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! :)

15-going-on-forever!

Okay, so I admit it.  I'm a dork. I still keep up with cheesy things like how long it's been since we started dating, how many years since my hubby proposed, etc.   Today is one of those days!

15 years ago today, my life changed forever when my now-husband and I went on our first date.  Not only OUR first date together, but MY first date ever!  Earlier that week we had started talking a lot.  I mean, for HOURS each day.  We went to a small, private college, and we'd sit out on the porch (in the freezing cold) and talk for hours or walk back and forth to the post office (which, at that school, practically means you're engaged...ha!), or instant message through AOL (remember that?!).  That was before cell phones and texting and all that.   (Since that day, we have not failed to talk to each other a SINGLE DAY!  That is almost 5500 days!Even when we had to date long distance during summers and breaks in college, we found a way to talk to each other, even if for only a minute.  Back then, phone calls weren't cheap, so we chatted online a LOT.)

Anyway, we had talked for several days and were becoming good friends when he got up the nerve to ask me out and took a risk.   Everybody but me saw it coming. I  was naive and clueless.  The only "problem" was that he asked me out on a day I already had plans with my parents and siblings to see a basketball game.  I REALLY wanted to go with him, but I didn't want to ditch my family or let them down because it was Parents' Weekend at school.  So, I just told him I'd go with him if my parents could come, too.   Weird, I know.  BUT, he said YES to that, and the rest is history!!  As a matter of fact, our first 2 or 3 dates were with my parents at basketball games.  Hahaha! 

I am so thankful that my now-husband took a chance on the unknown and asked me out.  He is super shy and very introverted, so I know that it must have been really hard for him to step out on a limb and take that chance.  I have no doubt that we were "supposed" to meet, because the way we met and the way our circumstances worked out could not have been coincidence.  Too many things had to be "just right" for all this to turn out as it has.  And, he led me to Christ and to the church at a time when I was desperately seeking the Truth.  I had studied and found the pieces but wasn't sure how to put them together to be pleasing to God, but he was there to help me make sense of it all.  Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for putting the right person in my path at the right time.   Since then, I have tried to pay really close attention when someone new crosses my path, because you never know when that someone will change your life (or vice versa). 

100th day of School

Check out this cool project my son made for 100th day of school!  He did it all by himself except that I sprinkled the glitter.   He took a coloring page of Leonardo the Ninja Turtle and glued it to posterboard.  Then he glued on 100 pieces of pasta and/or beans and painted them.   Finally, he added glitter.  I think it turned out super cute, and he was SOOOO proud of it!

A "4-H" kind of Mama...

Today is a trial day for my "new" way of life.  My daughter went back to school yesterday (Sniff, sniff), and we got word last night that my son was accepted into the kindergarten of our choice at my daughter's school (double sniff!!  I mean, yay?   My emotions are so mixed!!!).  Today there is no school, so they are at an amusement park with their grandparents to usher in the new school year, so I am solo for my first day.  Everyone seems so worried that I won't have enough things to fill my day while the kiddos are gone, but I am looking around my house thinking, "Seriously??  They think I'll get bored?!"   I am hopeful that perhaps I can finally get a handle on this thing called housekeeping, as it is NOT one of my talents! :)   I am also looking forward to the chance to serve my local congregation in ways I have been unable to before.   And, there is always the "room mom" thing. :)

All that being said, I am awfully tired this morning, and I can see how tempting it could be to allow laziness to take over during my "free" time.   As a result, I have created my "4-H" daily goals.   I am laminating this sheet so that it can be dry erase, and I am going to TRY to make a daily habit of choosing one goal in each category to help shape my day and keep me from wasting precious time.  I want to be a good steward of the time and talents God has blessed me with, so I am hopeful this will help!  If you have suggestions for ways to improve it, I am all ears!  Also, if you think it would be helpful for your life, feel free to use it/edit it/whatever!

