When Michael was four-years-old, we got him his very own "My First UNO Cards with Thomas & Friends" but we found the cards to be limited compared to a regular deck of UNO cards. We recently located the UNO cards and Monopoly Deal cards (we sent them ahead with Jacob when he was flying back and forth between here and Cali on weekends) and have been playing with Michael.
I think it's so funny when we're dealing out the cards that he rates every card out loud as either "good card" or "bad card" so we all have a good idea if we're going to get creamed with the Wild Draw Four cards or with the Draw Two cards in his hand. And, it's hilarious when he wins, because he raises his two little arms up in the air and waves his hands! He's learning to win and lose gracefully and with good sportsmanship :o)
Today in the middle of an UNO game, Michael put his face in front of me so we were touching noses and he remarks, "I observe your eyes are blurry!" He is a hoot! He's learning how to play Monopoly Deal so that he can join in our Monopoly Deal marathon when my sister and her family come to visit sometime in the future!
I am loving this season of transition and life with the kids! We're spending time with old and new friends, catching up on playing games that we normally don't have the time for (hello, iPad, Tri-Ominoes and card games!) and just hanging out. We have so much to be grateful for and so often, it's easy getting caught up in the busyness of life that we don't take the time to stop and praise Him! We try to play something we call "The Thankful game" where we randomly take turns giving God thanks for the big and mundane things in life.
I pray that our children will learn to be grateful in good times and in tough times. I pray that they will observe and remember God's faithfulness as they grow up and praise our Heavenly Father for every good gift. And hopefully, they will share our stories of God's faithfulness with their own children, too, someday.
I love how David puts it in Psalm 79:13 (from the NLT)...
"Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will thank you forever and ever, praising your greatness from generation to generation."
How about you? Are you leaving a legacy of thankfulness behind?
