The Rest of the Story

I have so much to learn.
I could stop there, but I won't.

Let's begin here...
Raise your hand if you know what this is.

Very good, class. That's right. It's barley. Uncooked barley. If you plop a few pieces into your mouth and begin feverishly chewing you'll find it to be terribly hard like trying to eat uncooked macaroni. Not very inviting. Not very inviting at all.

My mother-in-law used her mill to grind some for little Kid Three. I put it in the freezer until I was ready feed him. It looks like this.

Remember this picture from a previous post? (Yeah, he's STILL that cute.) I removed the barley from the freezer, mixed it with a little "special mommy sauce" and served it warm to Kid Three. Let's just say he was not having the time of his life.

I even tried it myself. It was gritty. GRITTY.
I mentioned this to my MIL and a week or so later she called to ask if I had cooked it before I gave it to him.

WHAT?! You have to cook it? Because otherwise it's just ground up uncooked grain and of course it will be gritty?

Apparently.

Thanks MIL for not laughing at me, despite the obvious opportunity to do so!
Now, everyone go eat some uncooked rice for the full effect of this story.


(I've got to think up part three of my dumb contest.)

Single Moms - You Can Help - AND Get More Points!

Psalm 68:5-6 has always been dear to me -- a promise to me in my own walk through the valley. Read this passage. Let it soak into your heart. Please.

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.
God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing.

My boys have been fatherless, God filled the gaps. When I was abandoned and all alone, my King was my defender. He set me among amazing believers who became a family to the boys and me. His tender mercy and grace set me free from my captivity of sadness and brokenness.

Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!

I am actively involved in a ministry that puts on a Single Mother's Conference each year and it's coming in June. Single moms across the state come together for encouragement, teaching, refreshing and healing. I have attended each year of the conference and I am amazed to see how open these ladies are to letting God move in their hearts and bind up their broken hearts. Oh, and he does...it's a beautiful, beautiful experience.

We have several speakers, powerful worship, fellowship, fellowship, fellowship and a fabulous luncheon to honor the attendees. (And seriously good food - it's a "no-chicken-nuggets-allowed" lunch. Single moms get enough of that!!)

Today's opportunity to earn DELIBERATE points in my "borderline-goofy-but-I'm-doing-it-anyway" contest is this: Help promote this conference to all the single moms you know...Oh and by the way, can I use your blog?...

1. If you post a link to Arise Ministries on your blog I'll give you points.

2. If you put a button on your site for a couple of weeks that links to the site, I'll give you more points. (The links should go straight to the conference web site, not here.)

The registration fee is $45 before June 1. If you know a single mother who would enjoy this experience, please let her know! The Mr. and I will sponsor the registration for the first 2 single moms who express an interest to me. Have them email me or leave a comment on this post - or you do it for them. (And I'll give both of us some points.)

3. If YOU sponsor a single mom I'll give you mucho points. (Please let me know if choose this.)

4. If you make a donation to this conference, you'll get a grabillion points. Of course, corporate sponsorships are accepted!

I know it's ridiculous to think everyone should be passionate about the things I love. I'm just hoping a few of you will read this and perhaps you'll think of someone who would enjoy the experience in June...or maybe you're freakishly competitive and just want the points. I don't care either way.

LINK: http://www.ariseministries.net/

CODE FOR BUTTON: Email me for this. It will be like the button on the top right of this page. I'm simply not smart enough to put it here so that it makes sense. You can copy/paste from my email into an HTML code box...I trust you're smarter than me.

Mucho gracias.

Deliberate Points - You Could Win BIG.

Kid One was sick all evening and kept me up until 2am. Sick-sick...no faking it. Yuk. So I'm pretty sleepy on this Sunday night and not really able to put a good blog post together so you get the following. Take it or leave it. It's the blog post equivalent of a stupid movie like Dumb and Dumber... (Ha! Chad J.)

Okay, everyone has a contest, a give away, or some kind of "leave-me-a-comment-and-I'll-bribe-you-with-a- freebie" message. Alright, I'll play.

This week, you'll have a few days to earn DELIBERATE points and you could win...(are you ready for this?)... a blug, and a free feature link to your blog from from this site...maybe a super secret prize worth up to $2 (I'm laughing too at the absurdity.) Okay. Get serious...wipe that smirk off your face. That is a prize to be coveted. Ya'll, that could potentially bring 2-3 new visitors to your site. My mom, my grandma and maybe even my sister. I love these people and I'm willing to share them with you...I'll even keep a DELIBERATE points scoreboard for my own personal amusement. Did I mention how tired I am?


Round One: A PENNY SAVED IS RIDICULOUS.
No, no, no. Maybe ONE penny is ridiculous but a whole bucket full of those dirty little copper things? Yeee-haw. That's jackpot, baby! Especially when you mix in a little silver bling with it.

We've got a bucket stashed _________ [hey, it's a secret where it's kept, I don't trust half of you]. Each day we put our coins in the bucket and when it begins to overflow [or if we feel like a poker game] we empty it and count the spoils.