My 4 "H's" are:

Heavenly goal:   What am I going to do today to improve my and my family's efforts to get to heaven?  It could be as simple as carving out an extra 30 minutes of prayer time, developing a lesson for my kids or my class, listening to a sermon podcast from a faithful Christian, etc. 

Health goal:  What am I going to do today to better my or my family's health?  Try a new healthy recipe?   Take a nap because I was up all night with a sick kiddo?  Take an extra long walk?   Make sure we all get in our water for the day?   Plan family fitness activity after school?  Walk to pick the kids up instead of driving?

Household goal:  What will I do to improve our home today?  Laundry?  Iron?  Mop?  Sweep?   Grocery shop?  The possibilities are endless...


Happiness goal:   What will I do today to improve someone's happiness?   Will I send a card?  Will I surprise my kids with a lunch visit?  Will I plan a family game night?  Will I take some "me" time to refresh my energies?  Will I plan a date night for my husband?  Will I visit a shut-in?  Deliver a meal?   Bake fresh bread for a neighbor?  Babysit for a tired mama? 

Here is my template for my goals...

Daily Goals

Mouse House

Wow...I am way overdue for posts! Among other things (like this oh-so-fun respiratory mess everyone is passing around), I have been a little preoccupied lately with a rather large mouse problem in our house.  Thankfully, so far they have stayed downstairs, but they are starting to overtake our basement.  Yesterday, we finally broke down and called an exterminator, and he came to set out bait and to do whatever else those guys do.  Today we have a mouse party going on downstairs.  No joke.  They are running around EVERYWHERE.   It was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.  When a mouse ran around my shoe in the laundry room, I am not sure who was more freaked out...me, because I am sick of mice, the mouse because I started yelling, or my poor husband, who didn't see the mouse and just heard me yell and saw me run off crying.   Talk about a meltdown!  All the stress and frustration from this (and some other personal issues going on) were more than I could take.  But, I was reminded of the therapeutic benefits of a good, long cry!   I think my kids thought I'd lost my mind. 

Anyway, all that to explain my absence. 

I will work hard this week to do some catch-up on posts, as I have many things to share!  We just got back from a family-friendly trip to the DC area, Monticello, Mount Vernon, and Natural Bridge.  Our kids LOVED it.  I didn't expect them to get quite that into it, as they are still young, but they had a blast!!   I want to share our itinerary and tips for those places, in case others want to go. 

I also have some weight watchers updates to post.  I have now lost 10.5, in a little over 7 weeks.  It has been slow, but steady, and I have high hopes for great future results!

And, of course I can't forget to write about the Woolly Worm Festival that we attended in a nearby state today.  Cheesiest thing I have ever seen, but the kids loved it!   Thanks to Nana and Grandaddy for treating us to an unparalleled level of absurdity!  :) :)

"Unanswered" Prayers

Have you ever had one of "those" prayers?  You know the kind I mean.  The one that you pray over and over and over, and no matter how often you pray it, you just feel like it's not being answered?   Have you ever been guilty of questioning why He doesn't see fit to answer it?  I have, very recently.   When I realized that the prayer had, indeed, been answered more abundantly than I could have imagined, I was humbled.  And grateful.  And awed.  

I put the title in quotes, because I know with all my heart that there are no unanswered prayers for a child of God living right in His sight.  The reason we call them unanswered is often because the answer wasn't the one we wanted to hear.  Right?   You can nod in agreement...no one will know. :)

Recently, I prayed very hard about a situation my daughter was facing with a new school year.   I took to heart the verse that exhorts us to pray without ceasing.   Several times I was brought to tears begging God to answer the prayer.  I prayed fervently for His will to be done, not mine, and for me to accept that will, but deep down I had hopes for a certain answer to be His will.  I know I'm not the only one who has done that!

