Sam - "Can you give me a dream?" - Because we said so!

Sam got in trouble tonight, again. Dane brought him to bed before he was ready and he was having a fit! Flailing about saying he was still hungry and wanted to eat cereal. I said fine, but no TV while you eat. His tantrum intensified, saying things like.

"Life isn't fair!"

"You're the meanest Mommy ever!"

"I don't love you anymore!"

"I want to go live with GaGa!"

I tried to settle him down with the promise of a back rub and then with threats of grounding off all electronics (he loves YouTube, any show that blows things up). After this amount of time, my other children would have passed out from crying, but he was still pissed. I had to come up with something else to calm this child of mine. So I began to explain that we all have rules for a reason.

"Do you think Emma would understand that cars could squish her like a bug..that is why we have a rule to hold our hands while we walk to the car", I said.

Here's where I had fun changing things up a bit.

"Do you know what happens to little boys who eat food past..."  Looked at the time, "Eek, oh no, do you have any idea what time it is?"

At this point, Sam got interested in my obvious ploy to get him in a better mood for bed. I bit my knuckles.

"10 oh 3! That's 3 minutes past the guarding cereal aliens!" "Oh no I've said too much, you must go to sleep, they'll be here any second to check if you're asleep!"

We had fun with this for a bit... then I told him I'd write this story. Yes, I type pretty fast and the tapping of the keys sent him into dreamland where I'm sure he'll dream of alien abductions and cereal spoons.

Sam - "Can you give me a dream?" - Time machine

Titanic Rescue

Grabbing the mail like we do every morning, you didn't expect a letter with your name on it. The letter simply had The Justice League emblem and a handwritten: "You have the decision to make."
Once at the park, you waited until I was enjoying my book and slipped away. Remembering how just a few months ago you were asked to join the League, you once again found the secret door. All members of the Justice League were sitting around the big round table. Everyone's attention was on a big box in the center of the room.
Superman spoke up. "Sam we created a time machine, but we could not agree on where or when to try it out." "The decision we need you to make... What point in history do you want to go back to to save people?"
Superman flew up trying to get the captain's attention, the iceberg was approaching at lightning speed. Flash tried treading water to slow the ship. Green Lantern blasted a beam of light at the solid iceberg but it was too late the ship crashed right into it. The sound of metal ripping deafened us all.
Superman tried over and over, diving down to the large gash in an attempt to fix it. You Sam, tried calming all the people on board, telling them the League was there to save them. But the ship was quickly sinking and all of their efforts were in vain... the ocean was just too powerful. Fear for everyone on board started to sink into your gut.
The ship broke in half and began to sink, history was not bending to their will. The Justice League tried their hardest to save as many people as they could. You looked over and saw the time machine slide off the deck and splash into the water. Bobbing up and down, you knew it would soon begin to sink.
Once again you had to make a tough decision. Stay and save just a few and be stuck here forever, or go back to the present and save many. You called out to the Justice League to get into the time machine before it was too late. Superman, Hulk, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, Batman, there is no time to waste we have to GO!
Once home Superman spoke up...
"There is no way to change the past." "We have to focus on the here and now!" When we focus our efforts on the past we take away ourselves from the present."

Sam - "Can you give me a dream?"

I love and dread putting Sam to sleep. He is such an energetic little boy, whose mind goes a mile a minute. But once I give him a back rub and a dream he slows down and melts into sleep. Singing the words... "The world loves little Samuel, and you mean the world to me" I'm reminded that all difficult behavior (like today painting a PlayStation controller gold, and "tricking" me into buying candy at the store) are the very things that make me love him. He is an amazing kid who makes me proud, ensures I laugh, and keeps me guessing! Someday he won't want a back rub and a dream, and I will long for the words.. "But why?" "How?" "Please just a little longer."

Sam - "Can you give me a dream?" God's plan

After the movie The Spookley (square) Pumpkin, I put Sam to bed with this dream.

David and Goliath - Samuel 1:17-58

The story of David and Goliath is a powerful reminder that even those who are considered different or unworthy can achieve great things if they have faith and trust in God's plan. Both the movie we watched and this biblical account show how being different doesn't matter when facing obstacles. What's important is having faith!

Sam - "Can you give me a dream?"

Sam wanted a dream.. but I had no idea what to come up with.

I'll say a word, and you give me an idea. "Moon."

Sam - Moon makes me think of night, I'm scared of the night. Give me a dream about Disneyland.

One night at Disneyland a boy...

Sam - Make sure it's not about me!

Ok.. One night at Disneyland Bobby was scared. Even though he was in the happiest place on earth, he wanted to go home now that it was dark. But his mom had picked out a great spot to what the fireworks.

In the sky, he looked up at the moon and shivered. He was scared of all the things he could not see! He kept looking around at shadows and noises. BOOM! What was that? A monster?

