Grandparents are Grand

I just want to give a shout out to grandparents. There's a reason "grand" is at the front of their title. They truly are grand to have around. I just wish we lived closer. Whenever we leave grandparents' home T sheds great tears. There's something uplifting and inspiring being around grandparents. They're encouraging to the parents as well.

Thanks to S's parents for letting us have a lunch date. Thanks for indulging my idea of going to the park with the kids on Thanksgiving. Thanks for just being there and loving our family. Thanks for being family, and involved.

Grandparents are grand.

Water and Worms

A bird came down the walk:
He did not know I saw;
He bit an angle-worm in halves
And ate the fellow, raw.


And then he drank a dew
From a convenient grass,
And then hopped sidewise to the wall
To let a beetle pass.

~Emily Dickenson

It's been quite rainy the last several days. Thanksgiving, it seems, was our last sunny day 

between Thursday and Monday. Little F was not going to let that stop her from going outside.

 I made sure she had a coat on (it was after all a cold rain), put rainboots on her feet, and let 

her explore the wonderful outdoors. I thought for sure she'd make mud puddles and was 

finding myself wishing I'd brought a more play friendly jacket with us to her nana's home. 

Thankfully little F is far more fascinated by grass and puddles than by mud. She spent 

most of the morning picking grass and wild onions, "planting" them in Nana's empty 

flower pots, and chasing worms in puddles. 

There were plenty of worms. She started out by squatting so that she could get a better 

view. Then, tentatively, her hand reached out toward the worm. Quickly she retracted  it, 

then tried again. This time she reached through the low puddle and actually touched

 its back! She startled as the worm recoiled from her tough, curling its front and rear ends, 

wriggling into a tight coil. She again retracted her hand, and again reached out. This 

continued for several minutes. Changing her methods F then cupped her hands to 

block and change the worm's path. I think she was rather disappointed it didn't 

climb up 

             into her 

                         hands. 

But she kept exploring and observing the worm for quite a long time. 

When she came inside she said "I did saw a worm outside. 

It was big and taller and taller. It touch me."

Little Cook

Over the summer T watched a TV show in which kids-some as young as 8- competed in a cooking competition. Since then 6-year-old T's been increasingly interested in cooking.

First he made smoothies. Then sweets. Now he's starting to work on main dishes.

When our church's annual chili cook off was announced T determined to try his hand at chili. I mentioned my two favorite recipes to him. He wanted to search for his own. A web search soon turned one up, and soon we headed off to get supplies for "crazy pork and pineapple chili".

As I baked cookies T sauteed ground pork with onions. He found the length of time it took a little too long. " Won't you take a turn?" He asked. I encouraged him, and he succeeded. As soon as it was browned I carried the hot pan over next to the crock pot.
T spooned it from the pan to the pot. He opened cans of beans, tomatoes, and pineapple. He measured seasonings ("Is this a tablespoon or this one?"). He mixed it all together. His dad plugged in the cord and T turned the knob to low. He'd done it!

"I'm going to win," T declared. I assured him it was admirable to cook, and he was right to be satisfied with his work, but not to be surprised if he didn't win his first try.

In the morning we loaded it into the car. T was so excited. As soon as the service ended T hurried with his dad so he could add the pineapple (he'd used the juice  the night before).  "No!" He said. "They tasted it before I'm finished" As someone took pictures T added the pineapple and stirred. Splat! The juices of the sauce splashed his yellow shirt. One of the judges saw what he was doing.
"But we already tasted it!" She said. "Do we need to again?" "No," replied another, "We'd already decided."

Of course T didn't win, but he wasn't really all that disappointed for long. There was too much fun to be had and anyway, he was pleased with his work.

As he finished eating a woman approached.
"I heard you made the pineapple chili," she said to him. "Did you do it by yourself?" She then said "I'm a chef. I cook for a living. You know, I started at your age. You did well." Then she gave him advice. She told him to keep practicing and taste, taste, taste as you go.

Now T can't wait to cook again!

Stories

A few years ago my son built with one thought in mind: demolition. He loved knocking down things, especially towers of blocks. Now things are different. Things are built with a purpose in mind. The purpose tends to evolve, and tends to involve a story.
What story did he and his friends create today? That I cannot say. All I know is it involved a pink monkey with freaky large eyes and a headless Lego minifig.

