Thirty Things to Do This Summer With Your Kids

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Posted by in creative ways to show love, Fun and Easy ways to Celebrate, Practical Help, Rest and Refreshment

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patrick hula hooping

Go to the beach or walk along a river in the sand.

Grow a tomato or sunflower plant.

Walk barefoot through the grass.

Build a sandcastle.

Play frisbee golf.

Grab a blanket, spread it out in the grass and cloud watch.

Bike five miles.

Go swimming.

Play with water balloons.

Soak in the bathtub with homemade summer bath salts.

Sketch a flower that is growing in your yard.

Bury a friend in the sand.
elkind2 child through sprinkler
Go fishing.

Sleep in your backyard, under the stars.

Visit the local library and sign your kids up for the summer reading program.

Swap a favorite book with a friend and read it.

Make a friendship bracelet and send it to your friend.

Have a watermelon seed spitting contest.

Have a high tea, only use iced-teas.

Make a root beer float.
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Paint your fingernails with bright sparkly polish.

Watch the sunrise.

Learn to grill pizza crust.
Smores
Eat some fruit with fruit dip.

Make a collage out of old magazines.

Swing.

Skip stones at a lake.

Make your own popsicles.

Make a earring holder out of a branch.

Make peach lemonade.

Have a scavenger hunt.

Make a whirlpool in a kids pool or play Ice Cubes and Piggies Game.

Visit a flower garden and/or butterfly house.

Turn up the music and dance.

Play mini-golf.

Learn how to hula-hoop.

Create a sidewalk mural with chalk, use a tropical theme.
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Wake up at sunrise and take a picnic lunch to a park and watch the sunrise.

Look your kids in the eyes and tell them you are so happy they were born!

Seven Ways to Raise a World Changer

09 Thursday May 2013

Posted by in Changing the next generation, Home Education, Inspirational Mama, Reading Aloud, Strong families

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patrick with the map
Patrick Farris explores the world (picture by sister Hannah Farris)

1. Be a learner, a questioner, a mom who can be heard saying things like “Hmm…I wonder why they have to put so much gravel down on the road before they pave it?” or “You know, God sure did make a wonderful world!”

When your child asks a question you can’t answer that’s o.k. Wondering about something for awhile without the answer is part of the learning process.

2. Read.
A study by the National Endowment for the Arts found that just having books in the home (even if they weren’t being read!) has a greater impact on children than the education of the parents. Imagine the even greater influence of parents who read those books they have in the home. Mind-boggling!

3. Look your child in the eyes and talk to him. Listen, ask questions and converse! This means looking up from the electronic devices.

4. Give your child the life-changing experience of quiet time with nothing to do.
Let him hear the sound of his own breathing and the beat of his heart.

5. Read aloud to your child. Be inspired by The Secret Weapon of the Christian Parent and Created for Words.

6. Eat meals together regularly. Studies have shown that your family will be closer, your children will be more secure, less peer-dependent and smarter! Who knew?

7. Worship Jesus Christ together. Here are some Helpful Hints for a Holy Day. His peace is vital in this broken world.

Tell your child, “Who knows what great things you are going to do to change the world?” Raise a world-changer.

Real

06 Monday May 2013

Posted by in Humor, Writing

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homeschooler envy

Sometimes I get the feeling I am still back in grade school. It usually happens when I am feeling confident and sassy and talented and run smack-dab into someone who is much more gifted than I am. Suddenly, my scruffy-looking fourth-grade self is watching Wendy, the “popular” girl giggling in the corner of the playground surrounded by friends and… I feel like scratching her eyes out.

I’ve matured past the eye-scratching stage but that green-eyed monster that likes to overwhelm me? He’s still around.

I write and rewrite and edit and finally click that “publish” button and, then, (usually late at night), I read someone else. Someone who writes raw and real and robustly and, there I am, in the corner of that stupid playground jumping rope by myself.

Everything in me wants to hide the amazingly wonderful writers from my friends but I know that they need to read them because good writing is kind of like love; it isn’t meant to be hoarded.

So, here you go.

This lady made me laugh…and cry; not all of her posts are this insightful but I keep rereading this particular one Missionaries shouldn’t be jealous of strippers but sometimes they are.

