An Update on the “Kids Need Bank”

In November our children began collecting money for children in need. They came up with the idea on their own and we really encouraged them. They contributed a lot of their own money and asked for donations as well. All the money went into a baby bottle, which the kids called the “Kids Need Bank.”

The kids did lots of extra jobs to earn money for the Kids Need Bank. They searched couches for lost coins. They added part of their allowance. They were constantly dropping bills and coins into the bank. My parents sent money in the mail- $15 to be added to the Kids Need Bank. Eventually the cash in the Kids Need Bank grew so large that we had to upgrade from a 4-ounce baby bottle to a large Mason canning jar instead. And still the pile continued to grow.

We talked a lot about what to do with the money. We discussed ideas like donating to a crisis center for women and children, or taking it to the Children’s Hospital. But the kids still weren’t sure what they wanted to do with all the money they were working so hard to collect.

There was an “Angel Tree” at church. It was filled with paper ornaments, and on each one was written the anonymous needs of various people and families in the ward. The kids decided that they’d like to use the Kids Need Bank to buy items for the angel tree.

They thoughtfully and carefully selected two ornaments. Joshua picked one for a 7-year-old boy and together the girls selected one for a 4-month-old baby. They were so excited and could hardly wait to go shopping!

The 7 year old’s ornament had asked simply for pants, socks, and underwear, all in size 8. Joshua was so sad for this little boy when he read that. He realized that this boy wasn’t asking for lego’s or toys for Christmas, but just for basic necessities that our kids don’t give a second thought to. After reading that, Joshua (who’d already contributed a lot of money anyway) dumped the entire contents of his wallet into the Kids Need Bank. Josh is a saver. He values money a great deal. He’d worked so hard for that money and had saved it for so long, but he was so willing to give it all so that another little boy could have a little bit nicer Christmas.

On Monday we got the Kids Need Bank down from the kitchen counter and counted the money. The kids had earned and saved $39.62 and were so excited to see such a large total! Rick and I had promised that we would match anything they’d earned so the kids ended up with $80 total and they were delighted! Rick and I both knew, however, that we’d spend more than that in order to really fill the needs on the angel tree ornaments.

We shopped for the 7-year-old first. Joshua carefully inspected the toys. He chose several nice toys that he himself would enjoy and was pretty sure that a little boy close to his age would enjoy them as well. We picked out several pairs of pants and some socks and underwear also, as the ornament had specified.

The girls were excited to shop for the baby. They picked out several cute outfits and some warm pajamas and a few little baby toys. We added a gift card for diapers, formula, or whatever else was needed. Of course, we included gift receipts for everything we bought for both children, just in case something was the wrong size or wasn’t needed.

The kids proudly paid for the items with the money from the Kids Need Bank and Rick and I paid for the rest. On the way out to the van, the kids were talking excitedly about the Kids Need Bank. They were already thinking of ways to earn money for it next Christmas.

Before we’d even reached the van, however, they decided that the Kids Need Bank was so, so important that we should fill it all year long. So that’s what the kids are planning to do. The Kids Need Bank is already being filled again and money will be added all year long in preparation for next Christmas. The kids are brainstorming ways to fill it even faster. Brenna wants to clean houses and sell lemonade. Joshua would like to mow lawns and have a yard sale. Maddie is still hoping to find money lost in the couch. And all of it will be contributed to the Kids Need Bank.

I am so proud of my children and so thankful that they are learning to give so young in life. They are such sweet children. I am thankful for each of them. I am looking forward to a year of filling the Kids Need Bank together.

Love Languages

I still remember when my parents first picked up a copy of the “love languages” book. The idea that everyone shows and feels love in different ways has become a widely known concept. My children are as unique in their “love languages” as they are in every other aspect of their young lives.

Brenna loves to write and receive small notes and letters. Spending time together makes her feel loved as well. And she enjoys snuggling before bedtime or during a book or movie.

Joshua shows and feels love through games and activities. He enjoys spending time with someone he loves, doing something together. He also shows love through tasks and actions.

