All it takes is a special bear...

Lately, Winnie has been pretty spazzy. She'll be four years old in January and she has been practicing being four over the past few weeks. Bossy, hyper, loud, stubborn, opinionated...oh and...super fun, giggly, dancing, singing, helping mommy, and doing all things "By myself!"

I'm leading with this because today was preschool day and it has been pouring rain outside all day. The way things have been going lately, that would be a recipe for an afternoon meltdown followed by repetitive begging to watch Elmo, Clifford, or Curious George and mooching for snacks every 5 minutes. However, something unusual and exciting happened after preschool today: Winnie brought Bailey Bear home for a weekend visit!

At Winnie's preschool each child in her class has an opportunity to bring Bailey Bear home for a weekend visit. Along with Bailey Bear comes a large blue backpack filled with dress up clothes for Bailey and a journal in which Bailey writes about her visit for the next lucky child to read. As Winnie came walking out to the car today, escorted by her teacher, she carried this enormous backpack and was grinning from ear to ear. "Mom, I get to bring Bailey Bear home!!!!!" Winnie squealed.

Well, I could never have imagined the effect Bailey Bear would have on Winnie. She spent 2 HOURS playing with Bailey quietly in the living room. She ate lunch very quickly and insisted that Bailey join her for lunch and then went right back to changing Bailey's clothes and reading Bailey all of her favorite stories.

It's amazing how one small, worn out old bear and some worn dress up doll clothes can completely transform, mesmerize and activate a preschooler's imagination far beyond that of any video game or television show.

I can't wait to see what Winnie and Bailey get to do together tomorrow. Totally cool!

Kim (Kanga-Mom)

It takes a Village... God's Village.

Late last week we received an email from a friend at church. They were in need of help and sent out an SOS to everyone they new. They were having a work party at a rental house that they owned that had been all but destroyed by the previous renters. Our friends are going to try and sell this house, but needed to get it cleaned up before anyone could come and look at.

I quickly emailed Christopher Robin who said he actually thought it sounded like fun (I love that man!). We then asked Eeyore if she would be willing to babysit Winnie and Tigger for a couple of hours Saturday morning while we went and helped out a friend. She was willing. So we emailed our friend to say that the Hundred Acre Wood Clan would be there.

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Now, in our many years of marriage, we have been the recipients of more than our share of neighborly and family aid. Sadly, we have not always been able to reciprocate. I know that God uses us in different ways during the various seasons of our lives, and as our children get older we are gradually noticing our season of life shifting from focusing on ourselves to focusing on others more. So, when we received the email, we felt honored to be able to step forward and do this for our friends. It was our turn to "do unto others". Yay!

It's always a good idea to be neighborly and help each other out when we are in need. However, in today's troubled times, it is even more imperative that we look up and take notice of other people's needs. Helping others is good for the soul. It makes God smile when He sees His creation loving each other through compassion and hard work. Turning our attention to helping others causes us to get out of our own heads and circumstances for a little bit. That is an awesome feeling!

So, we showed up on Saturday morning with a cheerful spirit to work and help our friends. What an awesome experience! The place was totally wrecked, and it was immediately obvious that there was no way our friends could have done this on their own. Honestly, I was not sure that we would get it all done that day. But God had a plan. All day, people kept showing up to help. Everyone, was cheerful, and ready to work. There were muffins and coffee (food bribes are always a good idea:-)). I had to leave earlier than Christopher Robin to relieve Eeyore from her childcare duties. When he came home later that day, he said that more people showed up right before he left and that they were painting the walls. How awesome! God is so good!

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I learned from this experience that there is no time like the present to step up and help a friend in need. Small things, big things, it doesn't matter. Everyone is struggling in some way. No one is left unaffected by our current global economic situation. If there was ever a time for this generation to pull together and love each other, this would be the time.

The saying ,"It takes a village" has never really resonated with me. Until now. I would make one change though. I would say it like this:

Yes, it takes a village, God's Village. When He shows up, anything is possible.

I challenge you to help someone today. Open a door for a person at the store, help someone get their groceries to the car, rake up a neighbors leaves, invite a family over for dinner, have friends over for a game night, babysit someones children for them. Just look around. There is need everywhere right in your own neighborhood. Take a moment and step outside of your own circumstances and watch God work His miracles!

Have a blessed day,

Kim