Learning by Example

The challenge at Renaissance Blog this week was about "Learning" and I must confess the more I learn the more I realize how little I do know. Please read the following quote and think about it in reference to learning in your own life.
Every act of conscious learning requires the willingness to suffer an injury to one's self-esteem. That is why young children, before they are aware of their own self-importance, learn so easily. ~Thomas Szasz


Kadence is such a little helper to me and at this stage in his life he wants to do everything I am or at least have a try at it. It really is exciting watching a him  learn about the world and be so anxious to learn. It makes me want to teach him correctly and reminds me to be cautious of my own actions, as they are being modeled to him.
I attempted to capture two sequences of Kadence learning.The first is him in action helping me shovel the sidewalk off after our most recent snowstorm. He learned very quickly and was even able to use the 'BIG' shovel as I don't have one his size. (Just for the record he didn't want gloves on as it was hard to hold the shovel. So we only stayed out a short time for these pictures!)

 Learning to shovel snow...

I must explain this picture...after helping me on the walkway Kadence decided that it would be fun to just start shoveling the entire lawn. He made a path the entire length of our yard before I could explain why we only need to go where we walk.  Still not understanding me he looked at me and said, "Mommy we walk all over the yard", ohhh my try and handle that one friends.

Learning to read...

Gymnastics Time.

Waiting so patiently in line, notice the tongue action and those eyes checking out the surroundings(or maybey it is the girl next to him, mmmm kinda like daddy looking at mommy).

    Twirling action..      Learning to hang on the bar...

     Tumbling mats..        Balance lesson...     Jumping off the high jump, no fear here folks.            The BIG trampoling, our favorite part...'

The end of class song and stamp time. Great time together for Kadence and mommy(good exercise for mommy too.) Thanks Grandma for taking the pictures for us!

Laugh for the day !

This funny clip really made me laugh today.  What a goofball I am at times!  Sometimes as a woman I am learning it is just good to laugh at ourselves and not be so serious.

The thin line between the real world and imagination...

I have attempted to capture three of my "Little Mans" favorite play toys in response to Rebecca's Bog challenge this week.( My inspiration came from her in reminding me how much fun it is to take pictures of kids toys. ) I am not sure how far I have REACHED but in the least it was a challenge in getting the toys away from a little boy to photograph them.

Thank you Lord for those who have given their life for our freedom. Amen

Fallen Marine arrives in Bozeman - Daily Chronicle: "The body of 21-year-old Marine Cpl. Nicholas K. Uzenski arrived today around noon at Gallatin Field airport as family members stood by. Marines carried the flag-draped casket into a hearse, which joined a procession to the Dahl Funeral Chapel, where Uzenski's funeral will take place tomorrow.

ERIK PETERSEN/CHRONICLE Marines carry the casket of Cpl. Nicholas K. Uzenski, a 21-year-old Marine killed in Afghanistan on Jan. 11, from the plane at Gallatin Field airport Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010. Uzenski, whose family lives in Bozeman, was a member of the Third Recon Battalion, Third Marine Division based in Okinawa, Japan. He deployed to Afghanistan in November."

My work can hold a variety of things happening on any given day. Today however I feel portrays a very sad and somber moment that should make all Ameicans stop and be thankful for our freedom and those fighting to protect it. Please thank those you know serving and thank our Lord for all the freedoms we daily take for granted in America.

''The picture of the little boy"

Yesterday while eating our breakfast, I was reading the Wallstreet Journal which I had gotten from work the night before. Most of the front page headlines involved the disaster in Haiti and details about rescue attempts. I was so engrossed in the article that I was reading that I hadn't noticed Kadence, quietly sitting next to me, was also looking at the paper. As I flipped to the next page he grabbed my arm and said, "No mommy I want to see the little boy he is hurt". Flipping back quick I at once saw what he was looking at and grimaced at the image of a young boy with blood and bandages on his face. (Thinking to myself that I had traumitized my 2 year old, unintentionally of course, but way too graphic for him and why didn't I think !)  So trying to make the best of the situation I said, "That little boy was hurt in a earthquake but Jesus is watching over him, do you want to pray for him ?''. Let me tell you we did right over our toast and juice my precious little boy and I asked Jesus to watch over that little boy. I am starting to cry just thinking about this again as I listened to his soft heart pray for this boy we don't even know. 

Wow! What a powerful reminder to me of being sensitive as a child to others pain. I feel like sometimes in this world be become to hardened to life and don't let our hearts feel for others. Thank you Lord for my lesson today. I finally was able to find the picture so I could share with you all. May it touch your heart as it did Kadence's.

Kindness is like snow-it beautifies everything it covers.

This weeks challenge at "Renaissance Blog" was quite exciting for me as snow is a fairly normal part of our winter life in Montana. My mom has been visiting us and helped me take some pictures from around the area we live, which I am contributing to this assignment. We had fun together going on our mountain drives to find some scenery and enjoy the beauty that snow brings.

I am always struck by the simplicity and clean look of things around me after a good snowfall. This is part of the reason i was drawn to the caption i used for this post, "Kindness is like snow-it beautifies everything it covers". What a strong parallel to our lives and the effect they have on others.

Today as my mom was getting ready to leave to visit my sister Jennifer, we took a small walk around the neighborhood. All our beautiful snow had been melting and what was left was nasty mud and slop underneath. I remember saying, "It all looks so ugly and gross when the snow melts". Another good life parallel staring me in the face. If my life underneath the snow is ugly how can I show Christ's love and kindness to others ? I strongly encourage you to contemplate and be challenged by these thoughts as i was today. Enjoy the snow and spread God's kindness to the world.

Angela