(Shelly) I was helping my daughter clean up her room, and put all of her stuffed animals in their place. We have several stuffed friends from the Hermie the Caterpillar stories; one being Flo the Fly. This particular day, my daughter was about 2 years old, and she picked up Flo with her two fingers by the tip of the wing, stood at the threshold of her door, and tossed Flo in the hallway. "Dis a bug!" she said. I explained who she was, and we read the book together. Only then was Flo allowed back into her room!
Do you have any funny bug stories with your kids this spring?
Monday, April 25, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
Fun Monday
Davis saw all the June bugs and said, "Mom they should have named June bugs, April bugs." Have your kiddos said anything silly lately?
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Family Movie Night
Family Movie Night is back this Saturday! Thanks to Moms4FamilyTV for promoting programming like this. Spread the word!
Thankful Thursday
I'm thankful that God never takes His eye off of us, that His timing is perfect, and that I can trust Him completely--if I only will! I feel like the man in Mark 9:24 that said, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" I truely believe God can do whatever He wants, but in the nitty gritty of the moment, I need His help to overcome my doubts.
Growing to believe Him more, Sharon
Growing to believe Him more, Sharon
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
A New Place to Dwell
As my sister-in-law was reading a book to my girls, she came across the line "Don't dwell on it." Crislynn stopped her and said, "What does 'dwell' mean?" Brittlea, my eight-year-old (at the time), piped up, "It's where you live." At first we thought her definition didn't fit the context of the sentence, but the more we considered it, we realized it fit perfectly.
Sometimes my kids will confess things they are thinking if they feel guilty for their thoughts. I tell them that just because they have a bad thought or idea doesn't mean they have sinned. Just as we don't intend to let a fly into our house, thoughts can loom at the door of our minds and enter without invitation. It's when we don't do anything to rid ourselves of the pesky thought that it becomes sin.
I believed my kids were the ones who needed to hear this advice as they struggled with thoughts that made them feel guilty. However, as Laurie and I talked one day, she said, "Sharon, we're doing the same thing. We're beating ourselves up for things we think. Maybe I am about to blow up inside, making me feel guilty, but when I don't blow up I'm exercising self-control--and that's something I can feel good about."
As moms, it's easy for us to be hard on ourselves, feeling guilty for things that were only thoughts. But we need to remember something: If we didn't stop there, unload, and hang pictures on the wall, we haven't done anything wrong. It's when we dwell there that we run into problems.
In 2 Corinthians 10:5 it says, "We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." That's how we fight the tendency to dwell on things that take our eyes off of the Lord. When the thoughts come, take them to the Lord and get rid of the ones that don't match His character.
If you are dwelling on something you said to your kids (maybe you jumped all over them for swinging and bruising the grocery bag full of fresh fruit), ask forgiveness from God and your kids--then move on. When you feel guilty for your harsh words again, don't start building a house around that thought; rather, shoo it out the door of your mind because you have been forgiven.
If you are having silent conversations with your husband because he left his clothes out again, take that thought captive, and tear down the walls that have started going up by praying for him as you put the lost clothes where they belong. If you're feeling guilty for the actions of your children (such as when they fuss about anything and everything), pray for them and discipline when you need to, but remember: We are all responsible for our own actions, not the actions of others (including our children).
Where have you been dwelling today? Where will you live for the rest of today! The good news is, you have a choice. When those thoughts sneak into your mind, take them captive. don't dwell there. No one wants to live in that neighborhood!
Lord, You know the thoughts that are common to my mind. Help me to not feel guilty for things I think that I immediately push out of my thoughts. And help me identify those things that I am dwelling on that have already begun to build walls--walls that need to be torn down. One day spent in Your house beats thousands spent elsewhere. I'd rather scrub floors in the house of my God than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin (Psalm 84:10). Open my eyes when I'm living somewhere other than with You. How lovely is Your dwelling place! Dwelling on You, in Jesus' Name, amen.
from Sharon and Laurie's book Hold You, Mommy.
Sometimes my kids will confess things they are thinking if they feel guilty for their thoughts. I tell them that just because they have a bad thought or idea doesn't mean they have sinned. Just as we don't intend to let a fly into our house, thoughts can loom at the door of our minds and enter without invitation. It's when we don't do anything to rid ourselves of the pesky thought that it becomes sin.
I believed my kids were the ones who needed to hear this advice as they struggled with thoughts that made them feel guilty. However, as Laurie and I talked one day, she said, "Sharon, we're doing the same thing. We're beating ourselves up for things we think. Maybe I am about to blow up inside, making me feel guilty, but when I don't blow up I'm exercising self-control--and that's something I can feel good about."
As moms, it's easy for us to be hard on ourselves, feeling guilty for things that were only thoughts. But we need to remember something: If we didn't stop there, unload, and hang pictures on the wall, we haven't done anything wrong. It's when we dwell there that we run into problems.
