John 3:16

Encouraging Word of the day from K-Love
Friday 8/29/2008

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

~ John 3:16, NLT

I just had to laugh when I read this. It reminded me of when Alyssa received a necklace for a gift and on the back it had John 3:16. She looked at me with a sad look, saying,"If this gift is for me, then why does it have John's name on it?" Guess she forgot (or I didn't explain it well) because just last week she asked me again about it!!!

Love and Logic

I'm sure many of you have heard of about love and logic before...It's another newsletter that I received and the one I got today was....


Dear Insider's Club Member,

Enjoy this week's article from Jim Fay about doing the right thing even though your kids may not like it.

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My Kids Would Never Allow That

I last wrote about a mother who went on strike. She was the one who returned home each day brandishing her book, heading for her room. She'd read until her kids had the house cleaned up. Only then would she cook dinner.

The results were so good that she told her friend, Melissa, about it. "Oh, my," worried Melissa. "My kids would never allow that!"

"WHAT? Her kids would never allow that," I thought. Has Melissa relinquished her parent ticket? Has she turned over family leadership and authority to her kids?

Is it possible that Melissa has bought into the fallacy that a parent's job is to make sure that kids are constantly happy? If so, her kids will grow up to be spoiled and entitled people who are frequently unhappy, believing they are victims whenever they don't get their way.

Parents who set reasonable limits often experience kids who are unhappy in the short term. It is natural for kids to be frustrated when they test limits and don't get their way. But this helps them turn out to be good people who are happy in the long term.

When parents do the right thing, it often feels wrong in the short term—especially when their kids throw a fit. But it usually turns out to be the best thing in the long term.

Thanks for reading!
Jim Fay

Learn more about how to avoid the disaster of entitlement with our book, "From Innocence to Entitlement."

Playgroup at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park

Today was the last day this year to meet as a big group. My kids stopped long enough for me to take their photo AND even hugged!! The playgroups will be starting in two weeks in smaller groups. We usually meet at 9:30 on Monday mornings. If you are interested in joining a playgroup, then post a comment here and we can get you added to the list. Also, if that time or day doesn't work for your schedule, and you'd be interested, then post a comment on what day or time would work better for you and maybe we'll have enough interested to do another one!

The family picnic was a lot of fun. I took my camera but didn't get around to taking any photos. We had about 16 families - please correct me if I'm wrong - that were in attendance. The kids had fun playing on the playground and in the sand. Was nice getting to meet some old and new members.

Antioch Park

Yesterday we met at Antioch park for the kids to play and have a picnic. Was a beautiful day and we were able to enjoy the company of adults while the kids played. It was the first time I made it to the park and was suprised how nice it was. Several different playground areas and even a little town of houses that the kids enjoyed playing in. The jail seemed to be fun for my son to play in even though he said that he was a cop!

FAMILY

I ran into a stranger as he passed by, "Oh, excuse me please," was my reply. He said, "Please excuse me too; I wasn't watching for you." We were very polite, this stranger and I. We went on our way and we said goodbye.
But at home a different story is told, How we treat our loved ones, young and old. Later that day, cooking the evening meal,My son stood beside me very still. When I turned, I nearly knocked him down. "Move out of the way," I said with a frown. He walked away, his little heart broken. I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.
While I lay awake in bed, God's still small voice came to me and said, "While dealing with a stranger, common courtesy you use, but the family you love, you seem to abuse. Go and look on the kitchen floor, You'll find some flowers there by the door. Those are the flowers he brought for you. He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue. He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise, you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes." By this time, I felt very small, And now my tears began to fall. I quietly went and knelt by his bed; "Wake up, little one, wake up," I said. "Are these the flowers you picked for me?" He smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree. I picked 'em because they're pretty like you. I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue." I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today; I shouldn't have yelled at you that way." He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay. I love you anyway." I said, "Son, I love you too, and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."
Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days. But the family we left behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than into our own family, an unwise investment indeed, don't you think? So what is behind the story? Do you know what the word FAMILY means?
FAMILY = (F)A THER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU

Afraid to be alone....

