The boy’s played their well-practiced piano pieces at the retirement home where Great Grandma is living. Thirteen students in all showed up to bless the residents with their music. We look forward to this time each year. The assistant director of activities pointed out to the boys, the pianos in the facility and said that at anytime they may play for Great Grandma and the other residents.

What a gift! And I’m not talking about the gift of music, nor am I speaking of the gift of playing for others. What a gift to have a way to bless others. Thank you Lord they can do something.

 ‘There is no someday you will’ in our family. It is ‘right now you can’. It is our job as parents to teach and help our children to develop skills right now, that they can use to benefit others. Children need to know they are useful, that they have something to offer. They need to know they can do something now, if they work hard, develop skills, pay attention to what is being taught and respect those that teach.

Yes, respect those that teach. How else can they benefit completely? Having the ‘greater than thou’ attitude only hinders their growth.

My boys can pick up a broom and sweep a floor without leaving a crumb. I say that not to be pride full, but to say even the most menial of tasks, when done correctly, can be a skill to bless others. And that is what we discuss as we train our children; a skill done to the best of your ability (with a good attitude) is a skill to bless others, to give back instead of just being a consumer, because life is not all about you.

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And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men. Colossians 3:23

This is our purpose. It’s not about us, nor the other person really, but about glorifying our Creator in all we do. Because what happens when we ask our children to do something for someone they don’t care for, or a chore that they don’t ‘want’ to do? Their life, our life would be meaningless, without a reason to work, without the belief that what they do matters beyond the greater good of man kind. Because often we do thankless jobs. We work, and do things no one sees or notices. Just doing it because it’s the right thing to do, can only get one so far.

The beauty is we work and we ask our children to work for the One we serve. Our reason, our purpose. 

Mike and his Grandma

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hands that serve God, not men

At some point in each of my little ones toddler/preschool years, they began waking up at the crack of dawn (often around or near the time change). They could be the greatest sleepers but at some point, their little internal clocks pop them awake. Never fails. They all were in toddler beds by the age of 2 and generally figured out they could get out of the bed on their own somewhere around 2 1/2.  Most, if not all the time, they still needed more sleep. So I started the "wait for the paper" rule. Recently, we had to implement this with my 3 year old. Her average wake up time was 7 am but suddenly, turned to 5:15 am.

I told her I would put a paper under the door when it was time to get up and she was to stay in bed until then. (She can get up to go to the bathroom if needed but most of the time she doesn’t). Around here, 6:30 am is an acceptable wake up time. I have a monitor in my room and can hear if there is a problem. More often than not, she falls back to sleep until 7.

It's fun to draw a little picture or a message on the paper for them to find.

                                             Tea Time

The past few day's we have worked our way through the ancient greek military. In the picture, the kids are holding their 'shields' with intimidating drawings on the front, such was the way of a 'hoplite' (greek soldier). Sadie, well, she drew a rainbow. Gotta love the girl.

The boys are undeafeated in baseball. We had an intense game last night. Husband coaches the team and knows the rules enough to quote page numbers. So impressed. Well, the game got hairy when he had to correct the umpire on a call. The ump agreed and reversed the call. The other teams coach had a fit. "Why do you push a call when you guy's are creaming every team in the league?"

I love how he camly replied, "To honor the kids and the game. I've taught them to play by the rules; I will uphold the rules." He did however overlook the bad call on C when he was obviously safe. That was a judgement error on the ump. But a rule is a rule. It was a black and white rule.

How often does this world tells us nothing is black and white? Gods word is black and white. There is right and wrong. How can I be a good parent if I waffle on right and wrong? I would be raising sons and a daughter to be  confused adults. I do have my own struggles and there are things right now that I am praying over, wondering if my decisions are too gray. Like the ump,  I make lousy calls.  Thank you God you didn't leave us alone. You are not silent. You are alive as much as ever. I need to listen, study up on the rules and know the page numbers. 

Playing by His way makes for a better game albiet, a challenging game because not everyone chooses to play by the same rules. But a rule is a rule. Right is right, wrong is wrong. 

Makes me think of the times people have questioned our decisions regarding the way we choose to raise our kids. I'll take a cue from my wise husband. I will uphold the rules to honor God, the gift of life and my children. I will teach them to play by his rules. And I pray Jesus will shine through my lousy calls.

6 boy's ages: 14 - 5

2 girls ages: 2 & 1

1 Grandpa age: young at heart

2 dogs

This is what makes a man - hardwork & teamwork. Video games & TV won't give them the satisfaction of accomplishment that good ol' sweat and job well done can. As a Mom I am concerned about not raising a man-ly man. Partly because spineless men creep me out. I want to raise a man biblically confident of his role as a husband, father and provider. Even if that means he doesn't totally understand women or he is a little rough around the edges. A man who sees a toddler & a mountain as an adventure. One who sees God's creativity and power in both. The easy part is sweeping up the dirt and keeping up with the smelly laundry. 

The hard part  is keeping myself  from stifling the man God is creating these boy's to be. I need to respect their Daddy and talk him up; he is their greatest earthly example. I need to continuously pray and ask for the eyes to understand their uniqueness and then guide them into the way they should go. I need to speak words of hope, health, encouragment and life to them on a daily basis. And yes along the way discipline when needed.

This day was good for a Mommy raising men. I know God was finding pleasure in seeing his warroirs working so hard.

Those who are planted in the house of the Lord

shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall

still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and

flourishing, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is

my Rock and there is no unrightousness in him.

Psalm 92:13-15

There is hope in your future.

Jeremiah 31:17

When my C was tiny, there was a time I prayed to understand him. He was so different from J who was mellow and was content to observe. I remember when we brought Z  home, C just cried. He was only 1 1/2 and I thought it was all a bit over whelming for his tiny body. But it was his frustration that made him cry. He wanted so bad to help. I remember sitting on the couch praying, "Oh God show me what he needs." Just as I finished praying, in walks C dragging the carseat. He had heard me say I wanted to lay the baby down. This was his solution. God was so faithful to hear my cry and give me eyes to understand the frustration my little boy was feeling. C needed to help - beyond just feeling included, he desired to help in a real way. And he is very much still this same way! I shutter to think how I could have squashed his heart for service if I hadn't paid attention and seen beyond a fussy toddler. I pray fervently God continues to give me eyes to see these amazing children and understand what it is they are dragging in.

But from everlasting to everlasting the Lords love is with those who fear him, and his rightousness with his children's children - with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

Psalm 103:17