Night Time Family Devotions

Deuteronomy 11:18  Fix these words of mine into your mind and being, and tie them as a reminder on your hands and let them be symbols on your forehead. 11:19 Teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road,  as you lie down, and as you get up. 11:20 Inscribe them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates

As part of our daily routine, we always try to have family devotions before bedtime.   And if we miss it, it’s just not the same for kids to go to bed without devotions.  They ask for it.  It’s part of our life.  God’s word is to read, to be cherished, and honored.  They aren’t perfect in paying attention but it’s a tradition, a time they look forward to.  I hope they remember this also when they’re older as a great memory.  We generally have this time in girls’ room.  Once in a while in our bedroom, the living room, or “hang out” room (which is what we labeled the upstairs family room ) and the kids go crazy over this.  Oh the little joys in life!  Sometimes we do devotions at dinner. Sometimes things happen or come up and we don’t get to.  Such is life sometimes, ain’t it?

It’s our responsibilities as parents to teach our children in the way they should go, especially in the ways of the Lord.  We shall teach them the Word; what it says, means and how to live it.  I had a great devotional with the kids this morning as we read Psalm 90.  They may not understand it all now but it’s never too early to start instilling the value and love of the Word and time together as a family in reading and learning it together.  My youngest is 5 and just when I don’t think she’s thinking, she’ll pop up with some comment that has been brewing in her mind that was sparked by something I said or read, and it’s wonderful (aside from being so cute!)

I cherish these times.  The girls almost always want to cuddle with me while we have our devotions and it’s a sweet moment and memory that I hold dear.  May they too, cherish the time and remember it.  If not, they will have this post to read!  Love you guys!

An Evening in the Garden with my Children

It was a good day last Wednesday.  I was exhausted that morning due to bad discretion on my part about bed time.  But 2 out of 3 kids were up early (7am is early for us), ate cereal on their own and Kira started on her school work.  Self starting days are almost always a good day.  She was motivated to get it done. Got to love that!

We ended the day with gardening.  I sent the neighborhood kids home and made my kids come to the backyard to help me because I knew they would have complained later that they didn’t get to.  Sometimes you just gotta take the lead and make them do things.  Otherwise, they may never think of it themselves.  They’re kids!  Man, blessing upon blessing, these kids.  They never complained the whole time.  They pulled weeds and helped me dig trenches in the garden bed.  They helped me for about an hour and it was no easy task.  They were digging dirt like champs.

We were digging dirt and digging trenches for bins that I’m using as containers.  I’m container gardening this year.  I had the usual flat area we dug up 3 summers ago.  I wanted a change and try something new.  For reasons I’m not sure of  because I’m still an amateur, my crops as a whole have not yielded well.  My kale has always done well.  They pumpkins were a hit too.  But even the easiest to grow like peas and tomatoes, have not done well.  Just small yields.

Anyway, this note is more about the joy and cheerfulness that my kids worked with tonight.  They laughed.  The goofed.  They chattered about how they could team-work, like suggesting this and that to each other without fighting.  Now that’s a praise in itself.  They chattered on and on.  It was all so heartwarming to watch the bonding time between my kids.  They alternated shovels till the end.  They commented on how fun it was to help me garden; how they wanted to work hard and be helpful and they were willing to work into the dark night.  Well, we went pretty close.  It was close to 9pm by the time we went to wash up.  My sweet Kira even thanked me for giving them the opportunity to garden.  What??!  I am so undeserving of such wonderful kids.  I mean, sure, they are imperfect and have their moments, but they are such good kids.  However imperfect I am, they are unconditional lovers of my motherhood.  Hallelujah to my Savior.  Again, I was a happy mama.  Love them kids.

Saturday Mornings

Another tradition I started some time ago.  Not sure exactly when.  If I had to guess, I’d say a few year ago.  I don’t get to it perfectly, whether it’s sleeping in too late before an appointment, or having to leave too early before something that was planned.  It’s also a sleep in day if we don’t have any obligations that Saturday.  So when I wake up, I usually make a special breakfast, or I should say brunch by the time I finish cooking and we eat.  The kids look forward to Saturday “morning” meal.  Or shall I say the first meal of the day.  It’s the one day of the week that I usually go all out, and they get  EGGS!!  During the week, they eat cereal, bagels or fruit or a mixture of things, something easy.

