you never know when to expect ...

i was sitting at the computer, browsing facebook, when caloway came over, and said:

"mom, will you help me pray Jesus in my heart?"

i asked him if he knew what that meant, and he told me he was talking about it with cam and claire, and he told them he was going to go to heaven, too. he said that claire asked him if he'd prayed yet, and that if he wanted to go to heaven, he had to pray and ask Jesus in his heart! She told him to go ask mommy to help!

i sat him on my lap, and explained as clearly as i could, what it means to sin, and how much God loves us so much, that He sent His only son, Jesus, to be the One to fix our relationship. while i was sharing forgiveness, cal said:

"well, i forgive, cuz' Jesus forgives me!"

i prayed with my baby boy, who in turn, hugged me tight around my neck, and whispered, "i'm embarrassed!" i hugged him tighter, and told him i loved him, and he should never have be embarrassed around me.

i've been listening to this song, hear us from heaven, (it's the first song on the blog) and the words from the chorus are burning into my heart:

"Open the blind eyes, unlock the deaf ears ... come to your people, as we draw near ...

hear us from heaven, touch our generation ... we are Your people - crying out in desperation ... "

SIT for a moment ... listen to this song ... and thank God for His salvation, and the incredible, awe-inspiring wonder that wells up, when we think of how deeply He loves us, that He not only reaches rational adults, but tender, innocent children who can understand the massive love and forgiveness of an almighty GOD.

but i want a "little one"!

caloway has been asking lately, if i will marry him. today, while i was fixing my hair, he came in the bathroom, and sat down.

cal - "mom, will you marry me?"

me - "no, caloway - i already married daddy!"

cal - "but you love ME, too!"

me - "yes, but i can't marry you - you're my son! you will have to find another lady to marry someday."

cal (somewhat suspiciously) - "a big one? like you?"

me - "well, yeah - a big, grown up lady."

cal (upset) - "but i want a LITTLE ONE!"

btw- this is caloway, with his own "harry potter" scar. we found out later, that claire gave it to him, as well as several other "hand-made" tattoos. :)

candy store!

we took a field trip w/ our homeschool co'op 2 wks ago, to jennings state park. the kids learned all about birds, snakes, and other wildlife that is indigenous to pennsylvania. anyway, on the way back, my friend asked if we wouldn't mind stopping at a candy store - OF COURSE! this little candy store was a goldmine of every type of sweets you could imagine. do you remember THESE?

and i couldn't believe these are still made:

and there was a 10-cent table!! oh the possibilities!

on the other side of the store, were tables full of every kind of cookie cutter imaginable, german candies, candy-by-the-pound, gumballs in every size, shape, color ... *sigh* is your mouth watering yet?

end of summer

not too much has been going on around here lately! school started at the end of august, we're homeschooling for another year. i joined a co'op, which enables us to participate in field trips, class parties, and also opens up a huge network of families with similar interests, hobbies, and resources. we can pick and choose what we want to do, and i'm finding out that there are a TON of homeschooling programs in our area! claire started gymnastics a few wks ago, and really loves it - she also started piano lessons and is doing an incredible job! i broke down, finally, and decided to have her take lessons with another teacher - it just wasn't going well, with me teaching her piano, on top of school and everything else. so claire's teacher and i are swapping lessons - i'm going to teach her daughter, and she will teach clairely. it worked out great!

cameron started 4th grade, and is using a computer-based program for his work- it has been a WONDERFUL option for him, and he is doing very well w/ his schoolwork. it's definitely a plus that it's on the computer, his favorite place to be! haha.

caloway is doing some pre-school here at home- we're simply going over letters and sounds, numbers, and hopefully begin some pre-reading in a few months.

here are some pictures from our Pirates game, and downtown pittsburgh! we love pittsburgh - the city and all the bridges that wrap around it are gorgeous! it's so fun being only 25 min. from downtown pittsburgh, it really opens up a lot of cultural things to do! we're planning on seeing the ballet, Sleeping Beauty, this month, and in december, the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular will be here.