He owns the cattle on a thousand hills....

We were commending Paton for taking money from his piggy bank to buy a gift to send to some missionary children. Paton's Aunt Julie reminded him that God doesn't really need our money. I asked Paton, "Why do you think that God does not need our money?" He pondered for a moment, then replied, "Because God never goes anywhere." After probing a little for his reasoning, he added, "He just stays up in heaven."

'Tis better to give...

Because God gave us the greatest gift, His Son, we wanted Paton to learn the blessings of giving, and have been talking to him about sending a gift to some missionaries. One day he said, "but missionaries already have alot of money." "No, I responded. Missionaries do not have alot of money." His reply: "But we take up an offering EVERY Sunday!"

Away in a manger

In Bible time, we were talking about Christmas coming, reminding Paton that we are celebrating Jesus' birthday. He responded, "so how old is He now?"

Bible Time Prayers

He is really into being the preacher during Bible time. He will ask one of us to open in prayer, etc. Tonight at the end of his preaching he prayed, "Dear Jesus, help me to obey, and help us to go to McDonald's for pancakes in the morning."

Biological Theology Question

While reviewing the Kids for Truth catechisms tonight, I asked, "Paton, how did God give us the Bible?" He answered, "God breathed out his word through holy men.........how does God breathe?"

All in a day's work

At dinner tonight Paton was reviewing, "Today was daddy's day off, and tomorrow is JuJu's day off." Tara said, "Paton, when is mommy's day off". Paton replied, "Everyday!"

Scripture Memory

Tonight during Bible Time I started quoting 1 John 4:19 and expected Paton to finish it. I said, "We love Him because...." and Paton said, "...because He's the best"

OT Prophecy

Tonight during Bible Time, we came to Hosea. As we reviewed, Paton did well remembering that God's law came from Moses, that some of the idols' (pretend gods) names were Baal; and that the Israelites came out of Egypt. When I began to explain how God had provided for the Israelites in the wilderness, I asked Paton, "What did they call the bread that fell from the sky?" He answered, "Mayonnaise!"

After we recovered from that one, I went on to explain that Hosea's wife's name was Gomer. He just laughed and said, "that's on Andy Griffith!"

Welcome to the 21st

While watching an episode of Andy Griffith tonight Paton asked, "Daddy, what's that thing Andy is banging?" I then attempted to explain to a 3 year old what a typwriter was.

Drivers Ed

He was pedalling his trike around our driveway--proud of his success, he exclaimed, "I wish Gramma was here to see me doing this!"

What's in a name

Paton was singing while he played, "Sharing, sharing, that's what Christians do." "Paton," I asked, "what is a Christian?" He replied, "Greg's a Christian."
"Greg who?" I asked. "Greg Christianson."

Looking for a visitor

In the car last night, from the backseat: "When is my uncle Jon-Jon going to come visit me"

Honor Your Father and Your Mother

He always enjoys showing you what he is doing specifically with his toys, regardless of where you are at in the house at the time. Last night he kept yelling up the stairs, "Hey Jon, Pastor Jon" as he was trying to get my attention. We were upstairs quietly laughing. Then he said, "Hey Jon, tell Tara to come look at this toy"

Vocab 101

Today Paton was playing with his stuffed animals and said to his monkey, "Bob this is fascinating".

Father's Day Memories

While unpacking my summer shirts (not sure why I would do such a thing before mid July with the recent weather) Paton dumped over the box. He grabbed a shirt out of the middle of the pile and said, "Hey, that's the shirt I gave you for Father's Day". I looked at Tara to confirm this statement--he was correct. I can't even remember the shirt I wore yesterday, let alone who gave me what a year ago.

Backseat Driver

On the way home from a band concert tonight, I hear the following from the back seat,

"Daddy, you didn't stop all the way and look both ways at the stop sign"

Family Camp Flashback

Each night we end our Bible Time by singing Thomas Ken's Evening Prayer, which concludes with the doxology. Last night, Paton decided to sing his own version, perhaps a tribute to his favorite babysitter at the Wilds: "Praise God from Whom all blessings Mrs. Flo...."

