Our Owl Curtain

I tend to love elegant, old-fashioned décor. Bead board wainscoting, eyelet lace, and Craftsman style furniture are at the top of my list. While I enjoy the convenience of modern living, I'm always attempting to recreate the nostalgia of a bygone era in my decorating.

Last week I decided it was time to buy a new shower curtain. The one I had before was a white, eyelet lace curtain, but it had became stained from dirty little hands and feet over the years.

I went to the store, fully intending to replace it with a similar style curtain--until my eyes fell on the owl curtain above. It came with some fun little owl accessories and made me smile. But, more than that, it made me think of my oldest daughter. She loves owls.

As I put the shower curtain back on the shelf and continued to look for an elegant option, I couldn't stop thinking about how much my daughter would love to have an owl shower curtain. I went back to it three times, before I finally put it in my shopping cart.

It occurred to me that my children's opinions need to be validated. At the moment, I share this bathroom with my children (until our master bath is finished), so I'm only one of five people who uses it. Why should I be the only one who decides what we look at in there?

I'm not advocating that our children should take over the decision-making process, but I'm becoming very aware that my children are growing up and forming their own likes and dislikes. I want to find areas where I can let them express their individuality in a safe way--and more than that, I want to celebrate each of them for the way God made them unique.

The shower curtain is a small gesture that will make a lasting impact in my daughter's life. I put the curtain up to surprise her, and when she saw it, her eyes lit up and she squealed. I often tell her she's a valuable part of our family, and her opinion matters to me, but this was proof that I mean what I say.

Styles will come and go, but my daughter's heart will last a lifetime. I would have loved to buy another elegant shower curtain, but, for me, knowing my daughter smiles every time she sees her owls is far more important.

Your Turn: When you were younger, did you help decorate your home? What's your current style?

Chiseling Away Their Innocence

My mom asked if she could take our two daughters, ages 9 and 7, to the annual MCCL (Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life) Banquet in town on Sunday. My husband and I readily agreed, thinking it would be a good opportunity for both of them to support a wonderful organization.

On the way to the banquet hall, I realized our 7 year old didn't know what an abortion was. The subject had come up two years ago with our older daughter, which I wrote about here. Knowing our 7 year old was about to enter a building where the topic would be discussed, my husband and I felt it was best if she heard it from us first...

I abhor, with all the passion inside of me, the look on my sweet children's faces when I tell them the horrible truth for the first time. It's this terrible, tragic, devastated look of unbelief, followed by an avalanche of questions--many of which I have no answer.



Memorial for Unborn Children, by Martin Hudáček

Our second daughter's reaction was a bit different than our first. Our first daughter was devastated, and her eyes filled with tears. Our second daughter was devastated, but she instantly began to debate the issue and tell us all the reasons why it was wrong.

As our beautiful little girl walked inside the banquet hall to learn about the millions of lives taken tragically at the choice of their mothers, I couldn't help but think we had been forced to chisel one more notch out of her innocence. And that makes me sadder than almost anything else I've experienced as a mother.

A Conversation to Remember

It all started when my second daughter (age 7) came running into the kitchen in tears.

"She told me I'm fat!" My daughter wailed, her face red from tears and pain.

"Who told you you're fat?"

"My sister!" She cried even harder.

My oldest daughter (age 9) ran into the kitchen a second later. "She told me I'm fat first--"

"Stop!" I said, holding up my hand. I took both their hands in mine and I led them to the dining room. I pulled three chairs out and put them in a triangle--the whole time praying for wisdom from God.

"I want both of you to sit down and I want to tell you something very true and very, very sad."

The tears instantly stopped as I gained their attention.

The entire time I was praying, not quite sure where this conversation was going, but I knew God had a message for my little girls...and for me.

"When God created life, do you know what He made last?"

They shook their heads.

"Eve. As his very last act of Creation, before He rested, He created a woman."

Both of my girls stared at me.