It was Count Day at the Heinecke house this weekend so we rounded up the kiddos for some free slave labor, spread out a sheet in the living room and started counting.

I love a good pile of money...even if it IS mostly pennies...Can you even imagine how many germs are lurking in this pile? Ugh.

The Mr. came home from Wal-Mart with a "Money Miser" coin counter. That put us in debt to the bucket for $10 but I'm thinking of renting this contraption out to make our money back... Just plop 8-10 coins in at a time and whrrrr, whrrrr, whrrrr the little spinner shoots out the coins into the correct paper sleeve. Tis very cool.

Bored yet? FOCUS, PEOPLE, FOCUS.

Here's where you can earn your points for today... Guess the amount of money in the picture above, rounded to the nearest $1. Then guess how much the stash weighed...

Oh come on. Play. I know the competitive spirit of some of you. You'll do anything to drive an extra two people to your site, even if it is my grandma and my mom. :)

Winner Winner Soapy Dinner

This is what happens after school when your kid calls someone a not-very-nice-name-but-Ellen-Degeneres-would-probably-qualify [felt like I needed to whisper that] Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner...

(...AND...Before anyone crosses my name off your list of "safe" houses to send your kids, just remember someday, probably sooner rather than later, YOUR kids will do something dumb too...I really need to believe that!)

This prize package contains:

1. Back stage pass to the Principal's office. Front row seat and a signed autograph on the note he brought home.

2. Grounding from "all things fun" -- anything electronic or playing outside with friends. Just sentenced to his room with only his homework and enough oxygen to get him through to morning.

3. And because I wanted this to be drastic...before he went to bed [early] he got this: We call it Irish Spring a la mode..Clean as a whistle!. [well, minus the ice cream]. Dee-lish.

Maybe I can get a discount at the next dental visit since I've already taken a homemade impression of his bite.

Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth. I thought I had already made that perfectly clear. At least it gave us a good opportunity to talk about the power of our words and what the Bible has to say about how we treat others. Again.

Parenting keeps me humble...and embarrassed sometimes.

Please tell me I'm not alone...

Stay Out of the Water?!

On the way home from church Sunday...

Mr. Heinecke: Hey guys, what did you learn today?

Kid Two: Well, you know how air is everywhere around us?

Mr. Heinecke: Yeah. It's all around us.

Kid Two: God is like that. He's like the air...all around us.

Mr. Heinecke: Cool. And what does that mean to you?

Kid Two: To stay out of the water...

Mr. Heinecke: [simply looks at me as if to say, "Did we mess this kid up along the way somehow?"] ... [and I gave him a raised eye brow as if to reply, "Oh I'm sure of it."]

We laughed to ourselves because quite frankly, this kid is funny. But he has a point too. There isn't any air under the water. We can't breathe down there on our own.

Life is the same way. Don't venture too far into the "water" where you can no longer breathe in God's presence.

Crazy LifeKids teachers. He may never swim again for fear of being separated from God...

Theresa Tagged Me...So here it comes...

Here are the rules:
1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, the player tags 5 people and posts their name, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

What was I doing 10 years ago:
I was taking care of a 10 month old who could talk before his first birthday. My life was headed for a big change but I didn't know it then. I probably still had the same hairstyle [yeah, I know...] because what do you do with curly hair?!

Five Snacks I enjoy in a perfect, non weight-gaining world:
1. chocolate cake
2. warm chocolate sheet cake (yes, the whole sheet cake)
3. chocolate cake with or without icing
4. chocolate cake "breakfast edition"
5. the piece of chocolate cake I was thinking about offering to you

This is the chocolate cake my kids made for me in December. So sweet, those boys...


In the real world: wait, is this part supposed to be about food? I dunno...
1. I love my life.
2. I think cemetaries are beautiful. When we go out of town and we pass one, my husband stops to let me take a picture. Here is one from last summer (San Diego)
3. I love to camp.
4. I want to write a book for women who have been abandoned
5. I don't much enjoy cleaning the shower.

No, I don't know any of these people. I just think they look beautiful in those rows.



Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1. I would give lots away to ministries that help single moms
2. I would travel and take pictures then make a book from them...and cross my fingers someone would buy it. (But if I'm a billionaire, why would I care if it sold?)
3. I would shop where I want and maybe, just maybe, pay full price.

Five jobs that I have had:
1. Telemarketer
2. Receptionist
3. School teacher - 4th grade
4. Project manager

Okay, just 4. Then I became a mom.

Three of my habits:
1. I twirl my hair...the little piece on my left. I can do "tricks."
2. I park in the middle of the driveway when I've been "told" countless times to make room for the Mr.