Needless to say (but I will anyway!), God did not answer the prayer the way I, with my feeble understanding of things, thought He should have.   I confess that I was scared and almost angry at the results, but I remembered a similar situation last year that turned out to be best, even though I hated it at the time.  When my daughter became aware of it, she even asked why God did things the way He did.   I had no answer other than, "Because He knows best."  Even as I spoke the words, I worried.  Did He really make the right choice?  Did I interpret His choice correctly?  Had I messed up His plan?  Would it work out for the best?   Should I "take it back" upon myself instead of letting it go?   I wavered in my confidence and spent more than one sleepless night.

Today, I had a meeting at school that I feared would cement my opinion of the situation.  I tossed and turned all night as I worried about the meeting and rehearsed my part of it.  I stressed and prayed and had myself in knots.  I was desperate for reassurance that this would work out for the best.

I walked into the meeting incredibly nervous and scared.  I was going to have to share private family details with a stranger and hope for the best.   Would it be well received?  Would it work out?  Could I do it alone??

The answer, in short, is that I didn't HAVE to do it alone.  God had prepared the way for me.  He had already taken care of the details.   He had answered my prayer in ways I couldn't have imagined.  Within a few minutes of beginning the meeting, I knew that He was taking care of me and of my daughter.   The other person in the meeting was very accepting and welcoming, and she quickly assured me that she had our best interests in mind and would help us with the difficulties we faced.  The fears I had were unwarranted.   My worries were a waste of time and energy and sleep.  (Aren't they always?)

I am not naive enough to think that there will be no bumps along the road this school year, but I am so thankful that, during this first full week, God has reminded me of His constant presence.  

So, the next time you feel like your prayers are going unanswered, do two things for me:

1.)  Make sure you are in a right relationship with God.  If you have questions about this, please ask me or check out the tab at the top of the page about salvation for verses to study.

2.)  Stop worrying if you can, and know that there are NO "Unanswered" prayers with God.  If you feel like it has been unanswered, take a good, hard look at things and see if maybe the answer just isn't the one YOU thought was best.

3.)  Don't give up praying.  Keep praying until you are confident you know God's answer.   Even then, keep praying.  Thank Him for answering your prayer.  Trust Him to make it all work out for good!

Flooded with Blessings

Last night, as we prepared for worship, a huge storm started.  I mean HUGE.  I'm not sure I have ever seen rain like that.  Instantly, the roads were flooded, neighbors' yards looked like ponds, rivers, and streams, and we had to go 30 mph or less on what was normally a 45 mph road, because visibility was horrible.  We thought it would just last a short time because of the severity of it, but it rained for quite a while!  As we worshiped, we could hear the wind and downpouring rain outside.  People came into the building soaked to the bone, shivering, and thankful to be safe!  We praised God and thanked Him for showing His power and for protecting us.  As we departed, we all waded through puddles to our cars and headed home slowly.

When we got home, my husband asked me to get the kids headed towards bed while he investigated the basement "just in case."  Immediately, he raced back upstairs, changed out of his worship clothes, and told me to meet him downstairs after the kids were in bed.   Nervously, I rushed the kids to bed, changed my own clothes, and headed down to the basement, thinking he'd need my help wiping up a few puddles. In the meantime, we found a leak in my daughter's room/ceiling.  I had no idea what was to come!

At first, I just saw our "canning" room, which floods occasionally with a few puddles.  It was an inch deep in there, and all the boxes and stuff stored on the floor were ruined.  I quickly started tossing trash to make room for the "good" stuff while my husband shop-vac-ed the floor.  He asked me to check the next room (my craft/scrapbook room), and I noticed huge puddles all over the floor.   Moving to the playroom, the same thing.  The laundry room?  More than an inch deep in the entire room.   Snapping into action, I ran upstairs to call my parents, who immediately headed this way with large trash bags and a shop vac.  By the time they got here, I had filled 6 large bags with trash, ruined items, and nasty, muddy stuff (including a dead mouse, who must not like to swim!!).  They jumped into action, helped clear out our playroom, pull up the floor (foam tiles), and get everything else ready to shop-vac.  My sweet husband vacuumed for over 3 hours, and my dad was on his hands and knees on cement to salvage what we could.  I made a trip to the store for fans (of course one didn't work!) and storage containers to get what we could off the floor. 

