7x7

Take a look to the right of this post. See that little icon with the adorable blonde girl knowing her head labeled 7x7? I've had it on my blog for over a year because it's something I've been meaning to institute into my life and like a well laid plans.... Well I haven't.

The icon is a link to a blog post by Angie Smith, wife of Todd Smith from Selah. She wanted reminders throughout the day to pray for her children. She picked out seven daily activities : waking up, getting dressed, going out, eating, getting ready for bed and sleeping. She found verses she wanted to instill in her children's lives to pray over them during these times.

I really have an issue with three kids and one who is permanently attached to my body like an extra appendage finding a quiet time to pray as much as I liked. I've realized this week that instead of having a perfectionist view of getting away by myself an hour every night I may have to adjust things some days and this is an excellent way to make sure I am praying over my kids and speaking into their lives daily. It also institute a prayer without ceasing type of attitude making you get in the practice of having a lifestyle of prayer throughout your day not just whenever you deem your "quiet time " .

I really encourage you to click that icon and check out her post. While you're there grab a box of tissues and read her story of grace and strength. She is a beautiful person whose words have touched me in so many ways.





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Out of the mouth of babes

I have three kids but you would never know it by my blog postings- they're all about ella. I guess it's because she is in that magical and silly stage which readily provides interesting moments continually throughout the day.



Today I had Put out a bunch of Easter foam stickers for Ella to make a picture. She put a few words on and asked me what they said. I said well that one says praise what does that mean?

"when we sing to God like this like at church " and she raised her hand.

She put a church on then and said "this is my church and I love it" I had to write HMC on it to make it her church.

Then she found a sticker of praying hands. She decided they were clapping instead. She said "our church likes to clap to praise God" so once she came to that conclusion I spent the next twenty minutes picking paper off of "clapping hands" because "we like to clap a lot at that church"

My point is our kids are watching us whether we know it or not. What are we teaching them in those moments when we aren't even aware they are learning from our actions? Are we instilling positive things in them?

I'm so thankful for hyndman ministry center. We have a church that is Teaching our kids to praise God with abandon. To worship him without worrying about what the person next to you thinks. There is freedom in that place and our kids are being brought up to feel free to worship God in whatever way they feel led to and you see when they come out with their parents, they join right in. I'm so glad my kids are learning church is a place of joy , that it's fun to be at church not an obligation and praising God doesn't mean you stand in a pew staring a head singing a songs fit for a funeral!

I'm not perfect my kids learn my negative actions too. Laci is so snarky and sarcastic frequently and one day Tony yelled at her for her mouth and I realized she probably doesn't realize she's even doing anything wrong because he and I can be sarcastic, both just in a teasing way but Also when we are irritated. We are both working on it because we realized just like Ella is learning by observing us at church Laci is picking up things we don't mean to teach.

Kids really are little sponges soaking up everything from the environment you put them in. From the music we listen to when they are around to the people you allow around them. Its writing on the slate of who they are and affecting how they view life. I'm so thankful to my church family for providing a place for my kids to grow in freedom and Joy- to learn positive things and how to praise God.



Here is the picture she made. I love it. I was asking her about it and she said that's our church. She said " the people are in there praising God and clapping and dancing. All these claps are coming out of the church from the people praising God."

She then said " all the people are still in there they're going to come out late because everyone wants to keep praising..... And because Pastor Stevie is still yelling"

Bwahaha Hmc people - I promise I don't complain about the length of services! I love when it runs over! She's just very observant :)

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Snow white probably had rabies

I've said before, we live on a farm and have some wooded areas around us. With wooded areas come woodland creatures. Ella saw a dead raccoon on the road and is now fascinated by them. We have to talk about them daily. And everytime she brings them up we remind her they may look cuddly but are mean and dangerous. I blame Disney. Not only do animals talk and interact with the people, on movies where they are just regular animals they come out of their woodland homes to crawl happily all over the princesses. My kid already thinks she's Snow White so I'm sure she thinks all the first creatures naturally love her and want her to sit on the ground and sing a happy tune to them.

As she talks about her fondness for the bandit of the forest I always envision buddy the elf upon entering NYC and encountering his first raccoon:

"hello little guy, want a hug?" - raccoon on face.

I even used that image to explain to Ella she needs to STAY AWAY!

Still, she will not be turned away from her deep affection for the rabid beasts. Even as i type this shes is asking about them!

Earlier today as we were going to church she spoke of loving raccoons. Tony took his turn at the raccoons are dangerous speech.

Tony-" ella if you ever see a raccoon outside stay away from it."

" Well dad they can't reach the doorknob . "

"Yes ella but if YOU are outside and you see a raccoon you stay away! "

" dad , do you know what raccoons do when they see a doorknob they can't reach? They stand. Do you know what zebras like to do? Open doors for raccoons. You know what that raccoon wants to do dad? See my play room"

We can't win. Even if she isn't outside she is going to let the thing in for a tea party and if she doesn't, a rogue zebra will.


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