Gig 'Em Kids!

School is about to start ...... again. You would think I would get used to it after all these years. You see I taught 1st grade for 5 years, preschool for another 4......... I've directed a preschool for 8 years now........ I've sent 3 children off to school for the last 18 years! So, (counting my school years) - for the last 44 years, I've enjoyed the excitement of the first day of school. I love new beginnings, fresh starts, new notebooks and backpacks and lunch boxes and cool new pens.

In the next couple of weeks I will enjoy the newness of:

• Another year of PeeWee School
• My daughter's 2nd year of teaching
• My college kids' new semester

Which are all very exciting and good................but the next few days will be a little sad too.

Haleigh drove off this morning. :( With the wind in her hair she set off to conquer another semester of college. She is so smart and witty......... and she is gonna do great. She is headed off to where she is supposed to be......... it is a good thing. She spoiled me all summer with her time. We laughed - mostly at me. We watched movies. We ate together. We talked. But now she is gone.

Drew is home right now. I've missed him all summer - he was busy with a job in Austin. I'm enjoying this week together. But he will leave Sunday. :( He needs to go and finish his degree and be challenged at school and do great things - but I'm gonna miss him.

Sunday Mark and I will stand on the driveway and wave goodbye............like I did today. Then we will proceed to take the house back! It is a good thing. We can get back into our routines and healthy eating. It will be quiet............

Everyone is where they should be........... Marisa and Steven in their house, Haleigh and Drew up in College Station, Mark and I at home. But I will still miss them.

So kids, here are some verses for this new beginning.........from your mother's heart:

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

Psalm 46:1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God.

Gig 'em kids in all you do! Love God more today than yesterday.

Love, Mom

Helping the Body Grow

Lately, my body seems to grow without any help at all! Or as my dad used to say: "I'm watching my waist......I'm just getting it out there where I can see it." But truly, I digress, that's not what this is about.

We are bombarded everywhere we look with healthy habits and ways to stop the unwanted growth. We as Americans are getting bigger every day. But our church body is starving.

Ephesians 4 and Romans 12 are all about how the Body of Christ - the church - has many parts that all need to function together. It resembles our own bodies in that. So how do we get the church body to grow - to become strong - to get bigger and bigger?????

Ephesians 4: 16 - ".............when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

How does the body grow - when everyone is doing their part. When everyone is working together. When everyone is on board.

Believe me our church doesn't need a diet - we don't need to downsize - we need everyone to serve in their gifts and do their part.

So join a team and help us grow.

And together we can build up the church and provide a place for people of all ages to experience God's love and grace. And you will be shocked at the personal growth you will experience at the same time.

Worshipping with the RITZ

Have you ever wondered why we have Goldfish and Ritz and such in PeeWeeVille?

Yes, it's true we all like to eat.........but did you know that we actually put thought into it? That there is a legitimate reason that we feed all our PeeWees every time they come to see us?

Feeding a child in PeeWeeVille is the beginning of spiritual development. Let me show you what I mean:

• Familiar - A PeeWee is familiar with their bottle or cup, or with the crackers that we serve. We want the study of God's grace to feel familiar and comfortable for every child. We want them to think of God and what they learned as they use the cup or eat those crackers in another environment.
• Satisfying - Eating or drinking is a need for everyone. As we meet that need in PeeWeeVille, PeeWees can begin to relate to the fact that God meets all our needs. They don't have to sit hungry or thirsting when they are in God's house. God can meet all our needs - it would be very ironic to try to teach a preschooler that lesson if they were hungry or thirsty!
• Comforting/Caring - As we care for each PeeWee in PeeWeeVille, we want to be God's hands to them. We want to care for them as we teach them that God loves them so very much. We want to help them feel their Father's love.

PeeWees are concrete thinkers as opposed to abstract. They need to touch and feel and see and taste something to make it real. As they get older and develop a ton of memories, they will become more abstract and be able to think about things that they aren't touching at the moment. Since we can't use our senses to really explore God.........although He did give us a beautiful creation to explore ............ we want PeeWees to feel full and comfortable as we tell them about how wonderful their Father God is.

Snack time isn't a time filler for us...........it has an intentional place in the worship hour for a PeeWee..............................just so you know!

