Best Friends....

My two youngest boys are truly best friends. When Joe went away for three days last week, Peter was actually "Joe-sick". He'd come up to me every half hour or so and tell me with puppy- dog sad eyes that he missed Joe. And that it's not fun without him.

Joseph is 9 and Peter 6. They are as different as night and day. Peter is aggressive and bossy. Joe is passive and easy to please. I'm so thankful for the design evident in their birth order...Joe is just old enough to understand and tolerate Pete without taking offense. He's quite patient with him.

The other day I observed them sitting in the back seat, buckled and waiting to go somewhere. They didn't see me, but I saw them! Peter had his face in Joe's neck.  Joe had his arms around Pete. They were cuddling and just showing affection, it was so sweet! Wish I had a video of that.

I believe the reason they are so fond of each other is that they're together so much. Joe called while he was away those three days and filled Peter in on everything he was doing, in a most animated way. Joseph is not being pulled away from his family friendships and loyalty by friends at school nor on the team. He's not ashamed of his little brother in any way. He never tells him to get lost when an older friend comes to play. Having his little brother with him is natural to him and the best. I'm so thankful for the great example all of my older children have been in this...often inviting a younger sibling along, including them in on what they are doing and learning.

Having grown -up brothers and sisters has given these boys vision for their lives. I have heard them discussing at length:  businesses they plan to have,  trucks they plan to buy, how many children they hope to have, places they want to live etc.

I  love watching them grow and learn and figure out what life is all about.

For these things I am grateful. Thank You Lord!!

Missing the Mark

The aim:  A place for everything and everything in it's place
The reality:  can't find the:  keys, book, phone, remote, scissors, tape (you name it- we'll misplace it at times)
The remedy:  call a "Family Search" which includes everyone and goes until item is located. Offer reward if necessary. Of course, this depends on the importance of the item. If these measures are not warranted then just forget it...it will turn up eventually, probably when we clean the house :)


The aim:  To always have an orderly and clean house especially BEFORE company arrives or hubby gets home from work.
The reality:  Not quite as stated above and they're pulling into the driveway.
The remedy:  Laundry baskets! They hold so much and can be stacked in the laundry room with the door shut until the time comes to deal with them.  Later they can be carried from room to room during the relocation process. If you have older daughters be careful that they do not see you doing this one!



The aim:  To have and stay on a schedule
The reality:  Unplanned for late bedtimes,sleeping in later than planned, late start, not feeling quite well etc...
The remedy:  Remember to stay flexible so that you don't get bent out of shape! Start somewhere, skip something or just completely change the plan into something else like:  packing a picnic, visiting an old person, going for a hike, doing art projects or???


The aim: To have cheerful, obedient children, who come when they are called, work without complaining and remember everything you've ever taught them:)
The reality:  Self-centered, disobedient, forgetful children who seem to pick up more of your bad habits than your good intentions and at all times test the limits.
The remedy:  Pray for wisdom and patience. Apologize to the children for allowing them to become (lazy, disrespectful, defiant), owning that it really is your fault for failing to properly train them.  Resolve to be more like Jesus who gets our attention with His "still small voice". Determine to be consistent- not letting any word you say be ignored and no disobedience nor defiance go unpunished. Humble yourself, show lots of love and a "we're in this together" attitude.


The aim:  To be lovely and cheerful, singing and smiling and blessing your husband, children and all who enter; never letting fatigue, bad news, achiness, or hormones sway your pleasant graces.
The reality:  Becoming irritable, snappy, whining, complaining and mean resulting in hurting others and becoming a far cry from the godly example you long to be.
The remedy: Go to God again and repent. Acknowledge your weakness and let His strength be perfected in you. Apologize to your family, receive forgiveness then go and sin no more! For a quick makeover...put on a happy face. I've noticed that I look so much better when I'm smiling, don't you?

The aim:  I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:14

The reality:  ...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God Romans 3:23 I'm using this verse, not as an excuse but to show that we all sin which means to 'miss the mark'.  

The remedy:  "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

One of the many reason I love teaching my children at home

Today, Peter and I were studying phonics, going over the "when two vowels go a-walking, the first one does the talking, and he's usually saying his own name" idea.
I wrote down lots of words for him to sound out....boat, road, toad, goad, shoal, goal and so on. Beside those, I faintly wrote the words again and it was to be his task to form the letters atop my faint examples. He did well on the first page. And then it happened...overwhelm! The second page loomed in front of him like a mission impossible. I even think I saw little traces of tears rising up in his eyes.
                                                    
 Inspired and moved with compassion, I stopped. I know too well that pushing a little boy beyond his limits does not work. Pulling him close, I whispered in his ear..."Peter you know what? You are now at the point in your reading where you're ready to read from a real book!" You should have seen the change that came over him. The glistening is his eyes turned to gleaming as he buried his face in my neck and said "Oh, thank you Mom" and held me tight. And so, we two sat in a big comfy chair by the fire and he read from McGuffey's Primer. He read several pages too, for he was really enjoying this landmark occasion. When we were finished, I gave him a special bookmark that was crafted by his great-grandmother. He proudly placed his book in his drawer, ran back to the school table and finished his phonics work.

These are the moments that make all of my efforts worthwhile! I love having the freedom to stop, assess, discern and improvise in order meet my children right where they are and take them where they need to go.

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5