Impress Them on Your Children

Sometimes I feel that being a mother automatically enters you and your child(ren) into a competition of sorts. It seems to never fail that at some point in conversations with other mothers it turns into: my son is sleeping through the night...at 3 weeks old; my daughter is potty trained...she's not even 2; my son can say and write his ABC's... he's 4 months! I know that a lot of it is just being a proud momma excited about the new milestones, but I feel like so much emphasis is placed on how early we can get our kids to do things such as learning their ABC's, numbers, reading and writing, etc. Don't get me wrong, this is not a bad thing, but for me, I decided it's not at the top of my list.

Our pastor has been doing a sermon series about family. Last Sunday, his sermon was based on Deuteronomy 6. Verses 4-9 says this: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give to you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates."

I want to impress God's word onto my children. I want them to learn the character of Christ. I want them to know Him personally and trust in His death and resurrection. This is what I want at the top of my list for my children.

I was challenged on Sunday. Am I really doing this. Is praying at meals/ before bed, watching a few episodes of Veggie Tales, and reading some Bible stories with my children enough? Maybe. But I really felt lead this week to be more intentional about teaching God's word to Stella and Sam. The teacher and creative side of me decided that I would start being intentional by picking a Bible story and memory verse to learn for one week and then do an activity (craft, song, etc.) that ties into the lesson. I found a lot of great ideas at www.dltk-kids.com!

This week we have been reading Genesis 1- the story of creation. The kids made rice crispy treats shaped like the earth. This was to help them with their memory verse: God said, "I made the earth." Isaiah 45:12.



Even more than being intentional about setting time aside in our day to read God's word, I need to make sure that I am modeling for my children what it looks like to be an ambassador of Christ. After all, things are caught. Not taught.

"Will Potty For..."

Toilet Paper?!?! Ever since Sam was about 6 months, I would sit him on the potty before bath time. For the past month or two, he has been grabbing the potty seat and placing it on the toilet. So tonight as I was filling up the bath tub, he was getting his potty seat ready. I put him on the toilet and turned off the bath water only to turn around to find him peeing...on the floor (I guess we'll need to work on the whole pointing it down thing)!

I was so excited, but even more excited that he could stop it mid-stream and ask for toilet paper. I gave him a piece of t.p. and told him to try again. And what do you know?! He turned it back on and asked for more toilet paper! This went on like this about 6 more times! With this sort of control, we might be a diaper free household soon! Stella would potty for chocolate malt balls and it seems that Sam is perfectly content going potty for toilet paper!

Fourth Of July

I think we are finally recovering after a very busy, activity filled, 4th of July weekend. We spent Sat. at my in-laws. My mother-in-law has agreed to teach me how to sew. I know just the very basics, but want to learn more. I am working on a secret project for my mom. Hope it turns out! While we there, Stella ended up with the stomach bug that Sam has had for the past week. Thankfully, her stomach bug only stuck around for 24 hours!

Sunday, we went to a friend's house to watch a parade. It was a small town parade, but I loved it! It was Stella and Sam's first parade experience! Stella and I sat on the curb to watch. OK, we sat by the curb mainly to catch the candy that was thrown! We got a good stash and Stella was happy to share with Sam and her daddy! They seemed to really enjoy the parade (and the popcorn and Popsicles). Stella kept her ears covered while the fire trucks, tractors and such passed. She is does not like loud sounds. After the parade, we ventured on to another friend's house for a cook-out. We stayed just long enough for dinner. Our kids were beginning to go on shut down mode which usually entails not listening and some defiant behaviors. We wanted to escape before there was a scene to be made.

Monday, Rich and our plumber friend started on the basement half bathroom. They worked all day and got it all framed in. The kids spent the day with cousins while I went grocery shopping and cleaned the house for a showing. Dinner time was spent with family for another cook-out. I don't think you can have too many of those!

I'll end today's post with a funny little story from last weekend.
Stella: "Mommy, what are we going to have for dinner?"
Me: "Burgers."
Stella (gasping with excitement): "Daddy! We're going to have boggers for dinner!" To which I proceeded to ask if she wanted hers on a bun!
Happy Friday, all!