Volunteering

I lead a very volunteer intensive organization. I started as a volunteer at the beginning of PeeWee Ministry and now I lead almost 200 volunteers. It has been a while since I was a volunteer. Today, I stepped out and volunteered in the community in a position I am very passionate about and have wanted to do for a long time. Unfortunately, the horrible experience I had today as a volunteer almost totally overshadowed the joy of serving in my passion. Let me explain:

• I left feeling disrespected........ My contact was 30 min. late for our meeting, and I was asked to wait 3-4 times during the morning.
• I left feeling unnecessary.......... No one called me for over 6 weeks. No one apologized or made excuses, but they admitted that they hadn't called me back.
• I left feeling unwanted....... Instead of trying to help me today and give me customer service, I kept hearing how someone else had dropped a ball and so they weren't ready for me.
• I left feeling unimportant........ A couple of times I was placed in the middle of other volunteers that were having personal conversations. No one acknowledged my presence.
• I left feeling awkward, embarrassed, dumb....... No one trained me. I showed up today and was thrown into a situation of performing a task I had never done before without any instruction. My contact was there to watch me and tell me what I did wrong - how awkward!

The organization is a good one. The role is great. And I'm not quitting!! This is what I need to do and I enjoyed it - in spite of the feelings above! But I learned some important lessons and I want to make sure that PeeWee Ministry volunteers never feel any of the things above.

• Returning phone calls promptly is not only an absolute but just good manners.
• When we make an appointment with a volunteer we need to be there early and prepared to help them be the best volunteer they can be.
• Good Customer Service is a must.
• We need to remember to introduce new people to our friends and not be cliquish.
• We need to refine and polish our volunteer training so that they are successful from day one.

We are not a perfect ministry. We make mistakes. But these are values we hold high and after experiencing the lack of them........I'm even more sold on their importance! We should never let our lack of preparation and manners squelch a passionate volunteer. You see volunteering doesn't just help PeeWee Ministry, but our volunteers are also growing in their faith while they serve God in PeeWeeVille. What an awesome, beautiful responsibility ............. how amazing that God chose me with all my faults to help others grow...........

Thank you for today God........... let me remember this experience forever........... make me better because of it. And forgive me for the times I have not led like you would lead.

Love your spouse today.......

Yesterday I talked to 2 different couples that are going through divorce. All that kept going through my mind was:

• Why?
• What are you thinking?
• Stop!!!!!!!!

Physically, I felt ill, and full of a rage almost. I wanted to slap some sense into them. Well............I refrained, but decided to blog some sense into anyone that would listen.

Love your spouse today! You and your spouse have to become a team. You have to lock arms and go through life together because, life is hard..........kids will behave badly.........things will hurt.........bad things will happen to you.........you will be tempted.

So anyone reading this...............love your spouse today:

• Pray for your spouse
• Ask for God's help to love your spouse
• Tell your spouse all the things you first fell in love with about him/her
• Love your spouse emotionally today
• Love your spouse physically today
• Love your spouse sexually today

LOVE YOUR SPOUSE TODAY and cling together for the ride that is your life.

Freakazoid

Well the results of our survey are in.................
Here is what you said you fear the most when it comes to your kids:

1. 3 answers tied for first place: Physical harm, Poor choices, Death
2. Health as the fourth top parental fear you gave.

Those are big things to fear. I know I feared them for my kids...........and I am still concerned and prayerful about all of them even today. I think that probably shows our love for them - at least being concerned about those things. That is what helps us make better choices as their parent. For instance:

• Because I am concerned for my child's poor choices - I am going to teach him right from wrong continually.
• Because I am concerned for my child's physical harm - I'm going to make sure she doesn't play in the street.
• Because I am concerned for my child's health - I'm going to make sure we eat healthy meals.

I think you get it. Concern leads to prayer and wise actions...........fear can lead to paranoia.

• We become paralyzed. We don't want our children to participate in anything or go any where because something might happen.
• We become control freaks. We want to control every aspect of our children's lives.

The good news is............. God is in control, so you don't have to be afraid! God is God and you are not. God loves your kids even more than you do. God is the only one who can truly protect them. We don't have to fear.

Think about Moses' mother. Read Exodus 2:1-10. She wanted to protect her son. She took care to hide him. She took care to make a basket for him and leave his sister to watch over him. But ultimately - she put him in God's hands. God protected him. God provided the Princess to find him. God protected Moses because He cared for him and He had great things in store for him.