"And when Satan came to the Garden to put into motion the fall of mankind, who did he go to?"

"Eve," they said in unison.

"Yes, Eve. God created Eve last, and I've always believed He saved the best for last. God loves women. He calls the whole body of believers His bride. He chose a woman to bring Jesus into the world. Women are very, very special to God. And that's exactly why Satan went to Eve in the Garden, he knew she was especially important to God. And from that day, when sin entered the world, until this day when you two called each other fat, Satan has been working at destroying women. One of the craftiest ways he does this is by making women believe they are ugly, fat, stupid, worthless, and on and on."

"We can fight him back by calling him those names too!" My oldest said very seriously as she punched the air with her fist.

I shook my head. "No, we can fight him back by never making a woman believe any of those things are true. We can fight him back by building up our sister and telling her she's beautiful and perfect exactly how she is. It's our job to tell other women how wonderful they are, but more importantly, to tell yourself how beautiful you are."

My girls looked at me and I stared straight into each of their faces, one at a time. "You are beautiful and perfect exactly how God made you." I said to both of them. "I don't want you to ever forget this conversation for the rest of your life. I want you to remember where we were sitting and what I've said, because it's one of the most important things you'll ever learn. You are very special to God."

I hugged each of my girls and then asked them to apologize to each other. My oldest jumped up and went back to her room, but my second daughter, the one who had been in tears just moments before, looked at me with her beautiful green eyes and said: "Just today, when I was taking a spelling test at school, I told myself I'm tall and beautiful."

I pulled her to my side and nodded. "Keep reminding yourself of that every single day, and don't let anyone else ever tell you different."

After the girls were both gone, I thanked God for this special conversation and I pray, with all my heart, that my girls will never forget what I said.

Your Turn: Do you remember an important conversation you had with your mom? If you could tell all the little girls in the world one thing, what would it be?

When Being a Mommy is Tough

It's tough being a mommy, especially when you have to discipline. It can break your heart.

At the age of three, one of our boys is our "spirited" child. He's not naughty, or even high energy, he's just very curious, strong-willed, and non-conforming. He reminds us a little of Dennis the Menace. In one day, he gets into more trouble than most kids get in a month. Usually it's innocent trouble.

He's curious, and often asks himself questions like: what will happen if I flush my brother's underwear down the toilet? What will happen when I put a cookie in the microwave and turn it on for five minutes? What will happen when I empty a bottle full of glue on the floor (in a corner where mom won't see it until it dries)? What will happen when I bring a fist full of frogs into the house, and don't tell mom for an hour?

We have more rules in this house than ever before. Rules that we never had to even consider before our little turkey was born. Each rule was put in place after an incident occurred.

We now have rules like:

1. You may not take all your clothes off and run through a restaurant toward the bathroom.
2. You may not push open random doors in the library (especially an emergency exit that will sound an alarm).
3. You may not climb into the bin of toys at Wal Mart when mom is price comparing five feet away.
4. You may not squeeze into the museum exhibit and wave at mom from behind the plexi-glass.*
5. And, under NO circumstances, can you throw anything in the house--especially a toy car at the plasma television, simply because you don't like the cartoon on the screen. The last rule was put in place just a week ago after our television had to be replaced.

And lest you're concerned, I do keep a close eye on my children--and, given his track record, I'm even more diligent about watching this one in particular. The other three seem to stay out of trouble. My little turkey, on the other hand, is quick. Very quick.

The other problem is that he has a twin brother, and he tends to treat his brother with the attitude of: "You're either with me--or I'm against you." This often leaves his brother in tears.

This past week, after a series of mishaps, including the plasma television, we decided it was time to buckle down on discipline.

One of his worst punishments is being put in his room on a time out. On Monday he had five timeouts before lunch. After lunch he bit his sister in the leg (this one surprised us, because he's usually not hurtful and has never been a biter). When his sister came to me crying, I called for our little turkey and he came into the room with big green eyes saying: "But I don't want a time out!"

