While some plod through life, others skip.

Some shy away from the spotlight; others welcome it, basking in its glow.

There are the quiet types, the thinkers who measure their words and phrases carefully. The others find words tumbling from their lips, always eager to express their thoughts and share the rainbow of emotions that carries them from mountain peak to valley deep.

You are one of those others. You take life as it comes, moving at your own pace, finding in each moment something to capture your attention. Your nature is to give and your desire is to please.

This is who you’ve become in just eight short years. The baby who made her way into the world in her own time and in her own way is developing into her own person, one who brings joy and spreads sunshine wherever she goes.

Happy Birthday, dear daughter!

Numbers are a funny thing; their value changes depending on your perspective.

Take the number ten, for example. It could be the score of your favorite sports team in last week’s game, the amount of money you drop in a donation basket, the number of Christmas presents you still need to purchase – or, it could be an age.

This week my oldest daughter turned ten. She was so excited; I was a bit melancholy. You see, should she leave home for college at age eighteen, she’s already lived with us over half of the years she’ll be at home.

That’s sobering. There’s so much I want to teach her, share with her, prepare her for, experience with her – and learn from her. As my dad reminded me this week, our control as parents lessens as our children grow, although, Lord willing, our influence continues.

Yet how can I but join in her excitement? In His goodness, God has given me these past ten years to be her mother. The next ten aren’t guaranteed. But may I seize each day and live it to its fullest as we make many more memories together. May her father and I use our influence to help her find the life the Lord would have for her. And in a variety of ways, may I show the love I have for her that began on a beautiful December afternoon just ten years ago and has but grown deeper and stronger since.

[Additional Note: This morning, my daughter asked me if she is now a “pre-teen.” Um, no. Let’s not rush this growing-up process!!]

If you’re like me, you may have discovered that you have a blind spot when you’re driving your car. It’s that small square of pavement that can’t be seen from your side or rearview mirror, and it causes me to glance over my shoulder quite often when I start to change lanes on the highway.

One of my fears is that I will have a blind spot when it comes to my children. I never want to be the parent who has no clue what their child is really like or how he acts when he’s away from them. I desire to know my children, encouraging their strengths and correcting their weaknesses. However, I also recognize the danger of concentrating so strongly on small faults that I miss some huge character flaw.

Therefore, I have come up with five strategies that I hope will help eliminate any blind spots from developing.

1. Prayer. I pray that if my child is doing something wrong, she will be found out so that correction can take place. I also need to ask for insight into areas of my children’s lives that I may be overlooking.
2. Spend time with my children, interacting as well as observing. How does she respond to authority? What type of influence do her friends have on her?
3. Be approachable. If a teacher or other adult comes to me about my child’s misbehaviour, may I react with grace, not immediately defending my child, but taking the account seriously.
4. Ask my husband. He often sees our children in a different light and has valuable input about attitudes and actions that need to be addressed.
5. Give up on perfect. After all, my goal is not to raise a perfect child, but a Godly one who knows how to ask for forgiveness when she’s made mistakes. As I accept that each of my children will struggle at times, I can be open to helping them grow to be the young ladies that God would have them to be.

photo courtesy public domain pictures

In the past, we have used a variety of books and resources for our family devotions. We recently began A Family Devotional Guide: Read the Bible by Its Stories (Crown Christian Publications).

There are twelve volumes; each volume contains thirty-one lessons. Each lesson consists of a Bible passage to read, questions to answer and a weekly memory verse.


Our children have grown up hearing Sunday School lessons, sitting in children’s church and going to Vacation Bible School. They attend a Christian school where they have Bible class every day and chapel every week. Bible stories have been read to them at home from the time they were infants.

However, I appreciate this study because our children are actually hearing the words from the Bible rather than listening to the story told from a teacher’s perspective or put into the words of a storybook author. While they are familiar with the general theme of each story, interesting discussions can begin as the actual verses are read.

As we studied Noah, our girls became interested in figuring out facts such as how long he and his family were actually on the ark. They also gained a new appreciation for just how old Abraham and Sarah actually were when Isaac was born!

The included questions are helpful as well; it’s not just “who did what,” but asks for a little more explanation. Some of the pages offer a series of quotes and our girls have to tell us which person said that phrase in the passage.

I am always excited about promoting Bible knowledge in our children, while at the same time having Bible characters be seen as real people just like them and giving them Biblical principles to apply to situations they are facing.

How is your family studying the Bible?

(This is not an affiliate link and I’m not receiving anything free for promoting this series – it’s just a resource that our family has found to be helpful and I wanted to share it with you. If you’d like to learn more about this series, you can click here.)