In 2 Corinthians 10:5 it says, "We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." That's how we fight the tendency to dwell on things that take our eyes off of the Lord. When the thoughts come, take them to the Lord and get rid of the ones that don't match His character.
If you are dwelling on something you said to your kids (maybe you jumped all over them for swinging and bruising the grocery bag full of fresh fruit), ask forgiveness from God and your kids--then move on. When you feel guilty for your harsh words again, don't start building a house around that thought; rather, shoo it out the door of your mind because you have been forgiven.
If you are having silent conversations with your husband because he left his clothes out again, take that thought captive, and tear down the walls that have started going up by praying for him as you put the lost clothes where they belong. If you're feeling guilty for the actions of your children (such as when they fuss about anything and everything), pray for them and discipline when you need to, but remember: We are all responsible for our own actions, not the actions of others (including our children).
Where have you been dwelling today? Where will you live for the rest of today! The good news is, you have a choice. When those thoughts sneak into your mind, take them captive. don't dwell there. No one wants to live in that neighborhood!
Lord, You know the thoughts that are common to my mind. Help me to not feel guilty for things I think that I immediately push out of my thoughts. And help me identify those things that I am dwelling on that have already begun to build walls--walls that need to be torn down. One day spent in Your house beats thousands spent elsewhere. I'd rather scrub floors in the house of my God than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin (Psalm 84:10). Open my eyes when I'm living somewhere other than with You. How lovely is Your dwelling place! Dwelling on You, in Jesus' Name, amen.
from Sharon and Laurie's book Hold You, Mommy.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Fun Monday
Here is a funny story from Laurie's family... Addison does funny things all the time. The other day he said he had a "hypothosis." I said, "Oh really, what is it?" He said, "Worms poop on you when you pick them up because they are scared." Then he added, "Baby ducks do the same thing. I know, because when I picked up Ms. Sandy's baby ducks, they pooped too. I think it was because they were scared!" I think his hypothesis was right! Have your little scientists made any funny hypothesis lately?
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Thankful Thursday
It has been a while since we said we are thankful for our kids. But I want to get a little more specific today. There are times when they are on our last nerve that it is easy to see to see their faults, but we need to take the time to be thankful for their strengths. Today I'm thankful that my oldest son is outgoing and includes everyone. He is a great big brother. I'm thankful that my daughter is strong and determined. If we can train her in the right direction, she will make a positive difference in her world. My youngest son loves to laugh, and he gets me out of my serious mode. What is it about your kids that you are thankful for today? Posted by Shelly, Mom and Loving It Ministries Assistant
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Spring Activities
Opening week of baseball season! Whoo-hoo! Anybody else excited about that? I was not always that way. I wasn't really a sports girl. I didn't play sports in school, and we didn't watch a lot of sports. When I stayed at my grandparents house as a girl and Papaw turned on the b
aseball game, I thought it was so b.o.r.i.n.g. Then I met my SweetHeart who loves baseball. He took me to a Rangers game and I was hooked. He taught me how to score a game. That helped me learn the rules and understand what was happening. Now I really enjoy the slow pace as we enjoy the game together--especially when we can go to a live game. As our kids have reached the age to play little league, they can't wait to sign up! And it has been so much fun to watch them play.
aseball game, I thought it was so b.o.r.i.n.g. Then I met my SweetHeart who loves baseball. He took me to a Rangers game and I was hooked. He taught me how to score a game. That helped me learn the rules and understand what was happening. Now I really enjoy the slow pace as we enjoy the game together--especially when we can go to a live game. As our kids have reached the age to play little league, they can't wait to sign up! And it has been so much fun to watch them play. Here is a question for you...I'm sure your springs are super busy too. How do you manage meals and practices and games and...?
Have your likes changed over the years too? What spring activities do you enjoy with your family?
Have your likes changed over the years too? What spring activities do you enjoy with your family?
posted by Shelly, Mom and Loving It Ministries Assistant
Monday, April 4, 2011
Fun Monday-The Catcher
(Shelly) My family really likes baseball (more on that Wednesday). So it was no surprise when our kids got old enough to play, they could not wait to sign up! We have spent many an hour at the baseball diamond, and some of those moments have been comical. My son, age 5, played catcher his second season. Dad was his coach and he told him, "You know, you can talk to the batters and kind of distract them." The next game he tried asking them questions, but that didn't really work for him. Then he thought, I like to sing. I'm pretty good at it, and that might be distracting. So he began to sing his own made up songs at the top of his voice! I'm the singing catcher. And I'm trying to distract you, so you strike out! I don't know if the players were bothered by it, but the opposing coaches (who were pitching), the umpire, and the fans were sure tickled! This month we are sharing stories about baseball (or sports) and spring. Do you have any to share? We would love to hear it!
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