• Apr. 30, 2007
Currently Reading and Listening To...

On My Nightstand (Well, that sounds nice, but actually, they're strewn about the house!):

"Heartfelt Discipline" by Clay Clarkson (May be the best all around book on child training I've ever read)

"Nice Cup of Tea and a Sit Down" by Nicey and Wifey  (hilarious book on the art of tea and biscuts in Britain)

"Ruth:  A Portrait" by Patricia Cornwell (biography of Ruth Bell Graham by a well-known family friend)

"England"  and "Europe Through the Back Door" by Rick Steves (definitely my favorite guides thus far)

Through the Bible in a Year (But hopefully sooner):

Just finishing:  Joshua

The Family Read-Aloud:

"The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Recently downloaded from ITunes:

"I Stand in Awe" by Martyn Layzell

"Like We Never Loved at All" by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill

"Live Like You Were Dying" by Tim McGraw

"Anyway" by Martina McBride

"The Highest and the Greatest" from Soul Survivor 2006

"From the Inside Out/Majesty" from Soul Survivor 2006

Blogs I Recently Added to Bloglines:

Living Proof Ministries Blog (co-written by Beth Moore and her daughter Amanda)

The Sparrow's Nest

Raising Five

Surviving Motherhood

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• Apr. 30, 2007
Our Weekend

We had a great time at Hampton Court Palace this weekend.  It is a huge and spectacular palace which was most famously inhabited by that scoundrel, Henry the VIII.  The gardens are varied and lovely and included a hedge maze, which my son, who is quite a spatial guy, loved! 

Below are some photos

Three little jesters entering the castle for the day.

Making our way through the hedge maze.

Examining the Tudor kitchen meat room.  We discovered that it was a sign of wealth to eat great amounts of meat, so the Tudor court's diet consisted of 75% meat.  I guess he was Atkins before Atkins was cool!

Playing hide and seek by the huge, old trees in the formal gardens behind the palace.

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• Apr. 27, 2007
Apparently, She's a Woman of Contradictions

Me to my youngest:  "You're so pretty!"

She: "No!  I not pweddeee, mommy.  I cooooot. (cute)"

Undettered, I respond:  "Yes, you're cute!"

She:  "No, mommy!  I not cooot.  I pweddeeee!"

Wanting to be called pretty instead of cute.  Wanting to be called cute instead of pretty.  She's such a girl!

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• Apr. 26, 2007
Sympathizing With Our Children

I'm currently reading "Heartfelt Discipline" by Clay Clarkson.  I've found two wonderful quotes to share with you about sympathizing with our children as a way to lead and gain influence over their hearts.  It's really challenging my thinking, as I think I'm much more often sympathetic of adults than of my own children, often "pooh-poohing' their seemingly small troubles.  These quotes are making me realize the mistake that's been.

The first is by H. Clay Trumbull, leader in the Sunday school movement:

"It is unquestionably true that in no way can any parent gain such power of his child for the shaping of the child's character and habits of life as by having and showing sympathy with that child...How many parents there are...who are readier to provide playthings for their children than to share the delights of their children with those playthings; readier to set their children at knowledge-seeking, than to have a part in their children's surprises and enjoyments of knowledge-attaining; readier to make good, as far as they can, all losses to their children, than to grieve with their children over those losses.  And what a loss of power to those parents as parents, is this lack of sympathy with their children as children."

And this one from J.C. Ryle:

"Kindness, gentleness, long-suffering, forbearance, patience, sympathy, a willingness to enter into childish troubles, a readiness to take part in childish joys, --these are the cords by which a child may be led most easily, --these are the clues you must follow if you would find the way to his heart."

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• Apr. 25, 2007
Recent Fact File

Grossest thing that's happened in the past month (or maybe ever!):  My 4 year old dd caught chewing a random piece of (used!) gum she had picked up on the London Underground (subway).  She challenges my feelings of mommy-adequacy.  What can I say?!?

Number of times I've attemped to get into the driver's side of the van thinking it's the passenger's side: 5

Biggest surprise upon arrival at our new home:  No dryer (little did I know I'd be coveting my old one!)

Average number of trips to the grocery store per week:  5

Something purchased recently that I never had purchased before:  Peg bag

Average cost of our family to eat at McDonald's in the UK:  28 US Dollars

Two fresh things I LOVE in London:  The bread and the flowers

A holiday recently celebrated:  St. George's Day

A common English greeting:  "Y'alright?"