Normally, things like this flip me out.  And, I'd had very little sleep the night before and was fighting a migraine.  And yet, the whole time, I felt an unbelievable sense of calm as I tossed clutter and cleaned messes.  My basement has been a "thorn in my side" for a long time, as I struggle to find the time to organize it, purge us of unnecessary things, etc.  It becomes a "dumping place" for anything upstairs that we don't have time to deal with, and no matter what, it never seems to get organized!  It constantly taunts me with my failure as a housekeeper, and I've started even dreading going down there.  Not to mention the mice that call it home as well!!!  I had planned to call my mom later this week to see if she'd come help me tackle it, yet I just hadn't "gotten around to it" yet.   As we vacuumed, mopped, wiped, and tossed last night, I felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off of me.  All this "stuff" was just "stuff!"   My children were safe, my husband was safe and able to work hard, my parents came to our aid, and our house survived.  Nothing of great value was destroyed.  I could almost hear God cheering our efforts as we worked as a team and knocked Satan back a few steps.  Clutter strangles me sometimes, and I allow it to get in the way of so many other things.  Last night, I felt "flooded" with blessings, despite the mess and chaos.  This morning, I am so thankful for the opportunity to wake in a warm, safe house with my family intact and with blessings of God abundantly filling my "cup." 

Much work is still to come, and I am sure I will face some frustration and discouragement as we contemplate what can and can't be salvaged, but right now, I am simply thankful.  Thankful for a chance to tackle this "thorn," thankful for a family who sticks together and works together, and thankful for all God blesses me with.  I am thankful also for the reminder that it is not I who is in control, but God.

So long, Summer!

Can it be?  Is summer really just a memory?  My husband started back to school today (in JULY!), so we're trying to get back in the swing of things and back to our "normal" routine, whatever that means!  My daughter still has about a week left of what she and her brother call "the good old days," meaning the kids and I are home together.   Today has been what I envisioned the whole summer would be...lounging in pajamas after returning from a very soggy storytime at the library, cooking, crafting, snuggling, and watching movies.  It makes me wish I could just slow down time and enjoy some more time with my kids before the hustle and bustle of the school year runs us over!! 

In this post, I'm looking for suggestions more than offering them...

1.  How do you get your family back into the school routine after a summer off?  We're just starting 1st grade, so I don't have experience of getting my kids BACK into school routine.

2.  What are some quick and easy school day breakfasts and lunches you like to prepare that aren't just "junk?"  My kids love whole grains, fruits, and veggies, but I want something to change things up a bit from the everyday pbj on whole wheat bread.

3.  This isn't really school related, but any suggestions for setting up and sticking to a household budget?  Prior to my kids, we were stellar at this...now I can't seem to get it under control!  Help!  :)

4.  We are getting an iPad this weekend (SHHHH!! It's a secret!!!).   What are your favorite kids apps out there?  I prefer fun and educational together, and free is a plus! 

Project Play Outside!

Well, we did it.  We got rid of tv!    For several months we've been discussing it, and over the weekend, our dish box broke.  After calling to order a new one and finding out we'd have to pay to have it shipped, etc., we took the plunge and canceled our account.   What a relief! I feel like a huge stress has been lifted off of me.   The money we were pouring into the television was taking quite a toll on our budget, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to find anything appropriate for the kids (or us!) to watch, so we really were throwing the money down the drain.  I hated the struggle of having to be so diligent every time the tv was on, and it was sucking my family in for way too many hours!  I couldn't justify paying all that money to bring garbage into my home.  We have always had strict time limits for tv for the kids, but during the summer (and while I'm in this boot!), it was so tempting to let those guidelines slide and for the kids to end up spending way too much time in front of the screen. I want my kids playing outside this summer!  They need sunshine! They need fresh air!  They need to just be kids and play play play!!!  Project Play Outside needed a catalyst, so here it is!  Our biggest hangup was sports, for which we haven't really found a great solution.  However, for us, the pros for canceling the satellite far outweighed the cons (namely, baseball).   We did subscribe to netflix for the summer (to ease the transition and to catch up on some movies and old cartoons the kids will enjoy), but it's so nice not to have the tv blaring all the time now!  And, I can't wait to get the bill and see the savings! :)  I'll keep you posted on how Project Play Outside goes!

