Hope From a Christmas Float

 

Just the other day…I folded myself onto the red and white Christmas float, ready to brave the cold, wave at strangers, and hold my five year old, Abbie, in my lap as she participated in her first Christmas parade.  Sitting “criss-cross” is not something I do often, so about twenty minutes in, my legs started going numb.  I realized very quickly…I am much older than the last time I was in a Christmas parade! Besides that, I actually loved getting to wave and smile and yell out “Merry Christmas!!!” along with the precious little girls sitting beside me. It would have been an entirely magical night, even with my legs going numb, except for the fact that Abbie kept asking me over and over and over, “Where is Daddy? When will we see Daddy? Are we close to seeing Daddy yet?”

To say the child loves her Daddy is quite the understatement. The affection, I assure you, is mutual. In fact, when I arrived home from an event last week, the one tree in our front yard was decked out with blinking multi-colored lights, although everything else is “white lights only”. Why the colored lights on that particular tree? Well, because Abbie asked for them, that’s why, and my Abbie has her daddy wrapped around her little finger!! It’s that mutual affection, I tell you!

So, the questioning regarding the whereabouts of her beloved daddy was continuous and constant. Abbie was tolerating the hundreds of others along the parade route, but who she really wanted to see was her dad!

“We’ll be there soon, Abbie, just wave. It makes people happy to see you waving at them.”

“Daddy’s here. I know he’s looking for you, too! Just wait, it won’t be long.”

“Not too much further. You’ll see him!”

The longer she didn’t see him, the more impatient she became; and the more impatient she became, the shorter answers I gave (you know how it goes). Children are persistent! They won’t give up! They will, by golly, get an answer!!

Finally, I knew we were getting close to where he said he would be sitting. I saw familiar buildings, so I told her to start looking.

“He’s close!” I said...”Just ahead.”

We both sat up straighter. She and I scanned the crowd over and over, but didn’t see him. I frantically searched each face as we seemed to whiz by, even though 30 seconds prior we had seemed to be crawling. Just as I thought we must have missed him and prepared to break the bad news, there he was, standing tall and smiling big with his camera in hand.

Abbie spotted her daddy, gave him a joyful smile back, and immediately brought her hand to her mouth and blew him a huge air-kiss.

(Is your heart melting right now? Mine, too!)

Later that night, I was thinking over the events of the day when God, so sweetly, did a little prodding of my heart. You see, He and I have a conversation going on right now…one in which I continuously ask, “God, what are You doing with me?” and He answers with...

S I L E N C E

Ever been through that with Him? It’s difficult. It’s confusing.

In many ways, I’m just like my little Abbie when it comes to getting answers to my prayers. I know in time, I’ll see and understand. But it’s the waiting that’s getting to me…

"WHERE'S DADDY?!" I ask.

I ask over and over and over. I've been asking it for a while.

"When will I see?"

"When will I understand?"

He might be getting a little impatient with me...;)

But, He took me to a Christmas parade and let me have a special moment with my little girl and her daddy so that He could show me...and now you...this - -

He is just up ahead.

It's not much further.

Keep a look out. Sit up straight and search the crowd.

See the signs. Keep trusting. Get excited!

He is not hiding. He's in plain sight.

At the right moment, the clarity...the "seeing"...the understanding will come. And all this waiting? It will seem to have been like a fleeting shadow, much less dramatic and daunting than it is to you at the present time.

And what about that moment you realize the wait is over, that He has answered your heart's cry?

What about THAT moment...the one where your invisible faith meets a tangible reality?

Undoubtedly, when that time comes, you'll take note...

that He is there...

your Father...

smiling back at you.

You'll be settled...refreshed...and you'll understand that it is all just as He planned.

And who knows, you might even be tempted to blow Him an air-kiss...;)

 May God's unimaginable love surround you this Christmas!!!

Abbie Turns Five - An Interview

Just the other day...or actually about 1,825 days ago, my little miracle baby arrived. I call her a miracle because, well, some people who will remain nameless, thought we should stop having children after two. I, however, couldn't shake the feeling that God had one more blessing to give us. So I prayed and waited and prayed and believed and sure enough, that person who will remain nameless came around! Our precious and always entertaining Abigail turns FIVE today!! Unbelievable. Where has the time gone?

My very first post waaaaayyyy back in 2008 was an interview with our oldest, Sydney, when she was 4. I also interviewed our middle princess, Kylee, when she was 4. Needless to say, I couldn't leave "baby" Abbie out, so today, as she turns 5, I want to share her interview here. I may or may not have almost let her turn 5 without interviewing her. Poor third child! She gets the worn-out, not-quite-so-organized me as a mom. Heaven help her.

1. What do you think heaven looks like? There are no bad people there. The sky is blue. There are trees and a sun. There are animals, like horses and giraffes...and Adam and Eve are there. It's warm! There's no thunder. They don't have money. Oh, and there's a sea with boats!

2. What does Dad do at work? He does stuff on the computer and hmmmmm...he teaches people.

3. What do you think your husband will be like? (She giggled at that question!) Maybe like Daddy. He'll have light brown hair, a car, and lots of shoes......and we'll have a baby!

4. If you were going to spend one year on a desert island and could only take three things with you, what would they be? A book, "Cuddle Kitty", and a princess dress.

5. Who is your favorite aunt and why? Aunt Schuyla, because she has baby Jacob.

6. Who is your favorite uncle and why? Uncle Allan, because he has Alayna.

7. What do you think Joseph and Mary heard in the stable on Christmas night? Angels, birds, and coyotes.

8. What do you think Joseph and Mary smelled in the stable on Christmas night? Food.

9. What is the nicest thing I ever did for you? Hugging & kissing me...oh, and taking me places.

10. When is a time that I hurt your feelings? When I hit and kick and get in trouble for it.

11. When is a time that you were really mad at me? I'm never mad at you!

12. If you could be a movie character who would you be and why? Elsa, because she has powers.

13. What is your favorite outfit? My costume.

14. What is the hardest part of being four years old? When I can't get to sleep.

15. What has been your favorite childhood memory? When baby Jacob was born.

16. If you could be an animal for a day, which one would you be and why? A dolphin, because I like them. We see them at the beach!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET ABIGAIL!!!

Number Three Turns Four

Just the other day...our precious Abigail made her debut in this world. As a matter of fact, it was four years ago! I thought singing the birthday song all day and talking about her being four would make the reality of this milestone more real, but so far, that has not happened. I still can't wrap my brain around her being four!

