Why Scripture Memorization with Little Ones?

As a Christian parent, I have a duty to teach my children about the God I serve. (Deuteronomy 6:11)

⁶ “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. ⁸ You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. ⁹ You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

When I read this Scripture, I don’t see a specific time set aside to lecture on and on about God. I see that God is to be woven into every aspect of our daily lives.

My children have been attending church from infancy. Someone recently pointed out that since I’ve attended church while pregnant with each one, they’ve heard worship music and teachings even before they were born. I realized this, and the fact that from the time they’ve been able to hear in the womb, they’ve also heard me read Scripture aloud. How awesome to think that just by our usual actions, we’ve incorporated God into their young lives, and shown them that He is the focal point and running “theme” in our world.

We’ve read devotionals and children’s Bibles together, but it wasn’t until fairly recently that I was convicted about helping them memorize Scripture. They’ve learned Scripture in children’s ministry, but as far as Scripture committed to memory and hidden in their hearts as a daily, regular part of their lives, I realized we were lacking in that area.

How We Started

As I was researching which homeschool method to use this year, I discovered Simply Charlotte Mason. Included in their curriculum guide is Scripture memorization. I believe any family can benefit from this, even non-homeschoolers. At first, it seemed daunting, and a bit confusing learning to use the system, but as we put it into practice, just one foot in front of the other, it started to make sense.

What resources we use

I watched a video (to get a better understanding of the method), and found a plastic index card box to store the cards. Each day, we go over the Scripture; me reading it in parts, and the children repeating after me. I was amazed that they quickly memorized them this way! I thought for sure it wouldn’t be “exciting” enough to hold their interest, but I was wrong. It’s a part of their day that they look forward to all the time.

When to start

This is a personal decision, of course. The important thing is to not limit your children. I was amazed the day my two year old came to me and his older siblings working on our Scripture memorization for the day, and he seemed genuinely interested in what we were doing. A two year old! So just like with the other two, we started with Genesis 1:1. I would read it to him, and he would repeat it back to me. Sometimes I’d prompt him by saying, “Genesis 1:1…” and he would just look at me and say, “no.” (Gotta love two year olds!) But other times, during diaper changes or whenever I had his attention, we would go over it again, and now he has it totally memorized.

Now, he sees the Scripture box on the counter, and points to it and says, “Genesis 1:1!” and I bring it down, and show him the card, and he recites the Scripture, and goes on his way. Sometimes, he pulls down the children’s Bible, and brings it to me, and asks me to read Genesis 1:1, and I’ll take a minute and read as much as he seems to want me to read. I love how he is connecting the memory verse with an actual story in the Bible. We’ve also used some of the age-appropriate activities from ABC Jesus Loves Me.

I should add that my two older children were seven and four when we began. The older one, of course, does better with the longer Scriptures (like Psalm 23- I don’t even have that totally memorized, but he does!)

I think age of the child doesn’t really matter, but probably the earlier, the better! I can just imagine how much more of God’s Word I would know had I started at an earlier age like my children (ranging from two to seven years old, versus my own twenty-four years old!) It is never too late, though!

What about your family? Do you have an intentional time of Scripture memorization? What resources have you used? Share in a comment so that others can benefit from your experience!
Becky is a wife of eight years and stay at home mom to three young children. She aspires to encourage women in Biblical truth on her blog, Happy Christian Home

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Just Don’t Quit!

Just Don’t Quit!

Just Don’t Quit! Don’t Give Up!

I’ve watched Famous Amos (Wally Amos) rise, sell his cookies and do very well! He sold his first company and started up a new online company. In an article he wrote in Costco’s Connection January 2015 magazine, he says “If you keep going you will not live a life of regret, saying, “if only” or “I wish I had.” Life is about constantly making positive decisions here and now, in the present.

Wally Amos talks about this last year being one setback after another during the launch of his new cookie company, The Cookie Kahuna. He talked about climbing a hill, almost reaching the top and sliding back down. Did he ever consider quitting? He said he needed to find the courage and fortitude to keep going and succeed. He boldly spoke of God in his prayer time with it feeling like a plea…Don’t Quit!

LaTonya King Kept Going

LaTonya lived just around the corner from her Great Aunt Sadie as she was growing up. She remembers at age two standing at a little metal kitchenette pretending she had her own cooking show. Her family would walk by her kitchenette with her begging them to just give her cooking a taste. Pretend has a way of becoming a dream, a vision grabbed on to by risk takers.  Her road to fulfilling her dream was also filled with life’s pot holes.

LaTonya loved that Aunt Sadie always had baked goods in her house to put out for company and draw them to sit around the table encouraging fellowship. Aunt Sadie had the best recipes and LaTonya put them to use. Her first idea was sell through gas stations. She did the foundation work of health certificate and an insurance license. Then she learned the other side of food by buying food for prisons while working in the food service business. She came to understand that there are companies that put together cake mixes and obeyed her mother’s idea to call the cocoa company to put together her cake mix. Three to four samples were then sent to her after one month.

Don’t Let Trouble and Disappointment Swallow You Up!

She had the help of family, Aunt Sadie, her mother and God. Because situations arose in her family, she took time to put family first. Her family trouble felt insurmountable but she didn’t give up her dream. Prayer and time began to work in her behalf. LaTonya believed God told her to get back into it again and get outside help. She turned once again to her research and leads. A food photographer for the picture on her cake box was needed and the leading kept coming for two weeks for her to seek them out in Chicago.  She knew to go to the first five out of the top ten she found. God had reminded her of her modeling days and how to find legit photographers. She was then led to pick the first sample picture of the individual companies that popped out at her and call to make the appointement. She also needed a graphics designer and ended up with the creator of the lightning bolt on Gatorade.

She Did’t Quit!

The name for her product was changed to King Preferred and she went to a mentoring center in her city development center to help her start up. Finally, a public relations firm snagged her a TV interview.

What Did Famous Amos and King Preferred Have in Common?

Both Wally Amos and LaTonya King put their trust in God and no matter what was thrown at them, they didn’t quit! That dream in your heart needs the ‘don’t quit’ attitude. Maybe you’ve written a book, sent it out to publishers and have been rejected…endlessly. Or did you have a blog that wasn’t drawing the followers you wanted to reach…and you took a long break from blogging? No matter what you call your dream, just don’t quit when life happens. You were able to take the risk, now follow through to completion. There is a ‘motherload’ of fullfillment waiting for you.

Do you have a dream that you’re holding on to? We’d love to know what you’ve done to keep going! Leave your comments!  

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Ever feel like quitting children’s ministry?

On yet another Sunday morning, I grumbled. Under-prepared and late again, I showed up to my “one Sunday a month” in children’s church.

She arrived with her dad; a small girl about four years old. Dad was unsure about leaving her there, he explained, because “she tends to be shy.” I nodded knowingly, having a child like that myself.

I, like many other women, complain about the “mandatory children’s ministry service because you have children” method of children’s workers recruitment. At least right now, when I feel like the last thing I want to do is give up the opportunity to just be in “big people’s church.”

I’ve kind of run the gamut of roles in children’s ministry. I’ve been the leader, and I’ve been more of an “as needed” support person, like I am now (not that I do a very good job of it!)

Not just another task

One thing that God keeps impressing upon me (even though I’ve been reluctant to receive it) is that my role is important! Whether I’m serving willingly or out of requirement, He continues to show me that it isn’t just another task.

Back to the little girl. I know that I was in the right place at the right time (you know, in His will), because I had something to offer that sweet little girl. I can’t say much for anything else that I was involved in that morning, but I know He used me to minister to her and her family. I was able to help her feel comfortable and adjust smoothly to the happenings of our church.

It was a special service that morning, and the children were to be led back to the main service at the end. When she was reunited with her parents, I saw her notice me, and point me out excitedly to her mom. Mom smiled and seemed relieved that she had a good time, and it was then that I knew God was teaching me a valuable lesson (like always).

Be available!

You may not “feel called” to children’s ministry. And maybe it’s not your ultimate gifting. That’s okay! But you can still be available to the Holy Spirit to minister to a young person and show them God’s love- even if you’re just filling in until someone can take your place. If your church has a children’s ministry, don’t just see it as another chore in the Body of Christ! You never know who you might impact just by being yourself and being available.

So, before you quit children’s ministry, reflect and let God remind you of times He has used you in special ways. How have you connected with a young person, or come up with just the right lesson, or even just blessed another volunteer by being their reinforcement?

Let’s have good attitudes and act like we believe ministering to children is important (I’m talking to myself too!)

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14

If you have been weary of serving in children’s church in the past, share how you have overcome that feeling!

Becky is a wife of eight years and stay at home mom to three young children. She aspires to encourage women in Biblical truth on her blog, Happy Christian Home

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Beaver Tail as Real, Odd, Gross

Beaver Tail as Real, Odd, Gross

Our morning ritual for the dog is let her out, give her a bisquit, put out her water and it’s all good. Waking up later than my husband, I saw the water still inside. I got the dog’s bisquit and she wasn’t inside, so I opened the door and called her.  A short minute later and there she was, grinning with a prize in her teeth.  I reached in my pocket for a kleenex and grabbed it from her just staring at it. What? Was it an under belly of a turtle…no, too large, wrong color.  I brought it to my husband to see the long oval flat piece of brown-black flesh she’d been nibbling.

“What is it?”, husband asked. I gradually had the idea it could be a beaver tail.  So glad I’d just refreshed all her shots and vaccinations last week! We couldn’t let the dog keep eating a carcass, so I let her out to show me where it was. Searching in my pajamas we went into the edge of the woods. She moved quickly at first but then slowed down and sniffed. Wherever it had been, something else had taken it in that short time and she was backing off quickly.  Me too…we ran for the door!