God will protect your child too. God loves her and has great things in store for her. So ask Him to help you parent your child. Ask Him to protect your child. Ask Him to show you what to do to be the best parent you can be. And then rest in Him.

Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Psa 94:19 When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.

Psa 139:11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,"
Psa 139:12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.
Psa 139:13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
Psa 139:14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
Psa 139:15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Psa 139:16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them.

1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
1Pe 5:7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Luk 12:22 And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.
Luk 12:23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
Luk 12:24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!
Luk 12:25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Mat 6:34 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Why do they do what they do????

A few months ago, we talked about how kids are Martians sometimes........ Do you ever feel that way? Do you ever ponder the "why" behind kids' actions?

I think it is important to discuss bad behavior. I think it is good to find the "trigger" for your child and work with him/her on better responses to that trigger. What happens if you can't find it? What do you do if there is no "why"?


James 4:17 - "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin."


Sometimes our precious children are just sinning. So even though the Bible says that everyone sins........why is it so hard to admit that we have given birth to a sinner?

I think sometimes we as parents are embarrassed. So if we know that our kids are going to make bad choices.........if we know our kids are going to sin...........why is it embarassing to us? A reason for bad behavior somehow makes it easier for us to "save face". Is it hard to admit that your kids embarass you? If it is.........hang on, you will have many opportunities in their lifetime to experience it. It never gets easy though.

Whether we like it or not, to some degree, our kids behavior becomes a reflection of our parenting. So what do you do................

1. Call it what it is - disobedience; sin
2. Remember it was your child's choice not yours
3. Look for triggers - but don't get paralyzed trying to figure them out.......sometimes kids just do stuff.
4. Look at your parenting - make changes where you need to to be consistent and your child's leader; but remember it was your child's choice not yours.
5. Allow your child to receive the consequences for his/her bad choice. Don't try to be the savior - you aren't.
6. Be sure to support the other authorities in your child's life that may be dealing with the bad behavior also.
7. Help your child learn to make better choices next time.

Kids can be weird..........sometimes there is no explaining why they do what they do. The more consistent we as parents are in dealing with the bad behavior - the shorter the lifespan of the bad behavior.

Celebration Weekend!

What a glorious weekend we had! Easter is such a great celebration of God's love for us and Jesus' victory over death and sin. I hope that you and your family enjoyed the time and celebrated like crazy! Here in PeeWeeVille we have calendars of activities that you can do all month to continue the learning and fun. I hope you are taking advantage of those activities and enjoying a month of thinking about Easter and the hope it brings.

Every Easter I look for new ways to present the story to preschoolers. This year I found a lot of very good books and we used them in PeeWeeVille. Each year as I hear stories from PeeWees I'm reminded that the Easter story isn't too hard for them, and we don't need to skip over it. Granted, you shouldn't go into graphic detail about the torture of the cross, but PeeWees understand sin, heaven, God's love, and the joy of Easter.

I heard a lot of stories the past 2 weeks that reminded me of how much kids can understand:

• I heard about Kindergarteners that came in on Thursday talking about Jesus dying on the cross that day...........so they were off a day...........they got it any way.
• I heard about 3 and 4 year olds that talked in the car about the cross and Jesus dying on it.
• One family had a sign in the yard with a cross on one side and Easter celebration on the other. Their 4 year old couldn't wait to wake up on Easter and turn the sign around to show the joy to the neighbors.

Sometimes hard subjects are easy to ignore. But if we share them anyway, God can work in ways we don't understand to give wisdom and understanding. So basically,

• Don't ignore.
• Pray about how your teach your kids and what answers you give to their questions.
• Answer what they ask only - no need to give details that they weren't asking for.

Now...........let me hear your stories from Easter. What did your child say, or ask, or some how show they appreciated Christ' sacrifice?

Again with the Yardstick List

.........So how are you doing on your Yardstick List?

If you don't normally follow my blog, this is the list of characteristics and traits that you want to see in your child as they grow up. Like as they grow up the yardstick in height are they changing in character, or you teaching or modelling traits that are representative of a Christ Follower?

So, have you made your list?

Have you developed some sort of strategy to teach these traits?

Are you and your spouse both working on the same Yardstick List together?

I found a new book that I think will help parents develop their list and the strategy to move forward on it.

Revolutionary Parenting by George Barna

Great for couples to go through together. It also has a workbook, and a leader's guide to lead a small group through together. Great stuff!

