Imagination of the Blind Grandmother in Heidi.

OH dear, Grandfather,


 The old Grandmother is blind and she cannot see. She hears only the creaking of the shutters and the swaying of the house and it scares her. Would you fix her house, Grandfather? Would you help her feel the security of a stable dwelling? Grandmother feels that the wind will take her house right in on her head. We must help her see the comforts and the beauty of all that is around her. Would you help, me Grandfather to give the old Grandmother the tastes and smells that will bring the comfort that will cheer her heart?

 No one can make the sunshine for her because her eyes are no longer seeing. No one can make the days light for her and she can't see the sun kiss the mountains Good morning and Good night. We can fill her other senses with life and joy and help her see with her heart that we love her and that the world is not against her.

 Don't be grieved at her, Grandfather. She can't help that her blindness makes her cross and angry, sometimes. Meet her in the help and strength that only you can. Help her to know that her house is going to hold her and not fall in on her head.

Bring the hammer and the nails and the shingles and the wood and build her the house that is falling down about her.  She's not angry with you, Grandfather, she is just afraid.  She is sad and petulant.  Be the strong man that can help her know peace in her life.

When the heavenly visitors come to play...

Braxton's friend was involved in his eating habits, yesterday.  The friend stood above the highchair and engaged him in a ten minute tug of war with the spoon.  Braxton is usually very attentive to his plate or bowl.  Perhaps he didn't like the cereal, but this tug of war usually happens right as the baby is walking into the " two's".  It is my theory that heavenly warriors have a last chance to kiss baby, before the angels put them on auto-pilot.  Natty had months of this kind of kissing game, others had a day or two.  Then they come "into themselves" so to speak.

It seems heaven whispers promises into their ears that the angels aren't privy to.  The angels have to stand aside and give the warriors a hearing by the baby.  They fall and they fight, like never before, but they look up as though they see the person whispering in their ear.  They talk in an upward direction and it is not to me.  They seem to be given a scepter of dominion on the earth.  It looks like they come out of the meeting thinking that they are already reigning.  They get discouraged that I don't know what the person told them.  I'm just the monitor.  I can't hear them,  I have to remind them.  "What good are you?"  they seem to say, after the meetings.   The ministering, guardian angels come closer after the meeting, but they really can't hear anything that is said between heaven and earth on those sessions.  Only the child is privy to their direction.

It seems to me that the angel has the womb and the church triumphant has marching orders for infant to toddlerhood.  If you are really quiet and close to the cradle, you can hear the hymns they teach baby and the marching orders that are given.

Braxton had the spoon back and forth and up and down, playing a game and swinging it.  He spilt his bowl and I let him stay there a minute, before I cleaned him up.

Fawn's song

Welcome strangers and friends to this cold cruel world, is what we say everyday to our little ones. Put on your seatbelts you are getting ready for a bumpy ride, through life. Daycare is a stewardess role. Have you got your blankie, your pillow? Your creature comforts will come in handy when you get to the bumpy parts of the ride. Keep your hands and feet to yourself and don't stick your head out of the vehicle. It is easy to descend into repetitive cliche's, but realness is key to teaching children to enjoy the wow's of life and enjoy the beauty around them. From the beautiful fawn who crosses the road in two jumps to the penmanship of the dragonfly, it is enjoying the beauty of the creation and learning to know the Creator, who is blessed forever! I still say there is nothing so beautiful as baby's first smile.

Fawn's song

Welcome strangers and friends to this cold cruel world, is what we say everyday to our little ones. Put on your seatbelts you are getting ready for a bumpy ride, through life. Daycare is a stewardess role. Have you got your blankie, your pillow? Your creature comforts will come in handy when you get to the bumpy parts of the ride. Keep your hands and feet to yourself and don't stick your head out of the vehicle. It is easy to descend into repetitive cliche's, but realness is key to teaching children to enjoy the wow's of life and enjoy the beauty around them. From the beautiful fawn who crosses the road in two jumps to the penmanship of the dragonfly, it is enjoying the beauty of the creation and learning to know the Creator, who is blessed forever! I still say there is nothing so beautiful as baby's first smile.

Charles and Quest make me sing!

