Crazy Day at Co-Op

Twenty kids were busy painting a color wheel page in Justis' 2nd-hour co-op art class yesterday when the power went out. Some of the moms as well as the teacher had discreetly discussed how dark and ominous the sky seemed just minutes before.

You could feel the tension as the kids' composure went from zero to full panic. The room was very dark. The windows weren't helping either, because the clouds made the sky almost as black as night!

We reassured the kids and made sure none of them tried to run off and hide. I explained to them that a transformer was probably struck with lightning, causing the lights to go out. They seemed to accept my explanation. Some went on painting. Some anxiously waited for the lights to come back on.

Miss Dionne, co-op organizer came in and told us to have the kids go out into the hallway and sit against the wall.

Then the craziness began. Nobody told the kids what was going on, but kids are smart. The power had gone out and it is not usual to all go out in the hall and sit against the wall! They figured out the weather was a threat. I went to guard the door of the classroom to make sure we didn't have any escapees without an a teacher or helper. Each child at co-op has a parent or guardian somewhere in the building, and a child's natural tendency is to go find their mom when the going gets tough or scary. The kids at my table were very cooperative and held hands to come out the door and file against the wall.

Okay. Despite the fact I've seen several tornados and witnessed LOTS of severe weather in my lifetime, I haven't ever been in a public place when a storm has struck. Things got interesting. 80+ kids to about 1/4 of that number of adults to keep the peace made for a crazy time.

Miss Dionne explained the county was under a severe thunderstorm warning and a tornado was on the ground right over the nearby parish (county) line and moving in our direction.

Upon hearing the news, one of the dramatic first-graders threw himself into the middle of the hallway and covered his head as if we were all in immediate danger. That started another wave of panic.

All in all, only a handful of kids really panicked or had anxiety. One of the handful was Justis. He followed directly behind me holding onto my pants as I did my job in helping keep track of all the kids, holding Jillian and keeping the peace.

We finally got the all clear. The tornado, thankfully, missed us. Co-op let out after that and we didn't have third hour.

My kids and I won't be forgetting the craziness of that day anytime soon.

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

"I'm glad that dog has a collar on it!" Madalynn said upon spotting a black lab frolicking the ditch through the minivan window on our way home from running errands.

"I'm REALLY glad he has a collar," Justis said in seriousness, "He wouldn't want to go to that place dog catchers take dogs when they catch them."

"I know," said Madalynn sympathetically, "If he gets lost, I'm glad the people who find him will know where his family lives."

(Silence from the back seat for a few brief but heavenly moments)

"Madalynn?" Justis asked. "Do they pound people or dogs at the dog catcher place?They must be the ones who get in trouble. Do they put them under a big thing and drop it on them (making the hand motions and everything)? Which dogs do they do it to?"

Madalynn responded, "Justis, they wouldn't do that!"

"Well, who gets pounded, then?!" Justis asked, in complete and utter frustration for lack of answers.

I caught my breath from the giggles and prepared to impart wisdom to my son.

"Justis, some people call the place where stray dogs are taken a pound. Nobody 'pounds' anyone at the pound. The name pound is short for IMpound, which is just another way of saying to hold something. The dog catchers catch the stray or lost animals and hold them until their owners find them. It's just a safe place for them to be."

"OOOOOOOhhhhhh." The light came on in Justis' mind.

Lemonade! $4 a cup!

My kids rolled the lemonade stand to the bottom of the driveway and ACTUALLY SOLD LEMONADE yesterday. Again, God knows the desires of our hearts, and the fact that anyone even stopped for lemonade was a miracle.

The odds were certainly against the kids merely giving away their lemonade. We live on an off-the-beaten-path country road. Yesterday was February 10, which is the middle of winter on my calendar! Travis and I were almost hesitant to pull the stand down to the end of the driveway, because we didn't want their hearts to be broken if no one came to taste their lemonade.

God does not disappoint. The kids laughed in delight as passersby stopped for lemonade. Travis discussed with the kids that they should just give it away. Despite telling them the lemonade was free, our neighbors and complete strangers insisted on giving them money. I think they made about $6 in 30 minutes.

Money meant nothing to the kids in the scheme of the afternoon. They were pumped that they got to share their lemonade and use their new lemonade stand.

We got a huge laugh out of Justis. Travis, Justis, Jillian and I were up the driveway working on something, when Travis told Justis someone had stopped at the stand.

