As a former kindergarten and first grade teacher, listening was one of the skills five and six-year-old students worked on often. You’ve heard the old adage, “With two ears and one mouth, listen twice as often as you speak.” The older I get, the more I realize this skill is one not easily mastered by most adults, much less children. (Yours truly included!)

Most moms are multitasking queens, or at least we think we are. Multitasking can squelch a conversation very quickly. Think about when dinnertime is fast approaching. Between meal preparations, phones ringing, text messaging, emailing, other fires one needs to put out, how is a parent to focus on a child? This hit me front and center recently. My youngest son was trying to tell me about what went on at school that day. A pot on the stove started to boil over, my cell was making all sorts of noise with incoming texts and emails, the dog was whining at the door and the home phone seemed to be ringing off the hook. The poor kid couldn’t complete a sentence without being interrupted. He looked down and muttered, “I’ll tell you later Mom.”

I was frustrated with myself and the busyness of the moment. Wanting to hear about his day, I asked him to stay put at the kitchen island. The pot was removed from the burner, the cell phone was set to vibrate, and his big brother took care of the dog and the phone call. My son and I sat down together and he finally was able to tell his story beginning to end, without interuptions.

Giving someone your full attention is a gift. God always listens. He reminds us to listen in the Word. Proverbs 1:5a tells us, “…let the wise listen and add to their learning.” The Bible (NIV) includes the word “listen” 350 times. I think the Lord wants us to do just that, listen to Him and listen to one another.

Have you ever been so surprised by someone’s thoughtfulness you were reduced to tears? I remember my first Mother’s Day. I was really looking forward to the celebration, my first as a mom after years of infertility. On the day before Mother’s Day, I found an envelope addressed to me in the mailbox. I tore it open and read a beautiful message of love and wishes for a joy-filled day. The card was from my mother-in-law.

Sixteen years later, I find myself waiting for her annual card to arrive. I’ve never needed to prove myself to her but it means a great deal that she thinks enough of me as a wife, mother, and daughter-in-law that she would take the time to send a card. Her example is tucked into the recesses of my mind to use one day if I am blessed with daughter-in-laws and grandchildren. Her gesture of love is one I want to duplicate, blessing the wives of my sons as I’ve been blessed.

The card arrived today. I opened it with appreciation, a smile…and a couple tears.

I hope you have a lovely Mother’s Day!

The summer months are a great time to dig into books, just for the joy of reading. What better way to spend sultry summer afternoons than with a good book in a backyard hammock? The local library is a great source of endless adventures to entice the imagination in children of all ages.

Give your child the opportunity to experience the library on a regular basis. Begin with a library card. It’s quite cute to see my boys’ names written on their library cards in all capitals, preschool print, because both were young when they began checking out books. Having a personal library card and access to books teaches life skills. The child is responsible for using his card to sign out books and thus should be held responsible for taking care of the books. This includes keeping books in a safe place at home, out of the reach of young siblings or pets. Try using a special bag just for library books with a zippered pocket for the child’s library card. Mark the calendar with due dates and count the days to return the books on time to avoid overdue fees.

A reading tool I’ve used every summer with my boys is Book Bingo. The boys and I make a list of reading material from a variety of genre. Books and magazines as well as books of the Bible are printed on the bingo boards. At least one Gospel is included each summer. I like to remind the boys of John’s words, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written” (John 21:25). The Book Bingo boards hang in the kitchen. When a book is completed, the reader gives a quick summary of what he has read and the bingo square is highlighted. When BINGO is achieved, a prize is awarded which ranges from a picnic lunch or extra playtime at the park to small rewards like pencils, gum, stickers, and gift cards. The rewards continue each time an additional BINGO is completed, across, down, and the entire board. The final prize is a trip to the local bookstore to choose a book for each boy’s personal library. The prizes have obviously changed over the years to accommodate age and interests to be an incentive to complete the entire book list.

Encourage your kids to become bookworms! Try Book Bingo!

May and September, the busiest months of the year for families with school-age children. September begins with endless forms to fill out, new activities and classes. May is the ending, the culmination of the year’s events. That said summer activities are just around the corner. After the busyness of the past nine months, why not give yourself and your children permission to slow down?

At a family meeting when my boys were in elementary school, we were discussing the summer activity schedule. Baseball, soccer, church camp, swimming, tennis, and the like were all on the table. With the calendar spread before us, we went to work looking at dates, trying not to overlap activities. It was a daunting task to get the schedules to mesh together.