And Ann Voskamp. Who hasn’t heard of her? When I discovered Ann’s blog a couple of years ago, I had to be careful to read it when I wasn’t too melancholy because her writing always makes me cry even when it isn’t sad. She’s in the bookstore now with her bestseller and, darn it all, she deserves it. Christendom needs good writers like Ann. She is just plain gifted.

Terri Rice is a friend of mind who wrote a post on raising children that I would have written if I had thought of it (or had the ability to put it into words). I didn’t…she did.

Read her great advice about the importance of losing your patience with your children! While you are reading her blog, take a look at her family pictures. Yes, her family really is that gorgeous (but my fourth-grade self isn’t jealous of that because my family is just as beautiful).

Honestly, comparisons are such an awful, life-sucking trap. If we spend our time wishing we were someone else, we miss out on what God created us to do and who He made us to be. Every single one of us is unique and wonderful and have changed the world just by being born.

See The Light Art Lessons

01 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by in Holy Bible, Practical Help

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3.png God's runaway

I am not artsy. When I am asked to describe a color I can’t, because my brain doesn’t work that way.

But, as the mother of eight children, I’ve noticed something. Every. single. child. thinks. that. he. is. a. great. artist! And, it makes me sad when my children reach the age where reality sets in because no one ever taught him or her the basics!

See the Light helps non-artsy parents overcome that problem. I love the fact that the lessons are based on Bible stories but, more than that, I love the fact that I want to do those lessons even though they are geared toward children.

How’s this for a really creative by-line? See the Light; Drawing Children to Him.

Here is what See the Light says about themselves on their website;

“With a love for the Lord Jesus Christ, a heart for children, and a passion for ministry, Dave and Pat Holt bring you the SEE THE LIGHT team:
ARTISTS with specialties that include teaching a large variety of techniques, art history, chalk artistry, performance art, gospel chalk art (with black light), crafts, creative lettering, and more;
MUSICIANS whose talents include songwriting, musical performance, arranging, and producing. The SEE THE LIGHT team is dedicated to bringing scripture and biblical principles to viewers in a fresh, engaging way. . . and promising to teach some exciting art skills.”

The DVD I reviewed was based on the story of Jonah. It had 268 minutes of lessons included. Several different instructors showed different approaches to drawing the story of Jonah.

The first instructor showed a simple way to draw several big fish. Choosing the word “obey” as the theme of Jonah (because he struggled to obey God), the instructor incorporated the word “obey” in the mist that blew up from the whales blowhole, in the waves and in the whales teeth. Talk about simple but creative!

I also enjoyed the technique of using chalk pastels combined with a black light. The lessons look very creative and interesting on their own but turn on a black light and the whole picture is amazingly illuminated and beautiful! A black light costs only ten dollars!

The only drawback to the DVD that I found was that the first lesson was definitely geared toward younger children (ages 6-8) while the second lesson was for a much older or patient child. The instructors had different approaches in their teaching style as well. This needs to be clarified for the student.

I showed the DVD to my 11 and 7 year olds. The 11 year old has taken an art class for a semester and approached the DVD with a know-it-all air. She sat down next to me because I required her to but I noticed that she was quickly drawn in by the instructor. The idea of using a black light fascinated her and, at the end of the lesson, (when she saw the effect of the black light on the chalk drawing) she got very excited and asked if we could get a black light so she could try it!

Kudos to you See the Light!

The 7 year old just stared at the DVD with total fascination and then, immediately began looking for the chalk pastels in our cupboard.

Here is more information about See the Light.

Lord, Protect Our Minds…

29 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in Holy Bible, Inspirational Mama, Rest and Refreshment, Thoughts and Prayers

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images.jpg women on computer

Lord,

We pray for our minds. Help us to choose to fill our minds with excellent and pure thoughts. Give us the strength to turn away from distraction and entertainment and turn toward those things that feed our minds and enrich our souls.

We want to be wise, thoughtful women. We are bombarded with news from so many sources, Lord, that we are overwhelmed. Give us the desire to open up Your word and feast on it. If we don’t have the desire, help us to choose to do what is right and to read it anyway.

