End Of The Year Project Day

As much as each of our home-educated children love reading and sharing their projects with one another, what comes later is what they're really excited about...

Water fights...

tadpole and fish catching...

Freezies...

just being together.

Obedient Children--Is It Possible?

My sister sent me home from her house with a CD she had found very insightful. I couldn't listen to it in the van on the way home because Jonathan Park was instilling truths about creation in my children as they sat buckled and riveted. It wasn't until I carried a cup of Earl Grey to my computer several nights later, that I was opened up to the world of mom-to-thirteen-kids, Marilyn Boyer. Her message was called, "Obedience From The Heart" and as I listened, all the truths I already knew, just seemed a little more outlined, simple and doable to me. Here are a few of my notes, in case you are also incessantly seeking new ways to create a peaceful environment in your home...

-Obedience is doing what is expected with a willing and happy heart
-There are three facets to obedience: cheerfully, immediately and thoroughly
-If we really love our children, we train their hearts toward obedience
-To obey God is better than sacrifice
-We need to exchange our thoughts for God's thoughts because His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55)
-our view point is so limited but God knows the big picture
-we need to trust Him and our children need to trust us
-home is the training ground for future faithfulness to God
-don't punish childishness or clumsiness, only disobedience (ie: spilled milk, experimentation of little ones)
-handle your children's hearts wisely, don't be a drill sergeant but be merciful like God is with us (the way God deals with us is a picture how we're supposed to deal with them)
-don't raise your voice
-don't correct your children in front of others
-don't give them opportunity to disobey you (ie: "If you don't eat your supper, you're going to be in trouble." They may decide they don't want to obey you. Instead say, "You don't have to eat your lunch but there will be no snacks until dinner.")
-it's better to miss an opportunity to correct your kids instead of wounding them
-how do they see your heart? If they know you have their best interests at heart, they won't be angry when disciplined.
-children were not given to us for our own convenience
-treat them with respect
-let them know they're the most important people to us
-when in training stage, they're learning self-control
-show them opposite qualities to what they're doing (ie: tattling--love)
-have a cconsequence chart so they know what to expect (ie:  if unkind to brother--do something nice for him, if irritate your sister, make her bed, etc.)
-Scripture is the only thing that will bring about true and lasting change and character in your child
-help them memorize verses that coincide with the character traits you're working on
-show honour to others--if we show it, they'll show it.
-expect different responses for different children 
-correct disobedience/defiance, disrespect, irresponsibility (not showing accountability for not following the result expected of them)

Children are in training. If we can remember this, we can relax a little more and be at peace knowing that we don't have to expect them to meet the goal of perfection every day. We don't reach it either and God extends grace toward us.

Gratitude:

825. resouces for frazzled moms
826. obedient and disobedient children
827. knowing that I'm in training as well
828. a husband who shares in the discipline
829. learning gentleness (and that His mercies are new every morning)
830. sisters and friends who are experiencing the same journey

She Turned Nine

I embraced her this morning and I remembered holding her close in that hospital room, nine years earlier. I could hardly contain my joy that this little one belonged to me. I had already become a mommy three years and two months earlier but a miscarriage had separated my two babies born here on earth. Light flooded in through the maternity room window that day and I lifted her sweet-smelling forehead to my face. I pressed my lips to her wrinkly, soft, newborn brow and inhaled her deeply. And now, here she is today, so big and grown up but with the kiss of God still lingering on her forehead. At bedtime, my husband and I still savour Molly's fresh baby smell :)

We enjoyed a birthday party with her two favourite friends, Madison and Emma, as well as, her siblings. The girls decorated the cake and ran through an obstacle course. We sang Happy Birthday many times and Molly, always giggling and full of joy, made us laugh with her addition to the song. She was so gracious with her words as she opened her gifts and my heart was happy even though I desired to hold my baby again :)

God bless you my sweet girl!

Thank you for making our home a place of joy and laughter.

I love you so very much.

The Good Stuff

It's Sunday afternoon and we pull into a favourite place because we only get this man one day a week. There's something about being together in the woods, close to creation and to the One who designed it all.

oops!

It's here we don't want the weekend to be over, but it's also this place that fills us up with the peace we need for the week to come--because He is here. I feel myself whispering gratitude incessantly as I walk. If one does not find Intelligent Design behind all of this, one is missing out on giving honour to where that praise is rightfully due.

Get out in the woods this week and drink in the beauty, the peace, and give glory to it's Creator. The fast lane can wait. This is where the good stuff resides.