I'll leave the rest up to your imagination.

Come on. If a six year old can imagine a story out of these...

Let sleeping toddlers lie

Did the last two nights my toddler girl has been staying up late. Now she's in my bed asleep despite it being closer to eight than seven. Sleeping to this late hour is, for her quite unusual. I'm glad she's sleeping. Of course it does mean I can spend more quality time with my elementary aged first born, but I'm just glad she's sleeping. There's something extremely beautiful about a small sleeping child. Everything about the face says peace. Perfect peace. Every little movement her body makes, every wiggle in response to a sound, I hold my breath.
Truly, let sleeping toddlers lie.

My Dream Children's Church Library

What would be in my dream church library? Not simple moral-ism, and not cartoonish oversimplifications like Veggie Tales & Odyssey. Inspiring thoughts for young souls.

A Bible Alphabet- by Allison Brown (Banner of Truth publishers), a Bible story book with coloring pages.
A Good Start- by Charles Spurgen (Soli Deo Gloria publishers), a collection of children's devotions by the "prince of preachers" on spiritual growth.
A Token for Children- by Cotton Mather (Soli Deo Gloria) godly advice for children
Action Bible-
Against the Tide-by Hope Marston (P&R publishers) a biography of Margaret Wilson, a Covenanter of Scotland (early Presbyterians) written for teens and late elementary.
Against the World- by Henry Coray (Inheritance) a biography of Athanasius for late elementary and teens.
All About God's Animals Colors- by Janray Tromp (Kregel Publishers) for babies and preschoolers
All About God's Animals Water
All Things Bright and Beautiful- by Cecil Alexander (Harper Collins) the poem with gorgeous paintings to enjoy
Amazing Stories from the Past- by Christine Farenhorst (P&R) devotions and biographies to inspire teens and late elementary
Anselm of Canterbury- by Simonetta Carr (Reformation Heritage) a biography, with lovely illustrations, for older elementary children
Answering Your Kids' Toughest Questions by Elyse Fitzpatrick (Baker)
Arise! Shine! (CD)
Ask Me Whoo (GCP)- questions kids ask about the Bible, answers, and Bible verses, in 3 musical CDs.
At the Mercy of Kings- Linda Finlayson (Focus) a biography for teens to enjoy
At Your Baptism- by Carrie Steenwyck (Eerdmans)- explaining baptism to children
Athanasius - by Simonetta Carr (Reformation Heritage) a biography for older elementary children
Augustine of Hippo- by Simonetta Carr (Reformation Heritage)
Awesome Words- by Edyth Draper (Crossway) a 365 day devotional for teens and preteens
Barber Who Wanted to Pray- by RC Sproul (Crossway) guiding children using the Lord's Prayer, a simple way to pray is simplified for children
Beggar's Bible- by Louise Vernon (Herald) the story of Bible translation of John Wycliff
Beginning With God- by Nancy Gorrell (Focus) truths about the trinity for early elementary
Behind a Frowning Providence
Betrayal - by Douglas Bond (P&R) a gripping biography of John Calvin for teens
Bibletime Series- by Carine Mackenzie
Bible Animals- by Alison Brown (banner of Truth)
Bible Doctrine series by James Beeke (Reformation Heritage)
Bible Doctrine for Teens series by James Beeke (Reformation Heritage)
Bible Explorer- Carine Mackenzie
Bible Lessons for Juniors series
Bible Lesson Handbook
Bible's Big Story
Bible Study A Student's Guide
Big Book of Bible Truths 1 and 2
Big Book of Questions and Answers
Big Book of Questions and Answers About Jesus
Big Thoughts for Little Thinkers series
Big Truths for Little Kids
Big Picture Bible
Biggest Story
Bless the Lord
Blessed (CD)
Boys and Girls Playing
Bringing the Gospel to Covenant Children
Catechism for Young Children (should actually be given to each family)
Child at Home
Child's Book on the Sabbath
Child's Story Bible 
Church History ABCs
Comforting Hearts Teaching Minds
Countering Culture
Courage And Conviction Series
Come Ye Children
Crazy Love
Creation Series
C.S. Lewis The Story Teller
Dangerous Journey
Dating by the Book
