You never know who's watching!

My daughter will be 10 next week, and she is as girly-girl as you can get.  She has always had a fun birthday shirt with sparkles, princesses, or other such girly things to announce her special day.  This year, she lamented that there were no shirts with birthday stuff on them for older girls who "still want to have fun on birthdays just like littler kids!" 

I talked to my super-talented friend about it, and she assured me that she could make a cute, girly birthday shirt in time for the big occasion.   After secret messages back and forth, my friend and I settled on the perfect design, and it came in the mail today.

At first, my daughter didn't know what to think that someone had made and sent her a present.  I was afraid that maybe she didn't like it or I had suggested the wrong design.  After she opened it, she asked to try it on.

She ran to her room to put it on before lunch, but didn't say much.   A few minutes later, it was her turn to pray before lunch, and she started.   She tends to be rather regimented/programmed in her prayers, as she is so afraid she might forget something.  Often we talk about how prayers need to come from the heart, but she struggles and often just mentions a "list."  Today, however, after only a few normal "routine" items, she shocked me!

"And dear God, thank you so much for people like my friend Denise, who use the blessings of talent that You have given them to bless other people and to make them feel special.  Thank you that she made ME feel special."

My heart stopped as I heard this genuine and unexpected appreciation come from her, and I, too, thanked God for such a friend!   So, next time you downplay your own talents or abilities to bless someone, remember that you never know who is watching and/or how it will impact others.  Even something as "simple" as making a t-shirt (which is NOT simple, but you get the point) can make a huge difference and allow someone to see God working.  

In the beginning, God... Our Visit to the Creation Museum

²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse

In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the earth.  Gen 1:1

Psalm 89:11  The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours, the world in all its fullness, You have founded them.

For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day.  Exodus 20:11



Last week, my family and I visited the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky.  We have been studying apologetics and evidence for God and Creation in our homeschool, so it was the perfect fit!  We spent two half-days there, and for kids the age of mine, that was about perfect.   The museum wasn't QUITE what we expected (there was not much science involved), and there was some false doctrine in a few parts of it (like original sin), but other than that, it was a good experience!  It was fun to visualize parts of Creation and the early part of Genesis, and the kids enjoyed it and learned quite a bit.  Here is a glimpse of a few things we saw!

"Lucy"

Add caption

A dig site showing different starting points of belief for creationists and evolutionists.  

Add caption

Writers of the OT

Qe

Adam and Eve sacrificing after sinning in the garden

Camel rides!!

These are a super cheap souvenir!  

Model of the inside of the ark

Big girls DO cry...Happy Mommy tears!

So last night was our kids' school musical.  For my daughter, this is THE REASON for going to school.  She lives for this night.  She practices for hours for her 10 minutes on stage, and she diligently memorizes every part in case someone is absent on the day of the show.  She bravely and unquestioningly auditions for speaking parts or solos, and it just makes her year if she is chosen for one.   She adores her music teacher and can't wait for this night every fall.  While on stage, she is fully tuned in to every move made by her teacher as she conducts them.  She gives it her all and thrives on being in the spotlight and using her dramatic talents.  When it is over, she laments that the best motivation in the world for going to school has passed her by for another year.

This year's musical was about different nations in the world, and it ended with a short segment about how many cultures have come together to make America the great nation that it is.  Each grade represented a different culture, and our daughter's was Africa.  One of the songs chosen for her class to sing was Kumbaya, in demonstration of the African influence on spirtuals. When our daughter found out that her class would be singing Kumbaya, she immediately went to her teacher (before we knew anything about it!) and told her she probably wouldn't be performing that song, and that she would need to think about how to handle it. Her teacher was surprised, as she knows Kaitlyn's love for the musical, but she was loving and supportive.  Scripture teaches us to worship without the use of musical instruments when singing to God.  Also, praise songs are not to be used for our personal entertainment, as they are to be directed reverently to God.  Worship is not about us, but about the mighty God we serve, and we strive diligently to follow His wishes for how we approach Him.  Our daughter (who is only 8!) asked her teacher what she should do, and her teacher said she would support whatever she chose to do.  She came and asked us, and we told her that she could either stay on stage and just not sing or she could step off stage.  We assumed she would stay on stage to be a part of things, but she said that she would feel hypocritical staying on stage when she knew that the song was not being sung in an appropriate context.  So, last night, in front of a packed audience in the elementary school gym, my brave little girl let her light shine so brightly and walked right off that stage before that song.   I had teared up a few minutes earlier when she belted out her solo part, but it was nothing like the happy tears in my heart when I saw her march confidently backstage while her class performed Kumbaya.   Sometimes we wonder if things are "getting through" to our children, but when I see her do something like that ON HER OWN, without complaining and without drama, I am encouraged by the power of the gospel to work on even stubborn little souls who want everything "my way."   I was reminded of how I need to be bold in standing up for our amazing God.

