Free-hand Batman Icon

This piece utterly amazed me. Joel took a piece of black construction paper (full size) and --without tracing or steciling or even drawing an outline first-- cut out this Batman icon with scissors. Not only was he just a few days shy of five years old, the amazing thing to me was that this gift is inherited from his great-great grandfather Nickel. My father used to watch his grandfather take a piece of paper or tin foil and cut out freehand pictures of a galloping horse, proud stag, or eagle in flight. Sometimes he did it with his eyes closed. To me this is such a testimony of God's wonderful creative genius being repeated throughout the generations!

OGW Club Sends Love to Iraq

Once again our Operation Gummi Worms Club poured out their love for a soldier they don't know --yet!--my brother in law, Sgt. Trip Felton. They came over on Feb 6th and made heart-shaped sugar cookies and lavished them with red and pink sprinkles. They also pulled out the proverbial stops when getting creative with the cards. GREAT NEWS: THEY WILL GET TO MEET TRIP! He's coming home to Maryland in April/May and really wants to meet them as much as they want to meet him. I can hardly wait for this homecoming celebration!!!! I can only imagine they'll be ga-ga over this real, live soldier they've only known through pictures and cards.

Funny but not Genteel

I debated whether to post this. Those of you who were brought up with all sisters or who are prim and proper should probably not read on. I grew up in that kind of home but married a man raised with all brothers. Let's just say my manners took a left turn (or maybe did a U-ey)at the altar.

So, with that warning, let me say I found Joel's comment the other night hilarious. We've all been coughing. Sometimes really hard. Well, one time he coughed and "tooted" at the same time.

"Woops!" he said, giggling. "My butt coughed, too!"

When All-Inclusive is Overkill

A few nights ago Joel was miserable. Very warm, congested, achy, sneezy, all-over blah feeling.
I was scratching his back to help him go to sleep and he said, "Mom, will you pray for me, please?"

"Sure," I said, and decided to include every possible body part in one efficient prayer. "Lord Jesus, please have mercy on my baby. Touch him with your healing power . Please make him feel better from head to toe--"



"But, Mom--" he interrupted, "my toe doesn't hurt."

Why His Temperature is Low

Like having a great hair day on the day of your haircut appointment, or your car not making the funny noise for the mechanic that it's made for you for two weeks, so my kids seems to be pictures of health and liveliness when presenting them to the doctor for a supposed fever and other symptoms.

Our entire household has been sick to varying degrees for 3 weeks. Joel was the only one with a fever and that started Monday night. By Wednesday morning, he still had one. I didn't take his temp, but guessed it was at least 100-101.

So Wednesday afternoon I take him to the doctor's office. The nurse takes his temperature.

"What is it?" I ask?

"It's 97.5, " she replies.

"That low?" I ask. "Hmmm!"

Then Joel pipes up, "That's because I'm only five."

It's Cold Out, Baby!

But Joel loves it. We got less than 2 inches of snow but then so much ice that our hill out back was a track so slick they couldn't ride sleds. They could barely climb the hill on foot, except for Joel, who moves like a gazelle over frozen tundra.

Basketball is a Testimony to God's Love

Stephen has really been enjoying basketball this year. In his words, "This is the best game there is."

I still marvel when I watch him play. It's a testimony to God's love in the form of healing. Two days after his 13th birthday (2004) Stephen was skateboarding down the street behind us, which, like every street in our neighborhood, is quite hilly. When he realized he was going too fast and could end up with a head injury if he didn't bail, he jumped off. Jumped so hard and landed straight on both feet in the grass. The sudden impact with all his weight at that speed made his right quad muscle tear the tibia tubercle off. (That's the knotty bump below the kneecap, more noticeable on guys.) The ER staff at Upper Chesapeake didn't diagnose the break. They called it 'derangement' and said, "See an orthopedist in a couple days. Meanwhile, rest it, ice it, elevate it. " His thigh swelled up like a body pillow and he couldn't move it. Unbearable pain. The orthopedist saw him and ordered emergency surgery. (Upper Chesapeake Hospital has disappointed us many a time in their diagnoses.) Stephen spent four months in physical therapy. His goal was to play basketball by Christmas of that year. The last week of November he hobbled to the hoop at the top of the driveway and took a shot. I don't remember if he made it. I was fighting tears of joy.

Writing on the Cake

Joel turned five years old yesterday. We gave him our family gifts (Superman action figures , Superman magic coloring book, and Star Wars Legos.)

When he opened the Legos, he exclaimed, "Cool! This is what I've wanted my whole life!"

That was his morning funny.

My funny Valentine is going to have a party with friends this Saturday, with a superheroes theme, cake and all. But yesterday he wanted a cake, too, which is fine. EVeryone should have a cake right on their birthday. We (Sarah and I, the resident cake decorators) just didn't have the energy or creativity for emblellishing this pre-party cake.

So I said, "Joel, what do you want on your cake? What should we write?"

He dragged a chair to the counter where Sarah held the writing tip with icing. While he was dragging the chair, Sarah asked him the same question, "Joel, what do you want me to write on your cake?"

He said, "Dear Joel" ....(long pause).....I hope you have a good time with your Star Wars buddies."

Feel the Love

It's 12 stinking degrees here. Twelve. Or was that the high today? At any rate, Joel must be a reptile; he has been in a T-shirt and shorts all day around the house. Finally, this evening, I couldn't stand seeing him in summer clothes. It was making ME cold. So I said, "Joel ,I want you to go upstairs and put on pants and socks."

"But I'm not cold."

"I don't care. I want you to put on warmer clothes."

"Can't we just snuggle?"

"We can snuggle after you put on pants and socks. Now go."

"But Mom! I can snuggle you and feel the love and be warm."


AWww, I know. Precious. I said, "That's sweet, honey, but you must obey. Now go."

Next thing I knew he was in my bed, fast asleep, the electric blanket on HIGH. Still in shorts and T.