Appreciating a Good Walk

Oh how wonderful to take a walk...

The animals that you can see (little fishes!)...

The nature conversations ("What lives in there?")...

How far the eye can see...

And how high up things can grow...

And how about simply being together in the great outdoors!

Hallelujah for all that God has made and to share in it together!

Thankful Always

Sometimes these little ones

are

passed

off

and 

thought 

to

be

unaffected by our attitudes, actions, and words

NOT

TRUE

I find it much harder to maintain love when I become more comfortable 

with my short-comings and my circumstances.

With the boys, our days can blur together, and that has a way

of desensitizing my heart to their sensitive hearts.

That is when I need to be reminded of being thankful.

Thankfulness has a way of helping me pay attention

to what really matters.

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, 

Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Bear with each other and forgive one another

 If any of you has a grievance against someone. 

Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

 Since as members of one body you were called to peace. 

And be thankful.

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly

 As you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom 

Through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, 

Singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, 

Do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, 

Giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Colossians 3:12-17

The Much Needed Stroller Hook

     This hook, which we purchased at Babies-R-Us, has been such a help in carrying more than the children! It has held up to 50 pounds in weight from backpacks and bags - basically anything that has a strap of some kind (even taking out the trash and recycling). We used ours so much that the spring in the latch finally gave out - an excellent sign of money well spent (and I can say that because of how much this hook went through!). We will be purchasing a new one soon!

Teaching Them the Joy of Eating

     God has created such a vast variety of foods for us to eat. It is our responsibility to teach the little ones the joy of eating! From the orange cantaloupe they are eating above to the off-white vanilla ice cream that Isaiah loves indulging in to the dark brown richness of ground beef to the vibrant green tones of snap peas - God has intend for us to find the joy in the flavors, textures, and benefits of each one. Just like anything in life, if we stay with only a few things, life can become bland and boring. Include a variety, and life becomes alive and exciting. Let's lead the little ones in being joyful and thankful in their eating!

"Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:11-12

"The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes." Psalm 19:8

Fresh Start Baking

     When a day starts with baking, a day starts in a delicious way! Not only is baking fun, it is education. The boys learn about hand-eye-coordination, team work, many parts making up a whole, processes, equipment usage, gauges, and transformation (to name a few). So break out the pots and pans, whisks and scrappers, hot pads and cooling racks, and have a good time in the kitchen!

"Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order

 to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives." Titus 3:14       

Potty Training: Part 2

     It is official: Isaiah is potty trained!!! As of about a month now, he has been doing his peeing and pooping on the toilet! Was it easy? No way! Was all the hard work worth it? Yes!

     What did it finally take? It took persistence on my part. It took his yielding to my persistence and having the desire to do the final work necessary.

     I was tired of him knowing what he was doing and yet choosing not to take the responsibility of doing it on the toilet. Even with offering rewards and incentives, it still wasn't enough to encourage him the whole way. He needed to take ownership of his choices and realize it was HIS CHOICE. Yes, it helped to explain the benefits: no more cleanings, no more diapers, underwear, flushing the toilet, washing his hands at the sink, using the bathroom, etc.

     The final climb before taking flight: two days of long time-outs, while sitting in his wet and dirty clothes.

     What I will say for future potty training and to others who have been there or going to be there: EACH CHILD IS DIFFERENT. Each child will need something different to encourage them along in the process. Each child will respond differently to discipline - choose wisely for your mode of discipline. Don't be afraid to be strict. Don't be afraid to get excited - even overly excited in conveying your support. PATIENCE and GRACE are needed in loads. IT IS A PROCESS.

     The bigger picture: The potty training process is so much more than simply peeing and pooping in a different place and without assistance. It is about learning discipline and hard work and growth. It is about learning that growth comes with gains and losses. It is about learning not to give up, but to endure. It is about having the victory over a very hard task - even when the task seems too difficult and impossible. Has Isaiah learned these things? Yes, I believe and trust that he has. THOSE ADDITIONS TO HIS CHARACTER will stay with him the rest of his life - benefiting him in so many more ways than potty training.

     Hallelujah, we have overcome. Hallelujah, Isaiah has grown and developed. He is now onto the next level of learning.

"All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." Proverbs 14:23

Toddler Bible Reading

     Isaiah's introduction to the Bible began when he was in my womb; I would read it out loud, whether for a minute or a half hour. After his birth, that intimate time transferred over to breast feedings. Once he was past breast feeding, it was then time to figure out the next opportunity to keep the Living Word alive to him.
 
     Nap time and night time have become the newest source of intimate time Isaiah has in the Bible. He climbs into his bed, I hand him The Beginner's Bible by Zonderkidz, he takes the first five minutes or so to do his reading, and I finish by reading out loud for about another five minutes. Before closing his eyes, we pray.


     "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

Pray Always

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. 

With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."

Ephesians 6:18

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Proverbs 22:6

     Always pray. Always. Always. And just how is that to be taught? How about in the most practical way: Through me. As long as I am willing to verbalize how often I am praying, then they will begin to understand the meaning of "pray always". 

     Easy? Not at all. I am so used to internalizing my prayer life - my relationship with the LORD. Now, I need to be mindful of sharing that daily, relational interaction with the LORD, with these two precious souls. 

     May God give me grace and favor, and may He give them the desire to pray. May God also continue to lead me in praying for them to love to pray - to love, loving the LORD and being loved by Him.

Day to Play

     "I am busy." What a common phrase in our day-to-day language. It has been mine, of recent. 

     "I am too busy to..." That's more like what it would sound like in my head - as I ponder options of how to spend the day with the kids. Funny, though, how no matter what things attract the attention of the kids, they are never to busy to play. And playing to them is learning. 

     When they play, they apply their knowledge. Their knowledge needs an outlet to become tangibly theirs. If they do not play, it is almost as if they will implode. Everything they have stored up from observations needs to make their way out through some sort of "play". Having hands-on activity is a must for them.

     "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:5-8

Redland's Farmers Market

The Redland's Farmers Market is the place to be, if you are ever in the Miami area!

There are pony rides for the kids...

Fresh produce...

Coconuts, with all the splendid juice and meat inside...

And vendor upon vendor, of everything you could possibly want, all in one place.

"For you, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; 

You are exalted far above all gods.

Let those who love the LORD hate evil,

 for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.

Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name."

Psalm 97:9-12