I have to constantly remind myself these days that Reagan is soaking her world up like a sponge. She is taking it ALL in!!! Most of the time you see the Reagan running around like a chicken with her head cut off, but she also has a rather introspective side to her, where she will just sit back and take in the world around her!!! I have noticed on many occasions recently where she will, quite naturally, blurt out or act out some routine that I KNOW she has learned from me. It never ceases to amaze, surprise, catch me off guard, crack me up, and to be honest, scare the daylights out of me, when she comes back at me with the same things that I so often say to her!! Our pastor once quote this in a sermon, and it really impacted me in a big way. A very simple concept, but one that has such consequence if not taken and adopted into a way of life!! He said simply.....
"Your children are watching the song of your life, may it be one of praise to Christ the King!!" WOW!
Here are a few examples of things that I have heard or witnessed Reagan do in the last few months that have reminded me that she is watching and soaking it all up! Makes me realize how important it is to live in a way, speak in a way, love in a way, worship in a way, treat others in a way, care in a way, and hope in a way that speaks to Reagan and teaches her how to be!! I want her to look at my life and it be one of praise to Christ the King, and through that, it be one of love and patience and kindness and peace!!!
Unfortunately, the following examples, at least some of them, are funny, but may not boast to the loving and patient side to my nature. Still, I am reminded to be careful and watchful of the way that I am!! Please do not judge, I am trying the best way that I know how to be a good example, but as you will see, we all fall short at times.
I am not sure how many times in the last few week Reagan has looked at me and said in a stern voice with her finger waving in my face "You stop that right now, Ya hear me!!" As serious as she can be. Its so hard to keep a straight face, because coming from her, it really is funny." I try not to encourage this type of talk from my 2 year old!!
Reagan will be doing something and then look at me and say "Ill be right back, ok?" I know I say this to her countless times a day.
Not one of my proudest moments, again reminding me that she is truly learning about the world around her through all areas, including the television. Reagan and I am Jeremy were watching tv one night, actually Reagan and I were playing and Jeremy was watching a movie. The movie happened to be the new karate kid movie. I did not think that she was paying much attention to the movie, if she had been, I would have known to turn it off immediately because of the violence and fighting in the movie. It was not until my sweet 2 year old started kicking and karate chopping her toys, and then Jeremy and I that I realized that she was paying more attention than I thought she had been of the movie, and learning not so nice ways to treat toys, and mommies and daddies!!
I have caught her several times recently spanking and putting her babies into time out. I must admit, this is one that caught me off guard. Again in her stern voice, she will tell them to "Sit down and stay right there!" I guess this is natural, but I have tried to talk to her and at least make sure she has a reason of why she was putting her babies into time out.
I fix Reagan's hair every morning before she goes to school. Recently, she has started to want to "brush mommy's hair" too!! She will make me sit with my back to her, just like I do, and will brush my hair. If I turn my head at all while she is brushing my hair, she will put both hands of my head, one on each side, and physically turn my head back to where she wants it to be while saying simply "turn around." I can see myself doing this every morning, exactly the same way she does it!!
And, at least one example of maybe something that we are doing right!! Reagan loves to read, and every time she sees her daddy reading his bible, Reagan wants to get her "bible book" as she calls it and read her "bible book" like daddy is doing!! Its really sweet!!
Having kids, and raising them is truly one of the most rewarding and hard things in the world!!!