3. I take a LOT of pictures...and random ones like this sunset last night.

Five place I have lived:
1. Tulsa, OK
2. Stillwater, OK
3. Ponca City, OK
4. Edmond, OK
5. Venice, Italy (no, not really, but my list looked boring)

What do you want others to get from your blog: I just want my readers to enjoy the three minutes they spend on my site. Maybe laugh, maybe think, maybe just say to themself, "That girl is loves Jesus."

Three People I Want to taser, I mean TAG: But don't feel obligated! Just do it if you want to.
1. Tonya
2. Veronica
3. Abbi

He's a Monkey.

Maybe I'm just narrowminded.

Or maybe it's because he's a monkey.

I'm sitting in my living room tonight reading a few blogs and messing around with my layout (because I'm OCD about finishing up my changes) and my husband is watching King Kong. Not the old one. The DUMB new one. (But I didn't care much for the old one either.)

First of all, I like the following movies, in this particular order.

1. Realistic movies that move you (in one way or another)

2. War movies

3. Smart movies

I do not like movies about overgrown gorillas who climb the Empire State Building with a barbie-like human dressed in white in the grip of his hand...gazing into her eyes as the sun rises. He's a monkey for cryin' out loud.

So I keep plinking away on the keyboard leavin' yall some dandy comments. But...I can't help but catch a few glimpses of this stupid movie from time to time. And each time I tell everyone in the living room how dumb it is. Honestly, are you trying to make me believe this chick fell for a monkey?!

I first tuned in when he was being captured and the girl was crying because they were going to "make millions" with this thing...a monkey, mind you. A few web visits later I noticed Kong (did I mention he is a MONKEY?!) is [and I can hardly type this it's so ridiculous] sliding around on ice having some sort of date with this girl. A.date.with.a.monkey...That's the dumbest thing EVAR. Super-Ape gives her "a look"... you know the one...but I'm not going to spell it out because this is a family show and all...but I swear I can hear Marvin Gaye right now...[okay, sorry. family show, yes.]

I leave the room and when I return, the monkey is on Broadway. Uh-huh. At least this is believable now...? Anyway, blah, blah, blah and the next thing I know there were missles being fired from airplanes toward this grabillion pound monkey. Probably our tax dollars hard at work. People are in awe watching the tumbling, bumbling mammoth-mammal fall from the sky to his death. And then the movie was over and for the first time in 47 minutes, I smiled.

He was a monkey. (gorilla, whatever.)

I just don't like movies like that.

Any Kong fans? What kind of movies do you like?

Confessions of an Addict

Today I'm posting a re-run. Some of you may have been with me last May when I originally wrote it. I read through Vikki's blog this week and it reminded me of this. Vikki, this one is for you! :) This will redirect you to a previous post.

The first time I suspected anything was wrong was the day I came home from school to find my dad sleeping in the oversized orange beanbag in the living room. My mother had covered him with a blanket my sister and I reserved for watching Saturday morning cartoons. I remember watching him sleep and staring at the blackest eye I had ever witnessed on a grown up. Within weeks I found out you didn’t have to be a grown up to have grown up problems. I was introduced to the life of a drug addict at the age of seven. [read more...]

New Header, New Name

Okay...I've been working on a new header because I'd like to change the name of this gig.

What is DELIBERATE HOPE? Glad you asked. Hope is the reliance on the promises of Jesus accompanied by the expectation of fulfillment. [Brennan Manning said that.] This year I believe the Lord is teaching me to rely more on his promises ...and do it DELIBERATELY and intentionally... then wait for him to show up and be God.

I'm going to write about HOPE and those promises I'm talking about a little more this summer. For now, this is a start. Soon I'll be changing my URL to this title. Whoa! Don't make that change now...I'm not quite there yet. Baby steps, girls and boys, baby steps.

Have a great weekend!

PS - I think the email updare feature works now.

Kid Three Tries Cereal

He's nearly six months old and doesn't eat baby food yet. Weighing in at the 95th percentile for his height and weight, I seriously don't think he looks malnourished. But...it's time to give it a shot.

"Mom, is this supposed to be gritty? Does Dad know you're making me eat this?"

"Seriously, I don't feel good about this. Look how messy I'm getting! I feel a freak out coming on. You better do something."

"Ahh mom, now look what you've done! Can't you just feed me the way you KNOW I like it? And stop taking pictures. Give a kid a break! Where are my brothers? Somebody help me!"

"What did you say? My fit worked? Yeah! A bath and REAL bedtime snack? I love you, mommy!"

Get Up, Don't Miss This

Mr. Heinecke left early Wednesday morning to catch a plane. I continued to sleep even though I knew I felt an urgency to get an early start on my day.

Then I heard something. I knew who it was. It was Him.

"Get up. I want you to see this." He said.
"Oohhhh, I'm too tired." I mumbled.
"No really, I don't want you to miss it." and then He sounded desperate to get me up.
"Can I see it later?" I asked.
"If you wait even one more minute, you'll miss it for sure." He pleaded.

I pried open my eyes and looked out the window of my bedroom. The view was amazing. Jumping out of my covers, I quickly grabbed my camera and ran to the back porch.