David Livingstone Who Is The Bravest
David The King True Repentance
David the Fugitive
David the Shepherd
David the Soldier
Deep Down Faith
Doctrines of Grace Student Edition
Dr Oma
Elements of Faith
Emily Series
Eric Liddel
Everything a Child Should Know About God
Faerie Gold
Faith Worth Teaching
Faithfulness Under Fire
Family Devotions Guide series
Following God
Following Jesus Bible
For the Children's Sake
Fossils that Speak Out
From the Lips of Little Ones
Full Moon Rising
Get Wisdom
Giving
Go To the Ant (CD)
God is Everywhere
God is Faithful
God is Kind
God Has Power
God Knows Everything
God Made Animals
God Made Colors
God Made Food
God Made the World
God Made Time
God Made Them Great
God Made Water
God Made Weather
God Never Changes
God's Alphabet for Life
God's Great Plan
God's Mighty Acts in Creation
God's Mighty Acts in Salvation
God's Promises
God's Battle
God's Providence
God's Wisdom
God's Word
Gospel Powered Parenting
Grace Works
Grandpa's Box
Great Escape
Growing Up Christian
Guarding the Treasure
Guard Your Heart (CD)
Hall of Fame
Hearts and Hands Series
Heaven for Kids
Heidelberg Study Guide
Heirs of the Covenant
Herein is Love series
Heroes of the Reformation
Holding Hands Holding Hearts
Honey for a Child's Heart
How Our Children Come to Faith
How to Teach the Catechism to Children
Huddle
I Believe
I Can Say to God series
If You Love Me (CD)
Ignatius of Antioch
I'll Be With You Always
Including Children in Worship
In Remembrance of Me
Instructing a Child's Heart
Irenaeus of Lyons
It is Finished
Jesus Storybook Bible
Jesus Teaches Us series
Jesus the Savior
Jesus the Teacher
Jesus is Coming Back
Jesus Is the Most Special
Jim Elliot
John Calvin
John Knox
John Owen
Journey
Junior Inquirer's Manual
Keeping Your Cool
Kids Sign Psalms (DVD)
King Without a Shadow
Lady Jane Grey
Leading Little Ones to God
Let's Grow series
Letters to Young Men
Life of Jesus
Lightkeeper Girls
Lightlings
Little Hands Learning to Pray
Little Preacher
Living in Control in an Out of Control World
Long Story Short
Lord Builds the House
Mighty Acts of God
Mommy Please Don't Cry
Moses the Child
Most of All Jesus Loves You
My Heart Christ's Home
My ABC Bible Verses from the Psalms
My ABC Bible Verses
My 1st Book About the Bible
My 1st Book About the Gospel
My 1st Book About Jesus
My 1st Book of Bible Prayers
My 1st Book of Bible Promises
My 1st Book of Christian Values
Never Be Shaken (CD)
New Children's Bible
Our Covenant With Kids
Our Home is Like a Little Church
Parenting in the Pew
Pastor's Daughter
Pastor's Kid
Paul's Travels
Peacemaker
Pilgrim's Praise (CD)
Pilgrim's Progress
Plan
Polycarp of Smyrna
Priest with Dirty Clothes
Prince's Poison Cup
Raising a Christian Daughter
Read-Aloud Bible Stories (5 Volumes)
Reformation Heroes
Relationships a Mess Worth Making
Resources for Changing Lives ADD
Risktakers Series
Sammy and his Shepherd
Scent of Water CD
Shhh...Don't Wake the Baby
Shorter Catechism Study series
Show Them Jesus
Silent Night
Sing the Bible (CD)
Sing the Westminster Shorter Catechism (CD)
Someone I Loved Died
Song of the Stars
Stand Fast in the Way of Truth
Stand Up (CD)
Stories Jesus Told series
Stories of the Huguenots
Tales of Persia
Teach Me While My Heart Is Tender (CD)
Teach Them The Faith CD
Teach Your Family the Truth
Teens Talk About Fear
Tell Me About God
Tell Me About Heaven
That's When I Talk To God
Toddler' Songbook
To The Rising Generation
They Shall Be Mine
Thunder
Time Travel to the Old Testament
Tinker's Daughter
Training Hearts Teaching Minds
True: Becoming a True Woman
True Story of Noah's Ark
Two Fat Camels
Under Calvin's Spell
Uniting Church and Home
Wait Till You See the Butterfly
Walkin' Wise (CD)
We Became Men
What Is the Church
What is the Gospel
What Is the Truth
What Really Happened to Dinosaurs
What Should I Do
When Good Kids Make Bad Choices
When We Worship God
Who Will Be King
Why Can't I See God (CD)
Why Christmas
Why Easter
Wise Words
Wings Like a Dove
Weight of a Flame
Wonderous Works of God
Word Wise series
Work of His Fingers
You Are My God (CD)
66 Books One Story

