Noah's Paradigm

During the house boat trip of 2008 Noah pleaded for me to take him out on the jet-ski. I fastened my life jacket and hopped behind Noah. At first he gunned the gas until he heard a sharp word from me. We made an agreement that I would let him have control of the gas and steering as long as he allowed my hands up for guides and obeyed me without question. Together we went flying through Flat Hollow. I taught him how to read the waves and look for the currents hidden just beneath the surface. He soon slowed instinctively at the breaks we raced toward. He scanned his horizon looking for other vehicles and glanced over his shoulder before he turned. It was a bonding hour long ride. I had to trust him with the speed and direction; he had to trust that I would only intervene when absolutely necessary. That was better than any couch therapy we paid for in the last three years.

A couple of days ago Noah came in from playing with cold hard cash in his hand. Suspecting he sold something of someone’s I went on the rampage to uncover the origins of his new booty. He stopped me in the doorframe begging me not to go outside and ask the kids. This spurred me on with a maternal determination to uncover whatever shannigans my son was up to now. One step out the door the confession came tumbling out. ”Ok, Ok Mom I gave Kalin some lego figures to play with.”
“Noah, those aren’t yours to sell!”
“I’m not selling them Mom, I’m renting them!”
“Renting them? For how long?”
“He’ll bring them back tomorrow!”
“Is that right Kalin? You’ll bring them back tomorrow?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Ok, that’s good because if you don’t his big brother will get real mad because those are his and Noah didn’t ask first.”
Once we were back inside our conversation continued:
“Noah how much money have you made?”
“Oh, this dollar Calin gave me makes $14.”
“Really? All from renting toys?”
“No. sometimes I rent out video games.”
“And everyone returns the things you rent.”
“Yep.”
“Well, Noah that’s very interesting. You know you should use me or your big brother as a witness to your rental agreements so no one can say you actually sold it instead of renting. Does that make sense?”
Oh yeah, that’s a good idea!”

What eight year old thinks of these kind of money making schemes? What’s with these kids that pay to rent his stuff? Will he be the kid in Middle School that has a jacket lined with snacks and electronics for sale during breaks?

Yesterday Noah was speaking to his Dad about making money.
“If I was a lawyer would I make lots of money?”
“Well, it depends. But Noah, if you want to make lots of money you should know that it’s the people who own a business that make the money.”
“So if I want to make lots of money I should own the lawyers?”
“Well first you have to work with some lawyers to get the experience but your focus should be on owning the business if you want to make money.”
“Ok, so I’ll be a lawyer that owns a lawyer business.” Here he pauses for awhile looking out the window. “Hey Dad, what do you do?”
His father goes on to explain how “sales is great it’s just like owning your own business……the explanation is met with Noah’s silence.

Noah is possibly the brightest kid I’ve ever met.

Sundries from Shades of KristinLynn

"Mountain Mama" still needs attention and the "Nate" essay has been put off until I see him again in a mere ten days! I'll be traveling soon and have extra eyes watching my kids so that means writing will get done!!!!! I will not be doing any new Twilight stuff as Stephanie Meyers would rather see potential writers working on their own stuff rather than riding her wave. Feel free to leave your opinions...

Giveaway

Three years ago I met a woman in her late seventies named Tenny. She had just lost her husband of fifty-two years. Her left eye was going blind. She had nothing to eat. I carried clothes and food to her car. I listened to her story while I held her hand. I prayed for her. I believed what I prayed. The next year Tenny came back, her walk was more erect. She smiled. She remembered me and the prayer. She hugged me and held onto my hand. Her eye stayed the same and she could still see out of it. I loaded her car again and told her how happy I was to see her. She had a terrible time focusing. I thought she looked as if she were undecided on which realm to live in. Together we thanked God. I told her that she would stay in my thoughts, I parted with a hug and a kiss.

I saw Tenny at the giveaway last weekend. She was so thin. She recognized me right away. She grabbed me and searched my eyes. She kept saying "You, you, oh you!" She didn't say much this time but held on to my hand. She brought an elderly brother with her. He was very talkative. Tenny had lost some hearing over the last two years. They both looked so emaciated. Here's the thing I really loved about these two, they have needs but they do not horde. When you have a giveaway of course you attract those who suffer from materialism. My heart breaks when I load bags into a car full of junk. Tenny's brother's truck was bare. He thanked me in the parking lot and said he guessed he should be going to church. My heart started to rip. I found words to help express briefly that it's not about him showing up to church. That we of course would be happy to see them again. More importantly it's about getting to know God for yourself.

Six days later and her small blue eyes are still so vivid in my memory and I'm hoping that she has food for today and that her brother is listening. I hope to see them again.

Sardines

I've been thinking a lot about Africa......I know a nurse in Mozambique who could use some help. Last time I felt this way I ended up in a country where I didn't speak the language well and discovered that my seven seat passenger van with a few modifications becomes public transportation and normally seats twenty-three people outside the U.S. - of course we were crammed tighter than sardines!

Bed of Nails

Last night I took the kids to my work for a pool party. The Martial Arts group was putting on a pool-side demonstration for all of the patrons. My daughter was completely enthralled. She was so impressed by the breaking bricks, bats and boards. Her eyes went wide with the slicing of various fruits. I smiled softly, knowing she would love to see some of my secret weapons hidden in our house. She has seen me go all Xena with my Chinese Bo Staff. She loves watching me do my forms. None of my children have seen the pictures of a Chinese New Moon Festival demostration I did 18 years ago. Eighteen years? How is that possible?

I wore an open back bathing suit and laid on a bed of nail-tips. Four hundred hand pounded nails on a 18" by 2' board made my little bed. As I laid down, my Teacher placed a cinder block across my abdomen. He gave me a minute to breath and concentrate in front of a thousand people in the downtown area. Then I found my place of peace and purpose and let him swing a sludge hammer over his head and on top of my stomach as a couple of hundred screams were let loose. The brick broke and I was pulled up. One little nail slightly raised pierced my back and left a small trickle of blood running parallel to my spine, this made my mother cry out. I never felt it. It cleaned up and left a small scab. So many people came up to see my back that night and asked how I did it. There was no magic; just belief that I would be protected and sheer determination. Eighteen years I have carried that gift of faith, confidence and determination. I want to give it to my children, especially my daughter.

Fireflies and Camp Shade

Who needs sleep when there are fireflys to catch? Such joy in summer days filled with games and imagination! The feet jumping across my threshold brings requests to come out and play, jump in the puddles, hide in a fort or just lay under the sun until your head pounds!

Twilight fanfic

OK so I updated all the Twilight stuff. I love the embedded songs and hope the reader can enjoy them better now. It has been so long since I reveiwed them and once I did I realized that "Edward Grieves" needed an overhaul. Hope all the fans still enjoy it!