2/17/10
On Valentines day Sunday we were walking back in the house and Dorathea turned to me and said, "Mommy, I love you" out of the blue. "Oh," I said "That's sweet! What made you say that?" she replied, "God".
3/20/10
Dorathea was admiring the window boxes I put in the upstairs windows today. As she looked out the window she said "Mommy I can stand there (on the roof) and then fly". Panic struck me first, "No, we don't jump off the roof, we can't fly, birds can.". Then I thought she believes she can fly, how amazing.
This reminded me of the night Dorathea discovered the moon. "Moooon" She pointed up at it with her chubby two-year old finger. "Come down!" she called to it. "Come down moon!". I laughed. A couple months later when her talking had gotten better she said it again. I asked, "Why do you want the moon to come down?". "To play with me" she said. We started singing a song at church that week that went, "Come down come, down as the praises go up" Everytime I thought of Dorathea inviting the moon to play with her.To my child flying is reality and the moon is a playmate. She is able to do every beautiful thing in her childish imagination. I aspire to be like her.
3/25/10
Dorathea begins most prayers lately with "Thank you God for giving (whomever she's praying for or with) flowers". The first time she said this I asked her to pray with Ted and I because I was feeling down and acting grumpy. She held hands with us and said, "Please give Mommy flowers and help her feel better". The image of God giving me flowers made me instantly feel much better. I had never been a bouquet of flowers kind of person, preferring chocolate or a sweet note. But, converted, I bought myself a bouquet soon after her first flowers prayer, and requested them for valentine's day too. God's message of giving me flowers and the 3 year old voice he choose to deliver it with have shown me he will do anything he can to give me beautiful gifts. Now every bouquet I see is like a prayer from my child and a token of my Beloved's affection for me. I just realized today she was telling me God was giving me flowers just before God started showing me that I am a well-watered-garden over and over again in my quiet time. Thanks for being a divine messenger, Dorathea.
At dinner Dorathea- "I have a joke!" Ted and Allison reply glancing at each other "Oh, ok, what is it?". "What does the Teddy Bear say after dinner?....." "I'm stuffed!", she laughs at her own joke and we laugh along. :)
3/26/10
Dorathea is at this moment talking to her bug, which she has named "Coward". "Hi Coward, how are you?It's me!. Coward you got big! Coward, you've got to get out of there (the sink?)! Do you need help? Oh no he's stuck!" "Coward is my pet fly mom."
3/30/10
When I grow up to be a teacher, will you still be my mommy and daddy?"- Dorathea
4/2/10
Dorathea asked me to join her in a game of make-believe using a basket of random small toy trinkets. She named a tiny wooden doll "Dixie" and a plastic monkey (appropriately) "Monkey". She erected a tiny plastic tree and parked a small wooden boat next to it. She announced that Dixie had arrived by boat to visit Monkey at his beach, and he would need to cook something for her to eat. I told her we could have a luau - and then explained what a luau was. Dorathea then erected a mock stove out of a wooden plank laid across two blocks, atop which she placed a miniature copper pot.
When I asked her what Monkey was making for dinner, she took a little white boardgame dice from the basket, placed it in the pot, and said "Monkey's making diced chicken." Naturally.
5/31/10
Dorathea and I are learning 1 Timothy 6:18 "Be full of good works and ready to share". This morning as we said it together and afterward she said, "Mom, I think it should be, and ready to play"
10/13/10
Dorathea received a package one day in the mail from my mother. We opened it and found, along with new clothes and toys, there was a set of magic markers. She immediately asked for some blank paper on which to use her new markers.
Then, I noticed that she was not actually marking on the paper, but repeatedly waving the marker over the page. With a frustrated look she tried it again. Then she put the cap back on that marker, took out another one, and again waived that one over the page. The frustrated look returned.Unable to contain my mounting curiosity, I asked, "Dorathea, what are you doing?" She replied, "These markers aren't magic! They're just regular markers! [loud sigh]"
2/16/11
While visiting my Dad one day I heard a forlorn meowing coming from behind the couch I was sitting on. Then, "Mommy I'm a little lost kitty whose sad". This Kitty began showing up more and more, begging to be petted and having to be corrected about cleaning herself with her tounge. "I know that's what kitties do, but you are just pretending!" I would soon be corrected when I called, "Dorathea", "No mommy, I'm Sweetness Kitty Dorathea Bella Keys!". Dorathea's philosophy, if you can't have a kitty become a kitty.Here she is in the pink and purple kitty costume she requested for Halloween. Jonathan and Daddy are of course doggies.