Nothing chased after us as I came inside to Google the pictures of beaver tails. Yes, that’s what it was and it could have been so many other things made with my creativity. So glad it was Tuesday…garbage day.

I’ve had Becky Hubbard posting on my blog for a few months now, and a post was published questioning how anyone could teach their homeschooled children if they didn’t have the education in the areas they needed to teach. Today was a perfect lesson supplied by our dog!

Odd Uses for a Beaver Tail

Did you know you can eat beaver tail?  I read that it was greasy, tough and bland. Not only that, a cactus was named after it called the Beaver Tail Cactus.

Northern Native Americans used the beaver tail as sheaths for their knives and someone recently put a picture on Google Images for a beaver tail wallet.

They also sell beaver tails as a deep fried sweet type bread not unlike the elephant ears found at the fairs.

The beaver tail has also inspired some costumes for little babies, and wallets for adults.

Gross Uses for a Beaver Tail

There you have it! My first homeschool lesson with something to pass around and touch. Of course it would have been put into a plastic zip lock bag first. The beaver tail was described by culinary students in New York as a large rat tail pounded flat and just as disgusting. Why were they talking about it? Beaver tail was on their menu lessons to prepare for the day!

We’ve had lessons like this when the grandkids and their parents lived with us a short time while they built their house. My granddaughter, then age 4, would help me pull dead mice out of traps in our fireplace and I put them in a zip lock bag. She would hold them in the bag and look at their eyes through the clear plastic as I explained life as a mouse. This all ended when she began pitching the one last bag with the mouse inside it against the wall. Experiment and lesson over!  The last time guests were over she begged outloud to see if there were anymore ‘rats’ in the fireplace. That took some explaining for everyone.  She’s older now and not wanting to meet up with all the mice anymore. The new cat has taken that hunting position and I won’t even explain what the cat leaves behind in the garage for me! 

So you can see there are plenty of opportunities to teach your homeschooled children just by Googling as a search for images or information. Even your pets can be involved hunting up ideas!

I’d love to hear about your teaching moments…leave a comment!

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Homeschoolers Learn Without a Teacher

Homeschoolers Learn Without a Teacher?

When you proudly announce that you’ll be homeschooling, you expect some people to be supportive of your choice. But there are times when people react in ways you might not expect. For me, this happened when a close relative brought up my dislike of math. “How will he learn math when he gets into more advanced stuff? I remember you didn’t do so well in that subject.”

Thanks for that reminder! While it’s true I didn’t particularly enjoy math, I was never bad at it, I just didn’t have much motivation to excel in math. I’m sure when my children need to learn algebra, much of what I learned will have been long forgotten anyway!

So, how will my children learn things I don’t clearly grasp?

Many ways, actually!

I’m Not Qualified to be a Teacher

First of all, I don’t necessarily consider myself to be their “teacher”. What little college I did attend had nothing to do with child development or anything academic. I know many people shy away from homeschooling because they don’t feel qualified to teach their children and maybe that’s true in a technical sense. I certainly fall into that category.

Children Learn What They Want to Learn

I’ll let you in on a little secret: most of what my children tend to learn occurs of their own volition. Take reading, for example. They learned to read because they wanted to read. It was something that naturally interested them. I am sure that the environment my husband and I have created facilitated the process, but I think some people have the notion that I sat steely-eyed with them for hours on end drilling them with flash cards and such. I didn’t.

Learning Outside the Box

Since I started homeschooling my children, I’ve learned to think outside the box. It seems to me that homeschoolers find a way to learn what they need to learn, and I don’t think very many homeschooling moms and dads are credentialed teachers (some are, but that’s beside the point).

Other People

I have a spouse. He excels in different areas than I do. Combined, we can cover quite a bit of ground with our children. Really! I’m sure this is true in your situation too (if you have a spouse). Other family members can be great resources for learning as well. My mother in law, for example, speaks fluent French. I was hung up on pronouncing some titles of paintings when my daughter took an interest in Monet’s artwork, so I referred her to her Grammy. Grammy was delighted to help out. (This is not to say that she’d be willing to teach a whole new language to her grandchild, but she’s certainly available to help). I’m sure if you thought about it, there are people in your life who would be more than willing to share their knowledge and love of a certain topic with your children!

Another example: there is an astronomy club in our community. On a certain day every month, they set up their telescopes at a local nature preserve and welcome anyone to come and see the night sky up close. You should see these guys! Such passion for astronomy, and they are more than happy to answer any and all questions anyone might have about various celestial bodies. They can be teachers too! You’d be amazed at all the wonderful, helpful people you encounter during a field trip or a visit to an attraction.

Co-ops

Ah, the co-op. Parents love to pool their collective knowledge and share it with your children. And you can share your knowledge with their children! You might meet a homeschooling parent who is a skilled musician to teach your child (or a group of children) to play violin. Maybe you can share your literary knowledge with a group of kids.

The Internet

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there’s a lot happening online these days! Lots of free (and even more paid) educational content can be found on just about any topic. One major resource that comes to mind is Khan Academy. If you want to know how my child will learn trigonometry, here it is, folks. I’m serious! They have content starting at basic kindergarten skills, ranging all the way to different kinds of calculus. (There are different kinds?) Recently, they’ve added content on subjects from science to economics to arts and humanities. I don’t have space to address all the available resources in this post, but they are there, in a multitude of topics, for any age.

Apprenticeships/Internships/Volunteer Opportunities

Older students can learn things hands-on. That’s part of the beauty of homeschooling. Children have the opportunity and time to go and seek out ways to learn in real life settings. In his popular TedxTalk, 13 year old Logan LaPlante describes an internship that he worked at where he was able to learn more about designing apparel. Depending on your area, and age restrictions, it may be more of a challenge to find some opportunities, but I’m sure they are there, if you take the time to look and network in your community.

If you are called to homeschooling, there are a number of ways for your child to learn whatever it is they need to learn! The whole world is their school!

If you homeschool, share some ways that your child has learned something you didn’t know!

 Becky is a wife of eight years and stay at home mom to three young children. She aspires to encourage women in Biblical truth on her blog, Happy Christian Home

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What About Socialization?

I’ve heard from many homeschooling parents. That question that almost always arises when they decide to homeschool: “what about socialization?”

Most of the time, I think people really mean “what about socializing?” As in, “how will they meet people and make friends?” Though I know some mean, “how will they learn their place in society?”

I’ve given these questions a lot of thought, but first I want to reflect on something I read before homeschooling was even on my radar.

Thinking Differently About Socialization

Several years ago, I read the book Little Women for the first time. If you don’t know, it’s a classic novel about a family with four sisters and their day-to-day happenings. One thing I realized while reading it, is our culture has not always been like the one I grew up in. Families were closer-knit. There wasn’t always compulsory education in our country. Children weren’t customarily sent off to school outside their home. And sometimes (like in winter), they didn’t get that much interaction with other people their own age.

What I learned, is there are other ways a child can learn how to fit into society besides being at school for 6-8 hours a day, making friends with similar-aged children, and being involved in extra-curricular activities with (you guessed it) more children their own age.

Remembering that made me more confident that my children would not suffer socially as homeschoolers! They weren’t “doomed” to be socially awkward due to lack of public education!

Four Ways We Get Socialization

Right here at home!

We know families who are always on the go. We are not one of those families. I have nothing against getting out and interacting with the world on a daily basis, I simply prefer to be home much of the time. But this works for us! My children are learning manners, and trust me when I say we have plenty of learning opportunities amongst siblings every day. My seven year old is learning that he is bigger than his siblings and must treat them differently than he would an older child. He’s learning gentleness. My littler ones are learning to assert themselves with their older siblings. Plenty of time at home means plenty of time to mold their behavior; plenty of time to prepare to be out in the world.

Our church community

My husband and I have been members of our church for 12 years. What that means for our family, is our children were basically born into this family of believers. People come and go, naturally, but there are people they have known their whole lives too. They have friends they’ve known since birth in their children’s church classroom. There are new children they learn to become friends with. We typically have a Sunday meal together following our church service, so they get to wait in line for their food and interact with the fellow members serving the food. They sit at tables with other families and eat their meal. They see examples of people serving all the time in different capacities. They themselves serve in age-appropriate ways as well. We play together, pray together, and we work together (and work through conflicts together). They are exposed to people from various cultures and generations every week.

Our local community

We have a twice-weekly library trip (most weeks). We’ve lived in our community for four years now. Over time, they have gotten to know people at our library. Just about every single library worker who works in the public eye knows each of our children individually by name and vice versa. We’ve gone to classes there for as long as we’ve lived here. My school age children have asked the workers for help finding materials; they interact with them when it’s time to check out (I rarely let them use the automated check out). My older son has taken karate classes at our local multi-generational center. We shop at local businesses and interact with people there too.

Homeschool groups

This is way down on the list, because really it isn’t a huge part of our personal “socialization experience”. The idea behind most homeschool groups is to gather like-minded homeschoolers and provide support and interaction with other homeschooled students. We have a group that took us more than a year to find, and at times have met up with them for various events. We love getting together with them, and our children have had positive experiences with the children they have met and played with. I imagine as they get older, and their interests more defined (and the desire arises to interact with others who share similar interests), that a homeschool group will prove to be invaluable. Right now, it’s just for fun. And they look forward to seeing the friends they’ve met up with in the past.

Raising Confident and Polite Homeschoolers

That may or may not sound like much, but I’ve heard many people remark on how confident and polite my children are. And this from people who are around children all the time, so in my mind, it means that much more. After all (like in my own case) one can attend public school for their entire educational journey, and still come out feeling socially awkward (yes, I did. And I think it wasn’t until I had my first job and became a member of my church that some of that awkwardness faded away). I think it all depends on how intentional parents are with their children (and of course the child’s temperament).