Number of emails in my inbox after being offline for a month:  88

Number of emails in my junkbox after being offline for a month:  536 (Note to self:  unsubscribe to lists before moving again!)

Number of phone calls made to people trying to figure out NHS:  15

My childrens' favorite snack with their cuppas:  Happy Hippos

Number of days until Mommy and Aunt visit: 19

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• Apr. 25, 2007
Just In Case You've Been Wondering...

where I've been, I'll fill you in now.  Actually, truth be told, I'm quite wondering if I'll have any blog readers left out there! 

We moved out of central London and into our permanent housing nearly 4 weeks ago.  On that day, I wrote a little email to all of my friends and family back home that we might be off-line for a "few days".  Little. Did. I. Know.  So, very long story very short, it seems extremely difficult to get anything done quickly here, including internet installation.  Being without the internet and my connections back home has been QUITE a challenge to say the least. 

And boy, do I have a lot to share with you -- I mean a month with no entries, come on!  So, check back often, 'cause I"m back online folks!  (You can't see me now, but assume I'm smiling broadly!!!!!)

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• Apr. 1, 2007
Kid Quotes

My oldest to his sister upon realizing that next Sunday was Easter, "And you better watch out sister, 'cause I'm really good at egg huh'in'!"

My middle upon surrendering the seat beside her to a lady on the bus without a fuss:  "See!  I shared 'cause I love everybody.  Even you, and my brother and sister, and daddy, and God, and our friends, and even other boys and girls, except NOT bad strangers!"

My youngest, announced this at the lunch table today, "I'm aweees bunny!"  (I'm always funny!)  And indeed she is!

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• Mar. 30, 2007
"And the Award for 'Most Patient Mother'"...DOESN'T Go to Me!

If awards were being handed out for mothers, I would not get "most patient".  Motherhood has definitely taught me a plethora of things about myself, one of which being that I'm not patient.  I thought I was patient before.  As a public school teacher, who had 25 first-graders at a time, I wasn't usually rattled by much, but my own three can rattle me plenty!   I've found that usually my lack of patience is in direct proportion to the lack of control I'm feeling at the moment.  Yes, another thing that motherhood has taught me is that I am a total control freak!  When my children don't behave as I wish them to, when they don't do things exactly like I would, when they aren't thankful at the appropriate times, or when they use bad manners, I get impatient because I want them to do what I want.  It seems that, truth be told, I want little "Jonis" running around (Actually, the thought of that makes my skin crawl!  But you wouldn't know it from my attitude and actions.).  But it seems that God has other plans for my children:  to grow unique individuals created and called to do things for Him.  And I get to be a part of that process.  What a privliege!

A verse that's been helping me with this issue lately is from Phillipians 1:3, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you."  Paul is writing to his beloved church in Phillipi and the love he expresses for them in this one verse alone just blows me away.  I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.  Every remembrance. 

Now, I don't know about you, but as a mom, that verse hits me square between the eyes with con-vic-tion!   Because, quite honestly, I don't give thanks upon every remembrance of my children.  Sometimes, my thoughts are like this one that I had just this afternoon on the bus,

"That child is driving me crazy.  Why is she so loud?  Everyone is staring at us.  She makes me want to crawl under the seats she is so embarrasing!"  

Instead of thanking my God upon every remembrance of my sweet middle one, I was complaining to Him about the way He'd made her.  So, this verse has shown me that most of the time, instead of thanking God when I think of my children, I complain to Him about them.  And that's humbling.  Because I love them so much I would stand in front of a bus for them!  And because I think so often that I forget that they are children.  They learn from living and from doing and from experiencing and from mistakes.

As a result of thinking a lot on this verse, what I'm trying to do instead of this complaint-running-rhetoric in my head is something quite the opposite.  Now, granted today, you saw that I completely failed!  But now when I am frustrated, (or truth be told, about to become unglued), with one of them, I am trying to stop to say thank you to God:  Thanking Him for giving them to me, thanking Him for the unique way He made them; thanking Him that through them, He is sanctifying me; thanking them for their personalities that remind me to be childlike and not so serious (read: controlling) all the time.  Might I just tell you that this thankful attitude is making me a more cheerful, compassionate, and thankful (duh!) mama.  I'm smiling more at my children.  I'm laughing more with them.  I'm trying hard to let them be the little people God made them to be.  I'm allowing them to be children, and not expecting perfect little grown-ups in tiny bodies. 