After apologizing, that's exactly where he went. As I ushered him into his room he said: "But I'll listen and obey! I'll listen and obey."

I said: "You'll have to listen and obey the next time, buddy."

All the hard work of disciplining has started to pay off. We took an uneventful trip to Wal Mart, where he agreed to stay in the cart--and actually did it! No bin diving this time!

But last night, disciplining him broke my heart...

He and his twin brother don't like their door to be closed at bedtime. I've told them that if they stay in their room, then I won't have to close the door. So we went through their nightly routine. We brushed teeth, put on pajamas, read two books, and said prayers. I told them goodnight and then went downstairs to work.

Ten minutes later I was back upstairs checking on everyone...and I found the little turkey with his feet in the bathroom sink! He said he was washing the toothpaste off his feet...and the toothpaste wasn't in the bathroom.

I put him in his room, found the toothpaste in his brother's hands, and removed the toothbrushes from their floor.

That's when I told them they had lost their privilege and I had to close the bedroom door. They cried and begged, but I had to hold my ground.

I closed the door and immediately heard the little turkey say: "Let's throw toys at the door!" Followed by a bang.

Remember, one of the rules is no throwing in the house.

I popped open the door (my mommy face in place) and my little turkey's eyes grew large. I reminded him of the rule, put him in his bed, and gave a stern lecture about listening and obeying. His brother huddled under the covers, big blue eyes blinking away tears, and said: "Mommy, I scared with the door closed."

First crack in my heart.

But as much as I hated to hear him say that, I said: "I have to close the door. You have to learn."

I closed the door and waited for a moment. There was a slight rustle and then I heard my little turkey say to his twin brother: "Don't be scared. I'll stay with you."

That's when my heart broke all the way. I peeked back into their room and sure enough, my little turkey was comforting his brother. I looked at him and said: "Tomorrow you can try again."

And he said: "I know. I listen and obey later."

Being a mommy is tough. Really tough. But if I've learned anything, I've learned that if I can follow through on the discipline now, the rewards will come later. My little turkey needs to learn how to be disciplined in the small battles now, because when he's older, the battles he'll face will only get harder.

Today is a new day, with no mistakes in it. I'm cheering my little turkey on to great things.

Your turn: Do you have any fun parenting stories? If you're not a parent, what kind of trouble did you get into as a child? Any "spirited" children out there?

*The museum escapade just happened last week. I'll share the story on an upcoming blog. Needless to say, it was interesting...

Passing on Our Passions

When I met my husband, one of the first things I learned about him is his love for the game of golf. His first two jobs in high school and college were working on golf courses. He decided to go into the landscaping business because it meant working outdoors.

 

When we bought our house two years ago, one of the biggest selling factors was the close proximity to the golf course. We live close enough to walk to it.

 

I love passing on our passions to our children. For my husband, that's passing on his love for golf. Two Sundays ago, we took all four kiddos out to the driving range after church. We had a blast! Here are some pictures from our adventure.

 



Pulling everyone together while Dad got the clubs ready.

Walking to the golf course.

Leaving the club house.

Buying the range balls.

Yes, one of our boys wore his baseball cap. Came in handy
when he wacked himself with his club.

You can never start too young!

Giving pointers.

Showing our oldest the proper way to grip a club.

Daddy showing how it's done.

He figured out how to balance his club on his shoulders.

What passion do you enjoy sharing with your children? What did you parents share with you?

A Lesson for My Oldest

Last night I heard my oldest daughter say something that shocked me. We were at church and it was the last night of AWANA.

My oldest is like any other little girl her age. She's sweet, charming and extremely goofy when she's with her friends. Sometimes her goofiness can go a little too far and she can become rude. When I see this behavior, I'm always quick to remind her to be respectful.

Last night I came around the corner and heard her being goofy, but it was at the point where it went too far. I heard her talking to a little girl we'll call Lexie. She said: "Your name is Lexie, right? I've never liked the name Lexie."

