So, after another exciting day at VBS we headed down to the church office for a meeting. Along the way I actually had to pull over and take away their slap bracelettes because they were slapping each other with them. After they handed them over I looked at them and said "What do these say?" they responded in unison "Oh God, holy are your ways." The irony of it all was totally lost on them so I had to explain that "It is not OK to slap your sister upside the head with scripture! That is NOT holy". I will be sure on the VBS evaluation to put a little note about the scriptural slap bracelettes.
Now, when Nomi was little, say 2ish, she started writing and making little o's around the house. They would turn up in the oddest places, and always in ballpoint pen. We started calling them "the mark of nOmi". We have worked hard at breaking her of this habit over the past 3 years, but alas she persists. They are not always O's anymore as she can now write her own name. She also likes to write crosses, and stars.
So, when my meeting at church was over I went up to find a cross on the middle of the upholstered chair in green marker. I just looked at Nomi and she hung her head. I told her that she was going to have to go tell pastor Jeff what she had done. She just couldn't believe I was going to make her do such a thing. We went back and forth for about 20 minutes with me explaining to her that we were not leaving until she did it. Finally, she said OK but to wait because she had to "get rid of my tears". Once her tears were dried I asked her if she was ready "no, I need to get rid of this face" she said of her sad face. When she looked pretty composed I asked her again if she was ready "no, I need to practice what I am going to say" I tried to coach her but she wasn't having it. She just sat there quietly talking to herself. When I asked her what she was going to say she totally broke down again and begged me to tell him and that she would say she was sorry. I'll admit that Naomi does have me a bit wrapped around her finger and those big brown eyes crying big, giant, alligator tears have done me in more than once before, but we were going on about 35 minutes and it seemed like a fair compromise. So we finally marched down to Jeff's office where I explained what had happened and she said "I'm so sorry". Of course he said "you are forgiven" and she ran away giddy that THAT was over.
On the way out Freja said "good job Nomi, I had to do that once" and went on to tell her about a less traumatic incident that had happened a couple years prior that I had totally forgotten about (she had stolen a couple of doggy bows from the groomer that I made her return) but obviously made a big impression. So maybe, just maybe, this will be the end of the mark of nOmi. I really do thank God for these moments when it is so clear how to make the biggest impression on them, and so happy that they happen when they are so cute nobody REALLY gets mad.
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