[click] [click] Oh, He was right. I didn't want to miss this! I was speechless. What a wonderfully perfect sunrise to start a spring day. A gentle breeze, a few geese hitting the water on the pond and my kids still sleeping while He and I talked about what we would do today.

"Thank you Father, for waking me up to see this masterpiece." I told him.
"You're welcome." He said. "I painted it especially for you."


Don't miss what He has for you today!

Train Them Up: It Must Be Reinforced (Part 5 of 5)

Okay, last one...

Say it together now, here we go... Effective spiritual training for your kids must begin with YOU. It has to be MODELED. It should be BIBLICAL. It's best if it is PRACTICAL.

and...[drum roll please]...Your efforts must be REINFORCED. I said your efforts must be REINFORCED. Your efforts must be REINFORCED. [get it?...reinforced...said it twice...oh well.]

Before you make a note to yourself to simply reiterate your words over and over and over to your kids, I said REINFORCE not repeat. Yeah, there is a difference.

God was pretty good at this. There are many accounts in the Old Testament when God reminds his people of who he is and what he's done. He often told them he was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He recalled how he brought them up out of Egypt and out of captivity. He made sure they were aware of answered prayer.

We can do the same thing. When God answers prayer, remind your kids! As they experience his faithfulness in your life, it will be easier for them to trust him personally as they grow. A couple of years ago we purchased a house for rental property. After fixing it up we all prayed God would bring us a renter. Every time we passed the house on the street, someone would say "in the name of Jesus, bring us the right renter!" And of course, one came and we praised God for his answer to prayer. The next time the house was vacant and needed a renter, the boys were very quick to say, "God will bring a renter like he did last time. We just have to ask."

It's not enough for us to just tell them about God. Be sure they are trained to see him working. It's not enough to simply pray for things. They must experience his answer.

In a nutshell: Be God's cheerleader when he scores. Be his billboard. Be his biggest fan. Be a walking advertisement for what you know is true. MAKE SURE YOU ARE HELPING THEM "CONNECT THE DOTS" by pointing out the presence of God in their lives.

God is good.

The goodest. :)

Train Them Up: It Must Be Practical (Part 4 of 5)

First of all, let me say...your feedback (comments and emails) on this series of posts has been very encouraging. Thank you for your kind words.

If you're just tuning in, go back a few posts to Part 1 and you'll catch up quickly...

So far, we know effective spiritual training for your kids begins with YOU. It must be MODELED. It must be BIBLICAL. And it must be PRACTICAL.

This seems easy but I think it's the one that tripped me up a time or two. Long ago, I had these grand visions in my head of someday having kids and planning deep, emotional Bible studies with them in which we would connect on a cosmic soul level, weep over the lost in the world, hold hands and sing Kum-ba-ya over candlelight communion... But I can't fit that kind of theatrical production between the sword fights and skateboards here.

It has to be practical...as in, it simply has to make sense in the world in which your kids live. ANYTHING can be a lesson if you're creative.

No deep thoughts today...just a lot of examples on how to be PRACTICAL in your efforts to train them!

• When one of them is sick, I pray with them and ask God to heal their bodies.
• Try going to the Food Bank, donate clothes to the Hope Center, go on short-term mission trips.
• Play Christian music at home or in the car
• After a family movie be creative and tie it back into some spiritual truth
• Memorize scripture together
• Teach them to pray for God's will to be done. Example: Our house is for sale. With the kids we are not praying for a buyer but rather we are trying to model for them to pray that God's will be done and if we are to move, a buyer will come. If not, no buyer. (It's still for sale...anyone? anyone? Bueller?...)
• Do something like pick fruit from a tree and talk about how Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. (see this post for more).
• Remember Robin's "Lettuce Grow a Salad?" -- do stuff like that and use scripture passages like Matthew 13 to talk about seeds and soil.
• Pray for their friends at school with them. Teach them how to choose friends.
• Your kid drops 80-lbs of weight on his foot landing him in an ambulance then in surgery? Use that to talk about how the Bible says to obey your parents...or the consequences of sin. (Kid Two can tell you ALL about this!)
• Do your kids have required "At home" reading? Dust off the Good Book and get to reading!
• There are tons of parables to use on them (I mean use for discussion starters)
• Your kids don't live with "Everyone Else's Parents?" Give them the Biblical foundation for why you are a mean parent - Talk about "what we put in our minds...renewing our minds...honoring God with our choices..."
• If your kid is a grifter (ha/ha Amy, just kidding!) bust out some Colossians 3..."Do not lie to each other..."
• When the tornado sirens go off, get to your scardy-cat hide out and pray God's protection on your family and your home.

Okay, this is just a "get your brain going" list for you to see it doesn't have to be hard. It has to be practical. Seriously, how effective would it be right now if I called my boys in from playing outside to sit them down and talk about battling the enemy in spiritual warfare? I'll bet I couldn't keep their attention for 2 minutes. BUT...over dinner tonight I can squeeze in a reference to the play swords they were using and kick off a conversation about how "the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of this world..."

