The Fabric of Faithfulness

Various musings on the recent antics of our children Antonio is in a stage where he likes to wave his hands around. Not just up and down, hand open, typical stuff, but a wonderful arching of the wrists, movement of the fingers all while moving his arms up and down. For seven months I think it looks pretty sophisticated, not really like a South American preacher, but more like a particularly aesthetic culturesnob who can't quite get out what he thinks about the latest Gorecky syphony or Tansey painting. When I wave back - he gets really excited. Elena will be a negotiator. After thowing a fit last night becuase she could not get her jammies out of the basket (I had mistakenly done it for her..) she started negotiating about compensatory treats. I may have made a mistake in even bringing up the idea. First it was one M&M, to which I acquiesced. But before long at all - she says "How about 2 M&M's and a sucker" and when I resisited, she starts crying "but I want a sucker.." Ever pushing along the way. Antonio is starting to get the idea of Peek A Boo. put a blanket over his head, wait a minute and pull it off - and he smiles so big.. We put a empty plastic container in front of Antonio the other day and he was enthralled first with putting his toys in and out of it, and then after that he found the delight of beating on it. Do we have a cleaner drummer? Elena - two - going on a modeling career, at least from the way she likes to look in the mirror at herself, or in the darkened window by the dining room table. She will just sit and watch herself goof off, act up, wiggle around - just to see how it looks. Elena. We have been impressed with the spiritual sensititivy of this child. She is usually very quick to pray and seems to really enjoy memorizing bible verses. Gwen Green encouraged us not to dismiss this as merely a phase, but to encourage and commend her heart. This is a hard thing to do, but is important. Though I feel that we do not work very hard to help our daughter love the lord, she simply seems to have that in her in an essential and natural way. Our responsibiltiy is not to quench it, but stoke it futher. Hard to do.