Imagination

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand." -- Albert Einstein

I don't know why I love this quote so much, I just do. :) I think it is so appropriate when it comes to raising children. I just wanted to share it.

And on a funny note, Gillian has been using her own imagination a little more than necessary--to her own advantage! For Christmas she received an adorable baby doll with accessories from her aunt and uncle and cousins. She has since named this baby (Baby Alice) and the doll is quickly becoming part of the family. The other night she told her daddy and I that she could no longer do any more "school" because now she has a baby and she will be busy with her baby and has to take care of her baby. She can't do school because she has to nurse her baby.

I tended to think this was quite creative! lol! Apparently she's learning something from being around her baby brother all day every day!

In all seriousness though, I am so grateful that we are able to homeschool this year especially. Not just because it's Gillian's first year of school or because she's learning some of the most amazing things in this first year (how to read, etc.), but also because she is getting to witness her baby brother grow every day, firsthand, and she is getting to be a part of that. During my pregnancy, it was Levi who was most interested in touching my belly and talking to the baby, etc. He seemed to anticipate the baby's arrival almost daily. Gillian was fairly apathetic about the whole thing, which I thought was perfectly fine. I let her be, knowing she would embrace it in her own way and in her own time.

Now that Jasper is here, Levi certainly loves being around his baby brother, but it is now Gillian who wants to be near him every second and absolutely loves making him smile. Often she would rather be standing next to me while I am changing him so that she can talk to him while he's on the changing table than be anywhere else. I love that this nurturing, sibling connectedness is coming out so strongly, and wonder how it might have been different this first year of his life if she was in school all day rather than home with us. I am so blessed to get to watch it unfold each day. And I know that who she will one day become is being formed even now by these experiences.

In looking back over old photos, I came across some from around the time Levi was born. This is how little Gillian was at that time:

And here's a glimpse at what Levi looked like when he was around Jasper's age--I can't believe how much they really do look alike!

My how time flies!