Waxing Philosophical....and some 9/11 Bidness

The following pictures are from our apple picking excursion on Labor Day. The kids had some fun picking the apples off the trees, although Nate just picked them and threw them back on the ground as hard as he could. However, what they really wanted to do was run wild in the park the apple place has on the premises. Fine. We did wind up leaving earlier than expected though, because all I wanted was a photo with my kids and they all ran away. It hurt my feelings and John got super pissed and wouldn't even take them out for the free lunches they've earned from the library reading program. That's hardcore.

This isn't just a pose for the camera. He's always like this. He's my biggest kid, hands down.

Inspection for imperfection. There were a lot of freshly picked apples that did not make Nate's cut. He has really high standards.
These two yahoos were just having some fun.

I'm sharing this because I need to talk about how much I hate GOATS. I think they smell. I think they're nasty. I got photos of 2 of them headbutting each other. And Nate wanted to feed them. One kernel of 25 cent goodness at a time. Really, look.

If this winds up being the Christmas card you get, act surprised. They are all almost looking at the camera. And smiling. And looking like they like each other. It was a moment.

So now on to 9/11. Pastor at church today was talking about it during his sermon, and so I sent Jack into the 'nursery'. He's really too old to be in there, but he didn't question me on it even though I am pretty strict about having him sit with me through the sermon. He even took communion with me last week. All he said was, "Pastor David's talking about some pretty grown up stuff, huh?" And I just said, "yes".

I still haven't figured out if I haven't discussed 9/11 for selfish reasons or for REALLY selfish reasons. I think history is important, and I will teach my kids. But if you know Jack, he will perseverate on an idea to the point where you want to gouge your eyeballs with toothpicks and I just can't do this with him yet when it comes to 9/11. That would be my selfish reason for not bringing it up AT ALL yesterday with the kids. Of course I prayed and meditated on it myself, but the kids didn't know anything happened until they heard a very age appropriate story during children's time at church. He hasn't asked about it yet, but the day is still young.

My VERY selfish reason for not discussing it? Because there is a part of me that wants to preserve that innocence in all my kids for as long as I can. They know that there are 'bad guys' out there, but why should I have to delve into how very bad those bad guys are? They still believe in Santa and the tooth fairy and why not? Their little worlds will crumble soon enough, so as long as I can I want them to learn about the good in the world.

Let them see their parents do good.

Let them learn to do good and right by others.

Let them believe in magic and miracles for as long as they can.

Because at the end of the day it is a scary, savage world out there. There are bad guys out there who can and have harmed children.

I want to protect them for as long as I can from even the thoughts of how bad it can be.

Because maybe, just maybe, if they see enough good, if they hear enough good, and if they surround themselves with others who can and do believe in magic and miracles maybe there is hope for their generation to effect change in the hearts of men.

Let their sweetness and innocence be preserved a little longer.

And in the meantime, let the rest of us not forget how very fragile the balance is between innocence and the loss thereof.