Lessons from the Pool

For all those who have seen my son this summer, you would never have recognized him from the child that loved the pool last fall. He still loved the beach, most likely because he could walk from the beach to the water and vice versa anytime he wanted. But with the pool, a switch was flipped and suddenly he clung to the steps, and was rarely ever coaxed into the pool. For example, the pictures you saw of him at family vaca in Lake Michigan were the only times he went in the water. And yes, that was with a pool temptingly in the backyard for a week.

So I wondered how he would be this week in Phoenix. He went in more often, but still clung to the bench that ran the whole end of the pool, refused to ride on one of the rafts, and would cling mercilessly to you if you took him off the step.

Until yesterday.

The previous day he would jump from the steps to my arms, so yesterday I tried to get him to do the same thing, but with his arm floaties. Gradually I stepped back further until he had to swim a foot or two to get to me. Once he realized he was swimming (and I would make him swim back, much to his chagrin), he became a bit braver. I loved hearing him exclaim, "I did it!" after he reached the steps. It took patience, but by the end of the evening, he was swimming the length of the pool!

Last night for our Bible story, we read about the houses that the wise and foolish men built. It was such a perfect example to explain to him how we need to trust in Christ as our solid rock, just as he trusted that I would not let his head go in the water. I think because I lack a lot of common sense, it is sometimes hard for me to help explain anything to my child, let alone abstract concepts. I love it when God just hands me a nugget of truth with the application from a lesson learned earlier in the day!

Now let's hope he applies both these physical and spiritual lessons in the future!

To Enjoy or Not to Enjoy...

 
Looks can be deceiving, as Aiden's happy dance and continually returning back to the popsicle will attest.

John 3:16

After a week and a half of practicing at mealtime, he's got it, as well as a toddler understanding of what it means. Now I just need to teach him how to not speed through when reciting it. :)

I noticed after VBS however, that he gets a bit confused with the references (our theme verse was John 14:6) and then mixes up the verses. So I think I'm going to try out that ABC method. Hopefully, that will help. But I'm open to advice, as well as any Bible verses you think should be one of the first ones a toddler should know!

Boys and their Technology

... need I say more? :)

Lake Michigan 2012

It seems that even though this is only the second time we have vacationed at Lake Michigan, the convenience of proximity and a beach makes it an ideal spot for most of the family, and it may end up being the annual location. This year, although the house in New Buffalo was smaller, we had our own pool and jacuzzi. The latter I was thrilled about, but even I was not insane enough to enter warm waters on 100+ days! We were all there, except Nate and Natalie. Ruth's friend from His Ranch, Keri, also came along!

 Spent Sunday afternoon on the lake with the Rauhe's after Alto church

Story time with Grandpa

 Blueberry Picking

 I guess I should be grateful the blueberries were in the bucket!

 Waiting for fireworks

 I was shocked that my 13mo old actually sat patiently the whole time until fireworks started!
I think I need a small chair for the airplane!

 My pseudo-Japanese husband :)

 

 

 4th of July at the Langhofers

 What my son talked about for the past year... riding a horse at Dr. Marty's!

 Meal time was in 2 shifts... kids and then adults. Master Chef was Craig :)

 My son wouldn't go in the water without his "goggles"

 And for some reason, in the past year, he has gotten fearful of the water...
so the police car was his constant companion as well.

 Keri graciously reading multiple Bible stories

 Dad Virkler rented a couple of paddle boards and a jet ski for the afternoon. All were enjoyed!

 

 The result of working on a 33pg PRP research paper

 Mini-Golfing one hot evening. Thankfully, it was followed by ice cream!

 The things he does when his Daddy isn't looking!

 Hesston Steam Museum

A Preview of the Virkler Family Vacation

Looking at the pictures of our recent Virkler family vacation to Lake Michigan, I stumbled across one. Not quite sure who took it... though I am sure of who is in it! But it is a clear picture of just one of the things that took place when this Mommy had her back turned.

Stay tuned for more later!

Lessons from A Three-Year-Old

"Rejoice evermore.
Pray without ceasing.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.^"

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

I love it when my little one prays.

Although sometimes he will include himself 3-4 times during the prayer, I love the innocence of it all. He prays for his family. He prays for his friends at church. For the little boys and girls that don't have any Mommy's and Daddy's. For his Sunday School teacher. The blue sky. The sun. The hot outside and whale sprinkler his Dad has continually forgotten to bring down from the rafters in the garage this week. That Jesus died on the cross for him. The various animals that come to his mind (usually this begins with the chipmunk that runs by the screen door). His books and Bible stories. For the hug he got after the spanking. For the people his Daddy is fixing at the hospital. Sharing with his brother (and sometimes walloping on his brother too). For the food in front of him (and the food he hopes to eat). For the person on the street who is hungry.  That Jesus is Lord.

Sometimes his prayers last a good 5-10 minutes long. As a 3 year old, unless he's in timeout, I can't even get him to sit that long. It amazes me.

I haven't read the book "One Thousand Gifts" from Ann Voskamp, but it's on my list. Maybe I'll finish up one of the other 3 on my nightstand this weekend and pick it up from the library before we head off to visit family next week. But what I have heard is that she started counting all the things she was thankful for and that it helped lead her into a thankful heart focused on God.

Sometimes in the busyness of life I can get sidetracked from these little things. I'll be trying to think of how much I can accomplish in my allotted time with less children while my husband sleeps post-call. Or how much I need to get done before we head off to the next family gathering, vacation, hospital event, etc. Or the correlating, how much I have to do once we return.

And sometimes it takes a toddler, not carrying if his cheerios get soggy to help me refocus. But I love it when he prays and reminds me to be thankful for the little things. A lesson learned in junior high that I still try to apply daily. It is hard not to be joyful when you are thankful. And when we have our sights focused on things above, it is easier to stay above the noise that drones from the world where we now reside.

So this weekend, try to look around you and be thankful for the simple things in life that surround you. Or if you are having a bad day, look for the ray of sunshine, the silver lining within those stormy clouds. Like hugs after discipline. Or the hope of a whale sprinkler for hot outdoor temperatures.

And maybe pass it on. In a smile to a tired cashier. Or a note to a friend. Or if you are bold and don't care what others think of you, you can belt out "Jesus Loves Me" to everyone in JoAnn's as your mother shops for VBS supplies. 

Life truly is beautiful. Each day is a blessing from above. Be thankful for it and don't waste it.