5/21/11
When I grow up I'm going to be a cowgirl. Do you know what kind of horse I will have?" One with pink hair." Allison-"Ponies don't have pink hair unless you are going to dye it." D-"I'll give her pink cotton candy then to make it pink"
6/19/11 The Kingdom of Glee
Dorathea is the happy new owner of a top bunk some newly painted bunk beds. She calls her bunk, "The Kingdom of Glee". Her unicorns and ponies frolic happily there. She drew a castle for them with chalk on the walls. "Two doggies gaurd the Kingdom. They kill any monsters that try to attack." When I look shocked about the killing she says, "Don't worry Mommy they are only pretend." I asked Dorathea what the other picture she drew on her other walls was, "That is the Island Beach of Happiness, a magical beach. It's the Orange Beach." (Where we vacationed this year). "I like to look at Happiness when I feel lonley."
8/1/11
"I'm sorry Mommy I have to move far away from you when I grow up."
"Why do you have to move away?"
"I'm going to be a cowgirl when I grow up and they live in Texas, so that will be far away"
10/1/2011
Dorathea on the War of 1812; "A lot of people died in the war, but If I lived back then I would solve the problem because I would be queen of America, and I would tell the King (of England) "I am not with you!" and I would prove it!"(she says with her hands on her hips arms crossed and chin in the air.
12/10/11
Overheard this morning,
D with a cape on- "What seems to be the problem?", J-"My pant hurt", D-" I'm sorry, See you around, citizen!" (flies away)
12/15/11
"Could you be the Princess of Beautiful and I'll be the Queen of Beautiful?" I asked
"I guess that would work."
4/20/12
Dorathea got her first bike on her birthday yesterday! I asked if I could read her, "Every Cowgirl Needs a Horse", about a little girl who gets a bike last night. She said, "No Mommy that is in my library and I'm afraid you won't return it.". I asked where "her library" was and she said, "on my top bunk". She knows me too well
8/24/12
Tonight on the porch swing I hear Dorathea whispering. "Willingness of the heart, willingness of the heart, willingness...". I asked her why and she said, "I heard those words on the radio and I think they are what I've been feeling about hope, love, or something like that." She said "I was just hearing them echo over and over." I said, "Do you think the Holy Spirit was reminding you of them?" She exclaimed, "Yes! I think God bounces them back and forth between his two hands and they echo in my mind."
On Valentines day Sunday we were walking back in the house and Dorathea turned to me and said, "Mommy, I love you" out of the blue. "Oh," I said "That's sweet! What made you say that?" she replied, "God".
3/20/10
Dorathea was admiring the window boxes I put in the upstairs windows today. As she looked out the window she said "Mommy I can stand there (on the roof) and then fly". Panic struck me first, "No, we don't jump off the roof, we can't fly, birds can.". Then I thought she believes she can fly, how amazing.
This reminded me of the night Dorathea discovered the moon. "Moooon" She pointed up at it with her chubby two-year old finger. "Come down!" she called to it. "Come down moon!". I laughed. A couple months later when her talking had gotten better she said it again. I asked, "Why do you want the moon to come down?". "To play with me" she said. We started singing a song at church that week that went, "Come down come, down as the praises go up" Everytime I thought of Dorathea inviting the moon to play with her.To my child flying is reality and the moon is a playmate. She is able to do every beautiful thing in her childish imagination. I aspire to be like her.
3/25/10
Dorathea begins most prayers lately with "Thank you God for giving (whomever she's praying for or with) flowers". The first time she said this I asked her to pray with Ted and I because I was feeling down and acting grumpy. She held hands with us and said, "Please give Mommy flowers and help her feel better". The image of God giving me flowers made me instantly feel much better. I had never been a bouquet of flowers kind of person, preferring chocolate or a sweet note. But, converted, I bought myself a bouquet soon after her first flowers prayer, and requested them for valentine's day too. God's message of giving me flowers and the 3 year old voice he choose to deliver it with have shown me he will do anything he can to give me beautiful gifts. Now every bouquet I see is like a prayer from my child and a token of my Beloved's affection for me. I just realized today she was telling me God was giving me flowers just before God started showing me that I am a well-watered-garden over and over again in my quiet time. Thanks for being a divine messenger, Dorathea.
At dinner Dorathea- "I have a joke!" Ted and Allison reply glancing at each other "Oh, ok, what is it?". "What does the Teddy Bear say after dinner?....." "I'm stuffed!", she laughs at her own joke and we laugh along. :)
3/26/10
Dorathea is at this moment talking to her bug, which she has named "Coward". "Hi Coward, how are you?It's me!. Coward you got big! Coward, you've got to get out of there (the sink?)! Do you need help? Oh no he's stuck!" "Coward is my pet fly mom."
3/30/10
When I grow up to be a teacher, will you still be my mommy and daddy?"- Dorathea
4/2/10
Dorathea asked me to join her in a game of make-believe using a basket of random small toy trinkets. She named a tiny wooden doll "Dixie" and a plastic monkey (appropriately) "Monkey". She erected a tiny plastic tree and parked a small wooden boat next to it. She announced that Dixie had arrived by boat to visit Monkey at his beach, and he would need to cook something for her to eat. I told her we could have a luau - and then explained what a luau was. Dorathea then erected a mock stove out of a wooden plank laid across two blocks, atop which she placed a miniature copper pot.