My eyes almost popped out of my head--and she saw me at that exact moment. I could see the terror on her face. Poor little Lexie looked crestfallen. I immediately made my daughter apologize and I told her we'd have a talk later.

When we were home, and all the other kiddos had been put in bed, I took my oldest to the couch and I said: "You know what we're going to talk about, don't you?"

She nodded and sat down facing me. Her big green eyes stared at me as I talked. I asked God to direct my thoughts and my words, because I want to teach my children lasting lessons that they will take to heart. I don't want my words to go in one ear and out the other.

God gave me a message for her and this is what I said: When she asked God into her heart, He planted a seed there--a seed of the Holy Spirit. When the seed grows, it gets stronger and stronger, until it's like a beautiful tree with branches and leaves. When it is fully matured, it begins to grow fruit. And inside the fruit, are more seeds.

The Bible tells us in Galatians 5:22-23 that the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. When we operate in these character qualities, we are giving that fruit away to other people, and the seed inside the fruit is being planted into their hearts and minds.

Mark 4:3-8 tells us that we sow the seed, but some seed falls on the path, where the birds come and eat it up, some falls on rocky soil, some on thorny soil, and some on good soil. It's not up to us to decide where to sow the seed, we just need to keep sending it out there.

I told my daughter that when she is kind to Lexie, she is planting God's seed in Lexie's heart, but when she is unkind, she is planting weeds in Lexie's heart, which will choke out the beautiful plants God desires to grow.

As I talked with my daughter, I could see in her eyes that she understood. We prayed together and I reminded her that she is a beautiful young lady. I also told her God allowed me to see this behavior, because He loves her too much to let it continue.

Today, as she was walking out the door to school I said: "Don't forget to bear some Fruit today!" She smiled and nodded. And when she came home from school, I asked her what Fruit she bore and she was quick to tell me how she had been patient and kind with a friend.

I love how God uses created things to show us His eternal characteristics. And I love that He planted His seed inside our hearts and He desires for us to bear His Fruit. It's a great honor and privilege.

What about you? Have you ever come across your child saying, or doing, something when they thought you couldn't see? What aspects of the Fruit are harder for you to bear? What aspects are easier?

*Photo Credit. © Mauhorng | http://www.dreamstime.com/">Dreamstime Stock Photos http://www.stockfreeimages.com/">Stock

Twins Week!

In honor of my twins' birthday last Friday, I'm going to have a week dedicated to all things "twins" on my blog!

Okay...I'm really just celebrating that we hit a huge milestone on our twins journey! Three years ago I was breastfeeding sixteen times a day, changing at least sixteen dirty diapers, sometimes waking up twelve times a night, rocking, singing, bouncing, shushing and cooing my babies so they would sleep.


When I look at this picture, all I can remember is how tired I was!

It's been a whirlwind experience. One I wouldn't change for anything in the world. But, I have to admit, I'm so happy we're past the infancy stage. It's a blast to finally see my boys' personalities developing. It's fun to talk to them, sometimes reason with them (sometimes), find out what they like - and definitely what they don't like.

I get a lot of questions from people about raising twins, so I thought I'd give you a little peek into something we're dealing with right now.

Potty training.

My older twin decided he was done with diapers three months ago.

The other twin, my little Monkey, has decided he's not done with diapers. But he keeps us laughing with his antics, so I'm not losing patience...yet.

I thought it would be fun to share some of his reasonings for not going on the potty chair. So, without further ado, here are the inside workings of a three year old's mind.

~ ~ ~ ~

Upon waking up I ask him: "Would you like to be a big boy today, and wear underwear? Or, would you like to be a baby," insert scrunched up nose, shaking my head, "and wear a diaper?"

He looks very contemplative and says: "I want to be a CAT today!"

~ ~ ~ ~

We thought we'd be smart and "throw away" his diapers, so he didn't have any other options. Really, I just hid them. We said: "No more diapers! It looks like you'll have to go on the potty chair today."