What do you think? Are you a homeschool parent who answers the socialization question frequently? Share your experience in a comment!

Becky is a wife of eight years and stay at home mom to three young children. She aspires to encourage women in Biblical truth on her blog, Happy Christian Home

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Attribute Linda N http://bit.ly/s9S4ZU

Helpful Hints to De-Ice Car Locks in Winter

Winter is hitting hard this year.  Why not get ahead of it?  Here are some helpful hints that could make your winters easier to de-ice car locks. 

•  Keep your headlights clear with car wax!

Just wipe ordinary car wax on your headlights. It contains special water repellents that will prevent that messy mixture from accumulating on your lights – lasts 6 weeks. I use this idea in our glass surround on the shower. Works beautifully!

• Squeak-proof your wipers with rubbing alcohol!

Wipe the wipers with a cloth saturated with rubbing alcohol or ammonia.  This one trick can make badly streaking, squeaking wipers change to near perfect silence and clear.

• Ice-proof windows with vinegar!

Frost on it’s way? Just fill a spray bottle with three parts vinegar to one part water… spray it on all your windows at night. In the morning, they’ll be clear of icy mess. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which raises the melting point of water—preventing water from freezing!

• Prevent car doors from ice freezing shut with cooking spray!

Spray cooking oil on the rubber seals around car doors and rub it in with a paper towel.  The cooking spray prevents water from melting into the rubber.

• Fog-proof inside your windshield with shaving cream!

Spray some shaving cream on the inside of your windshield and wipe off with paper towels. Shaving cream has many of the same ingredients found in commercial defoggers.

• De-ice your lock in seconds with hand sanitizer!

Just put some hand sanitizer gel on the key and the lock and the problems solved!  Of course that means you’ll have to carry the hand sanitizer in your pocket or your purse.  Remember that if it’s in your car, the lock is frozen and you can’t get to it….but you knew that!

Have anymore great ideas for winter and your car?  Leave your comments here so we can benefit!

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Haywire

Word Origin for Haywire

“…and then everything went haywire!”  

Ever hear a story with this phrase in it?  We all grow up more or less just understanding the word origin for haywire by the way it was used around us.  And it was used back in the 19th century with first recording it in 1910.  Yes, your great-great grandparents may have used it..even your mother and father!

Haywire Had Rural Beginnings

So you might use the words, confused, out of order, deranged or crazy. Yes, that would be the meaning of haywire. It originated with haywire or baling wire that farmers and ranchers used to tile bales of hay. As a bale of hay was opened with a hatchet to feed livestock, the sharp ends would spring around the farmer cutting them or snagging their clothes. Old wire left lying around also ended up around horse and livestock legs tangling them up.

How Else Could Old Wire be Used? 

Farmers could have been some of the first to have boards on Pinterest for use of haywire if Pinterest was around!  They used haywire to make temporary repairs that were often never made permanent. Yes, I get that….if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. With all the temporary fixes it gave their places a disorderly look.

Put Them All Together They Spell HAYWIRE! 

From the crazy leaping and snagging of the wire to the tangling of livestock and disorder created by haywire you can see how it contributed to the origin of the word, haywire. Next time life tangles you, trips you up and causes disorder, you can also say, “…..and then everything went haywire!”

taken from The Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins by Robert Hendrickson

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Shiny Reflection

Cloudy Mirror, No Shiny Reflection

Our family shares one bathroom. There are four of us who use it currently (hopefully the fifth- a toddler- will be an active user soon). Whenever I clean the bathroom, my first stop is the cloudy mirror. Even if I don’t have much time to do anything else, I at least take a moment and make it give a shiny reflection. Why? Because, to me, it makes the whole bathroom look much cleaner- even if other areas need attention. It’s a focal point in the room.

I’m no expert housekeeper, but I do know that in practically no time, with a husband and small children, that mirror is going to get cloudy again. Smudgy hands touch it, water splatters…stuff happens. The next thing I know, it’s time to wipe it down again. Sometimes I groan, “didn’t I just do this?” But I need to accept that it’s something that needs pretty constant attention if I want it to remain clear.

A Spiritual Mirror

In the same way, the Word of God is our spiritual mirror. When I sit down and read the words of my Savior (in the book of Matthew, for instance), and I’m straining to see myself reflected in His words, it’s a clue for me that it’s time to clean that mirror, and attend to it daily!

I have let too many things cloud up the mirror. I’ve let too many distractions come in and hinder me from seeing (and acting like) who I really am in Christ!

Can you relate?

New Year, New Chance to Shine!

As we close out this year, and start to think about the one ahead, let’s take a moment and resolve to keep those (figurative) mirrors giving a shiny reflection! This time of year, we’re starting to see a lot about New Year’s resolutions and planning our way into 2015. Let your first goal or resolution for the new year be to spend time in the Word daily. It’s easy to let the spots on the mirror accumulate making a cloudy reflection. We don’t notice we can’t even see ourselves very well any more!

As we do this, we will be better able to achieve the things God has put on our hearts to do in this coming year.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” Hebrews 12:1

Wipe off those smudges and spots, and throw the towel away! You will then see clearly to better assess the direction of the rest of your goals for the new year.

Regular “Maintenance”

If you’ve fallen out of the habit of reading your Bible daily, perhaps it’s time to look into a Bible reading plan- there are several apps available to help you achieve this goal (the one I use is Project 345 Plus on the YouVersion app), or even printable Bible reading plans (here’s a good round-up of options from a couple years ago). You may even find one hiding in your Bible! Pick the one you feel most comfortable with, and don’t let yourself feel guilty for missing a day here and there. Happy reading!

How do you remember to study your Bible daily? What positive changes have you noticed? Share your thoughts in a comment!

Becky is a wife of eight years and stay at home mom to three young children. She aspires to encourage women in Biblical truth on her blog, Happy Christian Home

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Bringing any grudges home for Christmas?

Bringing Home a Grudge for Christmas?

Families members coming

together for the Christmas

season sometimes bring more

than themselves.

Once you understand what a grudge is, you’ll see what  memories and feelings…good and bad, come with the family.

Grudges that were picked up while seeming small and harmless arrive with a vengeance.  Family members may have been taught to hold in those grudges, let them stay, but hold them in.  We’re taught to cover up those feelings but inevitably they rise to the surface.  You can’t hug a grudge and not have it noticed.  The longer you’ve nursed a grudge, the stronger it becomes.  Even a grudge’s growth is measurable.

When Grudges are small, you can pick them up and put them down.  If you hold on to them, they will only get stronger and become Resentment.  You cannot hold Resentment….Resentment holds you!  from Don’t Hug A Grudge  by Donna Perugini  written in English and Spanish

Bringing home a grudge for Christmas?

The final result of holding that Grudge and having it grow to Resentment is Bitterness.  Bitterness shows up last, and it’s root goes down deep.   Bitterness squeezes your mind with hate.  Bitterness makes you hurt others with angry words and hateful actions.  Don’t Hug A Grudge  by Donna Perugini

“Stop being mean, bad-tempered and angry.  Quarreling, harsh words, and dislike of others should have no place in your lives.  Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ.”  Ephesians 4:31-32

How Long Can You Not Forgive? 

They can walk in unforgiveness as long as they believe the lie, wanting to keep their darkened thoughts.   We all have our reasons for these actions:

They deserve my hate and disrespect!  You don’t know what they did to me…no one can understand my grief in this situation.  They always liked you best so what do you know?!  They need to see how it feels so I’m going to keep their feet to the fire on this problem.  They had no right to do that..to me or anyone else.  I have issues!

“…Watch out that no bitterness takes root among you, for as it springs up it causes deep trouble, hurting many in their spiritual lives.”  Hebrews 12:15

What Does This Have to Do With Me?  

We can put an end to our Grudges, Resentment or Bitterness before we come to the family gathering at Christmas.   There’s only one way…forgive…let it go…drop it!  When the thoughts..and they are just thoughts…begin to bring up the old offense once again, remember we’ve forgiven and can send the thought on its way.  Take every thought captive to the Word of God.   Even if you feel like nothing happened when you forgave, your emotions will learn to follow your ‘renewed mind’.  Letting your emotions rule is dangerous.  Unedited emotions change with the wind and cause great pain and destruction to you and those around you.

Forgiving as a Christian Means WHAT?

Forgiving as a Christian is applying the same principle to another that was applied to you because of what Christ Jesus did on the cross.  All your sins were forgiven without hesitation by a loving Father.

“For the whole Law can be summed up in this one command:  “Love others as you love yourself.”  Galatians 5:14

Do you think of this posting as good information for someone else?  Will you allow it to take root in your heart?  Leave your thoughts as a comment here!

About Don’t Hug a Grudge:  

Joyce Meyer (Joyce Meyer International Ministries) thought enough of this book to use it in her teaching series, “Bitterness, Resentment and Unforgiveness”  tape # 2 “Are you holding a grudge or is the grudge holding you?” 

The post Bringing Home a Grudge for Christmas? appeared first on Donna Perugini Children's Author.

Christians, Santa Claus, Jesus

Differences Among Christians

Before I was a blogger (and hence immersed in the blogosphere), I was unaware of the immense diversity in the body of Christ. I had been a part of my own church for several years- the only church that I’ve ever called “home”. Of course, there are differences among our members- no two believers are just alike. But once you see the diversity among believers displayed on the internet for all the world to see, then you truly understand the multiple facets of those of us who identify ourselves as Christians.