Abbie's arrival was full of joy, but soon met with overwhelming anxiety. You can read that story here. I remember countless hours spent rocking and singing my sweet Abbie to sleep. I also remember the tears streaming down my face while my other two girls played just outside the door, unable to fully take care of them anymore...or so I felt. My heart was pulled in so many directions after having our third. I was in survival-mode far too often. I can only pray my kids don't have to dish out mega-bucks in therapy fees as a result!

If any child has been a challenge from day one, Abbie has been it! She is sneaky and head-strong. If you tell her "don't do it", she's going to do it...with a twinkle in her eye! This is my child who actually laughs as she's being scolded for getting into trouble. But for all the mischief and grief she has put me through, she is as sweet as they come...and I'm not just saying that!

Abbie loves fiercely. She's the first one to let out a long, southern-twanged, "Awwwwww!", when she sees something cute, like a puppy or a baby. She's the first one to jump up and say, "I'll help!" when asked. She takes care of her big sisters just as much as, or at times even more than, they take care of her. And, Abbie gives the tightest around-the-neck hugs I have ever experienced. You know it when you've had a hug from that little love bug!

Abbie also loves to talk. I thought my ears were tired before she came along, but oh wow, they were just being conditioned for the years to come! The child has something to say allllll day long! She's the kind of child that  "never meets a stranger", so consider yourself warned. She'll have you roped into a conversation in a skinny minute!

Being the baby that she is, Abbie is also incredibly cute. She oozes cute! Everything she does is cute (well, almost). From performing made-up dances in the living room to singing worship songs to the top of her lungs to saying the prayer before we eat, the child will melt your heart. And there's not a heart alive that has been melted quite as much as her daddy's heart. Those two are so taken with each other!! The bond they have is really beautiful to watch.

Sometimes I think about how we almost didn't have an "Abbie"...and it makes my heart ache in a big way. Oh the blessings we would have missed out on!! There was excuse after excuse after excuse for not having a third child, but then someone in ministry made us really stop to think about the root of all of our excuses. Simply put, all of our excuses were purely selfish.

From day one, our sweet Abigail has taught us surrender in a way we previously hadn't known. She has been a catalyst to giving up control and letting God take the reigns in a greater way. Two children?  Well,that felt "do-able", but three has honestly been more than I felt I could handle in my perfectionistic, do-it-all-just-right head...and that's a good thing! My crew keeps me at the feet of Jesus, right where I need to be kept.

I'm sure the days ahead are faced with more challenges as I try to parent this one who is often a puzzle. However, I am just as positive that there's a ton of love and hugs, lengthy conversations, and utter cuteness around the bend. And you know what? I can't wait to soak in the joy of it all, thanking God each day for the beautiful gift He has given me in my precious, spunky Abigail!

"Children are a heritage from the Lord,

    offspring a reward from him."

Psalm 127:3

Walking In The Answer To Prayer

Just the other day...I walked out the side door and into the warm breezy air blowing in from the field across the road. Being with my kids 24/7, my walking time was much-needed time! As usual, my thoughts turned to life and the deeper subjects on my heart. I began to talk to the Lord.

Life in a rural area had been hard on this city-girl, but I had adjusted (if you have heard my talk, "Growth in the Shadows", you'll remember what a struggle it had been). While I was content and the Lord had changed my "move-me-now-or-I'm-going-to-die" attitude, there was an ache in my heart for my kids that never truly went away. When my husband and I would reminisce about playing with neighborhood kids as children or having huge birthday parties attended by tons of friends, our kids would just look at us with blank stares. Living off the beaten path, down a long, lonely highway was all they had ever really known.

Naturally, my heart ached for them to know some of the same joys I had known as a child. Yet, I knew if the Lord asked us to stay in that rural area for our whole lives, then we would do so, happy and peaceful in the center of His will. I needed to talk to God about the ache though.

I prayed something like this, "God, if it would ever be within Your will, would you let our kids experience a neighborhood...a community...lots of friends...the sort of thing we knew as kids? Would you, Lord, expand our territory and the influence of our family? We love it here, with all of our hearts, but if You want to do more with us, please lead us to the 'more'."

It wasn't very long after that that my husband got a phone call.

That phone call lead us to eventually move two and a half hours north...to the "more" that God had prepared for us.

There are few things about this particular move that have been easy, but I have to tell you...I have never in my life felt so much like I was walking around in the literal, tangible answer to my prayers!!!

When I stand in my den and look out the window to see tons of neighborhood kids playing with my girls in the backyard, I have to fight back the tears. Sometimes I don't even fight them...because letting them flow feels like worship...an overflow of a heart filled to the brim with gratitude. When I take my walks here and neighbors stop their cars to chat, or yell out the window, "Hey Becky!", it makes me thankful for a place where I have found community as well.  When friends stay late because "it's peaceful in your house" and kids don't want to leave here, I know it has absolutely nothing to do with me (or us), but everything to do with God...because that, too, is exactly what I prayed for, for this new home to be a place of refuge, peace, and the warmth of His presence.

So, I'm wondering what it is on your heart today?

Prayer works. Do you believe it? You should!! Because it does.

God absolutely hears each and every request you bring to Him. If what you are asking for is within His will, then He delights in giving you exactly what you asked for, plus more blessings on top to that! Why?

Because that is the heart of our Father.

Seek Him. You'll find Him.

Ask Him. He will answer.

Linking up at:

Woman to Woman

Raising Homemakers

For His glory,

Snuggle Time

Just the other day...my oldest daughter, Sydney, asked me to come and snuggle with her at bedtime. She told me one day, "Mommy, snuggle is sometimes 'code' for...'I really need to talk to you'" This time, "snuggle" was really "code"! But I never know, so...I end up snuggling a lot! :)

I climbed in bed with my precious girl, slid over next to her, and waited to see what was on her mind. It wasn't long before she started opening up.

For quite some time now, Sydney has been wanting to learn French. She found an old English to French dictionary I had in high school and, like she does with all books, she devoured it! She wanted more! So, I had started researching some French lessons for this coming school year (quick FYI, we have been homeschooling for over 4 years and absolutely love it). I hadn't yet made a decision on what to order.

Sometimes delaying is a good thing.

Sydney slowly, and with much reservation at first, started to let me know that she felt God was putting something big on her heart. My heart swelled at the realization that she was learning to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit!! I wanted to get up and dance around the room...but realizing that might be a little over the top, I bravely fought back tears instead, becoming misty-eyed pretty quickly.

