Mrs. Lisa and the Terrible, Horrible.................

Have you ever read the book: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst? It is a great children's book - one of my favorites. It helped me laugh at bad days. I could relate to the book, because I have bad days, my kids had bad days, my guess is that you do too. In fact, today could be a bad day..............

I awoke this morning to the sharp pains of what felt like a dagger being turned in my eye - the left one. Movement hurts, breathing hurts, and besides that I'm ticked off that I have to go through the day - a very busy one - with the dagger slowly moving into my brain and then down to my ear. This stinks! How am I supposed to do all the important things I have to do today with this going on???

And then I remembered................I'll do it like I do every day, with God's help. He could take the pain away today - and then again, He may not..........He is God after all. But what I'll learn is, that if I depend on Him and give Him my day from the very beginning.........whatever needs to be done will be done and done well. This is a lesson I need daily. This is a lesson my kids need to learn.

My first action this morning.......as soon as I opened my eyes was to close them again. "God you know all these things that must happen today........I need your help. I can't do this alone."

You know I kind of needed the headache today to remember where my strength comes from. Wouldn't it be great if I could do that every morning without a headache ......................................................Wow, that's crazy talk! Must be the dagger talking!
But maybe............


Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
(Psa 37:5 ESV)

Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.
(Pro 16:3 ESV)


The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
(Psa 28:7 ESV)


But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.
(Psa 59:16 ESV)


The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
(Psa 118:14 ESV)


"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation."
(Isa 12:2 ESV)

Love Your Spouse

Love the dog out of your spouse!

• Whether it is Valentine's Day or not............love the dog out of your spouse!
• To give your child security in the home..........love the dog out of your spouse!
• To show your child how to love others...................love the dog out of your spouse!
• To follow God's command.......................love the dog out of your spouse!
• To be the best spouse you can be.....................love the dog out of your spouse!
• To be the best parent you can be.....................love the dog out of your spouse!
• To spice up your sex life.............................love the dog out of your spouse!
• The answer to most marital questions........................love the dog out of your spouse!

Use Valentine's Day as a reminder, but not a boundary for your love and actions of love. Love your spouse better than you love yourself, serve your spouse constantly, and praise your spouse as you talk to others - that is how you love the dog out of your spouse! So love your spouse without bounds - all year long........forever and ever!

Give your child the gift of love - not just to him/her; but the gift of loving your spouse too.

Make Room for Daddy

To all moms out there.....................

Are you creating an environment where your PeeWee

• can respect his father? Do you respect him? Do you present him to your child in a way that shows respect and paints the best picture of him that you can?
• can spend time with her father? Do you make it possible for Dad to be a part of your young child's life? Do you plan special "Daddy times" or re-arrange your day to make sure he is a part of it?
• can love his father, by loving him yourself?

I think God created the family - a mom and a dad. Both parents bring a unique set of skills into raising a child - and both are needed for a child to grow. I think we as women are guilty sometimes of taking over both roles. In the beginning babies are more dependent on their moms, but we women forget to create an environment where both parents are needed and respected and a vital part. We overstep our bounds.

This last week we had Donuts with Dad at PeeWee School. There were tons of Dads and Grandfathers in the building. It was great! Most of them are never seen around here because mom does the carpooling. But it was a special time for these PeeWees to show off to their dads. Good for you PeeWee School moms that made sure Dad got the invitation and marked his calendar. Good for you for taking an extra responsibility that morning so Dad would be free to come. Good for you for giving your PeeWee that special time.

Moms are important, don't get me wrong. But every child needs a female and a male role model, love, and companionship. Don't sell your spouse short...........don't sell your child's father short.........don't try to be both.

**Disclaimer.............I realize, some Dads do not live up to their responsibilities. I realize that some Dads are absent. I realize that some Moms are forced to take on both roles, and I realize that is very hard to do - so way to go for staying the course.

For most of you....................Give Dad a chance...........Make room for Daddy!


Saturday is the Valentine Making Party........wouldn't it be great for your PeeWee to have Mom and Dad both there???????