Justis scurried down the drive and a driver rolled down his window and said, "How much for a cup of lemonade?"

Justis doesn't have ANY concept of money. He thinks a penny can buy a candy bar. "$4!" Justis said, smiling big.

"Justis!!! It's free!" I yelled from the top of the drive.

"Oh, well, here's a donation, then," The driver chuckled. He then smiled and gave Justis a handful of quarters.

I started walking down the drive to try to let the guy know Justis wasn't trying to rip him off.

Too late. The driver was long gone and Justis came running up to me holding his quarters and shouting, "Look mommy! I got some more eagles!"

I just shook my head. "Yup. You've made out pretty well today, huh?"

The kids decided on their own accord the money they were given was going to God through the church offering.

The kids were thrilled that they were paid smiles for their lemonade. Travis and I got a humbling lesson from the giving hearts of our children. I only hope that driver understood Justis was a bit confused when he told him a cup of lemonade was $4!

Thanking God for Eternal Life

Happy Ash Wednesday! I could not blog about Mardi Gras and Pancake Day without blogging about the very important time those two "holidays" revolve around...Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.

I personally use Ash Wednesday as a Day to consider my place in Eternity and remember my shortcomings. I don't need God if I don't recognize I have shortcomings, right?

My life is only a drop of water in an ocean of eternity. Nothing I can do can save me from eternity. We all die. I have the privelege of choosing where I spend eternity, though. A simple decision to acknowledge God and invite Him into my life sealed my eternal fate. Now I not only know where I'll spend eternity, I have a relationship with God through prayer and He works personally in my life.

I did not earn my way into God's love, and no one can earn it. If we could earn our fate, none of us would be going on to meet Him in heaven because no one can be like God who is perfect! He freely gives a life with Him to those who realize their shortcomings and ask Him for it. He takes it from there!

I am so encouraged that God extends the same invitation everyone, including (and ESPECIALLY) my friends and family! I want all the people I know to experience God's love. Not just for the eternal aspect of it...His love for me while I live on this Earth is just as powerful!

I'll be the first to admit I need God.

I hope y'all didn't think this blog was too weird. I know many of you know God personally, but only two people know the fate of your eternity...you and God. We only see the outward actions of each other, but God sees our hearts and intentions, therefore only HE can truly know everything about someone. I encourage you to look into your heart today, whether you already know God or not, and reflect on what He wants for you and listen to what He has to say.

I love you all! God Bless your Ash Wednesday.

Throw me some beads, Mister!

The kids and I had a blast today celebrating and learning about Mardi Gras!

No Mardi Gras is complete without a parade! The kids and I traveled 30 miles to Covington (a town across Lake Ponchatrain from New Orleans) and attended their Mardi Gras Parades, put on by the Krewe of Lions and the Krewe of Covington. A quick explanation: A krewe is a group of like-minded people whom get together and put on a parade from start to finish.

Vendors selling hats, beads and other fun things rolled their carts up and down the parade route as we waited for the parade to begin. Families with children and adults who enjoy the fun just as much as the kids attended. Parking was easy and we got there early enough to get to the front of the parade route. Waiting was tough for the kids, but the locals kept encouraging them that the wait would be worth it.

The kids would agree that the wait for the parade WAS worth it. The parades started rolling and the beads started flying. I explained to the kids they had to do something to make them stand out to get the bead-throwers to toss them some "throws" (as the locals call them). Well, the kids just stood dumbfounded for the first few floats, watching the kids and adults alike going bonkers for beads. By the looks on their faces, I'd say my kids were thinking, "WHAT is wrong with these people?"

Dawson caught on first. I said, "Show them some of your moves, Dawson." He started doing some of his smooth dance moves and got some beads in return.

Madalynn started jumping up and down, arms flailing, and got some beads, too.

Justis, not to be outdone stuck up one arm and yelled, "Hey, I want some beads!" He got some, too.

Jillian, with her curly hair and stand-out personality just sat on my shoulders smiling and waving and getting the attention of LOTS of krewe members and LOTS of beads! The beads were so big and heavy, I'm surprised she didn't fall flat on her face when I put her down to walk!

They all got some "special" throws, which is a big deal according to the seasoned Mardi Gras parade-goers. Justis got a play spear about as tall as he is, Dawson got a socker ball, Madalynn was thrown a fuzzy pink tiara and Jillian got a pretty pink strand of beads. The kids are still buzzing from the experience. By the way, although not as big of a deal as the beads, the floats were really neat and the parade was totally clean and family-friendly.

