Hud the stud

Here are a few pics of Hud. The first few are of his new favorite sport, "blastball." It's a very basic version of T-ball. He's the one with the blue hat and Han's in the background with a skirt on.

Here he is after soccer practice, he put is boots on over his shin guards.

This is how I found him one morning. He had gotten the piece of newspaper, stole my calculator, a legal pad, and grabbed a couple of his books. He's always liked "papuh wuk" as he used to call it before he could say his "R's." Wonder what he'll turn out to be some day.

He's a joy of a boy to parent! He's got so much personality!

BAMMMM!

The other day I was organizing my laundry room and Han was "helping" me. We were going through cleaning products that I no longer use and she grabbed the Kaboom. She said, "MOM, is this BAMMMM?!!?" "What do you mean, BAMM??" "You know," and then said loudly, "BAMMM! And the dirt is gone!!!!"

She must have seen the comercial and it made an impact on her! Scary!!! I had her renact it for the video.

Jesus in his heart!

A few weeks ago, our sweet Hud decided to give his life to Jesus! It was in the van with Russ after church, and we took a picture of it so that he would hopefully remember it better as he gets older.

This has been something Han has been encouraging him to do ever since she made the decision last fall. We kept telling her that Hud could decide when he was ready. She was genuinely concerned that he hadn't made the decision yet. He, on the other hand wasn't quite sure he was ready to die and go to heaven. Han kept telling him, "I did it and I didn't die!"

One day he randomly came up to me and said, "Mom are you going to be there?" "Going to be where, Hud?" "In heaven." I assured him that I was. Then he said, "Is Jackson going to be there?" Again, I assured him. "Well what about my blue blankie?" I told him that I thought Jesus would have a brand new blue blankie for him. "But I want my old one." "Well that will probably be ok." Then he asked if a few more of his favorite things would be there, like knight helmets, swords, and Bible study books.

On the particular day he made the decision, Han had initiated the conversation and Russ told her to let him decide when he was ready. This time he insisted he wanted to and Russ told him that he could wait, but he said no and was emphatic about doing it right away. Russ talked with him about what it meant and he understood it all. When he was ready to pray, on his own, he got out of his booster seat and knelt down. He asked Russ to help him, and said his own little version of the sinner's prayer.

He announced it at his AWANA's Cubbies club that week. The teacher told all the kids that Hud had something special he wanted to share, and he got up in front of them all and told them that he had asked Jesus into his heart. Then after they all prayed for him, Han raised her hand and said that she had something special to share too... "Today in swim class, I went down the big slide and opened my eyes TWO times under water!!!"

Art Auction

One of my favorite charity organizations right now is Love Without Boundaries. They are doing amazing stuff in China including surgeries, foster care and education for orphans.

Their annual art auction starts April 24th and goes through the 29th. Maybe you'll find something you love, and help save a life when you buy it!

The photo above is an oil painting of a little girl who received heart surgery with funds provided from Love Without Boundaries.

http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/

Following Christ in Baptism

The other night I had just put the kids to bed when I heard Han yell out to me, "MOM, when I get baptized, I want to do it with my shirt off!!!!

Me: "WHAT!!?!! Han, you can't get baptized with your shirt off, you have to wear clothes."

Han: "Well, Mom, look here at Jesus. Look what he's doing."

I went into her room and she is looking at the pictures in her children's Bible by the light of her night light. Sure enough, there he is waist deep in the Jordan with no shirt on.

Can't fault her for wanting to be like Jesus, but will make sure she is properly dressed when the time comes for her to be baptized!!

Foreign Languages

The other day Han said, "Mom, I learned a new word."
Me: "What did you learn, Han?"
Han: "Ni Hao"
Me: "Wow, Han, that's great! Do you know what it means?"
Han: "It means 'Hola' in Chinese!"

My teenage 4-yr-old

Today I was painting Han's little nightstand. I was doing a crackle finish and for those of you who have tried it before, you know it's challenging to get it to go on smoothly. Well Han was standing by as I painted begging me to let her paint. I kept telling her, "no," and trying to explain that it was difficult. She finally said, "Mom, I know how you feel. I just need you to twust me!!!" Isn't she not supposed to say those things for another 10 years?

Relating to Dad

When Han wants to relate to Russ she gives compliments like:

"Dad you're so handsome!

You're as handsome as an Indian tom tom!!!!"

When Hud wants to relate to his dad, he says things like:

"You wanna piece of me?!?!"