The things to look for in a girl...

Okay- so I perhaps am the most terrible mother in the history of the world for teaching my son the word "easy".  But I also might be the worst mother in the history of the world if I DIDN'T teach him the word easy too.

Last night Gavin and I took the most wonderful mother/son walk around the block, just talking and playing...and Gavin saying "red light...STOP!" or "green light...GO!" and we would run or stop accordingly.  LOVED. IT.  As we rounded the corner I saw the saddest little thing and it both saddened me and scared me as a mom.  I saw a group of boys- probably 11 or 12 years old playing basket ball in the front yard of a house and this sad little girl, just flirting away from across the street.  She clearly wasn't invited, but wanted to be noticed so badly by the boys.  She was sitting in her front yard talking LOUDLY on her cell phone, her little black bra showing pretty much as loudly as she was talking. As a former adolescent girl, my heart went out to her, remembering what it was like to feel like your self worth was lost or found in a boy liking or disliking you.  But now as the mom of a boy, I wanted to say simultaneously "stay away, boys...and girlfriend- get a hobby...and some confidence!"

So it got me thinking about what kind of girl I would hope that Gavin would pick.  Before he was born, I knew that part of my job was to equip him to grow up and be a husband. I have known- with my head- for a long time now that if I raise my son to be my baby his whole life- I will have failed as a mom!  However since I'm in the cute "I'm crazy about my mom" stage with Gavin right now, I know that I know this with my head only right now, but someday I have to know it with my heart...and it's something I need to tell myself over and over as my baby...no, my little boy, grows to be a man.   My hope is that Gavin will grow up someday to be a Godly man with a Godly wife and that they will serve the Lord and honor Him with THEIR family.

SO- last night's walk turned into our first lesson on the subject.  I told Gavin that the three most important things to look for in a girl are a girl who: Loves Jesus, is confident...and is not easy (I promise I didn't tell him what "easy" means).  He mentioned later that it's important to be kind- which I agree with as well.  Here's to praying that God is growing up a little girl into a young lady somewhere out there in the world and that someday will be a woman of God who loves Jesus and will love my little boy as his wife.  Some day.  Not today obviously.  But someday.

Scrapbook moments: I fix the box

This is SO an "only a mother could love this" story.  It's cute...but I'm sure it's not THAT cute, unless you're related to the characters in the story.  But it's a sweet little father/son/sister-ly kind of story and it shows that Gavin and Harper have the sweetest most loving daddy.  And for that, it goes into my online scrapbook!  

Gavin, Harper and I were home on a Friday night that Matthew was working and Gavin saw this Dole fruit cup box from Sam's and he became CONVINCED that Harper needed a fruit cup.  

While I was getting Harper ready for bed, Gavin climbed up onto a step stool and  got the box.  I came into the living room to find him using every single tool he had trying to open it.  

He tried the screw driver,

a wrench

a saw

another wrench 

a hammer

and another hammer.

Since I'm an awesome mom, I didn't bother to tell him that he could just pop the lid up.  I told him that he'd just have to keep trying in the morning and only convinced him to go to bed by telling him that his Daddy could help him with it in the morning.  It wasn't a good answer, but it was an answer and somehow my strong willed, tool wielding rascal of a son finally managed to go to bed- even without the box opened.  

Matthew came home the next morning at 7:00.  When we woke Gavin up, the first thing out of that little boy's mouth was "Daddy and me fix da box!"  They IMMEDIATELY got to work.  I got Matthew partially up to speed on the project, but Gavin fully oriented him to the situation at hand.

I cannot even tell you how sweet it was to see Matthew fully embrace it and again, rather than just popping the box open, he sat down and got the full skinny on the tool endeavors that had already taken place.  I heard him say, "so tell me what you've already tried.  Oh the screwdriver?  And that didn't work?  Huh..."

Meanwhile, Harper had a little Cheerio action going on...because it's hard to wait around for a snack cup when you could be slurping soggy Cheerio goodness through a straw.

And while she slurped, the boys worked.  Finally together, Matthew and Gavin managed to workout some wedging tool action and Matthew worked it to where Gavin finally pried the box open with great aplomb. 

And Gavin was very proud of himself and got to share the much desired snack with his sister, which had been the goal from the first place.

I know it was just a small moment, but it was a sweet Father/son moment coupled with a sweet brotherly gesture that could have gone by the wayside without a great dad to play along and let his son have a moment of accomplishment and kindness.  Now every time we see the box, Gavin says "I fix da box for Harper."  And he sure did.  

Which made sister smile.  As she always does for her sweet older brother.