bucket filler

c's school does a behavior program called being a "bucket filler."  i was new to the idea, so he's been filling me in.  basically, there's a puppet (who happens to be a talking bucket.  :-?  yeah.  okay.)  who tells the kids that the whole point of this behavior program is to do nice things for others...hence, being a "bucket filler."  bullies, i've been told, are "bucket dippers."  this is a big deal, people.  a really big deal.  if you get caught being one of the aforementioned bucket fillers, you get your good deed read over the announcements, and your picture on the wall with the puppet.  this is akin to the nobel peace prize for kindergartners.  :-)

c has been angling to get the award all year.  every day, quite literally, he does something and then says to me, "mommy, did i fill your bucket?"  kisses, feeding the dog, opening doors for me...you name it, he does it.  [these people really know how to indoctrinate young children!] 

one evening at dinner, after asking me several times already that day if he had filled my bucket, c asked if he could pray for dinner.  of course, we told him he could.  we bowed our heads, and geared ourselves up for what would become the prayer of the year.  he really outdid himself.  i think our meal was blessed, our family was blessed, third-world children were blessed...  *laughing*  as he lifted his head, he looked at joshua and i with a smug, all-knowing look. 

"bet that filled God's bucket." 

sure did, mister.  sure did. 

top chef: mommy edition

[at the dinner table]

"dear jesus, thank you for this day.  thank you for letting us spend time together as a family.  and thank you for this...uh...."

[looks at his plate critically and then up at me with a squinty eye]

"mom...what is this stuff anyway??" 

[sigh] "Corned beef hash and biscuits, buddy."

"Yeah.  Thanks for THAT, Jesus.  Amen." 


Could there be a sweeter compliment?  *laughing*  At least he cleaned his plate! 

O-H.....I-O...!!!!!

[praying at bedtime with daddy]

"dear Jesus, thank you for this day, and thank you for letting us spend time together as a family.  oh, and thank you VERY much that today is the last day of college football.  amen."

Go Buckeyes!!  lol 

[we won't tell him its not really the end of college football...but if it is "well with his soul"...we'll leave it as is!]

sweet spirit of adoption

a sampling of sorts: 

[viewing a video on Thanksgiving about adoption...C's jaw dropped when he heard that there are 145 million orphans in the world]


whispering to me during service:  "mommy, that's a lot of people that need a family.  i'm glad we're adopting." 


me too, bud.  me too. 


[praying tonight before bedtime]


"and dear God, please forgive me for dumping out my Clear Blue bottle to give the money to Aunt Sarah and Uncle Matty for their adoption.  i knew You would be ok with it." 


[a conversation one evening]

C:  "mommy, why haven't we adopted yet?"

"buddy, its really complicated...we're going to.  but sometimes God's timing isn't our timing.  mommy has to pray for patience, too..."

C:  [very matter of fact]  "sometimes i run out of patience.  but then i ask God to fill me back up again, and He does." 

i was blown away by his very child-like answer...and then i realized how right he was.  it really IS that easy...


Psalm 37:5-7a
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.