Hey You at the Zoo

Today the kids and I went to Potter Park Zoo here in Lansing. The wife of one of my husband's coworkers is a zoo keeper. So we stopped by the bird and reptile house to see her. We also saw the baby tigers. They are so cute!

While we were walking around I noticed another mom. She had two little ones. One little baby in a stroller and the other one I would guess to be two and a half.

Little Emma the older one (I know her name because her mom kept saying it) wanted to go up some steps to another area of the zoo. Her mom said "no" but she went anyways. Mom had the stroller and kept telling Emma to come back. Emma didn't want to.

After watching this for a few minutes and seeing Emma put more and more distance between herself and her mom (almost out of sight) I decided to do something. I parked Kristin at the bottom of the steps (right next to the other mom) and told Anna and Daniel to stay right there. I quickly went up the steps and told Emma to go back to her mommy. She didn't start right away so I took her hand and led her to her mommy - telling her as we went that she needs to stay with her mommy.

At the bottom of the steps the mom said thank you. I said you're welcome and left with my obedient children. As I walked away the girl was crying and the mom was apologizing. Ugh! Who's in charge?

Being a parent isn't easy. It's a lot of work to train your children to obey when you give them directions. But, boy the zoo was enjoyable today. The kids stayed with me and didn't fuss when it was time to go. I was so proud of them today. (Not everyday is like today. They have their melt-downs, disagreeable days, and fights with each other. So - I'm extra thankful for a beautiful day like today!)

The Iliad and the Odyssey

My five year old son requested that I read to him yesterday. We read from a book I found at the thrift store. The Iliad and the Odyssey This edition was published by Barnes & Nobel, Inc. It has great pictures.

Last night we read about Telemachus, son of Odysseus, going to look for his father. We read of Odysseus being set free by the beautiful Calypso. We read about Odysseus asking for help from the King and Queen of Phaeacia and then telling of his adventures.

Daniel was especially interested in finally reading about the Cyclops. I didn't remember that after Odysseus and his men went into the cave of Polyphemus the Cyclops he ate of some them. For revenge Odysseus got the Cyclops drunk so he'd fall asleep. Then Odysseus and his men sharpened a pole heated it and thrust it into the Cyclops eye. Ugh! Next Odysseus said his name was Nobody. When Polyphemus called for help saying "Nobody is killing me, and Nobody has blinded me." his friends told him he was drunk and that he should ask his father Poseidon to help him. In the morning Odysseus and his friends escaped out of the cave by clinging underneath Polyphemus' sheep.

I'm sure I'll soon learn more Greek mythology since Daniel is ready for me to read now.

Replanted again

My mother-in-law has a really neat yard with lots of trees, flowers and other beautiful plants. From time to time she gets a new idea and makes some changes which might include moving a few things. Walking around the yard my husband will joke with a tree "haven't I seen you somewhere else?"

One day a couple of larger trees needed to go so "Dan the tree man" was called. He brought his equipment and took the trees away one at a time and brought back dirt plugs to fill the holes. My son, who was three at the time, loved watching and was even allowed to ride along as one of the trees was taken to it's new home.

This week as I have seen the trees and other plants blooming outside I've looked at my life and felt like a transplant. My parents have lived in the same house all of my life. It's nice to go back there and visit and just be. But, since I left home for college I've moved and moved and moved. I've lived in four states and had a dozen addresses. I've met some incredible people on my journey and, unlike plants, I'm able to stay in touch with friends - letters, phone calls and visits are great. But, it's not the same. I sure hope we can stay here for a while - even with the Crazy weather (snow last Sunday and today it's in the 50s) I like Lansing and hope my kids can grow up with the other kids from Faith Church.

I've had one of my Bibles (aren't we blessed in this country to have God's word so available to us) since 1989 and I've written notes in it throughout the years.
There's an Elisabeth Elliot quote that I copied down in June 1995. "The initial choice to go the whole way with God is made of necessity in ignorance of all that will follow." How true.
Another note says that faith is a struggle against anxiety and fear. When we experience the greatest difficulty we experience the greatest grace. How true.

I guess the last couple verses of Psalm 13 are my hearts cry today and I know God's mercy is new every morning.
"But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me." Ps 13:5-6