My Little Bookstore- A Parody by T

T has created a parody of the My Little Pony theme song.

"My little bookstore, my little bookstore. Ah-ah-ah-ah
My Little bookstore, I used to wonder what books could be
My little bookstore, Until you shared books with me,
My little bookstore...friends."

It's those few moments

There's something special about grabbing a few minutes one on one with your younger child. T had four years before he had to share me but F had to share me from the time I brought her home. Yesterday I dropped T off at a yoga class for kids. The day was pretty nice. Blue skies, warm temperatures. I held F's one hand while she held her Minnie Mouse in the other. We stood at the curb, waiting for traffic to relent in its endless stream so we could cross. We turned and wandered down the jogging trail by the creek. We chased each other across a log fallen in the path. Several times we had to stop to pick up Minnie. Then, hand in hand, we headed to a small coffee shop together. She munched a cake pop while I sipped my coffee. Minnie Mouse sat by F's side as she chatted, munched, and watched the traffic streaming down the small town road that divided her from Bubba in yoga. At last we tidied up. She stuck her cake pop back in its sack and scooped up Minnie. I picked her up and prepared to cross the road.
"Tumin' Bubba!"
It was good to spend time together, but how she couldn't wait to see her brother again!

"No Snow? Make It Yourself" Declares 2 Year Old

This exclusive story is brought to you by the BFNews.

- Winter and summer both offer a lot of fun. Everyone knows this. In the summer you can cool off in the pool or by splashing water around the water table. In winter you can stomp in snow, throw snow, and build with snow. Children of all ages agree summer and winter offer a ton of fun.

When it's not summer and you feel the need to splash there are many easy alternatives. The tub, obviously, or your sink. Oh, and there's always your glass of water. The snow on the other hand is a bit bigger of a problem. 2 year old F found herself facing that very problem when the snow in her neighborhood melted. Instead of melting into tears though F came up with her own solution.

"No snow? No make it yourself!" She laughed.

That's exactly what she did as her mom bent over big brother's arithmetic. She pulled on her snow boots and ran around. No issue, her mom thought, as long as she's stomping in circles around us she'll leave brother's book alone.

 Then the stomping ceased. Her mom galnced up. Silence is, as you know, ominous.

 Pantry door was adjar. Flour started flying through the air in enormous clouds, coating the floor thickly. Little F, snowboots on, hands full of flour cried gleefully "Snow!" as she began stomping all over the kitchen floor.

No snow? No problem. Just make it yourself.

How To Make Bamboo Glue (Instructions by a 6 Year Old)

You know the simple delight when children play with natural materials? It was plastered all over my children's faces yesterday as they explored a booth at a convention. This particular booth had color mixing stations, water beads, and herbal play dough. In tin pails by the play dough were rose petals, rose stems, bamboo, leaves, rocks, and other bits and pieces of nature. My children were completely absorbed in their work. Suddenly T picked up a thin stick. It was dangling halfway.

"This needs bamboo glue," he told the booth owner.

"Where do we get that?" She replied seriously.

"We make it!" Was his confident answer.

"How?"

"First you go to Australia, then you get some bamboo, cut it down, mash it into pulp, come home, mix it with American glue and you have bamboo glue!"

Of course!

Church is for the sick but--

Church is for the sick, but not those with colds! We're home today as the kids are contagious. Husband went to church. What have we done at home? YouTube!

