Training up a Child

Ahhhh.... school is nearly over. We have 3 more days and then summer break. Today our oldest is preforming in the school chorus. She even has a solo! I am very excited for her. Even if she is nervous. This is her first solo performance. She's going to get used to it quick though because in a week or two she has a large part in the church musical too. Then she is in drama camp this year and will be preforming in several nights of the School House Rocks Junior production that our community theatre is doing.

My youngest daughter was on her way towards the All-Star team for softball but I believe that that has come to an end. She sprained her ankle pretty bad Monday night. But we know there is always next year and she should be healed in time for Cheerleading and Basketball this fall and winter.

Don't get me wrong, I am not bragging about the abilities of my children, I am sharing something I "re-learned". See, a few years ago I was studying Proverbs 22:6, Train up a child the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

At first reading or first glance most people think, 'okay, as long as I raise my child in church and around God we got it made.' I don't agree with that. I think that yes, we do need to raise our children in church and where they see God working through us, their parents. I also think that we should guide our children in a way in which they will be productive in society. See, my oldest daughter is not athleticly inclined, but she has a beautiful singing voice. She also like to act, so we are getting her involved in the children's choir at church (this is her last year) and also in the community theatre productions this summer. Our youngest daughter does not enjoy singing, but she loves playing softball and basketball and cheering. So we are doing that for her as our resources allow.

What we are doing with our kids is pointing them in the directions best suited for their abilities. Yes for all 6 of our children God is tops. He is on the top of the list of things to learn about and take to heart. Number 2 is academics, we expect the kids to do their best and to care about doing their best. From there on the rest of the lists are different. The kids that have artistic ability will be nudged in that direction, sports will be nudged there. WE never force the kids to do something they don't want to but we do try to get them to just try it.

So far we are doing pretty good about it and for two of the kids we have found things they are truly interested in.

Life and Death

Jesus then said, "I am the one who raises the dead to life! Everyone who has faith in me will live, even if they die. And everyone who lives because of faith in me will never really die. Do you believe this?"
(John 11:25-26)


For the past 6 months a family in our church has been having to deal with life and death on a weekly if not daily basis. Their son was born 3 months early back in October. For 3 months their friends, family, church members, and strangers have been praying for them and for their little boy. The battle ended this week. Their son is now alive for the first time.

Although I only knew the family in passing at church, I feel as if I have been in their shoes and that I know them. See, their little boy was born with a heart defect that caused other problems due to the type of defect it was. My youngest has heart defects that have partially been repaired but he does face more surgery unless God preforms a miracle.

What has touched me the most about Avery is his mom and dad. They are so strong. I know they probably don't feel they are, but they are. Any parent that has had to go through what they did and still turn to God is very strong in my book.

I can relate so well to the way this mother described it when she found out she had to let her baby go. The doctors had told them there was nothing else that could have been done, it was finished. So she and her husband decided that they had to let him go. They requested a private room and were able to say good bye. They were able to hold him while his favorite classical music was playing and he was wrapped up in his favorite blue blanket. His last breath on earth was labored, but his first breath in glory was free and full of life.

I cry every time I remember it, every time I think of it. And it touches me so deep to know that we could have been there had God not intervened. I know that God used this precious little boy and his parents to touch all kinds of people. That I believe was this baby's mission in life.

Also seeing the result of this little one's life, I wish and I pray more people will become familiar with congenital heart defects. Over half of all CHDs go undetected until there is an episode. 1 out of 125 children in the US are born with a CHD. Most of the defects are repairable if they are gotten to in time. The key is detection.

I believe that God has a plan for each of us and if it is our time to go so be it, but I also believe that many babies and young people could be saved if more doctors and athletic coaches knew more about CHDs.

I received this in an email

TO REDUCE STRESS THE CHRISTIAN WAY
An Angel says, "Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what
may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain.
Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."

1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19. Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most.)

32. Sit on your ego.

33. Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36 Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)



~~~~ AMEN!

A Clearer Vision

An interesting thing that has happened, it all started when we took my step-daughter to the pediatrician. Aside from some medical issues, she seems to be ok. We found out among other things that she couldn't see. The nurse said at best her vision would be 20/80 and that was if she was lucky.

So, we took her and the other girls to the eye doctor. My step-daughter is indeed vision impaired. She is 20/80 and 20/100. So she now has glasses that she wears full time. Her self-esteem and self-worth have drastically improved. The other two girls simply need reading glasses. It's not that they really need them but one of them her eyes water when she is reading and the other has migraines.

We now have three children that wear glasses.

I was thinking though, in reference to God. The Holy Spirit is like a pair of glasses that make it so we can see God.

Now, my personal belief is that God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one and the same. Jesus is God in the Flesh and the Holy Spirit is God in us. God the Father is The Almighty on High.

What I mean by the Holy Spirit making it so that we can see God is just that. As humans, we can't see God unless He wants us to. Remember when Mary ran up to the gardener when she found the tomb that Jesus was in empty? She didn't know that that was Jesus until he called her by her name. (John 20:10-18)

Do you need your vision checked?

Family Values Cinema

Hello! I apologize for our long hiatus. Life tends to get hectic in the Spring, especially with 6 blessings.

I am stopping in today to let everybody know about a movie club I found. It looks great! I have just joined it last night and I haven't gotten my DVDs yet but I am excited.

Have you ever gone to the movie rental store or website and just couldn't find anything that the whole family could watch? We have that problem. Either the older kids can watch it and the younger ones can't or the younger ones can watch it and the older ones just aren't interested. Or it's suppose to be family night and mom and dad just aren't interested in the movie that was picked out. On the same lines, it's really hard to find a friendly movie. Even the rated G movies and PG movies that are billed as Family Friendly have inuendo that "appeals" to the adult audience. What ever happened to good movies that the entire family can watch without having to worry if the kids caught on to the inuendo or even movies that don't go against morals?

I see alot of promise in the Family Values Cinema, the first two movies I will be getting are Where the Red Fern Grows and Pit Pony. Yes, these movies are older, but they have stood the test of time. The first two movies are sent to you for free, all you have to do is pay $1.95 shipping. You can cancel at anytime and if you continue the subscription it's $19.95 plus shipping a month. Every order you get two movies that you keep along with a family guide to help with family discussions.

Aside from the family movies, I am excited about the family guides. I have two children that have a hard time with reading comprehension and I see the guides as a way to open that door. Get them to talk about the movies and what they think about it, they should be more open to discussing books and understanding them too.

I encourage you to try Family Values Cinema, you can cancel it after the first month or any time thereafter. Try it and see how it suits your family!