Thoughts and comments.....

Our kids go to a Christian school in Plainview and one of the requirements they have is that they have to learn bible verses-2 a week-plus they learn bible verses at Awana too, so we are practicing bible verses at least 3 days a week, well, when my 3 older boys were in school I really had a hard time with this cause #1 they hated to memorize(Derek the most) and #2 they couldn't read until they got in 2nd or third grade, plus they didn't know what the words meant-well at least the majority of them. I didn't really even understand most of the scriptures myself or they didn't have meaning for me. Now, it is different. I know how powerful it is to know and memorize scriptures, Alden is even helping out and this is a big plus, Jasmine and Christian love to memorize and in Awana they get rewarded for memorizing, by the way did I mention how much they love Awana. This is the first year that they are offering it in Plainview and I am helping with the Sparks, I am in charge of 2 girls and help them memorize. Christian and Jasmine are so competitive-they started out the same in thier Awana book but Christian is ahead of her. I am so blessed to have such smart kids that love to learn. I don't think I could handle it if they were struggling. Well, my whole point about posting this was that we were sitting in church on Sunday and Pastor said one of the verses that they memorized and Christian right away realized it and said, "that's one of my memory versus." It was so cool, plus once they memorize a scripture they say it over and over again and where you find it in the bible. Now, when they learn what each word means they can apply it to their lives. The first bible verse Christian learned was, "Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you and you will honor me." , they will start to say their memory for a particular day and they say that one, of course Alden did the whole hand movement and such. It is so funny.

Santa Claus- A subject most people love to tell their kids about. Well, when I was growing up my mom told me the truth right from the get go and I am so appreciative of that -"Thanks Mom" I have passed it down to my older children and Got a talking to from my sister-in-law for telling them the truth and not lying to them-well my kids told her boys and she was upset that I was putting doubt into her boys' minds about a make believe person that doesn't exist, "I was spoiling all the fun" Yesterday, Christian came home and said his Title One teacher started talking about Santa Claus and he said that their wasn't one and that mom and dad gave us the presents, she asked who told him that and when he said his mom, she quit telling him lies about him. I really respect people who tell their children the truth and don't do what the majority of the world does on this subject. Christmas is about Jesus (especially if you are a Christian) and this is where the focus should me. I know people will not agree with me, but oh well. This is Jasmine's and Christian's first Christmas in America and they are so excited and sad at the same time. Christian said he misses Haiti and wants to go back and visit, I'm sure his mom, brother, sister and grandparents really miss them also. We will let them call their old nanny and send letters and pictures to his family. I decorated the tree yesterday and today when they came home from school, they said their friends wanted to come over and see it, "It is so beautiful!!!, I'm sure everything is beautiful compared to what they had in Haiti.
I'll post more later......