When I asked her what Monkey was making for dinner, she took a little white boardgame dice from the basket, placed it in the pot, and said "Monkey's making diced chicken." Naturally.
5/31/10
Dorathea and I are learning 1 Timothy 6:18 "Be full of good works and ready to share". This morning as we said it together and afterward she said, "Mom, I think it should be, and ready to play"
10/13/10
Dorathea received a package one day in the mail from my mother. We opened it and found, along with new clothes and toys, there was a set of magic markers. She immediately asked for some blank paper on which to use her new markers.
Then, I noticed that she was not actually marking on the paper, but repeatedly waving the marker over the page. With a frustrated look she tried it again. Then she put the cap back on that marker, took out another one, and again waived that one over the page. The frustrated look returned.Unable to contain my mounting curiosity, I asked, "Dorathea, what are you doing?" She replied, "These markers aren't magic! They're just regular markers! [loud sigh]"
2/16/11
While visiting my Dad one day I heard a forlorn meowing coming from behind the couch I was sitting on. Then, "Mommy I'm a little lost kitty whose sad". This Kitty began showing up more and more, begging to be petted and having to be corrected about cleaning herself with her tounge. "I know that's what kitties do, but you are just pretending!" I would soon be corrected when I called, "Dorathea", "No mommy, I'm Sweetness Kitty Dorathea Bella Keys!". Dorathea's philosophy, if you can't have a kitty become a kitty.Here she is in the pink and purple kitty costume she requested for Halloween. Jonathan and Daddy are of course doggies.
5/21/11
When I grow up I'm going to be a cowgirl. Do you know what kind of horse I will have?" One with pink hair." Allison-"Ponies don't have pink hair unless you are going to dye it." D-"I'll give her pink cotton candy then to make it pink"
6/19/11 The Kingdom of Glee
Dorathea is the happy new owner of a top bunk some newly painted bunk beds. She calls her bunk, "The Kingdom of Glee". Her unicorns and ponies frolic happily there. She drew a castle for them with chalk on the walls. "Two doggies gaurd the Kingdom. They kill any monsters that try to attack." When I look shocked about the killing she says, "Don't worry Mommy they are only pretend." I asked Dorathea what the other picture she drew on her other walls was, "That is the Island Beach of Happiness, a magical beach. It's the Orange Beach." (Where we vacationed this year). "I like to look at Happiness when I feel lonley."
8/1/11
"I'm sorry Mommy I have to move far away from you when I grow up."
"Why do you have to move away?"
"I'm going to be a cowgirl when I grow up and they live in Texas, so that will be far away"
10/1/2011
Dorathea on the War of 1812; "A lot of people died in the war, but If I lived back then I would solve the problem because I would be queen of America, and I would tell the King (of England) "I am not with you!" and I would prove it!"(she says with her hands on her hips arms crossed and chin in the air.
12/10/11
Overheard this morning,
D with a cape on- "What seems to be the problem?", J-"My pant hurt", D-" I'm sorry, See you around, citizen!" (flies away)
12/15/11
Dorathea told me tonight she always dreams at night about unicorns and ponies and grace and flying. I said, "What is grace in your dreams?", She replied, "That's when you get a gift mommy."
"Stop right there God!" I just heard my 5 year old say. "Why did you say that?' I asked, "Because God was turning the thoughts in my head around and I wanted to see one of the pictures he was turning".
1/25/12
I was in a toy store with Dorathea and Jonathan, and they were playing with puppets. I joined in with a rainbow-colored monkey. Dorathea's dragon then attacked the monkey and scared him away. A bit after that I saw her wandering around the store with the dragon puppet, and I asked her what she was looking for. She said, "A rainbow toy for rainbow monkey. 'Dragon' thinks he would like something like that." I responded, "I didn't think 'dragon' liked 'rainbow monkey'?" She said, "Dragon has decided to change his life."-Ted
4/14/12
"Mommy you are the beautifulest person in the world, I think you are the Queen of Beautiful. But wait, my middle name is Bella so I must be the Queen of Beautiful." "Could you be the Princess of Beautiful and I'll be the Queen of Beautiful?" I asked
"I guess that would work."
Dorathea got her first bike on her birthday yesterday! I asked if I could read her, "Every Cowgirl Needs a Horse", about a little girl who gets a bike last night. She said, "No Mommy that is in my library and I'm afraid you won't return it.". I asked where "her library" was and she said, "on my top bunk". She knows me too well
8/24/12
Tonight on the porch swing I hear Dorathea whispering. "Willingness of the heart, willingness of the heart, willingness...". I asked her why and she said, "I heard those words on the radio and I think they are what I've been feeling about hope, love, or something like that." She said "I was just hearing them echo over and over." I said, "Do you think the Holy Spirit was reminding you of them?" She exclaimed, "Yes! I think God bounces them back and forth between his two hands and they echo in my mind."