Lesson in Edification

Paton was holding some cookies that he was taking to take to a lady he was going to go visit with mommy. Paton, are you going to visit that lady to take her some cookies? Response: "No, I am going to visit her to encourage her."

Identity Crisis

When getting ready for bed he said, "I love you Pastor Jon"

IRS Snag

Tonight Paton and I were discussing the fun we would have on my day off tomorrow. He said are you going to work, or anywhere else. I said, I'm not going to work, but I do have 1 meeting to get my taxes done.

Paton: "What are taxes?"

Me: "The United States government takes some of my money to help pay for some things."

Paton: "What? Then you won't have any money to put in your bank!"

A Long Time

On the way to church last night Paton asked if he was going to be "in a class" or in the nursery. We explained that on Sunday night, he didn't have a class, then asked him if he liked being in his Sunday School & Tiny Tots classes. He replied, "I don't like sitting for a long, long, long, time for the Bible story."

My Favorite Things...

Tonight during prayer at Bible Time, I suggested we spend time thanking Jesus for what He has given us. I prayed and thanked Him for Paton, my family, etc. When it was Paton's turn, he prayed, "Dear Jesus, thank you for my bed and for Coke Zero."

Get with the program dad...

I was getting a DVD ready to play (rare occasion for Paton). I hit the wrong selection on the menu screen, to which Paton replied, "I have no idea what you just did"

No Trespassing

Paton was going into the bathroom, to go. He looked at me, closed the door and said, "I need some privacy please"

Anatomy Lesson

Paton touched his knee bone and asked, "Mommy, what is this bone called?" I replied, "I don't know." He asked, "Is it the cranium?" "No," I replied as I knocked on his head. "The cranium is up here on your head." His next question: "Since Grandaddy doesn't have much hair, does that mean that his cranium is showing?"

Slavery

Tonight in Bible Time I was explaining the story of Joseph being sold as a slave. Paton said, "what's a slave?" I tried to explain by telling him that a slave has to do all the work around the house: all the laundry, cooking, cleaning, chores, etc. And without missing a beat, he responded, "Like Mommy?" Hey, what can I say, she's a hard workin woman!

The trunk story

One night recently in Bible Time I was trying to explain to Paton how 2 words can have 2 different meanings. I told him that the word "trunk" could refer to an elephant's trunk or the back of the car. Then he said, "or the trunk of a tree"

Lessons on the 10 Commandments

Paton pulled out his toy sword and said, "I'm going to kill you." I said, "Paton, we don't kill. That is sin. God said, 'Thou shalt not kill.'." Paton answered, "But Mommy, David killed Goliath."

Favors

Daddy, can you do a favor--bring be that dump truck

It's Bible Time

During Bible Time one night recently we had a discipline issue escalating. Thankfully, Paton decided to obey so the appropriate measures didn't need to take place. I asked him, "Paton do you know why we didn't have to take the appropriate measures?" He said "yes, because Jesus saved me"

Garden of Eden

We were reviewing the events of the Garden of Eden again recently during Bible Time. Mommy was asking Paton some review questions. When she asked "Paton, Satan is God's __________", she was thinking "enemy"--he replied "Snake"

Tooth Sense

After trying to explain to Paton the importance of brushing his teeth even though they are baby teeth and will fall out one day; he replied: "But mommy, if all my teeth fall out, and I want to eat dinner, and I put something in my mouth, then I can't chew it."

Linens 'N Things Evangelism

Paton and I (Tara) were running errands today. We had already accomplished a great deal and he was doing very well, but while we were at Linens 'N Things, he began causing trouble...pulling things off shelves, throwing things out of the cart, etc. I knew I had a discipline issue on my hands, and was getting frustrated as I completed my transaction. As the cashier handed me the receipt, Paton began singing in a loud voice, "I Love you, Lord. I Love you, Lord, because of Calvary." Thanks Gramma for the new Patch the Pirate CD!