As she talked on, I began to realize how much of an impact summer camp had had on her. At camp, she and other girls her age were given the opportunity to hear from different missionaries. One particular missionary couple made a strong impression on her. They had been called to serve deaf people and had even learned how to sign in three different languages! This couple had taught the girls how to sign the entire alphabet.

In the weeks following camp, Sydney went on to tell me that it seemed that she was constantly coming across something having to do with the hard of hearing, whether it was in books, on tv, or in real life. As she recounted the times, I also began to realize how often it was happening. Then she said the words that made me go..."Well, okay then, I guess you need to learn sign language!"

She said, "Mommy, this is not just something I want to do, but something I feel like ...ya know...I need to do. If I learned French, that would just be for fun, but learning sign language would be for God."

(Insert big, beaming smile...annnnnd just go ahead and throw in a happy dance, too!)

I don't care if she ever wins one race, paints one masterpiece, sings like an angel, breaks a world record, or earns a million dollars. I care that she knows how to hear the still, small voice of the Lord and obey it.

So, with that said...my nine year old is now whole-heartedly, one-hundred-percent sold out on learning sign language! She has been watching instructional videos on signing over and over, like it is her job. She is wanting me to find books on the subject. I'm looking for someone to teach her (in real life, not on youtube). We're doing this!!

Because, who am I to say that at the age of nine, my baby girl can't hear the voice of God?

My husband and I have prayed for her. We have instructed her. We have given her tools. Our job is far from over, of course...yet we are realizing that there comes a time to start actively trusting God that the seeds planted are growing up into full maturity.

Seeing wings sprout means it's time to start letting them fly.

Spiritually speaking, I pray Sydney learns to soar far beyond anything I could ever imagine for her. May her wings take her exactly where our Father bids...because, just as with all of us, I know that is the place of His greatest blessing (and consequently, her greatest contentment).

In whatever way He chooses to use it, may her knowledge of sign language and her overwhelming, growing compassion for the hard of hearing, be mightily used for His glory.

_____________________

"Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." 1 Tim 4:12

Linking up at:

Growing Home
Raising Homemakers
Woman to Woman
Faith Filled Friday

With a heart overflowing, 

At the Whisper of His Name

Just the other day...I had every intention of having my husband walk in from a long trip to a clean house, kids that were bathed and ready for bed, and a wife that was ready to hang on his every word.

That is far from what happened.

The house was fairly clean.

The kids were in the process of bathing.

Then it all took a turn for the worst.

Princess #2 had turned the water off after her shower and realized that she didn't have her towel. She had begged to take a shower in my bathroom instead of hers and neither one of us had remembered to get it. I walked quickly to the other bathroom to get the towel and got back just in time to see her jump up, trying to clean off all the condensation that had formed on the inside of our shower door.

On the way back down, she let out a yell and I immediately saw the cut made in her fragile skin from the door handle.

It was deep and would need stitches, no doubt!

Immediately, we applied pressure and thank the Lord, it was not bleeding very much.

My mind raced..."Do I even know where the hospital is yet?" (We had moved into our house exactly 3 weeks prior.) More thoughts..."She is soaking wet and it's freezing outside. I have to find her warm clothes, fast. I have another child in the bathtub. How am I going to get her out also and all three loaded into the car? Is there anyone I know who can help me?"

"Jesus," I whispered.

I immediately thought of the neighbor I had met a few days prior and called her. No answer. Then it occurred to me, my sister in law just moved to the next town over! I called her and she was instantly on her way. While talking to her, I remembered having a conversation with another neighbor behind us about a nurse that lives in the neighborhood. "Maybe she could help," I thought.

I put my oldest in charge of watching the other two and promised to be back in just a minute.

I flew out our back door and was banging on the neighbor's back door in a matter of seconds. I'm sure they must think I'm nuts as I have no clue what I even said, but bless them, they immediately offered assistance (the neighbor that is a nurse was not home). My sweet new friend said she would be over in minutes to watch the other girls until my sister-in-law got to the house. They also told me about an urgent care place that was just minutes away and that they thought it was open 24 hours.

During the run back to my house, I whispered His name again, "Jesus".

My precious neighbor did arrive, just minutes later, telling me that she had already called the urgent care place to make sure they were open and that they could do stitches. What an angel! I had managed by this time to throw mismatched clothes on Princess #2 and dry her hair just a tiny bit, so out the door we flew.

On the way, we prayed, thanking the Lord for His provision already and then asking that He would help the doctors and nurses know exactly what to do. We also prayed for Him to help my sweet girl to endure the stitches without much pain.

Right after we arrived at the medical center, two people from our church showed up. I can't tell you what that meant to us to have them there! It helped to take our minds off of everything. And, not too much time passed before my husband was walking in the door, having returned from his first big trip with our church's youth group.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

Princess #2 ended up with three stitches, put in place by the most wonderful doctor. The entire time, she did not cry or even whimper. What an answer to prayer! All she asked was that I keep my hand up close by her face so she wouldn't be tempted to look, so that's just what I did. She made me so proud!

And God? He made me even prouder, coming to our rescue as He did.

Sometimes, as Christians, we can be tempted to believe, "I have to pray elaborate, lengthy prayers before the Lord will listen to me or answer me."

What a lie!!!

I literally only had time to whisper His name and He faithfully worked on our behalf. He knew exactly what that word conveyed.

One of my favorite passages from Psalms says this:

"You know when I sit down and when I stand up; You understand my thoughts from far away. You observe my travels and my rest; You are aware of all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, Lord." 139: 2 - 4

God was well aware of what was happening, and not just aware in the sense that He "knew"...He was so aware that, I believe, He was already lining up the exact people that I would need to help me. In the same way that I was busy caring for my little girl, He was busy caring for us!

Why? Because He loves His children, all of us, that much. He who is always with us is always ready to help us, so faithful in our time of need. He is our ever-present help...our constant, consistent, doting Father...

...the One Who comes to our aid even at the very whisper of His name.

For His glory,

Raising Your Own Best Friend

Just the other day...I had one of those moments, the kind meant to be treasured. There was hardly anyone else on the beach. It was late in the afternoon and a bit overcast. The sound of the waves had washed away any amount of stress I had brought on vacation with me just days before.