I discovered that there are difference among Christians. There are Christian women who are committed to wearing head coverings. Then, there are those who don’t wear head coverings as a rule, but they DO only wear skirts and dresses. On the opposite side of the spectrum, there are those who wear whatever they feel like wearing. There are some who don’t bat an eye at drinking alcoholic beverages. And there are those who wouldn’t dream of letting alcohol cross their lips. It seems like you could get dizzy with all the different convictions we hold as individual believers! That brings us to Christians, Santa Claus and Jesus.

So What About Christians, Santa Claus, Jesus?

As we are approaching Christmas (something we should all agree on, right?) I notice some embrace the story of Santa Claus, and others shun Santa. Who is right?

Personally, in our family, we don’t go out of our way to foster the legend of Santa Claus. Sure, Saint Nicholas was a real person, but we have made sure to make our children aware that the version so often portrayed in our culture is pretend. (As they get older, I think I will share more about who he actually was. After all, he was a godly example of generosity and love.)

Seeking God’s Peace

For me, the differences among Christians about Santa Claus all boils down to seeking peace. What gives you the most peace? Just like the decisions to keep one’s head covered, or to drink or not drink, it really is a personal choice that each believer must arrive at on their own.

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” Colossians 3:15

Another translation of that verse tells us to ‘let God’s peace act as an umpire in our hearts’!

Can Christians Have Unity Despite Differences?

We won’t all agree on every little thing, and I don’t know if that’s even attainable this side of Heaven. We can each approach God in faith, and accept that certain aspects of our faith will look different for each family. We can have peace about our individual convictions; no matter how distinct they might be from someone else’s conviction. As Christians (followers of Christ) we agree and receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior…a foundation of our faith. As the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:2, “for I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

As for Santa, he’s not an issue worthy of division, he’s a tradition celebrated around the world. He’s used by parents as an example as selfless giving. I believe we can unify around Jesus and hold Christmas traditions without guilt, shame or condemnation. Give each other grace during this season. Love one another as He (Jesus) has loved us!

Do you incorporate Santa Claus into your family’s Christmas tradition? How did you arrive at your choice to do so (or not)?

Becky is a wife of eight years and stay at home mom to three young children. She aspires to encourage women in Biblical truth on her blog, Happy Christian Home

The post Christians, Santa Claus, Jesus appeared first on Donna Perugini Children's Author.

Christians, Santa Claus, Jesus

Differences Among Christians

Before I was a blogger (and hence immersed in the blogosphere), I was unaware of the immense diversity in the body of Christ. I had been a part of my own church for several years- the only church that I’ve ever called “home”. Of course, there are differences among our members- no two believers are just alike. But once you see the diversity among believers displayed on the internet for all the world to see, then you truly understand the multiple facets of those of us who identify ourselves as Christians.

I discovered that there are difference among Christians.  There are Christian women who are committed to wearing head coverings. Then, there are those who don’t wear head coverings as a rule, but they DO only wear skirts and dresses. On the opposite side of the spectrum, there are those who wear whatever they feel like wearing. There are some who don’t bat an eye at drinking alcoholic beverages. And there are those who wouldn’t dream of letting alcohol cross their lips. It seems like you could get dizzy with all the different convictions we hold as individual believers! That brings us to Christians, Santa Claus and Jesus.

So What About Christians, Santa Claus, Jesus?

As we are approaching Christmas (something we should all agree on, right?) I notice some embrace the story of Santa Claus, and others shun Santa. Who is right?

Personally, in our family, we don’t go out of our way to foster the legend of Santa Claus. Sure, Saint Nicholas was a real person, but we have made sure to make our children aware that the version so often portrayed in our culture is pretend. (As they get older, I think I will share more about who he actually was. After all, he was a godly example of generosity and love.)

Seeking God’s Peace

For me, the differences among Christians about Santa Claus all boils down to seeking peace. What gives you the most peace? Just like the decisions to keep one’s head covered, or to drink or not drink, it really is a personal choice that each believer must arrive at on their own.

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” Colossians 3:15

Another translation of that verse tells us to ‘let God’s peace act as an umpire in our hearts’!

Can Christians Have Unity Despite Differences?

We won’t all agree on every little thing, and I don’t know if that’s even attainable this side of Heaven. We can each approach God in faith, and accept that certain aspects of our faith will look different for each family. We can have peace about our individual convictions; no matter how distinct they might be from someone else’s conviction. As Christians (followers of Christ) we agree and receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior…a foundation of our faith. As the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:2, “for I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

As for Santa, he’s not an issue worthy of division, he’s a tradition celebrated around the world. He’s used by parents as an example as selfless giving. I believe we can unify around Jesus and hold Christmas traditions without guilt, shame or condemnation. Give each other grace during this season. Love one another as He (Jesus) has loved us!

Do you incorporate Santa Claus into your family’s Christmas tradition? How did you arrive at your choice to do so (or not)?

Becky is a wife of eight years and stay at home mom to three young children. She aspires to encourage women in Biblical truth on her blog, Happy Christian Home

The post Christians, Santa Claus, Jesus appeared first on Donna Perugini Children's Author.

Reading to Young Children (Pre-birth to age three)

After learning I would become a mother, one of the first things I thought about was books! As an avid reader, I was eager to pass on my love of reading to my children. It seemed almost second nature to me to pick up a book and read to my babies even before their first breath of air.

Leading experts and educators support the notion that children should be read to early and often, so it’s nice to know there is evidence that something enjoyable is good for my children.

Getting Started

In the womb, babies develop their sense of hearing surprisingly early. Babies in the womb can hear anywhere from 16 weeks to 23 weeks gestation (around four or five months)!

This is a great time to intentionally read aloud to your baby. And guess what? You get to pick whatever material you like! Your audience is totally captive. Read your Bible aloud or even a magazine article. You can read fun picture books or chapter books. I enjoy reading chapter books to my unborn babies. At this early stage, they like the sound of your voice, and the natural rhythm of a story as you read can be very soothing. (Most prenatal experts will tell you they can’t hear super clearly anyway). Pick a time when your baby is active, that way you know they’re awake!

Zero to Six Months

During this period, you may be too tired to think about extra things like reading to your baby, but it can be a good experience for them and you. I never really think to do it until I can prop them up on my lap once they get good control over their wobbling head!

Pay attention to baby’s behavioral states and pick a time to read when they seem most alert. Dr William Sears, well-known pediatrician and author of over 30 childcare books calls this optimal time, “quiet alertness”. Baby’s “eyes are bright, open, attentive; limbs are relatively quiet. Baby appears to be contemplating the environment.” His tips for holding baby’s visual attention include:

“Sit or hold baby upright.
Wait for baby to be in the quiet alert state.
Keep object or face around ten inches from baby’s face.
Use animated facial gestures (wide open mouth and eyes) while speaking in a slow, rhythmic, exaggerated tone.”

These tips aren’t specific to reading, but they are helpful to engaging baby’s interest in books at this age!

You’ll probably want to stick to short, colorful board books that rhyme and have a fun rhythm.

Six to 18 Months

Along the lines of Dr. Sears’ recommendations, time your book-reading to when your baby or toddler is well rested and has had a snack. Get into reading to your child with fun voices, and let them point to the pictures that capture their attention. Don’t try to rush, and don’t expect to read through a book as you would to an older child.

For this age, I like choosing books that have simple (but realistic) pictures of animals or objects, and names of what’s in the picture. Of course, now is a good time to introduce shorter, classic picture books too! Lots of classics are available in board book format- perfect for little ones who can be a tad rough with books.

18 months to Three Years

My, what a fun stage! Your little one is probably extremely active by now, and interested in so many things besides cuddling on your lap with a good book. There’s a whole world to explore!

My youngest son (now two and a half), goes in spurts where he loves being read to, and times when he shows almost no interest at all. We usually visit our library twice a week, so he is getting exposure to books of all kinds, and his older siblings are always bringing something home. Sometimes, I’ll show him a book and say, “do you want to bring this home?” and the book is flat out rejected! If it’s something I really think he’ll enjoy, I stash it in our stroller anyway and bring it home. At times, he will grab a book from a low display at the library and ask me to read it to him, so I do that while the big kids are occupied with something else.

At home, the best time for me to read to my toddler is when he seems bored (like when he starts “getting into everything” and nothing else holds his attention). I’ll grab a favorite book, and say, “come and sit with me! Let’s read!” and usually, he’s willing to come and sit for a while. He likes turning pages now, and pretending to read on his own after the story is finished.

This is the time when tots are likely to request the same book over and over and over again. It may drive you batty, but it’s actually good for them!

Give Yourself Grace!

Your goal in reading to your little ones shouldn’t be to teach them to read, but as you do, it will make it easier for them to learn! Relax, have fun and do your best to create a routine and an atmosphere for reading. Some days, I don’t read to my children at all! Life happens, so give yourself some grace, and try again if you’ve gotten out of the habit.

Follow me on Pinterest to get some ideas for books to read!

Do you read to your young children? What tips would you give to those who want to get started?

Becky is a wife of eight years and stay at home mom to three young children. She aspires to encourage women in Biblical truth on her blog, Happy Christian Home

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Homeschooling as a Beginner: 

Last week at the library, my children were playing when another mother struck up a conversation with me. “Do you homeschool?” It was earlier in the day, and my kids are seven, five and two. At least the seven-year old would normally be in school and maybe the five year old, so that may have prompted her question. I confirmed yes, we do homeschool. She began to compliment their demeanor and their ease of interacting with her and shared that she figured they were homeschoolers because of this trait. Of course, I beamed, because I feel this is an unexpected benefit of homeschooling (contrary to the common “awkward homeschooler” stereotype).