Help us to be aware of the passing of time. Give us the peace that surpasses understanding so we can enjoy silence and being alone with You.

You are a good God. You are a sovereign God. You are a Holy God.

We praise Your name and we give You our minds today!

In the name of Jesus,

Amen!

50 Things To Say To Your Husband To Make Him Feel Great by Janel Breitenstein

26 Friday Apr 2013

Posted by in Practical Help

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A woman’s words are powerful, even if she doesn’t believe they are. We women are influencers (just like our sister Eve). We can use our influence for good or for evil. What ways have you used your words to build up your husband today?

Janel Breitenstein has some help for those of us who can’t think of anything positive to say!

1. Thanks for doing that. It means a lot to me when you serve me in little ways like that.

2. I am such a different woman because of the way you _____ (love me, gently lead me, make me feel secure, etc.).

3. I know you and I haven’t been seeing eye-to-eye lately. But I want to let you know that I accept you whether I agree with you or not, and I’m committed to working on our relationship so we both feel understood and secure.

4. I don’t have a bit of a headache tonight. Interested?

5. I can’t believe how _____ you are. You are so clearly gifted in that area.

6. I’m seeing lately that you may not feel very _____, but I hope you know I still respect you deeply.

7. The way you _____ is such a good complement to me. God knew what I needed when He gave me you.

8. I love it when you wear that.

9. You are my best friend.

10. I am more in love with you than ever.

11. I want to go out with you. Are you free on _____ night?

12. No matter how royally you mess up, I’ll always be glad you’re mine, I’ll forgive you, and I’ll love your socks off.

13. I got the car washed and serviced today, hoping it would just take a little of the load off of you.

14. I’m sorry. Will you please forgive me for _____?

15. It is so cool to watch the man you’ve become since we’ve been married.

16. I’m proud of you.

17. What would sound great for dinner tonight?

18. I forgive you. And I won’t bring this up again, okay?

19. Got a minute? There’s something I want to show you in the bedroom.

20. You handled that incredibly well.

21. You’re right.

22. Got your favorite snack at the grocery store!

23. Just wanted to let you know I’m praying for you.

24. I trust you.

25. Let’s put the kids to bed early.

26. Go ahead and sleep in tomorrow.

27. I had no idea you could do that! You continue to impress me.

28. What do you think?

29. Can I give you a massage?

30. To the kids: I love your dad so much. He is so _____.

31. I love being around you.

32. I got a babysitter tonight!

33. I think you have so much to offer, and I can see it in the ways you _____.

34. I’m so glad you’re home.

35. I saw this at the store, and it made me think of you.

36. Do you feel like I’m understanding you?

37. I love doing _____ with you.

38. I stayed within the budget this month!

39. You are one of the best gifts I’ve ever gotten. I am so humbled God gave me you.

40. You and me this evening: Game on.

41. I got tickets!

42. Mind if I hold your hand?

43. I made your favorite _____.

44. Why don’t you take the night off? I’ve got the kids.

45. You are so well-disciplined in _____.

46. You still take my breath away.

47. I miss you. Have a great time!

48. Our kids are so blessed to have a dad like you. I love the way you _____ them.

49. You make me so happy just by being you.

50. I love you so much.

One final note: Maybe you’re a woman who initiates a lot of love for your man, but tenderness is not often reciprocated. Maybe you’re reading this under the burden of a husband who doesn’t serve you or protect you or cherish you. I want to compassionately encourage you: Jesus gave without mutual gain, too—and that puts you in some pretty good company. Ask God to give you remarkable, gentle grace as you lift up your spouse in prayer, and as you meet everyday struggles against resentment and possibly even injustice. Our God is the God who sees (Genesis 21:15-21).

Excerpted by permission from MomLife Today®, FamilyLife’s blog for moms. Copyright © 2013 by Janel Breitenstein. All rights reserved.

Oxygen for the Soul

19 Friday Apr 2013

Posted by in Changing the next generation, Holy Bible, Praying for our husbands, Rest and Refreshment, Sharing Jesus, Sticking through tough times, Strong families, Thoughts and Prayers

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images.jpgbreathe
I have a confession to make. I’ve always found the subject of prayer…um…boring. For me, the word prayer was a bit like the word budget; it sounded restrictive and dull.

