I Will Rejoice

I Will Rejoice, by Karma Wilson has fast become one of my girls favorites. A couple months ago I read about this book on this blog and knew that I wanted to get it for my girls. You will see that I have it listed on our side bar under the books we are reading, not because it is long and has taken us so much time to finish, but because the girls want to read it everyday.

This book is based on Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it". The little girl in the story goes through her day finding ways to rejoice in her good morning kiss, in her dad coming home and in her bed time prayers.

The illustrations are sweet and beautifully capture the everyday happenings of a little girl's day. This book has served as such a great reminder to my girls (well, mostly Madisen even though Miriam does enjoy reading it) as to what her attitude should be as she goes throughout her day; even when she does things she would prefer not to do like going to bed. What a great reminder even for me.

I hope that if you are able to read this book with your little ones it will be a blessing to you and that it will also help turn your little one's eyes to the Lord.

Verse of the Moment

"But he said to me "My grace is sufficient for you,

for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly

about my weaknesses,

so that Christ's power may rest on me."

1 Corinthians 12:9

Our Work at Home

There are so many tasks, as a mother, that we do over and over again; such as the laundry just to have it get soiled again, the dishes so they can be dirtied again, changing diapers for them to be dirtied again, and on the list goes. Today in girl talk Carolyn Mahaney gives a great reminder as to why it is that, we as mothers, are doing all of this repetitive work. Here is just a portion of what she said.

"I realize that all of the mundane, repetitive days were actually full of significant, enduring work. A home was being built. A family was being knit together. Four souls were being shaped for eternity."

As mothers we are shaping the souls of our children, even through the everyday mundane and repetitive work that we do. It reminds me of Mark 10:45 "For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve". We get the great privilege of showing our families Christ's sacrificial love through every repetitive and mondane task we do.

If you get a minute head over to girl talk and read all that Carolyn Mahaney has to say and take encouragement that all repetitive work you do as a mother is not in vain.

At Any Cost

My Goal is God Himself, not joy, nor peace,

Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God;

Tis His to lead me there, not mine, but His -

At any cost, dear Lord, by any road!

~

So faith bounds forward to its goal in God,

And love can trust Her Lord to lead her there;

Upheld by Him, my soul is following hard

Till God hath full fulfilled my deepest prayer.

~

No matter if the way be sometimes dark,

No matter though the cost be ofttimes great,

He knoweth how I best shall reach the mark,

The way that leads to Him must needs be straight.

~

One thing I know, I cannot say Him nay;

One thing I do, I press towards my Lord;

My God my glory here, from day to day,

And in the glory there my great Reward.

~

by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman from Streams in the Dessert

quoted by Dr. John S. Barnett in The Joy of a Word Filled Family

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