Smelling like Jesus

It's Spring...........things are budding. It is beautiful to the eyes. It feels good to the skin for the temperature to be warmer. I hear people talking about opening their windows and enjoying fresh air. But for me - it is like walking through a haunted house. There is something waiting to be sucked up my nose and send me into a sneezing fit! The outside looks scary. You see, I have allergies. What is beautiful and fun for most - holds the potential for a migraine or coughing attack.
Because of my history of allergies, I tend to stay inside. I don't want to let my senses experience the spring time. Because of my history, I don't trust the air outside! Maybe I should just become the bubble lady!

2Co 2:14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 2Co 2:15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 2Co 2:16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

I thought of my allergies as I read 2 Corinthians a while back. You see, we are supposed to be the fragrance of God to our neighbors and friends. It should be the sweet fragrance of spring. But sometimes:

• We aren't sweet.
• We don't help people see the beauty of God.
• We don't look or smell like God at all.

The result is that we make people hurt - like my allergies do to me. Then our friends, neighbors, and our children become afraid to experience God again.

I don't want to be an allergen fighting against the aroma of God. I want to truly look, feel, and smell like Jesus. I want people - especially my family - to be drawn to God because of the way I treat them.

So how do I fully take on the aroma of God.........................

2Co 2:14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.

God help me:

• let you lead me
• let you fill me
• to spend time with you and get to know you better
• to take on your aroma
• to smell like Jesus all the time
  

As Different As They Can Be

We have 3 kids. They are as different as they can be.

• One is quiet, compliant, loving, and cares for others.
• One is direct, rational, to the point, and yet very giving.
• One is funny, friends with everyone, loyal, and truly loves people.

We have 3 kids. They are as different as they can be. They are all Aggies - whoop! They have all approached their school work and careers totally differently. They all have a relationship with Christ - WooHoo!! They all followed a different path to start that relationship.

• One felt the love of God and how He had made her so special..........and that led her to faith.
• One saw his sin and need for salvation .............and that led him to faith.
• One craved a relationship with Christ.........and that started her faith walk.

We have 3 kids. They are as different as they can be. Thinking about the 3 paths they took to start their walk with Christ, made me realize how important it is to offer children the truth of God in many forms. You don't know which is going to strike a cord in their heart. You don't know which is going to be the "lightbulb" for each one of them. They are not cookie cutters of you, so don't assume they will accept faith as you did. God created each one of them individually, so don't assume their relationship with Christ will look just like yours does.

We as parents must not assume our children will follow our faith path. We must not assume that what sparked our journey will spark theirs.

• We as parents must share the truth of Christ with our children in many different ways: relationally, as a product of God's love, as an answer for our sinful nature, as God's perfect plan from the beginning, .............. You don't want to miss the one that resonates with each of your children.
• We must be creative as we show our children our Heavenly Father by using many different mediums - books, poetry, nature, art, music.

We have 3 kids. They are as different as they can be. In every aspect of life, they will see the world differently. They will choose a different path. They will relate to us differently. And that is just as it should be! God is a creative God. He made each of us special and different. I don't think He expects us to all follow the same path. I think He enjoys meeting each of us in different ways and different places.

The lesson.............recognize and then enjoy your kids differences.

Psa 139:13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
Psa 139:14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
Psa 139:15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Psa 139:16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them.

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???????

Laugh a Little

Kids truly say the darnedest things! I feel so blessed in my job, because I'm around small children all the time. I'm able to talk to them and mainly listen to them a lot. They make me laugh.....a lot! I'm also blessed in that you parents send me funny stories from your kids a lot. Thanks! I love it! I love to laugh........and kids make me laugh.

I was just reading a great story by e-mail from a friend and her 6 year old. It reminded me of stories from my kid's childhood. I won't share them............too many for this space..........and besides, they would hate me for it. But I did write them down. I kept baby books and calendars when my kids were preschoolers. We have buckets of stories and pictures and awards from their school years. This summer we cleaned out the attic and spent days reading the stories and laughing so much.

So I want to challenge you preschool parents:

• Laugh, laugh, laugh.............enjoy your kids. They are funny. They need to see the joy they bring to you. So laugh at some stuff.
• Document, document, document............journal..........write, save the stories. You will be surprised how quickly the mind fails and you begin to forget. Save the stories.
• Share, share, share...........with close friends and with your child's consent. Don't embarrass your child by telling everyone everything, but share with close friends and family.
• Tell me................I love to hear stories of my PeeWees and I love to laugh.
  

