Childhood & Summer days

Childhood is a beautiful time. Let's practice saying this together :-)... in the midst of rescuing, facilitating, nourishing, playing, and holding out for daddy-time.

Happy 4th of July!
Summer has arrived. This morning I washed down the jungle gym after my dh sprayed and removed bee nest, sprayed the frisbee with the hose out of a tree and searched for at least 15 minutes in a field of alfalfa for the ... frisbee. Lunch break is here and now they're getting video game time before swimming, campfire tonight, and camping out in the backyard! With dad not me, I'll be recovering! :-)

And in the midst of these sprints, I am encouraged by a friend who was prompting us this week to think on how our children wow us. They, truly, are wonderful gifts from God and I count it a privilege to be called mom.

One of the most recent things that come to mind is how my ds amazes me with how good he is at putting together puzzles. He has a 1000 piece puzzle going right now on a side table in his room. It's been going for awhile now which is totally cool because obviously it would take lots of time away from other things like romping, roaring, and exploring. But, every so often he gets in there and he chooses an area to focus on, and it amazes me how he finds these little detailed pieces.

And then my dd, she makes me smile with her creative dance routines and expressions that she puts to music. This has been a relaxed summer week so its been fun to see her dress up and bop around. The child has rhythm and we're wondering where she's learning her cute little steps.

Any fun stories of your own whether they are your children's or other children who are currently blessing your life. In the midst of the tough stuff whether it be tracking down toys, patching up boo-boos, responding to the tears, whining, arguing, being bullied by their peers, ignoring our instructions and "words of wisdom," in the midst of the tough stuff there are jewels hidden in the rough waiting to be recognized.

Boyhood

I am not ready for my little boy to grow up. What parent truly is. By nine years old many of us parents are treading these early elementary years never having wanted to fully let go of those precious preschool years. They are now full-fledged school children, and often I personally become so wrapped up in the academics that I just want to sit back and relax.

We're at that time of the year thankfully where summer is coming. The warm weather finally is arriving for us and I just want to see him romp, roar, and explore childhood further. I want him to go to camp this year in order to experience nature, and to be a boy scout, to play baseball, soccer, football, to climb trees, ride bikes, swim, and do all those things that stretch him to build his body and mind through the great outdoors!

As well I look forward to seeing him apply the problem solving skills, he has been practicing at the math table... actually practiced through fort building, etc. and exploring nature in a hands-on way versus only reading about it in books. Yes, I long to see him discover and combat any paralyzing fears with the reality of evil. To earnestly ploy, confront, and pursue courageous boyhood through the duals that are imagined in the realms of a young boy who tirelessly re-enacts the peril of a jedi-knight.

In addition, I want to continue to quench his interest in good, engaging literature on the blanket in the grass where we stare, and get lost in the clouds, and to stimulate his musically minded thoughts by keeping his song of praise in his heart, and at his fingertips on the piano; which I do hope remains an old, dear friend in years to come.

With such a full quiver of his own, it's hard for me to believe that his mind will begin to think on things such as girls, the human body, and the emotions that come along with these times. Though I think our young darling daughter who seems to boldly think on such matters of the heart will awaken any naivety, "shyness," and stretch his comfort level so that he will not want to be left behind on such matters of knowledge. Though I do pray for healthy nourishing for he is a sensitive boy and a cutie (okay, maybe a little bias,) and once these thoughts do awaken, his knowledge could soon transition naturally stirring his emotions.

So while I know the season is coming, in the mean time I hope to reinforce my love for him, our love for him and each other, (his father and I) and our love for God. Oh that he would discover a richer, deeper love with his Heavenly Father and that I could demonstrate a walk toward holiness as I seek to sincerely and faithfully grow with my Lord and Savior.

And, you know, he may not be quick to ask those questions. But, his curiosity will stir him; and I want to be there for him fostering an environment that is safe, warm, affirming, and ready in whatever way he needs me and his dad to be.

Little Mermaid

The children are in a play this weekend, "The Little Mermaid." And, I need to get my thoughts together about the last minute details. We arrive at 5:45 thus we need to leave by 4:45 in order to get there within 30 minutes and so that I can stop in at a florist for a little something to recognize their hard work. Perhaps a rose for our dd who is five years old and will be dancing, and then maybe a carnation for our ds who is eight years old and will be playing the part of the Prince. Hmm! I'll ask the florist and keep my eyes peeled!

There is apart of me that is numb to all of this. Perhaps with the everyday rehearsals for the past week and the twice a week rehearsals for the past six weeks, considering whether lines are memorized, and dance instructions are being followed; costumes and thespians are detailed from head to toe; school lessons aren't neglected; sleep, food, and playtimes are balanced; and ultimately watching to see if their emotional tanks are stable and flourishing. To God Be the Glory!

