Passing Down a Tradition

Grace drawing a "rainbow" for her box.

Grace packing her items in her shoebox.

This week I got to experience something really neat. Watching my daughter enjoy doing something I LOVE. Ever since Lindsay introduced us to Operation Christmas Child in college I have loved packing shoeboxes. Since then I have learned a lot about Samaritan's Purse as an organization and read several books about it and Franklin Graham. But, I had yet to do this project as a family. I was waiting for Grace to be "old enough." At Grace's class on a Wednesday night they got to help shoe boxes for our church. She LOVED it. She came home telling me about her friend (an older child) who helped her pack the box. She also told me many of the items she helped pack. After seeing what fun she had at church I decided it was time we pack a shoe box togethor. Before our trip to WalMart we talked about the box and that is would be a gift for a friend. She wanted to know if it would be for Jada or Brynn (her best friends). I explained it would be for a friend she had never met who had no toys and needed to learn about Jesus. I was so proud of her, she willingly picked out the items she liked to give away. I was amazed she didn't want to keep them for herself. Since she did such a great job I rewarded her with getting to pick out new hairclips to keep. She explained to her dad he was to "Take the box to Miss Ashley who would send it to her friend with no toys." Parenting is challenging(and I am sure the greatest challenges still lie ahead)...so I celebrate such a fun memory & teachable moment!

One of those days...

Today started out as one of those days... If you are a mom you know what I mean. If you happen to be the mother of a strong-willed child you might just REALLY know what I mean. Grace is perfectly capable of picking out her clothes, going potty, and getting on her pull up/clothes. (as long as it is her idea!) Today I was trying to coax her along. This is not very effective; she was fighting me the whole way. So after struggling and loosing my patience I pulled her in my lap and said, "You are having a rough day, lets pray." She began to pray, "Thank you for my rough day. God come visit my house." I followed up affirming her prayer, "Lord that is the perfect prayer. Send your presence to fill our home toay." After our prayer time we fished up getting her dressed and then she ran to the door to see if God had arrived yet. What a priceless moment! I explained God wouldn't come and visit our house like that. What followed was a great "theological" question answer session.
Why?
Well, because Jesus is in heaven with God.
Where is heaven?
Far away & only God knows the way to get there. Someday he will send Jesus to get us and take us there.
Mommy will you go to visit heaven?
Yes!!
Can I go?
Yes!
Will we see God there? Will you be with me?
Yes!!

This is why I LOVE being a stay-at-home mom. Not because I love spending the day with my daughter when she is having a rough day. (a.k.a not listening, crying, whining, being defiant, etc.) No, on those days it would be easier to entrust her care to someone else. But because it allows me the opportunity to teach her when we are having a hard day we need to pray! And on really special days the opportunity to answer her questions about heaven.

Lord, thank you for teaching both Grace and I today. You reminded me we can be thankful for the challenging days. And you blessed me with the awareness of your very real presence in our home. (even if you didn't knock on the door!) And I love the chance to teach my daughter about heaven. She can't wait to visit heaven because its your home.

Happy Birthday Nana!

Today is my mother-in-law's birthday. Known to my girls as, Nana. Even though we won't see her today I wanted her to hear the girls' birthday wishes. Charlene is a special lady, and lovely mother-in-law. (I'm serious!!!) Here are some of the lovely things I appreciate about her: -She is SUPER generous. (I always say it is Christmas every time she comes to visit)She is always picking up clearance & sale items for the girls. She brings books, snacks, toys, decorations, etc. -She is very supportive. Every mom does things different...but she has never questioned me about how I do things as a mother. (Now she might night actually agree with my crazy structured way of mothering but she never complains!) -She is flexible. I think every married couple has had to work through the whose house for what holidays challenge. Even though Jeremy is an only child she never pressures us about when we celbrate holidays. As long as she gets to spend time with us she is happy. I know...she sounds pretty lovely, doesn't she?

Happy Birthday, we love you! (Obviously since Jeremy and I sang and posted it for public viewing!)