I am your robot friend.

The other day, the kids were playing together and running around the house with plastic buckets on their heads pretending to be robots. (Don't ask, just applaud the imagination!)  I suggested they put faces on the "robots," so they pulled out some construction paper, scissors, and glue sticks.  Voila!  Robots!  They've been wearing them around the house singing a song they heard on Nickelodeon.  "I am your robot friend, I'm here to help you."  Hilarious.

Journal pages, part 3

These are a few more "specialized" pages.  :)  Enjoy!


Prayer Journal #1

Prayer Journal # 2

 Summer Reading #1

Summer Reading # 2

Summer Reading #3

Free Write

Goodbye, Kindergarten!

It's official.  I'm mommy to a 1st grader!  I'm not sure whether to cheer or cry!   It seems like such a huge milestone has been passed! :)

More journal pages

Here are a few more.  They are nothing fancy! :)

Journal page 6
Journal page 7
Journal page 8
Journal page 9
Journal page 10

Summer Journals

My daughter's kindergarten teacher was great about finding ways to challenge her and keep her interested.  One thing she did that really helped my daughter to flourish was to give her journal prompts for writing and drawing.  My daughter asked me to come up with some for the summer.  This is not my forte, but here are a few we are going to start with at first.  Feel free to use or edit them!  Please let me know if they don't work...I'm very new at this!

Here are the few I have so far:

Journal page 1
 Journal page 2
Journal page 3


Journal page 4
Journal page 5

The Best Advice

I'm trying to answer questions I've gotten from friends about how we do things here.  Let me preface this by saying that we are in NO WAY experts or perfect at this.  We stumble and trip DAILY in our efforts to raise our children, and there is no advice that works for every child, parent, or family.  But, here are some of the best pieces of advice we've ever been given by older church members who have "been there, done that."  I am commenting on how we implement them, but they all came from other faithful members of the Lord's church.


1.  Talk about God and His creation and His word constantly.   Place it around your house in visible places, and make everyday moments teachable moments.  Sound familiar?    That's because God said it first in Deuteronomy 6:4-9.   

⁴ “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!^{[b] 5} You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
⁶ “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. ⁸ You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. ⁹ You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

How do we do this in a practical sense?   We have Scripture posted all over our walls, in picture frames, on coloring pages, etc.   We bought some printable sticker paper and typed up verses for the kids (and ourselves) and posted them on the walls.  They are removable, even if you leave them on for months (or years) at a time.  I'm amazed how many Scriptures my kids have learned from those without us ever "officially" teaching them those Scriptures.  

Also, we talk about everything we see and how it relates to God.   Is there a rainbow in the sky?  Talk about Noah and his faithfulness to God.  Talk about God's promise to him and how it still applies today.   Talk about how only 8 were saved in the ark because they were the only ones obedient.  Talk about how in today's time, the only ones in the "ark of salvation" are Christians who have been obedient to the gospel.  The chances to teach are abundant if you just actively seek them. 

2.  Choose your important battles early and stick to your guns.   

A friend once told us that it is incredibly important to decide what is (and isn't) worth battling over.   He told us to choose which battles were our most important, to set guidelines as early as possible, and to never EVER give in on those.  Here are a few of our most important ones.

