Cowan Family Update 8-26-09

Thought some of you would appreciate a little Cowan family update. Between vacations, a very busy few months at work for me, and fun activities like Josh and Mandy’s wedding coming around the corner (and all the family in town), it's been really really busy.

We did have a fairly chill last weekend, though, and I thought I’d give you a look into our lives and share some of the weekend’s happenings. Things with the girls are particularly interesting right now as they have so much to say about everything, and are growing up right before our eyes. And sweet little man seems to love them so much and can hardly be in a room without cranking his head to find out where they are so that he can follow them around. I think it’s why he’s been crawling/inching his way around so much lately: he wants to get where they are!

• We took the whole family to Starbucks on Saturday morning, which was so fun. The girls split a doughnut as they are wont to do. Kelly and I had breakfast sandwiches. It was a nice and relaxing time, but apparently we were quite a spectacle as people just stared and stared at us while in the long line. A man even came up to us when he was leaving and said he really enjoyed watching our sweet family. It actually wasn't creepy, even though he said he recognized me (he turned out to be a fellow Mars Hillian).
  

• When we got home, and before naps, I brought the girls outside while I worked on cleaning the van and getting carseats rearranged (long story). The hilarious thing was that K & G climbed right up into the front seats and spent over an hour there pulling nobs, twisting buttons, yanking turn signals, etc. K was at the steering wheel and she kept saying “Tuwn it on”. I would say no. She would “why?” (her new favorite answer to every comment). I would say because we’re not going anywhere. She would respond “I want to dwive” or “I want to dwive Nanni’s house”. G had lots to say about it too.

• Then the kids took naps and we got them up to go to the Aquarium. It was a gorgeous and perfect day for the aquarium. As soon as we got there, the highlight for the girls was seeing a diver in the giant fish tank. I asked G many times later that day what she saw at the aquarium and every time she said “man”, “oughta” (otter), and “feesh” (fish). Strangely, the man was the highlight of the trip to see the fishes.

• We celebrated Josh’s bday that evening at the lakehouse. K had a funny moment when 5 or 6 of us were standing around listening to my brother tell a story. She started trying to repeat the whole story and everyone stopped to listen. She continued for a minute, then lost her train of thought (her words couldn’t keep up with her brain on the topic, I think). She finally turned around and buried her face in my legs because she was so embarrassed to have not been able to finish her sentence. It was so sweet and rare for my little outgoing girl.

• That night we read the Bible as we do every night. I am certainly not shoving it down their throats. They DEMAND the Bible. “Wead a Bible” they yell when we go into their room for the night. They are quickly becoming masters of the text, believe it or not. Tonight, when we got to the creation story and I talked about Jesus creating the heavens and the earth, and then cracked the first page of the story of Adam and Eve and the Fall, K immediately said “eat a apple, get out.” and was referring to Adam and Eve eating the apple and God expelling them from the garden. They remember every little tidbit. Sometimes they mix it up though (later we were getting to the Gospel sections and K said “Dedus (Jesus) eat a apple.” Uh, no). The highlight of the Bible reading was that they love the section on Jesus’ death and resurrection. After we read through it G kept saying “Dedus died, now awive.” And K would say “Dedus died, uh uh now come back, awive.” I love their little minds learning about Jesus, however immaturely right now.

• While we’re talking about Jesus, it reminds me that while we were on vacation at Banks Lake, I was struck by another understanding that K had. I was out on the back deck with them looking out over the beautiful lake and high cliff walls and setting sun. I was telling K how God created all of this. Then I picked G up and explained the same thing. Then I said to K, who made all of this? She said “Dedus made uh all”. I had not prompted her to say this, but I often intentionally use God’s name and Jesus’ name interchangeably. It stunned me that she has noticed this and was using them this way.

• The next day was busy too – church, a quick bite of lunch with friends, naps, and then some errand-running. The girls very much enjoyed sharing a cinnamon pretzel at Auntie Anne’s (although they wanted a lot of helping cleaning off their sugary hands). Then we finished the evening with dinner and bedtime.

• This night, we were reading about Jesus’ triumphal entry to shouts of Hosanna. I opened to this page and asked them what the people said when Jesus came to town and they both raised one arm and said “hosanna!” They have learned that because when we get to this part, I always sing the chorus of Hillsong’s “Hosanna” and raise one arm in praise. We finished reading, and they yelled “Yeah Dedus!” as they do most nights when we finish reading the Bible. And then there was much, MUCH talking about how “Dedus died uh cwoss ah ah now awive” as we got them to bed and sleeping.

• What amazes me most about them is that their little hearts and minds are just sponges. They soak up anything that is nearby. I am thankful to Jesus and the Holy Spirit that they have helped them to have an interest in the Gospel texts.

• This weekend we have Josh’s wedding and soon thereafter we’ll be in Charlotte and Charleston for our very exciting Fall trip to visit family and friends!