Tag Archives: parenting

simply love.

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Theia’s been asking a lot of questions which have led to some awesome conversations. Brian and I are both amazed at how even at 4 years old there is so much their little heads and hearts can take in.

She quietly sat at the table and drew this picture, and glued a cross of yarn on it. When she was done she asked me to write at the top “I love you Jesus.”

Wow, I know what my heart did when she asked me and then to watch her proudly tape it up in the kitchen. I can’t imagine what Jesus’  heart did.

It reminded me that is all He wants-my love. Heart abandoned, hold nothing back. Just a love that follows Him, that listens to Him, that waits for Him. There’s nothing tricky or complicated about it. It’s not performance based or guilt ridden. Simply love ME he says.

I love when I get these big reminders from the little people in my life.

Thanks Theia.

livin’ life.

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I just love this photo of Mase riding in the rain.

It reminds me to have fun, relax, forget the rules, “the shoulds”, the “have to’s”.

It say go! It says JOY! Freedom!

It says let go. Forget what others may say or think. Live for the audience of the One who called me.

I love it. And I love that little big guy riding super fast on his awesome bike.

have you ever…

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have you ever…

felt overwhelmed by life?

felt amazed how fast the weekends go and then it’s actually Monday again?

experienced how fast the weeks go, that you just aren’t quite ready for a new one start?

just wanted to forget the to do list, the cleaning list, the long list of emails and phone calls to reply to, thank you cards to write, piles of laundry to be done?

just wanted to press pause on life for just one day?

well I have.

and I did for today.

The kids and I went to 100 Acres in downtown Indy. It is a part of the IMA (Indiana Museum of Art). It is 100 acres of woodlands, water, meadows and some randomly placed art exhibits along the way. Basically, it is a really big part with some cool things to climb on. Perfect for us! We had a wonderful time. It was refreshing to break out of the normal routine and just what I needed. I am so thankful for this day I had with my kids. And the many smiles I captured!
Picnik collage

every morning.

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Each and every morning I sit down at my desk and look at my computer. Right beneath the screen are these words on a little card. I got this from a bible study I did a couple years ago. Each little gem represents one of the kids. I read these words every morning with hope (sometimes desperation) and thankfulness. I surely don’t have it all together when it comes to parenting my little tribe. Who better to ask for wisdom from than the One who knows me and them best? Each day this little card is an invitation from Him to help me in leading the kids throughout the day. I love that the verse says He will give generously, meaning there is no limit. And that He will not find fault in me asking. Sometimes I get a little apprehensive about asking others for parenting advice. I mean they are probably just as screwed up as I am right?! Not to say I don’t ask friends, because I do…plenty:) But I love that He won’t love me any less for messing up, asking for MORE wisdom, once again.

It’s just a good way to start my day.

And to come back to through out the day…again…again..again. C’mon we’ve all had those days. Right?

What keeps you going?

my girls.

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Protesting a walk on the trail lol!This picture was taken after a fun family night of pizza and ice cream. We wanted to take a walk afterwards on the trail and enjoy the beautiful evening just a little longer. The girls were having nothing to do with it. They stood firm and held their ground. It was a frustrating moment. I’m so glad Brian caught it on film.

As much as my girls smile and giggle, twirl and dance with joy and cover me with their kisses and hugs…I see these faces all too often. This picture really captures a day to day experience. These girls are strong willed and test their momma to no end at times. But I am reminded that with guidance, encouragement and much prayer on my part I can direct these little independent souls to do great things! They will be leaders among their classmates and friends. They will be the ones that others will look to as a source of strength and dependence. They will be the ones who won’t be persuaded into making choices that aren’t right. They will stand their ground for what is honoring and pleasing to the Lord. They will choose to walk the narrow path when others aren’t.They will be a light among many.

These are things I pray over my girls. Along with much patience and wisdom for me as I fight to keep them heading in the right direction.

I remind myself in the midst of it all it is so worth it! They are worth it!

we are in it together.

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I've been invaded.
last week brian was out of town. i’m pleased to say that overall my week went really well with the kids. but that doesn’t mean we ALL weren’t ready to see daddy when he came home. even though the week went well we seemed to have had more than usual talks about obedience. you know why we obey the first time, what obedience is, why we don’t disobey, how disobedience makes God sad and shows mommy disrespect. you get the point, any possible way i could explain it, we covered it all… multiple times throughout the day. even though it didn’t seemed to be really making a difference i knew the kids were hearing me. theia so nicely pointed out that when i was gone a couple of days and they were with daddy they didn’t disobey at all, we listen to daddy but we don’t listen to you. i know! i so honestly exclaimed. why not?!? (it was at the end of the day and i was a little tired, can you tell?)

they next morning mason quietly came up to me and apologized for not listening the previous day. such a sweet guy, he is always good about making amends. he then went on to explain that he wants the “Jesus” part of  him to come out more but “himself’ just keeps coming out. “it’s hard mommy to choose Jesus over me.” oh, wow! did he just get it or what? the daily struggle we all face. how i wanted to assure his concerned heart that it would get easier. and i guess in some ways it does as you walk daily with Jesus. but really it’s what i struggle with too, “wanting the Jesus part of me to come out more”. it was a moment that i will be remember for a long time, hopefully always. i told him i have a hard time with the same thing and we are fighting the same battle and thankfully Jesus loves us just the same. He understands and wants to help us. i think hearing that i have a hard time with the same thing was a relief to him. because it’s always good to hear that you’re not the only one who doesn’t have it all together…no matter what age you are.

i’m so thankful for opportunities like this one when i get to learn alongside my kids. when i get to help them through their struggles and share my own. when i can point them to Jesus who really does get it. i’m thankful that we are in it together.

fill ‘er up!

