Stained

What about that chair cushion that has that bright, blue playdoh stain...you know, the one that they say we told you so.  Don't let them play that playdoh in your house.  It's a mess to clean up!  My little perfectionism takes a backseat here as I think: and just what is wrong with a little mess now and then?

I have this stain remover I adore for prewashing.  Just spray it on, rub with some water till your heart is content, and throw it into the machine regular cycle.  Never has it not worked.  I'm talking bubble gum, spaghetti sauce, mud, grass, grape juice, and playdoh...

But this isn't a commercial for my wonderful spot cleaner.  There are deeper stains.  Even some your momma can't rub out.  Been a good girl all my life.  Can I just say, I'VE GOT SOME STAINS.  You may know me, so there, now you know I have some things...  I watch how the world churns it's way around, wondering if we look like the part we should play.  Me too.  Look out among your community.  Is it thriving?  Is it hopeful?  Is there joy, true joy, underneath the lip gloss smiles and $50 kids shoes?  There could be, no doubt.  Because joy can live in bright places.  But just in case we start kidding ourselves, joy sometimes hides way below the surface.  The biggest jewel to find.  Once you sort through the muck and yuck.

Is it okay to have those scars?  From the things we wouldn't chat about?  It scares me to think that someone is stepping into our holiday season thinking that I don't have scars, never needed grace, and would never have walked in their shoes.  As we quote our blessings and rightly so, we cannot bare to leave this one out: grace can cover us ALL.  Not just the ones with big families to gather around or houses full of hardwood floors and beautiful untouchables or smiling faces that indeed are precious to our Heavenly Father or groups of ladies that meet at church weekly... Let us not leave anyone out.  I would say I pray to keep fear out of my heart for all kinds of things.  The biggest one yet is coming across to someone like I have it all together, leaving the Cross as something I never needed.  

Lord Almighty, we are in your hands.  You made us.  You knit us together in the womb.  You know us.  Please help us open our eyes and hearts this blessed season to those things not so pretty.  The reasons you came.  Help us experience pure and true joy in the Heavenly sense, seeing the world through your lens.  If you want us to reach out farther than we ever have give us strength to do it.  Help us lean on you and be real, sharing people.  Give me abilities and strengths that you can use to further your kingdom.  I am a blessed child of yours, so thankful for the cross.  I am praying in the power of the holy name of Jesus. Amen.

We probably agree about our children.  Babies, preschoolers, preteens, teens, and young adults.  The whole spectrum of age ranges has its difficulties and blessings.  I'm here to propose we look at the difficulties as blessings.  Our families and close friends.  Our acquaintances.  Our homes and full cabinets.  Seeing eyes light up with excitement, a long hug, a warm blanket...the list is unstoppable.  Be thankful, and I will join in that.  I challenge all of us to not only recall our thanks, but to reach out to lost and desperate ones that His grace covers.  They just don't know it.

Been a While

I haven't been here for a bit...been caught up.  Life things, family things, no writing coming to my heart or mind... Just making my lists and checking things off one at a time.  Can I be honest here?

One big, hard thing is going on with me.  It is a daily balance.  Very delicate in my soul.  Where am I running?  Shutting down other outlets, even with friends some.  Running to The Lord.  I see what He does and it fills me up!  I hope to one day include you in the race I am running, to reach out for some of you experiencing this.  

What are you doing these days?  Holidays approaching, schedules full to the max.  Come with me to take the time to decide on a couple things to be involved in, just a few.  Be the one friend that knows how to say no when you need to.  Let's not let this season of smiles, crunchy leaves, warm soups, mostly the joy of Jesus slip through our fingers!

We chose to camp as a family as one of our times to relax, even got a wonderful beach week this fall.  With it behind us, I am looking toward what God is doing here at home, not in my going here, there and everywhere.  Love leaving sometimes, but be most content right where you are.

I'll share some pictures with you:)

Assure Them

Two minutes into coloring a well-drawn picture of a banana split (ha-I'm no artist), I hear- 

"Is mine pretty?"  

Another color added on, one scoop of ice cream colored in...and again, they want to know if it's pretty.

My mind swirls with the fence-walking a little girl requires of her mother.  I should tell you, I asked them to finish their picture before analyzing it.  I'm not into every-5-minute-praise here.  How many children can pick pretty colors to use together anyway?  Yes, most of them.  It just hit me hard during this simple morning exercise.  How much attention do they need?  Am I to constantly reassure them?

In general, this applies to all the children I keep at home and most I'm around at church in the preschool.  For safety's sake, and just because I know her most intimately, I am focusing on my Olivia. What a tender heart.  Easily joyful, easily brought to tears.  Strong though.  She is a normal little girl, but after seeing her grow a bit, I am noticing she is okay with not being noticed.  She wants to know how I feel about her artwork-yes, but only after someone else brings it up.  