I’d read the missionary stories (God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew and The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom are two that come to mind) and those people made prayer seem vital, real and exciting.

But for me? Not so much.

Yet over the years I’ve prayed a lot and seen God work. I would pray when I was in great pain, pray for others who were experiencing sorrow and sickness and pray for my children when that middle-of-the-night-anxious-worry hit me.

In other words, I was good at crisis praying.

Almost two years ago I began praying weekly with an acquaintance who was going through struggles similar to ones I had experienced. I prayed to encourage her. I marked a date on the calendar and drove to her house just to keep her going. I didn’t want her to quit.

Together, we prayed.

Honestly, in the beginning, our commitment to a regular time of prayer wavered. We shared prayer requests talked too much before we got around to a short time of prayer.

It was a struggle but we kept meeting.

We had been praying together for a year when I moved to a new city with my family and our prayer time had to become a once-a-week phone call at an awkward time of day.

Strange to say, Thursday afternoons at 3 p.m. became the only time that mutually worked for us.

One hour…once a week.

Life is busy when you are middle-aged and the parents of adults, teens, in-betweens and an almost eight-year-old but, believe it or not, one year after my move, we are still praying.

Each week I feel like I’ve gotten a deep, wonderful gulp of life-giving oxygen as I lay my burdens down.

Life is so busy that we don’t want to use up our time together with small talk so we email our requests to each other beforehand. We fight hard to keep our commitment to pray together and it… is… hard.

Life goes on, you know?

images.jpg praying wife

Each week we both give all glory to God that we have remained faithful to this one hour of prayer.

It is our life-blood, our oxygen, our giving back to God our worries, fears and problems.

We’ve seen answers and we praise Him for that but, mostly, we’ve found peace and rest in realizing that prayer is not complicated. It is (like a simple budget) not just for the “experts”.

We simply join our voices and our hearts in giving glory to our Great God. We lay our burdens down and we lift up the weak hands of others as we pray.

A faithful prayer partner is a gift from God. You might find one (like I did) through a shared trial. Ask God to bring you a sister in Christ with whom you can come to God in prayer.

“Come let us know, let us press on to know the Lord, for His coming is like the rains, like the spring rains watering the earth.” Hosea 6:9

How do you get enough oxygen for your soul?

What I’ve Learned from Wise Mothers

14 Sunday Apr 2013

Posted by in Changing the next generation, Homemaking, not-to-do list, Sticking through tough times, Strong families, Thoughts and Prayers

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mother lifting child
We all want to leave a legacy of wisdom and faith to our families but how do we accomplish that? One moment at a time.

Some families are full of good “fruit” and should be emulated. If you know of a family whose children have embraced their parents values, who are joyful and confident and secure, be sure to watch and learn from the woman who is mothering those children!

Here are some bits of wisdom I have learned from other women over the years;

images silhouette of children swinging

*Let your husband be a man and parent like one. He may be more matter-of-fact and not take the time to explain things like you do but his influence is essential in the life of your child and shows forth the heart of God in a different way than you do.

*Sometimes being a very involved mother means stepping back and allowing your child to experience consequences. Ask the Lord for wisdom for the right timing. A teen who keeps friends waiting may have to be left behind on an important day. A younger child may need to learn that leaving a favorite toy out in the rain ruins the toy and that it doesn’t get replaced. Look for these moments and choose to allow your child to feel uncomfortable under your guiding hand.

*Each stage of childhood and development is different. Even with a large family it is easy to lose touch with the changes your child is growing through. Find a good book full of trusted advice and refer to it again and again in order to fortify yourself for the next stage of life. Rejoice and be glad in the uniqueness of God’s creation in the life of a child.

*Wise mothers learn self-control so that they can act instead of react to all the ups and downs of raising children. It is worth the hard work of developing your own character in order to be a better mother.

*Pray for wisdom so that you can determine if your child just made a childish mistake or if he refused to listen and obey. You do not want to overlook sin but you also don’t want to overreact to childish mistakes.