Are you fed up with your children and finding yourself complaining more than thanking God? Try to replace those negative thoughts with thoughts of thanksgiving to God for them (be specific) and I'll bet you'll become a more cheerful mama too!

"The unthankful heart discovers no mercies.  But let the thankful heart sweep through the day and as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings."  --Henry Ward Beecher

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• Mar. 29, 2007
Our Adventures on Public Transport and Where We've Been This Week

We've been extremely adventurous in our public transportation this week as opposed to last.  We've even taken the tube.  I wanted to see if I could do it or not.  Turns out, I can, but it is difficult.  The tube is not very accomodating to strollers, with lots of stairs and escalators at most stations.  We've also taken several buses, including one route with a bus change.  Now, this is a lot for a girl who usually puts the children in their carseats and takes off.  We're definitely not used to public transportation!

The great thing about kids is that everything is an adventure to them.  So, while public transportation my be a pain in the rear for me, my kids love riding on the double decker buses, swerving through London traffic in the taxis, and speeding through London on the tube.  It seems we've also gotten more familiar with the routes and stops, at least in our little part of town here.  I'm definitely getting to know this part of London better, which is a blessing, because in May we'll have several visitors who'll want to be shown around.  Yay!

This week we've been to:

Regent's Park (fabulous park, with lots of flowers and many types of waterfowl)

Battersea Park Children's Zoo   (wrote about it a few days back in the Distracted Mothers post)

and the Natural History Museum (Awesome!  Loved the dino skeletons, and mammals exhibits.)

On a side note, I had heard from several folks who have lived in London, or visited for lengthy periods of time, about the lack of good service here.  I've not experienced that too much yet.  Although today, there was a very grumpy lady behind the information desk for children's backpacks at the NHM.  The backpacks are for under 7's and are full of things to help them explore the museum from their perspective.  I saw the backpacks all lined up, had heard of them through their website and knew they were free, and went to check one out.  That's where grumpy lady came in.   I inquired about checking out a backpack.  Her response went something like this:

"Well, (eyeing my three young children), they are for young children.  And they are hired out for 25 pounds."

I was confused, were my children, ages 5,4, and 2, not young enough?  And 25 pounds?  They were supposed to be free.  After more inquiring of grumpy lady, I found out that the 25 pounds was merely a deposit.  (Smart idea, deposits, especially since DD4 has already colored on our walls here, broken a glass, and gotten some kind of yucky stuff on one of the kitchen chairs, not to mention the DVD cordless earphones that she destroyed in our relocation rep's car a few weeks back.  Yep!  A deposit was definitely a good idea.)  I got out out 25 pounds, cash.  Grumpy lady's next response?

"Only credit cards, no cash!"

I had no credit card on me, so needless to say, we didn't get the backpack.  Now, here's my question...why do they put grumpy ladies behind counters where they will be exposed to children and mommies who might be a tad bit stressed out to be at the museum with all of their little people in the first place?  Why can't grumpy ladies be relegated to coat check or something?  Ugh.

Now, this long, rambling, focus-less post is ending.  That's been our week in a nutshell;  transportation, parks, museums, grumpy ladies, and all.

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• Mar. 28, 2007
A Logical Boy

DD4, upon discovering her brother in the bathroom on the floor, playing a game:  "Buddy, why are you playing your game in here?"

DS5, with his very obvious response:  "Because if I have to go to the potty, it's right there."

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• Mar. 27, 2007
What's Up With My Template?

Okay, I seriously have no idea what's happened to my blog template.  I didn't get into my template to switch anything.  Is anyone having problems with their template?  Is it just a homeschoolblogger thing?  If not, has this ever happened to you before?  Could someone else have gotten into my template?  Kind of like identity theft isn't it...blog-template-theft.  Well, who do I report this too? Hmmm?

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• Mar. 27, 2007
Distracted Mothers

"Time on earth is finite. The days of childhood are numbered.  Distracted mothers are a curse to their children."   --Elizabeth Foss

As I mentioned in this post, I am trying to abide more with my children during my time here.  Not that I really have a choice, because right now, I am with them 24/7, as they say.  But really I wouldn't have it any other way.  Here are some of the things in retrospect that I realize I have been missing by not being fully present when they are around.

