Three

Three is such a mystery to me. I don't know how to parent him. He baffles me. I want so much to understand him and to help him. Sometimes when parenting him seems too much, too overwhelming, I have to sit and remember all the wonderful things about him. One of the things that helps me, is listening to his favorite song. The lyrics always lift me.

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee,
Op’ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Wellspring of the joy of living,
Ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother,
All who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the happy chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us,
Brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward
In the triumph song of life.

But, in the paradox that is Three, the lyrics to his second favorite song, go something like this

Oh, hot damn, this is my jam....

The vacuum of life

Four decided she could pour her own cereal this morning, and ending up pretty near dumping the box. Because I am not at my best in the morning, she called not only me but One. One decided to help her and vacuumed up the spilled cereal.

Sometimes I really wish someone was around to vacuum up my mistakes, and make everything all better.

Then I remember there is someone to help me. More than one actually. A legion of helpers. They won't do it FOR me, but they are always happy to help.

Thank you Angels. Thank you guides. Thank you God for ALL the helpers you send me, whether I realize they are there or not. Thank you.

Itchy

On a whim, we decided to adopt a second cat. Three was the only one around when it was time to go pick him up, so he became Three's kitten. Meet Itchy.

That's what big brothers are for

During soccer games, it is pretty common for the kids not playing soccer to go hang out with Four on the little playground there. On one particular day, One was playing on one field, and Two on another. So off Three and Four went, with strict instructions to stay on the playground, and not to play in the dirt on the t-ball field next to it.



And then they came back, still hand in hand.


Partners in crime, errr, make that partners in grime.

Three, realizing that perhaps this was not going to over well, decided, perhaps he should clean his sister up just a bit...

and a bit more...

and perhaps a bit more....