Look Who's 11 on 11-11

Today, my middle child turns 11 and she is looking less and less like a child and more and more like a young lady. I love her creativity, sensitivity, funny personality, and her tender and sweet heart.

One day last week, I asked her if she ever really wanted to do something really awesome for God, but didn't know what or even how to begin. She poured her heart out to me and it was so awesome to hear her share some desires of her heart.

Since I carried her in my womb, I have prayed for her to faithfully walk with the Lord all the days of her life, for that is all that truly matters because this relationship with Jesus has eternal worth and if she keeps seeking Him first, then everything else will fall into place and He will make her path straight (Mt. 6:33 and Pr. 3:5-6).


My prayer for you, Kaitlyn, is for you to always focus on serving and pleasing Christ and not people in all areas of your life (Galatians 1:10). Just because you are a child, does not mean you cannot serve and do mighty things for the Lord (1 Timothy 4:12). If you want to study and teach God's Word, then obey God and do it. Ask Him to give you opportunities to minister and serve in His name and for His glory. 

Happy Birthday to My Son!!!

My son is 12-years-old today. He likes to play drums, skateboard, and spike his hair. I remember when he used to play with his farm animals while singing "E - I - E - I - O." Where does the time go? It really is true -- our life is just a vapor (James 4:14).  Since the days seem to disappear so quickly, I want to enjoy the moments and not take a single one for granted.

Happy birthday, Tyler. I sure am thankful God made you and let me be your mom.

Slap Jack

A couple weeks ago, my youngest and I went to a local coffee shop and while we were there I taught her how to play slap jack. I grew up playing this game and loved it and I was shocked I hadn't taught my children to play yet. She felt pretty special learning a new game she could teach her older brother and sister.  What are some games you like to play together as a family?

Life-Giving Words

I've been thinking a lot about my words and how they affect my children. Do my words promote growth in their lives or cut and hinder their growth? 

Life-giving words are full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The Bible calls this list the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Fruit only grows from living plants and fruit nourishes and gives energy and life to those who consume it. When I choose life-giving words, I nourish my children, because I am pointing them to Christ.

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It’s hard for me to admit sometimes the words I speak to my children are not always loving, kind, good, or gentle. When harsh words are thrown out and consumed by my children they are harmed rather than nourished.

I have a choice to make when I speak to my children. I can display the fruit of the spirit, which is  beautiful and gives life or I can choose disobedience and display rotten and dead fruit, which frankly no one wants to be around.

My words will either give life or death, encourage or discourage, bless or curse. My words will either reflect my Savior or my enemy.

My goal when speaking to my children should never be to raise their self-esteems, but rather raise their awareness of how great and loving God is. I want my children to see Christ in me (Colossians 1:27). I want my children to know and understand how God uniquely created them with a specific plan and purpose in mind -- to love and serve Him and others (Jeremiah 29:11 and Matthew 22:36-40). .

I have spent some time looking up and studying Scriptures about our words, speaking, and our tongues and mouths. I've learned a lot and it would be my honor to share what God has been and continues to teach me over the next several weeks.

Choose words that heal, rather than destroy.

“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” ~ Proverbs 16:24, NIV)

The Gift of One-on-One Time

If you have more than one child, then you know how special it is to spend one-on-one time with your children. My little one here was just acting a little more clingy than normal and even saying things like, "Mommy, I never get to spend time with JUST you." So, one Sunday afternoon, we went to a dollar store, bought some new crayons and coloring books and sat in a coffee shop and colored and visited. It was simple and fun. We were gone less than two hours, but she felt special spending time with JUST me and I enjoyed simply focusing on her. My husband and I take turns spending time with the children one-on-one. Sometimes we simply take one of them at a time to run errands, go get a drink at Sonic's happy hour, and one of their favorites is breakfast at a local donut shop.

Do your children like spending one-on-one time with you? What are some things you like to do together?