus, Thank you, Food, and AMEN! He says Amen really good.
So once again, Happy Birthday buddy! Love Mommy and Daddy.
(Click Photos to Enlarge)
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