Others Minded

I have been attending a small group, through our church, called Mom's Notes. Our last class was Thursday and the topic was Peer Pressure. My kids are still young, and I have the luxury of becoming better focused on where I want them to be in a few years, through this class. I can pro-actively parent them in a way to build character. It is overwhelming at times but comforting to have this class refine my focus.

In the lesson, they mentioned how important it is to train your child to be 'others minded'. One story they shared, was regarding their high school aged daughter welcoming a 'loner' to hang out with her and her friends, for one hour, while on a school outing.

This really stirred me up, I want my kids to be others focused! I feel exhausted some days trying to teach my kids to be kind. My kids ARE SUPER kind, but we all have bad days. Sometimes it is easy to overlook our progress in the middle of these rough moments or days.

I began to wonder, how do my kids interact with others during times I am not there to encourage them to be kind. I am a stay-home mom and the kids are with me all the time, so I do not have many opportunities to peek into their progress from afar. I asked one of my daughter's teachers from her class at church, 'How does she interact with others? Is she friendly with everyone or just specific kids?' I held my breath waiting for the response, hoping I would be proud of what came next! There are several kids in her class that we see weekly through play dates and I expected her to cling to those kids. Her teacher said, "HC really is tender-hearted towards her classmates. If someone is new or sad/crying for their parents, HC will go up to them and sweetly ask 'what's wrong? It will be ok.' and then she sits with them and plays. I had tears in my eyes, overwhelmed with pride. I don't know how that happened, I must have gotten through to her somehow! I just pray I will continue to feed that special gift of my HC's along the way. She really is one who loves to comfort or encourage other people and I pray that through her journey of life, no one will quench her spirit from this blessed love for others!

I don't share this to brag on my efforts or HC. I am bragging on God! Without this class, I would have been focused on other things and missed this chance to shape HC's heart toward the things of God. I know my JB is still young, but I know he too will began to show how God has shaped him, within the next year! I cannot wait to see what God has for him! He is a delight as well and anyone who meets him or even sees him, they are smitten! He is such a magnet! I know he is drawing people to him for a reason! I love this job - the Mommy job! I now see my kids as my talent. You know the scripture of the talents. I feel like I am gaining a profit now on my investment and this is ONLY THE BEGINNING!

Let's not put our kids in a box! Let's water them with the Word and watch God grow them! You can do it and I can do it by sharing our victories and defeats. By encouraging one another on good days and bad! Thanks for sharing life with me!

No Make-up Photo Contest

My stomach is churning as I post this! I am participating in a little fun with a new blogger I recently found! She is asking people to participate in a 'No Make-up Photo Contest'. I really do NOT know why I am doing this because some of the ladies participating are gorgeous and need no help from make-up! This is actually one of the more recent photos taken of me. My daughter wanted my husband to take a picture of us together one morning. I had not even brushed my hair yet! Why am I doing this?? AGGH!! :o) Anyway, so I posed with her never thinking anyone would see this awful pic. I am always taking pictures of them and she wanted me to join in! Anyway, I wanted to join in the fun of this new game. Please excuse the morning breath! haha Go to Adventures In Babywearing if you would like to join in on the 'fun'. :o)

Hallelujah and Amen!

A man bought a donkey from a preacher. The preacher told the man that this donkey had been trained in a very unique way, (being the donkey of a preacher). The only way to make the donkey go, is to say,
"Hallelujah!"
The only way to make the donkey stop, is to say, "Amen!"
The man was pleased with his purchase and immediately got on the animal to try out the preacher's instructions.
"Hallelujah!" shouted the man. The donkey began to trot. "Amen!" shouted the man. The donkey stopped immediately.
"This is great!" said the man. With a "Hallelujah", he rode off very proud of his new purchase.
The man traveled for a long time through some mountains. Soon he was heading towards a cliff. He could not remember the word to make the donkey stop.
"Stop," said the man. "Halt!" he cried. The donkey just kept going.
"Oh, no...
'Bible...Church!...Please Stop!!," shouted the man. The donkey just began to trot faster. He was getting closer and closer to the cliff edge.
Finally, in desperation, the man said a prayer..."Please, dear Lord.
Please make this donkey stop before I go off the end of this mountain, In Jesus name, AMEN."
The donkey came to an abrupt stop just one step from the edge of the cliff.
"HALLELUJAH!", shouted the man.

Beauty

I found this prayer on the following blog:

Called to Serve
I really wanted to share this with my friends because there is a precious factor to this that I cannot explain! Enjoy!

Imagination

I love to see my two little ones get into the imagination flow! When I see a soccer ball, they see a BIG ice cream! The BIGGEST ice cream ever actually! I wonder when I miss seeing the BIG things God wants to show me! I am too busy focusing on the obvious and miss the Bigger picture sometimes. I pray I will become more sensitive to God's nudges! He wants to show me more than is naturally seen. I am willing! I want my vision to be clear and more in tune with the things of God! I don't want to miss a thing He has planned for me!

Thank you!

I am thankful today for this blogging venue! It has truly been a lift to my spirit! I feel like I am able to connect with friends I do not see often and this potentially allows family to keep up with us too! Whether you are in Alabama, Texas or Louisiana, thank you for joining me on this new adventure! Today this scripture rings true to me as I consider the ability to connect with you who are far away, '...better is a neighbor who is near in spirit than a brother who is far off in heart.' Proverbs 27:10 (Amplified) My heart is full knowing that you choose to share your world with me and that you share in my world too! Many blessings to you and yours today!