During our discussion, one of the boys quietly said, “I don’t want to do a sport this summer. I’d rather just ride my bike or invite my friends over to play basketball.” His brother chimed in, “Me too!”

Scott and I looked at each other. The boys felt the squeeze for time too. We didn’t cancel all of the activities. Each one went to church camp and took swimming lessons. That was enough. We still talk about that slow summer. And each year we try to keep that experience in mind when contemplating our schedule.

What are your plans for the summer? In Ecclesiates 3:1 the Lord tells us, “There is time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” The activities don’t have to all be done at the same time. This is not to make light of the major events that take place in our lives, but to help us put things in perspective. Take advantage of just being together. You really don’t have to be involved in everything, nor do your children. Take time for each other. You’ll be glad you did.

There is time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.  Ecclesiates 3:1

My teenage son, the one with the spiral fracture of the tibia and fibula, has learned to negotiate life the past seven weeks in a new way. His attitude, ability to persevere, and circle of friends have made all the difference. (If you need some background information on his injury refer the blog “Stitches and Staples” posted on March 11, two weeks after his injury.) He has gone from complete dependency to relative independence.

Of course, there are ups and downs everyday. Having a key to the elevator at the high school helps. Navigating crowded hallways is trying. He is participating in his spring sport from a wheelchair. Not exactly what he had in mind but it works. His attitude to try rather than give up has benefitted him.

God has placed good friends in his life. Proverbs 17:17 speaks of a friend loving at all times, the good and the not so good. My son’s friends visited him during his three days in the hospital, came to do homework together, and would hang out in the family room just to keep him company. One buddy picks him up for school each day, getting out of the car to stash the backpack and crutches in the backseat for him so he doesn’t have to struggle. The journey is not as difficult when you have friends by your side to traverse the rocky road of life.

God is good. His question of “Why?” has turned to how can he make this situation better. He is learning to do life with a temporary handicap, developing compassion for the disabled. He pushes through the tough days with determination, persevering. And he is thankful for the friends who have come alongside of him, gifts from the One who loves him the most.

Gardening with children is a lot of fun! My boys loved to be in the garden with me, especially when they were little. In my mind, there are few things more enjoyable than time spent outside, digging in the dirt, planting, and harvesting.

Here is an interesting and fun activity for kids to see how God is the brilliant Gardener. The Lord provides us with plants to eat, many of which begin from tiny seeds! Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” Genesis 1:29

Watch Them Sprout

Materials: bean seeds, ZipLoc bag, absorbent paper towels, tape, sunlit window

Instructions: Soak bean seeds in water overnight to soften. Fold paper towels to fit snuggly in the bag. Moisten with water. Arrange seeds in bag on paper towel. Carefully press air from bag when sealing. Beans will stay in place if air is removed. Hang in window with tape, beans toward sunlight. After the seeds have sprouted allow your children to examine the germinating seeds with a magnifying glass. Use the following questions to get the discussion going.

What do you think will happen to the seeds? Why?

What will make the seeds grow?

What helps you grow? People are like seeds. God gives us everything we need to learn about Him and grow closer to Him. (Bible, parents, teachers, the world, etc.)

What color are the roots?

What color is the sprout?

Which direction do the roots go?

Which direction does the sprout go?

What lessons can we learn about God from bean seeds?

Encourage your children to hang the bag in a window upside down and record the results. Discuss what might happen. (Roots will always turn down, the sprout and leaves will go up. This will happen even if the children continue to turn the bags!) Plant seeds in small plastic cups or in the garden!

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:7 NLT

Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 2:11-12

Spring is here! Watching the brown of winter suddenly turn pastel fills me a longing to be outside. The pale green of tree buds and the many hues of blossoms take my breath away. Watching tulips and hyacinth burst forth from the dormant garden spurs me on to begin planning my own garden.

I have a small kitchen garden with raised beds on the south side of the house. Each spring I carefully plan what herbs, vegetables, and flowers will be planted. Many are old standbys, green beans, peas, carrots, and tomatoes. This year I’m going to choose a few new varieties of seeds and plants.

The old adage, “Time began in a garden” is perhaps why so many of us are drawn to gardens. Part of us longs for the perfection of God’s creation prior to the Fall. I wonder too, if many of us are not gardening enthusiasts because this was the first ever job description for humans. Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden to tend it. (Genesis 2:8,15) I’m so looking forward to tending my little plot of ground. Too bad I have weeds to deal with!