How my boy smiles at me first thing when he wakes up and says, ""Mornin', Mama!"

That my middle sweetheart is a real physical touch girl, always wanting her hugs.

Swinging my baby on a swing in the park to her heart's content.

These things and so many more I am having my eyes opened to on a daily basis.  All because I'm trying to really see, hear, and feel the moments that I'm living in with them.  I can't tell you when was the last time that I pushed my baby on a swing and enjoyed it.  To me, it's always seemed that pushing the child who can't swing herself is just what you do until they learn to do it alone.  Usually, at home, instead of wanting to push my littlest one in her swing, I would want to "watch" my children play while I read a magazine or read a book, while enjoying a soda from the chair parked beside the play gym.  Yep, that's the honest truth about things.  Instead now I am watching her face, those "David Letterman-esque" teeth smiling at me gleefully, and her hair blowing like cornsilk in the wind.  I'm listening to her giggle and say "Wheeeee!"  I'm thinking about the gift of noticing her in all her God-made glory.  And I'm not missing my magazine-and-soda sittin'-in-my-chair time at all. 

I loved the above quote by Elizabeth Foss when I found it at my friend Marybeth's blog.   Foss is the author of the book, "Real Learning", which I kept reading great reviews about and stashed in my luggage to London.  She also keeps a thoughtful homeschooling blog here.  As soon as I read the above quote, I couldn't get it out of my head.  How exactly could a distracted mother be a curse to her children?  And in thinking much about this quote for the past few weeks, I think the curse comes in doing exactly what I'm talking about here...by not noticing and not attending to her children.  I'd like to go a bit further than Mrs. Foss and say that distracted mothers are also a curse to themselves.  Because they don't know what they are missing out on.  You know how I know this don't you?  Been there.  Done that. 

Today, we went to Battersea Park Children's Zoo.  It was a fun little place, a delight for children really.  It's very accomodating for children with small animals, a petting area, and great little descriptions for each animal.  There's also a great play area and a quaint cafe.  But here's what I noticed at Battersea.  Lots of little people there with their mummies.  Their distracted mummies.  At one point, as I looked around me, the majority of mothers that I saw were on their cell phones while their children looked at the animals, or played on the swings, or tried to get their attention.  I don't judge any of these mothers.  I am one of those mothers, for heaven's sake.  How many times have I typed away on my keyboard while one of my children asked me to play a game, or for a glass of water, or my all-time favorite, to wipe their little bottom?  But, after really reflecting on this quote for the past weeks, I guess the distraction stood out to me, and I mourned for these mothers.  And I mourned for myself, thinking about all the little moments that I've missed because I, too, have been distracted.  Or sometimes, even worse, (confession time here) just  "doing my time" until Daddy got home and I could escape.

So, I'm learning a lot on this little field trip that God has me on.  And I'm purposing not to be a distracted mother.  Not here.  And not when I return.  For the blessing to my children.  And for the blessing to me.  The days of their childhood are numbered and finite after all.

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• Mar. 27, 2007
A Multicultural Concern

DD4 at breakfast this morning, "Mommy, I don't want to speak Spanish when we get back!"

DS5 in a response of sympathy because apparently his language has changed:  "Yeah, 'cause I speak English now."

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• Mar. 26, 2007
Can I Just Fuss a Little About My Washer?

I don't mean to sound negative, but my washer over here drives me crazy.  Firstly, it is a washer/dryer combo, which until I moved to the UK, I had never even heard of.  It is also the size of a large stock pot.  That's literally as large as the drum gets.  No kidding. 

Now, I realize that I am spoiled at home.  One of the things we splurged on when we built our current house was the Whirlpool front-loading washer and dryer.  And I love those things!  (Oh, how I know realize that I love those things!)  They can fit boatloads of clothes into them.  And in this family, it seems that we do produce boatloads of clothes.  Now back to my current appliance...it fits...wait until you hear this...three towels at a time!  THREE! 

The term washer/dryer combo is also a bit of a misnomer because dry it does not.  Oh, I suppose it warms up the clothes a little, takes a little bit of the water out of them, but always, always the clothes are damp at the end of the dry cycle, and might I add, very wrinkly because the stinking drum is so small! 

Now, let's dicuss the fact that I also do not know how to use this appliance well.  Take today for example.  I wanted to dry the clothes that I had put into the washer earlier this morning.  I did not set my settings properly and the clothes started the complete wash cycle all over again. 