Homeschooling is becoming increasingly popular, and has had a big upswing since the late 1990’s. From various websites, I determined anywhere from 3-4% of students in the United States are homeschooled (somewhere in the neighborhood of 1.5 million children!) Lots of parents are deciding to homeschool these days for various reasons. So why did we decide to homeschool?

Why We Started Homeschooling

When my now seven year old began to learn his letters, numbers, shapes and colors at the seemingly early age of two, followed by reading fluently at three and a half, I knew conventional schooling might not be the best fit for us. Two and a half years later, my daughter had developed almost exactly in the same manner as my son had. We have always tried to create a learning-rich environment in our home, but never quite knew where that would lead for our children. We weren’t pushing them to learn and be “brainy babies” by any means, but they definitely thrived and made us realize we shouldn’t put our children in a box as far as educational development was concerned.

For us, because they had already proven learning at home was advantageous to them, we decided intentional homeschooling would be a natural extension of our home environment and parenting. It made sense. We could tailor their education to suit their specific needs.

Other factors for us include our desire to help our children grow strong in their faith (not saying you can’t do that with children in conventional school by any means, it was just a personal choice for us). Also, we have quite a few food allergies and sensitivities to deal with, so concerns about health and safety were certainly major factors in our decision.

How We Started Our Homeschooling Journey

When my son got close to the age he would start kindergarten, I began to look into our state’s homeschooling laws. (I think I “Googled” our state + homeschooling, and came across a very helpful and informative site specific to our state). I learned I basically had to do nothing until he turned six (he was five at the time), so we started “doing kindergarten” the fall after he turned five. He turned six the following spring, so I filed an affidavit of intent to homeschool with our county (a really simple process, as I just had to download the form off this website, and fill in his basic information and mailed it in with a copy of his birth certificate). It was sent back to me surprisingly fast with a letter wishing us well on our homeschool journey. (Thankfully, our state is very friendly to homeschoolers). Be sure to check the laws and guidelines for your state before you get started, as they can vary widely.

Our Homeschooling Space

If you search Pinterest for “homeschool spaces” you’re bound to come across some stunning set-ups. You probably won’t find our space anywhere on Pinterest though! We don’t have a dedicated “homeschool room” or even desks for the children, since we live in a tiny apartment and space is at a premium. Our formal instructional time happens around the kitchen table, our family computer, the living room, and even the kids’ bedroom! We have shelving in our dining room to stash our notebooks, workbooks, and other “educational materials” in a semi-organized manner (we have an extremely busy and very curious two year old in the house, so organization is not always easy to maintain!) We have some preschool/kindergarten level posters on the wall in the dining room and a giant map of the world in our living room.

Homeschooling environments can take many shapes and forms, and you have to find what you’re comfortable with and what works for your space and family. I think it’s unfair to yourself to expect that a room in your home will need to resemble an elementary school classroom in order for you to be successful. If you have the extra room and the time and money to do it, though, and it makes you happy and gives you more confidence and peace, then by all means, create that space for your children, but it certainly isn’t necessary (in my humble opinion)! Some parents even take their school time outdoors!

Our “Average” Homeschooling Day With Little Ones Around

I really haven’t figured out what this looks like yet! When we started, we had a newborn in the house. He napped frequently, so during one of his many naps, we would have our “school time”. At first, we didn’t have a set curriculum or homeschooling philosophy we were following, so many of our lessons were pieced together from various sources. (For a sampling, you can see my Homeschooling Ideas and Resources Pinterest board).

As the baby grew, our approach had to change. I still tried to time our lessons to be during his naps (or before he woke up if he slept late), but since he ultimately dropped down to one nap a day, and sometimes nap time would need to be used for other things, I had to figure out how to keep him busy during our lesson. Different activities worked for us, including having him at the table with us with a snack, setting up a special cubby of toys for him to explore, and (I’m being candid here) letting him watch television (though this tended to distract the older kids more than anything). Sometimes, though, we would have to space out what we wanted to cover over the course of the day. (Interruptions happen!)

Now, I’m expecting our fourth child. As happened in previous pregnancies, the first trimester was quite difficult for me. I put our “formal homeschooling” on hold for a bit so I could take care of myself physically. This year, we are using the Charlotte Mason Method (Simply Charlotte Mason has been the best fit for us so far). I love how it is such a broad “curriculum” and includes a lot of classic literature, music studies, art studies, hymn studies as well as Scripture memorization. And it is fairly easy to track down books at the library, thus appealing to my frugal nature! Simply Charlotte Mason has a “light schedule” for those times when you really need it, and that’s what we’re doing right now. Our children are enjoying the exposure to different areas (even the ones that may seem like they’d be over young children’s heads).

What About Interest-Led Approach in Homeschooling?

It can be a challenge to juggle homeschooling with older children and having a baby or toddler in the house (or a wee one in the womb), but it’s only for a season and I honestly haven’t seen the older children suffer from not having my full educational input constantly. There have been times when we’ve taken more of an “unschooling” approach (an interest-led approach to learning) and really, children are always learning something valuable, it just may not look the same as classroom learning or be in line with any specific guidelines or philosophy. I’ve had my older children working on workbooks while I’m making dinner without any prompting from anyone. They just wanted to! We’ve also done more computer-based learning when the littlest one has required more of my attention. You really do need to think outside the box sometimes and let some expectations go when you are educating your littles (unless you thrive on stress- ha)!

Homeschooling Outside the Home

Our first year of homeschooling was mostly spent keeping to ourselves and trying to figure out what worked for us. We had many outings to the library and the natural history museum, and pretty much the only play dates we had were with family. We just had fun at home and didn’t stress about making friends or getting involved with co-ops or other groups. In first grade though, I felt a need to connect with other homeschoolers in our area. It was for me as much as for the children! I needed support. It took us a while to find a group we were comfortable with, but when we did, we began to really enjoy the outings and meet-ups. I was concerned about my son getting enough social interaction, as he seemed to need more than I needed personally (introvert here). But I noticed when I provided the opportunities to meet other children, he didn’t necessarily connect with them. A lot of times, it was during outings when there was much to see and do, so I finally limited our meet-ups with other homeschoolers to relaxed environments where the grown-ups could chat and the kids could play and get to know each other. We’ve connected with other families through a group on Facebook, Meetup.com, and even met one local family through a Charlotte Mason forum! You know what, though? Their best friends are still ones they have made at church!

Joining a Homeschooling Co-op

As far as co-ops are concerned (where different parents facilitate various subjects and rotate responsibilities), we have yet to need one. I suppose as the children progress and begin to need more advanced input for their areas of study that will be something we may pursue (or if we begin to follow a different philosophy). Many parents do take advantage of local homeschool co-ops to ease their load and also to contribute if they have an area of expertise.

Lately, we’ve been enjoying programs at the library designed for elementary ages (our library is excellent about creating fun educational opportunities for school age children), as well as programs designed for the younger ones. They meet other children in their age group, and really enjoy interacting with the adults who facilitate the programs. I like the fact that we are involved in our community programs so we can build relationships near us- many of the homeschool events took place 20-30 minutes away or more. Our library is right in our own neighborhood.

Scouting the Internet for Homeschooling Ideas

If you are considering homeschooling, scour the internet for ideas. Something you will notice is every homeschool is different! Yours will not look like mine and vice versa, and you certainly shouldn’t expect it to look like the glamor you see on Pinterest (though, who knows? It might). There are as many different awesome ways to homeschool as there are families!

More thoughts on homeschooling:

Free K-3 Homeschool Resources

More Reasons to Homeschool

Our First Year of Homeschooling

Have you considered homeschooling? Is anything holding you back from settling on a decision? Let’s have a discussion!

Becky is a wife of eight years and stay at home mom to three young children. She aspires to encourage women in Biblical truth on her blog, Happy Christian Home

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Veterans We Thank You

Veterans, We Thank You!

Our family has served in the military for quite a few generations.  My father, two uncles, my brothers, the elder brother’s son and daughter, and our two sons.  We have so much to be thankful for but foremost is my father, Don ‘Tommy’ Thomas.

When he first entered the Navy in WWII, he was sent to the USS Wasp CV7.  The USS Wasp was sunk and he was one of many that were treading water.  The Navy then put him on the USS Kalinin Bay which was sunk three months after he had been on the sunken USS Wasp.  He was one of the blessed that made it out of each sinking and out of WWII.

I’m thankful for his courage, helping a fellow sailor stay afloat until help came.  He was pretty matter of fact about how he saved the sailor.  He described sharks coming in and bumping against his legs while he held the man’s head above water.  He described being on the ships as the kamikaze pilots did their death dive into them.

I’m sure if you had a parent in WWII, you heard about some of the harrowing circumstances they found themselves up against.  But we really have no real comprehension unless we were ‘walking in their shoes’.  We grew up not understanding how much they gave up for our nation.  The day comes as we also get older and our appreciation for their service is increased.

Family Tradition of Military Service

Our sons were Army and Navy, with the Navy son going on to become a Navy Chief and the Army son a Captain.  We’re so proud of them!

Veterans, we thank you! Rich Killingsworth (with Cathy his wife)

Our nation has been guarded and built on the lives of many veterans.  One day a year is not enough to really thank them.  I’m so glad businesses have come to believe that honoring and respecting them all year long is worth it.  Airlines call out for them to board before first class, restaurants hold special days to honor them with free meals, and so much more.  Make it a habit to go up to the uniformed military and thank them.  Teach your children to honor and respect them.  They’re doing the hard work for us.  If you’re a business, hire them when they come home and need a job.  Pray for them…you’ll never run out of someone to pray for!  There will always be our military serving, guarding and laying their lives down for us.

Do you have veterans in your family?  Thank them often….. pray for those still serving.

