Don't Go Into the Woods...

The Kids house backs up to a beautiful and serene green belt, which is arguably one of the best things about the backyard. The small trees and frequent bunny visitors create an idyllic view when gazing out across the yard from the back porch. Its one of my secret daydreams to imagine the day when my "job" is to sit on that back porch chair, looking across the beautiful yard and beyond, a glass of sweet tea at my side as the kids all laugh and play peacefully together.

And since my vision does not include anyone eating small rocks or bugs, bopping each other with sticks or toys, or attempting to run each other over with Power Wheels vehicles, I'd say I'm not quite there yet.

But its a nice vision anyway.

Buddy is also quite fond of the backyard greenbelt, but for an entirely different reason. He loves it for the possibility of endless "eventures".

I have long held the belief that Buddy is a country boy mistakenly living in the city. He enjoys all things guns, sticks, knives, and Bear Grylls. So it is a favorite pasttime of his to hop the small back fence with his dad and tromp around "in the woods" as he calls the small area, exploring, finding big sticks, and stomping in any interesting mud puddles he comes across.

So today, since it was a gorgeous, warm, and sunny afternoon, its too early in the year for snakes, and the children were energized and ready for something a little different, I elected to throw caution to the wind and take all three ankle-biters on a short jaunt over the fence. I figured since Buddy does it a lot with his Dad, there wasn't an issue.

Are you laughing at me yet? Because you probably should be.

I had been promising Buddy just such an outting for almost a year now, but we never could leave the safety of a sidewalk with the giant stroller. And each time before the babies weren't strong enough walkers to do much traipsing. So naturally, when I began lifting the kids over the fence, their excitement was palpable, and their thrilled grins could not have been bigger.

Everyone was having a blast crunching through the leaves, tripping over the odd hidden bunny hole, and inspecting every inch of the area right by the fence. Buddy at first tried to lead the crew straight into the thickest part of the "woods", but I quickly convinced him it'd be better to stay by the fence for the babies' first "eventure".

Buddy, electing himself leader, set off immediately at a relaxed pace, pointing a few things out to his siblings. Brother, a little adorably timid in this new leaf-strewn world, reached up and took my hand before following. And as for Sissy, it was all I could do to keep her hand in mine. She clearly had her own agenda and route.

We barely had gotten a few yards away when I stepped down and suddenly had that dreaded, pushing feeling of something piercing right through your shoe (which is no small feat, given that my boots are almost an inch thick at the soles) and scratched the bottom of my foot. I briefly let go of Sissy's hand, brushed away the leaves from where I had just been scratched, and sure enough: there was an old small piece of wood under the leaves with a orangish, rusted nail sticking up about an inch high.

"EVENTURE OVER, BUDDY! We're going back right now!"

"Awww why?" He whined from ahead of me, "We just started."

"There are dangerous things back here, I didn't know or I wouldn't have let us do this." I said as I scooped up the twins, Sissy struggling mightily against me.

As I hurriedly lifted each of the loudly-protesting kids back over the fence into the safety of the yard, it hit me how much God had REALLY been looking out for us on that brief trip over the fence. It creeps me out to think back now at what else could have been hidden under the leaves for our unsuspecting selves to step on. OF COURSE, I would rather myself step on a thousand rusty nails before Buddy, Brother, or Sister would step on one, so I was blessed that I was the one that stepped on that nail rather than them (with the twins on either side of me... SCARY!)while I just-so-happened to be wearing the only shoes I own that have soles thick enough to take the brunt of the nail's length for me. Really now, what are the chances?

And while yes, everyone WAS having a ball "in the woods", I doubt I'll ever be brave enough to take the kids back there again. I'll let Buddy get his "eventures" in with his Dad.

And Bear Grylls.

A Lesson in Theology

Buddy has been going through the typical small-child coming-of-age fear of dying. Neither I nor his parents are prone to randomly bringing the subject up to the kids, so we have figured this is just a natural thing for him to worry about as he gets older and first comes into contact with the idea that no one is immortal.

His parents and I have been easing these random fits of worry by assuring him that he doesn't need to be concerned about things like that; That he and his family will all be together for a long, long time.

And, taking a cue from his mom and dad, we've also taken this opportunity to get him excited for heaven, and to tell him just how awesome of a place it is. SO awesome that he doesn't need to even be concerned about death. We may have stretched some of the theology in the process (such as telling him about all the candy and video games he'll get to have in his mansion in the sky), but we figure as he gets older and his faith grows his vision of heaven will evolve as well.

Anyhoo. All that brings me to the events of lunchtime today.
Buddy, Brother, Sister and I were all sitting around the table eating and tossing around the usual mealtime banter (actually, Brother and Sister were spending their time tossing around the actual MEAL, as toddlers are apt to do...) when Buddy suddenly sighed dramatically and exclaimed "Devyn... I just can't WAIT for heaven!"

Smiling, I agreed.

Buddy continued, "I can't wait for my big comfy bed that will be made out of a cloud that Jesus will give me."

"Oh yeah, dude. I bet that will be the comfy-est bed ever!" I encouraged. "Your big comfy cloud-bed will look so cool in your big mansion that Jesus will give you!"

"Yeah. And outside I'll ask Jesus for a big grill for Dad. He likes grills."

"That's a good idea!"

He turned to me, "How big will your grill be, Devyn?"

"Well. I'm sure I'll have a grill too, but I bet ya'lls grill will be bigger than mine, since your Dad loves grills more than I do. Because Jesus puts all of the things we love the very most in our houses in heaven."

Buddy thought a moment. "I'm gonna have so much candy and video games then!"

"Mmm."

After a few minutes of thoughtful chewing, he continued "Devyn, what color is Jesus?"

"Hmm, that's a good question, Buddy. What color do you think he is?"

"He's red."

Allrightythen.

"That's a pretty interesting color to be. We'll have to see if you're right when we get there." At this point, I sat back and just watched the little cogs turning in his head as he dreamed up what his heaven would be like.

"Devyn, why don't you know what Jesus looks like?" He asked. "Did you forget or something?"

"I haven't seen Him yet. We don't get to see Him until we go to heaven."

"But what about before you were born?" Buddy challenged, "you saw Him in heaven before He sent you to earth!"

"You're right, Buddy, I did. But after you get sent to earth, you forget exactly what He looked like, and you just have to trust and remember in your heart that He's there, waiting for you to come back. That's called having faith."

He chewed his fishstick thoughtfully while mulling this over in his 4 year old mind. Suddenly he dropped the fishstick, eyes wide, and stood up in his chair.

"THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS IN DAD'S BLACK OPS GAME TOO!!! When things are dangerous and there's scary music playing, the guy yells 'HAVE FAITH'!!"

"Exactly."

A lesson in theology over fish sticks and green beans, with Black Ops references.

Whatever works, man. ;)