To Bookmark for Next Year.....

This post would have been more helpful a couple of weeks ago, but, oh well - something to keep in mind for next year!

Last year I thought about purchasing Resurrection Eggs to help teach the Easter story to our kids, but they ended up being a bit pricey.  Then I found online tutorials for making our own, but for one reason or another never ended up getting around to it.  I did have the foresight to save some plastic eggs, though, so this year I was ready to go!

I found this tutorial helpful, since it gives some different options for what to include, depending on what you have around your house.  I was able to put together a set completely from things I already had, in about half an hour.  I did have to print off a clip art picture of praying hands, and I made a spear by cutting off the sharp part of a skewer, and then made a cross by hot gluing together a couple of pieces of the remainder of the skewer.

We started using our eggs about a week before Easter, using them kind of like an "Easter Advent" activity, opening and discussing two eggs each night.  Some nights I read the corresponding story from a children's Bible.  Each night we would review the previous eggs, as well, to help them remember the story better.

Because our kids are still little, I was a little unsure of how much detail we wanted to go into with some of the eggs.  So we just explained to them that the whip, nails, etc. were used to "hurt Jesus", and that he "died on the cross".  That worked well for us.

Our kids LOVED these, and looked forward to opening them each night.  By the end, all of them, even Ezra, had a good grasp of the story.  I love that we have a fun hands-on way to teach the Easter story, and I love that we now have a great new Easter tradition!

My Personal School Lesson

As the new school year approaches, I've got a lesson I want to learn, too.

I feel like I've really been struggling in my mothering lately, well, for a while, really.  I feel like I am so often frustrated by my children and their actions.  For me it's the little things that grate at me, the things that happen over and over and over - the common potty accidents (when I know they can do better), the whining, the nagging, the not obeying, the child that pushes their brother down again and again.  I don't like how they're acting, so I react with anger and frustration, which then only makes me more angry and frustrated, because I don't like how I'm acting, either.  I've really been trying to think about how I can overcome these faults and hopefully, bring a little more peace to our home (because I know that starts with me!).

The other morning I thought of the Bible verse that talks about the law of kindness being on her tongue, so I was browsing through Proverbs looking for it.  I looked for it in my Bible's small concordance.  No luck.  Then I had the thought of looking it up online (I'm still getting used to having that be an option!), and then I discovered that those words are from the King James Version - I had seen and passed over the verse in my NIV Bible, because it wasn't what I was looking for: "She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue."

I believe I faithfully instruct my children.  But I don't always do it with kindness, and that's what I want to change.  That's why I especially like the KJV: "She openeth her mouth with wisdom and on her tongue is the law of kindness" (Proverbs 31:26).  I think those last seven words really get to the heart of the verse: "her tongue is the law of kindness".  That is what I want.  I don't want to be one of those permissive parents who never wants their child to get in trouble - I believe discipline is crucial - but I do want to discipline out of love, grace, and kindness, and not out of anger and frustration.

So that's my personal lesson plan for the year - to learn to always speak with kindness.  They say practice makes perfect, and I have a feeling I'll get lots of practice!  =)

 

Joy

"...weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5b (NKJV)

These last couple of weeks have been somewhat bittersweet for us. It's still hard for us to know that we don't get to welcome a baby into our home this month as we should have. However, the Lord is good. We are now looking forward to having our first child this November. We had the first doctor appointment last week, and everything is looking good! We had a bit of a scare at first when they were unable to find a heartbeat, but the ultrasound showed an active baby with a strong heartbeat! We were completely in awe looking at the ultrasound. It was so amazing to see the miracle of a new life! We feel much better now that we have passed the crucial 3-month mark, but are continuing to pray for a healthy baby!

"Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you - majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?" Exodus 15:11 (NIV)

Don't Worry

"So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:31-34 NIV

It is so hard sometimes not to worry about things. Both my husband and I tend to worry about things, usually worrying about things that never come to pass. The good thing is that usually if I'm worried about something - he's not, and vice versa. This way we can at least help each other out a little bit. It's so easy to get caught up in worry, and we can end up getting really stressed out, which isn't good. I know I for one need to worry less and trust God more.
Our worry right now is about finding somewhere to live. Since Seth has graduated, we have to move out of the college apartment where we now live. We have until the end of the month, a date which right now seems to be coming way too quickly. We have been looking for a new apartment, but it has proved to be very difficult. It is hard to find a nice apartment in a safe area at a reasonable price. When each day passes with still no good finds, we seem to get a little more worried. We had found one apartment a few days ago that seemed to be a good possibility, but that door closed last night when the owner called and said they decided to go with the other applicant. We have asked God to open and close doors where He wants, so we have to take that as an indication that it was not what He has for us, but it still is a let down. I am trying hard not to worry too much, and just trust that God knows what we need and will provide for us, but it's hard. And that's not saying that I expect Him to just drop something in our lap. We of course have to do our part - we are doing everything we know to find an apartment. But I know that God has a plan for us, including a place for us to live, and I trust Him to lead us to it. I just pray that He opens a door for us quickly!

God is Good

This is something Christians say a lot. Something that's a lot easier to say when everything's going great than it is when life is tough. Something that we have to be able to hold on to and believe even when we don't understand everything that is going on. It's been a tough week here for us. We found out a few days ago that we lost the baby we were expecting. Unless you've been through it, I don't think anyone can quite understand the pain and grief that comes with a loss like this. So many plans, hopes, and dreams taken away in an instant. We're still trying to come to grips with what has happened. We are so thankful for the love and support of our family and friends during this time. Although we can't comprehend why this has happened, we are holding on to the fact that God is in control of our lives and will work all things for good and we are thankful that He will carry us through this difficult time.