Leap Frog... played solo?

I kept hearing Sunshine thumping in the hallway, so I asked her what she was doing.

"Playing Leap Frog!"

This I had to see. She was alone. How do you play it alone? Well, I'll tell ya. With a rock. LOL, yup. A rock.

She was laying the rock on the floor, leap frogging over it, then pretending it was jumping over her (she didn't just move the rock, it actually had to go up in the air over her body). Then she'd repeat. And when she got down to the end of the hallway, she yelled, "I WON!"

What a goof.

Oops, this is my 103rd post

I think you are supposed to do something fun for your 100th post. Oops! I suppose it's still not too late.

Got any fun ideas? To do 100 things about myself seems a bit too time-consuming. Or I guess it'd be 105. Because I'm about to make post #104, lol.

Military rules

There are a lot of "rules" if you are military. One being: Get it in writing. Close behind it is: Don't count on it until it happens.

That is our situation here. See if you can follow me here. Specifics are out, but I'll try to give clarity.

We received orders not long ago to go to Location A. We were told that we'd only be there a year, though, and then it'd be on to Location B. However, within days we were informed that after Location A, we'd actually be moving to Location C. And now... we were told today that Location A is being skipped altogether, and here are four choices: you can keep location C, or you can pick Locations D, E, or F.

Aha.

Now, to my hubby, Location D and E were not favorable. Both meant a one-year tour away from us, and seeing how we've been apart for 13 months (just about), he said no way. (That is another post, which I will be making as soon as I'm done with this one.) So it came down to Location C or F.

He chose Location C. Not that it matters to you, lol, as you have NO idea what I'm talking about... lol!

So now our moving dates are changing a bit. We are expecting to be here until early June. Just a two week delay in the plans, so not that big of a deal.

Then again, it could change again. Who knows? Afterall, Locations A, B, and C were in writing, so, honey, don't count on it until it happens.

Mommy, can God pick up a...

Some very interesting things get discussed in our van. What makes it even more interesting is the fact that we spend a good part of the like this:

"Mom?"

"What?"

"Mom?"

"Whaaat?"

"MOM!"

"WHAT!"

"Can you turn on the radio?"

"What?"

"Can you TURN on the RADIO?"

"Sure."

"What?"

"SURE!"

"Ok."

"What?"

"OK!"

Today was no different. Our topic was what can God pick up? How strong is He? Sunshine asked all sorts of things like could He pick up cars? houses? mountains? Earth? (Of course, we repeated ourselves many times over the din of the highway.)

The question that made me laugh the most was, "Mom, can God pick up the road? Like a giant sticker?"

Well, now. That is some real visual imagery for ya.

Some days I just don't know

Yesterday we were on our way back from a wonderful time with a friend in a nearby town, when from the back of the van I heard Sugar-n-Spice cry out, "Mommy, stop driving!"

I look back and there she is, in tears.

She repeated it, "Mommy, stop driving... you're hurting my nose!"

Huh? Don't ask me... I'm just as clueless as you are.

Well, music to someone's ears...

I don't know about you, but my kids seem to hate my singing. If I sing a song in the middle of the day - do you know what I hear?

"I like it better when you whistle, Mom."

Or...

"I like it when you hum."

Or Sweetheart will cover his ears and blurt out, "No zhing. NO ZHING."

Why, er, thanks. LOL

During our family devotional time, they are fine with my singing. Of course, they sing, too, so they probably don't pay much attention to me then. But at bedtime, they sincerely ask me, and even sometimes plead (believe it or not) for me to sing. Go figure, lol.

In fact, we have this tradition that I'm not really sure how it started, but I sing "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean" to them. I sing it many times, each time inserting a different child's name instead of "Bonnie." They really love it. If Sweetheart is crying and not liking bedtime, it instantly calms him down. He asks for it by saying, "Back. Back." Let me tell you, it took me awhile to figure out what on earth he was wanting, lol!

But really, music is such a big thing for me. I love music. It is such a boon to my spirits, my attitudes, and my perspective. Do you find the same to be true?

I find so much strength in singing praise songs! It gets my focus off whatever is troubling me, and puts it back on Him, which is where my eyes should be. In my most troublesome times, singing songs of His goodness and His provision are a constant support. Praying relieves the need to vent or get it out, but praise fills up those spots with something else, something better. Something fulfilling!!

And what's better yet... God doesn't mind hearing my voice. (wink)

What are your long-term dreams for your family?

Or to put it another way: what is your vision for your family? What do you hope for your children?

I've been mulling over this. So far, this is what I've come up with:
1) I want them to have first-hand experience with the provision and love of God.
2) I want them to love reading.
3) I want them to be independent workers, both in academics and in work.
4) I want them to be servant-hearted.
5) I want them to know how to take care of all aspects of the home, no matter what their sex is. (What if they don't marry or become widow(er)s?)
6) I want them to think things through before acting - maturity and wisdom are buzz words you could attach to that.

Ok, so then it kinda dawned on me the other day... if I want them to exhibit those traits THEN, I have to begin training those traits NOW.

1) How much time in the day do I spend SHOWING them how He provides for our family and loves us? Must have conversations about this. This is why I started a prayer journal with them, but it must be talked about daily and often.

2) How often do we read books together? A few times a week - not even every day. It would be better to do it every day. It was every day at bedtime when we were doing chapter books. I need to get another book for nighttime reading, but we also need another time in the day to snuggle and read.

3) I have to start weaning them off my constant supervision when they are given jobs. Which means... I have to start with the basics: teaching definitions of "diligence" and "faithfulness" and "initiative" and then rewarding them for such characteristics, even if they did them for 30 seconds before slacking off. Memorizing verses on this character traits would be good.

4) I have to exhibit a servant's heart and have them do it with me. Taking a meal to a family? Kiddos, get in here and help. Have them make cards. "Suzy is sad lately; Sunshine, I was going to call her, but how about if you make the call first and then I'll talk?" And what about within our own family? I can teach them to look for ways to help each other, to serve Daddy when he comes home at the end of a day, to anticipate needs of others. Also, I should have them memorize verses on serving others.

5) This means that I won't let my son slide when it's time to do the laundry or mopping. It means when I start teaching my girls how to sew on buttons later, he'll be in there learning, too. It also means I will be expecting my girls to take out the trash, mow lawns, etc.

6) Hmmm, this is gonna mean lots of talking about decisions, about other's decisions, about what-does-the-Bible-say about the subject at hand, "why did you do that" and "what should you have done" and "why should you have done x-y-z."

That's all I've got so far.

What are your goals/dreams/visions for your children? How do you plan to get there? I'd love to glean from you!