Summer Fun - Bennett Family

While the purpose of us getting together was not fun (my grandfather passing away), it was good to be together with my parents and siblings. We have not been together very often as a family since Dad, Mom, and Pete live in Tallahassee, FL. Betsy has been living in Bolivia for the last 5 years (up until November of last year) and Jamie is in Indiana. It has been fun to see how each time we get together I think we have a deeper appreciation for one another and the opportunity that we have to just be family.

We really enjoyed being on the farm. It was nice to have space for Joshua to fun and play, though I think his highlight was getting to drive the tractor with Papa! Everyday we were there he would OFTEN ask his Papa, "Can we go ride the tractor?"

"Nana" was as close to heaven this side of eternity as she could be...she had her 3 grandchildren with her. Some of the hardest choices she had to make during the week was which one to play with :o)
When Joshua got home from being at the farm he sang this song..."Old McDonald had a farm E-I-E-I-O, and on the farm he had a tractor E-I-E-I-O. And on the tractor there was a Papa, E-I-E-I-O!"

Joshua being suave on the hood of his ride!

Joshua playing with Uncle Pete. He loves being with all his uncles and aunts!

Summer Fun - Brooks Family

We have been able to spend time with Elissa's brother Andrew, and his new bride Hannah a couple time this summer. First was when we traveled to Indiana in early June to be a part of their wedding day. If you want great detail about the wedding ask my wife...from a guys perspective it was a great wedding and we are very glad Hannah is a part of the Brooks family. It has been fun to see the boys interact with her and how the mutually love each other.

We were also able to see the Brooks Grandparents at Andrew's wedding, many other Brooks family members, which is always a pleasure.

Andrew & Hannah came to Wisconsin to visit several weeks ago so the boys got to love on their Aunt and Uncle. A weekend with the Brooks family is always a weekend of playing all kinds of board games. Lately we have primarily played Dominion.

Summer Fun - Camping

Our family went camping several weeks ago for the first time. We have been looking forward to getting out to camp all summer and we finally decided to just do it. We went to Governor Dodge State Park at it was GREAT! We realized how much we miss being out in the woods and enjoying simplicity in life. When we arrived at our campsite it was amazing how much we just relaxed inwardly.

The camping went pretty well with the boys. We had a shelter tent that we ate in and also a sleeping tent. Joshua enjoyed being outdoors in open space and just being able to play without being confined to a small apartment. All the camping locations where fully wooded so you could only see 4-5 of the 200+ campsites and it was incredibly quite for as many people where there. I really enjoy the camping scene cause it seems everyone there is of the same mind of enjoying the outdoors and be respectful of the other people who are enjoying the outdoors as well.

We were able to enjoy a campfire, hiking, and swimming at the lake. We hope to go camping at least once a month next summer! Anyone want to join us?

Summer Fun - The Park

Elissa reminded me that we have several summer events that we have not shared with you Here is the first of some of our summer fun events.

We have enjoyed taking walks around the town. The town is a quaint small town with seveal small hills so it is an enjoyable walk and a little bit of a workout going up and down the hills. There is a town park 4-5 blocks away from us so we have stopped by the park often on our and let Joshua play on the equipment. Here are a few pics from Joshua playing at the park.

Joshua is trying to climb the pole like he has scene daddy do.

"Look at me Uncle Pete! Aren't you proud that I am standing on a horse like you did when you were young (though I'm not good as you were to go without hands). "

"Ah, I'm sure this makes the grandparents a little less worried!"

Goin' down the slide!

"I'm pinning around really fast!"

War and Compassion

It is an easy thing to de-humanize

a man with whom you are at war,

It is a hard to thing to de-humanize

a man on whom you have compassion.

Ephesias 4:31-32

³¹Get rid of all bitterness,

rage and anger,

brawling and slander,

along with every form of malice.

³²Be kind and compassionate to one another,

forgiving each other,

just as in Christ God forgave you.

Check out other references to Compassion

from the mouth of Children - Remembering

When we put Joshua down for the night I sing songs with him as we lay in bed together. Elissa's friend Liz was over as we were putting him down so we tried to get him said goodnight to all Joshua was being really shy a not wanting to give Liz a hug or say goodnight to her so we just went to bed. We started into our songs and got around to "He's got the whole world in his hands."