For the rest of the day he peed in every available corner of the house...everywhere BUT the toilet.

~ ~ ~ ~

When I told him: "You have to go potty - you'll be three!"

He looks at me very seriously and says: "No, I'll be zero."

~ ~ ~ ~

For every logical reason I have, he comes back with one of his own.

I've had many well-meaning people give me advice about potty training him, but when I tell you we've tried it all, we've tried it all!

• We've let him walk around the house in the same diaper all day long, hoping he'd get annoyed with a heavy diaper...nope. He didn't even bat an eye.
• We've offered stickers, stamps, candy, you name it...he doesn't seem to want any of them.
• We've reasoned, begged, threatened (to take away a privilege), to no avail.
• We've even had our other twin "show" him how to go potty. After the older twin went potty, my little Monkey clapped his hands and said: "Ya! Good job!"

My little Monkey is simply not interested in going on the potty chair - yet. I've come to a very serious conclusion about this...he's not going to go, until he determines he's going to go. And that's all there is to it.

My Early Childhood/Family Education teacher has told me there are a handful of things children have control over. What they eat, what they say and when they go to the bathroom. Those are the three areas a child will fight you for control. It's my job to guide him and instruct him, but he has to make up his own mind to do it.

Aren't we similar when it comes to doing what God asks? His Spirit guides, the Word instructs, but it's up to us to do what we should do. Often, God is prodding us to mature and take the next step. For a variety of reasons we balk Him. It might be laziness, it might be fear - but, most often, it's because we want to be in control. Look how much better life would be for my son (and me!) if he gave up control and started using the potty chair.

How much better could our lives be if we gave up our need to be in control - and took the next step God is asking us to take?

What about you? What milestones have you celebrated recently? Have you ever had a determined (a.k.a. stubborn) child? Were you stubborn? Is there an area of your life you're struggling to give up control?

Two Sides to a Coin

I have four very different children. Each child comes with a set of strengths and weaknesses, and I've found that those things can be one in the same.

My oldest is very creative and intelligent, but those gifts tend to make her self focused and a bit proud.

My second child is very caring and thoughtful, but her servant's heart leads her to being a martyr and she often feels sorry for herself.

My oldest twin is very gentle and kind, but he gets walked all over by his siblings.

My youngest is very independent and focused, but that gets him into trouble - a lot - and usually makes more work for me.

As parents, my husband and I face a challenge. We must discover the gifts in our children and then show them how to use their gifts to help them and not hurt them.

For me, I have a great imagination and sometimes it can get me into trouble. I tend to worry about all the "what-ifs" in life. I've always loved telling a good story and as a young woman I worked at a historic site where I told stories all day long and I loved it. Then, I began to stay home full time with my children, and without a creative outlet for my imagination, it went wild with all the "what-ifs" of parenting. I knew I needed to figure out how to use my gift to benefit myself, and those around me, because if I didn't, it would work against me.

That's when I decided to get busy with my writing. Instead of sitting around and letting all the "what-ifs" get me down, I switch those thoughts toward crafting my stories. It's been a breath of fresh air into my life.

As my husband and I parent our children, we've decided to become very purposeful about identifying their gifts and then guiding them down a road to using them. Of course, as they grow, we'll watch to see their interests and desires, but, for now, it's fun to imagine what they could do with their gifts.

For our oldest, I could easily see her writing, or event planning, or even teaching - but we have to constantly remind her that her intelligence comes from God and He deserves the glory and honor for it. My second child could be a nurse, or a day care provider, or a mother of MANY children. :) But we have to remind her that God asks her to give without receiving and to thank Him for her servant's heart. It's a little too soon for us to see what the boys could do, but, for now, we're showing our oldest twin how to stand up for himself and we're diligently teaching our younger twin how to listen and obey - for his safety and others.

Each coin has two sides and so does each gift. Have you discovered some of your gifts and the strengths and weaknesses they entail?