What do you do and how do you play with a 3 month old? I miss those times. We had a wonderful songfest, this week. They were singing, nearly louder than me. Cooing is a wonderful time to sing hymns together. They look at you like, they sing those down here too? I know that one. And then they start singing. It is a wonder.

Charles is less sing-songy, but he chimes in on the refrain. Quest likes to sing the whole song and then start another one. Their guardian angels are very near and I love this time, before the effects of sin and their personal expressions are evident. They hold onto their angel and they talk to them and entertain themselves much of the time. They look at you like, why are you getting in my angel's way talking to me? You feel like saying, excuse me, when you break into the conversation.

Natty showed me that, more than any of the other children. She would sit over in a corner, playing with a toy over her head, like the other end was being held by somebody. I said Natty, who is that? She looked at me, like she thought I could see them. She is so observant. Every new boo-boo, I get on my legs, she catches. This week she said, do you want me to get you a band-aid for this one. It was tiny and a little pop from some grease on the stove. I said, no thank you, Natty. Are you alright, Ms. Jayne? I am alright, Natty, don't worry. It was just a pop of grease. Gabby said, what are those, talking about my vericose veins.

Love and the Recalcitrant 2 year olds!

I used to be 2 years old...That was 52 years ago. I used to rebel against sleep, rather regularly.

Now it is my job to put babies and recalcitrant 2 year olds to sleep, every day. Work them out really hard and then lay them down. If you did your job right, they will fall right out. And then there is a day like yesterday. My two favorite little ladies were insistent that naptime was and is optional. Nope! Nope! That is recalcitrants, as far as I am concerned. You are tired and if you don't take a nap, the fights in the afternoon will be worse than the fights in the morning.

Natty was talking to her imaginary friend, who I think I know very well. She has been talking to him, since I've met her. Kara was commentating the news of the day, as usual. Take a nap! Noooooo! Put your head down! Nooooo! Be quiet? That is when my mind starts recounting the endless nights of punishments at the foot of my mother's bed, when my optional bedtimes were beyond her patience level.

I did shows with my sisters. We sang and memorized songs. We had kick-fights. We had tickle fights, we set our own rules, when we could. Her tummy could only move so fast. My knees are my limitation and I love the look, when they are trespassing on my patience level and they know it. What goes around comes around? Love, look at us. Loving one another into nap-time. Loving one another into a rest, that we need. Love, look at us. Here we are again, imaginary friends, newsrooms and debates in our bedroom as though the world was living in our bedroom or our nap room. Such fun to have 2 year old friends. Go to sleep, now! NOOOOOOO!

If you can't beat em, join em! Okay, Charlie and Steedy, let's show them how its done.

Love and the Recalcitrant 2 year olds!

I used to be 2 years old...That was 52 years ago. I used to rebel against sleep, rather regularly.

Now it is my job to put babies and recalcitrant 2 year olds to sleep, every day. Work them out really hard and then lay them down. If you did your job right, they will fall right out. And then there is a day like yesterday. My two favorite little ladies were insistent that naptime was and is optional. Nope! Nope! That is recalcitrant, as far as I am concerned. You are tired and if you don't take a nap, the fights in the afternoon will be worse than the fights in the morning.

Natty was talking to her imaginary friend, who I think I know very well. She has been talking to him, since I've met her. Kara was commentating the news of the day, as usual. Take a nap! Noooooo! Put your head down! Nooooo! Be quiet? That is when my mind starts recounting the endless nights of punishments at the foot of my mother's bed, when my optional bedtimes were beyond her patience level.

I did shows with my sisters. We sang and memorized songs. We had kick-fights. We had tickle fights, we set our own rules, when we could. Her tummy could only move so fast. My knees are my limitation and I love the look, when they are trespassing on my patience level and they know it. What goes around comes around? Love, look at us. Loving one another into nap-time. Loving one another into a rest, that we need. Love, look at us. Here we are again, imaginary friends, newsrooms and debates in our bedroom as though the world was living in our bedroom or our nap room. Such fun to have 2 year old friends. Go to sleep, now! NOOOOOOO!

If you can't beat em, join em! Okay, Charlie and Steedy, let's show them how its done.