A Tree by the Water

But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8

I came across this passage in my Bible study this week. It is reminiscent of Psalm 1, which I have always loved, and the image of the luscious, green tree planted near the cool, refreshing water keeps returning to my mind.

What does it mean to trust in the Lord, to have confidence in him? How do I send my roots towards the water? How do I face the blazing heat without fear? How do I withstand the drought without worry? How do I continue, without fail, to bear fruit, when all around me is drought and heat and despair?

Jesus referred to Himself as the Living Water, who permanently quenches all thirst. My confidence comes in Him. If I remain in Christ, I do not fear when the drought and the heat come. I know he will give me all I need, regardless of my circumstances. He does not change, and he does not fail. He will never leave me or forsake me, and he loves me with an everlasting love. So I can trust him. He is in control, so I can be confident in him.

Who are you trusting today? Where have you planted your tree? What nourishment do your roots chase after? Follow hard after Christ, the only one who can quench your thirst and help you grow.

Book Review: The Fight of Our Lives

I received this book from www.booksneeze.com just before our twenty-three hour drive across country to take my son to college. I read the book aloud to my husband on the way home, and it sparked such great discussion!

The book is written by William J. Bennett, former Secretary of Education under President George Bush, and Seth Leibsohn. The subtitle reads, Knowing the Enemy, Speaking the Truth, and Choosing to Win the War Against Radical Islam. This book is a real eye-opener about what Radical Islamists are doing, and have been doing for many years, around the world. We could not put this book down!

While it was released during Obama's administration, it is by no means a diatribe against his dealings with Islamic Radicals. Addressing difficult issues that none of us like to think about, the authors deal honestly and fairly with the terrorist actions of Islamic terrorists in the past decades, through several administrations. From the introduction:

This is not a book intended to detail every mistake, error, and lapse of judgment we have made against the war that Radical Islam has declared on America and the West. Nor is it a book that can describe every threat against us. Nor is this book merely a criticism of President Barack Obama. The truth is that we have criticisms of both this and the previous administration, as we have certain praise for both as well.

According to the authors, the threat from Radical Islam is calculated, long-standing, and very real. The authors explain the thread of Radical Islam attacks on America and the West through recent decades, connecting dots and explaining background information I otherwise may not have pieced together. Then, the book moves forward with a plan to win this war against Radical Islam, suggesting policies to maintain U.S. sovereignty and prominence.

This is not a book that you finish reading and then move on with your life. It will change the way you think, the way you hear the news and the way you understand the threat of Radical Islam.

Tread Softly

HAD I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet,
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams

W.B. Yeats

I have been blessed to volunteer in my church preschool department for the past 25 years or so, and I have led my fair share of preschool classes down the hall. Before we leave, I always tell them, "Put a bubble in your mouth, put your hands behind your back to make a ducky tail, and put marshmallows on your feet!"

(Translation: Close your mouth, keep your hands to yourself and don't stomp down the hall!)

This poem by W.B. Yeats reminds me of those marshmallow feet.

Children are dreamers. For them, life is full of wonder and possibilities. Anything is possible, for they have not yet learned the List of Things Impossible to which adults silently adhere. Moment to moment, their eager minds question and ponder and dream. And, sometimes, they trust us with those dreams.

...dreams of who I am and who I might become.

...dreams of my ideas becoming reality.

...dreams of mountains I know I can climb and victories not yet seen.

...dreams of big things I can do for Jesus.

So often, it's not until they are gone that we treasure those dreams entrusted to us by Small Ones. Busy with the details of life, we fail to listen as they whisper the secrets of their hearts. But these dreams and hopes reflect the face of the Living God, who places them on their young hearts. Don't miss the joy of those moments! Encourage those dreams. Dream with them!

Take the time, Sweet Momma, to listen to the dreams your children spread under your feet. There will always be dinners to cook, crafts to work on and tv shows to watch. Set them aside, and put on your marshmallow shoes.