So some follow-up from the bed time battle....(from August 13th).
After deciding that we would take her to Chuck E Cheese or one of those inflatable indoor gyms if she's able to stay in her room all night - or basically to keep from waking her parents up every night. She's been doing great not waking us up at night, but now has either been waking up her younger brother to convince him to go sleep in her room with her (who knows what time of the night that happens) or the other morning I found her asleep in her brother's bed! Well I guess I've been getting some uninterrupted sleep and I shouldn't complain. I haven't heard any complaints from her brother yet.
I think the main reason she's been doing this is that she is afraid to be alone. If she needs to go upstairs or downstairs for something (regardless of the time of day), she always cries for someone to come with her. Again, other than the crying being annoying, she mainly convinces her younger brother to go - sometimes after lots of crying and shouting.....now that's not so good.
Not sure if this is normal (whatever "normal" means) for someone her age - she will be 6 in just a few weeks? Anyone else have kids that are afraid to be alone?

Newsletters via Email

Sometimes I sign up for free e-mail newsletters and end up getting bombarded with more stuff to delete from my inbox...but this is one newsletter I signed up for that I've really been enjoying the last few weeks. Here's from the newsletter I received today....if you like it you can sign up too.

The official newsletter of Marriage Partnership magazine
Thursday, August 14, 2008

Welcome

I love making lists. Right now, there are about four in various states of completeness littered across my desk. And I know there are at least two more sitting on my bedside table and remnants of three others floating around my purse. Shopping lists, to-do lists, pro/con lists; I love them all. It's strangely satisfying to see items listed so neatly on a sheet of paper. Oftentimes, those tidy bullet points help me get my thoughts in order in a way few other things could.

Still, I was fascinated by the idea that a list could literally save someone's marriage, which is what one wife claims in this week's featured article. Having decided to leave her husband, Becky Zerbe was challenged to make an unusual list before walking out. Once the list was complete, it gave Becky a new outlook on her relationship with her husband … and with God. To read the story.... http://www.christianitytoday.com/mp/2005/003/7.32.html


Depending on which so-called "season of marriage" you currently inhabit, your outlook on wedded bliss probably varies from that of other couples. If you have a "summer" marriage, full of happiness and satisfaction, it's easy to neglect your relationship, rather than tending to its health. You'll want to be sure to read our "24/7" column, which shares how to strengthen your connection and reap some beautiful rewards. To view the 24/7 column.... http://www.christianitytoday.com/mp/2006/002/16.16.html


MarriagePartnership.com is a great place for more articles and marriage resources. Stop by for tips that may prove to be surprisingly life-changing—no matter your season of marriage. To read more visit.......
http://www.christianitytoday.com/marriage

Blessings,

Elizabeth Diffin
for Marriage Partnership

School starting so soon?

I still can't belive school will be starting soon. My daughter gets to meet her Kindergarten teacher today and her first day is Friday!
Already I am trying to figure out what to do to get her to bed earlier (and to stay in her bed) at night. She can't seem to fall asleep in her own room (so she falls asleep in ours and I carry her up to her room). Usually in the middle of the night she comes to climb back into our bed. I usually take her back up to her room. Sometimes - like this morning at 5:15am - she comes down and asks me to go up to sleep in her room with her. I'm getting tired of this routine and want to change it!! I figure with school starting on Friday I should start a "new Kindergarten routine". I guess I can talk with her to see if she has any ideas about bedtime routine and ways (or incentives) to keep her in bed the entire night. (I "hear" it's good to get kids input in things - so they feel like their opinions matter!)

I would love to hear some suggestions or things you do that may help me decide what I should try!!!

Inspiration every day

How many of you listen to music on a daily basis?
How many of you listen to 97.3?
http://www.klove.com/

Living in this day and age it seems like everything is trying to compete for our time and attention. We have to stop and think what is ultimately the most important to us and in our daily lives...

I "discovered" this radio station one day and listen to every day now. My mom even listens to it now and it is something that keeps us connected - even though she lives hundreds of miles away. My kids are even singing the words to the songs now!! (How great is that!)

Listening to this radio station seems to help keep me thinking about what's most important in this life!

Give it a try and let me know what you think!!

Children Learn What They Live

If a child lives with criticism,
He learns to condem.
If a child lives with hostility,
He learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule,
He learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame,
He learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance,
He learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement,
He learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise,
He learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness,
He learns justice.
If a child lives with security,
He learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval,
He learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,
He learns to find love in the world.