A.  Show respect in God's house and during times of worship and Bible study.     Our children have never, ever been allowed to run, play, or goof off in the church building.   That doesn't mean they have never TRIED, but there have always, always, ALWAYS been consequences for it.  My kids are just like everyone else's.  They will test us, try us, and see how close they can get to the line we've drawn in the sand.  But, we hold firm.  This means no climbing up the stairs by the pulpit, no running through the halls, no ring-around-the-rosey in the foyer, no climbing over, under, or on the pews, etc.  This is really important to us, so we started it when they were born so that we never had to answer the question, "But why did you let me do it as a kid?"   

This respect also applies to how they must act during worship.  We never brought games or toys to worship (with the exception of teethers as babies) for our children, because it wasn't a battle we wanted to fight later.  With my daughter we brought Bible story books for her to look at or relevant coloring pages that went with the lesson, but with my son we just had to make him sit because he canNOT be quiet when he sees pictures and stories!!  This is personal preference, and everyone must make their own decisions, but for us, this was very important.  Even when we do Bible study at home, they must be attentive, quiet, and respectful.  We fight this every day and every time we study, but each day we get closer to our goal of training them to be respectful worshipers of God.

Thirdly, our kids have never been allowed to wear anything but their best to worship services, gospel meetings, VBS, etc.   For us, there is no distinction between Sunday morning and Wednesday night services, and even when they were babies, they wore "worship" clothes instead of rompers, etc.  Sometimes it was inconvenient or impractical to do so, but I have (to this point) never heard, "But why can't I wear jeans, shorts, etc. to worship just this once? "  We have church clothes and other clothes.  Period.


B.  Modesty   - This is huge for us.   I didn't grow up with a Biblical understanding of modesty, but the longer I am a Christian, the more important I realize it is.  We attend a Bible camp in the summer as counselors (and can't wait for the kids to go!), and that camp has a dress code for all participants.  Shoulders to knees, all must be covered.   At first it was just a "camp code," but the more we study and learn, the more we realize how founded in Scripture it is, and how that should be a Christian's standard at all times.   What is appropriate at camp is no different than what is appropriate elsewhere.  So, our kids have had that "dress code" from day one.   Modesty is so, so important in today's world (as it has always been) when physical appearance is so widely admired in society.   Children in the church MUST be taught how much God desires purity.   For our family, this means that our children do not wear short shorts and our daughter does not wear spaghetti straps, short skirts or dresses, skintight clothing, or one-piece bathing suits.  Our son does not go around shirtless, even in the heat of summer or when playing in the sprinkler.  Both kids wear swim trunks and sun shirts.   As babies, they did not go out in public in onesies.   We don't ever want to hear, "But why was it okay when I was a baby."  Now, my daughter has even gotten to the point that, when we go shopping, she passes by the inappropriate outfits without question.  I'm sure the day will come that she will want to give in to the worldly view of fashion, but hopefully we will have instilled a sense of modesty, purity, and propriety that will win out.  



C.  Obey your parents - This is unquestionable.   Our kids are expected to obey first and ask questions later.  This is NOT something we have mastered, but we strive diligently (and daily) to make this a reality.  We have never tolerated backtalk or disobedience.  That is NOT to say it doesn't happen.  It does!  My kids do not "submit" well, but they always know is is not approved of in our house.   They may choose to test the limits and reap the consequences, but they know what is expected.

D.  Set few rules and make them count.   We have very few rules in our house, but the ones we have are absolute.

E.  Attend services faithfully.   It is our goal to be present at the church building every time the doors are open for members to gather together.  Worship attendance is never questioned here.  My kids know that every Sunday and Wednesday we will be at services, no matter what else is going on.  Even on vacation, we do not miss.  Ever.  Unless there is an emergency or sickness that prevents us from being there, we will be there.   This alone is not enough to make sure our kids stay faithful, but it will undoubtedly go a long way towards instilling the importance of worshiping God. 

F.  Love your spouse.  The best gift a mom or dad can give their children (other than teaching them about God) is to love their spouse.   Make time for each other separate from the kids.  You are a team, working together to point your arrows to the bullseye.  You must be a united, consistent front for your children.  They will learn so much from the love you show each other.



