Picky Eaters

Direct your children onto the right path, 

and when they are older, 

they will not leave it. 

- Proverbs 22:6

I recently was surfing the web while my kiddos were vegging out in front of the TV. Yep, I needed some down time...I am guilty. So while I surfed I came across an awesome blog by Happy Home Fairy. It gave solutions for those "picky eaters" in your family, and I wanted to share it with you. 

Ketchup, sensory issues, and helpful hints are some things you can expect. Click the link and enjoy! She might just challenge the way you approach meal time with your kids!

http://happyhomefairy.com/2014/06/13/extreme-picky-eater-solutions/

Life is Hard

Many, Lord my God, 

are the wonders you have done, 

the things you planned for us.

 None can compare with you;

 were I to speak and tell of your deeds, 

they would be too many to declare. 

- Psalm 40:5

Life is busy. Life is hard. Life is complicated. Life is overwhelming...until I bring my crazy before the One who calms storms. As I look at the crazy in my life, I must also look at the "calm" as well. Those things that bless my life and make it much sweeter. I  must find my focus there...on those "wonders" the Lord has done.

Praise Him for the "wonders" in your life. Allow those blessings from Jesus be where your mind rests and resides. Cultivating an attitude of praise effects our outlook and interactions with others. What can you praise Him for today?

“God is most glorified in us 

when we are most satisfied in Him” 

― John Piper

“What you are is God's gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.” 
― Hans Urs von Balthasar, Prayer

“Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them.”
― Elisabeth Elliot, A Chance to Die

“We never grow closer to God when we just live life. It takes deliberate pursuit and attentiveness.” 
― Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God

"What You Do Matters" by Christine Marsh

After making healthy lunches and folding the laundry, cleaning the dirty dishes and washing windows, helping with the homework and going for groceries, feeling for fevers and driving to the doctor, itis easy for a mom to loose sight of the end goal.

If you are like me, you need to see what the "purpose" is for the seemingly endless demands a momma faces daily. Lets see what the Lord says:)

Psalm 8:3-9

³ When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,⁴ What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?⁵ For You have made him a little lower than the angels,^[a]
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

⁶ You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,⁷ All sheep and oxen—
Even the beasts of the field,⁸ The birds of the air,
And the fish of the sea
That pass through the paths of the seas.

⁹ O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8 reminds us that we have been “crowned with glory and honor” and have been given “dominion over the works of His hands.” Likewise, the children He gave us are also “crowned with glory and honor” and will “have dominion over the works of His hands.” As you carefully nurture your “mini you’s,” remember that one day they will be managing homes, businesses, and I dare say our country! As they raise families, participate in their communities, cast their votes and live to God’s best and highest use for them, they will be changing people and events in their sphere of influence!

I want to encourage you, though the fruit is still a coming, the labor is not in vain! The truth and love you pour into them sacrificially today will directly affect the future of our world. Continue on friend, teaching them to love God and walk in the purpose and authority He has given them.  

What you do matters! 

  

"What You Do Matters" by Christine Marsh

After making healthy lunches and folding the laundry, cleaning the dirty dishes and washing windows, helping with the homework and going for groceries, feeling for fevers and driving to the doctor, itis easy for a mom to loose sight of the end goal.

If you are like me, you need to see what the "purpose" is for the seemingly endless demands a momma faces daily. Lets see what the Lord says:)

Psalm 8:3-9

³ When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,⁴ What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?⁵ For You have made him a little lower than the angels,^[a]
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

⁶ You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,⁷ All sheep and oxen—
Even the beasts of the field,⁸ The birds of the air,
And the fish of the sea
That pass through the paths of the seas.

⁹ O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8 reminds us that we have been “crowned with glory and honor” and have been given “dominion over the works of His hands.” Likewise, the children He gave us are also “crowned with glory and honor” and will “have dominion over the works of His hands.” As you carefully nurture your “mini you’s,” remember that one day they will be managing homes, businesses, and I dare say our country! As they raise families, participate in their communities, cast their votes and live to God’s best and highest use for them, they will be changing people and events in their sphere of influence!

I want to encourage you, though the fruit is still a coming, the labor is not in vain! The truth and love you pour into them sacrificially today will directly affect the future of our world. Continue on friend, teaching them to love God and walk in the purpose and authority He has given them.  

What you do matters! 

  

"Isaiah" by Stacey Wooddell Imbimbo

As a mom you know God uses your children to daily teach you so much.  I didn’t truly realize how much until I had my first son.