We sing several verses:

1. He's got the whole world...

2. He's got mama and daddy...

3. He's got Baby John and Joshua...

4. A combination of the above

5. Extended family - Uncles & Aunts, Grandparents, and cousins

But Joshua pleasantly surprised and amused me when I asked what verse we should sing next when he said, "He's got Elissa and her friend Liz."

It was amusing that he picked up on Liz calling Elissa by her name and encouraging that he picked up on Liz's name.

It's another reminder that Joshua is always listening.

From the mouth of Children - Thanks

My wife is incredibly patient and consistent with teaching Joshua manners. Thank you and please are two big things that we want Joshua to learn so we try to always make sure he says them appropriately when he would like something or has received something.

A few days ago Joshua was offering me some of his food (I can't remember what it was). I wanted him to eat it and wasn't particularly hungry at the time so the conversation went like this:

Joshua: "Daddy, do you want some of this?"

Daddy: "No thank you, you can eat it."

Joshua: "Daddy, say, 'Yes, Please'"

As were driving home from Southern Illinios this weekend we had another fun conversation...

Joshua: "Daddy, will you read this book to me."

Daddy: "I can't read it to you right now. I am helping mama with directions" (as we were driving)

Joshua: "Daddy, say, 'Yes, I'll read it to you'"

Smart Boy!

From the Mouth of Children - Awareness

Kids say some of the coolest and most hilarious things. Joshua has often kept things light in our house. So want to share some things with you for a couple reasons. First, I hope they lighten your day and second because I want to remember. So here is the first of what I hope to be a lot of "From the Mouth of Children" blogs.

We have been teachings Joshua boundaries. An example of what this often looks like goes something like this:

Joshua: "AHHHHHH" (yelling at the top of his lungs)

Parent: "Joshua, we don't yell inside, only outside" (spoken in a gentle, corrective, serious manner)

Joshua: "Only outside. Ok." (in a serious two year old voice)

Joshua: "What is this mama?" (as he is grabbing a breakable item)

Parent: "Joshua, we don't grab that item, we only look at it" (spoken in a gentle corrective, serious manner)

Joshua: "Only look. Ok." (in a serious two year old voice)

So we were eating supper the other day when we were with my family. Joshua enjoys eating ketchup so he grabbed the ketchup bottle and started to lick the top of the lid. So the correction went as follows.

Elissa: "Joshua, we don't lick the top of the bottle." (spoken in a gentle, corrective, serious manner)

Joshua: "Only the bottom!" (Spoken in a serious two year old voice)

Yes, son, we only lick the bottom of the Ketchup bottle :o)

In Memory

Gail Edward Bennett

July 22, 1924 - August 16, 2009

This week we buried the last of my grandparents. As my my siblings and I stood by the casket for the finale time two things came to mind that stood out that Grandpa has passed on to his family.

1. Work Ethic. Grandpa worked with his hands to farm and build all kinds of things. Grandpa "retired" and was able to reap the benefits of paying in to social security for years, but he never stopped working. He continued to invest in the local church and community until he could no longer physically invest.

2. Spiritual Life. All my grandparents lived out their faith not in a bold, "look at me, I'm so spiritual" fashion...they just simply believed God and lived in who God said He is. They all had faith, not religion.

For more thoughts by siblings on Grandpa check out:

Jamie's Blog

Betsy's Blog

Psalm 23

Joshua memorizes things very well. I have been surprised when he will say something or sing a song out of the blue that I had no clue he knew. So I decided it was a good time to start quoting scripture to him at bedtime since he is memorizing things without much effort. We have started with Psalm 23. This morning I was going over it with him as we were in the family room. It went like this:

Andy: The Lord is...

Joshua: ...my shepherd I shall not be in want

Andy: He makes me...

Joshua: ...Lie down on daddy (as he laid on top of me)

For a two year old, lying down on daddy is a peaceful thing. It's resting knowing daddy takes care of him and is not going to hurt him. I think it was a good insight to Psalm 23.