How about one more aggravating thing?  The washer/dryer cannot be opened until it is good and ready.  I'm not sure when that is exactly, but if you want to check on the clothes, forget it!  Not until the appliance is ready!  The door actually locks you out. 

Laundry just seems to be one of those little things that you take for granted in your home country.  Rant over.  Oh, and one more funny UK laundry note...our current letting agent told us upon explaining how to use the washer and dryer (which I obviously flunked that course!), that his own mum, to this day, handwashes everything with a washing board!  Now that was an interesting thought!  Seems she's not into these "new-fangled" washing machines. 

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• Mar. 25, 2007
Church Today

Here's the church we're currently attending.  Hubby has been working all weekend, so the children and I went to church without him this morning.  At first, earlier this week, when I thought about this --going to church on the bus with all three children, and getting each of them into the service and then checked into children's church--the thought overwhelmed me, and I considered not going.  But I am a chuch girl.  I love the body of Christ.  I know the church isn't perfect, but I delight in corporate worship, learning, and community.  I also wondered if my children would want to go, or if they'd be afraid because it's not our home church.  When I asked them, they wanted to go.  We didn't attend church last week because it was windy and raining and we didn't want to have to wait at the bus stop with the children in the wind and rain.  Well, I missed it.  When I go even one week without that focused time, it hurts me spiritually.  So, I thought, "I'm doing it."  I needed to go.  I had to go.  I was parched for the Word today.

Boy, did God deliver again through HTB!  The service was phenomenal.  There is a great spirit during worship.  Tim Hughes led worship today.  One thing about this being a new church for us is I don't know a few of the songs, and then I want to remember them when I get home, but I never can.  But most of the songs, I know, which makes me feel at home in this place that is so far away from home.  And when I look around at worship, I'm amazed by God.  I'm absolutely blown away by his great idea of gathering together believers.  Here's why...no matter where you are, who you know, or what the service is like, in a community of believers in Christ, even with no other commonalities, there is a singular commonality and that is Jesus Himself.  I feel very alone here.  But at church, with other like-minded people who worship the same God, I feel less alone, like somehow I'm in a place where people "get" me.  Probably my favorite song we sung today was "I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous)".  My son and I had gotten into it before leaving for church this morning and my heart was broken by the way both of us had behaved.  This song really reminded me of my need for God's grace and His willingness to give it.

The talk today was given by Nicky Gumbel, the vicar at HTB.  I had never heard him speak before, but was looking forward to it because he was speaking on how to read the Old Testament.  I love the Old Testament and was really curious about what he would say.  The first bit of his talk focused on why Christians should read the Old Testament.  His point?  Because Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament (see Matt 5:17).  Then, he spoke about how to read the Old Testament, making these three points:  Get to know the Person, Enjoy the Promises, Live it out in Practice.  He recommended a book, which I picked up at the end of the service called "Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament" by Christopher J. H. Wright.  He used some awesome scriptures from the Old Testament to show how Jesus is revealed in the New.  For example, one that really struck me this morning, was the story of Moses striking the rock and water coming out of it.  Then he turned to 1 Corinthians 10:4, where Jesus is called the Rock, who "accompanies" us.  I've always thought of the striking of the rock story about sustenance, but seeing through this verse that He is a Rock that accompanies us really struck a chord with me.  Remember?  I'm lonely, after all.  I suppose knowing that the Rock accompanies me makes me feel so much more confident and much less alone.   I love it when a sermon makes you want to go home and dig right into the Bible yourself.  This was the kind of sermon for me where I literally could not wait to get home and dig into it.  Gumbel also used some fabulous quotes.  Here's a great one that he referenced from Saint Augustine of Hippo:

"The new is in the old concealed.  The old is in the new revealed."

If you want to hear the whole talk for yourself, click on the link at the beginning of this post and you can download it.  It's definitely worth a listen.

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• Mar. 23, 2007
A Long Post in Which Paddington Station, Krispy Kreme, Shopping in the UK, and the National Gallery are Discussed

We ventured out early this morning.  We started with a short walk to Paddington Station (or Pabbingtom Station, as dd4 refers to it).  We've been reading "Paddington Bear" by MIchael Bond, so seeing the station was a highlight for my children.  I had heard that there was a Krispy Kreme donut shop there, so we went for breakfast.  Just an aside, I have an addiction to KK!  On the way there, the streets were full of serious-faced people presumably heading to work.  I get some funny looks from people around here -- the lady with the three little children always in tow.  I'm sure most folks are wondering why my oldest two aren't in nursery school.

