My youngest child taught me many things but one lesson in particular has come in handy with grandchildren. I was reminded of it when I read a piece of parenting advice recently. Summer days are long and older toddlers who have mostly given up napping need to be employed and exhausted daily or no one …
Can God Read?
“G-O-D, God,” read Thomas. It’s the first sight word I taught him, and why not? It’s the most important word to know, for him and for you and for me. It’s the beginning of understanding everything. Origin of man and the universe? God. Giver of life? God. Sustainer, Creator, Provider, Author, Purpose-Giver, Indwelling Spirit. The …
God’s Obedient Child
“No!” he intoned, and stomped his little foot. Today he did not want to change out of his pajamas. Yesterday he didn’t want to use the potty. The day before, he wanted dessert but he wouldn’t even taste his dinner. Why is this one syllable so easy to learn to use? Why not, “yes, Mom! …
Caught Off Guard
“We won’t melt,” I said to my daughter as the sprinkling rain came. The overcast sky had been threatening all day but we’d finally pulled our chairs outside along with the sand box and the water table. Thomas’s front was already soaked from play so we sat, half an hour or more, in the drizzle, …
Hope Realized
The Dane Bus got a makeover this past week. It took some serious scrubbing but the twelve passenger van I drove through pandemic is back in action and it’s finally fulfilling its intended purpose. I remember when I first saw the NV3500. I told my husband that car manufacturers waste too much space and if …
There’s No Place Like Home
Traveling with small children is always an adventure. We pack up our entire house to make our home away from home as familiar as possible. We try to stick to familiar routines. We save and splurge to provide memory making opportunities. This week, my girls and I loaded up the kids to visit my sister’s …
Unrealistic Expectations
“But I don’t want to tell myself no,” stated Thomas flatly. We’ve been memorizing the fruit of God’s Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23 with a little song and he knows that self-control means sometimes telling yourself no, even if you really want to do something. Of course, it can also mean pushing yourself to do something …
God Knows
Thomas was struggling to sleep because of the storm raging outside. As soon as he would settle, thunder rattled the windowpanes and he was wide awake again. We had completed our bedtime routine earlier but he was no nearer to sleep, so we talked. I asked him to tell me his Bible verses, one letter …
Ready Or Not
I met my husband after one semester of college. We were engaged after three semesters and married after my third year. Working full time meant taking fewer courses so I took two additional years to finish my degree, five years in all. I worked in the accounting field from my graduation until the birth of …
Corners First
Normally I wash and dry the bed linens and they go immediately back on the beds, but this week, with temperatures suddenly in the eighties, the flannel sheets had to go. Folding the king sized sheet set to put away means tackling the fitted sheet, corners first. Once you get the corners right, tucking the …
A Fitting Reply 