They Still Say the Darndest Things!

So today during our home school day the twins both said things that cracked me up... maybe it's just me because I tend to look at them and see three year olds with pigtails and it melts me.
First up today was Olivia.  She was presenting us with a powerpoint that she put together on the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906... I think that was the year ;) I should have listened better!
It had great information, fantastic pictures, and I could tell she really knew her subject.
She had music going with the slides and at the end I questioned her on her music choice.  You see, her music sounded like something you would hear in a sad part of Memoirs of a Geisha, or the Last Samurai... needless to say it had a strong oriental sound to it.  Makayla wanted to know what had caused her to chose the music... her answer?  "Well... since most of San Fransico is chinese, it seemed like it worked..." Totally straight faced, serious answer here.  I almost spit my diet pepsi through my nose as I replied... "Not in 1906!"
Then this afternoon as Makayla was reading us part of her decade summary for 1900-1910 she used the term, "Up, up and away" when she was writing about the Wright brothers.  Olivia kind of chuckled at her and Makayla stopped and said, "Duh... they invented the airplane, I'm sure they said Up, up and away!" Again... totally serious here...
Sometimes those girls are still so stinking cute... even at 15 ;)

I Have a Friend!

So, I just posted about our hard weekend and I am thinking to myself... gosh! Share the good stuff.  So here it is.
I had three social outings with friends this week!!! That's right 3!!!
I had lunch with a friend on thursday, dinner with one family on Saturday and a BBQ with another family today... that's right baby... 3 things on my calendar!!!!
First dinner invites since we moved to Chico and we get 2 in a weekend.  They both were great and I am thanking the Lord for the glimmers of hope that one day we will feel connected here in Chico.
As we were at our friends house today I was seriously going throughout the day with this little, "I have a friend, I have a friend" cheer going on in my mind... I know... I'm 10 ;)  But can I say... it felt awesome!
I have a friend!

Degree in Parenting

Sometimes I really wish I had a degree in parenting.  If not a four year degree, at least my Associates.  Tonight I feel wiped out and I have that "what just happened?"  You know... parental amnesia.  I know I lived the last 3 days but my mind is just a blur of moments and memories.  This may be estrogen overload... or possibly estrogen anaphylactic shock... the jury is still out on it... let's just say I am ready for a NEW week.  Friday started with us waiting by the computer for the Oliver cast to be posted.  When I say waiting, I really wish I meant figuratively... that just wouldn't be honest.  At almost 11pm, it finally went up and all of the Thompson's were in!  However, 11pm was when the long conversation about the tough stuff in life and what the real definition of "worth" really means.  This conversation seems to have played into most of the weekend.  Don't get me wrong, there have been great conversations, heart felt talks, and I believe even some healing that has happened in my girls; I just find myself, here on Monday night feeling once again like such a novice, such a newbie in parenting.  

The girls, especially the twins, ask me every so often what my biggest fear is when it comes to being a Mom.  I am not sure why they ask me this because my answer is always the same; that they chose to not follow the Lord when they grow up.  Bad decisions, mistakes, and all kinds of things can go wrong, but if they cling to the Lord through it all... none of it scares me.  I am learning as they get older and older how little control I have in this... responsibility yes, control... not at all!  Only they can chose to be soft to the Holy Spirit, only they can chose the condition of their heart.  I can't make them be teachable, or introspective, or selfless, or eternal thinkers.  Sadly, I am finding out that this is kind of hard for me, this lack of control over their hearts and minds.  They must make their choices each day to follow the Lord or not, I simply cannot do it for them.  

As I look back on this weekend in light of all that, and how tired I feel from it all, the Lord is tapping me on the shoulder and showing me how it is less about the events of the weekend and more about my fighting to hold onto control.  He is telling me to Trust Him with their hearts, trust the Holy  Spirit to speak to them... I do believe they hear Him.

You know... this would have been a really great class to take when earning that degree in parenting.