Life goes by quickly........cherish the moments........and laugh a little. Parenting doesn't have to be all serious business. God gave us a sense of humor and the ability to laugh, so enjoy His creation!

Lifelong Friendships

As you made your Yardstick List for your child/children.........did you list something about friends? I know I always did. I wanted my children to be good friends, to have good friends, to know the joy of having someone to lean on and laugh with, to be able to go through life with someone and not be alone..........

I think God created us to crave friendship, to not want to be alone, to need the help of a friend.
Ecc 4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
Ecc 4:10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

Parenting is hard work. You need the help of a friend. I have had many acquaintances, but I was blessed with 3 lifetime friends that helped me through hard times in my parenting and celebrated the happy times of my parenting. Even when I have moved away from them - the friendship remained. One of these friends was with me when my father died, 2 of these friends were with me as I gave birth to my children, and all 3 were at the wedding of my oldest daughter last month. Of the 3, one is more like a sister to me than the others, but all were there for me; and I know that all of them will be there for me when I need them.

The values of parenting with close friends are:

• Sharing the struggles
• Laughing together
• Learning together
• Giving your children other adult role models
• Having someone to lean on

And the list goes on......................

If you are parenting alone right now, pray for God to send you a friend. Pray for someone who shares your likes and passions, someone you will enjoy spending time with, but also someone who will challenge you in your Faith Walk. Pray for someone who has the same values and ideals as you do. Pray for someone whose Yardstick List is similar to yours. Pray for a friend.

Then begin to be a friend to others. Begin to develop friendships. Take a risk and talk to someone. Take a risk and let someone know you.

If you are not currently in a Small Group setting studying the Bible with others, join a Small Group. At Clear Creek Community Church you can get involved in a Small Group through Grouplink.

Talk to other parents when you drop off and pick up your child at church or preschool. Attend family events at church or preschool. In PeeWeeVille next month we will host a Family Valentine Making Party - February 7 9am-11am. This is a great chance for you to interact with other families of Preschoolers at our church.

Make some good lifelong friends for your sake as a parent, but also for your PeeWee. Be the example to your child of how to be a friend and the value of friendships.

I received an e-mail from a woman last week who was disappointed that she hadn't made any friends at our church. I hate that too, but as I talked to her I realized that she hadn't made any effort to meet anyone or put herself in a position to get to know others. Friends will not fall in your lap! You must prepare yourself to be a friend and then practice being a friend. But oh, the beautiful flowers that will grow in that garden if you put the effort in the beginning.

Ready, set, go........

2008 is almost gone. Tomorrow begins 2009! What is going to be different in 2009? What are you going to do different? How will your parenting change as your PeeWee will be growing older? Are you ready for 2009?

We really have to be ready for 2009 - it will begin tomorrow no matter. So, for the last time this year I'm gonna ask you - Have you made your Yardstick List yet???

• My challenge to you is to begin 2009 not only with your list of what you would like to see in your child when he grows up, but also a plan. As you go through this next year of parenting, plan teaching moments to teach each of the values on your list. Also, be sensitive to teaching moments that just happen in daily living with your PeeWee and seize them.
• Look at your Yardstick list often. Update it........add to it..........highlight the values you have purposefully taught this year. Watch your wonderful little PeeWee grow into a child who honors God, and is growing not only on the yardstick, but also in his faith and his "get-along-with others-ness". Help her become the very best she can.
• Journal......the successes, the growing pains, the fun stuff, and the dirty stuff. Create for your child a book of memories.
  
• Throughout the year, read your journal. Sometimes we can't see the successes because we are lost in the trees of the every day. So let your journal give you a look at the overall forest that is your PeeWees growth. Sometimes you need that just to keep going and know that you are making a difference. Sometimes it will give you courage, sometimes some laughter and a smile.

Get ready! 2009 is only hours away! Parenting is more important than parties, schedules, work, and all the other things you will plan for this week - so spend some time planning it today.

Parenting with the Book

Sweetest story from yesterday in PeeWeeVille.........a dad came in to buy a Bible for his son. I think it was a Christmas present. What a great Christmas present! But the sweet part was that the dad had committed to read his Bible every day in 2009, and he wanted to read to his son at the same time. That is parenting!