The kids: We started with them watching a kids' film called The Lightlings, a cartoon on the effects of the fall and the light of the world. You can see it herehere

We sang several songs, and worked on the Sunday school memory work of Psalm 24

The Love of Christ

O the Deep Deep Love

We Adore Thee

The dog decided to bark along. I found an awesome clip with the words to the apostle's creed
We sang Psalm 24. Sons of Korah on YouTube!
For the Reading of the law we listened to a chapter of Proverbs, then I found a clip with a confession of sin and assurance of pardon on YouTube again. Then came a song on God's goodness.
For a sermon? What better than RC Sproul on the gospel? I'll tell you. Being able to listen to more than half between a fussy toddler, fighting kids,and barking dog. I did find it interesting to be reminded how we focus the gospel on ourselves and our work, as opposed to realizing it's all the work of the holy spirit, and forgetting the essence of the gospel is the incarnation and substitutiary atonement.
To get the kids back in we finished by watching The Prince's Poison Cup before singing O Sacred Head Now Wounded and In Christ Alone.

So excited!

What a different child little F is than her brother T. He had no issues with me calling him my baby at two. She on the other hand insists she isn't. "No baby!"

Speaking of baby, I'm so excited. I've completed my Flowering Baby collection. Hurrah! Now I have all five volumes. I've used volumes 4&5 with T. So far I've drawn from 1&2 with F. Now I'm about to start volume 3 for ages 2-3. What is it? Inspired by mostly Charlotte Mason and with a goal of preparing her child for classical education a mom & grandma in Kentucky created a daily five year developmental activity guide. There are living books, classical music, nature exploration, game ideas, ideas for natural learning in the home, gross & fine motor development ideas all laid out in easy to implement daily doses. I have such fond memories of the activities T & I did in his preschool years. Now it's little F's turn.

How different will this be with such a different child?

Do Not Worry (Matthew 6 retold and screaming at my heart)

This is the famous passage about worry. I re-told it for T when he was F's age. Now that I'm pulling it out for F it's just screaming at my own heart.

                Jesus was a man who was also God. 

Jesus taught people about God.

Mommies listened to Him. Daddies listened.

The boys and girls and babies listened.

"Don't be upset. 

Don't be scared. 

God takes care of you," Jesus said.

"Look! See the birds?

They eat worms.

They eat seeds.

They don't have to farm.

God cares for the birds.

Look! See the flowers? 

The rain falls.

The sun shines.

Flowers grow.

God cares for the flowers.

God loves you more than birds.

God loves you more than flowers.

God will take care of you. 

                Trust Him. Trust Me." Jesus said.

We trust you, Jesus.

We trust you, God.

Thank you, Jesus!

Thank you, God!

Toddler Beginning to Realize

Aren't early friendships wonderful? I know some of my earliest playmates were a couple of cousins, the daughter of one of my mom's closest friends, and the neighbor girl across the street. Now it seems little F is starting to realize the fun of playing alongside familiar faces. All this week I've been hearing "Yay J---", " See J---", and just the other toddler's name over and over again.

It's fun to see interest in people emerging.

My 2 year old's favorite books

In a couple weeks little F will be turning 2. Amazing to realize how old she's getting. She's a delight. Why, just yesterday we were at an open house to a 3 day hybrid school sitting waiting for thr presentation to begin.
F turned around in her seat to smile at the woman behind us.
"Hi!" She said. Then turning slightly she gestured toward me, "Mama," and turning to her other side she pointed "my dad". It made my day. Introduced by my two year old.

Besides seeing people F loves to listen while we read to her. Like many little ones she definitely has favorites. These in particular she has us read over and over.


More More More Said The Baby
by Vera B Williams

What a charming story. Or I ought to say three stories. Each follows the same pattern as a parent holds his or her child and interacts in ways the listener relates. The short story ends with the toddlers asking for more.


Hug
By Jez Approach

I originally bought it as an early reader for T but it was F who became attached.  It's the story of a little chimp who sees various animals hugging their parents and goes looking for its own mom. I'm sure you can imagine the end.

Most Of All Jesus Loves You
By Noel Piper

It's bedtime and mom is tucking her children in bed. Mom reminds the child of how everyone loves them. It ends with the title phrase.

Kitten's First Full Moon
Kitten's adventures as she attempts to get a bowl of milk she sees in the sky and a pond.

Anticipation: Recovering the Wonder of Advent Part 3: Slow Down the Season

So far in my quest to build anticipation I've mused on modeling and not mis-using Santa and such. Today I'm going to share my thoughts on not overlooking the season. After all, I want to build anticipation.  If my family's schedules are overbooked where does that leave us by December 25th? Exhausted?  Focused on social instead of the one who came to redeem a kingdom?