A flash of light soared through the air. The sparks of gold bloomed above the moon. The Disney fireworks had begun! Bobby watched in awe as light filled the sky with magic and wonder. He leaned over and whispered to his mom... I'm not afraid, let's stay a little longer.

Sam - He wasn't afraid anymore?

No, he learned that the beauty of light shows brightest when you're in the dark. The moon, the stars.. and Disney fireworks!

Sam - "Can you give a dream?"

Sam has found a new hobby collecting "electronic components!" It's so endearing hearing my 6 year old say such big words. This big mess gave me a great idea for last nights dream.

One day you and Emma were outside playing (chasing chickens) when out of the sky a small space ship crashed landed in our backyard! You were a very scared, but Emma was curious and went to go investigate. As she was tapping on the ship, the top lifted up and out popped a tiny alien. "Awe he's so cute," Emma squealed. You didn't think so, you were still scared. But then he spoke. "Don't be scared, I was watching you guys from way up there," he said pointing to the sky. "I just wanted to come and play too."

All afternoon the three of you played. You showed him all of your toys and tools.  And Emma discovered that aliens are really good at ridding chickens. You all were having so much fun laughing and playing that time slipped by fast. The sunlight started fading, and the moon shown brighter. The little alien, Chicken Rider (Sam named him) said he had to go home to his mom and dad. "That's where I live," he pointed to a star. "Hey that's the second star to the right, are you neighbors with Peter Pan?" Chicken Rider looked at you baffled.

You guys all said your goodbyes. Chicken Rider climbed in his ship, waved goodbye, and closed the top hatch. You and Emma waited in anticipation to see the ship fly, but nothing happened. Chicken Rider hopped out, and started to cry. "My ship is broken, how will I get home now?"

You knew just what to do! Running inside you yelled, "I'll be right back!" You grabbed your bag of electronic components and tools then ran back outside. "I'm gonna fix your ship!" And you did just that!

You were so proud as you watched the ship fly off into the night. Emma yelled, "bye, bye, wuv you!" You hoped that someday he would come back again to play. Maybe even tomorrow!

Sam "Can you give me a dream?"

Tonight's dream consisted of Sam helping on the Christmas Trail out at his grandparent's place. He was not happy one bit that he was not given a superhero costume in this dream, instead, he wore an elf costume. Sam then told me I was fired. So this may be the end of giving Samuel dreams at night before bed.... sigh.

SAM - "Can you give me a dream?"

Self Confidence

It was your first day of kindergarten, and you woke up nervous to start the day. Without a fuss, you dressed in your favorite outfit and combed your hair to look so handsome. With your favorite boots to match! 

Once at school, I introduced you to your teacher, who helped you start the craft all the kids were working on. You colored your name tag, which had "SAMUEL" written on it, and decorated it to your liking.

At recess, the teacher called all the kids from class over to have a race. You had always dreamed of being in an actual race, but today you were terrified. Horrible thoughts stirred in your mind, butterflies fluttered in your tummy...What if I fall, what if I look silly, what if I lose? Letting those mean thoughts overrule your desire to race, you asked the teacher if you could go to the bathroom. Behind a bathroom stall, you hid deciding you would wait until the race was over. Just then the door swung open Flash Gordon skidded to a stop.

Flash -  "Dude I heard there is a race about to start! Why in the world are you in here instead of at the starting line?"

Sam - "I'm too scared to run!" "What if I fall, what if I look silly, what if I lose?" "Besides, I'm not very fast in these cowboy boots!"

Flash - "Wow those are the coolest boots I've ever seen!" "Hey, I have an awesome plan!" "How about you let me wear your boots while I sit back and watch the race, and you can wear my shoes!?" "They are super fast, You're sure to win!"

Sam - "Really, you'd do that for me?"

Flash - "Sure would little dude."

You hurried and switched shoes with Flash before heading to the starting line. Once there, all the other kids OOOWED and AHHHED over your cool red and yellow racing shoes. Your teacher held up her scarf.."On your mark, get set, go!" With the wave of her scarf, you and your classmates took off in a flash.

You ran as fast as you could! Everything around you seemed to blur by. You crossed the finish line first with an enormous smile on your face. There was clapping from the sidelines where Flash was watching and cheering. The other kids soon crossed the line, cheering for you as well. Then the little blonde girl from your class walked over and congratulated you. "Great job, Sam! You were amazing! I like your shoes, but I liked your cowboy boots better!"

Hearing that you decided it was time to switch back to your beloved boots. You walked over to Flash who was polishing the boots with his sleeve.

Sam - "Thanks for letting me borrow your race shoes." You sat down to take the race shoes off.

Flash - "Bummer dude, I was really starting to get attached to these boots." He then took them off and exchanged them for his racing shoes.

Sam - "Ah, now my feet feel so much better," you thought to yourself while admiring your boots.