According to a Barna Study, two out of three Americans recognize Easter as a religious holiday, and less than half, 42 percent, connect Easter with the resurrection of Christ. Easter is decidedly more than chocolate eggs and a bunny. It’s all about Jesus and His everlasting gift for all who call on His name. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13 & Acts 2:21).

Parents, as spiritual leaders, have a wonderful opportunity during Holy Week to walk children through the death and resurrection of Christ. Use the Word of God to lay the framework for the week. Read Luke 19:28-38 before attending the Palm Sunday service. On Good Friday, read Mark 14:22-26 to prepare for Communion. John, chapters 18-20:18, tell of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Make a point this year of making Easter all about the Savior by using the Bible as a teaching tool and less about jelly beans and baskets.

An activity that has made the empty tomb experiential for my children is the baking of Resurrection Rolls. The wide eyes of little ones expresses the wonder of the Savior rising from the dead, leaving the tomb vacant.

Resurrection Rolls

large marshmallows  sugar/cinnamon mixture  melted butter  prepared crescent rolls

1. Open can of crescent rolls and separate into triangles. The rolls represent the linen wrapping used in covering the dead. 2. Dip and roll one marshmallow into melted butter. The butter represents the oils used in anointing the dead body.

3. Roll the marshmallow in the sugar/cinnamon mixture. The mixture represents the spices used in burials. 4. Place the marshmallow in the center of the crescent triangle. Fold and pinch the edges tight. Put each crescent wrapped marshmallow on parchment paper.

5. Bake the rolls as directed on the package. The oven represents the tomb. When cooked, the marshmallow melts leaving only the puffed crescent roll. This demonstrates how Jesus rose from the dead. All that remained in the tomb were the linen wrappings.

May your Holy Week be truly holy. He is risen, He is risen indeed!

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Love, joy, peace, patience… I’ve done a lot of talking about and living out the fruit of the Spirit in the past three weeks, not always successfully. Because of the severity of his injury, my eldest son is not able to put any weight on his broken leg for sixteen weeks. Patience is definitely in order, his and mine. Being an active teen, he is frustrated with his inability to get around. Especially with the weather getting nice, watching others bike, skateboard and rollerblade the prayer for patience is greatly needed. I need to be patient too, as the “new normal” seems to change day by day.

Galatians 5:22-23, the fruit of the Spirit, is displayed in the kitchen. During the renovation, a friend recommended an artist to create a design on tile with fruit and the verses from Galatians for the backsplash of the stove. Everyday I read the characteristics of the Holy Spirit. I’m reminded that I need help, lots of help. I think that’s the point. The traits of of the Spirit are manifested in the believer through the power of the Holy Spirit. I cannot obtain them by myself. I must pray and rely on the Spirit to assist me to become the person God wants me to be, growing spiritually. “Character growth is really personality development due to spiritual growth.”¹ I pray for fruit that is appealing to God and others. It’s all too easy to have wormy fruit! Thank goodness I have the power of the Holy Spirit to help me.

1. Wildenberg & Danielson EMPOWERED PARENTS: Putting Faith First (Gainsville: Synergy, 2003), 57.

The past two weeks have been a mixture of fear and faith, pain and healing. It began with eye muscle surgery, carefully planned between family commitments and parenting classes. The procedure went well. My eye surgeon was amazing, praying with me on his knees prior to the surgery relieving my fear and apprehension. And I had a week to quietly recover.

Saturday afternoon my eldest son fell while trying a new ski trick on the terrain park. After a trip to the hospital in the ambulance, the x-rays revealed a spiral fracture of the tibia and fibula. Surgery was performed the following morning, inserting a rod and pins. The recovery time…sixteen weeks.

The care and concern of our family and friends has been incredible. Cards, gifts, and meals show up on our door step, love through words and deeds. But the prayers have made the greatest impact. His accident happened shortly before the Saturday evening service at our church. The church family prayed. His surgery was during the Sunday morning services. Again, our church family prayed. What could be more powerful? “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them (Matthew 18:20). Yes, He was, He is and He always will be.

Two weeks later, we have found a new normal. The mom-son time has been sweet. Rather than asking, “Why?”, my son is focusing on Who can heal him. The soft cast has been replaced with a boot to protect his leg. The twenty-eight staples have been removed. His skin looks better daily. Physical therapy begins next week.

My family will continue to pray…thanking God for those He has placed in our lives. What a beautiful reminder of His love.