King cake was our next treat. My friend from church, Anita, works for Berry Town Produce in Ponchatoula and bakes thousands of king cakes every year starting right after Christmas up until Mardi Gras. I stopped by Berry Town and bought a Cinnamon king cake baked by Anita. It was still warm. We came home and I made sandwiches and cut the king cake, putting a slice on each of the kids' plates.

I have to explain King Cakes here for you to understand the fun the kids had. King Cakes are a tradition. King Cakes are eaten from January 6th, which is the day Carnival starts until Mardi Gras. King Cakes come with a little plastic baby hidden under or within the cake. The baby means many things to many different situations. Krewes sometimes crown the person that picks the piece with the baby as King or Queen of the krewe. Some groups use it as the designation of whom will be throwing next year's party in their home. I know it is used for other reasons and has a religious meaning as well, but I'm not positive about the facts, so I'll stop there.

Back to our king cake. I hid the baby under one of the cake slices. I called the four kids in and asked them to each randomly pick a plate and take it to the table. I explained to them that there was a baby hidden under one of the cake pieces and that the person who finds the baby is the king or queen of Mardi Gras in our home for the day. Madalynn, Justis and Dawson were all confused. None of them had the baby.

Jillian found it under piece of cake. She was the queen of Mardi Gras for the day. She certainly got some good use out of her beads today (she LOVES them), so she played the part well!

Not forgetting our Kansas roots, we had pancakes for supper in observance of Pancake Day. For you Louisiana natives, Pancake Day is another way people celebrate the day before Lent. Liberal, KS has a Pancake Day festival and the women of Liberal have a race with the women of Onley, England. They must race while flipping pancakes and wearing an apron. New Orleneans are not the only crazy people out there. (wink!)

Lundi Gras and the Lemonade Stand

Mardi Gras always falls on the Tuesday before Lent. Lundi Gras is a holiday unique to New Orleans, and is celebrated the Monday BEFORE the Tuesday before the Wednesday Lent begins! Lundi Gras falls on February 4th this year and Mardi Gras falls on the 5th. Lent begins Wednesday the 6th.

Lundi Gras is French for "Fat Monday." The Lundi Gras tradition began in 1874 in New Orleans, when King Rex (the OFFICIAL King of Mardi Gras) made a grand entrance from a decorated-up Mississippi River paddlewheel boat. His royal boat docked near the Quarter, where King Rex and his royalty were given a grand welcome and were escorted by carriage to City Hall. City officials ceremoniously handed the keys of the city over to Rex, officially signifying that Rex's imaginary reign would begin at dawn the next day (Mardi Gras).

World War I put a stop to the official celebration of Lundi Gras in New Orleans, but it continued to be observed underground by krewes (the generic word for all Carnival organizations in New Orleans) whom tried to carry the tradition on with commemmorative balls, parties, etc. for six decades. Rex again made his "official" Lundi Gras entrance again in 1987, reviving the public recognition of Lundi Gras in New Orleans.

I watched King Rex accept the keys to the city from New Orleans' Mayor Nagin on the six o'clock news last night, signifying the "official" beginning of Mardi Gras! (People here take this stuff seriously!?)

Justis is now the proud caretaker of his new lemonade stand! I included pictures of he and the kids standing by it. They are itching to sell some lemonade. We're finding it very hard to explain to them it's still winter and not the appropriate season for lemonade selling. The weather is not helping. It was 84 degrees today, which means summer to my kids.

Happy Lundi Gras. Bet you never thought you'd be educated about a holiday revolving around an imaginary king and a crazy carnival celebration, huh?

Curly Pearly

Miss Jillian Pearl's head is covered in tight, curly wringlets of hair, which is definitely new to me and unique to our family.

I realized a couple of days ago her hair was looking a bit too fuzzy on the ends. Then I remembered her soft little "baby hair" ends had never been trimmed.

I sat her up on the vanity and BARELY trimmed just the little fine ends off the very ends of her hair. Little bitty curls covered her and the vanity.

The little bit I cut off her hair made a HUGE difference in her appearance. Her hair seemed to just kink up even more when those little whispies were cut off!

She giggled and kept touching her hair as I cleaned up. Travis noticed her new hair cut right when he got home.

I need to get some Jerry curl for this girl!