A few days before the performance, we overheard our son talking to his big sister (he is 6).  He said, "Sissy, I wish I was in your class."  She asked why, and he said, "I hate to think of you standing off stage all by yourself, so I want you to know that I'd be standing right there beside you if I could!"  Sweet kids.  Happy Mommy.  Tears of joy and thankfulness.

The righteous are as bold as a lion

A few years ago I started making handprint canvases of each kindergarten Bible class we teach.  We hang them in our classroom for decoration, and the kids love them.  I will try to post the previous ones when I remember to take pictures!  Here is our latest addition!  It turned out so cute!

I do not like Green Eggs and Ham!

So, last week the kiddos celebrated all things Seuss.

My little one's teacher asked me to help come up with a Seussical snack that my kiddo could safely eat on our plan for the party that also had a Green Eggs and Ham theme

Here are the two final choices.  The first are sugar cookies with rolled buttercream icing.  It rolls out smooth and even, but I purposely "squished" it so that it looked more like egg whites on a fried egg.  The green is made from natural green food coloring (found here: Natural Decorating Colors)  By the way, if you want the recipes for these cookie and icing, comment below.  The cookies DO NOT SPREAD, so they are fabulous for Christmas cookies or anything that needs to keep its shape.

 These are pretzels with natural white chocolate and "yolks" natural colored.  These were awesome.  Not that I ate the leftovers! ;)

My favorite quote of the day came from a sweet little girl who was put off by the green coloring.  She said, "Mrs. E., sugar makes me hyper, so I don't want any of that.  Can I have a pack of Oreos?"  Ha!

Where are the kids?

I get lots of questions about why my kids' pictures aren't on my blog.  I used to hear a lot about why they weren't on my facebook page (which I no longer have).   Here's the quick version:

Several years ago when my daughter was about 18 months old, I was shopping in a store when I heard someone call my daughter by name.   She was walking with me and not riding in a buggy, so she and I both turned to see who was calling her.  There stood a girl I'd never seen, calling my 1 1/2 year old by name.   Next, she said, "Come here.  I'm a friend of your Aunt Kiki (my sister's name is Kristen, but that was too hard for my daughter to say, so she called her Kiki).  Come see me and talk to me."  My daughter was young enough and friendly enough to want to go straight to anyone who knew her "Aunt Kiki."  I grabbed her hand quickly and told her that no, we don't go to strangers.  The girl smiled bigger and said, "Oh, I'm not a stranger. I  see her pictures on your sister's facebook page all the time, so I feel like I know her.  I just want to talk to her.  Come here and see Kiki's friend."  Not.  Cool.

I was pretty shaken by the whole thing when I got home, and I struggled with how to teach my very young daughter not to talk to strangers but to also teach her to be friendly and to speak when spoken to, as she had a habit of ignoring people when they spoke to her.   I decided to just leave it at, "Always ask Mommy or Daddy before you go to anyone."  I also called my sister and asked her to let her friend know that we were rattled by it.  I thought it was over.

However, no less than 3 times within the next week that same girl showed up where we were, seemingly out of nowhere, and always called my daughter by name and asked her to come over to where she was.  Although I knew it was just coincidence, it started to really freak me out.  My daughter was also confused, and she became very clingy as this stranger consistently called her name everywhere we went.  I told the girl specifically to please not do that to young kids, as it scared them and their parents, even if she meant well. I came home and talked to my husband about it (and he was there during one of the events), and we decided together that we would not post any of our kids' pictures online.  We also requested that our friends and family not post our kids online.  Sometimes we allow them to be in posts of groups if their names and locations aren't used, but for the most part, we just request that no one post their pictures.   I never expected the backlash we would get from that decision, but we did!  People were greatly offended, and several STILL challenge us by posting their pictures without permission.   I am begging you, if you have a friend who asks you to take their kids' pictures off, please do so.  Also, if you see a young child out that you know, make sure not to encourage them to come see you unless you also know their parents and they have given you permission.  Our children deserve to be and feel safe! :)

Turtle Power!

This year's birthday was Ninja Turtles.  So funny to see something that was SOOO popular when I was a kid make its comeback while my kids are little.   Fun!

First came his party shirt.  I was super proud of it!

Next, the cake.   This was our first attempt at natural icing coloring, so it was a learning experience.  But, he said it was yummy and looked great, so I was happy!  Leonardo is his favorite, so he was kind of our theme.

My husband came up with these balloons kind of at the last minute, and everyone loved them!

Ninja apples. :)

The table before the chaos hit. :)

 And the banner.

 We decorated his door the night before his birthday, hoping he'd "bust through" the next morning.  I even waited and waited to take my shower waiting for him to wake up (first time he has EVER slept til 8!), and the little stinker CRAWLED UNDER the streamers! :)

We also played a little ninja star throwing game.  I folded some origami ninja stars I found and the kids tossed them into a bowl.   We played pin the mask on Leo, too, as people were leaving.  The weather was so pretty that we spent most of the day outside.  They had so much fun outside that we COMPLETELY FORGOT we had made a photo prop!!  Oops!!  (I'll post the picture of it tomorrow...it is in Little Man's room and he is asleep...finally...)