Veterans, We Thank You! Michael Perugini

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Celebrate Lost Baby Teeth & Becoming a Big Kid

Isn’t it exciting to watch your children grow up? To experience all those little milestones (and the big ones too). For me, one milestone in particular seems to mark the end of  “babyhood” and the beginning of being a “big kid”…. lost teeth.

When I was growing up, as soon as my tooth would start to wiggle, I’d anticipate a visit from the tooth fairy. I’d put my lost tooth under my pillow, and the tooth fairy would come and leave a surprise for me (usually in the form of cash).

Evidently, this is pretty much the norm for kids in North America (and many other English-speaking regions).

Considering Alternatives to the Tooth Fairy

As a Christian parent (and one who is relatively new to the Body of Christ), I wondered if I should maintain this tradition with my own children. The thought of perpetuating stories of fairies and make-believe and not being forthright with my children certainly gave me pause.

Unfortunately, the story of the tooth fairy is all over children’s programming and our culture in general, so it’s really tricky to navigate when you’ve made a decision to go a different route. My son knew all about the tooth fairy before he even had a loose tooth!

Alternative Fun for a Milestone

Once his first tooth became loose, we got a book from the library called Throw Your Tooth on the Roof that showed how other cultures commemorate lost baby teeth. I thought it would be easier to opt out of the tooth fairy story by showing him that there are other things that people do elsewhere in the world. I had no idea there were so many different customs around the globe! Most of the traditions are based in folklore of some kind or another, but a few are not. Some seemed really funny to us (like a certain Native American tribe feeding their tooth to a dog), and some were very practical (like the Costa Ricans who plate their teeth with gold and wear them as earrings).

When the first few teeth were lost, admittedly, it was pretty uneventful around our house. We took pictures and were excited, though I did notice a bit of disappointment from him that he wouldn’t be finding money under his pillow left by a fairy. I didn’t see any reason why he shouldn’t have a little fun after losing a tooth. So when my son’s first top tooth fell out, I came up with a unique idea for a family tradition: a scavenger hunt.

On the night that he lost his tooth, we placed it on his nightstand. I came to collect his newly shed tooth after he fell asleep, and put it in a jar to save it (why? I don’t know, but I can’t be the only “weirdo” who saves their children’s teeth…am I?) Next, I prepared a small, monetary gift and sealed it in an envelope. Using notebook paper, I wrote up little rhyming clues about where he would find the next clue (if your child isn’t a fluent reader yet, you might choose to draw or print pictures as clues). I hid the small envelope on our counter top inside a container, and waited for him to figure out the clues.

It was only three clues, so it didn’t take him too long to discover his prize, but when he found it, he was pretty excited. And I was a happy mama. My daughter even asked if we could do a scavenger hunt when she loses her teeth!

I asked my little guy what he enjoyed about doing the scavenger hunt, and his reply was, “the quarters!” Then, I wanted to know what he thought he might do with his potential future children. He said, “{I would} give them a scavenger hunt so they can find some quarters…I mean pennies.” Perhaps I was too generous!

Is your family also in the tradition-breaking minority? Share how you have made this milestone fun in your house!

Becky is a wife of eight years and stay at home mom to three young children. She aspires to encourage women in Biblical truth on her blog, Happy Christian Home

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Are you being flexible for God?

Do You Have Trouble Being Flexible for God?

Recently, I got wind of the fact that a new version of a certain favorite Christian children’s show would be debuting soon (VeggieTales in the House, coming in November as a Netflix Original, in case you’re wondering). They had updated the look of the characters, and I was so surprised at the reception the show’s producers were getting on social media.

People were being very negative and snarky, and some even claimed their childhoods were now ruined. Some said their children would definitely not be watching because of the new look.

Curious, I asked my two older children to take a look. They were both excited. Even more excited when I told them they would have lots of new episodes to watch. Somehow, I don’t think my children are the exception in this respect. Most of the negative comments had come from parents, and I suspect they projected their reaction onto their children- though I could be wrong.

Examine Yourself

Lest you think I sit at my computer and judge strangers, I will say I recognized myself in some of the comments. I am definitely not the world’s most flexible person. Sure, I seem easy-going on the surface; but when life, or my church, or my husband, or the drive thru worker throws me a doozy, well…let’s just say I don’t always respond in the most mature way.

God Calls Us to Flexibility

All talk of Veggies aside, it pains me to say (because I’m talking to myself too) that as Christians, I believe God is calling us to a higher level of flexibility. Whether it’s a change to a beloved children’s program, a new direction for an event at church, or a visitor at church sitting in “your seat” {gasp!}, we need to roll with the punches and accept the inevitable: life changes! And we need to keep up- and even have a smile while we do it!

Overcoming Inflexibility

Do you need help in this area too? Here are a few ways that have helped me to begin to overcome inflexibility in life:

1. Decide ahead of time to have a “yes” attitude. Cross that bridge before you get there. It’s okay in this situation! Determine to not be the “stick in the mud” who holds back progress (been there, done that!)

2. Look on the bright side. Commit Philippians 4:8 to your memory: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Whenever the temptation to resist change comes up, remind yourself of this Scripture! Search for something good in the situation rather than letting yourself dwell on the parts you don’t like.

3. Allow God to help you grow through the experience. If nothing else, you may be able to gain some patience from happily enduring the situation! James 1:2-3 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” Most everyone can benefit from some extra patience!

I believe our lights will shine brighter when we learn to embrace change. When we determine to stop being a wet blanket, God can use our light to draw more people into the Body of Christ!

Becky is a wife of eight years and stay at home mom to three young children. She aspires to encourage women in Biblical truth on her blog, Happy Christian Home

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Pastor Appreciation for the Month of October credit www.MinistrytoChildren.com

Pastor Appreciation Month is October

We’re talking about a lifetime of giving and how you can show your appreciation.  We have a whole month to give a card, an offering, tickets to their favorite football game, etc.  You can find many ideas on my Pinterest board under Children’s Ministry.  If none of the ideas hit home with you, how about encouraging words, hand written note, cake, pie, etc.  What we’re talking about is ‘appreciation’ and communicating that to your pastor.

Why Encourage Your Pastor?

Your pastor is a living, breathing human being.  We all need encouragement, a cheering on as we run the good race.  Your pastor has invested in your through prayer, time spent with you, teaching, ministering, taking your calls on his day off (if your pastor gets a day off).  This is not being written to guilt you out, but to remind you of a hero of the faith in your midst. A man or woman we call, our pastor.  Husband and wife pastor teams have marriages that need time to keep their marriage enriched.  They need time to raise their kids, nurture them and teach them what a good marriage is. Encourage your pastor (s) with your words, your gifts, your actions.  Send them on a vacation your church has paid for and have ‘we love you’ baskets sitting in their room when they arrive.

Have You Been Praying for Your Pastor?

Sometimes we think the pastor is problem free, hearing from God, making the right decisions, and never in need of wisdom.  Sounds like superman doesn’t it?  “Pray for those in authority”, Paul says.  Your pastor is coveting your prayers.  He desires to make the right decisions and follow the Voice of God.  Help them out and pray for them. “The fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Share Your Ideas in the Comments for Pastor Appreciation Month

The month of October can be stretched to year round.  Why contain Pastor Appreciation to one month?  Be thankful that God gave you a shepherd.  They feed the flock, guard, guide and lead you to new pasture.  Only the best is for God’s sheep!

The post October Pastor Appreciation Month appeared first on Donna Perugini Children's Author.

I’d like to introduce Becky Hubbard to you.  She’s been behind quite a few of the posts lately.  See her bio at the bottom of this post.  Becky has been involved in her church’s Children’s Ministry.  Her husband is in the music ministry.  She and her husband have three beautiful children. Like her style?  You can find more from Becky at her blog, HappyChristianHome .

 Hosting a Community Baby Shower

A couple of weeks ago, I talked about ways to serve expectant mamas on an individual basis. But what about outreach on a larger scale? Whether you have a small ministry, or a larger church, you can do something to reach out to expectant women in your community!

The Vision for Serving Expectant Moms

As I shared before, pregnancy is a prime opportunity to reach out with the message of the Gospel; to come alongside a single mama-to-be or a young couple and let them know you care, and that Jesus cares. Especially in today’s economy, this type of outreach is something that can positively impact people. It definitely is an opportunity to help people feel a little more prepared to face this huge change in their lives.

Where to Begin for Hosting a Community Baby Shower

Start way in advance! At least six months to a year. Set some goals for your church (like how many women you would like to reach) and set a tentative date for the event. Start reaching out to local businesses about sponsoring the event (many stores have a budget set aside for community involvement- and most require that you submit a letter well ahead of the date of your event to request donations). Most places are great about donating gift cards (for you to purchase supplies) and requested items.

Get the Word Out to the Congregation

Let your congregation members know what you are planning. Hosting a community baby shower is a pretty big deal. Ask for them to bring in diapers and other items that you plan to give away. Even set up a special collection station in a prominent location. Recruit volunteers to solicit donations from some of the stores as well. Also, people usually have baby items they no longer need. If in good condition, these can be included in your outreach. Depending on your church size, you may want a volunteer just to organize the items that come in. Think about the size of the event you are planning, and recruit volunteers for planning as well as for the day of the outreach.

Get the Word out to Expectant Mothers

Create flyers, and use social media to advertise as well as any other methods you normally use. You may want to consider setting a limit and asking moms to pre-register to keep things nice and orderly!

What You Can Do

Here are just some ideas to get you started. Pray and think outside the box to build on these ideas or come up with others that work better for your hosting a community baby shower.