I sat on my knees, digging in the sand, trying to remember the last time I had felt so free to just "be". My eight year old daughter happened to be my playmate. I listened carefully to her instructions on the flow of the water and the proper direction I needed to push the sand. Our castle was begging for a moat, so my little engineer figured out the best way to build it. As we worked together, I marveled at her intelligence and beauty.

This time with her, this moment, was a gift. She recognized it, too.

At one point she broke from our conversation and work and said, "Mommy, I don't feel like you're my mommy right now. I feel like you're my best friend."

"Me too, honey. I feel the same way," I said, looking deep in her eyes as we exchanged smiles.

I wanted to pinch myself, thinking..."Is this real? How is it that I came to be so blessed?"

Her statement made me think about another day that I sat playing with her. She was just a baby, probably only six months old. My husband, who was watching us, suddenly remarked, "You're raising your own best friend, you know."

How profound his words were and are.

Yes, I discipline her. Yes, I teach her. Yes, I guide her. Yes, I mother her.

But after all of "that" is said and done...when she flies from the nest one day and the main bulk of my work is over...what I hope to be left with is a best friend.

The fact is, there is a special woman in my life who once played with me in the sand. She kissed my boo-boo's, took me shopping, and showed me special attention after some mean boy broke my heart. She was there, waiting on me after every practice, every football game, and every outing with friends. She showed me the heart of God and taught me how to listen...really listen...to Him.

She is my best friend, and I also happen to call her mom.

She didn't do all that she did to "raise a best friend" and neither do I and neither do you, but the effect of it all...all the loving and pouring out that we do...it ends up molding this mystery of a relationship. Who can explain it, exactly, the bond between mother and daughter? It is something timeless, eternally beautiful, awe-inspiring, and pure.

One day in the future, when I'm very old and my daughter is still considered young, it's my prayer that she'll once again be able to say a version of the words she spoke to me on the beach that day. I hope to hear something like, "You're not only my mom. You're my best friend."

I'll look back at her and remember the girl who once stood before me. I'll swell with pride at the woman she has become.  I'll swallow hard, dare myself not to cry, and say to her with a smile, "Me too, honey. I feel the same way."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children." - Charles R. Swindoll

Linking up at:
The Better Mom, What Joy Is Mine, Raising Arrows, A Pause on the Path, Women Living Well, Raising Homemakers, Beholding Glory

For His glory,

Boy-Drama Begins

Just the other day...Princess #2, who is all of five years old, was not herself. We had just gotten home after church and she was huffing and puffing around like a mad woman. When I asked her what was wrong, she ran to her room. "Oh, mercy...what could have happened?!" I wondered. I mean, she can be dramatic but even so, this was a little over-the-top for her. Quickly, I followed her and when I opened the door I saw that she was sitting on her bed with her arms crossed. She wore the cutest little pouty face, with her lips pursed and her eyebrows furrowed.

I, Very Humbly, Became Her Mother

Just the other day...March 2, 2004 at 8:20am to be exact...life as I knew it was forever changed. A beautiful, rosy, wrinkled baby girl was placed in my arms. In that moment, I tasted the most overwhelming love I had ever known. I will always remember those tiny cries that first night and how my exhausted husband said, "Can you just let her sleep next to you? She doesn't cry as much when she's with you."

Passing My Faith Down To My Children

Just the other day…a friend from college called me up, asking for advice with her kids. She said something like, “You seem to be great at passing your faith along to your children, so I wanted to pick your brain a little bit and find out what you do.”  I definitely believe that passing along my faith is the most important job I have, so of course I was happy to share! Later on I thought, “There could possibly be other moms, especially new moms, who need some suggestions. What a great blog idea!” So, here you go. Today I’m sharing all the ways I attempt to pass my faith along.

   

Now please hear me, I know there are FAR better and wiser moms out there who do a MUCH BETTER job at this than I do, but I can assure you, I try really hard. Also, believe me, I realize that in sharing such suggestions, you could see this as a mandate that I believe this is what you have to be doing. Please don’t do that! Sift and filter through this list, take what you need, leave what you don’t, and above all, live in His grace!!!

At the end, feel free to add other ideas in the comment section. We are all in this journey of faith, seeking to learn and grow. This would be a great place to gain insights from each other!

Without further delay, here’s the list (cause lists & I get along really well):

• The most important thing I do for my kids is stop when they have a question pertaining to God, church, heaven, the Bible, etc. My kids know how important it is to me simply because I take the time to answer and to help them understand, no matter what time of day or what the situation. I don’t tell them to ask me later, I don’t say “not now”, I don’t say “ask your father”, I don’t say “you’ll understand it someday”…no, 99.9 percent of the time I am answering the question or looking up the answer in the Bible to show them or doing something to help them understand (I've even been known to act out Bible stories). As stated above, I think this is the #1 most important way I pass on my faith to my kids. Why? Because if my child asks the question, it means it's a topic on her heart and therefore, she will be totally engaged, wanting to know the answer (right then, not later).

• I have read to my children from kid-friendly Bibles or age appropriate devotional books from very early ages. I have known that it’s important to get the Word of God in them and to get it softening their little hearts early.

• I have sung to my kids, well, since they were in the womb.  Of course, I sing songs like “Jesus Loves Me” and “This Little Light of Mine”, but also hymns like “The Old Rugged Cross” or worship songs like “Jesus, Lover of My Soul.” Again, it’s about a repeated message and I believe it prepares little hearts to hear the gospel later on.

• We pray together all the time. We pray at the start of the day at breakfast. We pray at the start of our home school. We pray during home school for other countries and people groups. We pray, of course, at each meal, whether here at home or out at a restaurant. We stop and pray anytime someone calls us and asks for it. We pray anytime there is sickness in our house. We pray in our car each and every time we leave our driveway to go anywhere (please note: each time we go somewhere, it involves a trip…no store just around the corner here). Lastly, we pray with each child, individually, before they go to sleep at night. Bedtime has become a favorite time for my kids to ask those “deep” questions burning in their minds...it's usually some of the sweetest and most special times!

• From the time my kids were babies, I have tried to bring God into our conversations.  I have done this most often as we are playing outside. I’ll say something like, “Look at the beautiful day God gave us, girls!” or “Isn’t God so amazing...look at that gorgeous sunset He made!” But more than that, I try (notice I said TRY) to listen for times when God is providing me with a teachable moment. When those moments present themselves, I try to seize them. Actually, I pray for those kind of moments. Life is the best teacher, and this world, the most amazing classroom!

