Be Careful Little Feet Where You Go

I love the old children’s Bible song “Be Careful Little Eyes What You See”. It's such a gentle reminder that we should use wise discernment in choosing what we see or hear, “… for the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little eyes what you see.” Also, it reminds us that no matter where we go the Lord is there. Here's a link to a sweet video of The Bethany Children's Home Choir (in Tanzania, East Africa) practicing the song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iihN9OnkHDg

The group Casting Crowns has come out with a new song for the soundtrack to the 2008 movie Fireproof (one of my favorite all-time movies, by the way!). It’s titled “Slow Fade”, and it’s a take-off on "Be Careful Little Eyes...", but it’s written for parents this time. That song has come to my mind so often lately as I’ve watched my children. They're watching all that we say and do, and following where we go. You can watch the music video for "Slow Fade" at this link, if you'd like. (This video isn't for kids, though.)
http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=249ef880312ef9fe5e68

Samuel is such a little shadow to us all. You remember what two year olds are like. They mimic everything they see and hear. Here he is trying to be just like his biggest brother, who was working in the yard.



Here he’s following Jacob on our family field trip to Tryon Palace. He appears to be really studying Jacob’s steps!











Victoria has a shadow just about everywhere she goes.

This shows him imitating Mary Liz as she pretends to churn butter on our field trip.




Working like Daddy!

Sometimes he wants to just be carried along, but either way, he’s right there with us. (This picture shows him “flying” with Alex, as Samuel calls it.) We all better be sure we’re taking him in the right direction; setting good examples for our son and brother! We know he’s listening to everything, too, because we hear so many of the big kids’ catch phrases come out of his little two year old mouth! His current signature saying is “Oh, Yeah!” said exactly like a 12 year old!

It’s been such a good reminder that Mark and I as parents should only go where we want our kids to follow. I once heard great parenting advice in a Bible study lecture. We must become today what we want our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to be like in the future. We pass on both the good and the bad choices we make, and traits we possess. That’s convicting!

We also have to actively be seeking the right paths to blaze for them. If we’re just wondering down any old path in life, we can get way off course, and there’s no time to waste. Everyday is important when we’re investing in eternity. Psalm 145:4 says, “One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.” It’s not only our responsibility to tell them about Him, but also to walk in His ways so they can follow. As long as we’re following the Lord, the Good Shepherd, we know He promises to guide us “in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake…” (Ps.23:3) It may not be all green pastures that he leads us to, in fact, we may have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, but he will be there, so we won’t have to fear any evil, just as David said. If we’re with the Shepherd, his “rod and his staff, they comfort” us. (Ps.23:4) We have to stay with Jesus, our Shepherd, showing our kids they need to remain with Him. In Psalm 23:6 we have a wonderful promise, “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

When the weight of our responsibility as parents seems overwhelming I turn to one of my favorite verses for sweet encouragement. “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arm and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those who have young.” (Isaiah 40:11)

“Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift my soul…Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” (Psalm 143:8b, 10)

Fun Firsts

We have had a few firsts around here this week:

Victoria has had her first week of participating in our school co-op! She was such such a big, precious girl doing her project, listening during history, learning her memory work, and drawing during her art lesson! She was beaming when she talked about co-op back at home. These pictures are from our field trip to the NC Museum of History this week. I was proud of my big girl listening and learning about American Indians during the lesson there, too.


Mary Liz had her first sleep over party for her 9th birthday! Madeline and I both had a sleepover birthday party when we turned 9, so we had set the precedent for Mary Liz and Victoria. The funny thing is that Madeline and Alex didn't realize their sister was turning 9. They thought she was too young for a sleepover, telling her she had to be turning 9. Much to their surprise, they were missing a year in there somewhere when they counted. They were shocked at how grown up she really is!


Mary Liz went to her first dance tonight, and with the best date ever- her Daddy. As she got ready for the Dad-Daughter Valentine Dance, I could tell how special she felt. She felt just as loved and unique when she returned home with Mark. They made a memory tonight they will always treasure!





For the first time ever, I was the adult coach in the passenger seat while a permit-carrying child of mine drove real roads. I dreaded this, and had put it off as long as I could. I kept telling Madeline she's better off driving for her dad. To my surprise, I was much more relaxed than I thought I'd be. She's a good, cautious driver, and I'm not too bad as the coach.