And tread softly, Momma. Tread softly.

Top Ten List, Part 3

For the past two days I shared the first half of my Top Ten Things I Learned to Say as a Momma. Those five were things I have learned to say to my children.

The remainder is a list of things I say to myself. Sometimes, out loud. So, without further adieu:

#5. "This, too, shall pass."
Whether it's a baby who keeps you up all night crying, or a high schooler who keeps you up all night talking, just remember....This, too, shall pass. This applies to good moments as well as difficult ones! Whatever the stage, they will only be in it for the briefest moment. Then, that moment will be gone and it will be too late to enjoy it. So, whatever the stage, take a bird's eye view and enjoy the ride!


#4. "They are not out to get me!"
I'm actually serious about this one. No matter how much it might seem that everyone in the house has plotted against you to maintain a messy home with peanut butter-stained windows and an obstacle course on the stairs, they are NOT out to get you!

Most of the time, they really want to please you.
But, they get tired.
And they get sad.
And they get busy.
And they forget.
Just like we do.

When I realized they aren't doing this "to me," I am able to step back, breathe, and focus on training, rather than take offense and get angry.


#3. "There's a time for that."
This is most helpful to me with regard to messes. I have learned that having a housekeeping schedule maintains peace and order in our home. If I know that there is a time later today that's already set aside for someone to address that mess, I am able to ignore it for now, and enjoy the moment. Which leads me to #2....


#2. "Let it go."
Not every mistake needs to be corrected. Not every lesson has to be taught verbally. I have six children. If I point out every mistake, every mess, made by every one of them, I will be griping all day long. If I'm fussing at them all day, they just learn to ignore me. And they learn that raising children isn't fun. And they learn to avoid me and our home. This is not what I want; I want my children to see what a joy they are to me, and what a joy it is to raise them. I want them to enjoy our family and our home.

I am learning to just let things go. This is difficult for me, but I have noticed that, when I do, our home has an atmosphere of peace. The rest of the home mirrors my mood.


And the #1 I say to myself, as a Momma?

"God isn't finished, yet!"
God is not finished with my children, yet. He is saving them, daily, from the bondage of sin. He is training them in righteousness, conforming them to His image. But, He isn't finished, yet. And He isn't finished with me, either! We have to teach our children to understand this concept, and show them grace as they learn to be like Christ. In turn, they will learn to extend grace to the unfinished works around them.


Keep these thoughts in mind as you snuggle your children today.
And pray.
A lot.

Top Ten List, Part 2

Yesterday, I began the Top Ten Things I Have Learned to Say as a Momma, which I delivered at a MomHeart conference in Dallas. The first five items are things I say to my children. We covered #10, "Actually, he is the boss of you," and #9, "I'll give you two guesses," yesterday.


8. "Kind words or no words."
"When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise." Proverbs 10:19

My children love to talk. Sometimes, though, they speak without thinking and say hurtful things to one another. This is never acceptable. I want them to learn to choose the right word at the right time, and speak the truth in love. When they speak unkindly to one another, I remind them that, in our home, speaking is a privilege, not a right. That privilege may be suspended if it is abused. Forced silence is a fate worse than death to my verbose children, so this is a very effective tool! This helps them learn the self-control they need throughout their lives.


7. "What am I going to say?"
Another fantastic discipline tool. Let them lecture themselves! Most of the time, the child already knows he has made a poor choice, and he regrets it. By the time he older, he knows all of your speeches by heart, anyway. So, it goes something like this:

Child hits sister.

Mom: "____(insert name of Precious Child)____, what am I going to say?"

Child: "We don't hit."

Mom: "Why not?"

Child: "Because it's not kind."

Mom: "So, how are you going to fix the situation?"

Child: "Apologize."

Mom: "And, next time?"

Child: "Don't hit."

Done! And Mom didn't have to scream, or yell or anything!