• This probably goes without saying, but my children attend church regularly. They go to Sunday School, Children's Church, Mission Friends/GA's, and also to AWANA. They are hearing and learning the Word all the time. I believe it's so important for them to hear the Christian message from other people! I'm so very thankful for each and every person who takes the time to pour into their lives!

• I guard my kids from watching negative things on TV (and yes...there's a lot of it)! Almost every show my kids watch is either educational or inspiring. Also, we have invested in a lot of Christian cartoons/videos (things like Boz the Bear, Gigi: God’s Little Princess, Superbook, Veggie Tales, etc.). My kids take notice when they are watching something with a Christian message, and they get excited about it! I also guard the kind of music my kids listen to. My car radio is always set to either a Christian station or to classical music, and at home we love to listen to Pandora (setting up our own "stations" that play our favorite Christian artists).

And that leads me to my last point…

If you possibly read the post I wrote about my dad last Father’s Day, you might remember that in my childhood home, my parents were wonderful guardians of the faith. They created such an atmosphere of honor for the Lord, when I got “out into the world”, the differences slapped me in the face. Without question, I knew the choices I wanted to make and you know what, I want the same "revelation" to happen to my children one day! Don't you want that for yours?!

Peace and blessings abound in an atmosphere that honors the Lord!

Let me leave you with a quick question:

If Jesus Himself were to physically walk into your home, would He be honored by the way you are raising your children to know Him?

If that answer is YES, I applaud you and say keep up the great work! If that answer is NO, I want you to know that it is never too late to start honoring Him...your children will rise to the task of centering your lives on the Lord, if you do. Parent, they will follow your lead!

"Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates."

Deuteronomy 6:7 (The Message)


Linking up at:
A Pause on the Path
The Better Mom
lowercase letters
Women Living Well
Raising Homemakers
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home

For His glory,

Notches in My Mothering Badge

Just the other day…I overheard my middle child say to her older sister, “sometimes I wish we didn’t have a mom”. My heart sank to the pit of my stomach right where I was standing. The night before, we had let our older girls watch the beginning of the movie, “Mars Needs Moms”, against our better judgment. My husband had quickly looked at the reviews and had come to the conclusion that it had a positive message. In the end, it does have a good message, but getting to the end is the problem, as the entire movie is pretty scary for little ones. We turned it off about a quarter of the way through. Anyways, the above sentiment quoted by my sweet five year old was a direct result of watching that movie. Note to self: check movie reviews better in the future. Lesson learned.

But, for a moment, let’s get back to that statement…”sometimes I wish we didn’t have a mom”. She said it right after I had taken computer privileges away from her older sister for disobeying. She just turned five years old, people. I get it. Yet, it still stung to hear those words. I may or may not have cried for a whole ten minutes…because, well, she’s just never said anything like that before. Ever. In those moments though, I began to think of my own mom and how many times I didn’t say those exact words, but I certainly felt them.

I remember one time when I was a teenager, I was intent on being particularly bad. I was actually planning my rebellion on the phone with my friend. Little did I know, Mom's intuition the Holy Spirit had gently nudged my mom and she was listening in on my conversation from another phone in the house (something she never did, by the way).  As I voiced what I was going to do, she promptly said, “Oh, no you’re not!” in a very stern voice. I wanted to crawl in a hole. And you can be quite sure that I was “wishing I didn’t have a mother” at that moment!

Can I just say…thank the Lord for a mom who listened to Him?!!!

Do you know how much trouble that woman kept me from all because she walked with the Lord (and still does)?! Oh no, I didn’t like it back then. I slammed many a door in response to her “ruining my fun”! I cried many overdramatic tears. However, you can be sure, I love her for it now. Oh, how I love her!

Needless to say, after recovering from the sting of my five year old’s words, I realized I didn’t need to feel sad. I needed to feel honored. I had just earned a notch in my mothering badge, one of many I hope to collect.

Being a good mom does not mean I need to try to be my child’s best friend so that I can “feel” her love or hear her sing my praises at all times. That makes our relationship about me (selfish) and not about her at all. No, being a good mom means I’m going to take the higher road of loving at all costs, even if that means temporary pain and discomfort for my child. Why? Because I know that the end result will be a well-rounded adult who understands a healthy balance between justice and grace…and a whole lot about what true love is and what it isn’t.

But furthermore, it means I do the main thing first. I stay close to the Lord. I walk with Him. I lean on Him and ask Him to show me how to mother these precious gifts of mine every step of the way. Oh, He knows I’m faaaarrrr from perfect. He sees the times I’ve already messed up. But I have to believe and I have to trust that as I keep Him first, this journey through motherhood is not only going to work out, it’s going to garner some beautiful results in the end.

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

 Prov 22: 6


Linking up at:
A Pause on the Path
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Raising Homemakers
The Better Mom

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Women Living Well

For His glory,

Unexpected Adventures

Today, I had a fun outing planned for the girls. We are in a large city at the moment since "the king" (of our little castle) had to travel for some meetings. Right down the road from our hotel, there is a museum just for children...ya know, the kind with lots of hands-on activities and really cool exhibits for kids to explore. I had shown the kids pictures of the museum on the internet, talked about it all morning, told them how much fun it was going to be, and gotten them really excited. Being the well-intentioned-but-often-scatterbrained mom that I am, I did not notice one very important fact.

The museum is closed on Mondays.

There were plenty of cars in the parking lot. We unloaded and went straight inside, however we were greeted by a kind young lady telling us they were only open for a photo shoot. Great.

I know all of our faces must have screamed "disappointment" by the way she kept spouting off, "I'm so sorry." I was thinking, "You're sorry?! What about me? My poor kids." I hate letting them down.

Stick with me cause it's about to get really good....

As we walked out, I noticed the humongous state museum across the parking lot. Hmmmm. What if we went there? At this point, it was my only hope. After apologizing to the girls, I started telling them MAYBE we could go to the big museum if it didn't cost too much. I said, "Why don't we just go over and check it out?" They very reluctantly agreed.

As we were walking up, I noticed a ton of steps that I certainly could not drag the stroller up, so I asked a young couple coming down them about the museum and the prices. They were very sweet to tell us all we needed to know, except they weren't quite sure about the price of admission. I thanked them and then the girls and I proceeded to find some kind of ramp so that I could push the stroller up to the building.

