Noah Asks About Sacrifice
If you have kids you know that every now and then you run across what smart people call “teaching moments.” I think we had one the other day and, being super-dad, I chose to jump at it.
Out of the blue Noah asked, “Dad, what does sacrifice mean?” He had been studying Cain and Abel and the sacrifices they made to God.
My chest swelled, my mind raced and I spent the next 2-3 minutes talking with him about the meaning of the word in the larger Christian context. At the end of the conversation I asked a final question.
“So what did Jesus sacrifice?” I said, waiting for a great answer.
“I don’t know. A goat?” Noah replied.
“Yes, I said. Probably at some point.”
A teaching moment, except it was for me. Again.
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Random Updates
Recent goodness from Elijah.
Eyebob = Eyeball
“I’m breaking them to pizzas.” = “I’m breaking them to pieces.”
Escavator = Escalator
Uhaw = Utah
Ooleegee = Luigi
I saw him picking is nose and asked if he needed a tissue. He didn’t answer. I asked again. He replied, “No, I just put it back in the nose.”
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And from Noah.
After watching a show on PBS where a dog had eaten a sock, Noah recapped what was going on:
“They’re taking the dog to the vet because he ate a sock and they’ve got to get it out of his butt veins…or somethin’.”
What do you say to that?
And then my favorite. I overheard Noah explaining something to Elijah so I listened in (it’s usually pretty interesting):
“God is with you. He’s everywhere. He’s here beside me, over there, in the whole house. He’s always with Dad. He gives you everything you need. Pizza. Peppermints. Everything. You. Need.”
Made my day.
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Need a good laugh? Watch this. So true. So, so true.
Updates, Updates
Lots going on with us.
As most of you (hopefully) know by now, I resigned from my job recently in order to devote time to both the goals of Innate Productions and some personal projects. My last day at my current job is May 31.
I guess you can call it a leap of faith, but I’m beginning to wonder about that phrase. I guess I’m wondering why my faith must take leaps in order to be what it is supposed to be. Let’s just call this another step in faith. I don’t think we’re leaping so much as we are just doing what we think God is asking us to do.
I can’t say enough about my co-workers. This is the best job I’ve ever had. It’s also the most difficult. But looking back over over a year’s worth of journal entries, it’s obvious that my departure was coming sooner rather than later.
What will I do next? First I’m desperately trying to finish up artwork for this year’s Impact. Working with David Skidmore on this has been a blast. Second, I’ll spend a week at Short Mountain with Tusculum at their summer camp. I’ll also be working on several other projects over the next few months that will hopefully see the light of day very soon. Much to do, including setting up a non-profit. More news soon!
read moreBlueberry Rootbeer
It’s been a while since I’ve added any Noah-isms or E-bonics. But the guys have had a few good ones lately, so here you go. This collection is rated PG-13, I think, but I edited the content for various reasons. We got a PG rating upon review.
While each were eating a grape sucker (but not realizing it was grape), they each described the flavor.
Elijah: Purple Limeade
Noah: Blueberry Rootbeer
Elijah was asked if he wanted a Coke or Mellow Yellow slush. “Mallow Lallow,” he said.
And finally, while sitting at the table playing with himself, Elijah stands up and says, “My p***s is big. Wanna see?”
“No,” I said. “Now eat your lunch.”
For those of you with no boys in the house, you’re likely horrified right now. Just realize that’s the way it goes. I have no idea where he learned that word, either. We just try to not laugh and therefore encourage such behavior when it occurs (we fail). It took a few more hours to get him to stop running around the house, playing with his army men, saying, “Ow, he hit my p***s,” as one army man attacked another.
And in a weird parenting sort of way, I’m so gloriously thankful for all of it. There were many problems, honestly, bringing these two boys into existence (and keeping one here after he arrived). See Kristi’s blog post about just some help we had along the way – even random help. We now pray every night, read our Bible every day, read books (good novel-types) all the time, play baseball in the back yard, treat ourselves to Sonic for silly celebratory reasons, listen to rock music really loud and dance around, eat Noah-planned suppers consisting of pickles, black olives and mac & cheese, and have a great life all-told. My kids are best friends with each other, I’m best friends with Kristi and we, above all things, stress a love for God more than anything else. He did create blueberry rootbeer, after all. He must love us a lot.
read moreMagic
Noah was in a talent show at church tonight. It was no big deal, but he was all over it. As soon as we mentioned “talent show” last week he said, “I want to do a magic show.” So, we picked out a few tricks that were simple yet fun enough for a nearly-7-year-old and set to practicing. Now, my initial reaction to his wanting to be in the show was, “Are you sure? Don’t you want to sit in a corner and watch from afar like I would have done? You know you have to be in front of a lot people, right?”
But I forget who I’m dealing with here (I refer you to the Noah-isms category). We practiced. He wanted to just do the tricks without talking. I said, “You have to talk or no one will have a clue what you are going to do.” He agreed. And somewhere in the distance Elijah said, “Wha the cwap?” (Seriously, he says this now. I blame Kristi).
Anyway, Noah did great. Beforehand we’re backstage and I, his lovely assistant, continue to go over his so-salled lines because I am more nervous than he is.
Brian: OK, so when we go out you say, “Ladies and gen…”
Noah: (Looking up, frustrated, and grabbing my arms) Dad. I’ve got it.
So he did the tricks. The other kids came to the stage to see his quick little show, and then he ran off like it was no big deal. But I did get him a root beer float from Sonic afterwards. He drank it as we rocked out on the way home listening to Switchfoot, Weezer and others that contributed to the mood of general awesomeness. God is good.
read moreShuh UP
From Noah:
He’s learning about common nouns, etc., in school right now. Sister, brother, father, mother and so on. Kristi was attempting to illustrate a point.
Kristi: Does Daddy have any sisters?
Noah: I don’t know.
Kristi: Does Mommy have any sisters?
Noah: [holding hands in air in the why-are-you-asking-me-this pose] I don’t know! I didn’t know you when you were kids!
From Elijah:
We were reading the Bible the other night – a cartoon-like version for kids his age. I turned to the page with Jesus on the cross (and in this Bible he seems a little too okay with being on the cross but like I said, it’s for little kids. And Jesus looks like John Eldredge. Anyway….).
Brian: Elijah, did you know that Jesus died?
Elijah: [looks over to book]
Brian: But do you want to know what’s cool?
Elijah: [nods yes]
Brian: [turning a few pages] …he came back to life!
Elijah: [eyes get really big] Shuh UP!
About Brian
Idea guy. Artist intercessor. Encourager, if at all possible. Live the best story you can live and bring forth the things God puts on your heart to create. The world is not as it should be if you ignore your calling, if you ignore that still small voice. If you ignore it, you deprive the rest of us of the voice of God through you. Don’t miss it. It’s the adrenaline of the soul.