6. "Do over." aka "Try again."

I love do overs. If we say or do something hurtful or wrong, we can call a do over and try again. This gives the child a chance to practice correct behavior. Moms get do overs, too!

I also use this when I receive an unacceptable response from a child. When they are very small, I feed them the correct words to repeat back to me. When they are older, though, I just tell them, "Try again," until I get the required response.

Now, we talk about the fact that, once they are out there, our words can't really be taken back , but a do over goes a long way towards healing relationships. It helps people to see each others' hearts, even when their initial words or actions are wrong.

********

Tomorrow we will discuss the second half of the list, Top Ten Things I Say to Myself about raising children. Have a blessed day with your precious children!

Top Ten List, Part 1

David Letterman, from Late Show with David Letterman, CBS photo

I have always enjoyed David Letterman's show. His dry humor reminds me of my brother, and that makes me smile. The best parts of Letterman's show are the top ten list he offers every night, and the occasional Stupid Pet Tricks and Stupid Human Tricks segments.

In true Letterman fashion, I recently delivered my own Top Ten List to a group of 800 moms at a mother's retreat in Dallas. Many have asked me to post the list, so here you go!


Top Ten Things I Have Learned to Say as a Momma:
To the Children (#10-6):

10. "Actually, he IS the boss of you."

When my son was young, I was continually fussing at him for "parenting" his sisters.

"Their mother is here," I would tell him. "I don't need you to be in charge. You worry about yourself, and I will worry about them."

Well, this was all well and good until, years later, I wanted my son to babysit his sisters so we could have our coveted Date Nights.

"You're not the boss of me!" became the girls' new mantra. It took quite a bit of work for me to undo the mess I had made. I immediately established a chain of command, and began to stand behind the decisions of the older children.

It would have been much easier if I had known, from the beginning, to grant the older children authority over their younger siblings. This gives them great practice in learning what is a good leader, and creates more order in our home.

9. "I'll give you two guesses!"

I have five daughters, and one son. They are all talkers. I hear an endless barrage of questions, all day long! They all just have so much to say!

A sweet friend once noticed my plight, and taught me the "two guesses" trick that her grandmother used. Here's how it works:

Child: "Momma, why do I need a jacket?"

Momma (old response, includes sarcastic, irritated tone and a fair amount of eye rolling):
"Because it is w-i-n-t-e-r!!!! You already know you need a jacket! Can you really not see the snow outside? It should not be a shock that I ask you to get a jacket! How hard is it? Go get your jacket on. Now!!!"

Result? The child is hurt and resentful, Momma is angry and the argument most likely took more time than we had before we needed to head out the door. But, with the two guesses trick....

Child: "Momma, why do I need a jacket?"

Momma (pleasantly, because it's a game): "I'll give you two guesses."

Child: "Because....it's cold outside?"

Momma: "You got it! See, you didn't even need two guesses! Look how smart you are!"

Result: Everyone moves happily out the door, wearing jackets and smiles. The child learns that he is pretty smart, and Momma thanks the Lord for such an intelligent child.

Alternate Result: Occasionally, Momma discovers that the child really doesn't know the answer to the question. Thus, Momma learns that the child is not trying to irritate her, but honestly seeking to learn something. Imagine that!


Try putting these into action today, and I'll share the rest of the things I have learned to say to my children tomorrow!

They do not know

The Music Lesson by Lord Frederick Leighton (1877).

I was struck, today, by Jeremiah 8:7 which reads,

"...But my people do not know the requirements of the Lord."

Let it not be said of my children that they did not know the Lord's requirements, for it is my responsibility to teach them. It is my job to place their feet on the path of truth, and point them in the way of the Everlasting God. If I don't teach them, who will? No one on this earth loves them as I do. I have been selected by the Almighty God to teach these precious souls to follow Him.