On our way up the ramp, I kept talking about our day and began telling the girls, "You know, God just might have another adventure in store for us today. In the Bible, we are told that a Christian's steps are ordered by the Lord...so we'll just have to see what He brings." As we finished that conversation we were just getting ready to enter the building when the young man I had spoken to on the steps reached us. He was out of breath from running, but proceeded to hand us four tickets to get into the museum FOR FREE. He said, "I don't know if you'll need all four tickets since you have the baby, but take it too, just in case." We were amazed at such generosity!!! We thanked him profusely as he ran back out the door and yelled "God bless you" after him.

My oldest looked at me with her eyes as big as saucers and said, "Mommy, you were just saying to wait and see what God would do and then that man gave us tickets to get in free!" My heart nearly burst open with joy!

ISN'T GOD GOOD?!

I just love that He cares about all the little details of our lives. Don't you?!?!  The fact that He provided my girls with such a great object lesson thrills me to no end! I expect Him, my Father, to take care of me and I long for my children to grow up expecting nothing less. It's true...as His children, we can and should take Him at His word!

Well, needless to say, we ended up having the most wonderful time in the "big" museum, which really was massive and way more than we could see in one trip. What made it even more exciting was the fact that in nearly every room, we saw things that we had studied in homeschool either this year or last year. Wow, it just brought all that learning "home", especially for my oldest daughter.  What a tremendous blessing!!!

Now, can I just brag on God one more time?

As we were going out the door, I asked one of the workers about a good place to eat but she said she didn't live in the area. Another woman overheard me, stopped me going out the door, and told me just to follow her...she would take me to a wonderful place that the kids and I could eat at, right up the road. She literally sat in her car and waited on us to walk all the way to our car that was still in the other parking lot (at the first museum), then she patiently led us to the restaurant, weaving in and out of five o'clock traffic. Amazing.

When I talk about being a daughter of God, I mean it. See, what my Father knows about me is this: I get apprehensive in unfamiliar places and getting out today with my kids was a pretty big deal. I didn't tell anyone that. I didn't say to my kids, "This makes mommy so nervous." I prayed. I trusted. I pulled myself up by the bootstraps and got us out the door because I'm sick of fear. Fear, as a daughter, as a child of the Almighty, should have NO PLACE in my life...

and I've let it have a "place" for

way

too

long.

____________


*Linking up at Joy in this Journey, Raising Homemakers, and Beholding Glory

For His glory,  

On Tough Love and Mommy Guilt

Have you ever had one of those days when it was all you could do to show "tough love"? Oh, today was one of those days for me. Princess #1 told me her room was clean and so I trusted her that it was up to par. Shame on me for not checking, I guess, but at the time Princess #3 had "issues" and had to be promptly put into the bath! I was a little preoccupied, to say the least.

Later, when I opened the door to P#1's room, I was astonished.  Shoes here and there, Polly Pocket clothes all over the floor, stray pieces of paper, clothes not in the hamper...certainly not clean by most people's standards. So I called her back and I must say, I did not have the most pleasant tone in my voice was pretty upset as I told her, "This is not clean!!! You need to stay in your room until it's completely finished."

Did I tell you how much I admire the way Michelle Duggar quietly disciplines her children?

I was not Michelle Duggar today.

My poor child cried big ole crocodile tears. She said, "It's too hard! I can't do it, Mommy!" (This, from my child who miraculously cleans her room perfectly without being asked at times!) I even stood outside her door and heard her say, "This is just the worst day ever!!! I wish my Grandma and Papa or my Nanny and Papa were here."

And down they came....those iron-clad shackles known as "Mommy Guilt" squeezed around me hard. I mean really hard. All I could think of in that moment was this..."I'm forcing my perfectionist tendencies on my sweet child. Why can't I just let it go this time? I'm causing her to have "the worst day ever", for goodness sake! I really am a terrible mom sometimes." (Wow, I don't have a clue where her "drama queen" tendencies come from. Ahem, let me clear my throat before I proceed.)

As I fought back my own tears (it was just one of those days), I prayed under my breath for God to help me. I needed Him to show me when to give grace and when to stand my ground. Isn't that SUCH a hard balance as a mom?!?! I didn't read that part of the manual.

In a few minutes, after she had calmed down and I had calmed down, I reentered the room. She was working, but very slowly and with a frown on her face. Suddenly, thank the precious Lord, I knew what to do. I sat down with her in the floor and said, "This is what mommy would do." Then, I proceeded to show her the exact steps I would take to get the room finished.

It was like the heaven's parted and the sun had finally broken through.

Not too long after that, out she popped, "all done"! Then my very happy girl went outside to play with her little sister, and I, checking the room, thanked the Lord for entering into my day in the most simple and profound way.

Hmmmm, what is that quote?

"Tell me and I will forget. 

Show me and I will remember. 

Teach me and I will understand."

Lord, please help me to never forget the lesson you taught me today. Help me to discern the teachable moments and promptly act on Your leading. Help me to remember what it is like to be a child...still trying to make sense of things, still wanting oh-so-much to please, but not always knowing how to accomplish what is expected. And, help me to enter into my children's world, with a willingness to guide them from the level they are at in the moment. 

_________________
 

*Linking up Tuesday at Time Warp Wife

*Linking up Wednesday at Women Living Well and Raising Homemakers

For His glory,

A Few Pics from Our Vacation

I always love to see "real life" pics on other people's blogs, so I thought I would share a few of ours. I'm a picture-taking fanatic (as in:  I took exactly 537 pictures JUST on our little 6 day vacation)! Yep, I probably could use some therapy;) Hope you enjoy!

 Lovin' this one...it will be framed!

Oh yeah...this will make it in a frame too! For some reason, they were in a loving mood at the restaurant.

In her own little world:)

 

These two wanted to live in the pool for the week!

All of us on the ferry. We had such a wonderful time!

Can someone send me back...now?!?! ;)

For His glory,

"I Forgive You" by Bob Hamp

Just the other day...tears ran down my face as I read this piece by author, Bob Hamp. I think you'll see why. May the Lord draw you closer to Him as you read these words.

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She hung her head a little bit lower as she walked by the pastor’s house. It didn’t happen often, but she hated when they were both out at the same time. He looked at her with such contempt.  Even though this night was different, the street was familiar, and the sting of shame still tried to rise in her in these familiar places.

