tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:07:26 +0000http://thess518.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)Blogger209125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-519828664452912815Sat, 29 Nov 2008 04:36:00 +00002008-11-28T23:48:56.497-05:00We have started a few new traditions in our family and one will be journaling five things we are thankful for each year. I will keep these in a book so that we can look back at them. I thought you may like to know what the kids said this year.Dayana is thankful for her mom and dad and brother and David, Mary, Cara, her house and Riley.Johan is thankful for Larry Boy, his cowboy hats, his Tigger http://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/11/thanksgiving.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-6622771974763882598Sat, 15 Nov 2008 14:15:00 +00002008-11-15T09:27:42.120-05:00Trevor and I just returned home from a two day convention in Dayton. We dropped our children off at Grandma and Grandpa's house on Thursday morning and came home Friday evening. It's Saturday morning and we (Trevor and I) are laying in bed reading but it's what is going on around us that is blog worthy. Our 40 pound dog Riley is laying on top of Trevor getting scratched. Everytime he stops she http://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/11/get-away.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-8905848108209700510Sat, 15 Nov 2008 01:02:00 +00002008-11-14T20:32:11.277-05:00At first our children could only speak Spanish and thought we did too. They learned a few English words because they had been told to - hello, good morning, thank you.Then we arrived home and it hit Dayana one night, her mami spoke English with her friends and only English would be spoken in her new school. She didn't want to go but I encouraged her that her teacher knew some Spanish. Her teacherhttp://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/11/english-versus-spanish.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-7238994265338058659Fri, 07 Nov 2008 01:51:00 +00002008-11-06T20:53:41.637-05:00Picture a little boy walking carefully right on the crack in the black top while he chants...If you step on a crack you mami's back will come open!Dayana and I cracked up all the way to the store. And to think rhyming words were the key lesson of this week in kindergarten!http://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/11/he-cracks-me-up.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-3362361533003434247Mon, 03 Nov 2008 01:58:00 +00002008-11-02T21:12:37.451-05:00One night not long ago, we were in the middle of devotions when something got us talking about hair. I can no longer remember anything leading up to the story but the clinching punch line of the night was when Dayana turned to her Papi and said, "Dada is like a cat." Poor Papi and his receding hair line. Nothing like a sweet innocent daughter to point out your age.http://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/11/kids-say-funniest-things.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-8287620807327917797Fri, 31 Oct 2008 01:32:00 +00002008-10-30T21:44:56.898-04:00"I am going to get shots" Johan proudly announced as he bounced out of school. He acted happy but inside he was nervous. I learned later that he had been wound up all day - probably a combination of excitement (Mami is coming to get me) and nerves (I am getting shots today).Halfway to the doctor he quietly admitted from his back seat, "Mami, I'm scared."I promised I would let him squeeze my hand http://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/10/shots.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-4971045193402385492Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:32:00 +00002008-10-07T21:36:19.416-04:00Hey, Johan and Dayana, want to see your aunt Maria feeding a giraffe at the zoo. Sure Mama. Johan just starred at the screen and then wanted to know where that was. Dayana had a more expressive response. (and I quote), "That is SOOOO Gross." I didn't even know she knew the word "gross" http://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/10/lets-all-say-it-with-dayana.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-4617025237079296347Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:52:00 +00002008-10-07T21:45:04.676-04:00While putting on makeup one morning I heard my watching son asked, "What's that Mami, lip chalk?"We went to the zoo the other day after school and visited the aquarium. LOOK - SHARP Mami, SHARP!While reading to Johan - I read and he filled in the blank. You see with your ... EYES. You smell with ... YOURS NOSE. You hear with your ... SPEAKERS!My sister took the kids on a trip around town and gavehttp://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/10/funny-things-we-hear.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-4232254266248726059Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:43:00 +00002008-10-04T15:52:02.423-04:00From school and church papers:Name __Dayana lloey__She's getting closer.Name __JOHA______otot became H and then HO and then OH and then the right letters but all over the page and out of order to NAHOJ and then JOHA and now JOHAN (I made the A smaller because he had to squeeze it in after the fact.)It is a great blessing and great fun to watch your children learn.http://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/09/progress_23.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-153791397221130669Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:31:00 +00002008-09-23T20:41:01.908-04:00Johan is not quite as sophisticated as Dayana at bedtime. He still wants a drink...then MEDECIN (he says it in Spanish and gets his nightly vitamin or benadryl - everyone in our house has allergies to fall including the dog)...then off come the socks (I'm hot)...then he wants the vent (air conditioner)...then lately he has wanted to tell a story. But if you have read other days, you know his http://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/09/bedtime-routine-for-johan.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-13750017473695731Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:25:00 +00002008-09-23T20:31:26.696-04:00We are finding that bedtime is even more drawn out now that everyone speaks English in our house. At times, Dayana likes to stall by asking theological questions - she must take after her Papi. She will go deeper and deeper (or farther off topic) with each question. But we don't discourage this too much...it often also leads to her telling us something more about Colombia. As she tells more http://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/09/bedtime-routine-for-dayana.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-6315058338178773729Sun, 14 Sep 2008 20:01:00 +00002008-09-15T21:54:20.213-04:00It's Sunday and Johan woke up excited to go to church "because I see Grandma there" - Grandma serves in his class. "Why is Grandma in your class?" Dayana asked. "Because Grandma wants to help and help and help in the church," explained Johan. He cuddled in bed and watched 3,2,1 Penguins and then went to get dressed (he hardly ever pees the bed anymore). While he dressed in his new size too big http://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/09/one-funny-sonday.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-6100018178271228369Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:49:00 +00002008-09-13T16:53:00.169-04:00Hey, Johan what's this word. (I should him his one vocabulary card from school.)"BE!" he shouted proudly.The word is "The".Progress - at least he knows it is a word made of letters and it doesn't spell his name. That's what he says now when he finds something written on a paper, "Hey, that's not my name," in a tone that says everything should have his name written on it.http://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/09/progress.