Deuteronomy 11 reads, "Remember today that your children were not the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the Lord your God: his majesty, his mighty hand, his outstretched arm; the signs he performed and the things he did in the heart of Egypt...It was not your children who saw what he did for you in the desert until you arrived at this place...But it was your own eyes that saw all these great things the LORD has done...Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds...Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates..."

It is my responsibility to teach my children of the Lord, so that they may follow him with all their hearts, souls, minds and strength. May I never present to them a tame God who can be neatly illustrated in storybooks and understood by human minds. My God is omniscient, omnipotent, infinite and mighty. He hung the stars in the sky and wove the butterfly's wings. He created every particle of every atom in the universe, and it is His hand that holds them together, even now. He created gravity and the water cycle and centripetal force.

Yet, He cares intimately about tiny, selfish, stubborn me. He leans forward to listen to the cry of my heart. He loves me with an everlasting love. He is for me.

This is the god I want to pass on. What kind of God are you passing on to your children? What are you doing to make sure that they know?

Book Review: The Prophecy Answer Book

The Prophecy Answer Book deals with Biblical prophecy concerning End Times. While I know the Bible is true, and full of prophecy on the subject, I have always been so busy dealing with the here and now that I haven't spent much time studying End Times Prophecy. This book is designed for just such a reader, someone who already believes the Bible to be true, and knows these prophecies are there, but has never really studied them. It is almost like a Frequently Asked Questions book for End Times Prophecy.

The Prophecy Answer book is a handy reference tool by Dr. David Jeremiah. Dr. Jeremiah is well-known for his sound theology, and is a trusted source of information on this topic. In the book, Dr. Jeremiah addresses common questions regarding Biblical prophecy, in a question-and-answer format. The book is divided into seven sections, to make it easier to find the answer to your specific question: Current Events, The Rapture, The Tribulation, The Antichrist, The Second Coming, The Millennium, and The New Heaven and the New Earth.

This book is not a page-turner, but it's not designed to be one. If you are looking for solid, Biblical answers to questions about prophecy, this book is a great tool. This would also make an excellent gift book for friends who are interested in Biblical prophecy.

I received this book from www.booksneeze.com, and am glad to have it in my library!

Mom Heart registration discount

Only three more days to receive the Early Bird Discount! Register by December 31 for $20 off regular registration rates.



Take the time to nourish your mom heart! You will be blessed and rejuvenated!

My Mom Heart Matters!

When I first read Clay & Sally Clarkson's books in 2001, I felt the Lord speaking directly to my soul, "Here is a road map for how to raise children who thirst for me." Trust me, you don't want to miss out on this time of renewing! Sally Clarkson will encourage you, and she will show you how to inspire your children. This conference will change the way you see your children, and help you to be the mom the Lord has created you to be. Join me at the Dallas conference, February 18-19, 2011! Register before December 31 for only $79! (This is a fantastic Christmas present....hint...hint...hint!)

Sometimes And Maybe

Sometimes, if you listen,
then sometimes you will hear
the sometimes birds that sing their song,
sometimes, into your ear.

And maybe, if you look,
then maybe you will see
the maybe flies that float around
so very merrily.

~~by Ranguvar

The Shadow

The Shadow
by Ranguvar, formerly known as Padme


The sun is bright, the sky is light.
So why does it feel like night?
It is the middle of the day
So why does this spot look so gray?
Over there, everything is warm and jeweled;
Over here, everything is dark and cool.

I will never understand
How day and night work hand in hand.
And if, I think, I even tried
To know how they work side by side
My brain would burst!
It's so complex!
Oh, great, now I am quite perplexed!

These works that I can't figure out,
Why, they just make me want to shout!
I guess that I will end my rhyme
As the little child, confused with time.

By The Brook in the Meadow

By the brook in the meadow
There's a marble path

That leads to a gate

That never hath

Opened its bars

Of jewels and gems

To show the world

The special Cerlems.

The world of Cerlem

Is an interesting one

Where day's light is moon

And night brings the sun.