Slow It Down! Way down. If I start the season slowly instead of with a bang things won't seem as hurried. If I gradually build steam like I'm using this month to prepare the season may not feel as harried. Building anticipation slowly and gradually may just be a piece of the puzzle needed a more relaxed relaxed Christ centered season.

Here are ways in which I'm trying to slowly build steam this season.

1-Spread out the decorating throughout the season. This year I'm not decorating all at once. Christmas then isn't thrust upon us suddenly. Keep things subdued initially with a feeling of growing delight and anticipation.
Excitement builds gradually as the decorations increase steadily.

2- Talk about any symbolism and pray. As you decorate or admire the decorations casually offer brief prayers of thanksgiving, penetance, adoration to the one who is the "reason for the season". Explain the story of Benedict.  Talk about greenery. I learned that in some traditions the wreath on the front door appeared on December 24th as did the tree.
 Have an advent wreath. Use an advent calendar and reading schedule. Reference your readings throughout the day. You could even change colors for a few decorations to reflect the change between advent and Christmas.  This year T has a mini "advent tree". The ornaments are blue and purple for now but on December 24 will change to white. And seriously though I don't intend to teach him "happy birthday Jesus" as I think it belittles the real meaning of the day. It may sound like an easy way to explain the purpose of Christmas but the incarnation is so much more.

3- Social

Jesus came to redeem his people- plural- so celebrate with others. I think there's a real balance that has to be struck though.  I don't want to over schedule my family. That means I may goto a select handful of events but not everything. Something else is time with extended family, especially December 25 & 24. They're important.  Is Christmas about family though? If I'm overwhelming my kids that hardly makes it a celebration of Christ's love. If I prioritize family time over church I'm also sending a strong message to my kids. You see, Jesus really is the reason for the season. I can tack Bible reading on to my Christmas morning or I can make worshipping Him the priority and tack everything else on to show He's the one we are celebrating.  A few years back Christmas landed on Sunday. S and I had such a hard time finding a service open Christmas morning!  Sadly after all that effort we ended up giving in to pressure from his family and attended a Saturday evening service instead. This was wrong. We set the wrong tone and the wrong example for our little T. Im just glad he was only a toddler then! Jesus came to redeem his people. Those people are called to be God's children.  We're part of the family of God! How better then to make time on Christmas day than to worship God incarnate with brothers and sisters in Christ?  What joy to which we can anticipate! The now and the yet to come, when thanks to this miraculous birth we can anticipate celebrating with all our family in the celestrial city. What am I saying? I think I need to search out a Christmas Day service, even on a weekday, if there still is such a thing.



4- Choose My Music Carefully

This may or may not sound silly. But I recommend choosing which songs you sing in the weeks leading up to Christmas around hope and expectation rather than fulfillment. December 24 things can change. Save singing Silent Night for December 24th and on and for now sing O Come O Come Emmanuel. Wait to sing Hark the Herald Angels sing on Christmas,  for now singing Hark The Glad Sound. Waiting to sing While Shepherds Watched learn to sing From The Squalor Of A Borrowed Stable for now. For a place to begin learning advent songs check out lists here or look in a hymnal's advent section. Ideas include

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent

Come Long Expected Jesus

Lift Up Your Heads

The Mighty God The Lord

Rejoice All You Believers

Christ Is Coming

When He Cometh

O Lord How Shall I Meet You

Savior Of The Nations Come

Hark The Glad Sound

Check out this link for contemporary

http://www.worshipindepth.com/the-latest/15-advent-songs-your-church-could-be-singing

Then the evening of the 24th burst out in Hark The Herald Angels and others. You'll have a couple more weeks to enjoy them (&  not grow tired of them).

Anticipation: Recovering the Wonder of Advent Part 2: Grace Not Guilt

Leave Off Behavior Focused Holidays!

You'd better watch out
You'd better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town. 

The elf on the shelf watches. Santa is making a list so you better behave. If you don't behave or if you're too selfish you might not get...The holidays are full of empty silly threats.

 I've started wondering if the constant use of these shift the heart's focus off the redeeming substitutionary work of Jesus. Why? Whether simply for fun or at times a useful alternative to counting  the child is subtly given the message good gifts are earned.