When I was in college studying education, I learned all about how important it is to read to children. How important it is for children to see respected adults reading. How all of these factors shape a child's reading skills before they even begin to decipher words.

That is what made this story sweet........not only was this dad helping his son become a reader. But more importantly, he is going to help his son become a reader of the Bible.........a student of God.........a learner in the ways of Christ..........This dad was taking a very big first step in helping his son grow a strong faith for himself, by reading the Bible as an example, and by reading the Bible to his small son.

Whewwwwwwwww for an educator's heart - that was amazing. That is parenting.

By the way, here are some suggested books and kid's Bibles:

• My First Study Bible
• The Big Picture Story Bible - by David Helm
• Parenting with Scripture - by Kara Durbin
  

From Mary Janes to a Wedding Dress

I hope you have made your Yardstick List. If not, I beg you to make it quick. You would be so surprised how fast your PeeWee will go from wearing shiny mary jane shoes to fancy wedding shoes!

For the last two weekends I have watched the parade of PeeWees dressed in their Christmas outfits waltzing through PeeWeeVille ready to sing on stage. I love it! Sunday, I literally closed my eyes and was taken back to a day that didn't seem long ago when my three were all dressed in coordinating outfits. My son looked so handsome in his Christmas sweater and khakis. The girls with shiny shoes and twirly dresses. I love mary jane shoes - every little girl should have a pair! But then I was rushed out of my daydream abruptly as I saw two of my kids walk into PeeWeeVille and they are both taller than me! Neither had mary janes or fancy clothes on, and the worst part.............they were adults! How.......when........did that happen!

One day you too will be old like me. Your kids will be all grown up. Will you have a yardstick list complete? Will it even be on paper? Will your kids look like the result of your yardstick list? We can't know the future. We can't really change the future. And our kids have their own freewill, so we can't make them be anything really. But we can do our best as parents to steward them as the gift from God that they are. We can have a plan, and in our imperfect way attempt to teach and train them as God commanded us to. One day........hopefully when I'm much older..........I'll stand before God and be accountable for my parenting. I won't be accountable for my kids' actions, but I will be accountable for the way I trained, taught, parented them. Do you have your list yet? Do you have a plan?

My oldest daughter gave up her mary janes many years ago. In a couple of days she will put on fancy white shoes and the most beautiful white gown. She will walk down the aisle and become Steven's wife. I blinked and it happened. She isn't playing dress up.........this is for real. Did I do my best? Did I teach her all I could. Did I fail miserably as a parent? These are my questions and concerns. It went too fast..........I need more time...........If only I could............

Your child is growing out of his/her shiny shoes faster than you think. Make a plan. Make a yardstick list today.

The Yardstick List

If you go in my garage, you will see lots of marks up one wall. They all have a label - someone's name and age and the date. You will also see a pen yardstick beside them. It was such a big deal for my kids to measure themselves and watch themselves grow up the wall. Mark and I are marked there also. It was a true milestone when they each passed me up! There are even a few friend's names on the wall - some of those close friends of our kids that became "adopted family members". One day when we move out of this house, those marks will be the hardest to leave behind.

Just as we mark our children's physical growth, we should also mark their spiritual and social growth. Just like they won't stay little physically, we don't want them to stay small spiritually or socially either. The goal for all parents is to raise fully functioning adults.

Physical growth is fairly easy to plan. Feed them, keep them healthy, and have regular check-ups. But spiritual and social growth............how do we plan for that?

Make a list. Just like you know you want your child to grow larger, you should have in your mind what they need to be like as an adult. Make a list of all the traits you would like to see in your child when they are an adult.

For the last month we have had a survey on this blog of what you want your PeeWee to be like as an adult. Only a few of you responded, but the results were: trustworthy, compassionate, and happy. This may be the beginning of your list. Now what are you going to add to it? What traits do you want to help your PeeWee develop? What traits will help them succeed as an adult? What is the most important thing you want your PeeWee to have or learn?

So my challenge to you as parents is, make your yardstick list. Make a list of qualities you would like to see grow in your PeeWee as your PeeWee grows up the yardstick. Do it together. Write it and save it and use it as a teaching map. Do it today, because every day your PeeWee moves further up the yardstick. Without a yardstick list, you are parenting blindly and without purpose. You are leaving your child's spiritual and social development to chance. Make your list.