So, these are some simple ideas others gave us that we try to use in our daily lives.  I hope you benefit from them as much as we have.

Thank you, Teacher!

It's teacher appreciation week at my daughter's school, and we are very thankful for her kindergarten teacher!  She's really been helpful this year and has made sure my daughter stayed challenged, but not with "busy" work.   So, here are a few things we made for her this week.  One is a "school supply cake."  There are a bunch of much fancier ones online, but we've given stuff throughout the year to help in her classroom, so these were some basics.  The tag reads "Teacher, you take the cake!"

The other is an "A+ teacher" page with all the kids' signatures on it.   The A+ part is the size of a 4X6 pictures so if she wants to replace it with a class picture, she can.  And, if she wants a new picture next year, the page we framed will fit in a regular scrapbook.

A "boot-i-ful" day

Almost a year ago, I started having unexplained pain in my left leg, beside the shin.  I have been to several doctors, some nurse practitioners, and a good friend of mine who is well-versed in health science.  All seemed to think it was a muscle problem and told me to just rest it some, ice it some, and go about my daily routines as normal.  However, nothing I did seemed to help, and my foot and leg started swelling daily.   So, I finally went to see an orthopedic dr., who, after inconclusive x-rays, sent me to a sports medicine dr. in the area.  I saw him a few weeks ago and he ordered an MRI.  Yesterday, I went for the results.  Here's essentially how the conversation went.

Him:  "Good to see you again.   Did you go out and try to "push" your leg and do some running like we discussed."

Me:  "Yes, but it HURT."

Him:  "Let me push on one spot and see if it hurts." 

Me:  YES!  STOP!

Him:  Well, the good news is, it's not one of the conditions we discussed previously.  (Note:  They were NOT good).   The bad news?  You have stress reaction, or pre-stress fracture.  You will need a tall boot on your foot at all times and no pain for at least 6 weeks.  Anything that causes pain, such as standing, needs to be avoided, including dishes, laundry, and cooking.  If something hurts, don't do it.  If you are hurting, use crutches.

Me.  Um....yeah, right!!!

Him:  See you in 6 weeks, good luck!!

Me, in my head:  (How in the WORLD is this going to work?!?!  Don't panic!!)

So, I came home yesterday and sprung the news on my poor hubby and kids, and they were understandably overwhelmed and frustrated (as was I!).  It is going to be a huge adjustment for all of us, but ever since yesterday morning, I've been trying to see the hidden blessings in this situation.  Here's what I have so far:

1.  It could be worse.  It could be my driving leg!
2.  It could be worse.  It could be one of the other conditions we thought it might be.
3.  It could be worse. I could not have such an amazing husband!
4.  This will force me to turn over some of the jobs and chores I do because it's "easier" for me to do them.
5.  My kids will be forced to think of someone else and to learn to do a few things on their own.
6.  My house will have to get cleaned up b/c I can't afford to keep tripping over everything. 
7. I will have to rest.  I need rest badly, but how many moms or women truly take the time to rest when they need it?

Let them celebrate

Last night during family prayer time, my daughter said something that really caught my attention, and it's been on my mind ever since.  I think she misspoke, but her words still rang true. 

After praying for the "usual" things, she said, "Let those who have lost loved ones to celebrate."  

Again, I don't think that's what she meant to say, as she usually will say, "Let them be comforted," or something along those lines, but it really made me think about how we view the loss of a loved one.  Obviously, we mourn what is missing in our own lives when we lose someone, and the idea of death can be a very scary one.   I, for one, have thought before about how I would be totally unable to cope if I lose my husband or one of my children.  (Of course, the good news is that I would not have to do so alone, as God would most certainly be with me!) However, the more I think about it, the more I think she hit the nail on the head!  If we are confident in the salvation we have in Christ (or that our passing loved ones have in Christ), do we not have every reason to celebrate when someone is allowed to leave this world of pain and sorrow to move on to their eternal reward in Christ?  I must admit that this "peaceful feeling" is something with which I greatly struggle, but I'm thankful my daughter gave me reason to ponder this.