Share some practical ideas for teaching your kids about the truth? Tell me, TELL ME!

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Tomorrow: The final thing your spiritual training must be...

Train Them Up: It Must Be Biblical (Part 3 of 5)

If you missed the first two posts, start HERE (Part 1) and then go HERE (Part 2).

Clifff's Notes Recap:
Spiritual training your kids begins with YOU. Your efforts must be MODELED for your kids...simple enough, right? Righty-o then, on to the next thing...

Effective spiritual training must be BIBLICAL.
Whatchu talkin' bout Willis?! Of course! I mean, isn't all spiritual training Biblical?...Well, most of the time yes. But even the most faithful, well-intention parents (read: me) can manage to get slightly off track if not careful.

Case in point: Have you ever said to your kids something like "Don't lie, Kim. God doesn't like little girls who lie." ...[beep beep INCORRECT.] Lying is a sin. God hates sin. But there is nothing we can do to make God stop loving us. See the difference?

And another just to make sure you get my point. Okay, this one is a little outdated but... "We don't dance because dancing is a sin." ...[beep beep INCORRECT.] As far as I know...the Bible never says dancing is a sin, but lots of people wouldn't dream of doing it. (But thankfully, Mr. Heinecke agrees to be dragged to a dance lesson now and then to cut a rug with the Mrs.)

We must teach our children what the Bible says, and not a homemade version of the truth that could get slightly twisted over time.

We use Biblical truths to refute lies. When my kids say things like "I'm stupid." or "I can't do anything right." I quickly redirect them back to what the Bible says about them. "Kid One," I say (but only I actually call him by his real name because he likes that better...), "that is not true, the Bible says you are ..." or "Kid Two, the Bible says you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. That includes loving your brother and speaking respectfully to him." Here's a wild idea, crack that book open and actually dare to show them where it's written.

In a nutshell: When you teach them about God's word, just make sure it IS God's word... not some other rigamaro you've made up or heard...

This stuff matters to our kids. I wish I got it right all the time...or even most of the time...or at least more than I do now... I wish my flesh could live out what I know in my spirit needs to be done.

-----------------------
Next: The 3rd thing our spiritual training must be...

(Love ya'all)

Please Don't Slow Blink a 'Ma'am"

(Intermission #1 from my Train Them Up posts)

Last week I went to Sonic. It was pouring POURING down rain. Cats and dogs kind of rain. Pouring. But I had a coupon for a 99cent Java Chiller and I was going to have one.

I went through the drive through, which, bugs me in the first place since Sonic [by its very nature] is a drive through...[Why do we need a drive-through for a drive-in? That drives me crazy.] Anywho...

Me: "one small hazelnut Java Chiller, please"

Garbling black box: [use a gargling throat sound] "kxkkkkgghhh....sma....kxkkkggshhkk...iller?"

Me: "one small hazelnut Java Chiller, please"

Garbling black box: "kxkkkggshxxxkkkj...fries?....kjsjsjgkllsjfhhgkjfk...ater tots?"

Me: "just one small hazelnut Java Chiller, please" [and I roll up the window as the garbled box gives me my total because my car is now flooded]

I "proceed to the next window." I know the drill.

When I arrived 20 feet ahead I handed the gentleman my coupon and $1 and said, "Can I use this coupon? It 's for 99 cents."

[picture this in slow motion...because that's how I remember it...]

He slowed blinked me...and sighed. yuh-huh, he did. It was a visual "you've got to be kidding me" blink. Slow drama for effect. He then snatched the coupon from my hands - SNATCHED. More theatrical embelishment. [Is the surveillance camera on? cause I'm not too amused.] "Hold on" he says and disappears with my small hazelnut Java Chiller.

When he returns he hands me my treat and I pay him the last 8 cents owed to Sonic. Then he bends down on his forearms and leans his head OUT the window [it's raining, remember] and says to me "Ma'am, the next time, you need to say you have a coupon when you order...or I won't give you the discount again."

Wha?

Did he just honestly memorize my face to know for whom he will and will not honor the discount the next time I [never] go to that Sonic? And might I just mention I didn't feel all too respected by his use of "ma'am", despite the fact I have probably been driving long than he's been breathing.

So I played his game. "Thank you for that reprimand, sir." [I did say it nicely because I've got Jesus in my heart but at the moment I felt like he may have been napping. :) ]

I left Sonic feeling like I didn't deserve the small hazelnut Java Chiller because I had behaved so poorly by not mentioning it when ordering.

Let that be a lesson to you. When the coupon says "mention coupon at time of ordering" I guess they mean it. [I just slow blinked all of you to punctuate that warning.]

(I still love Sonic.)

Train Them Up: It Must Be Modeled (Part 2 of 5)

If you missed the foundation for this series of posts...go HERE.