So, I am exploring the topic of affirmation.  I wonder where we decide to draw the line?  If you know me personally, which you may feel as though you do if you stick around here, you know I refer to myself as a delicate flower.  No shame in saying I have required plenty of affirmation through my years. I wear my heart on my fingertips.  Always have.  There came a point when I had to realize that sometimes I have to believe what someone says about me.  Someone who loves and cares for me.  Someone who knows my heart and just how fragile it is.

The Lord was talking to Samuel and told him this:

Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him.  For The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but The Lord looks at the heart.

Just today, a wonderful verse in devotion- from Joshua when he was preparing for battle-

Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Affirming little girls means telling them you love them.  Hugs all around.  Liking their art and latest outfit choice... But at the end of the day, we should not seek to provide every ounce of assurance they need.  She is young, I'm aware, but sometimes I ask her to talk to Jesus about it.  See what He thinks.  When we share a story from His Words together, we have a chance to make a parallel into their little hearts.  I hope to lead her by my own rugged walk, into knowing this is reality.  Not just a strange, angelic, far away type of god.

By all means, let's praise their work!  Maybe if this is speaking to you, take a moment that's right to sit down, snuggle them close and tell them boldly that while you love their ideas and creativity, it really doesn't matter what everyone thinks all the time.  Only what Jesus thinks.  You know as well as I that life will pull them apart about this--especially little girls.

Are we pleasing Him?  Or are we seeking to please those around us?  For me...it is a delicate, daily prayer in balancing this walk of life.  Let's teach them early.

Compete

When does a child learn to compete?  I'm here to propose that a child learns this at baby stage.  I've witnessed it.  I'd like to write a few sentences in my observations on this competition thing...where are healthy limits and healthy promotions?  Of course, I am mostly referring to small children, not heavily involved in team playing, although in thinking through this, maybe a team player might feel the same way.

We do "races" during outside time.  Run to the fence and hop back on one foot.  Skip to the play set and sprint around the garden.  You get the idea.  The girls eat. It. Up.  That's okay with me.  I see them take off, wanting to be the fastest, and I encourage them by going with them and cheering for them all.  I encourage them to cheer for each other.

I believe there is a way to strive to win but also be gracious to lose.  For a preschooler who can't spell gracious, this happens in a few ways.  When we race, we ALL cheer.  We ALL do the best we can, with a win in mind.  In the finish, I remind them of one winner.  The attitudes are what make you a true loser though.  It's good to have ONE winner but no losers!  When they whine for not winning, I ask them if they want to try again?  Important note* I never say "we are all winners". It just gives a false impression on achieving a goal.  It applies to more than sports but life and goals.  

Saying this, I have to gently point to the fact that most of life IS NOT about winning.  This is where I am firm to the finish.  When I ask the girls to wash up, it does not matter who cleans their hands first.  When we do bubbles, it does not matter that she made the biggest one.  When we are eating snack, it just does not matter that she ate it the fastest and asked for more.  

Saving competition for a race or sport or healthy agenda, is keeping it in its place.  Making all of life a battle to win is not promoting the joys of life.  We mothers do not have to teach this to our children.  We have to model it for them.  When we are at their event, we don't have to look like we might kill someone while we cheer them on... Remember, from my own recent experience, kids learn it early maybe even innately with our sin nature.  I'm not saying competitive spirit is a sin here, just the attitude that unfortunately comes with it.  The nobody better get in my way thing...

I love to see the girls run!  And man, they almost outrun me!  I'm good with that:).  I'm very good when they make it to the bird feeder finish line and say, "Good job!" to each other.  That just can't be beat!  I watch the looks on their faces, and I see them learning to love on each other, even when they are winning and losing.  Let's take our rightful place with this, and aid in inspiring the joys of life, not the competition of life so firmly ingrained in today's child rearing.

Today

There will never be another today.  There could be a tomorrow here on earth, or maybe not.  Today is the only thing we have now.  Our past sits there....in some cases, it has been thrown to the bottom of the sea forgotten sins.  We are developed in our character based on our past and our spiritual journey. But, our past choices and decisions cannot be changed.  Today is a new day of choices and decisions.

It's almost funny to see the changes in my heart over the past couple years.  I have grown so much and I love to see the progression of what God is doing.  That's another good thing about our past up to today.  Seeing the mountains and the valleys.  Our testimony.  Have you ever taken some time to sit and write your testimony?  

I ask you to join with me in the beginning of a story about you and I.  Where did God start us?  What has He brought us through?  How do we see Him in our lives today?  It's a calling on my heart to document the blessings I have witnessed, for my family heritage.  In those times of grief or sorrow or flat out anger, we can look at these writings to recall His love for us, specifically.

Of course, His promises are already written down in his own Holy Book...

I received a notebook from my mother-in-law last weekend.  Here goes...