Should the message of Christmas be "be good so you can get something"? Is that why He came? I want to teach T & F Jesus came because they aren't good, he is. I want them to learn we do good from a changed heart, not from a bribe. Isn't it encouraging greed? Isn't "best behavior" then about self-centeredness rather than selflessness?

Such constant reminders- verbal and visual- may just give the season a human-centered tone rather than God-centered. Just think with me a moment. Think of the examples I opened this section with and contrast it to Jesus. We can do nothing to earn the ultimate gift.

Now I'm not saying it's bad to hang Christmas stockings. We do. But Santa is treated as a fairy tale on par with Hansel And Gretel. It was when i was a child too. Stockings were hung by the chimney with care. We left cookies out for Santa knowing full well he was really our parents. And it was fun! Grandma gave us books like Santa Are You For Real and VHS movies about Saint Nicholas alongside Cajun Night Before Christmas and a beautiful pop up Night Before Christmas. Santa, or rather Saint Nick, inspired us. When were children my sister and I used to fill each other's secretly in the spirit of the original Santa, Bishop Nicholas. It's not a bad thing in and of itself. Just playing the "he's watching" game, I believe,  builds the wrong sort of anticipation.

 If we want our kids to understand gifts aren't merited by our behavior then lay off the empty threats. When my child struggles at Christmas I need to do what I should year round. Discuss the glorious character of God and the nature of his grace. Bring them back to the gospel.

Anticipation: Recovering the Wonder of Advent- Part 1 Model It

"Put Christ in CHRISTMAS"


Every year as fall winds down and December begins I hear and see this statement. Generally what's meant is don't remove the references to Jesus from decorations, cards, and songs. Let me put my nativity up for display without criticism (as a side note these are actually debated in the Christian world in light of the implications of the second commandment). Throughout our holiday -BTW as holiday means holy day I have no qualms using the term- is the message we send our children really that Jesus is the center of Christmas? Or that people are? How can I as a parent change it?


And I mean I. I am parenting two precious little people T and F. How can I turn their focus first and foremost to Christ? How can I focus on Him so that His character and His deeds are wondered at, appreciated, and anticipated? How can I reference him to T & F so the Christmas story doesn't ring hollow? How do I not just tack Him on as an addendum? I have a few ideas to try. Over the coming days I'll be making a series of posts on building anticipation.


1- Model It!

This is where everything begins, isn't it? After all "Actions speak louder than words!" rings especially true in parenting. To get the "reason for the season" across to my kids I need to model expectation, anticipation, and wonder. Historically Christians have celebrated a season of four weeks leading up to the beginning of Christmas as not Christmas but Advent. In thinking, it was sort of similar to lent (just look up liturgical colors). It has historically been a time of longing and anticipation as you remembered the Old Testament promises and considered them in light of waiting for the second and final advent. It was a time of self examination. The dual undertone of advent - both first and second coming- makes it a time to remember both a threat (the consequences of the fall) and a promise (the earth groans but will be made right. Jesus made this happen and will complete His work. He came to redeem the world. He "banished sin and sadness" and will one day eradicate it in the new world).

Thus advent is a season of prayer. So pray! Even if it seems awkward. Remember that praying constantly doesn't mean you're under pressure to say the right words. Pray about sin. Pray about God's promises. Pray about the anticipation of a savior. Pray about longings and dreads of the second coming. Feel free to drop little prayers in addition to long focused ones constantly. If you need help here, pick up a good book like "If God Already Knows Why Pray" by Douglas Kelly,  "Pray With Your Eyes Open" by Richard Pratt, or "The Lord's Prayer" by Sproul.  For your kids grab a copy of "The Barber Who Wanted To Pray".

Meditate. Follow the advent calendar with your family. I'm not talking just Christmas countdown. I'm talking wrestling with the promises of God. In your own life this could be reading over the promises. It could be focusing on one of the themes from the advent wreath in your daily devotions.

Week 1 read passages on hope. Focus on why we need hope, the hope in God found in the Old Testament,  and halfway through the week shift to the hope found in the New. I mean beyond the gospels. Or read a book on Christian hope.

