The Truth Comes Out

Sarabeth has always wanted to be a mermaid. She is not quite convinced that mermaids are really a myth. In fact, my curly-haired daughter has a book about curly hair which suggests curly-haired women are actually descended from mermaids. Sarabeth latched on to that idea, as you can imagine.

After years of drawing mermaids, cutting out pictures of mermaids, reading books about mermaids, collecting mermaid Barbies, etc., Sarabeth finally got a mermaid costume for her 8th birthday. Then, on our Disney cruise, she became fast friends with Princess Ariel (aka The Little Mermaid) and purchased a mermaid doll in St. Thomas as one of her souvenirs.

Recently all Sarabeth's mermaid dreams came true when she got her very own swimmable mermaid tail. She is in her shimmery fish-tailed glory now, in the bathtub and in the swimming pool, where she always wanted to be anyway.

Can't Argue with That

When Sarabeth was four....

Mommy (exasperated): Sarabeth, is it your goal to keep me from doing anything for myself that I want to do?

Sarabeth: Yes, because I love you more than anyone else in the world and I want to be with you. I bug you because I love you.

Mommy (deflated): I love you, too, Sarabeth.

Hugs exchanged.

Wait for Me!

As I headed downstairs to the kitchen, three-year-old Sarabeth came running from her bedroom, asking me to wait for her. "Mommy, you left without me and you aren't holding my hand. I don't appreciate that."

Hospitality

So, in trying to teach my children how to be good hosts when they have friends over, apparently I neglected to mention that locking them and yourself into the dog's kennel (with the dog) might not be the most mannerly idea.

Fun Mom

Okay, so, when I was growing up, I never, ever, ever got to ride the horse at the grocery store. Thus, I very much want my own children to have this exalted childhood experience. Fortunately, "Sandy," the horse at Meijer, only costs one cent per ride!

Divine Theory

Since she was a tiny girl, Sarabeth has talked about the sparkly beads she sees in the dark when she's in bed at night. When she was four, she explained her theory: "I think the beads I see in the dark at night are angels watching over me. I try to reach out and grab them, to hold them, but I never can."

Worth Talking About

When Christopher was two years old, he didn't talk very much... so anything he did say was really special. For example: after his Uncle Keith and Aunt Tammy got him this cool outfit (which he loved), he was happy to tell people what was on the front of his shirt.

"Mon-ter tuck!"

What's on your shirt, Christopher?

"Mon-ter tuck!"

Tea and Etiquette

Sarabeth and her BFF Zoe just completed their four-month "Tea with Alice" etiquette class at English Cottage Tea in Grand Rapids. Last night, at their final session, they served tea to their mothers as they displayed their lovely etiquette skills. Beautiful night... so thankful God gave me a daughter!

Sarabeth and Zoe with English Cottage Tea proprietor Cynthia Wedge

www.englishcottagetea.com

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!"

Lost in Translation

Sarabeth and Christopher walked with me through an antique store on Friday. Note to self:  it is always a mistake to take children shopping with you. Anyway, I was looking at tea pots and tea cups, while they wandered through the store looking at who knows what. Christopher found a fencing mask and sword he liked, but he didn't press me too much on that. Then Sarabeth found a pair of Greek busts, twins Apollo and Artemis, that she and Christopher were just dying to buy. DIE-ING to buy. "But Mommy, they're brother and sister. We could put one in my room and one in Christopher's room!" Sarabeth pleaded. "Mommy, I really want that bunt of Apollo!," cried Christopher. (Yes, I meant to write "bunt.") I agreed to ask the store to hold them for us, so we could talk to Daddy about it first. They were not happy, but so it was.

On the way home, I told them I often saw things in stores that I really wanted to buy. This happens throughout life, even when you're an adult. I explained my process of evaluation: "You just have to step back and ask yourself, 'Do I really need this? Can I afford this? Is this the only time in my life I'll ever have an opportunity to buy something like this?'"

Then Christopher quickly asked, "What if there's not room to step back?"

Bless his heart. Those antique stores are really crowded.

Shake Your Booty

When Sarabeth was four, she loved going to Downtown Holland every Thursday night for the Street Performers Series. She wanted to watch anyone who was dancing, and she especially loved the belly dancer. When she found out the belly dancer brought extra jingle scarves for children (or adults) who might like to try belly dancing for themselves, she was the first one up to give it a try!

A Baby Story

When Christopher was two, he really loved one of Sarabeth's dolls. He wanted to hold her in the car, have her at the dinner table, in bed, etc. One particular night, he held the baby doll while I rocked him at bedtime. When I put him in his crib, he handed her to me and said, "Mommy, take care baby."  I laid her gently on the ottoman next to his crib. He raised his head and sweetly said, "dood dight, baby."

Be still, my heart.