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Old gas station in the living ghost town of Chloride, Arizona

In my 5 1/2 years of being a mom I am happy to say there are a few things I have figured out. Not that I do these things well all of the time but it isn’t a point of confusion or mystery to me anymore. One of these things is how to help my kids be emotionally full and content. I look at it like they have gas tanks inside their little beings that need to be filled up each and every day. If/when I take time to engage them by getting on the floor and playing with them, imagining with them, talking, listening, asking questions, speaking truth to them, encouraging them praying with them etc. their cups get filled, they overflow. When I take a chunk of uninterrupted time to give them my full attention, give them eye contact their tanks go to overflowing. And I see a difference. They are satisfied and content, they treat others with kindness, they have joy and are more content to play by themselves. But when I try to put a drop in here, a drop in there in the midst of checking email, making phone calls and doing laundry it doesn’t work as well. I’ve learned that when those tanks get low or empty it is not pretty. Things go badly quickly. I ultimately want them to find their full satisfaction and contentment in Jesus. My desire is for them to be overflowing with Him. But in the mean time my prayer is that along with building my relationship and having fun with my sweet little kidders I will point them to Jesus.

I have not mastered this by any means. It is a continual balance of filling myself first with His Spirit so I can then fill them up and point them in the right direction. If my tank is not overflowing I surely I cannot fill anyone else’s. It takes discipline to put my kids needs before meaningless busyness “when I just don’t feel like playing Star Wars or babies” one more time. But as their mom I am called to lead them, build them up and pour into them. Even when I don’t feel like it, or when it’s not convenient my desire is to “fill ‘er up”!

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Old gas station in the living ghost town of Chloride, Arizona

In my 5 1/2 years of being a mom I am happy to say there are a few things I have figured out. Not that I do these things well all of the time but it isn’t a point of confusion or mystery to me anymore. One of these things is how to help my kids be emotionally full and content. I look at it like they have gas tanks inside their little beings that need to be filled up each and every day. If/when I take time to engage them by getting on the floor and playing with them, imagining with them, talking, listening, asking questions, speaking truth to them, encouraging them praying with them etc. their cups get filled, they overflow. When I take a chunk of uninterrupted time to give them my full attention, give them eye contact their tanks go to overflowing. And I see a difference. They are satisfied and content, they treat others with kindness, they have joy and are more content to play by themselves. But when I try to put a drop in here, a drop in there in the midst of checking email, making phone calls and doing laundry it doesn’t work as well. I’ve learned that when those tanks get low or empty it is not pretty. Things go badly quickly. I ultimately want them to find their full satisfaction and contentment in Jesus. My desire is for them to be overflowing with Him. But in the mean time my prayer is that along with building my relationship and having fun with my sweet little kidders I will point them to Jesus.

I have not mastered this by any means. It is a continual balance of filling myself first with His Spirit so I can then fill them up and point them in the right direction. If my tank is not overflowing I surely I cannot fill anyone else’s. It takes discipline to put my kids needs before meaningless busyness “when I just don’t feel like playing Star Wars or babies” one more time. But as their mom I am called to lead them, build them up and pour into them. Even when I don’t feel like it, or when it’s not convenient my desire is to “fill ‘er up”!

Family Rules

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Last Fall Brian and I attended a parenting class hosted at a local church. The series we went through was the Family Discipleship Ministry by Craig Castor. We both really like it and would recommend checking it out at www.parentingministry.org/. One of the many suggestions we took from our parenting class was establishing family rules with a clearly defined discipline if when needed. This is helpful for Dad and Mom to be on the same page, for consistency and for proper expectations for the kids. So it has only been 5 months but we have finally gotten our act together over here and wrote something down. There are only 4, they are simple and broad so pretty much anything will fall under one of the 4 rules.

1. Be respectful at all times.

2. Listen and obey.

3. Be kind and encouraging to others.

4. Clean up your own messes.

The picture above is a clever way of displaying rules. I’ve thought about doing something similar in our new home. We’ll see.

So do you have rules at your house? How does it all work? I’m curious.

It’s working!

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Reading collage
A while back I posted my new idea of using timers to give the kids alone time/ reading time and to give me a little break during a crazy time of the day.  We started off at 10 min for each of the kids and we are now up to 25 min. Mason is at the kitchen table with his books and the girls are in each of their beds with books. I like to do it between 4:30-5:00. It’s a good time for the kids to have their own space and for me to do last minute dinner things, set the table, fill milk cups etc. The kids know the routine and pick out the books they want for their time. I’ve been pleasantly surprised how quickly (relatively speaking) they have grown accustomed to the routine and for the most part with no complaints. Even if they are complaining I still stick to the routine because I REALLY like this time to take a breather before the last couple of hours of our day. And it helps the craziness of dinner go a little more smoothly.

But I don’t want to leave you with the impression that every time they sit quietly and read their books as they are supposed to. Rarely are they quiet, usually yelling reading aloud. Yesterday, I left the kitchen for a minute and came back to find Mason stripped down to his underwear, fighting in a imaginary battle with his sword. (wish I had a picture!)  and I found the girls had a different plan as well. See pic below. This new routine is a work in progress!