Some Favorite Children’s Quotes from 2009

Each year at this time I try to reflect over the past year using notes I have kept through the year and discussion with the family. I find it a helpful and meaningful exercise. I also find myself wishing I kept better notes through the year. This year I noticed that I recorded more direct quotes from my children. Here are some favorites from this year which do not require a lot of background to appreciate.

Abigail while looking at one of her Bible story books: “Dad, why did God have to die?”

Matthew while walking behind geese at Pickwick: “I guess geese never do get potty trained”

Matthew after spotting a snake in the pool at Pickwick: “Dad, there’s some sort of reptile in there.”

Nathan, in a discussion of the horrors of war, after a younger brother said he would just play dead in a battle: “But what about your honor!”

Abigail singing: “We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy ending!”

Abigail singing: “Silent Night, Holy is come.” Pretty good theology really.

Abigail with her arms around me, to Tammie, “Mama, this is my man!’ :)

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

from the Van Nestes

Jonathan Park and the Secret of the Hidden Cave

Jonathan Park and the Secret of the Hidden Cave, Sandy & Pat Roy
(Master Books, 1999), pb., 110 pp.

This is a fun little story which is intended to teach some points about creationism and the biblical flood. It is not great writing. The plot is obvious and the stereotypes in the characters are so clear that even my boys were amazed. At times even the most obvious things seem to escape notice by the characters. I also found myself editing the children’s responses to their parents, wishing for more respect to be shown

Still, it was a fun read with adventure and a good tie-in with our current discussion of fossils in school. Also points were made about the value of friendship and God’s providential care. It read like a series from Adventures in Odyssey (in fact the villain seemed almost intentionally modeled after Dr. Blaggard).

.A series of radio dramas have been created as sequels to this book, but we have not heard any of them yet.

Our Favorite Advent Book

It is a little late to be recommending Advent resources, but in case anyone is searching, our favorite resource continues to be Christ in Christmas: A Family Advent Celebration. We don’t really use the four main stories by the prominent authors. What we like is simply the daily Scripture readings and the two carols a week. The readings have been well selected touching many of the prophetic passages- more than are typically noticed. Reading these together provide opportunity for rich discussion. Then it is nice to sing two carols each week. Singing the same ones through the week gives enough time to learn or refresh your memory on the song and to let its truths sink in.

Many more advent books have come out in recent years and I am glad for them. Our favorite, though, is still this one.

Value of Family

“When the Bible paints the picture of the happiest men on Earth with the most far-reaching impact on history, it does so in the context of family life, meal time, and the blessing of children (Psalm 127, 128). . . . Sometimes the most important thing happening in the world is the couple deciding to adopt a baby, or the child honoring his mother, or the daughter repenting to her father. Sometimes it is a little boy who waits patiently down the road for his daddy to return form work so that he can simply hold the hand of the most important man in his life. These are the moments that really matter – the ones that will count in eternity. They are the everyday victories of the Christian life that will one day fill the heart of the old man with joy as he looks back on a life well spent. That is why, when the world has passed away, and the trends of this present culture are long since forgotten, those simple acts of love, done in the name of Christ and for His sake by a mother to her child, or a brother for his sister, will retain value with the saints in eternity.”

Douglas W. Phillips, The Little Boy Down the Road: Short Stories & Essays on the Beauty of Family Life (xxi-xxii)
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