Week 2 is Preparation or Peace. Think about the God of peace and all its implications. Think over the Prince of Peace. Meditate on the how sin has left the world and your life in anything but peace and how OT promised the Emmanuel who'd bring peace between God and man. Consider how one day there will be forever peace in the new creation after the second coming. Read a book on peace.

Week 3 of advent is a bit like midway through lent. The focus is on joy. "He has turned mourning into gladness." Consider the joy of fearing God, the joy of Christ, the joy that filled OT followers as they hoped and longed for their savior, the joy of following our savior and anticipation of actually being with Him ourselves thanks to His redeeming work. Read a book on joy.

 Finally, week 4 the focus of advent is on love. Read passages in both testament on the love of God. Saturate yourself in realizing His character. Realizing the love he had to be Emmanuel, and your lack of love. Dwell on how a heart changed and redeems can love because he first loved. Or read a book on the deep, deep love of Jesus! Vast, undesired, boundless, free.



My favorite book for advent personally is On The Incarnation.

Read Part 2: Grace Not Moralism

http://weewonderings.blogspot.com/2014/12/anticipation-recovering-wonder-of.html?m=1

For the first time ever in church T sang. What made the difference?

It's little things that make a difference.

I've always thought of T as my reluctant singer. When he was a toddler in story time he'd listen but not participate. After we got home he'd mimic what'd he'd seen in his own time.
At church if the music was too loud preschooler T would press his hands over his ears. Sensitive child. At home he'd bang away rhythmically on every toy instrument he could fun. What a noise.
If I tried to sing with him he'd just listen.

Eventually at four call-and-response songs began working with T (and yes he'd match notes). At five he began wanting to lead the echo songs rather than follow. He also began figuring out notes on the piano. Mary Had A Little Lamb and Twinkle Twinkle Kittle Star are both recognizable. Church changed, a little, as T began humming along to the congregation's singing. Still, in large groups he'd absorb but only copy at home.

This Sunday things were different.

This Sunday things changed.

This Sunday T sang.

Yes, sang. Sang the same words as the rest of the congregation with the congregation. Not at home later. He joined in song together. What made the difference?

His access to the words.
Words accessible to a beginning reader who needs to use his finger to follow along.
It turns out for a small reader like T just hearing isn't enough. He needs to see. And not up high, far away on the board. Right there where he can move his finger under each word and follow along reading. He's a beginner reader after all.
Would that he'd have finger access to the words of church music every week. It just might make a difference.

It's these little things that make a difference.

How I Got Blue Food Coloring Off Carpet

As those of you who read my education blog know this morning a science experiment went awry with distressing-at-the-moment consequences.
http://teneoclassicalhome.weebly.com/school-life/food-dye-on-grandmas-carpet-and-other-events-of-the-day

It all started with an attempt to conduct a messy experiment in a place where mess wouldn't matter. On the porch.

Then T stuck his entire hand in the bowl. He lifted it up. Next thing I knew both hands were coated. He'd blissfully rubbed them together.

"Let's go wash now!" I ordered, pulling open the door.

I hurried inside. As I entered the kitchen I realized he was still a room away. His movement was slow, dreamlike. He was only half listening. The texture on his hands far more interesting than water.

Then, as that realization sunk in, from behind me I heard a "Slap! Slap!" I looked, horrified, watching the blue globs fly from his hand and land on Grandma's carpet.

Cleaning it was tedious work. After a quick web search I came up with a multi-step game plan.  First I blotted every single spot I could find. Second I poured ice cold water on the spots. After letting it sit a minute I blotted again. Hope was raised as some of the smaller splotches began coming up. Hurrah! A fine tooth comb pulled up a few of the flecks. Yet not all came up. Some was still stubborn, taunting me in deep blue circles.
Third step was a cleaning solution. I mixed vinegar and liquid blue Dawn detergent with hot water. This I soaked on the remaining spots. Then I slowly started blotting some more. Gradually the blue cleared. I began to see the true carpet color. What a relief!

How I got the blue food coloring out of the carpet
------
1- Blot
2- soak 1 minute with ice water
3- Blot
4- clean with solution of 1 tbls white vinegar, 1 tbls liquid Dawn, 2 c warm water
5- blot

I found more steps on How Stuff Work but it appears they won't be necessary!

http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-get-food-coloring-out-of-carpet.htm