Flown Fast

   

To my little birthday cutie,

I see you growing but not 4 years worth!  When you stand beside me, you are up to my lower ribcage...will you be taller than me?  You will be like your daddy in height.  I wondered when you were a ball in my arms, cooing and wailing too, what kind of heart you would have.  I thought about how you would talk, what you would look like, what your favorite color would be.

I wondered if I could even do this mom thing.  Even though I have moments where my gas tank is on empty, I know God planned you for us to raise.  I now get to see sweet memories already made, fun laughter, painful scrapes, your tongue sticking out like mine when you try to write...

Four years leaves me begging for more.  Just seeing what you decide to do, the choices you make each day.  Others are having babies all around me, and I pray for a brother or sister for you.  But I want you to know, all we have is today.  If we can find our peace in our Heavenly Father, not in this world, for just this one day, we will make it.  You will make it.  

I am your mother.  I will never dishonor you or purposefully make you feel unloved.  I will stand up for you when someone is making a moment to hurt you.  I will embrace your sensitivity.  I will take steps with you to teach you Jesus every single day I can breathe.  I will make sure you have food to eat, clothes to wear as best as I can. I will put down my dish towel and play dolls.  I will read to you before you fall asleep.  I will hang your artwork on my refrigerator.  I will teach you to the best of my ability, learning alongside you at home.  I will protect your eyes and ears.  I will do things that you don't understand right now, building a precious cover around your heart to not let it be trampled before you understand.  I will be over-cautious for you.  I will look out for things around you so that you don't always have to.  I will put ice in your water cause I know you love that.  I will let you ride in the car buggy at the grocery store when I have not the energy left to push that thing...

I will love you, but I will fail you.

Snuggle bunny.  There is not an earthly one who will not fail you.  You will love and be loved by humans and you should, but you are a child of the KING.  I pray you do not walk in my footsteps, seeking earthly substitutes for His love.  Nobody will do.  Yet, abiding in Him will teach YOU how to truly love.  You will grow up knowing a very special secret.  How to truly love, even if you don't feel you have it in you.  He has it.

Let's watch you blow out those candles.  4 big candles!  I rejoice in your birthday, thanking my God for my priceless blessing.  Each day that goes by, I am learning your life is more of a blessing than I ever imagined.

Love entirely,

Your Momma

Tell Stories

Of course children love stories!  We all know some of the only quiet moments are when you get going reading a book, using different voice types for all the characters.  Usually, the more animated, the longer you have their attention!  I would like to share with you some pointers on telling stories, both children's books and the Holy Book to preschoolers.

-voice inflection- as much as you can muster.  This may not always mean you change your type of voice, just float along with the punctuation.  If there is a "..." Then sound mysterious.  If there is an"!" Then show the excitement with your voice.  I think we all naturally do this when reading to the kids.  Just be more aware of it, and watch their little faces get more involved in the story!

-quick page-turning- seems small, but one stickler page turn can ruin the entire feel of the book for them!  It's almost like creating a short moment of anticipation for what is on the next page.  But not too much:). Remember, these are preschoolers.  

-choose the story based on their countenance.  Do they need a pick me up?  Do they need a quiet, gentle read?  Is it morning, naptime, or bedtime?  For instance, we avoid stories like The Big Bad Wolf for bedtime stories...for obvious reasons.

-take away pictures- As they begin to grow, throw in an occasional chapter book.  No, I'm not crazy!  One chapter of a book geared toward a young audience, is an extremely important step towards reading for real.  Please don't overdo this, but here are some book ideas to start you off in the chapter book arena:

-last and my favorite... Creating different ways to tell your story!  My 2 latest favorites are giving us a springboard into the Bible.  

1. Act it out!  You could go as far as dress up but it is not necessary.  You need to do your homework a little for this, knowing the story pretty well so that you can smoothly tell it.  Have actions like jumping, crouching, running, kneeling, and many others.  Your children will adore this!

2. Use a prop.  For me, this is a felt board.  And let me say, I like it as much as they do!  I have made multiple felt pieces for stories already on the shelf.  I picked these books so far based on my ability to cut shapes out that made sense to me and would to them.  I put each "story" in a finished baggie for use on the board.  Just this week, I am adapting felt creations to God's Word.  If they love to listen when we do this, why only give them fictitious tales?  I see this has a huge opportunity!  Thus Moses was born.

To felt story-tell, all you need is the board (homemade very cheaply-fun times with a friend:), felt from a local craft store (usually 4 sheets for $1), a story, some creativity...then go to town!  Obviously, use the pieces one at a time as you tell the story.  Please don't clog up your board like this and expect the children to get it at all:)

I hope this has given you some new perspective on diving into both bookshelf stories and God's Holy Book-providing a new sense of excitement in the way you tell these stories.  Enjoy!