Little Helper!

We were in the thick of Valentine making this weekend & I can't wait to share the cute ones we did this year, but this is too cute not to blog. Since winter has finally arrived here in the Carolinas (albeit after the trees decided to started budding) we have had a nice roaring fire going for most of the weekend. Our wood rack outside the back door had dwindled to literally sticks, so Jeff went out to the barn to bring more wood up to the house. I stayed home from church yesterday morning with Drew because we were both feeling a little under the weather, but after lunch the sun was bright & Drew was most eager to get outside. I was cleaning up the dishes when I glanced out the window. The sight outside had me running to get my camera, I even left the water on at the sink!

 It took me a minute to grab the camera, so they were almost to the barn by the time I could snap this, but there goes Drew with his little red wheelbarrow following behind Jeff with his big one.

 I knew it would take them a few minutes to load up their carts, so I went back to the sink, but kept my camera close at hand. When I saw them head back up, I was ready to snap away!

 Daddy & his little helper

 Jeff waiting for Drew to catch up a bit...Drew doesn't go anywhere fast!

 Heart melting at this point!!

 Slow & steady! (Actually it was a bit like watching a bumble bee with a wheel barrow! Drew didn't exactly take a straight path!)

 Made it! 

 Time to unload!

 Now for the fun part...riding back down to the barn for the second load!!

 Wheeeee!

 See ya Mommy!

 {Heart melting again}

 You hear people talk a lot about not having a good example to follow growing-up...about proper respect, values, behavior, manners, kindness just not being modeled by parents or grown-ups.

 It is sad that so much hurting today is the result of what was sown a generation ago. It is humbling to think of the immense influence we have on our children & the people they are becoming. (Now, I do believe that we all make our own choices in life & that not all 'problem' adults are the result of parenting mistakes. Conversely, I know that through God's grace bad patterns can be broken & replaced with good!) 

 I'm just so incredibly thankful to have a husband who follows Christ, who serves his family, who leads & encourages his children, & who models kindness, compassion, justice, hard work and love. He is involved & engaged in every aspect of parenting. And he realizes that our children are watching, they are following!

 Even when they lag behind a bit, they keep him in sight & hurry to catch up! And he is there waiting, ready to lend a hand or offer advice & instruction.

{Here Mommy, more wood to keep the fire going!}

Hear, O sons, a father's instruction,

   and be attentive, that you may gain insight,

for I give you good precepts;

   do not forsake my teaching...

Hear, my son, and accept my words,

   that the years of your life may be many.

I have taught you the way of wisdom;

   I have led you in the paths of uprightness.

When you walk, your step will not be hampered,

   and if you run, you will not stumble...

 My son, be attentive to my words;

   incline your ear to my sayings.

Let them not escape from your sight;

   keep them within your heart.

For they are life to those who find them,

   and healing to all their flesh.

Keep your heart with all vigilance,

   for from it flow the springs of life.

Put away from you crooked speech,

   and put devious talk far from you.

Let your eyes look directly forward,

   and your gaze be straight before you.

Ponder the path of your feet;

   then all your ways will be sure.

Do not swerve to the right or to the left;

   turn your foot away from evil.

Proverbs 4:1-2, 10-12, 20-27