Where giants so small

Play with elves that are tall

And the roofs are the roots

And heads rest in boots.

There are clouds in the river

And grass in the sky.

The birds walk on land

And puppy dogs fly.

And if all of the tales

That I say are true,

Then the one of Cerlem

Must be, too.

~~a poem by Padme, hereafter referred to as Ranguvar

Pecos Bill

Pecos Bill

By Angel

March 2010

Bill was the youngest of twelve children. Every one of them wore a bright star on their right hand. Then Mom and Pop decided to move. On the way, Bill fell out of the wagon. By the time his family noticed he fell out, it was too dark to find him.

But a coyote found him. Her name was Grandy. She taught Bill how to howl at the moon. Soon Bill was as talented as the rest of the pack and he could talk to all animals.

One day, a cowboy came riding on his horse. The cowboy’s name was Chuck.

Chuck said, “Baby.”

Bill repeated, “Baby.”

Bill founded out Chuck was his brother. So, Bill went with him. Then he was a cowboy and his brother said, “You need a horse.” So Bill caught one, and he named it Lightning.

Then he saw a girl. He asked her to marry him. She agreed to marry him if she could ride Lightning. She did ride Lightning. She was bucked off Lightning’s back. Bill was sad. He taught the other cowboys his tricks. The End.

The Cat Book

Cats are amazing animals. Cats come in all sizes and colors, and spots and stripes. Cats are pets and cats can be wild, too. By wild, I mean leopards and cheetahs. And cats can be tame. Tame cats love to play. Some tame cats do not like to play. Some cats are lazy.
The cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world. It is God who made the cheetah. And more are made every year. How many kinds of cats are there in the world? Not two in the world, there are about thirty-two kinds of cats that live in houses.
--by Wendy

Happy President's Day!

We will be reviewing the White House website about the Presidents and doing some of the President's Day activities here. And, of course, reviewing the order of the Presidents in the Animaniacs video:



Lyrics | Animaniacs - The Presidents lyrics

Happy Superbowl!

In Effort to Praise You

I wish I could crash like the waves
Or turn like the autumn leaves
In effort to praise You.

I wish I could smell like the forest,
The fragrance lifting a mighty chorus
In effort to praise You.
In effort to praise You.

But I’m such a limited creature,
And my word can only paint so many pictures.
But somewhere I think I read that I am
Treasured over all creation,
So I know that I must try.

I wish I could roll like the thunder,
To leave the earth below in wonder
In effort to praise You.

I wish I could fall like the summer rain
And every drop would sing Your name
In effort to praise You.
In effort to praise You.

But I’m such a limited creature,
And my word can only paint so many pictures.
But somewhere I think I read that I am
Treasured over all creation,
So I know that I must try.

Gloria! Glory in the highest!
Forever I will hide myself in Thee.

Every breath I breathe,
Every moment in my history
Is an effort to praise You.
An effort to praise You

Gloria! Glory in the highest!
Forever I will hide myself in Thee,

Oh, Gloria
Glory in excelsis deo

Gloria, gloria, gloria
Gloria, gloria, gloria
Send "Gloria" Ringtone to Cell
In Effort to Praise You
by Watermark

Halloween 2009

We had such a fun time tonight at our local Family Festival. The girls looked awful cute (below) as a Rock Star, Genie, Ballerina Pig (being a Plain Pig just wasn't cute enough for her), Jedi Knight and Jewel Thief!

With Sparky the Fire Dog at the Festival.

They love anyone dressed as a giant animal. Weird.

Diego was a bit insulted by the pink leopard cami and pink tutu, but he knows he looks cute.

Little Beau, the Ladybug


OK this is not from Halloween. Padme took this picture of Mema and Poppie with the new camera they bought her for her birthday. :)

Freedom

"Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again."

~~~Ronald Reagan Gubernatorial Inaugural Address, January 5, 1967