Memory Lane

Emily - aka Chubs

Emily Claire
Spring 2008

Emily - somewhere around 6 months

Sophia and Aunt Janet - Myrtle Beach 2008


Emily - Myrtle Beach 2008


Sophia - Emily - Canon - Beach 2008

Emily -Fall 2008

Emily - Fall 2008 Soccer Game

Winter 2008 Greenville

Can you believe it is already almost the middle of November? I know time appears to go by faster the older you get but this is ridiculous. If it goes by this fast now, what will one year feel like when I am 80? It will be such a small fraction of my life. According to my Sophia, how could I ever be 80 when 31 is so OLLDDD. Ah... to be 3 and 1/2. The simple fact that she is almost 4 is stunning to me. Stunning and sad. I am mourning no more Page babies but it is mixed with other emotions like looking forward to the fun times in our family's future with the children older and easier to travel with. Joshua is changing into such a little boy... there is nothing preschoolish about him anymore. He is still a rambunctious ball of energy and sometimes we do jumping jacks and sit-ups in the den to release some of that energy but he is blossoming into such a person. Sophia has become a tremendous help to me. Three little children = lots of tasks to complete and she has taken upon herself to help me with taking care of Emily without even having to be asked! The last part is what makes me stand stunned in our hallway when I see that she is brushing Emily's teeth for me after breakfast or meticulously (alright... a little bit obsessively) making both of their beds and folding the blankets. She will decide to clean up the playroom and then says she knew it would help me. Who is this child? I love it! Granted, I am a little worried that she has some obsessive compulsive tendencies but, at this point, I will take it. Emily's vocabulary is growing each day and I love the way her eyes light up when she sees me and she yells "Mommy!" while grabbing and walking figure 8s around my legs. I like sleeping with her and waking up to her poking me in my eyeballs or sticking her fingers up my nose. Bless her heart, she is clearly still in the "very rough around the edges" phase as we have many training opportunities during the day. I forget how fun and challenging the two's are. The issues are so clear though and easy to discipline as long as I am not being lazy. Joshua and Sophia have entered the manipulation phase along with a little lying, sassiness and other behaviors that I find more difficult to parent through.

There was a particular issue today where it was so clear to me afterwards that we made the right choice of discipline. Sometimes I am left wondering if I made the right choice, sometimes if my lack of choice was right (usually no) and if any learning took place. I was searching through their mound of dirty clothes (stupid slow washing machines - yes, I am bitter :-) and, about 1/3 of the way down, my hand picks up a pair of damp Spidey undies. Honestly, in my frantic hunt for a pair of undies for Sophia, so she doesn't have to wear Joshua's spiderman undies for the 5th day in a row, I toss them into the pile to be washed. A few seconds later it dawns on me that wet 5 year old underwear usually means something not so good so I investigate and, sure enough, it was not an incident with a mud puddle or the sprayer in the kitchen sink. So, I confront little J.

- Josh, did you have an accident.
- No.
- Really? Hmm... well, it sure smells like it?
- Well, um, yeah I peed just a little.
- What do you mean you peed just a little?
- Well, um.
- Josh, did you not make it to the potty? Where did you pee.. I need to know so I can see if I need to clean something else up.
- Well, it happened before my friends came over the other day.
(WHAT? That was Wednesday! Keep cool... keep cool)
- Why didn't you tell me you had an accident? You know that is lying Joshua?
- Well, um, I just didn't think you would care.. I didn't think it would be difficult for you?
(Gee thanks for being considerate)
- Josh, the reason you didn't tell me was because you were afraid of the consequence.
- No, really, I just didn't think it would be hard for you since I took them off and got my new underwear all by myself.
- Josh, the consequence of you having an accident - that is very unlike you - would not be as severe as the consequence of you lying to me. This is lying - intentionally not telling me something to avoid punishment is lying. Go to the bedroom.

I am second guessing myself the entire time. I know, seriously, my son lies to me twice, really, and I am second guessing myself as to if he needs to be punished. What is wrong with me? Thank God for husbands. I run the situation passed Freddie and without blinking he is like "Yes, you need to give him a consequence... "chastise him" to use a good friend's terminology. Joshua was chastised and we talked and prayed and it was one of the sweetest moments of correction and reconciliation that I have had with him. It reminded me of why we should be disciplining our children. It isn't simply for behavior modification.. that has its place and is absolutely necessary but it is also for those teachable moments where you can share scriptures of God's expectations for our behaviors - where it isn't simply "because Mom said so". You can get to the bottom of why we behave the way we do.. especially when it comes to lying... and why in the moment it seems so right but in the end is so wrong. You can pray and ask for forgiveness from the Lord and receive that sweet forgiveness where you can start over fresh. It is just as much a moment to commune with the Lord for me as it is for Josh. These are opportunities for me to show our children our need for a Savior. Sometimes during our prayer I am asking for forgiveness too! It is a chance to lead our children to the cross. I first heard that from Grace Church's teachers and it really resonated with me. It makes the gospel very real to our kids. In addition, it reaffirms it for me.

Now that I think about it, childrearing and marriage have been the most sin revealing and sanctifying experiences of my life. Well, those and moving to a foreign country with three young children. My own sin is revealed to me daily. Some behaviors I have never even noticed and then after a conflict or some experience it will become crystal clear to me. I have heard this before but I wonder if God, in his own perfect timing, reveals these issues to you a little at a time so as to not completely depress you with your own depravity. You all know... I used to not be a believer, but now there are many truths that point to a real God and a need for Jesus as our Savior, and one of the biggest to me has been humanities (self's, specifically) sinfulness. I sin even when I am doing something that on the outside would be perceived as good! It is absolutely stunning to me. I hear a lot and used to say it myself "But, but, but.. I am a good person!". No, really, you are not. We may not have killed or stolen from someone but on a daily basis we are all selfish, prideful, angry, jealous, and full of fears.

At the end of our very hectic days, I am so thankful for a God who loves me. A God who gives us guidance on how to be good spouses, mothers, friends and children. A God who forgives us when we fail. A God who blessed me so undeservedly, and even through initial sinful circumstances, a loving husband and three incredible children.

Now, if they would just stop growing up so quickly (and Clemson will win tonight against FSU... AMEN).

And.... for posterity...

Three words to describe Joshua on November, 7th 2009 - loving, sensitive, energetic.

Three words to describe Sophia on November 7th, 2009 - serious, articulate, helpful.

Three words to describe Emily on November 7th, 2009 - entertaining, cute, stubborn

Freddie and Baby Sophia - around 2 weeks old - 2006

Sassy Sophia - sometime in 2008

Sophia and Josh - 2008

Fall 2008 Greenville

Fall 2008 Greenville

Halloween 2008

Sophia - Aunt Sandy's Fall 2008


Aunt Sandy's 2008


The cousins - Sandy's 2008


Joshua - Soccer game 2008

December 2008 - Columbia, SC
Right before move to France -
About 15 lbs ago (dang you croissants and pain au chocolat!!!)
And off to see A Christmas Carol!