Explaining Lent to a 5 year old...

Tomorrow is Fat Tuesday and time to prepare for Lent. I told Little D that he could bring beads to school tomorrow to share with his class. Here is our conversation tonight:

D: What is Fat Tuesday? We all have to be fat?

Me: (laughing) No, it is just a day to prepare for Lent. This is the time before Easter when we think about Jesus and how He died on the cross for the bad choices we make.
On Wednesday, it is called Ash Wednesday and they make a cross on your head with ashes.

D: Awesome! I love crosses!

Me: Then during Lent- we give something up that we really enjoy like a favorite drink like coke.

D: Oh, well, Ms. Melissa (his teacher) likes to drink coke.

Me: Okay. Well, we can give up something that is a favorite thing or do things differently- like choosing to share with sisters or not yelling at each other- speaking kindly.

D: Well, how about I give up being at school!

Brent: Yes, I will give up being at school, too.

Me: (laughing) Nice try!

Caroline.... the rat

Caroline loves taking things and hiding them. The problem is I can't find her hiding spot. I am missing toothpaste and her tennis shoes! The other day we were missing chapstick and David's toothbrush. These have been found though. I caught her one day putting on the chapstick, and the toothbrush was in my nightstand drawer!?! My makeup and devotional book are her favorites to take. Who knows what else is missing that I don't even know about! I have cleaned out her whole closet, looked under beds, under the couch/ pillows, everywhere... How can a pair of tennis shoes be gone? She is quite the sneaky little girl! If anyone comes over, she even tries to sneak in their purse. I have found her many times under the kitchen table with my purse. If she is around..... beware! She is storing up for something.

Soul Mate Friends....

My friend DeNae is such a treasure to me. She has been my best friend for 20 years. It is so amazing that we do not see each other for months but stay so close. She came in town from Austin this week and stayed with us for a couple of nights. She just left today, and it makes me so sad to see her go. Usually when you don't see someone regularly, you drift apart not knowing what to say to each other or just talk about "old times". I am not saying we don't laugh and laugh over old times, but we share who we are now. We have both changed so much, but we have grown together and I will always have such a special place in my heart for her. We are so similar that you would think we were sisters. To me, she is my sister. We can share our deepest selves with each other- all the good and bad- and still love each other. We have such a strong bond that will never break, and I am so blessed to have her in my life. She is my soul mate friend.