It arrives in our mailbox every so often.

I bring it into the house in all its glory.

An American Girl catalog has arrived, its cover designed to attract any young girl’s attention, its inside showing lovely dolls dressed in fine outfits with accessories, pets and coordinating furniture. My daughters are delighted when the catalog arrives; they peruse the pages, eyes scanning for any additions or changes.

And then….they cut it up.

First there’s a discussion of who gets which dolls. Then they go to work, scissors carefully trimming around each figure. Not long after, our playroom floor is littered with Felicity, Molly, Kit, and more in various outfits and poses. These paper dolls have many exciting adventures – most of which would never have been dreamed of by the actual doll’s creators.

Yes, were it financially possible, my husband and I could spend hundreds of dollars on buying the real thing; earlier this year, my oldest finally saved up enough money to buy her own American Girl Doll.

But in the end, I’m reminded of the child who plays with the box instead of the present that was inside. What simple pleasure is derived from some old-fashioned paper dolls and my girls’ own imaginations….and all free-of-charge.

Celebrate more simple pleasures at Tuesdays Unwrapped hosted by Chatting at the Sky.

Shoes.

They’re a necessary part of a wardrobe and can range from plain and practical to fancy and frivolous.

For the past nine years, my oldest daughter has entered every fall and winter season with a cute, but sensible, pair of black Mary Janes. They’re not expensive – usually these from Payless – but they hold up well and match every church dress in her closet.

However, I was afraid that after acquiring her first “high heels” this past spring, those reliable, predictable shoes may not be acceptable anymore.

I was right.

As we began scouting the stores this week for suitable church shoes, her eyes were drawn to a pair of flats -sparkly, but safe enough. Unfortunately, her size wasn’t available. Then she spotted some boots, and asked if she could have a pair with a heel like mine this year.

Once again, I find myself seeking a middle ground, settling on a choice that she can see as a bit more grown up and something I can live with as not too mature.

Maybe I should get comfortable on this middle ground; I see myself spending lots of time here in the future.

How do you balance your child’s taste in clothing or shoes with what you prefer?

Some mothers seem to have been born with a gene that enables them to take ordinary moments and create special memories. Unfortunately, it’s missing from my DNA. I tend to focus on getting things done as quickly as possible, with as little mess as possible.

I see it.

In the reduced number of cars in the parking lot of the neighborhood pool; in the darkness that comes earlier each night; in the school uniforms that fill my daughters’ closet; in the pencil pouches and composition books waiting patiently on the shelf.

I hear it.

From the school buses driving routes through the neighborhood; from the midday silence, so recently broken by children calling to one another; from the absence of the ice cream truck jingle passing the house each afternoon; from the zipping and unzipping of new book bags and lunchboxes.

I feel it.

The anticipation of seeing old friends, making new ones; the nervousness of first-day jitters; the anticipation of learning interesting facts, mastering new concepts; the sense of security that comes with familiar routines.

Another summer is ending, a new school year beginning. We hold fondly to the past while moving hopefully toward the future.

I’m thankful for the changes in this season of our lives. They keep me on my toes, never sitting still, always moving forward.

This post is linked to Thankful Thursday hosted by Women Taking a Stand.

A figure crept past the foot board of the bed as I raised my head from the pillow. As tall as she’s getting, it’s sometimes hard to distinguish my younger daughter from the older in the semi-darkness. “Mommy, I had a bad dream,” she whispered. I followed her back to her bed, tucked her under her covers. After removing the unreasonably large stuffed animal reclining beside her, I grabbed a blanket from her sister’s bed and laid down beside her.

I didn’t realize it would be this difficult.

I recently began searching for a new piano teacher for our daughters. Sadly for us, the one who has given them such a wonderful start in learning to play is relocating to another part of the country.

As I seek just the right person to fill this position, I am praying for wisdom. My husband and I strongly desire that our girls develop this talent and use it for the Lord – in ministry; as a vocation if they wish; and simply for their own enjoyment.

Recently, I heard a speaker share a story in which he told his child the following: “Don’t just play the notes; make music.” What an inspiring thought – to let the music flow from inside of you and unleash itself on the keys.

Through the cd’s played in our home to the music coming from the radio, I want our children to develop a taste for good, wholesome, appropriate music that encourages and uplifts. From hymns to classical tunes to carefully selected traditional song forms, I want them to enjoy a variety of music. This involves teaching them about rhythms and beats as well as giving attention to the words, so that they might, as they grow, learn to select what is best.

With all of this to consider, finding just the right piano teacher to help me guide them becomes quite important.

How do you teach your children about music? Please share any resources you have for finding excellent music to play in your home.