christianparenting

My youngest is almost five and she has become quite independant. We went through  a clingy period in the winter but now it seems, in her mind at least, I’m not needed.

Last night was an outdoor movie night at my boys school. A great fundraiser, by the way, you paid to get in and get pizza and there was a DJ playing music till it got dark enough for the movie. I was surprised at the dance moves some of the gradeschool girls knew. Not looking forward to teenage years even more so when they move like that now!

Anyway, while it was dark, my little one decided she was going to sit up front with the big kids. A couple minutes later she wandered back and sat down next to me. I thought she missed Mommy and just wanted to be near me, so I invited her to sit on my lap. But instead, without saying a word she leaned down, took her shoes off and wandered back to sit with the big kids.

Gone are my baby who needs Mommy days apparently, except for in the middle of the night and sick days. Then I’m still important.

I just wrote an article for our church newsletter and it made me realize how much we covered, how much we’ve grown and how much our kids have done in a short amount of time. Since the end of February we’ve talked about 12 different missions and done 12 service projects to serve those missions.

I’ve had the privelage of watching my own kids as well as our church kids grow as they learned about the needs of others and lifted them to God in prayer. I’ve been amazed to see the kids open their eyes to the needs of others. To step out of their comfortable box and help others.

Although we did serve in the comfort of our own kids church room, hopefully as they grow older they will venture further out into the world.

Our church had our last Wednesday night meeting for the kids this school year. For the Spring  session we’ve been talking about different missionaries we support (some have even come in to speak to the kids which is exciting). After they learn about each missionary we’ve done a service project to serve them or those they serve.

Last night we heard from someone from the Girls Brigade in Singapore. They’re doing a tremendous amount of ministry in their local schools and the larger girls brigade has a mission to women and girls in the slums of Cambodia.

To end off our time we recapped our missionaries and then the children made prayer pillows (an idea we found in a service project book). We gave each child a pillow case and they used permanent markers and fabric paint to decorate one side with drawings or names of all the different missions we’ve heard from.

The idea is for the kids to put it on their pillow and be reminded to pray for these missions before they go to bed. This could also be used in your own family to remind them to pray for family members, neighbors, or even the things that they are thankful. I do recommend just painting one side so they can sleep on the side without painting, which may be softer.

I’ve been truly encouraged by both my own children and our kids at church, including the neighborhood and school friends who join us, as they fervently pray for the needs of the missionaries and those they serve. Once again I belive that you can never be too young for God to use you.

I’m quite the happy camper because a neighborhood mom just dropped off multiple bags of hand-me-downs. Good timing too because I was just wondering about summer clothes. Conicidence? Think not, God provides. The bags even contained a pair of much asked for crocs in my daughters size! So since I’m so happy I’ve composed an ode to hand-me-downs. Of course I’ve never written an ode before and I’m not sure I  know exactly what it is so forgive me as I ramble.

Hand-me-downs, why do I love you? Let me count the ways…

1 - You keep my wallet fat! Well, actually that’s wishful thinking because my wallet is never fat (except for all of those business cards I can’t seem to throw out) and my bank account is never high. Anywho - being my lack of funds, I love hand-me downs even more!

2 - You lift my spirits as I go green. I’ve been doing the hand-me down and thrift store thing for years so to find out I’m helping save the earth while doing so is a definate bonus. (to read about more ways the average parent can take small steps to go green check out “A Little Greener Everyday“)

 3 - You grant us hours (or minutes depending on the size of the bags) of entertainment fun. Who doesn’t love getting new clothes. It’s like a grab bag. My daughter and her friend had a blast yesterday finding new treasures to wear.

4 - You even provide an opportunity to share. I’ve talked about community before and caring for each other. What a great way to care for someone by helping them out with their basic needs.

I think that’s it for my ode or non-ode. I’m going to go rummage through some more bags now.

We survived my middle son’s 7th birthday party. His birthday was actually in April but, being the fantastic planner that I am, we just had it last night.

My son made it through about 75% of the party before he threw up. Good thing it was an outdoor party. Poor kid. He’d been excited all week and all day. Talking about it all the time. Then during the games he started to sit out cause he didn’t feel well. He tried to participate in some and did get to open his presents before he let loose right in front of all the parents eating their BBQued hotdogs and hamburgers. Guess his excitment was just bubbling over ! (Sorry, that was gross.)

He seemed to feel a little better afterwards though and got some play time in, in the tent. It was a fun party otherwise. We did a camping theme and set up a tent for the kids to play in. We BBQued hotdogs and hamburgers but didn’t get to the s’mores. We had a scavenger hunt for bugs, snakes, lizards and frogs (the rubber kind) played a link tag game, had a donut eating contest (the donuts were tied to a string and hanging from a pole and the kids had to eat them with their hands behind their backs), and ended with a pinata.