~ ~ ~ ~

* * * * Today I'm a guest on Lindsay Harrel's Blog! I'd love if you stopped by to say hello! * * * *

It Takes a Whole Village



My parents with my kiddos (and niece) at Mt. Rushmore



I love having a good support system. Actually, I need one.

As a wife and a mother, I need mentors and friends to model what a good marriage and good parenting looks like, so I know what I'm aiming for. I also need these people so I can discuss ideas, cry on their shoulders, celebrate little (and big) victories and just enjoy life. Some of my greatest support systems come from my extended family, my church, my MOPS (Mother of Preschoolers) group, my ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education) class and my close friends.

When it comes to writing, I've also gathered together a support group (I'll talk more about this on Wednesday on Lindsay Harrel's blog!), because I know that there is strength in numbers and I'm an extrovert who gets recharged when I interact with other people.

But, there's an even more important support system for me, and that's my immediate family. It's made up of my husband, my children, my parents, my in-laws, my siblings & spouses and my nieces & nephews. I know I can reach for my dreams because I have this group of people committed to helping me achieve them.

Sometimes it's as simple as giving me encouragement, or as intense as babysitting my children! Whatever need I have, I almost always start with this first circle of support and I know I can find it.

Last week I had a big need. I spent so much time working on my manuscript this summer that our clothing seemed to take over our house. The kids had grown out of a lot of it and the summer clothes needed to be put away and the winter clothes needed to come out. It was a big, daunting job and I just didn't have the time to put into it.

In comes my mom.

She volunteered to organize all my children's clothing! It took her three days! If you have four or more children (heck, if you have one child!) you know how much work this takes. The last two days of intensive work on my manuscript, I was in one room editing away while my mom was in the girls' and boys' bedrooms organizing clothes and entertaining my boys. The third day I helped finish up the job.

I couldn't be more thankful for this gift from my mom. Not only the gift of organizing my children's clothing, but the gift of support so I could pursue my dream. It is a priceless gift, indeed.

 

What about you? If you could have someone do one job in your house, what would it be?

Rewards for Meeting Deadlines

A very wise woman (Susan May Warren) once told me that we should give ourselves, and our families, rewards for meeting deadlines and goals.

Susie and I spoke at the Storycrafter's Retreat in Otsego, MN a few weeks ago about pursuing the writing career when we have young children. It's not an easy task to undertake, but I believe it's possible and there are many benefits, not only for me, but also for my children. One of those benefits is having my children "watch" me reach for a dream and teaching them that they can reach for whatever dream God places on their hearts, too.

Susie gave me some great advice. She told me that as I reach a new deadline or milestone, which means that I've worked hard and my family has had to make some sacrifices, we all need to take some time and celebrate with a reward. It might be as small as telling my children: "Let Mommy write for one more hour, uninterrupted, then we'll go outside and play in the leaves," or it might be as big as: "Mommy just signed her first contract, let's go to Disney World!" (which Susie did when she signed her first book deal!) or, it could be somewhere in between. :)

Last Thursday I hit a big milestone in my pursuit of publication and it was time to celebrate! I gave myself one month to make changes and polish up my manuscript before I submitted it to the two publishing houses that requested it at ACFW, so I spent a lot of time writing, which meant my hubby made quite a few meals and my children were constantly reminded to bring their problems to Daddy. But, I told them that if they cooperated we would do something fun after I hit my deadline.

What did they want to do? Go to the new Chuck E. Cheese's in the next town over! So on Monday that's exactly what we did. It was so much fun celebrating this milestone with my children - and even more fun knowing my dream has become a family pursuit.


I took back up! My niece and my cousin came to help

What about you? Have you celebrated the deadlines and milestones you've achieved? If you're published, what did you do to celebrate when you signed the contract? And, if you're not published, what would you like to do?

ToddlerS...Need I Say More?

I have two and a half year old twin boys.

I think I could end my post here and you'd totally get what I mean. Two two-year-old boys. Enough said.