*Joyful children have parents who choose to be joyful even through the ups and downs of life. Choose to be a smiling mother!
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*Don’t forget what it was like to be a child.

*You are the best mother for your child. Wise mothers know that no matter how hard parenting can get, they were meant to be the mother of their child. Embrace this truth.

Pray! The God of grace will give you wisdom. He has entrusted to you an eternal soul…will He not gently lead you?

An Old Farmer’s Advice fer Livin’

12 Friday Apr 2013

Posted by in Humor, Inspirational Mama, Sticking through tough times, Strong families

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632d60bc6e41bd0ae7bb7f91d1497457.jpg barn picture

Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.

Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.

Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

Words that soak into your ears are whispered…not yelled.

Meanness don’t jes’ happen overnight.

Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.

Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge.

You cannot unsay a cruel word.

Every path has a few puddles.

When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

The best sermons are lived, not preached.

Most of the stuff people worry about ain’t never gonna happen anyway.

Don’t judge folks by their relatives.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.

Don’t interfere with somethin’ that ain’t botherin’ you none.

Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.

Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.

The biggest troublemaker you’ll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin’.

Always drink upstream from the herd.

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back in.

If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around.

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

(Author unknown. If you know who wrote this please let me know so I can give them credit)

This Good Day

08 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in Holy Bible, Inspirational Mama, Rest and Refreshment, Sharing Jesus, Sticking through tough times, Thoughts and Prayers

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Lord,

images woman praying with clouds

We pray for this day. It is a good day because you have given it to us, we are alive in it and we know You.

We pray that we would have hearts turned toward You today, minds focused on You and eyes opened to the many blessings and gifts that are ours in You.
You have given us so much. You have given us Your son, Jesus. You have given us the riches of Your word, the gift of the Holy Spirit who prompts us, teaches us and leads us. You have given us minds to understand and souls that long for a better eternity than this life.

Lord, You have created us to be women and women show forth Your creation in a unique way. Help us to joyfully embrace the gift of femininity.

Thank You that we are Your influencers and we leave a mark on the lives of others. Help us to use our gift of influence in a way that honors You. Keep us from being manipulative. Open our eyes to the powerful difference we can make in this world and give us Holy boldness to make a difference that glorifies You.

Lord, this is a glorious day and we dedicate it to You. We long for the day when You will make all things right and sin will no longer have dominion over us or the world. All of creation groans under the weight of sin.

Thank You for Your redemption. Thank You for loving us. images love never fails

In the powerful name of Jesus we pray,

Amen

Introducers

06 Saturday Apr 2013

Posted by in Books, Changing the next generation, Inspirational Mama, Reading Aloud, Strong families

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P1020471abby on books

He leans against me as I open the pages of The Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder and I begin to read,
“Once upon a time, sixty years ago, a little girl lived in the Big Woods of Wisconsin, in a little gray house made of logs.”

As I read I think to myself that this is the last time. It’s the last time I will begin this book series for the first time with one of our children.

I opened the pages of this book and read the entire series to his eldest sister, Lorna, when she was five. She is twenty-seven now.

I read the books to his eldest brother Phillip who is now twenty-five.

I read them to his sisters, Rosie and Hannah, and his brothers, Kealen and Noah.

Along came Abby (pictured above) and she determinedly said she would read them herself and the pattern was broken.

In the midst of Speech and Debate tournaments and Spanish and Greek classes for the teens, I savor this one last opportunity to begin, again; to be the introducer of certain books to this last child of ours.

I know, “introducer” isn’t really a word, but it should be. Isn’t every mother an introducer?

I hope your child’s imagination is filled to the brim with wonderful words put there by you. It’s not too late to start.


I had a mother who read to me
Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,
Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,
“Blackbirds” stowed in the hold beneath.

I had a Mother who read me lays
Of ancient and gallant and golden days;
Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,
Which every boy has a right to know.

I had a Mother who read me tales
Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,
True to his trust till his tragic death,
Faithfulness blent with his final breath.

I had a Mother who read me the things
That wholesome life to the boy heart brings–
Stories that stir with an upward touch,
Oh, that each mother of boys were such!

patrick with the map

You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be–
I had a Mother who read to me.

~by Strickland Gillian

Pictures by our talented daughter Hannah