We ordered an assorted dozen at Krispy Kreme.  Then the next part of eating out in England is always figuring out what to drink.  In the States, we always get chocolate or strawberry milk with our donuts, which I didn't see, so I had to look carefully at which type of milk to get because they call 2% semi-skimmed here and skim milk is called skimmed.  Not that much different, I realize, but add new packaging, etc. and it always takes me longer than the average English person who is waiting behind me to figure out what we're getting, or in this case drinking.  Then, for me I ordered coffee.   The very helpful gal behind the counter asked, "What kind of coffee?"  WHAT?  Just coffee!  But then she kindly gave me a quick list of the types they offered such as latte, espresso, and lastly what she termed "filter coffee", which I assumed was what I considered just regular ol' joe.  That's what I got.

As soon as we finished our yummy donuts, we went to look around Paddington Station a bit.  There's a little mall area with a few shops, several places to eat, a Boots drugstore, and a few grocery stores -- Marks and Spencer and Sainsbury's.  We went into a beautiful women's clothing store --I know, what was I thinking?! --called Monsoon.  Lovely, lovely, feminine clothes with a bit of glitz to them.  I am feeling very, very duddy in my fashion here in London.  Everything is so trendy.  And most of the trends are things I wouldn't wear (large orange and brown circular print dress, for example) or would only flatter a 16 -year old, size 4 girl (skinny jeans!).  So, I've been feeling really Midwestern and sticking-out-like-a-sore-thumb and super duddy and yucky and old.  Not to mention the fact that I'm not sure exactly what was going on in my head when I packed for myself, but I seem to have brought my ugliest, most impractical clothes.  Anyway, back to Monsoon.  Now that was a store that I could find things that suit my style!  I do hope to go back there sometime sans children.  Did I mention that the sizes in the UK are two sizes higher than the US?  Does that stink or what?  So, if you wear a size 6 in the US (like say, what you wore before you had 3 children in 3 and a half years! ), you would wear a 10 in the UK.  I think that is an evil, evil way of sizing, don't you agree?!  Now, if you wear an even larger size (who would, really?), than you wear an even larger size here!  UGH!

After the little time we spent looking at the shops and tearing things from the baby's little grubby grasp before we left each one (Did I mention that she grabbed something unbeknownst to me in the shop at the British Museum the other day?  So, not only is she a macabre child who is obsessed with mummies, but she's also a little clepto-in-training as well.   We returned the item, by the way.), we headed out to catch the 23 bus to Trafalgar Square.  That's right people...silly little adventurous me was going to attempt public transportation alone with three children.  And silly little adventurous me was going to attempt taking the children to the National Gallery and exposing them to great classic works of art by the masters.  Stop laughing!  This could work, right?

The first bus 23 that made it to the stop was very crowded, and there was another one right behind it, so we waited and got on the less crowded bus.  And, yeah!  We did it!  And there were two seats together for the older two, plus room in the buggy (stroller) area for baby and me.  The bus trip was fine, just your usual kinds of squabbles between the two olders.  They are starting to get more used to our little part of London.  They recognize certain stores, such as Hamley's and areas, such as Piccadilly Circus.  They were excited to be getting off at Trafalgar Square.  The book that I had brought home for the children after my initial trip here, called "Katie in London", has been very helpful in getting them excited about Trafalgar and Piccadilly and other touristy sights here.  If you are planning a trip here, definitely invest in this book.  Amazon stocks it, I think.

We got to the National Gallery about ten minutes before it opened and it was cold and windy waiting for those doors to open.  When they did, we went straight to the information counter and picked up a children's trail, which right now happens to be looking for angels in various works throughout the museum.  Then we asked a few more questions and were off to the Art Action Zone computer room.  It is such a great place!  At the Art Action Zone, you can look through the collections in the gallery online.  Then you can print out your own specialized tour map.  They have tours already planned, or you can make up your own.  Tours are organized by artist, theme, time period, subject, etc.  And there are also some great tours for children like cats, monsters, and creepy crawlies, where the children are to find the paintings included which all have cats in them, for example.  We chose a post-impressionism tour because I had been in the Manet to Picasso exhibit before and also because I had brought home an art cube with some of the paintings we were going to see.  I hoped the familiarity might keep them interested and make them excited. 

