The Chronicles of Biscuit - Gum and Discipline

The Chronicles of Biscuit - Stories about our youngest son, Biscuit, who is 7 years old.

Yesterday Biscuit broke a gum-chewing rule.  When spitting out their gum in the van, we've made a rule that our children must first wrap the gum in a tissue.  This rule is to prevent the gum from getting stuck in the carpet, on the seat, or even in the little trash section we have in the van.  Hot chewed gum is a recipe for disaster!

Well, just as I glanced in the mirror on the way home yesterday, I noticed Biscuit putting his gum in a piece of a plastic JCPenney sack.  He was tearing the sack, had the gum stuck to it, but wasn't being successful getting it torn.  There were clothes in the sack, too, so that was a big concern for me.  I asked Biscuit what he was supposed to do with the gum, and why he was not doing what he was supposed to do.  Of course, he didn't have a good answer because he wasn't doing the right thing. As punishment, I told Biscuit he couldn't have gum for a week.  He understood.

Today we were again driving in the van.  Biscuit said he wished he could have gum.  Do you ever forget a punishment you've given?  I do - quite often, actually!!  But Biscuit remembered.  In fact, he said that while visiting his sister at church camp the evening before, she had offered him a piece of gum.  He told her that he was in trouble and that he couldn't have a piece.

I was so proud of Biscuit for telling his sister that he was in trouble and for him even remembering.  I would have understood if he had forgotten (since I, myself had forgotten), but he didn't.  I told Biscuit how great it was that he chose to do the right thing and didn't take the gum.  I told him how proud I was of him for telling his sister about the punishment.

Sometimes we think we may not be getting through to our children when it comes to discipline.  Sometimes it seems like it's not worth the effort - that it's easier to just give in, but in reality, it's not.  Discipline is hard sometimes and many times it makes it harder on the parent than it is for the children, doesn't it?  But, it's for their own good.  It helps them learn self-control  It helps teach them the difference between right and wrong.

Way to go, Biscuit!  I love you and I am so proud of you.   (In case you're wondering, though, Biscuit still isn't getting gum until next week.  I want him to remember the rule and not break it again!)  And, this time - I won't forget!

The Blessing of a New Baby!

This morning as I was waking up, I could hear my phone beeping in another room. The text from my husband said that our niece was having her baby. I immediately called my husband to ask him more details, and by that time she actually had already delivered. We were so excited! I immediately woke up the two boys that are home this week (the other two children are at church camp). We got ready and drove to the hospital (about an hour away) to meet baby Levi Trent.  Because Levi is the first great-grandchild in the family, his birth makes me a great-aunt for the first time. That's exciting!

Levi is a blessed little boy already. His parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and all of his aunts, uncles, and almost all of his cousins are all Christians. He will have great role models in his family on all sides. He is already loved by so many people. He has been in the prayers of many for nine months and will continue to be for his entire life.

Levi's middle name, Trent is special.  He shares that name with his great-great-granddad on his mother's side who passed away in 1985.  His great-great-granddad (my husband's granddad) was Albert Trent, who was a preacher for over 50 years.  Although Levi will never know of Albert, he will hear stories about him his whole life.  What a special name!

Holding my new little great nephew today just almost brought me to tears...tears of joy, of course, and tears for remembering each of the births of my own children. He was born in the same hospital as all of my children, so that was special.

I can't wait to watch Levi grow up!  I look forward to watching him grow and learn, but most of all, I look forward to seeing how God will work in his life.

Thank you, God, for the birth of Levi and all little babies.  They are precious!

Jesus loves the little children

All the children of the world

Black and yellow, red and white

They are precious in His sight

Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Family Reunions

This past Saturday we had a family reunion.  It was my maternal grandma's side of the family that gets together every other year.  My grandmother passed away twenty years ago, but she has two living sisters and three living brothers who were able to attend the reunion, so that was neat.  She has another sister who is also deceased. (My grandpa on that side is also deceased.)

The reunion was held in Hollis, Oklahoma.  The last time I was in Hollis was a few months ago for a baseball game. watching my oldest son play ball.  I didn't have time to go by where my grandparents had lived then, but the time before when I was there - in December for a basketball scrimmage - I did have time to drive by the house where they lived.  As I headed down the street toward their house, I immediately started crying.  It was a flood of emotions just heading the car in that direction.  Even typing this makes my eyes get teary! But, even though it makes me a little sad, I am grateful for those special memories!

