Recently we left our girls over night with some friends as we were heading out of town for a meeting. Last night was the first time in a long time that we had time alone, away from home, with Angele and Nadia. We decided to go down to a little Lebanese restaurant that we like downtown and have supper out. The service at this place was painfully slow which is exactly what we were hoping for. Joel and I wanted concentrated time to listen to the girls tell us the many details of their lives. At one point we asked about the overnight they had spent at our friends' house.
I asked who made the lunches in the morning. The answer was "Nadia". I asked who had made the bed in the morning. The answer was "Nadia". I asked who had packed up and tidied the room before heading out to school. The answer was "Nadia". We all laughed and then Nadia said, "this reminds me of someone in the Bible and I'm not sure I like it." She was talking about Mary and Martha and the fact that she was like Martha! We had a great opportunity to talk about the great qualities of both Martha and Mary with the girls.
Angele's interests are really in music and relationships although she tries to dabble a little in everything. She will spend hours and hours fooling around with her guitar and practicing piano. The other hours she has at home she chats with several friends all at the same time on Facebook. Nadia, however, loves to cook and prepare food. She also is an amazing organizer and cleaner. Her drawers are always beautifully neat and she weeds out her clothes and junk on a regular basis. The two couldn't be more different. The challenge for me is to point out each ones' strengths to the other so that they build one another and appreciate the other for who she is.
I never dreamed that middle school children could be this much fun. They truly are a delight!
Hi Elin! I so enjoy reading your blog and have had problems logging on to comment, but hope I got it fixed. It truly is a wonder how different one's children can be. I have raised five and they are all so different! And what a blessing that is.... (snicker). I recall fondly their teenage years, with its flurry of activities and lively bodies running in and out. I still miss the fun and excitement of those days. However, now it's the grandchildren that help spice things up! My oldest granddaughter is 26 and has 4 children of her own. I think I'm too young to be this old... Thanks for the update and keep them coming!
ReplyDeleteElin, Miss Cluck is me, Ann DeHaven - office secretary for the Coudersport Alliance. I had forgotten that was my username!
ReplyDeleteLove this post! I can just picture this conversation. Daughters are delightful, and it just keeps getting better! Not that sons aren't great, too.
ReplyDeletei miss those girls!
ReplyDelete