Do you really want a Buzz Lightyear??

Persistence

The problem with persistence is that it is such a great trait to have when we are adults but can be very annoying to us adults when our children are "practicing" this important attribute.

Persistence is something that Mark insists that our children learn. I have to brainwash myself into agreeing with him. But after the boys have asked me for the 10th time for something that I have said "NO" to, I'm not so sure it is a trait that I like quite as much. Especially with McKee, "No" is the beginning of the negotiation. "NO" does not mean no, it means "I have not come at this situation at the right angle" or "I have not asked in the right way". I think my kids continue with the "annoying" trait because Mark always gives them positive feedback when they outsmart their Mom, not to be confused with disobedience, because he is definitely backs me up there. Mark just loves to see how clever they are in asking for the same thing in different ways.

As this old video of our little ol' Mck (age 2) demonstrates, he came out of the womb persistent. It is fun to see how a two year old turned the tables on Mark. If I remember correctly, Mark was questioned a number of times about how Santa could really bring this new gift (an elephant) that was even better then a Buzz Lightyear...... I loved seeing how the hunter became the hunted and how all of a sudden Mark needed to be the clever one in explaining Santa's limited "capabilities". In the end, a little know how of Santa's Sled weight limit rule that Mark found on page 34 paragraph 8 in the Santa's handbook from Santa's website is what saved the day. It clearly goes into weight limits for gifts but thankfully allowed Santa to be as hefty as he likes.

And yes, in the end McK got his Buzz.

I love the whole world!

I have to admit that the Discovery Channel's commercial: I Love the Whole World, is one of my all time favorites.  It gets me right down to my soul whenever I see it.  I could see it over and over and never get tired of it.   I don't know why but tears start to well in my eyes and I start feeling all tingly inside.  I've thought that maybe is it the music that brings me back to my childhood days and brings the flood of memories of elementary school and music class....ahhh back when life was magical and there were so many things to wonder about.  Yes it is true that I have bonded with some of the shows it advertises like Dirty Jobs, Survivor Man, Deadliest Catch, Myth Busters, various animal documentaries, etc., yup pretty much everything on the Discovery Channel.  But I think most of all, I watch in awe, definitely humbled to see the amazing creatures and creations God has made and feeling (through the tingling and singing along with the commercial at the top of my lungs) of how blessed I am that I get to be a part this amazing world.  How awesome is that!