Dodger's Class Party

Dodger had a class party that I can't fail to mention. He was king for a day and loved it. He requested green and blue rice krispy treats, and i was just glad he didn't want cupcakes. More work. Troy came and his whole class sang. He loves to be celebrated! And celebrate we did. Look at the Lick-A-Stick powder on his tongue.

Dodger Turned 6

Last Monday Dodger turned 6. It was the first day of Spring Break, so lots of his schoolmates were out of town. We spent the whole year before planning and talking about when and where we'd have his 6th birthday party. He would tell me way back in July that he wanted a Bionicle cake and that we'd go bowling or to Let It Shine again. But as it rolled around, we had a small family party that turned into Dodger getting toys every day for a whole week! He almost has the entire Aqua Raiders Lego collection. We just hit Papa up for the big one last night. :) Those things are not cheap! But the best present, in my opinion, was a $1.50 kite I bought him. Monday was a sunny, windy day and we spent the entire morning outside. We got the kite up in the sky and it was a moment I wish i could go back to. I'm going to remember it forever. The great day didn't end there. I told Dodger he could be the boss that day and do or eat whatever he wanted...candy for breakfast, snacks right after that, you name it. He took total control as he said "Today, I'm going to be the Daddy". My sister and her daughter Winter came all the way out from Lebanon to spend the afternoon with us. It was so fun. Page is a 2nd grade teacher and was amazed at Dodger's ability to build Aqua Raider Legos and follow directions. The only problem was, when he needed help I couldn't help him. My brain doesn't work that way. If I'm bragging on him, I'm really just exposing my lack. ;) We played outside again until Winter gave out and once they went home, Troy took us to Chuck E. Cheese. My only bummer of the day was that we have a tradition of going to a movie with Julie D. on Dodger's "real" birthday and there wasn't anything suitable in the theatre for kids. But the day was super special and none of us would have changed it a bit.

I AM written by Nichole Nordeman

Pencil marks on a wall
I wasn't always this tall,
You scattered some monsters from beneath my bed,
You watched my team win,
You watched my team lose,
You watched when my bicycle went down again,

And When I was weak unable to speak,
still I could call You by name,
and I said “Elbow healer, Superhero,
come if You can,” and You said “I am”

Only 16, life is so mean, what kind of curfew is at ten PM
You saw my mistakes, You watched my heart break
Heard when I swore I’d never love again

When I was weak, unable to speak,
still I could call You by name,
and I said “Heart-ache Healer, Secret-keeper,
be my Best Friend” and You said “I am”

You saw me wear white, by pale candlelight,
I said forever to what lies ahead
two kids and a dream, with kids that can scream
too much it might seem when it’s two AM

When I am weak, unable to speak,
still I will call You by name.
“Oh Shepherd, Savior, Pasture-maker,
hold on to my hand,” and You say “I am.”

The winds of change,
And circumstance blow in and all around
us so we find a foothold that’s familiar,
And bless the moments that we feel You nearer
Life had begun, I was woven and spun,
You let the angels dance around the throne, who can say when,
But they’ll dance again, when I am free and finally headed home

I will be weak, unable to speak,
still I will call You by name
“Creator, Maker, Life-sustainer,
Comforter, Healer, My Redeemer,
Lord and King, Beginning and
the End, I am, yes, I am.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This morning I was dancing and singing to Nichole's Recollection CD that Troy just gave me - what a gift. At the same time I was stirring sausage, unsticking rice crispies from my fingers and watching Dodger play with his new birthday toys. Just now I was stopped in my tracks by this song and literally went to my knees, and then into a fetal position (or yoga if that suits your fancy) on the song above. You've got to hear it, and it will be the theme song on this blog, if I can figure out how to attach it.