So last weekend Cody and Kira held out for a big breakfast as Lexi went for cereal first.  Lexi loves cereal.  And I tend to buy the sugary ones as a ‘treat’.  I know, I’m a terrible mom for feeding them that junk!  One of my weaknesses.  So, I got up to get it for her and went back to lay down (I know, how lazy).  It was only 9am!!!  On a Saturday!!!  So, Cody was trying to hold her back from eating anything because “mom” was going to make food.  Funny.

 

So on this day, I made, for the 1st time, sweet potato battered french toast using rye bread and smoothies.  The girls weren’t too crazy about it but ate some.  Cody like it enough to eat seconds.  Not sure if he was just really hungry or what but he seemed to have enjoyed it.   This, with a side of tropical smoothie.

 

pretty good.

Oh Family Traditions!

TRADITIONS!!  Every family should have traditions.  If yours doesn’t, start one.  Growing up in a broken home, we didn’t have many traditions.  I don’t know if I can call anything we did “tradition” per se.  We did things but not as I think in terms of tradition.  We didn’t really celebrate Christmas.  So as a child, even for Christmas, I was the main one who desired to celebrate it.  We had one of those little 3 foot trees that sat on the end table in the living room.  I decorated it.  Growing up, I had always coveted (forgive me Lord) other families and how they celebrated life together.  I loved to watch family movies.  I desired that tv family.  Now as I grow with my own family, naturally, I seek that which I desired but did not know.

For the past 3 years, we started a family tradition on Friday nights.  The kids love it.  Well, at least I think they do.  They look forward to it every weekend.  One of the last resort punishments is not being able to camp out on Friday night.  They hate to miss out.  I’d hate to administer such a penalty, but it has happened before.  Thankfully, it’s rare.  And even more, I am thankful that our children treasure the opportunity to spend family time together.

We end the week with family night; a night with games, and/or a movie, and staying up as late as midnight to 1am.  As a family, we “camp out” in the living room, just on the floor.  The kids may use their sleeping bags, their blankets from their bed or any of the extra blankets we’ve got scattered throughout the house.   Anything goes.  I like throw blankets so I have quite a little collection in baskets in various rooms of our house.  I think I enjoy camping out in our living room the most in winter when the fireplace glowing.  The living room becomes real cozy as we cuddle by the fire.  Oh, and especially during Christmas with lights wrapped around the mantle.  Ooo, how I love it!

Recently, we added sushi (my husband’s idea)  to the menu as a special meal on Friday nights.  After trying that for a few weeks, I decided that it may be too much to have sushi every week so we try to do it every other week, granted we don’t have other plans to eat out of go to a friend’s house.

In the summer, we camp out in the backyard… in tents of course!!  Easy access to our comfy home that has running water and a flushable toilet.  Slim to no chance of wild animal encounters.  We like this kind of camping.  One day we will muster up the courage to go ‘real’ camping in the woods.  But for now, we are content with our backyard.

I started gardening when we moved into this house 3 years ago.  So that too is now a summer tradition.  Can you call gardening tradition?  Well, I will.  My kids enjoy seeing edible things growing on our little corner of the world.  I love watching them learn and get excited about God’s creation and giving thanks for it all.

In the Fall, we visit the corn maze.  It’s an Idaho thing.  I’ve never heard of the concept till we moved here, but boy, it’s so cool!  We enjoy it so much.  Then there’s pumpkin picking.  Last year we had a good crop of pumpkins so we were able to carve from our own patch.  Looove it!

These are the extra things we do as a family.  Church is our norm.  Our kids love to go to church.  And it’s just not like a normal Sunday if we don’t.  Dare I say it’s a tradition to go to church?  God is at the center of it all anyway.  That goes without saying.

I hope these traditions will last as treasured childhood memories for our children and that when we reminisce about these times, we can think back and be reminded of the love and joy we shared.  I shall be thankful.  Thanks be to God, the giver of all good things.

What are some of our traditions?

