Laughter, Letters, and Life at the Lockwoods

Sunday was hard; Monday was better; Tuesday was good; Wednesday was great! While we won't know what's going on on the "inside" of that little leg for a while still, on the outside, we have a little boy who's back to his happy, cuddly self! True, it's a bit difficult to really cuddle with him~ the first couple days when we'd move him or change positions, he would fuss. But the past couple days, he's let me carry him all around, played in my lap for over an hour while I taught Beka and Ben math, and is giving us lots of good belly laughs! :)

I thought he'd be really fussy simply from not being able to move around like he's use to, but apart from the constant entertainment his siblings provide, he can even amuse himself. This afternoon, he was resting in his crib when I heard a funny banging noise coming from our room. I went back to check and there was Samuel banging his empty bottle against his cast and just giggling..he thought it was so funny. :)

I don't have much else to write. Just wanted to thank you for praying and give an update.

The children received a couple of letters in the mail this week and what joy those notes have given them! During our school time, I have the children write one letter a day. This has become one of our favorite morning activities. My mom had me write letters frequently as a child; she taught us the importance of writing thank yous, remembering someone on their birthday, sending a get well card, or even writing a missionary. Today, it seems people have forgotten how to write letters. With email, texting and all the other high tech forms of communication that are so popular, it seems the pleasure and beauty of taking a pen and paper and putting your thoughts into words with your own handwriting is a lost art.

I am thankful we have internet as there are so many blessings and benefits that we have here as missionaries being able to get a message out quickly. But I never want that to replace taking the time to hand write letters. There is something so special and personal about getting a hand written letter.

We have so many people we love, miss, and with whom we want to communicate. Family, friends, those who pray for and support us, missionaries, those whom we are praying for and want to encourage etc...

My oldest 8 write a letter each school day and often little ones will ask me to do one as well. My 13-6 year old write one all on their own. My 5 year old tells me what he would like to say, I write it out, and then he copies it onto another piece of paper. And my 3 and 4 year old tell me what they would like to say, I write it down in pencil, and they trace over each letter in a crayon. And recently, Eliseo's also been wanting to join in the fun. I gave him a coloring page at first, but he wanted lined paper like the others :) So on the top, I wrote "Dear ...." and wrote "Love, Eliseo" on the bottom...and he took his box of crayons and "wrote away!" :)

What's exciting is that although it only takes us a mere 20-30 minutes a day, by the end of the week, I have a pile of 40-50 letters ready to be mailed! To keep postage affordable, we usually all write to the same person each day :)

Besides wanting to teach my children to write to others, it has been a true benefit to my teaching time with them. Here are some of the things they are learning through their letter writing time:

*How to write the actual letter; what to say; to ask questions; to write specifically; to think about the person to whom they are writing; to pray for them.

*Spelling Practice~ Each misspelled word is written down in a notebook and the next day, they have to write that word 10x and then recite it. They keep a list of the words they misspell in their binders so they can refer to it while writing and for review

*Grammar/Punctuation practice~ Putting into practice what they are learning in their school books

*Handwriting Practice! :) Mommy's been known to say "re-do" if it's too sloppy; we talk about doing all we do heartily as unto the Lord

*Art Practice~ After the letter is written, they enjoy decorating it or making a picture on the back. They can use pencil, colored pencils or crayons...stickers too! Markers and paints don't work well as they soak through :)

*And the icing on the cake...sometimes they get a letter back! And that encourages them more than anything to keep writing! :)

I said I didn't have much to say, but I sure said a lot, didn't I? :)

Thankfully, the last few days have been "normal" :).
Daniel and the older boys just left to go preaching in Zaragoza. Brother Juan has begun preaching out there himself too! I think I get as excited when I see the people in our church begin serving the Lord as I do when I see it in my own children!

I Corinthians 15:58

Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

May His grace strengthen and enable you daily as you serve Him wherever He has called you.