Fun at the Park!!

The weather here in Indiana has been beautiful these last few days! We have enjoyed several trips to the park and a picnic. It has been nice to open the windows to our house and let the fresh air blow in. Here are a few picture from our tip to the park that we took today!

Madisen enjoying the swings.

Miriam enjoying the big kid swings.

Macaylee & Mommy taken by Madisen.

Maddie on her climb to the top of the big slide....

at the top.....

and back to the bottom!!

Miriam going down the slide.

Miriam with her slide hair.





Maddie enjoying climbing new things.





Maddie and the parks gorilla.





Macaylee trying to get mommy, taken by Madisen!





One last picture by the fence.

One of Maddie too.

Don't Make Me Count to Three!

Today I added to our blog side bar the books that we are currently reading. I thought that I would also start sharing with you the books that we have in our family library that we like and have been most helpful to us.

Today's book "Don't Make Me Count to Three" by Ginger Plowman looks at heart-oriented discipline. This book has been such a great help and encouragement to me as I discipline and instruct our girls.

So many times when disciplining it is easy to just focus on the behavior and not the heart problem causing the bad behavior. Ephesians 6:4 says to "Bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord". The "instruction" part of that verse is too often left out and yet it is the most important part of parenting. When we do not focus on "instruction" we are just dealing with behavior and not with what is going on in their little hearts and minds that prompted their behavior.

Ginger Plowman gives helpful advice on how to practically apply scripture to discipline situations. She provides helpful questions to ask your children to reveal what is going on in their hearts and minds. She shows the importance of role playing and gives tips for verbally correcting children. Ginger Plowman's gentle and loving heart shows through in all her many tips and suggestions. She brings you to the Bible continually through this book in order to show you how to apply the word of the Lord to their little lives.

One of the phrases from the book that we now use in our home is "Obey all the way, right away, with a happy heart". This has helped greatly to address and remind our girls of how they are to obey. It is so easy for them to stomp off as they obey and this little phrase serves as a good reminder.

Ginger Plowman has also put together this chart called "Wise Words for Moms" that has been so helpful to me. The chart lists many behaviors, questions to ask your children when those behaviors occur, verses to use in your instruction that will help them see the sin they need to "put off" and she includes verses to use to encourage them and help them too see what behavior they need to "put on". I have read through this numerous times as I want to make sure that I am familiar with and know the verses in there. I often reference this chart when I do not know what to say or am at a loss for words.

If you end up reading this book, I hope and pray that you will find it as encouraging and helpful as I did.

"She speaks with wisdom,

and faithful instruction

is on her tongue."

Proverbs 31:26

Summer Poster

Madisen has been asking me for several weeks now "when is summer going to start". With all the rain we have been having and with not having the end of school to define the start of our summer it is hard to put a start date on it. Well, I guess you can say that our summer officially started two days ago, when we made our summer poster.

I stumbled across this idea for a summer poster on this blog and followed a link to also see it on this blog. I thought that it would be a great project for us to do. This poster has listed all the activities and things that we will be doing this summer. Every time we do one of the activities on the poster we will place a sticker next to the corresponding activity, some of the activities will have multiple stickers by summers end.

Madisen had so much fun thinking up all the things that we were going to do this summer, helping to decorate the poster, making the poster and has already enjoyed placing stickers next to the things we have done so far. Even though Miriam is still a little young to yet fully understand the poster, she also enjoys placing stickers by the things we have done. I think this is such a great way for children to see and look forward to all that they will be doing this summer. What fun it will be at summers end, to see all great things we have done, and then help them understand all that they have to be thankful for. It is little projects like this that we can use to help our children learn to be joyful always & to give thanks as 1 Thessalonians 5:16 teaches.

Meal Time Clean Up Routine

I have just started a new routine to clean up the kitchen after each meal. With three little ones there is always a good amount to clean up and also many interruptions that come while trying to clean up. Many days I felt like my kitchen was never truly clean or that one mess was continually pushed aside to make another mess.

When following my routine, no matter what the interruption or how long I am pulled away from cleaning up, I can easily return and tell where I left off and where to start up again. Also with following the same routine every day it insures that nothing gets forgotten and the kitchen stays clean.

Even though my progress might be slow depending on other things going on that need my attention, it is nice to have some sense of accomplishment that something is getting done. Part of me feels that this is so basic, and that I just missed the day that this was taught in basic housekeeping 101, but I thought I would share it anyway.

1. I clear off the table. Putting all dirty dishes in the sink or on the counter next to the sink. I place all the cups that will be used again at the next meal in the center of the table (this is the easiest place that I have found to keep them until the next meal and give the girls access to them when they need a drink) . Then I clear off everything else and put it in it's proper place.


2. Next, I move to the counter bars putting all the dirty dishes in the sink and putting everything else away in it's proper place.


3. Then, I spray and wipe off the table and counter bars, leaving the cleaner on the counter bar so that it will be ready and waiting when I am ready to clean and wipe down the counter bar. If you made it this far with out any interruptions you are doing good! Just look at the progress you have made: you have a clean table and clean counter bars.


4. Next I sweep or sometime wipe the floors (all depends on what kind of mess has been made).


5. Finally I load the dishwasher, wash the dishes that can't be put in the dishwasher, wipe down the sink and the counter around the sink and then I am done and have a clean kitchen.

"She watches over the ways of her household,

and does not eat the bread of idleness."

Proverbs 31:27

Picture Courtesy of Allposters.com

Verse of the Moment

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, 

do it all for the glory of God."

1 Corinthians 10:31

Rainy Day

It has been a long week of doctor visits, ear infections, coughing, sneezing, fevers and more. Today was a rainy and stormy day. It was nice to stay inside, rest up and spend time together. Here are a few pictures of today.

The rain on our patio table.

Macaylee playing with her toys.

Madisen making her play dough creation.

Miriam rolling out her play dough.

More fun with play dough.

Having fun with the marble maze

After nap hugs.

Playing together!

Getting daddy.

Attack of the Macaylee!!!!