Passing my test.

My kids got the gift of spatial reasoning from Ben.  I completely missed that boat.  Remember on standardized tests when they had a die unfolded and you had to choose which die it would be once it was folded up as a cube?  Yep, pretty much failed that part.  I love the view of this "guy" Will made on our kitchen table.  It's fun and clever and I never could make something turn out like that.  Well, maybe I could, but it would take a while.

My kids are teaching me a lot of things lately.  

Like Brigham helping me to remember that anyone performs better with praise.  That sometimes all someone needs is to be reminded that they're good enough.  Unfortunately, it's easy to overlook the one who you just count on to keep it together.  

Or William, who taught me that even though someone seems like they're okay,--so you focus on a more obvious needy soul--they still need validation, a physical touch like a hug, or just a little conversation to keep them going on the right track.  Letting them know that I see the goodness.

Lincoln is helping me remember that for every negative remark I make (in my frustration), I need to fill him up with five positives.  Some days I've gone to bed with tears because I felt like I'd said nothing positive to him all day long.  What kind of boy will he become if all he hears is the bad?  It scares me to death.  I MUST learn to hold my tongue.  I know his spirit is tender, and yet I get caught up in the heat of the moment.

Annie helps me know when it's time to eat!  She's like a hungry little clock.  Why must they eat regularly?  Blah.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to eat.  I just wish they'd eat when I want to eat.  I know, I know, growing bodies and all that.  But still, I wish the good ol' days of bread and a slice of cheese or something was good enough, you know?

Sam is my daily lesson that love is what matters most.  Love changes people.  All the "stuff" of life doesn't matter if you don't love people along the way.  That learning to forget yourself is the key to a happy life.  

We all learn life's lessons in our own way depending on what road our lives take us.  This is my road, these are my lessons, and, well, I'm trying to take good notes.  

This is one test I really want to pass.