Firsts can be fun!

I've Been Tagged...

This one's way too easy for me. I've been asked to share 6 (un)interesting things about me. There are too many to count, though. I'll just pick 6 things.
Here's the tag:

1 -Link back to the blog that tagged you: The NC Brownings

2 - Make a list of 6 (un)interesting things about yourself.

3- Tag five other blogs, (but I'm skipping this) and let them know by leaving them a comment.

Six (un)interesting things about me:

(1) I do a ton of of laundry. With 8 people in our family there's a lot of cooking, cleaning, and laundry. I remember when I had child #3 and I felt like I spent lots of time washing, drying, folding... I had no idea what a lot was!

(2) I enjoy doing yard work and gardening. I don't often have the time to do it, but I love working hard outside.

(3) When I was in 1st grade I came home from school one day and asked my mom when I could grow up and get married and be a mom. I didn't have a good 1st grade year, but I really have always looked forward to being a wife and mom. I'm livin' the dream! : )

(4) I have always wanted to go on the foreign mission field. I almost got to go on a mission trip to Haiti with my youth group my senior year. However, political unrest made it unsafe for us to go, and the trip was cancelled. I went to Urbana '90, the Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship missions conference held once every 3 years. I got to see Joni Earkson Tada, Elisabeth Elliot, and many other amazing believers who sought to train us for missions. Maybe I'll go one day.

(5) Mark and I go on "dates" to the grocery store, Wal-Mart, Lowe's, etc. often. I know those don't sound like dates, but I love to be with Mark, no matter what we're doing. Now that we have a teenager who can stay home with the younger kids, we get to run some errands together at night.

(6) I lived in Burlington, NC for 5 months. I was in Elementary Education at Appalachian. I was engaged to Mark (who was at NCSU) when it came time to do my student teaching. The farthest our evaluators would travel toward Raleigh was Alamance County. I student taught in Burlington under an amazing 5th grade teacher at Smith Elementary, near Elon. Sadly, that school later burned down, and now you can shop at the Wal-Mart that was built on the land.

"Is it fun being a mom?"

SNOW!!!

We have simply had a blast- a winter blast- around here the past two days! We have played and sledded our hearts out! I have heard the high pitched screams of my kids sledding down our hills, their uncontrolled laughter whenever they reached the bottom of them, and many a dare, "C'mon! I'll race ya down!"

Since school was closed for Madeline, we took off, too. Everyone, except Mark. He worked from home, and was able to sled some yesterday. He also built us a wonderful fire yesterday evening. I have felt like one of the kids- well, sometimes. Victoria asked me this afternoon, as we walked up the hill in the front yard together, pulling our sleds behind us, "Is it fun being a mom?" I replied, "Yes! It's really fun!" She answered with the sound of great wisdom in her voice, "Because I know it's fun being a kid." I had a great time sledding and playing with my children. That part of all this really was fun! Mary Liz took this picture of us.

The running of the Comer Sled Lodge, now that was a little busy. You should have seen all of the hats, scarves, socks, gloves, and ski bibs that I had to keep dry and organized. The dryer has run almost nonstop these past two days. And boy, can kids playing out in the snow get hungry! It seems like all I've done is feed and dress kids, but I know I fit some playing in there, too.

Victoria's spunk has really been fun for us to see. She has loved sledding. The cold didn't bother her any. I told her once after watching her make an amazing run down the hill, "Wow! You are so brave!" She said, "I don't really know where it came from. I guess I just am." Later she asked me, "Mom, am I the best 5 year old sledder ever?" Of course I told her she is!

Despite all of the work involved in being a mom, I can confidently say, "Yes, Victoria, it is fun being a mom."

What We Do Wednesdays

CrAzY HaIr nIgHt 2008!
I knew I would have a hard time finding chances to post once school started back. It's been over 2 weeks. I'm home tonight playing with Samuel while everyone else is at church. Tonight is the one night of the month that all of our first 5 kids are in one place on a Wednesday night. It's large group worship and teaching for the youth- "Refuge". Madeline's at High School Refuge, Alex is at Middle School Refuge, and all others are at Awana.