Okay...so we know the first steps in spiritual training your kids are to fall in love with God yourself and make the Word of God familiar in your homes.


Now I'm not implying that when your kids wake up in the morning they should step out of bed into a Sunday School lesson complete with formal instruction over the breakfast table and an alter call before the bus gets in front of your house. What I am suggesting is that you create an environment in your home that lends itself to frequent converstaions about God...his love, his faithfulness, his mercy, his forgiveness, his will...his...his...[you get the picture].


4 Things Your Spritual Training Must Include: 1st Thing...
For spiritual training to be effective it must be MODELED. [I think I heard someone gulp. Oh wait, that was me.]

My mother was amazing at this. She loved the Father and we knew it. How? Well, she just lived it out. We were on the "other side of the tracks" and I don't mean the side with 3 luxury cars, designer jeans and a swimming pool either. We were kind of broke (not even kind of, at times). She just talked about the Lord. She led us in prayer. She prayed for us and with us. She fought many battles in the spirtual world on our behalf. She trusted Him...and we watched him show up on her calendar and meet our needs. Time after time, after time, after time...


My mom didn't "mail it in" with us. Or if she did, we didn't know it. There were scripture passages all through our house. We saw her reading her Bible. We watched her worship the Lord. We listened to the hymns she played on her accordion when we went to bed at night. (yeah, I said accordion - she is fabulous on the squeeze box!) We saw the tears in her eyes when we'd find $100 mysteriously placed in our mailbox (because then we could get groceries.)

We knew God was good, and faithful, and our provider, and our protector, and our King...because my mom modeled that for us through her words, her actions and her attitudes. [And I am a different person than I would have been, if it were not for my mom.]

Practical Tips For Your Own World:

Teach your kids to pray by praying WITH them - at night, at dinner, before school, when they are sick, whenever. Pray FOR them - and let them hear you.

Teach them to praise the Lord... "Isn't it a beautiful day, kids? Thank you Jesus, for making the sun come out today!" or another example... "Boys, you've really had a great attitude today. Thank you Father for working in our hearts to make our family more respectful to each other."


Let them hear you sing songs of praise. Let them see you read your Bible. Let them see you pray for God's will to be done.

In a nutshell: Just live it.


I heard Pastor Craig say one time [one of my all-time-I'm-probably-going-to-steal-this quotes] You can't lead a person to a place you've never been. oh, that's good stuff.

Share some practical ways you can model your faith for your kids...

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Next: The 2nd thing your spiritual training must include...

Train Them Up: Introduction (Part 1 of 5)

This summer I'll be speaking at a Single Mother's Conference in Edmond. My topic is about spriritual training for your kids. NOTE: I'm not an expert (just check out my munchkins for proof) but there are some things I'm learning along the way that DO make a difference! Allow me...

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The foundation for this series of posts is Deuteronomy 6:5-9. Here, let me help you find it...

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

See those underlined words up there? Let's look at the Hebrew definition and break it down a bit because I think it gives a little more punch to it...

Heart: everything you feel, your passions (Hebrew: lebab – inner person, seat of thought and emotion, conscience, courage, mind understanding)

Soul: everything you believe, your “core” (Hebrew: nepes - breath, life force, immaterial part of a person)

Strength: everything physical, your will (Hebrew: od – exceedingly, greatly)

Impress: teach diligently, repeat (Hebrew: sanan)

Talk about them: all the time – morning, evening, and everything in between

Tie them as symbols: in those times they tied little scrolls to their wrists so they could always have the scriptures with them – This kept it familiar to them.

Write them: on the doorframes and on your gates…make it part of your home

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We could really re-read that passage to say,

Love the Lord your God with your passions, your feelings, your emotions. Love Him as your breath, your life force. Love him exceedingly with all your will. Teach these things diligently to your children and repeat them often. Talk about the Lord’s word in the morning, in the evening, and everything in between. Keep the Word of God close to you – in your heart and in your everyday life. Make these things familiar in your home.

What is the key to spritually training your kids? First, you must fall in love with Jesus...and I do mean head over heels, in love with the Master...loving him with everything in you. Secondly, you must make the Word of God familiar in your home.

That's enough to get us started...Let's all make it a little more familiar in our homes today. Does it make a difference to your kids if the Word is familiar? [an emphatic] Yes!

Before Kid Three, I used to do aerobics with Kid Two's teacher in the early hours of the morning. I quit going so early because I needed to be sure I was getting my quiet time in before the kids got up. When asked by his teacher, "Where's your mom been in the mornings?" Kid Two replied, "She can't come to the gym in the morning anymore. She's been busy praying for me." Make it familiar. Make it real in your house. They notice...

God will call your kids...you make sure they have ears to hear Him.

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Next Time... 4 things spritual training must include...

Clickety Clickety Click Click Click

This weekend while my husband was balancing the checkbook, the big kids were playing outside and baby was asleep I was 'clickin' around the blog world. It's so fun to see how everyone is connected in some way. Some are in CA, others in TX and a few in MO....and most are Edmondites. I hit several each day and by the end of the week, I've covered most. (oh seriously, not the entire blog world...just the ones I enjoy most.)