• Serve food to the mothers (think brunch-type food, bagels, pastries, juice and milk, etc).
• Have a (brief) time of encouragement with a special message to the mothers
• Invite vendors to come that would be of interest to new/expectant mothers (think local boutiques, pediatricians, local fire department- if you charge for their space, you can use the funds to acquire more items to give away).
• Each mother would ideally receive one larger item like a car seat (new of course), a swing, or a baby carrier. Also, a pack or two of diapers, wipes, a diaper bag, some baby wash, etc.
• Moms can register with the gender of the child (if they know it) and you can tailor their gifts even more specifically.
• You may be able to acquire a larger, more expensive item (like a crib with a mattress). You can have a drawing for a mother to win it.
• If you have acquired gently used clothing, toys and other baby items, you can have mothers browse and pick out things they might need or want. Set a limit of five or ten items so there is plenty to go around. You can issue tickets that moms can redeem for these items.
• Baby food and formula is another possible item to include in the giveaway.

As you can see, the possibilities are just about endless. You can do grand, or you can do smaller scale. Whatever is in your ability to do, God will bless it, whether you help 20 moms or 200 moms.

Has your church done a similar outreach in the past? Tell me about it in a comment! The more ideas, the merrier!

Becky is a wife of eight years and stay at home mom to three young children. She aspires to encourage women in Biblical truth on her blog, Happy Christian Home.

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Five Ways to Serve the Expectant Moms

For a long while now, I’ve felt called to serve to women- especially expectant and new moms. Having been through it, I know that growing a person can be exciting, scary, fun, uncertain (and many other adjectives). Life as you know it is completely changing, and if that is not a time to come alongside someone and reach out either in spirit or in person, I don’t know what is.

New Moms to Be and Reaching Out on an Individual Basis

The church I’m a member of is a growing ministry, and so it goes in churches like ours, we are only able to focus on a handful of areas. Fairly recently, we were able to do an event where we reached out to expecting and new mothers in our community, and that’s definitely a start. But what about the rest of the time? How can you show your care and concern for new moms-to-be on an individual basis?

1. Pray for them! A while back, I started a section in my journal with names of expectant mamas, when they are due and any other information I might know about them. (Like what gender they’re expecting, or any specific concerns they have shared). I pray for them fairly regularly, and update when the new baby comes and jot down their birthday and birth stats. I love going back over old entries and seeing how God has been faithful to answer prayers for a baby to turn (to avoid a C-Section), or how He healed a particular ailment in mom or baby.

2. Bring them food! I know we usually focus on when a new baby is born to bring meals to the family, but those early weeks of pregnancy can be rough on a mom! Maybe plan to bring a casserole a few times soon after the mom announces her pregnancy, and then again after the new baby comes. Round up some other women in your church to help you!

3. Offer to care for her older children. A trip to the park for an hour or so can afford an expectant mama an opportunity to take a nap or a long soak in the tub, or even a chance to get to her prenatal appointment.

4. Take her to lunch. Nourishment is a major theme for mamas-to-be! This also gives her a chance to talk about the pregnancy if she wants to, or share any specific concerns she may have (see point number one).

5. Host a baby shower for her. If her extended family is involved in the church, you might not need to, but if you don’t know her family, you may want to see if she is having one. Even if it is a small get-together with the ladies in the church, it is still a nice gesture. Find out if she needs anything. She may not even need much, everybody appreciates extra diapers, and a mini-celebration of the new baby coming into the world. And food (did I mention that food is important?)

It doesn’t have to be difficult to care for a mom-to-be! A simple, heartfelt, “how are you doing?” can make a woman feel loved and noticed.

How have you ministered to expectant mamas? What was their reaction?

Becky is a wife of eight years and stay at home mom to three young children. She aspires to encourage women in Biblical truth on her blog, Happy Christian Home.

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Graham Crackers invented by Reverend Sylvester Graham

We Want Graham Crackers!

When I was a child, Graham Crackers were the staple food of children, used by mothers to treat, bribe and stuff their young ones.  Graham Crackers were invented by Presbyterian Minister, Sylvester Graham in 1974-1851.  Reverend Graham became a temperance advocate (no alcohol) and traveled extensively to lecture on ‘demon rum’.  He also invented a vegetable diet that he believed would cure those suffering from the evils of drink.  He soon extended his mission to include changing America’s sinful eating habits.  Meats and fats, he said, led to sexual excesses and mustard and catsup could cause insanity.

Was Graham…Crackers?

Although he stepped over the cliff on the meats, fats, mustard and catsup ideas, he did give some advice that is affirmed by modern science today.  Graham urged the substitution of homemade unsifted whole wheat flour  for white bread and most of his regimen included vegetables and fruits in the diet.  He promoted fresh air while sleeping, moderate eating and exercise.

What Will You Be Remembered For?

His memorials are the Graham flour, Graham bread and Graham crackers that his followers ate and dedicated to him.  Sounds a lot better than ‘drinking the Kool-aid’ for which Jim Jones was memorialized in history and our vocabulary.

Wonder what he would say about Smores…..toasted marshmallows with melting chocolate bar on graham crackers?

Another moment in history from The Henry Holt Enecyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins by Robert Hendrickson

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who should serve in children’s ministry?

Who Should Serve in Children’s Ministry?

Ah…the age old question:  Who should we recruit for children’s church?  When asked who should serve in children’s ministry, some say young mothers should absolutely be required to volunteer in children’s ministry (though I would question if that’s truly in the spirit of volunteering..but more on that later).  Some say older women are better suited for serving the youngest ones in the ministry.  I’ll be looking at both sides (and some in-between).  See if you agree!

Should Young Mothers Serve in the Nursery?

They’re the ones who fill up the children’s ministry. Am I right? Or am I right? I have often quipped to people who make remarks about our family when I’m pregnant, “I’m building the Church!” I am, right? Isn’t that enough? Of course, I jest.

Personally, I don’t mind serving in children’s ministry- most of the time. I served for years before I even knew I wanted children of my own! I like younger people. I love their candor, and their sincerity in worship (or not- there are ones that let you know flat out that they just aren’t “feeling it” and would rather play with toys- I love that, too).

But if you make me…just because I have kids? There are seasons when I’ve had to step back. (I’m in one of those right now! Still serving, just not in a major role.) Life gets too all-consuming on the home-front. I might not have time to spend in the Word of God on a daily basis, let alone, time preparing a lesson and activities for a weekly class. Mamas can get burnt out. They don’t have a lot leftover sometimes. Take this on a case-by-case basis. Mothers with very young children can be susceptible to post-partum depression, extreme sleep-deprivation, or both (among other things). Yes, even Christian women! Yes, even women of faith! Check in with the young moms in your ministry. See how they’re doing. Then, talk to them about their availability. But don’t assume.

What About Mature Women Serving in the Nursery?

Who should serve in children’s ministry?  That sweet grandma sitting in the pew? Why, she’s a perfect candidate for children’s ministry! We need a baby-rocker…like yesterday! We’ve got infants coming out of our ears over here! Wait. What on earth do you mean, she doesn’t want to serve in children’s church?!

Again, same point as above: don’t assume. As a children’s ministry leader, I’ve had to approach many people to recruit volunteers for children’s church. I’ve been flat-out rejected many times. There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking people who you might think would be a good fit (many times people won’t serve until they’re asked directly- strange phenomenon!) But don’t be surprised when that person you think is a “shoe-in” just looks at you and says “uh-uh”. Not all grandmas like rocking babies. I’ve heard women say, “I’ve raised my kids. I’m done.” I’m not mad at you (er…them!) Some women just feel called to a different area of ministry. You never know what’s going on in someone’s heart or mind or life. Maybe they just don’t have the grace to serve children. I don’t have the grace to do a lot of things in ministry- so why should anyone else be different?

We’re Not Like Smurfs!

We need to not stereotype people and put people in boxes. We are not Smurfs! (Oh my, did I just use a Smurf analogy in a post about the Church? Sure did. Let’s not get hung up on that, okay?)

From Wikipedia: “Papa Smurf is the leader of the community. Other Smurfs are generally named after their personality disposition, for example, Brainy, Greedy, Vanity, Lazy, Clumsy, Hefty, Jokey, Dreamy, Grouchy, or their profession, for example, Poet, Actor, Handy, Harmony, Farmer, Clockwork, Painter, Tailor, Miner, Architect, Reporter, Timber, Barber and Doctor Smurf.”

If you’ve never watched, or don’t remember the Smurfs, Grouchy is a grouch. Jokey Smurf…well, he tells jokes. All. The. Time. He’s notorious for playing pranks on his fellow Smurfs. Vanity? He’s the one who is never seen without his hand-held mirror. My point is, we are not only shaped for one thing. We are multifaceted individuals, made in the image of God. Don’t assume that because a person has children, they want to be with children even more. Don’t assume that the kindly woman would love nothing more than to gently wipe a toddler’s nose and softly sing praise music in their ear while they drift off to sleep. Sure, those people exist in the ministry. But not everyone fits in that box!

Who Should Serve in Children’s Ministry?

Everyone! Young, old and everyone in between. Female and male! That young, quiet, unmarried woman? Yes. That woman in the “in between” years who still has older teens at home? Yes. That young dad? Yep, him too! Even youth and older tweens can assist in some ways. And think outside the schedule: come up with ways people in your congregation can serve in children’s church without actually being in a class. That can always relieve some of the burden too. And again, don’t be afraid to approach someone who might seem unlikely. There might be a new member who keeps to herself at first, and you might discover that she ran the children’s ministry in her previous church for 20 years! You just never know what gifting and experience may lie in an individual. If you lead the children’s ministry, here are some ways you can show support to children’s ministry workers and make it more inviting.

What do you think? Did I miss anyone?