Once again, after it was all over, I vowed not to invite so many kids next year, but I’m sure I’ll forget that vow by then. We always have the challenge of added numbers with school friends and church friends. I did get to invite all his school buddies to VBS though, which is a definate plus. Also we had the interaction with church families and school families which was cool.

It was an exciting but good night. Hopefully, next year we can keep his excitement contained.

Sorry it’s been a couple days since posting. Friends of ours had suffered a tragedy that has shaken a whole neighborhood.

Through the sorrow and regrets it’s made me just want to take advantage of every moment with my kids. To hold them tight in this scary and broken world.

Over the past few days I’ve had to have talks with my boys that I was in no way prepared to have and answer some very hard questions. We all have. I wish I could just hide my kids away but it’s just not possible.

For my readers, please be in prayer for my friends and for the different familes, children and teens that were affected by this.

My comfort through all this was Christ’s promise to not loose one of his. I truly believe that once you are his, he won’t let you go and though you may struggle he remains there. I thank God for his grace and compassion and pray for healing.

OK, so I might be a dork but I was really excited to get my townships listing of summer events (especially for the free ones!). Also psyched to see the rock school my husband teaches at is playing one of them.

I’m all about spending time with my kids, having fun, exposing them to new things, learning together and making memories. I even wrote an article about how to do so on a budget (click to check it out).

I believe part of raising our kids as Christians is modeling life for them. This will come through relationships and new experiences, building bonds along the way. Check out your local community calendar and pencil some events in your calendar.

Not that you have to do go somewhere special to build relationships, these grow as we live life together and even through discipline and guidance. However, sharing experiences does help to have something to talk about, to have something special that you shared.

My mom was always big on being involved with us and exposing us to knew things, even if it was just a walk in the woods and discovering new critters. I’ve mentioned before the close relationship I’ve had with my parents and I think the time spent together and lessons learned with them helped create that closeness.

Also - the fact that our children can be exposed to new things, whether it be creation, art, music, books etc. with us at their side, helps as they process the world and the good and bad things it has to offer. As Christians, our kids will be exposed to many things that oppose or seem to oppose what they’ve been taught. Being with them and helping them process these things with a Biblical worldview will help them when they’re on their own.

So anyway before I go into the whole topic of not oversheltering kids, go check out what’s going on this summer in your area and put some dates on your calendar, schedule some family events and take advantage of what’s out there.

Click hear to hear about the healing service.

Big weekend for haircuts in my family, we got a new set of buzzers and all the guys got their summer dos.

This was especially a big deal for my seven year old who, with the exception of a couple trims, has been growing his out since fall. Both my boys have been growing the long styles, wanting to be like the teens at church, which I have to admit, I really appreciate them looking up to those guys.

I kept mentioning summer coming and the need for shorter hair but wasn’t getting a very good responce. Fortunately, it was the knots that won the battle for me. While girls get used to them my boys just couldn’t hack them.

So summer buzz cuts they got. We had fun cutting my seven year olds hair and first gave him a nice mullet and sent him out to dad.

Despite nerves over what they’re friends would say, they only got a few remarks and giggles and they survived going to school today.

If image is such a big deal at 9 and 7 can’t wait to see what the teen years bring!

Thinking of an upcoming Healing Service I was reflecting once again on the prayers of my children.

I’ve mentioned before their prayers of thankful lists (where they thank God for evey thing one by one, but at least they’ve learned to be grateful instead of spouting out a wishlist). Another thing I’ve really admired about the prayers of my seven year old son is his faith that God can heal.

Not only will he pray that God will heal today’s cuts and bruises on his own body (and my active son gets quite a few, yesterday at karate he opened a door on his foot, slicing his toe) he faithfully prays for whatever friend or family member is sick that day, with no dought that God has heard him and can answer his prayer.

My husband also reminds me to pray. I’m quick to do the mom thing and distribute medicine, keep them hydrated, call the doctor and cook soup, and my husband is there asking if I’ve prayed yet.

I need to take lessons from them in faith that we really do have a God who loves us and can heal.

He also can bring peace to those suffering. I witnessed this yesterday when talking to someone who is going through testing again and getting ready to have lumps removed (she is a breast cancer survivor). She told me how God has given her a sence of peace no matter what happens. What an amazing and yet hard place to be in.

Hopefully I will learn from my son, my husband and friend about our great healer, the one who holds us and grants us peace.