Madalyn loves hugs and kisses and physical affection. She also loves positive, affectionate words. Gifts mean a lot to her as well.

Braden says “I love you” constantly and loves to hear those three words returned. He enjoys cuddling and hugging also.

Asher is very affectionate. He loves to give hugs and kisses and getting them back in return. Of course, he is very young still so I expect that his “love languages” will develop and expand as he grows.

Cute

As I was helping Braden get dressed this morning, he sighed with great satisfaction and said, “Today is such a cute day!”

I’m not sure exactly what that means, but it made me laugh!

Chip or Treat

I was munching on Doritos in my room when Braden wandered in with a bag in his hand.

“Mom, I am trick or treating for chips,” he explained. Then he held the bag up and confidently sang out, “Chip or treat!”

Conspiracy

I think my kids really are conspiring against me. Jacob actually slept from 4am to 7am last night! But, rather than sleeping, I was up… first with Braden (who fell out of bed and scared us both half to death) and then with Asher (who was startled awake by Braden’s cries and then refused to go back to sleep for the rest of the night). I do smell a conspiracy.

Our Family of Eight

Swiftly

I took Brenna to gymnastics practice on Wednesday. I still don’t like to leave her there alone so I always stay during practice. We were running late so I dropped her off at the entrance to the rec center and promised to meet her inside after I parked. Brenna jumped out of the car, grinned at me and said, “I love you, Mom,” and then darted off towards the building.

I think I gasped out loud as I watched her go. Her legs suddenly seemed so slender, her hair seemed so long. Everything about her seemed grown up as I watched her run. At seven years old, there is nothing even remotely babyish about Brenna anymore. She lost her baby fat and chubby cheeks long ago. She washes her own hair and brushes her own teeth and ties her own shoes. She knows how to change a diaper and she loves to cook. Even her permanent teeth are finally growing in. She is mature and capable and so grown up.

But wasn’t it just yesterday that she was the infant I cradled? That she was the squalling newborn that kept me up at night? Or the inquisitive toddler that delighted me constantly? The preschooler who wanted to be read to endlessly? Where are the dimpled elbows, the pudgy fingers, and the ringlets that bounced just above her shoulders? Where did that baby go? Where did my baby go?

I remember being a little saddened when Brenna turned two, and three, and four. I was never sad that she was growing up. In fact, she got more fun with each passing year. Instead, I was sad because she was growing up so fast. The years passed so swiftly that it literally took my breathe away. I felt I needed just a little more time with Baby Brenna and Toddler Brenna and Preschooler Brenna, before time managed to transform her once again.

But Brenna turning two or four was nothing compared to watching the changes in her now. A three-year-old is still so young and small, still almost a baby. But like I said before, there is nothing babyish about Brenna any more. Seeing her grow into a child, rapidly approaching her “tween” years and leaving her babyhood far behind her, is amazing. Truly, Brenna is an incredible girl and she gets more fun with each passing year. But, again, these changes are happening so rapidly, as if in a moment, that it hurts my heart a little bit too. Even as I thrill at her growth and development, even as I delight in the incredible girl that she is becoming, even as I enjoy the deeper relationship we now can share, I still find myself teary eyed. I never expected the years to pass so swiftly. Time somehow fooled me into thinking that Brenna would be tiny for a long time. But now here she is, tall and thin and seven years old, and it hurts because it’s happened far too quickly.

Time doesn’t fool me like it used to. I know all too well how fast babies grow. Jacob, so tiny and warm in my arms, will grow up- as cliche as it may be- in the mere blink of an eye. Soon he’ll be the seven-year-old that I adore and marvel at, the one who makes wonder where the last seven years escaped to. And I know that it won’t be long before I look back and wonder where my seven-year-old Brenna disappeared to because now she’s a busy teenager instead.

I miss washing Brenna’s hair for her. I miss dressing her in the morning and rocking her to sleep at night. I miss doing things for her. I miss the way she used to need me. I miss how tiny she used to be. I miss it all. I miss my baby girl. And, yes, I sometimes cry a little because of it.