Pulling Parakeet Feathers

Today I woke up to the bleeding heart of my daughter’s yelp who found one of our parakeets with a bloody wing.This has happened once before but this time, it was bloodier. So I spent the next few hours trying to nurse our pet back to health. The vet was too much for a $20 pet. It is kind of sad to put it in those terms, but that’s pretty much our motto at this point. So I spent the next hour researching options. Then another hour playing doctor. It turns out it was bloody feather syndrome. I lined up my gauze, scissors, pliers, peroxide, towels and started procedure with the help of my handsome assistant. My first time plucking blood feathers. I actually enjoy plucking and picking at things so this was right up my alley. So far, procedure is proving successful. Fina is looking pretty again. Phew. I’d hate to endure the raining tears of little girls b/c their bird died b/c their parents don’t believe in expensive vet visits. I know. We are so cruel. But they’d eventually get over it. Family times. Fun memories created right in our living room. This is life.

 

Monday 3/5/2012

Valentine’s Day 2012

I think I’m going to start a new tradition.  Previous years I have not made such a big deal about Valentine’s day.  After all, we should be loving every day, right?  Well, I decided to make it a little more special this year, and I hope to remember to make it a habit each year continuing.

So, I decorated a little; just a balloons on the kids chairs, red streamers hanging above the table from the light fixture, candles and artificial rose petals scattered on the table.  I try, I really do, to make the table nice with centerpieces and decor but it always seems to get in the way of somebody, seemingly an impossible goal.

For a special dinner, the children helped me with shrimp kabob that I grilled on the griddle.  I just sprinkled some spice mix I had in the cupboard.  They turned out good.  I also slaved over rice pilaf and shrimp pad Thai.

I ended with a not-sure-what-to-even-call-it drink mix.  I made 2 mixes; one pineapple, the other pomegranate.  I mixed together apple juice, sparkling cider, the syrups, topped with some ice and cranberries.  It was good.  We drank them in (what’s fancy for us) wine glasses.

All in all, it was a good dinner.  I hope my family will remember it for years to come.  I do it for their enjoyment, desiring to create lasting memories of precious family time together.

My husband got us girl matching heart necklaces.  Very pretty.  The girls got pink ones, and I a silvery white.   Cody got a pellet gun.  I think I may enjoy that gift too.

Trailer Camping & Hot Springs Trip

We just took a family trip to a local hot springs about 30 minutes away. It was our fist time staying in a trailer and swimming at a hot spring. We camped in a very old trailer full of surprises.
Upon arrival, the check in was at the pool. It was pretty indicative to what we were in store for. It was enclosed in an old building. It was obvious the place was historic.

Off to the trailer we go. When we reach what we believe to be the trailer we were to stay in, even though I knew it wasn’t going to be the best place, I was still a little taken back.

As we meandered through the place, it was evident this was a very old trailer, probably hadn’t been cleaned in a decade. Maybe more. Everything was ancient; pink stove and oven probably from the 60s. I didn’t try it out. Didn’t want to waste the time. “Newer” microwave though. Fridge wasn’t cold enough to keep food cold so I used our van. One chair for the table. Only drips came out of the bathroom sink. Not enough water flow in the shower for a full shower. The toilet didn’t fill quick enough for multiple flushes in a row so we had to manually fill the tank. My husband had a great idea of filling the tub so we can just scoop water into the tank since we weren’t using it for showers, but then forgot the water was running so we spent time cleaning up gross soaked carpets. That was on his birthday. Well, they were due for a wash anyway. There were enough beds for us, so that was nice, but who knows where and when those sheets and covers were last washed. The carpet was too gross to think about when my family would lay on it. Eww. Cobwebs, dust and holes everywhere. Oh, and the resident mouse dropped in on us a few times. Those kinds of unexpected guests are rude.

When we first opened the door to the trailer, my youngest at 5 gasps, “it’s beautiful!” My 7 yr old also echoed her delight. What a humbling and grateful moment. The innocence of my children were so precious at that moment. They were just so happy to take a family trip, to be together in a different place. They aren’t really thinking in terms of “we’re going to make memories here together as a family” but I think in their own way, that’s what they are anticipating. They reminisce with fun and joy about past trips and excursions we’ve made as a family. It’s such a blessing to hear them happily recount memories of family moments.