Only two nights prior she had walked down this very street, on her way to turn the next trick in her ongoing life of shame. The contempt in the eyes of the pastor had been nothing compared to the way she looked at herself each day. Not only is this not how she had thought her life would turn out, she had once looked scornfully at the kind of women she now found herself to be. And two nights ago she walked this very street in what seemed like a never-ending, this-is-all-life-held walk of shame. He was right where he said he would be. He treated her just like she knew he would. He looked at her just like every other man did. Amazingly, that night she had thought was the next in a never-ending life turned out to be the last time ever, as her life changed completely the very next day.

As she walked down the street this time, her mind drifted back to the events of the last forty-eight hours. She had awoken the next morning with a familiar numbness spreading through her soul. Her mind was going through an automatic process of deleting images from the night before. His breath, and his ugly words, the way he had touched her all left marks on her soul and she was running through her familiar process of separating from herself.  It seemed to at least help her self-repulsion if she began to reject the part of her that had just betrayed her. She didn’t even realize that the way she abandoned that part of her was exactly the way her father had once abandoned her. Nevertheless she went through the process.

As she slipped out of the house that morning, as always, hoping to avoid any human contact, she made her way towards the market. She had learned to avoid eye contact, whether walking through town or turning a trick. It seemed that the one thing she could not separate herself from was the mark that came from seeing the scorn and contempt in the eyes of the other.  It was almost as if their gaze could somehow inject into her the very scorn they were sending her way. Seeing the eyes of the other seemed to connect their hatred to the hatred she felt for herself. So she just didn’t look up.

She had washed her body, and was mentally washing her soul, when she bumped into a stranger. Rather than move aside, he stood squarely in her path, almost as if blocking her way. Dread began to rise in her. Some customers were violent and the agressiveness was evident almost right away. Was this man trying to make his move, right now, so early?

“Excuse me sir,” she said softly, hoping to just keep moving and avoid an early start to her misery.

“I’m sorry,” said a voice.

Something started in her at the sound of his voice. The voice was very strong, and yet, clearly not aggressive. Even in the clarity and firmness of this voice she heard gentleness. And something else.

Eyes still down, she breathed softly, “I didn’t see you there, please forgive me.”

She hoped to sidestep the stranger and keep moving on her way. But he didn’t budge.

“I forgive you.” He said.

The words struck her like a bolt of liquid lightning. It was almost as if the words themselves had substance, and they washed over her with a surprising sense of physical power. Combining a man’s voice (no, this man’s voice)  with these words, which she had never heard spoken to her before, she felt her body go weak, and her mind suddenly turn. In this surprising moment she broke her number one rule. She looked up and saw His eyes.

For a second, regret began to well up, but when her eyes fell on His for a moment, she suddenly became much less aware of herself, and much more aware of Him. He was looking at her. Not just looking in her direction, He was looking right at her. He wasn’t looking at her breasts, he wasn’t looking at her body, or even really, her face. He was looking at her. Perhaps even looking right through her. His eyes were piercing, and not in a steely, I-am-better-than-you sort of way, but in a I-see-who-you-really-are sort of way.

She felt the urge to protect herself rise up almost uncontrollably. Not because He seemed to be dangerous, but because He seemed to see who she was. This made her overwhelmingly aware of who she thought she was. Many of the pictures she had so dutifully erased from her mind flooded back into her consciousness. As He looked intently into her eyes she wanted to hide. She wanted to hide from Him, and she wanted to hide from herself. Somehow, in the face of His steady gaze, her ability to hide just seemed paralyzed. She could not hide from Him, and she knew it. In fact her ability to hide seemed to have disappeared. She felt naked.
As she gave up on her attempt to run into the dark chambers of her soul she became aware of something else. She became aware that even though it seemed He could see right through her, He wasn’t ashamed and He wasn’t disgusted. In fact He seemed to…He seemed, (no surely not) He seemed…He seemed to be fond of her.

This was not a look she had ever seen before in anyone’s eyes. This was not the pseudo-affection her customers put on before they made their offer. This was not the look of the shopkeepers when she pulled out her money to pay for her purchase. This wasn’t even the look of the one friend she had once had, who seemed to understand her. This look injected into her something she had never felt. Wait, something she had never known. When He looked at her she felt valued.

Then He spoke again.

He began to tell her about herself. He spoke gently and sorrowfully about the family she had been born into. (How could He know these things?). He spoke with great compassion about how this family had disintegrated when her dad abandoned them. He spoke about what she had thought were secret moments, when she had been alone begging God to step into her life and help in some way. He unfolded to her a life story, her life story, as if He had been present in each of the moments He described. His words, still like a tangible force, washed over her with power and with love and with compassion.

Even as He came to her present life, He told her of how she had turned to a life of prostitution, out of fear and mounting hopelessness. Without shame, and without condemnation, He described to her exactly how she ended up where she was. And then He said it to her. She had heard the words before, but they were always empty and fraught with selfishness and expectation. He told her He loved her.

The words were like a warm flood. Even her parents had not been able to say these words to her. But it wasn’t just the words. It was the Man, it was His presence, it was His voice, and it was His eyes. His eyes. They just stared right into her and she knew two things at exactly the same time.

She knew He knew her.

She knew He loved her.

And just when she thought she would collapse, He told her that He was her Father, and He wanted her to be His daughter. That she was made for more than just the life she knew, she was made to be loved by Him. He told her all this, and then stopped. He seemed to be waiting on her.

“Do you want to be my daughter?”, He asked.

“More than anything,” she heard herself say.

Something inside of her changed. She felt the dark ball of self-hatred dissolve in a second, and she felt life quicken in her abdomen, like she imagined a pregnant woman would feel. She felt somehow clean, and cleaned out.

And then He hugged her. He held her close like a good dad does with His beautiful daughter. He wasn’t trying to get something from her. He was giving Himself to her. He held her close and she felt tears fall on her cheek. They were not her tears, they were His. He stepped back and grinned at her. He spoke a few words to tell her that everything would be fine. That He would always be watching out for her, even if she didn’t see Him. Then He walked on down the street, disappearing into a crowd.

Two days later, she now walked down the street in front of the pastors house. The old shame was losing it’s grip, and as she passed by she heard a voice through the window.Not just a voice, she heard that Voice.

She looked in the window and saw Him. She had wondered if she would ever see Him again after that morning. A part of her had been trying to convince her that the encounter had been a dream, but she could not deny the difference on the inside of her. When she saw Him in the pastor’s house her heart leapt. He was surrounded by leaders from the church and they seemed to be asking Him questions.