I told the children that we were going on a treasure hunt and we printed out our map with prints included and headed out as detectives in search of  Bathers at Asnieres by Seurat , Sunflowers by Van Gogh, A Vase of Flowers by Gaugin, Avenue at Chantilly by Cezanne, and The Painter's Father by Cezanne.  We found them all quite quickly.  The favorite was probably Bathers because of it's size.  DD4 got bored quickly.  She was not really impressed and remembering what I had told her earlier about the fact that she was doing something that none of her friends probably had.  Early on, she was ready to go!

Since the first tour was done so quickly, we went back to the Art Action Zone and decided to take one more tour, this time with some images of Jesus.  We found two to look for, printed out our guide, and headed up to the second floor where the works could be found.  My son became very excited about finding the paintings on this tour and predictably, dd4 and now even dd2 were fussy, complaining, and ready to go.  But all of this changed as we entered the wings where Jesus as a subject in the paintings was more common.  DD4 became so excited to see anything where Jesus was depicted.  She was particularly drawn to this painting and wanted to linger there.  The child who wanted to go home 15 minutes into our first tour was now begging to stay behind and tarry at this piece where Jesus was on his way to Calvary, with Mary mourning behind him and Saint Veronica kneeling beside him wiping his brow.  When I inquired as to why she liked this one so much, she said, "Because that lady in the red is helping Jesus." 

You know the scripture where Jesus says to his disciples, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for such is the kingdom of heaven"?  Today, I felt like I was experiencing the reality of that verse.  I love that my little girl was drawn to the pictures depicting Jesus more than that of the Impressionists.  I am in awe of her noticing Veronica and am touched by her concern about Jesus.  I was struck by the fact that my little girl, who doesn't concentrate on any one thing for more than about 3 seconds, lingered there --looking, thinking, wondering at Jesus.  I hope that today never slips from my mind.  I want to remember my children's first experience with great art.  I want to remember my son's excitement at the scavenger hunt.  And I always want to remember the great concern that my little girl had for Jesus upon seeing "The Way to Calvary" by Jacopo Bassano.

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• Mar. 22, 2007
Currently Reading, Listening To, Meditating On...

Since I've been so remiss in updating my "Current Reading" section of my sidebar, I thought I'd update you here.

Currently Reading:

"Trusting God" by Jerry Bridges

"The Constant Princess" by Phillippa Gregory

"Learning to Pray Through the Psalms" by James Sire

Genesis

Currently Listening To:

"A Grateful People" by Watermark

"Scripture Rock"

"Oh, Happy Day" and "Everything" by Tim Hughes

"Valley of Vision" by Sovereign Grace Music

Currently Meditating On/Studying:

Phillipians 1

Greek word for bondservant --Doulos

Kids Are Currently Reading:

"Armor" (Usborne)

"Knights" (Usborne)

"Paddington Bear" by Michael Bond

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• Mar. 21, 2007
Funnies from My Middle One

Today upon hearing the funny pounding sound that the washer was making, dd4 says in her very secret-agenty type of voice, "Shhhh, guys!  Someone is hamm-ing!  Do you hear dat?!"  I think she meant hammering.

And later today, after hearing me explain that God is just so different than us that we can't even imagine Him in human terms, she chimes in with, "Yeah, like He always is wearing the SAME CLOTHES!"  Yes, I guess that indeed is very different from a girl who likes to change her clothes about 6 times a day.

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• Mar. 21, 2007
A Post in Which I Explain Why I Willingly Spent 41 Pounds Even Though the Museum Was Free

Taxi fare to the British Museum:  Ten Pounds (around 20 dollars)

Entry to British Museum:  Free

Lunch at British Museum:  Thirteen Pounds   (around 26 dollars)

Little Goodies at the British Museum Children's Gift Shop:  Six Pounds (around 12 dollars)

Taxi fare home from the British Museum:  Twelve Pounds (about 24 dollars)

Not having to take public transportation with three little children all by myself:  PRICELESS!

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• Mar. 20, 2007
Request From the Baby After Visiting the British Museum

"Un see mommies again, Mom?"

Translation:  "Can we see the mummies again, Mom?"

I guess she liked them.  Macabre little thing, isn't she?!

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