Ellie got married.

During Small Group last week, we adults were downstairs having a wonderful discussion about Sunday's sermon. Upstairs, the kids were planning a wedding. Yes, Elanor and Anthony tied the knot, and us parents weren't even invited. (Although, I doubt they remembered to obtain a Marriage License so the legality of their union is indeed questionable.) However, one of the kids was thoughtful enough to document the beautious ceremony with Caleb and Ellie's toddler digital camera. So we have pictures of the wedding party (Grace and Baron), the inevitable wedding brawl (Abby and Caleb, at the top of the stairs, which is a WONDERFUL and safe place to brawl - or play wrestle, or do whatever they were doing ... what WERE they doing?), and of course ... THE KISS! Because, as Ellie always says, Disney princesses always kiss and that means they are married. Well, Aaron did have a little talk about how THIS Disney princess should NOT be kissing. :-)

Bryan and Annick, be forewarned. Gracie is getting married next. She told me so.

Ahhhhh ... the many and varied joys of Small Group Life! Love it!

~JG

I had time for a quick relaxing scrapbooking time while Aaron made chocolate chip cookies with the kiddos. Yum! Here's January! Wow, where has time gone already?


Caleb had a great time dancing this evening to "Move it, Move it." Amazing! What a workout! He suggested that we have a Dance contest (to see who can dance the longest) on Saturday. I said, Sounds good! So he went and put the event on his calendar that is hanging in his room. He didn't know how to spell Dance Contest so he just wrote "DC" on Saturday. Man, this boy is already putting his events on the calendar! I am training him well, and I didn't even know it!

~JG

Angry Birds takes a hit

Aaron preached in "Big Service" tonight. He did great!

On the way home, Caleb was in a super foul mood. He scowled at everyone, grunted to himself over and over again in the car, threw his coat on the floor ... I thought he was REALLY tired! So, got Ellie to bed quickly and then dealt with him. He was already in his pj's, grunting and groaning on his bed.

I asked him, "Is there a reason you are so mad?"

He replied, through clenched teeth, "I wanted to play Angry Birds with daddy."

"You were being so nasty and upset just because of Angry Birds?"

He nodded.

"Do you think Angry Birds is becoming a little TOO important too you, for you to be acting like this?"

He nodded.

And then I told him that when I feel something is becoming too important to me, more important than it should be, I fast it. Caleb asked what fasting was so we talked about that. I suggested that he should think about fasting Angry Birds, so that it doesn't become too important to him, and to remind him that God should always be more important.

And then we prayed - well, I prayed. And Caleb cried. When I finished, I said, "Caleb, I didn't say you HAD to fast. I'm not going to force you to fast something. That decision has to come from you and your heart in order for it to mean anything. You think about it and make your decision."

I gave him a big hug and kiss, and as I turned to leave, he said ... in a small voice ... "I think I should fast Angry Birds."

"Ok. You need to decide how long you will fast it for. A few days ... you let me know by tomorrow morning."

"I think a week ... or 2 weeks ..."

"Well, let's start with a week."

Sooooo ... Caleb is fasting Angry Birds for 1 week. Poor guy - he loves to play it so much! A bit too much. It will be a good thing that Aaron will be leaving this weekend for Kids Breakaway Camp ... he'll take his computer and cell phone with him. Caleb will have no access to Angry Birds!

I love this son that God has given to us. I reminds us to read the devotion book at breakfast (sometimes with an annoying chant ...), sings random bible songs at random times ... Yesterday he said to me at the mailbox, "Mom, remember when God talked to me and told me to put the money that should have gone for toys (his allowance) into the church slot?" That happened a few months ago. He told me God had talked to his heart about putting his allowance into the "church slot" in his bank. "Yes," I responded. "I remember too," he said. "That was cool." And then he ran into the house. I love this kid! I pray he always has a heart after God, just like David.

~JG