Father's Day Surprises

Sarabeth and Christopher planned a special after-church Father's Day surprise for Chet. They decorated the kitchen table with pictures of Daddy with his two-legged and four-legged friends, souvenirs and mementos, and pretty stuff. Then they arranged all the Father's Day cards and candy (truffles!) just so. They made Chet close his eyes when he entered the house after church, and when he got to the kitchen, they yelled "Happy Father's Day!" He loved it... especially those precious homemade cards!

"Tween" Rules

I recently discovered new rules posted on Sarabeth's door....

Sarabeth's Tween Rules
*Will not take a bath with CMS anymore
*When I am getting dressed, no one can come in my room.
*When I am in my room with the door closed, no one can come in.
*Knock when the door is closed.
*When I am in my room, just leave me alone.
*Little Letter:

Hi, I'm SB. The reason for these new rules is this: I am now a tween and I need lots of privacy. I am not a little child anymore. I need alone-time and privacy, not to mention "anti-annoying brother" days. Well, see ya.  SB

Treat me like a Tween!

Fair enough, dear daughter. My, how you are growing up.

Sarabeth's Journal Entry

June 5, 2013

Mom is acting so mean today. Christopher says she's mean, but I think she's just overwhelmed. If I could do anything in the world for her, I would put the whole family on a twenty week Disney cruise, then have us big huge houses in London, Paris, Knoxville, and Athens. It would be so awesome.

One-Track Mind

In school this week, we're reading And the Word Came with Power by Joanne Shetler, chronicling her life's journey as a missionary to the Balangao people in the Philippines.

Yesterday, I read....

"I joined Wycliffe Bible Translators that summer. Several months later, machete in handbag and..."

Christopher interrupts: Where was her machete?

Mommy: In her handbag.

I continue reading: "Several months later, machete in handbag and duffel bag over my shoulder..."

Christopher interrupts: Where did she get her machete?

Mommy: I don't know. It doesn't say.

I continue reading: "...machete in handbag and duffel bag over my shoulder, I..."

Christopher interrupts: How long was her machete? How did she get it in her handbag?

Mommy: I don't know, Christopher. It doesn't say.

I continue reading: "... machete in handbag and duffel bag over my shoulder, I..."

Christopher interrupts: Did her machete have a sheath?

Mommy: I DON'T KNOW, CHRISTOPHER. ALL I KNOW ABOUT HER MACHETE IS WHAT IT SAYS IN THIS SENTENCE. SHE HAD A MACHETE IN HER HANDBAG. THAT'S ALL I KNOW! CAN WE PLEASE READ ON?

This is my life.

Photo Credit: Internet

Photo Credit: Internet

A Serious Talk

One night, late, Sarabeth came into my room while I was reading. She said she just wanted to talk.

"I just feel like something is missing in my life. When I was younger, back in what I call 'the good old days,' life was fun and great. But now that I'm older, I just feel like something is missing, like there's this empty place in me."

I told her that's why we need Jesus.

Wish Granted

For months and months, Christopher has been wanting a musketeer costume. Why, I don't know, but he has been consistently asking, for Christmas, for Valentine's Day, for St. Patrick's Day, for Easter, for his birthday... you get the picture. I had planned to get him one for his birthday, but other gifts became greater priorities and I used up all my birthday budget without getting the musketeer costume. Bummer. Even as he was very happy about his other gifts, I knew he was very disappointed not to get the costume.

And then... Nana to the rescue! While she was here in Michigan celebrating Christopher's 7th birthday with him, she told him she would buy him the musketeer costume he'd been wanting. Joyful, joyful boy... and what a darling musketeer he makes.

Family Traits

In my family, the Akard family, there is known to be such a thing as "the Akard toe." This indicates a big toe large enough and strong enough to grip miscellaneous items and pick them up from the floor, for example, or, more significantly, to be able to pinch your older sister (i.e. me) with your big toe and second toe so hard that it really hurts.

Sarabeth's fourth toe is "curly" like her daddy's, but she's pretty certain her big toe is "the Akard toe." Recently she was demonstrating the various abilities of her "Akard toe" for me, proudly claiming all the rights and privileges thereunto appertaining. After successfully completing several feats with her foot, she exclaimed, "No one prevails against my toe!"