Kyle and I had a great desire to become parents, and we were so excited to find out that we were expecting our first baby.   Halfway through our pregnancy there were some worries about the growth development of our child.  We were placed under a specialist care, and they considered this a high risk pregnancy.  A few weeks later I was placed on bed rest.

Friday morning, June 11, 2010 I had my regular appointment and it was during this visit that we were told that our baby needed to be delivered. While they were prepping me for my emergency c-section, God gave my husband a verse from Isaiah 41:10

Fear not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.

My husband came into the operating room and whispered this verse into my ear. A few moments later we were surprised to find out it was a boy, and we named him Isaiah, which means “the Lord is our Salvation”.

He was 2 pounds 6 ounces, and 15 inches long.

The next 50 days in the NICU were met with ups and downs and uncertainties.  Through it all we kept this verse close to our hearts.  God stretched us and challenged us so much during this time.  We had to rely on Him for everything.  We had no control and had no idea what to expect each day.  We had to Trust in Him alone. 

After one year of meeting with all his specialty doctors he was completely cleared and was a healthy one year old.

I look at him today and am reminded of God’s faithfulness.  He turns 4 this week, and we are still being taught many lesson.  God uses our children like sandpaper in our lives to smooth out our rough edges.  And to keep our eyes on our Heavenly Father, and place our trust in Him alone.

Turning over a new leaf this summer

 1 Timothy 2:1-4  First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

      I've been hearing a lot of people talk about kids and stress lately. It seems to be everywhere I turn. Anxiety attacks among kids are on the rise. Funny I don't remember any of my friends having anxiety growing up. So how much is too much? And why is this happening?  We as moms juggle many plates but what about our kids plates? They can include school, grades, peers, sports, music, family, friends, and of course we want them to be good Christians so there is church, maybe they volunteer, go to youth groups, etc. When it comes to school they strive for honors and then AP, they have to go to college to do well in life these days and in order to get into college they have to have a competitive GPA and be well rounded. MSNBC just covered a story called "Race to Nowhere" which is a documentary covering these very issues.
 
     When I think back to my childhood and the things I enjoyed most were things like riding my bike around the neighborhood, sitting in my living room on Saturday morning to watch cartoons, and card games with my family. I needed downtime and so do my kids. We as moms need to check our hearts or motives to want our children to produce. If we are all about performance what is driving us? Are we signing up the kids for sports because our friends and neighbors have signed their kids up? Are we trying to keep up with the Jones's? Do we want to make sure our pride is fed with our little genius's or musical prodigies? Maybe the motives are pure? We want to make sure our kids do well get good grades and are well rounded. Don't get me wrong I believe  having an extracurricular activity is important and a great tool for kids but are we overdoing it when what our kids really need is to be home with the family laughing, playing games, and enjoying one another. They need to feel safe and rested. Here's a little game/test you can do with your child. Ask them to fill in the blank. Our family is______. I pray they say fun!

1 John 2:16-17 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.  And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
prayer:
Dad,
     Forgive me for jumping into commitments for myself and my family without first asking you. Please help me to evaluate and reevaluate the commitments me and my family have made and make changes where necessary. Help me to take advantage of the time I have with my children to laugh with them and build our relationship. In Jesus holy name,
                                                                                                           Amen

Dress Modestly Ladies...Your Little Ones Are Watching :)

It's always an interesting thing whenever you visit a theme park. If  you "people watch" you will notice an obvious trend...little girls mimic after their Momma :) Her clothing almost always is a "Mini Me" of  Mom's.  If Mom wore tight and revealing clothes, most times so did the daughter. If Mom was conservative in dress style, so too, was her little princess. As I observed this during my last Disney trip, I pondered about the image I portray to my daughter, Quinn. Even though she is only 1, I am setting a precedence that she will follow.  Without saying a word, she will look to my decisions clothing and reflect that too. Am I dressing modestly and setting the example myself?  Do I want her wearing what I wear? 

I recently watched a video clip ...

Jessica Rey "The Evolution of the Swim Suit" 

http://www.faithit.com/if-a-bikini-is-the-equivalent-of-a-power-suit-why-arent-women-more-empowered/#.U5WaWDOPE1n.facebook

that was powerful and well-worth my time. It spoke of modesty and the power of the brain. It gave insight and great encouragement. My hope is that you will watch this clip and settle in your mind to...be careful what you wear. Be careful what you let your little one wear. It is a trend started that will continue as they grow. 

The world will convince you it's ok, but ultimately what is the message we are sending our daughters? 

Are we honoring Christ with the clothing we put on ourselves and our kiddos?

Just something to ponder!