And yet I want to take in the emotional levity of it all. Thus, I stop to think it all out so that come this afternoon we can flow "gracefully," peacefully, and joyfully. Yes! I want the children to be encouraged through this experience. Encouraged in the sense of recognizing that God is giving them the confidence to do such things as these and that they can influence their part of this world by performing according to the best of their abilities. And, then the greatest sense of knowing all these things are temporary and meaningless compared to eternity and the people we impact along the way for Christ could someday stand with us before Him and they will know not just who we were but whose we were. That our hearts were His.

Thank you Father! DS has truly done an exceptional job at memorizing his script
(43 lines) and he does it in such a self-controlled manner. What a cutie up there with all those little mermaids. DD sweet nature and enjoyment of beautiful things reminds me that He made all things sweet and beautiful. What a delight to see her pretty-little dancing.

Well, here we are an hour and a half from leaving. Keep it simple, meaningful, and casually elegant. Hmm! And, stay in the moment! My camera! I need my camera... :-)

Procastination

Blogging, jogging, reading, and "flying" seem to all pose a constant dilemma for me right now. If you care to indulge me I will seek to be brief. Okay! These are four of the goals in my day that seem to get the least attention. By "flying" I am referring to the term coined by Flylady (see my link list) for managing CHAOS in the home. (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome without mad dash marathons...because of procrastinated housekeeping.)

As a homeschool family, I am struggling with how our evening activities are impacting my morning energy. Before I continue, I am teaching my children that whining is unacceptable. Instead if you are frustrated, you have a choice, you can choose to feel sorry for yourself by dwelling or you can find help! The following exercise is an attempt to seek such a solution.

I have stated my perceived problem. Bottomline: I am rebelling against being in bed at "bedtime." The fact is that I plan to wake at 5:30 each morning because of our goals and commitments therefore it seems reasonable, physiologically, that I get to bed at 9:30. (I feel like I am creating one of those story problems we used to do.) So then my son says, "If your tired, mom, because you didn't get enough sleep last night, then go to bed at your "bedtime." WoW!

Then there are all the variables. Bedtime responsibilities, dinnertime, family time, "downtime," and time with dh. Okay, do the last three really have to come every night? or at least could they come packaged differently than perhaps I am perceiving.

Each one has different emotional components. For example: time with my dh does not have to look the same every day, rather are all the love languages being met by say end of week. And, while sometimes that might not be happening... are we virtually planning together that it is coming so that the love tanks can be filled.

Procrastination pops up in many different ways. And, right now I have to commit to be in bed by 9:30, and then figure out how to manage the family time, mommy downtimes, and the dh time. Meanwhile, pray for me, please:) I need sleep, not more caffeine:0

Building up and Becoming Peacemakers

As I consider the age-old issue and sin of sibling rivalry, I recognize that my responsibility as a parent is to help them surrender and conquer this temptation. I understand there is a time for war as it reads in Ecclesiastes but there is also a time for peace.

And Christ said we are to love one another and to love as He loved. If we consider when He fought out, it was against the temple establishment who had made His Father's house into a marketplace. But when it came to His ego, he died to self.

In Matthew 5:9 we read, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." But how do we build up and become peacemakers? As parents we are pressed to meet up to the challenge of modeling, teaching, and expecting such heart changes. In an article by Ken Sande he refers to 12 principles that children need to learn in order to be peacemakers. The first six are summarized below.

1. Conflict is a slippery slope. Are we allowing them to respond to conflict by escaping or attacking, when we should be modeling, teaching, and expecting how to work-out conflict?
Working-out conflict requires overlooking an offense, talking it out, or getting help.
When we don't take the time to work out the conflict, I wonder if it is another demonstration of our pride.

2. Conflict starts in the heart. Acting wise or foolish, caring or unloving is a choice made by the person. We are created with the option to pause and think before we respond.

3. Choices have consequences. Bad choices lead to consequences and often to conflict.

4. Wise-way choices are better than my-way choices. Obeying authority, making right choices, seeking Godly advice, and respecting others, though the narrow path, leads to righteousness.

5. The Blame Game makes conflict worse. Try it and find that blaming others, pointing the finger causes others to distrust you. Be brave! Admit when you're wrong and dust off your feet when others are wrong. Move on!

6. Conflict is an opportunity to glorify God, serve others, and grow to be more like Christ.
When conflicts occur pull back and ask yourself if you're taking advantage of the opportunity to the fullest.

Whether we are working out conflicts, recognizing that causing conflict is a choice, understanding bad choices instigate consequences and conflict; obeying, choosing, seeking, and respecting reduce conflict; confessing or surrendering; glorifying God, serving others, or growing to be more like Christ we can all be blessed when we strive to be peacemakers.