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-2395261174048849743Thu, 11 Sep 2008 01:17:00 +00002008-09-10T21:31:48.924-04:00Did I mention that Johan "lost his balance" at school a few days ago. I "lose my balance" he says to his teacher as he laid on the floor refusing to go to the next thing. Apparently, he has not fully regained his balance because he keeps telling me stories of falling out of his chair.We built a house out of couch cushions the other day and I was the baby. I was sent to school by "Papi" Johan and http://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-must-write-this-stuff-down-2.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-2557458280475067234Thu, 11 Sep 2008 01:10:00 +00002008-09-10T21:17:27.217-04:00There is so much to write and I am so far behind and I can't post pictures because my computer is very stubborn.Dayana - her reading booklet this week was called Ham, Jam and One Yam. We were to read it and send it back by tomorrow. She is going to be a good reader someday but right now it is so difficult for her. She tries to sound out the words but sometimes only sounds out the first letter andhttp://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-must-write-this-stuff-down.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-257680424403941521Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:48:00 +00002008-09-09T21:02:19.688-04:00I would take him and give him a hot shower right this minute (even though it's past his bedtime). He just told me a big story about the last time he was with Mary feeding the ducks. Apparently a big geese came and stole the bread and then it"POPO-ed on my head. And I had to wash it off and wash my clothes but I no change because I no chi-chi in my pants. I just put on same ropa (clothes). And I http://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/09/if-i-believed-johan.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-2599829288463244786Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:02:00 +00002008-09-07T21:03:50.302-04:00We love watching our children learn to write and spell. Johan made a card for his teacher last week and wrote his name right to left so it read nahoJ. I wish I had taken a picture before he gave it to her.Dayana is starting to put her last name on her papers... lloeyThat's progress!http://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/09/spelling.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-2553407582915884592Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:59:00 +00002008-09-07T21:01:58.422-04:00Dayana loves her time in school. She is raising her hand (even during specials like Art). She loves to answer questions and participate and think and learn. Her memory verse was easy for her even with new words in English. Genesis 1:1 was this week.Her spelling words (cat, fat, sat, a, I, we, me) turned out to be easy too. Phonics is helping her begin the process of reading.What fun we are havinghttp://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/09/time-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-8538700341441057380Sat, 06 Sep 2008 01:05:00 +00002008-09-05T21:47:38.240-04:00We are working on having a day without time out at school and then again at home. Someday I fully expect for my son to be sent to my office. And I will love him and discipline and hug him and pray with him and ground him and give him suspension all in one afternoon.But he is learning so maybe I am wrong. Maybe God's word will transform him into a boy who listens and obeys. But then maybe God willhttp://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/09/time-out.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-4370429042463612802Sat, 06 Sep 2008 01:03:00 +00002008-09-05T21:04:25.544-04:00I am sitting here watching my children dance and sing on the couch as they watch their first ever episode of "The Donut Man". Our neighbors gave us these VCR tapes from their children now grown and I haven't shown them because they looked boring. But our kids are glued to the show and singing along non-stop, doing motions, laughing, understanding, etc. I would have never bought these videos but http://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/09/amazed-and-clueless-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-3569857126595957555Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:53:00 +00002008-09-07T20:58:40.648-04:00I am constantly amazed at the other silly things we do. Like "saving" a dying locust after school on the way to the car. We carefully placed the ugly bug next to a tree, upright, and safe so he could "find his mami and papi". The next day I was supposed to park somewhere else so they wouldn't find it dead.I forgot.Mami it's died!Then what was I thinking. To distract them from their pain I said, "http://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/09/amazed-and-clueless-2.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-8149809148233693627Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:55:00 +00002008-08-30T00:04:57.424-04:00After day 1, Dayana wanted to go back in the evening. She loves school. Her Mami meanwhile fell apart as she dropped off the brave little ones. I started to lose it going down the hall and then held back tears until little scared turned brave Johan sat down in his seat and turned and beamed a big smile at me. Then I had to try to pull it together so he couldn't see - self talk wasn't working. "http://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/08/day-2-of-first-grade.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-4441757895899323297Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:51:00 +00002008-08-30T00:13:25.104-04:00Johan slept all the way home after eating his lunch in the car. Apparently lunch is "not too many minutes".Later we got the whole story...I fall out of my seat.I spilled my fritos.No wonder he didn't have time to eat his lunch. You should have seen him tell me and grandma the story. Lots of funny things happened at school today. Grandpa was nearly busting a gut trying not to laugh as Johan told http://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/08/day-2-of-kindergarten.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-4224639378351140528Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:55:00 +00002008-08-29T23:51:15.542-04:00and all through the house, not a child is stirring, nor is my spouse.The pencils are all sharpened, we have crayons in excess.The lunches are packed in a car and a princess.The back packs are laying right next to the doorthe supplies no longer scattered all over the floor.New shoes lay out proudlyNew shirts newly pressedDayana can hardly waitto get up and get dressed.For whatever we are missing http://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/08/twas-night-before-school-started.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340117393263217865.post-1909668683610819334Wed, 13 Aug 2008 03:04:00 +00002008-08-12T23:17:15.697-04:00We went to our first official pediatrician visit today and...well, let's just say neither Johan nor Dayana is eager to return. First they had to "chichi" in a cup. That was confusing to them at best. They actually did pretty well for a first time but they were bothered. And then as if peeing in a cup and wearing a gown was not enough, they both needed some vaccinations, not one but some. Dayana http://thess518.blogspot.com/2008/08/pediatricians.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Every Good and Perfect Gift)2