Before she knew it, she was standing at the door knocking. The very house she once tried to sneak past, she now stood at the door, knocking and seeking entrance. Someone opened the door, and she asked if she could come and see the Teacher. As she walked into the room, she was vaguely aware of the scornful looks from the pastors, but she was overwhelmed when Jesus looked at her and grinned. She was welcome here.

Tears fell from her eyes. She could not control the rush of gratitude and love, and she collapsed at His feet. Her tears fell on His feet as she tried to find words to express her gratitude. She could find no words, so she just stayed on the floor and wept. She was grateful that she could rest in the fact that He knew what she meant.

He stroked her hair and gently turned to the hard and scornful looks of the men in the room. Their faces and postures spoke, no screamed, volumes regarding how they felt about her. She was unaware, because she was overwhelmed by how He felt about her.

“Simon,” He said, “I have something to tell you”

“Once their was a banker who loaned money, and one day he decided to forgive the debts of those who owed him. As he passed the news on to his debtors, he spoke to a man who owed him fifty dollars, and the man was grateful. He spoke to another man who owed him five hundred dollars. Having forgiven the debts of both men, which one do you think loved him more?”

She barely heard the story. She was so overcome with gratitude, she could not help but sit and love Him.

(Luke 7:36 - 50)

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Bob Hamp

Bob is the father of four young adults, and has been married to Jackee since 1984.  His background as a professional counselor and pastor of Freedom Ministries has been the outgrowth of a relentless curiosity to discover how things work.  God saved him from a non-church background, allowing him to grow up minus much of the potential for rigid religious thought and language. He is the author of   "Think Differently, Live Differently" . Hobbies include music and trying to change the world.

**Posted with permission. (Thank you, Bob!)

Michelle Duggar & An Inner Struggle

Just the other day...I started watching the show "18 Kids and Counting" (now "19 Kids...") out of sheer curiosity. I had heard a little about the Duggar family from my sister, but I really had no idea what to expect. Honestly, I think I expected to see a train wreck. I mean, come on...THAT many kids?! How can sanity be an option?! I was a skeptic, to say the least.

It didn't take long for my opinion to take a u-turn. I'm now a fan! I even set my DVR to record the show because I don't want to miss it. My family and I now watch every episode. And, while I adore each and every Duggar (especially little Jackson...that kid cracks me up!), I really have developed a huge amount of respect for Michelle (the mom). 

Michelle is no doubt a loving, attentive mother. She seems to be a really strong Christian. I love that she is so very organized with such a large family. I am drawn to the quiet way she guides and disciplines her kids. However, what I find the most refreshing about Michelle is the fact that she is so unconcerned with herself...and most specifically, with her appearance.

In a country full of women who constantly compare themselves to society's standards of beauty (myself included), she stands out in the crowd. She seems so unaffected. I could never imagine her saying something like, "Do I look ugly in this?" or "Does this make me look fat?" She just seems to have conquered all of that self-doubt and I find myself wondering..."How???" As a woman, I find myself at war with the TV and magazines and the internet and you-name-it...all of them telling me how I should look! When we are fed so many images of perfection, how can we not feel less than perfect? How, as a Christian woman, do we read the following passages and then reconcile that inner beauty is enough?

 "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

Prov 31:30

"Don't be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is so precious to God." 

1 Peter 3: 3 - 4

Obviously, I don't have the answers, but I'm searching for them. I know those verses in my head. Somehow, in my heart, I just haven't reached the stage where I'm content to walk out the door if my hair and makeup are not "just so". I know my true worth does not come from what I look like on the outside. I get it. And yet...I struggle. I long to get to that place where a "gentle and quiet spirit" and "fearing the Lord" helps me to walk in full confidence, no matter what I look like as the years pass quickly by and bring on more gray hairs and wrinkles. I don't quite know how to get to that place.

At any rate, I'm thankful that TLC decided to produce the show "19 Kids and Counting" so that I can get a weekly peek at a Christian family who seems to be doing things right. But most of all I'm thrilled to watch a living example in Michelle Duggar (and secretly I'm hoping she will share on this subject one day). With three girls of my own, I long to stress the importance of inner beauty so much more than their physical appearance...and I try, believe me! However, it remains an issue I must tackle for my own sake and for theirs. They are still young and, for the most part, unaffected by the world's standards, but I know the days of make-up and boys and comparison are looming just around the corner! I'm praying that with the Lord's help, my girls can stand out and rise above it all. The world's systems and standards of beauty are obviously failing and leading many down a path of destruction (pornography, trafficking, etc). A different idea of true beauty is much needed!!!

You can visit the Duggar's website here: The Duggar Family  (Look for Michelle's Blog) 

What about you? Is this a struggle for you as well? How have you learned to be "in the world and not of the world"?

An Interview with Princess #2

Just the other day, when Princess #1 was 4 and 1/2 years old, I did an interview with her. You can read it here. Now that Princess #2 is the same age, I wanted to do the same interview. She's so funny! I hope you enjoy it. I encourage you to do these kind of interviews with your children. Believe me, they are FUN to look back at years later:) I'm amazed at how similar my girls' answers are. It will be neat to see what kind of answers Princess #3 comes up with in a few years!
 

1. What do you think heaven looks like? Bright and pretty with lots of flowers and trees.
2. What does Dad do at work? I think he writes and makes posters and “stamples” (staples) stuff.
3. What do you think your husband will be like? Handsome and nice and I think he will like me.
4. If you were going to spend one year on a desert island and could only take three things with you, what would they be? Money, " Cuddle Bunny", and a phone.
5. Who is your favorite aunt and why? Aunt Schuyla, because she loves me.
6. Who is your favorite uncle and why? Uncle Jeff, because he plays with me a ton.
7. What do you think Joseph and Mary heard in the stable on Christmas night? “Don’t be afraid.”
8. What do you think Joseph and Mary smelled in the stable on Christmas night? Flowers.
9. What is the nicest thing I ever did for you? Played with me.
10. When is a time that I hurt your feelings? When I get in trouble.
11. When is a time that you were really mad at me? When you get mad at me, I get mad at you.
12. If you could be a movie character who would you be and why? Wendy in Peter Pan, because she’s pretty.
13. What is your favorite outfit? My dance clothes.
14. What is the hardest part of being four years old? Trying to take care of my baby sister.
15. What has been your favorite childhood memory? When (Princess #3) got born. She was so cute and tiny!
16. If you could be an animal for a day, which one would you be and why? A dolphin, because they can do really special tricks (then she got in the floor and started showing me how they do tricks).