The twins were born after our daughters, who are now eight and six, and I'm amazed at how different my boys are from my girls. I think this difference is accentuated by the fact that there are two of them - and one of them happens to be my "spirited" child.

Things are interesting around our house, to say the least.

I never thought I'd hear my high school sweetheart utter these "old" man, dad type sayings:

"Can't we have anything nice around here?"

"We're not buying anything new until these kids move out."

"Who broke this table - is nothing safe?"

One of the biggest differences I've noticed in the girl vs. boy comparison is that my boys are much more independent than my girls ever were - and that causes a lot more trouble. The girls used to whine until we'd fill up their sippy cups with milk - the boys just take it upon themselves to fill up (and spill out) the milk on their own. The girls used to cry until we'd help them change their clothes - the boys do it themselves, thus a dresser full of clothes on the floor every morning. The girls would ask for something to eat - the boys are constantly in the upper cabinets getting their own food (and this includes getting out the popcorn maker, filling THE WHOLE THING UP with kernels and turning it on).

I don't know if it's a boy thing - or a twin thing - but the boys are always doing things for themselves. It's a great character quality - independence - but it's very inconvenient for Mommy.

I thought I'd share some pictures (evidence) of what I'm talking about. Note that none of these things EVER happened with the girls (not that girls can't be "independent" - you may have one or two yourself).


I rarely take naps - so when I told my husband I needed
one this afternoon, he was happy to let me sleep. But - I
woke up to him saying: "Who clogged the toilet with
toilet paper?!?! The bathroom is flooded!!!"
Thus, the wet towels and rug...



My older twin has been walking around with blue,
sparkling nail polish in his hair all week because
 his "little" brother thought he'd look pretty...

 

There are three locations on our daughters' bedroom
floor that are now permanently pinkish-red (and crusty)
 from nail polish (and this happened five days after
I had them professionally cleaned) - yet another example of
my "spirited" child's activities... His "older" brother
was pink for a week after that episode, too.



Pink permanent marker on my living room couch (also
my "spirited" child's creation). We keep these destructive
things hidden from him (lest you think I have them
readily available!) - but he seems to find them...clearly.



As I was walking around the house taking pictures this
afternoon I caught the culprit red crayon-ded!

 

And here is my sitting room in it's unnatural state...clean.
(You can't see the hundreds of endearing fingerprints
on the windows...)



I value a clean, neat house...



My twins do not.

But for all the mess and destruction, I wouldn't change having twins for anything in the world. I know one day the mess will be long forgotten, and my children will grow up faster than I can imagine, but the experience and joy of having two little boys to fill our heart and home will last forever.

What about you? Have you noticed the girl vs. boy differences? Do you have a "spirited" child? What things have your children destroyed over the years - or, if you don't have children, what did you destroy growing up?

Recipe of a Champion

I really enjoyed watching the Summer Olympics this year and one thing kept occurring to me: there is definitely a recipe for champions - and the ingredients that make up that recipe can be applied to anything we set our minds to, whether that be parenting, marriage, writing, or other pursuits.

Passion - every champion starts with passion. For me, one of my passions is writing. I love the written word. I love to read it and I love to write it. It's so much more than entertainment for me; it's a way to communicate the essence of who I am. I love expressing who God created me to be with the words he places on my heart and my greatest prayer is that He uses those words for His Kingdom and His glory.

Support - every champion has people who believe in her. For most, it starts with our parents, grandparents, teachers, aunts, uncles - anyone who influences us as children. As we grow, it becomes spouses, best friends and other. For me, other writers and readers have become part of my support system. People who cheer you on when you've reached a milestone and those who help you back up when you've stumbled. Support keeps us going.

Good Coaching - every champion has a dynamic coach, or coaches, who show them how to succeed. For me, it's been my online writing friends, books I've read on the craft of writing, reading other books by authors I admire, and my husband. My coaches show me where I need to improve and they challenge me to do better each time I try.