I was thankful to be able to visit a part of history and spend time with my family. I appreciate the history behind the camp grounds and hot springs, but it’s not a place I’d frequent. The hot springs water was the best part. My skin didn’t feel dry as it usually does. I am so thankful to have the home we have and the luxuries we do, from flushing toilets to clean running water to clean and modern amenities.

Most Recent Trip to Winco

As we shopped in the bulk section of the local grocery store here called Winco, my kids are always (almost) eager to help with the scooping and pulling of handles.  I usually have them write the code and then twist tie the bag of goods I get.  This one time, last Thursday (Oct. 27th, 11), my littlest one who is 5 yrs old blurts out “how may I help?”.  The lady next to us says, “Man, if I can get my kids to say something like that.”  My other daughter (7) chimes in and replies, “You have to teach them, and train them. That’s what my mom did.”   Awwwwhh-some! (<–in a high opera voice)

Parenting takes a lot of prayer- energy, work, commitment, persistence, diligence …  This is not an exhaustive list, as parenting is an inexhaustive  (and sometimes exhausting) journey of ups and downs, joys and sorrows.  May God grant us grace and wisdom in this worthy and highly honorable pursuit.

 

My, what great swimmers you have!

My girls, recently 7 & 5, took a lap-swim test today and did so well!  They made it all the way to the end and back.  I knew Kira could do it, but Lexi I wasn’t so sure.  She surprised me, yet not too much.

Kira’s been swimming since she was 3.  As soon as we moved to Idaho, we became members at the local recreational center.  We’ve made use of the pool the most.  So, my girls have learned to swim well over the last few years.  My son loves swimming too, but he’s been swimming longer than them since he’s 10 years older.

Lexi’s been swimming since she was 2.  The first 2 times she went into the baby pool even before she turned 2, she about drowned because she wasn’t used to the bobbing of the water; with the movement of the water, plopped face first into the water from a standing position and couldn’t get back on her feet.  There she was, body wildly flaring around for life as I had to jump in to pull her up.  Panicked and crying scared as she came out of the water, I held her and comforted her; then put her back into the water.  One of the greatest natural reflexes when learning to swim at a young age like that is that you seem to automatically hold your breath when you go under, so she didn’t swallow any water that time.  It was scary for me too, but it didn’t deter us (maybe more me).  After these 2 incidents, she quickly learned and has been a water bug ever since.   It’s been a joy and a tickle to see her learn to swim, and then actually swimming, as she’s so little and petite.  Over the last few years, people who see her swim have always asked how old she is because of her size, it was amazing to see such a little body handle the water as well as she did, and does.   One of the lifeguards commented on how amazing a swimmer she is and how she’s never seen a 5-year-old finish that lap.  I was a proud mommy today.  Just another proud day among many.   I love being a mommy.

Kira has grown so well in swimming.  She too has been amazing.  We have often gotten the same responses about her swimming as Lexi.  She hadn’t been swimming the last month since she broke her arm but had her cast removed last week. So we’re right back into the swing of swimming at the rec center.  And she hasn’t skipped a beat.  She’s swimming well still, even with the arm not fully mobile.  It’s still in the angled position it’s been in while in the cast.  She swam in the diving pool for the first time today and  i think she enjoyed feeling like she was old & good enough to swim in the ‘big kid’ pool.  She jumped off the diving board and swung off the rope.  Another milestone reached.  Another day of achievements.  What a day!

‘Books of the Bible’ Song

Last year, in an effort to teach my kids to learn the books of the bible, I found this fabulous original song that is the best I’ve heard.  It didn’t take long, about a month, for both my girls, ages 6 and 4 years at the time, to learn it.

Here’s a link to my 4-year-old on my YouTube page, or here.  Here’s my 6-year-old on my YouTube page, or here.

Here is a link to them from the maker’s of the song Bigsby.com.

http://bigsbynews.blogspot.com/2010/09/soloists.html

It’s such a wonderful reality from heaven when we are blessed from the fruit of our labors.  What a virtuous pursuit!  What a joy to hear such beauty from the mouth of babes!  I hope you enjoy it too!  To the glory of God.