But I also adore the seven-year-old that Brenna has become. I love talking with her, sharing funny jokes and stories. I love listening to everything that she has to say. I love watching Brenna fill her role of big sister. I love that she reads chapter books and does long math problems. I love watching her in gymnastics, the sport she loves and the one that she is willing to push herself for. I love spending time with her. I love that we are friends and that we enjoy being together. I love that she still loves to snuggle and hold hands and be read to. I love that she constantly uses our secret “I love you” hand squeeze, something my Nana taught me when I was just a little girl myself. I love everything, everything, everything about where Brenna is now. She is delightfully fun. She is beautiful. She is incredible. And, as big as she is now, she is still my baby girl!

I cherish my babies. I cherish my big kids. I cherish every year in between. I vow to rock my babies, tickle my toddlers, sing with my preschoolers, and talk with my elementary schoolers. I can’t keep my children small forever, but I can enjoy every moment with them while I have the chance.

I am so grateful for the sacred privilege of being a mother. I am so grateful for the six precious, beautiful children that Rick and I have been blessed with. I am so thankful for all the incredible joys and even the heartache that motherhood brings. And even though time passes far too swiftly for my liking, I suppose it really is the passing of time that makes life so very precious.

Because life is precious and because my children are miraculous, I am also so very thankful for my knowledge of eternity. I am thankful for the sealing power of the temple. I am thankful for Heavenly Father’s plan for the salvation of His children. I am thankful that life does not end in death. I am striving to raise these children to the Lord and I am so thankful for His help and guidance as I do.

I have been so very blessed!

Kids Need Bank

My kids noticed a box of donated toys while we were out shopping and they were very curious about it. We talked a lot about children who will have nothing for Christmas and how people can donate toys and presents to them. We talked about families without food and clothing and shelter. We talked about how Jesus wants us to care for those around us.

Yesterday the kids came to me. They had a clean baby bottle and it was stuffed with coins and dollar bills. The kids explained that this was their “Kids Need Bank.” They were collecting money to buy toys for kids who needed them. They had ”collected” five dollars of their own money so far and were looking for more donations.

I was happy to donate to such a worthy cause. I was touched by the compassion of my children. And I am already eager to help with this holiday service project of theirs.

Question…

Question: What does a tired mommy do when her three-year-old, one-year-old, and newborn little boys are all awake at 4:00 AM???

Answer: She takes pictures, of course!!!

Between these three (the younger two in particular) I am getting only a few hours of sleep each night… sometimes even less. They are so cute though, that it makes it all worth it!

See what I mean?…

Monday Funday

Our life is getting busier and busier. Between Rick’s work schedule, homeschool, household duties, and the many time-consuming activities that our kids are involved in, we are constantly doing something. We work hard to create family time in the midst of our jam-packed schedule. On Monday (Rick’s day off), we used to visit the library, go grocery shopping, and run errands, but lately we’ve been focusing on planning a fun family activity for Monday morning and afternoon instead. Shopping and errands and even the library can wait. We wanted our kids to be able to count on a fun family activity every Monday.

Today for Monday Funday (as the kids have begun calling it) we saw the movie UP. It was playing in the dollar theater.  (We never see a theater movie unless it’s in the dollar theater.) We had a great time together and the movie was very cute.

Jacob slept through the entire movie and the four older kids watched from start to finish. Asher was the only difficult one. He sat quietly in the beginning, but then he started to fuss. He got more and more upset and before long even the candy and popcorn we had wasn’t enough to console him. Rick took him out for a while, then I took him.

As I walked the halls Asher got more and more upset. He was crying so hard that I started to worry about him. Concerned that he was hurting somewhere, I took him to the bathroom and checked him for an injury or something that might have been poking or hurting. Then I had the thought, “Take off his shoes. His feet might be hot.” I slipped his shoes off and he was asleep in my arms within five minutes. Go figure. We stopped for lunch after the movie.

With our Monday Funday activity finished, we went to gymnastics. Brenna went to practice, Rick and Josh worked out together in the same rec center, and I took everyone else grocery shopping. We met back up for dinner and wrestling practice.

It was a wonderful, fun, memorable Monday.