Commitment - every champion is committed to their pursuit. Just as an athlete must commit to training, day in and day out, no matter how they feel, I've had to commit to learning my craft, keeping my blogging schedule, finishing my weekly word quota and not giving up, even when I don't "feel" like continuing. I once heard that a writer's greatest enemy is their desk chair. So many times we feel like doing something else, but when we commit to getting published, we must plunk our bottoms in the chair and keep pressing forward.

Determination - if I could designate one of these ingredients, above the others, as the most important, I would say determination would be it. Every champion is determined to be the best. Determination keeps us going. It is the fuel we need to chase after our dreams. When rejection comes, when we don't win, when we stumble along the way, determination kicks in and we get back in the game to try again. Without determination, there is no chance at becoming a champion.

What about you? What ingredients do you think make up the recipe for a champion? Are these ingredients part of your plan?

Happy & Content

“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Philippians 4:12b

Last week I took all four kiddos to the grocery store. Like always, I felt like I’d met my quota for exercising for the week after our shopping trip.

After picking up my groceries in the parcel pick up area, I started to pull away from the building, but a very old woman and her daughter stepped out of the store’s deli just in front of me. They could have easily waited for me to pass, but I stopped and waved them forward. They both graced me with beautiful smiles and then the older woman began to step off the curb with her walker. It took more time than I’d anticipated and my girls in the back seat asked why we weren’t moving. I told them we were waiting for the ladies to pass.

The little old woman continued to smile at me every once in a while and I smiled back, enjoying this moment to pause in the midst of my busy day. Eventually they moved past and we waved at one another. They both seemed so happy.

Which got me to thinking and I said to the girls: “I hope that woman has had a happy life. I hope she’s had a lot of joy and love. She looks happy, doesn’t she?”

The girls said she did. And I saw this as a great learning moment.

“Who decides if you’re going to be happy?” I asked the girls.

My oldest said she determines it and my younger daughter said God determines it.

“You’re both right.” I told them. “God made a decision even before you’re born that He wants you to be happy. In the Bible Paul called it content. Now you have to make that decision for yourself. You can’t expect other people or things in your life to make you happy, because if you do, you’ll always be disappointed.”

“I want to be happy,” said my oldest.

“So do I,” said my second daughter.

I love teaching my children real lessons during real life experiences, so I’m always looking for opportunities during our day. This won’t be the last time that I talk to them about the importance of being content whatever their circumstances, but hopefully this moment will be tucked away into their hearts as a good memory and they will think about it as they navigate through the ups and downs of life.

Friday Fun: Minnesota Style

Yay, it's Friday and time to share more of my favorite state with you! This past weekend we went to my brothers' cabin. I have two older brothers, Chris & Brent, and they're both married to lovely women who are more like sisters than in-laws. They have six children combined so when we all get together there are ten cousins running around having the time of their lives! My sister and her husband live in Colorado and they have one little boy - so the grandchildren now number eleven, but the Colorado cousin isn't able to be with us as much as we'd like. :(

Here are some of my favorite pictures of this past weekend. Just looking at them reminds me of the whispering wind through the trees, the smoke curling up from the campfire and the smooth ripples of water running past the boat. Ah, it's a great place to live. I hope you enjoy a little Minnesota beauty through my eyes. 







My nieces and daughter (second from the left) are
practicing their nail polishing skills for a fundraiser
at the end of July. The lucky recipient?



My husband Dave! He's such a good sport.





In the evening my brothers lit off fireworks from the top of their pontoon and the kids were given sparklers to play with. I kept my shutter open on my camera while I took some of these pictures and I am amazed at the results!

                     

 

This coming weekend Dave and I will be heading off to another Minnesota Twins game and we'll also be helping my brother-in-law build a patio at his home in preparation for his wedding! On Saturday we'll be going to my cousin's high school graduation party. Another fun-filled weekend in store for us!

What are your plans for the upcoming weekend?