Facebook Fallout

At the end of last week, I did the unthinkable.  I deactivated my Facebook account.   I had no idea the fallout that would result!

This was not a decision that I took lightly.  I had been considering it for months, but was hesitant to pull the plug.  I tried taking an unofficial break from it in late fall, and, honestly, I didn't miss it.  AT ALL.   I  checked my messages only about weekly, just to make sure someone didn't have an important need I needed to address, but other than that, I was AWOL.   Then, in December, I decided to get back on there for just that month to post pictures of our Elf on the Shelf, Snickerdoodle.  I had many friends and family members who wanted to be a part of that with us and share in the humor of the elf.  

Instantly, despite my best intentions, I was drawn back into the drama and time warp that is Facebook, so I decided to cut the cord for good (or, at least, for now!).  My husband and I discussed it, and I finally took the plunge and disconnected from this community.  Little did I know how it would affect others!  Within minutes of my deactivating my account and sending out emails about it, I was receiving countless messages from friends bemoaning my decision.   I think some took it very personally, although it had little to do with anyone but myself!   I think, perhaps, I'm not the only person who realizes a need to depart from that social network!  I realized just how much each of us can influence others, even with seemingly trivial decisions!  

Don't get me wrong.  I am NOT Anti-Facebook.  I think Facebook can do a lot of good for a lot of people.  It is a wonderful way to connect with people all across the country (and world!).  My high school pen pal from France found me on there, as did some long-lost college friends and people I grew up with in my home state of Louisiana.   I also believe that, for Christians, it provides a wonderful place to share prayer requests, announcements about events, and to share with others joys and sorrows of our days as they occur, rather than after the fact.  It saves us the time of sending multiple emails about the same topic to different people, it allows groups to form and converse, etc.   I like Facebook.  At times, I've even loved Facebook for the convenience it affords!  I don't think less of anyone who chooses to use it, and I may even come back to it someday when I can make time and energy for it. 

However, for ME, Facebook had become something that was not a good way for me to spend my time.  I would get on "just to check something," and, 30 minutes  (or an hour!) and 5 chats and 10 email messages and 3 photo albums and 2 friend requests later , I would have accomplished nothing on my to-do list for the day, and I would be frustrated about wasting my time.  Also, I was becoming discouraged by posts from some of my friends on Facebook.   People I respected and trusted were letting me down with the words and pictures and topics they chose to post.   It wasn't worth the anxiety of seeing all that.   Thirdly, I felt nosy.  I felt like, oftentimes, I was learning things about people I shouldn't be learning!  Granted, they were posting those things for all the world to see, but still...I felt like I was privy to private information about people's lives that I had no business knowing.  And, it became all too easy for people (me included) to gossip about what we had seen posted online.  Lastly, I wanted to keep myself as pure as possible.  I had little control (if any) over what others posted on my wall, and I wanted to make sure that I was not tarnishing my reputation as a Christian through my Facebook account.  I make enough mistakes on my own without worrying about how what someone else did or said would affect my standing with God and my reflection of His church. 

Okay, so I said all that to say this:  What the old adage says is true.  No man lives to himself, and no man dies to himself.  We are constantly influencing others!  Since I left Facebook, I have learned that no one makes a decision in a vacuum.  I knew that already, of course, but for some reason, this decision has brought that into focus.  I didn't realize how many people would be affected by something so small that I did.  I don't say that to make myself seem more important than I am, I say it to make us all think!  I had no idea that anyone would even really notice that I'd left Facebook, much less CARE!   It has really made me think about how much what we do and say as Christians can impact and influence the world for good or for bad.  Just a thought to consider!

Sorry this was not very concise.  :)  I tend to be a little wordy!

On a side note:  If you ever decide to deactivate Facebook, make sure to write down any important email addresses first! :)