Mark serves as the Sparks Director, along with his friend, Neal. Sparks are grades K-2 clubbers. Jacob is a Spark! I was able to be a Sparks leader last year, since a dear friend offered to keep Samuel for us. This year that sweet friend is serving as a Sparks leader!

Samuel and I are sitting this year out. His food allergies are too life threatening for him to be in the nursery around sippy cups of milk, or snacks like goldfish. When he's old enough to know not to eat those things he'll be ready to go to classes. For now, I'm just enjoying this precious time with my two year old son. He'll be big before we know it!

Victoria is a Cubbie, and Mary Liz is in T & T. They are thriving on all that they're learning from the Awana program.

Hawaiian Shirt Night 08

As I said before, this is the only Wednesday night of the month they're all in one place. The other Wednesdays Madeline goes to 10th Grade Girls' Bible Study in a home, and Alex to his 7th Grade Guys' Bible Study in another home. Samuel and I are the chauffeurs on the way there, and we make our weekly trip to the library together after dropping them off.

I have no idea when I'll have time to post again. We hosted Mary Liz's Indian Princess meeting here last night, and we're beginning to prepare for her 9th birthday. In the middle of our special events we have school, school, school, chores, basketball, church, school...

Off for storytime with Samuel- sounds like a good name for a kids show. And now, "Storytime with Samuel"!
Melinda

That's What Christmas is All About

We have had such a blessed Christmas. I'm so thankful that the kids have kept the right perspective. I keep hearing the words, "It's not about presents...it's all about Jesus." Just like any other American kids, our children have certainly enjoyed giving and receiving gifts. I thank the Heavenly Father, though, that they have maintained the stance that the gifts aren't what it's all about.

This is Dad and me at the Providence Love Feast.

On December 23 we went to see The Nutcracker performed by Carolina Ballet as a field trip with our homeschool group. An added bonus was getting to take my nephew Josh with us!

Jacob and Josh at the Nutcracker

Jacob and Josh- best bud cousins enjoying their new Spy Gear from Gran and Papa!

All of the cousins together for Tate Christmas- our 6 with Josh and Emily. They were trying to wait patiently for "present time" after the big Christmas Eve dinner!

Aunt Angela is from England. Way back when she was new to the family, maybe before Brian had even proposed to her, she started an English tradition in our Tate Christmases. We open Christmas crackers before the meal. She always brings them, and the kids are thrilled. Mary Liz and Angela are wearing their paper crowns from their crackers. Jacob got a whistle, and Mary Liz got jewelry.

All of us from my side of the family- the Tates. We took this picture with a timer right before heading to church for the Christmas Eve Love Feast Service.

Christmas morning we always have the kids wait at the top of the stairs for all 8 of us to be ready to walk down together. These 4 are currently the most anxious to get to the tree, so they hovered at the top while the rest of us prepared.

One of our favorite parts of Christmas is when the kids earn money to buy one another things. Here Jacob is proud of his pirate set that Victoria gave him.

Mom and Dad (Gran and Papa) always come by Christmas morning to see what Santa brought! Here they're holding Samuel, who's shooting with the gun set that Mary Liz gave him!

On the afternoon of Christmas Day we headed to

Mark's parents' house for Comer Christmas. Here Uncle Chris is holding Victoria and Samuel. They love Uncle Chris, and it was so good having him here with us!

Comer family gift exchange is always fun, and a little hectic. Mark is the 4th of 5 boys, and our kids are 6 of 17 grandchildren. That can mean a lot of unwrapping, and very little leftover floor space! Mimi and Granddaddy are always so thoughtful and generous.

Christmas isn't about the gifts, it's about the greatest gift of all- Jesus. The gifts did make us feel so loved by family, though. What joy our memories of the holiday will bring us for years to come. I trust the same is true for your family!

Happy New Year from the Comers!

Photo Tag

I've been photo tagged, so here goes my response- 4th folder, 4th pic. Now I'm tagging Beth and Holly. Friends, go to the 4th pic folder on your computer and post the 4th pic in that folder. Then explain the picture.

This is a picture of Mary Liz getting her first real haircut, about 2 years ago. She was donating to Locks of Love for the 1st time. Linda Farmer is holding the hair to show it to her, just after cutting the 10" off. Thanks for tagging me, Norma!

Melinda