The Boxcar Children :) First Big Kid Chapter Book!

So, we've been seriously working on our reading here in the Amini house, and the boys are doing so great with it. Last Saturday I took the kids to the library and we checked out tons of books, including one chapter book.  The Boxcar Children was one of my favorite book series when I was young, so I wanted to introduce the children to it, and see what they think...

Tonight we read it for the first time. Oh. My. Goodness. They were eating it up! I finished chapter 1 and they BEGGED for more! I finished Chapter 2 and they said, "Pleeeeeeeease, just one more page!" I read one more page and stopped, and David took the book from me and proceeded to read the next two pages, independently.  The book is "3rd grade level"! Don't get me wrong, he made some errors, but he was so excited he kept working through it. I was so overjoyed to see them loving reading, even without pictures! Even Bella was quiet and listening! Well, it was half an hour past bedtime so I told them that was all for now and Dave asked could he read a few more minutes in bed. :) Of course! How do you say "no" to that?!  When I went back up he was on chapter 3 and said, "Mommy, they found a dog!"

It is sooooo good to see them learning! And such a joy to share with my children something that was a part of my own childhood, and to enjoy it with them.  And, honestly? I can't wait to read the next part tomorrow...because I forgot what happens next :) 

Arabella Asks Jesus In

Well, I am behind on posting in this "journal," and we've been quite busy...but most notable of all our recent family experiences happened last Friday, March 2, 2012.  I came home from work on a mission: I was painting the kitchen. Joe was away in New York to Man Camp at Mission Meadows with a bunch of awesome guys, and I was going to reface (with paint) the cabinets, paint the walls, change the cabinet knobs, and even (gulp!) paint the tile in the kitchen (yes, I researched this...) Anyhow, I got the kids ready for bed and sat down for what I thought would be our simple nightly devotion.  And then.... before we even got into our reading, Arabella looked at me and said, "I want Jesus to live in my heart." I wonder if my heart stopped...for a second. But David's didn't. And neither did Andrew. They very matter-of-factly began to explain to her how to ask Jesus to forgive her for her sins ("the bad things you do") and how to ask Him to come live in her heart. And then David said, oh so sweetly, "Bella, do you want to do that? We can pray with you right now." And so we prayed. Actually, first Bella prayed. With her little blue eyes squinted shut and her hands clasped, my little girl said, "Jesus, please forgive me for the bad things I do, and will you please come live in my heart?" I prayed a thanksgiving prayer for her, and we went on to our Bible Story. Then I tucked my little sweethearts into bed, went downstairs, texted Joe and just knelt in the kitchen and cried, thanking my Savior for his sweet work in my child's heart. Thankful that sometimes when I think I have big plans, God has amazing plans and still lets me experience them when I am distracted. What a wonderful Lenten season here, what a wonderful God!  And the angels rejoice...

Well, Joe had a super awesome weekend and came home encouraged and refreshed, and I did paint that kitchen all weekend, but nothing tops Friday night.