Becky is a wife of eight years and stay at home mom to three young children. She aspires to encourage women in Biblical truth on her blog, Happy Christian Home.

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Five Ways to Support Children’s Church Volunteers

If you are a children’s ministry leader, one of your top concerns is probably “how do I keep volunteers around?” or some variation of that question.

I think, as leaders, we tend to get in our “zone” and forget about the needs of the big people in children’s ministry. Or maybe that’s just me! We want everything to be perfect for the little ones, but are baffled when the big ones start going missing or just seem to be having a hard time.

What Kind of Adjustments Can I Make to Help Support and Keep Children’s Church Volunteers?

Making a few adjustments as a leader can go a long way in helping your volunteers feel supported and valued for the work they are doing (really, you could use these tips in any ministry, but we’ll just stay focused on children’s ministry for the sake of keeping it simple!)

1. Have a vision.   Write it down! Communicate it clearly to those who are serving alongside you. Make sure the vision is compatible with the vision for the church in general. Perhaps set up a meeting with the pastor to run some ideas by him and to receive any thoughts he has for the children in the congregation. Sometimes people get bogged down in the childcare aspect of children’s church (and certainly, that is a large part of it, but you should have a bigger picture in mind when you step into your classroom!)

2. Value their time. If you must have a meeting, be prepared and keep it as brief as possible. Many workers have young children of their own, and so can’t stay after for very long. If you have someone who has extra concerns, take them aside after the meeting so that they can express their issues to you. Make notes ahead of time of what you will cover in the meeting, and try not to stray too far from that agenda.

3. Make a schedule. First, ask for everyone’s availability- and work within those parameters as much as you possibly can! If someone says they are only available for one service a month, respect that. If you absolutely need that volunteer more than that, talk to that person privately and ask them if they could possibly do more, but don’t mandate a particular level of commitment- especially if they’ve already stated their availability. They might be serving in another area of ministry too, so keep in mind you may need to coordinate with other leaders to work out a schedule for some volunteers. Do find what works for your ministry. Maybe someone would like to work every Sunday morning, or maybe you should alternate workers for a particular time slot. If you have a special service every month, try not to put that same volunteer on the schedule every month during that time. Depending on how many services you have per week, you might want to require your volunteers to sit in one service a week. Workers can get burnt out pretty fast when they are not receiving in “big people church” on a regular basis- even if they are “gung-ho” about serving in children’s ministry!

4. Show appreciation. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, but even picking up a $1 box of candy at the store, or swinging by a drive-thru for a cup of coffee on a hectic Sunday morning to give to a volunteer can boost morale. A hand-written card with sincere words of appreciation is meaningful as well. If you have a volunteer who is going over and above, maybe get permission to honor them during a service. A bouquet of flowers, or a bunch of fun balloons and a gift card (people usually love gift cards to certain coffee shops that shall go unnamed!) can really make someone’s day! Maybe even plan to do that once a quarter. Your thoughtfulness as a leader is so important- especially in an area of ministry that has the tendency to be unpopular!

5. Make it fun. You’re serving children! If the workers aren’t having fun, it definitely shows! Ask yourself and the volunteers how you can have more fun and create more energy in your children’s ministry. You could plan a quarterly pizza party or an ice cream social with your team and their families. That sort of thing unites the team and makes people feel like part of a bigger picture.

Other Ways to Support Children’s Church Volunteers

There are many other ways to show your support for volunteers in children’s ministry. The most important thing is to pray and stay alert for God’s leading in this area. You are not only caring for the hearts of the children, but also the hearts of the grown-ups caring for the children!

What tips can you add to this list?

Becky is a wife of eight years and stay at home mom to three young children. She aspires to encourage women in Biblical truth on her blog, Happy Christian Home.

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Nurturing Seeds of Faith Photo Credit Ingrid Miranda M. Flickr

Nurturing Seeds of Faith 

Sitting in church today led to an exciting revelation for me.  The teaching through Bob Wheeler, in a nut shell, was about unbelief vs faith and not giving up on the seed.  We went to Mark 4 where seed is described in four different soils.  We read Isaiah 55:11 where God says His Word will not return to Him void.  Then we heard about Abraham and Sarah, Mary the mother of Jesus and Elizabeth and Zachariah.

Mary Receives the Word and Goes to See Elizabeth

The point was brought out that Mary received the Word of God spoken to her and her confession of faith was, “be it done unto me according to thy word.” Luke 1:34-38   After receiving that Word into her life, Mary immediately went to see Elizabeth.

This is What God Spoke to My Spirit

Here’s where the revelation came to me:  Elizabeth was already pregnant 6 months with John the Baptist when Mary came to stay with her for three months.  Zachariah had been through his own response to the Word that the angel Gabriel brought from the throne of God  Luke 1:18.  Zachariah was a priest in the temple.  He and his wife, Elizabeth had been childless and were well into their years.  Zachariah heard Gabriel tell him he and his wife would have a child and should call him John.  Gabriel brought a very long involved Word from the throne of God.  Luke 1: 13-17 and Luke 1:19-20.  Zachariah doubted it was possible, spoke out his unbelief and was struck dumb until after the child was born.  At baby John’s circumcision ceremony, it was asked of Zachariah, “What will you call him?”  At this point Zachariah wrote on a tablet  in faith for the first time since being silenced…”We will call him John” …according to the Word that was given to him.  He then was able to speak and began speaking out what his son would do according to what Gabriel told him. Jump to Mary coming to visit Elizabeth during her own first three months and Elizabeth’s last three months.  Luke 1:26.  Think about this:  God preordained that Elizabeth would be pregnant before Mary.

Elizabeth Nurtured Mary’s Seed Planted by Faith

Elizabeth was mentoring Mary for that first three months she was vulnerable.  Mary was in close proximity to Elizabeth’s encouragement, love and nurturing, and the spoken Word of God, as her own child (baby Jesus) was growing in her womb.  Sure there’s the natural side where Mary is around another pregnant woman and she can see for herself all the physical changes and emotions that would soon be happening to her.  Elizabeth was there to show Mary the faithfulness and love of God beginning with the Word given Elizabeth by the Spirit of God over the growing child within Mary:

“Blessed and favored of God above all other women are you!  And blessed  is the Fruit of your womb!  And how have I deserved that this honor should be granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? Blessed is she (Mary) who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her from the Lord”

even before Mary told her what had happened to her.   Luke 1:41-45 Mary was in an atmosphere of safety with Elizabeth, being constantly bathed in the Word of God.   When we have a Word from God….a promise we have found in the Word of God, and are standing in faith for it to come to pass, being in the company of like-minded believers is  safety while being constantly bathed in the Word of God. Whatever you have encountered in the Word of God and brought into your life through planting seed by faith,  you will need the support of many ‘Elizabeths’.  You will need the encouragement and teaching in the setting of a body of believers who will be a corporate ‘Elizabeth’ for you.  Elizabeth reminded Mary daily by sight, word, action, and interaction that the promise sown in Mary’s womb by the Holy Spirit would soon come to pass.

Sometimes a “Mary”…Sometimes an “Elizabeth”

That’s our calling as believers in the Body of Christ.  ‘Elizabeths’ are there to nurture “the seed, then the blade, the ear and then the  full corn in the ear” in each “Mary” in our churches.  We are there to become pregnant with the promises of God, show the ‘Marys’ how the seed grows and brings forth fruit in due season.  We will also find ourselves in need of “Elizabeths”  as individuals and even a whole body of believers.  The love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit in each of us.  Let that love lead us to our “Elizabeths”  And let that love flow through us to all the “Marys” we will encounter!

It was a great day in church today!

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Heat and Kids Left in Cars

Heat and Kids Left in Cars

We’re reading about this and hearing the reports on TV.  Parent or grandparent forgot child in back seat of car. Child left in soaring temps with window cracked but doors locked. You find it hard to believe you could forget your sleeping baby or child in the back seat?

Forgetful, Pressured, Overworked, Tired or Negligent?

With today’s pressures to accomplish more in less time, parents are finding their thoughts racing toward the next goal. I’ve had many hits on my post about leaving your child in the car while paying for gas or going into convenience mart for a ‘quick’ grocery item. Bottom line is:  You cannot count on anything to be quick if you’re leaving a child in the car.

Tips to Help Remember Your Child’s Still in the Vehicle

What about forgetting your child in a vehicle? There are ways to help you remember if you’ve been guilty of this, but remembered at the last moment or a few steps away from the vehicle. One helpful hint I remember is, take off one of your shoes and put it right next to the baby in the back seat. You won’t be able to leave the car without noticing that you have one shoe or flip flop missing. I just saw a little trick a young boy had on TV where he took a bungee cord and put hook end on the front door and stretched it to the back or post between the front and back seats on the driver’s side. Again, you won’t be able to exit the vehicle until you undo the bungee cord.  You could use the same idea putting the bungee hook end into a loop on your jeans and stretching it back to your baby carrier or child on the back seat. Granted, an older child would get a wild thrill out of pulling and stretching it while you’re driving. Just make adjustments by using a string instead.

People That Leave Children in Cars and Consequences

Last, consider whether or not you will be able to live with the consequences if you leave your child in the car while you run into the mini mart for something quickly. People get side-tracked, cornered by long lost friends, forgetful. Others who are outside still around your child or walking by your car will more than likely call the police…911. There are many consequences for our actions, but we usually think they don’t apply to us for some reason or no reason.

Two Questions About Your Choices for Heat and Kids Left in Cars

I have two questions for you:  1.  Is getting the milk while leaving your child in a locked car really worth it in the long run?   2.  Wouldn’t you like to remember your child in the car before you leave them locked in for hours?

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