Here's a fun thing to do today... From this blog (that'd be mine) click on someone else you DON'T already know (or the link from someone's comment in one of my previous posts) ...and do the same once you get to that blog. Do this 3-4 times and see if you don't pick up a new blog or two you'd like to continue following. Or who knows, you might even find Kevin Bacon... I found a couple that I enjoyed...and seriously, I don't know the path I took to find this one... http://www.ericswife.blogspot.com/. Her post this week about the Ninja Housekeeper was hysterical. In a different geographical world, I'd invite her over for lunch. Another one I stumbled on I now realize several of you probably already know (but I didn't.) http://www.goodwingirlie.wordpress.com/. (Maybe they even know each other...I dunno.)

So, go play my clickety click game and leave me a comment about any great blogs you see -- and what state the author is in. (I mean, just how far does this viral clicking thing go?!) Remember...you've got to visit at least 3 new ones...(and leave a few comments along the way on those blogs, make someone's day)

If anyone makes it to George Dubya Bush in less than ten clicks, you win.

My Guy Is the Grand Achiever! I've Got Braggin' Rights

Now go back and read that title with the same sing-songy voice you would use to say...
My daddy can beat up your daddy...or...I know you are, but what am I?... or the ever popular...Nanny-nanny-boo-boo...or...I've got some ice-cream and you can't have any. (Isn't it the same tune for all of those?)

Yes, My Chad was named Grand Achiever at work last week! (Come on, put your hands together...) Not only did he win it THIS year...he was also a recipient LAST year and a couple of years ago! (I don't think anyone else has won as often as he has...) [wild applause is appropriate here]




This is an award given to a very few individuals at his company who have demonstrated (and I paraphrase from his company leaders now...) "going above and beyond what is expected...looking for innovative ways to save the company money and grow the business...being a "go-to" guy...being a model employee (a model? have THEY been lookin' at his foxy backside too?!)...and MAKING A DIFFERENCE." Who doesn't want to be married to someone like that?


We got all gussied up and went to a nice dinner with his peers and company officers. I knew I was proud of him for this achievement but listen, I was floored when his boss stood up in front of the group and went on and On and ON about how great Chad is. His sincerity was so evident. At one point I wanted to get up and do war-whoops with my pink pashmina wrap and maybe lead a cheer I used to in high school (but the Victory March with all the high kicks would have killed me for sure.) Wow...was I proud of My Chad.


Of course I took some credit for his award because when he leaves home each day, I pray for his co-workers, his clients and and superiors to find favor with him...and that God would honor him in his work and bless his efforts to provide for his family. (So I'll be answering to Mrs. Grand Achiever for a while)


The best part? He isn't just a Grand Achiever at work. Nope. He's an Everyday-Life-God-Lovin'-Budget-Makin'-Warrior-Grand-Achiever at home. Just ask me, or Kid One...or Kid Two...or Kid Three. Sometimes he's the Car Cleaner...other times he's the Janitor...every now and then, he's the Police...often he's the Gardener...or our resident Dave Ramsey...and sometimes he reads my blog if I make him.


We love him! ...[wild applause is again appropriate]


He doesn't let me take pictures of him...so I had to pull out a few old ones for fun. (That'll teach him.)

He's the Chef at our campouts...

He's an amazingly sweet daddy

Enough, enough already with the Paparazzi.

A Letter to "Everyone Else's Parents"

Dear "Everyone Else's Parents,"

I regret to inform we may need to redefine the nature of our relationship and set some new boundaries with our kids and yours. The truth is, you're making our life so hard. We cannot compete with your extravagant parenting style. According to Kid One (age 10) and Kid Two (age 8), you are very, very cool...and consequently this had made us very, very ...not cool.

Is it true, Mr. & Mrs. "Everyone Else's Parents," that your kids can watch as much TV as they want? All day, everyday? That's what Kid One thinks.

Is it true, Mr. & Mrs. "Everyone Else's Parents," that you pay five times as much for allowance as we do and your kids don't even have to do chores on the weekend?! That's what Kid Two thinks.

And wow, a TV AND Playstation in EVERY room of the house? That's awesome. Bedtime at 10:00 even on a school night?! And what's this I hear?... you've never ever never in the history of their precious childhood made them fold their own laundry...and put it up!? Wow. I've got to hand it to you, Mr. & Mrs. "Everyone Else's Parents," you really are the coolest.

Church? Oh yeah, we've heard how you don't make your kids go...simply because they don't want to. (Mr. & Mrs. "Everyone Else's Parents," you're so understanding.) Outlandish birthday gifts, overpriced shoes they'll grow out of in two months and a personal cell phone at age 6? Mr. & Mrs. "Everyone Else's Parents," you sure know how to make a kid happy.

