Surely your popcorn is better than mine.

Popcorn is regular snack in our home. Neat Pete can make popcorn in a heavy pan on the range. I usually just end up making micro-wave popcorn. We have the special popcorn bowls but sometimes we just eat it right out of the bag.

Lil’ Miss Molly seems to think that she needs to taste every-one’s popcorn just in case it might be better than her own. In the photo above she is looking longingly at her brother’s bowl. He is humorously guarding his portion with a real sense of urgency. He has been known to lick his food as to thwart greedy food snatchers from consuming his goods. [As if Molly knew what a germ was or cared!]

This got me thinking about my own heart in terms of sharing, ownership and jealousy. While looking through all the wonderful blogs out there I sometimes wonder if their “popcorn” is better than mine. Ick! I know better than to make comparisons.

I have struggled with jealousy for as long as I could remember. Like back in the day, “Her bangs are ratted way higher than mine.” Or now, “Her house is so clean!”

I can reflect on my own jealousies and remember that God is jealous of all my time and energy spend into things of the world.

Exodus 34:14 (New International Version)

I am struck more now (as a blogger) than ever before with the thought; my kids won’t remember a thing! Taking the time to photograph and journal about our lives together has been a gift to me. The chance to slow things down one post at a time.

Ry took a bike ride down to the corner gas station while I pushed Molly in the stroller. Which of course turned into a race. I am not sure who won but we were all laughing in the end. We purchased our treat and sat watching the traffic from a grassy spot on the bike path. Molly and Ryan took a moment to share a cold milk while eating M&M cookies. Ryan gave Molly an M&M from his cookie. I had picked most of hers off. I was impressed by his kindness. I gave him a smile and asked why he shared something that he too likes so very much. He squished up his nose and said

Well I guess because it fell off and went into the grass on the ground…so…I thought Molly could use it, that’s all.

Nice. Never been more proud!

I hope some memories seep into their beings as we navigate through these fleeting, precious and meaningful years.

I have a hand full of vivid but scattered memories of my own childhood during the wondertime years.
A few of the things I remember:

• Cooking or “muxing” with my Mom or Grandma in the kitchen
• Listening to Thriller on cassette tape at friends house
• Rubbing my knuckle calluses earned from swinging on the monkey bars
• Smelling shampoo flowing down the kitchen sink drain from having my hair washed while lying on the counter
• Tasting white bread at the neighbors house. Yes, thanks to my Mom I was raised on whole foods–all of the time