Even now, I miss my grandparents very, very much.  Both of them were my "rock" in many ways while growing up and even as a young adult.  I was very close to them and still talk about them often to my children.  I can tell stories about them because of the way they lived their life - as a great example of a Christian.  I'm so grateful that my children knew my grandpa - their great-grandpa.  I wish they could have met their great-grandma on that side. too; however, they were fortunate to know their great-grandparents on my dad's side.  I'm so grateful that they were! That's pretty neat that they knew three out of the four of their greats.  I know that's not very common in our day and time.

Family reunions give us time to reflect and remember. We visit with family that doesn't get together too often and try to catch up with what's been going on in their lives.  Memories of the past are special.  But you know what?  I'm looking forward to another reunion.  That reunion will be more special than any that are here on earth.  It's the reunion of all of God's children in Heaven!

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Ten Little Christians

TEN LITTLE CHRISTIANS

(author unknown)

Ten little Christians, standing in a line;

One disliked the preacher, then there were nine.

Nine little Christians stayed up very late;

One slept in on Sunday, then there were eight.

Eight little Christians on their way to heaven;

One took his own road, then there were seven.

Seven little Christians chirping like little chicks;

One disliked the song leader, then there were six.

Six little Christians seemed very much alive;

But one lost his interest, then there were five.

Five little Christians pulling for heaven's shore;

But one stopped to rest, then there were four.

Four little Christians each as busy as a bee;

One got her feelings hurt, then there were three.

Three little Christians knew what to do;

One couldn't forgive, then there were two.

Two little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done;

Quarreled over petty stuff, then there was only one.

One little Christian, can't do much 'tis true;

But he brought his friend to Bible study, then there were two.

Two earnest Christians each won one more,

That doubled the number, now there were four.

Four sincere Christians worked early and worked late,

Each won another, then there were eight.

Eight splendid Christians, if they doubled as before,
In a few short weeks, we'd have a 1024.

In this little jingle, there is a lesson true;

You either belong to "The Building" or "The Wrecking Crew."

Family Dynamics

All this week our daughter has been working with her uncle's youth group.  They are doing a mission work at a camp - working with inner city children.  I look forward to hearing all about the week when she gets home on Saturday afternoon.  We're missing her because she's been gone since last Friday!

The middle of our three sons is also gone this week.  He's at church camp.  We saw him at Wednesday night worship services and will pick him up tomorrow.  It was good getting to see him in the middle of the week.  I don't think it mattered to him that we were there - except for the fact that his older brother made him Rice Krispie treats!

So, for the past five days it's been our oldest son and our youngest son home together.  It's been fun.  It's been different.  These two play together, but probably not as much as each of them play with the one who is gone.  It's been good for them.  They've played golf, baseball, ping pong, and had bonding time.  It's been great seeing them grow closer.  I don't recall them arguing at all!  How nice is that?

Family dynamics are interesting, aren't they?  It's amazing how the dynamics change with the addition of another child or children into the mix - or the subtraction of one or two children into the mix.  I personally would rather all my children be home together and be all together, but I know that's not the way it's going to be.  In fact, the going and doing is going to get more and more common the older they get.  However, I know and realize that the coming and going, the change of dynamics, is good for them.  And, as much as I hate to admit it, it's good for me, too.  It's preparing me for the future (the really nearing future!).

Some day our children are going to leave home.  That's what we, as parents, are training them (or should be) to do.  We should be training them to become productive individuals in our society, making a living and eventually providing and caring for their own families.

Our family will be together for less than 24 hours over the weekend and then the dynamics will change again, with the oldest two going to church camp.  That will leave the youngest two as the only children at home next week.  They will have a blast.  I just know it!  They will play and play.  I wrote about how they play together recently.  Their dynamics will be different.  Their playing time will be different.  I look forward to seeing them and hearing them play.

And then the next week, for the third week in a row, our daughter will leave again - for another camp.  That week will be basketball camp.  Three weeks of being gone, with just a night or maybe two, back home. (I'm glad it's her and not me!).  The family dynamics will change, yet again.  All three boys will be home together.  I anticipate more arguing, but I'm thinking they'll have fun -just the boys with my husband and I. Hmmmmm. Now that I think about it, they'll probably want to send me away, too - and make it an all-boys week!