And family time? I know, I know, it's tough to squeeze that in...You guys are very busy right now, you know, making your kids happy and insuring they'll have everything in life they want.

We hear that you, Mr. & Mrs. "Everyone Else's Parents," let your kids watch EVERY PG-13 movie that comes out... because, after all, they'll all be 13...eventually. And I've also heard your kids can wear whatever clothing they want...oh, what a dream!...even if their underwear is showing.

So... as much as I like you, Mr. & Mrs. "Everyone Else's Parents," I'm afraid we'll need to keep our distance for now. We simply can't keep up. (Don't feel bad, we also had to cut ties with "The Jones's".)

True, your grass may be greener but frankly, we can't afford the water bill.


Sincerely,
Parents for A Better Tomorrow



Do you hear this kind of stuff from your kids? "Well, everyone's ELSE's parents" ...(and the emphasis in their voice is on ELSE's like they are the only kids in the state to be tortured with this kind of life that might actually steer them in the right direction) Secretly I love it. I thought my parents were mean growing up. But I also remember a time when I hoped to be as "mean" as they were...because I realized how much they loved me.

"Remember Who You Are"

One of my dear friends recounted the story of her father saying those words when she would leave to go out with friends as a teenager. I thought it was a great thing to say to kids. It probably meant something different to a teenager than it would to a couple of elementary kids but still, I loved the concept. So I stole it....(Thank you, Tracy!)

For the last 3 years I periodically (and routinely when they get out of the car at school) say to them, "Boys, remember who you are." About every 3-4 months I add another "Who are you" truth to their list. We started with these...

• You are a gift from God.
• You are God's masterpiece.
• You are God's chosen.
• You are holy and dearly loved.
• You are bought with a price.
• You are God's child.
• You are created to be powerful and effective for God's kingdom.
• ...and so on...

It is a way to teach early (read: engrain in their minds!) who they are. It might be a little "routine" and rote but I am convinced there will come a day when they question who they are...and I want to be sure the truth of their identity has been hammered into them from a tiny age. I don't want them to ever remember a time when they didn't know the truth about them.

The exchange goes like this - or some variation each week:
(As they are getting out of the car to go to school)


ME: Boys, remember who you are.
BOYS: Okay mom.
ME: Hey, who are you?
BOYS: a child of God, God's masterpiece, a gift from God...
ME: You got it! Now get out of my car and go learn yerself sumptin. :)

Try this with your kids. It's a simple, quick way we can bless them with truth each day!

Duck Tape for State Mascot

I've always heard people talk about how duck tape can fix anything. And now I believe it. Just this past week we've nearly gone through a whole roll! Duck tape is amazing!

Exhibit 1: Duck taped swords
The boys took PVC pipe (what does PVC stand for anyway?) and wrapped them in foam and then tightly (and I do mean TIGHTLY) secured them with duck tape. The blue tape is painter's tape, you know, just for a nice aesthetic touch. Yeah, they were the foam squares I was planning to use for kitchen chair cushions but since I only talk about making those cushions, I decided to donate them to a worthy cause. Cool swords, guys. Now go outside and fight the pesky neighbor kids whose dogs poop in our yard.

Exhibit 2: Substitute Shoe Strings

Tate has some shoes that, well, I'm tired of seeing. What is it with boys that makes them want to keep ratty jeans and shoes long past the time when they get new ones? These are the same shoes Tate was wearing when he launched an 80 lb weight onto his toe and landed himself in the OU Chidren's Hospital surgery room over Thanksgiving... If those were my shoes, I would have long punished them and said my good-byes...

He keeps asking me to buy new shoestrings and I figure if I refuse, he'll start wearing his nice, new shoes and prove to his teacher once and for all I'm not a negligent mother. Nope. This is what I saw last week. Duck tape. All around the shoe so they won't fall off. Duck tape is awesome.

Sweet work, Tate. You're brilliant.

Exhibit 3: Backpack Patch
Nope, that's not for decoration...it's strategically placed duck tape to hold his backpack together. Seriously, we've reached the point on the school calendar that if something breaks, you duck tape it until May. Sorry chief, a new backpack simply isn't in the budget until August. (Dave Ramsey would be lovin' me right about now.) Duck tape will hold nearly anything.

Yep, this family has duck taped tons o' stuff...TV remote to hold the batteries in (you don't really thing we'd risk having to get up to turn the channel, do you?). I've even joked (JOKED) about duck taping lil Jack's head to his bed so he'll sleep on the correct side of his head... (Oh come on, I would never (well almost never) use duck tape on a kid unless it is absolutely necessary...(or enormously entertaining) )

We love duck tape. It's a staple in our storm emergency kit. When the next twister that comes through these parts we're going to duck tape stuff down so nothing blows away.

Duck tape should be our state mascot.

Oh pu-leez, stop grimmacing. Of COURSE I know it's duct tape, not duck tape. A few of you could hardly finish reading because of that...Does anyone use it on ducts?