"Dear God, I'm so sorry, please excuse me."

Prayer time each night at our house can be rather interesting, when your chain prayer includes an expressive 6-year-old. Tonight was no different. It is December 24, 2011...Christmas Eve...and the wonderful nativity story is fresh on our minds...so it has made it's way into his prayers here and there. Here is just the first minute of Jackson's prayer tonight...

"Dear God,
Thank you for Mary and Joseph. And thank you so much for sending us the wonderful baby to save our lives. And God, you did such a great job picking out the name. I just love the name Jesus. (insert a very loud tooting noise here). Oh. Dear God, I'm so sorry, please excuse me."

He then continues to finish his prayer, in all seriousness...I have no idea what was said after that...I was trying so hard not to laugh outloud. Oh my funny, gassy boy:)

Nap time = NO treasures in Heaven!

We've been talking a lot about storing up your treasures in Heaven and not here on earth, we just have so much "stuff", everywhere. And another hot topic around our house is obeying our mom and dad, AND obeying God. This coversation took place just a few minutes ago...

Mommy: Jackson, it's about nap time.
Jackson: Mom, I can't take a nap today
Mommy: Why not?
Jackson: Because Jesus said that I could just go to bed early tonight instead.
Mommy: When did he tell you that?
Jackson: Just now. I heard him.
(a long pause while I continue to work on the computer)
Jackson: Mom, did you hear me?
Mommy: Yes, but you ARE going to take a nap today.
Jackson: Mom, do you know what's MORE important than listening to your mom?
Mommy: What?
Jackson: Listening to Jesus.
Mommy: Okay, well I'm listening to Jesus and doing what he says right now. I'm making sure you grow to be a healthy boy, and that means you need rest right now.
Jackson: Mom! I HAVE to listen to Jesus, no matter what you say!
Mommy: Jackson, you will take a nap today.
(a long pause, I can just see the wheels turning)
Jackson: Well mom, I guess you won't get to see your treasures in Heaven. That just makes me sad.
(preceed with fake cry)
Jackson: Mom, I'm never going to see you in Heaven! And you AREN'T going to get your treasures in Heaven! Because you DON'T listen to Jesus! And now I'M not going to get my treasures because YOU'RE not letting me mind Jesus and not take a nap!
(now a full melt down)

Well, at this point, I'm even more certain this five-year-old needs a nap today:)

"Lincoln's kisses are just so special"

Tonight I was kissing and snuggling Lincoln, and apparently it was really bothering Jackson:)

Jackson: Mom! Don't get all of his kisses!
Mommy: I'm not Jackson, there are plenty more.
Jackson: But mom, Lincoln's kisses are just so special.
Mommy: I know buddy, he's got plenty of kisses for everyone.
Jackson: But mom, the ones you are getting are the specialist, and I really need you to stop.
Mommy: Okay Jackson, I'll stop for now.

"You dicide what my bur-prise is, Dad"

This kid likes surprises, but he may be missing the point:) This was a statement he made to Ben this week on the way to school one morning...

Jackson: "Okay dad, I tell you what...while I'm at school today, you dicide what you want to surprise me with. And then, after school, when you pick me up, I will ask you "what is my surprise", and then you can tell me what you dicided. Okay dad?"

What do you say to that?

I love you 41,000

Jackson: Mom, daddy told me we could put together my new firetruck tonight
Mom: Well, daddy must love you a lot
Jackson: Yeah, he loves me 41,000
Mom: 41,000?
Jackson: Yes, how much do YOU love me mom?
Mom: I love you 41,000 41,000 41,000!
Jackson: Well mom, my daddy loves me 10 and a half
Mom: Well I love you 41,000 ten and a half
Jackson: Well, my daddy loves me 98
Mom: Well, not sure I can top that:)
Jackson: Yeah.


This five-year-old LOVES his daddy:)

He FLEW up to Heaven?!

Yesterday I picked Jackson up from pre-school. I told him that Louis Thornton was in the hospital and that he was very sick. Jackson said he wanted to make him a get well card to give him. Well, this morning Louis was called Home around 5:30am...

Jackson: Mom! We didn't take Louis his get well card, how 'bout we do that today?
Mom: Ah, buddy, God came and took Louis up to Heaven early this morning. He's not at the
hospital anymore.
Jackson: He FLEW up to Heaven?!
Mom: I guess so.
Jackson: But we didn't get to give him his get well card.
Mom: I know, but guess what, he is completely healed now, he isn't sick anymore. When God takes you to Heaven, you are healthy and well. Isn't that great?
Jackson: I want to go to Heaven and see Louis. I want to go talk to God.
Mom: What would you say to God?
Jackson: I would say, "God! (insert silly face with tongue hanging out)" and then God would laugh at me and think I was funny!
Mom: You certainly are funny Jackson.
Jackson: I want to play with God too! I want to wrestle, play with my legos, through the football, eat cereal.
Mom: That sounds like so much fun, you will get to do all of those things with Him someday!
Jackson: Yeah, that's right. I'm glad Louis isn't in the hospital anymore, I don't like hospitals, I don't like shots.
Mom: Me too buddy.

Louis touched so many lives, and Jackson was so lucky to have him as the "neighborhood grandpa," he will be missed:)

"and tell Him we love and miss our daddy"

Now that Ben is a Firefighter, we miss him the nights that he is gone. Every night, we pray to God about EVERYTHING...literally:) Jackson always wants me to say the prayer, but by the end, we have switched, and he is doing all the talking:) This is how it went last Friday night...

Lindsey: Dear God

Jackson: Mommy, don't forget to tell him we love and miss our daddy

Lindsey: Okay babe, Dear God

Jackson: don't forget!

Lindsey: I didn't forget Jackson, let me say it. Dear God, thank you

Jackson: for our daddy!

Lindsey: Yes, thank you for our daddy. We love him so very much

Jackson: and we miss him!

Lindsey: and we miss him

Jackson: uh huh, we do

Lindsey: please help keep him safe while he is helping people

Jackson: Mom, I'll say it now

Lindsey: okay

Jackson: Dear God, thank you for our daddy, we love and miss him so much, keep him safe cuz he helping people. Make him come home now.

Of course we went on praying for...well...ever:) Our prayers are long around here, some nights I have to pray him to sleep:) We certainly pray a lot for "our daddy"...