Confessions of a proud Mom

Today was one of those 'mountain top' Mommy days! My daughter came home with a folder full of papers with excellent grades. I poured out the praise! I was glowing with joy that all her hard work had paid off!

I was determined to display her work for positive reinforcement. I broke out the magnets and starting putting the papers on the refrigerator. 

It was at this time I felt convicted. 

 

I took all her excellent papers down and just stared at them. Then I did what I knew was right. I put her first test of the year on the refrigerator. The test that made her cry the second week of school. 

 

I put her failing test paper up on the refrigerator!

WHY? 

Why would I be so mean or cruel to do something like that?
It was because of this failing test that made her work so hard. This test had motivated her. This test had taught her how to set aside time each day to study. This test taught her time management skills.  It taught her to 'schedule' her time.

This failing test proved to be the reason I am proud!

She let God take a really bad thing and make it good! 

That is what He does for us!

He takes our ugly awful mess and turns it into a work of art.

This is why I am proud!

To God be the glory in ALL things!

Tissues please...

Well...today was the first day of school.  This year is full of transitions for both kids (and Mom)!  My daughter moves from a 3 day/2day program of home school and school curriculum to a 5 day program. While my son enters into Kindergarten!

This morning was full of excitement! We went out to the car and double checked backpacks, lunch boxes, water bottles, etc.  As we were checking off the list, my daughter looked through her supplies in her backpack and noticed the box of tissues for her desk.  The tissues were in a green box with what looked to be robots.  She quickly asked if I had put this in the wrong bag and had another box for her. 
At this moment, I wanted to say, "No, I bought the value pack and 2 went in Brenon's backpack, and these are yours, nevermind the color." But I thought how those very LITTLE things can seem to REALLY matter, and especially on the first day of school. 

I called my neighbor at the early hour of 7am! (You know you have good neighbors when you can call that early) I asked her if she had a pink 'girly' looking box of tissues that I could trade out with mine.  To my delight, she did! She had a pink box with purple flowers! My daughter was thrilled.

We were then on our way to school.  As we drove, we took turns praying for our day.  It was at this time my daughter expressed her heart of gratitude.  I have often heard the expression, "Don't sweat the small stuff", and this is all so true. 

But sometimes...it IS the small things that can make all the difference in the big picture. 

My neighbor didn't feel like it was a fair trade since I gave her a large economy box of tissues and she gave me a small size.  She insists on bringing another box to make it an even trade.  I have to say- I just might need that extra box. 

Seeing God's handy work in my kids just might bring a few tears to my eyes as we go through yet another milestone.

 God is in all the little details!

Back to school...

We have had a fun-filled summer!

When asked if I am ready for the kids to go back to school, it is a bittersweet response.  We have had so many adventures, vacations, stay-cations, fun activities, swimming until our poor skin can wrinkle no more. 
We have had camp-outs, camp-ins, sleep overs, sleeping in,
and late nights of catching fireflies!

But...YES,
we are ready for everything the Lord has planned for us this year!

Starting Kindergarten!

Starting 4th grade!

We have shopped, filled our backpacks, made cute back to school treats.  We have even started the 'back to normal' bedtime routine (even if it was unwilling at first). Ahh, how nice it is to get to bed at a 'decent' time again.

Now,

it is time for us to prepare our hearts and minds.

I pray for..

Armour of protection
Blessings over our teachers & staff
Calm our anxieties
Discovering of new abilities and self confidence
Encouraging, empowering
Firm faith
Grace, gentleness 
Humble hearts
Instruments of peace
Joyful and motivated throughout the year
Knowledge & understanding
Loving kindness
Mercy
Nuture the fruits of the spirit in our children
Obedience to God's word
Patience, Praise, & Perseverance
Quiet my busyness to be there for my kids & school
Reward good works!
Spiritual strength
Turn away from distractions and temptations
Unwavering hope
Victory
Wisdom, pursuit of God's truth
Xalted (For Jesus to be Exalted in all things!)
Yearning for learning!
Zeal for seeking His will

Talent Show

My son came home from school very excited about his first day.  He filled me in on the activities of the day.  He began searching through his room and gathering up his toys.  When I asked him what he was doing, he said he needed to bring something to the talent show!

 I was thinking to myself, isnt that a little ambitious to have a "talent show" on the second day of school?!  But I thought, well maybe the teacher just wants to get them excited about their new class. 

So, I let him go through the toys and pick out what he wanted to bring.

The next day, we are dressed and ready on time.  We head out for school, first to drop off my oldest, then my youngest.  As we are half way to my daughter's school, my son declares that we have forgotten his supplies for his "talent show".  I knew I wasn't going back home, so I told him that he had many talents- we could come up with something else.  It didnt take long before my son came up with a Plan B.
He asked if I could bring in his favorite CD (Toby Mac) so he could dance for his class! To this idea, I thought well...I think I need to walk in and talk to the teacher.  When I got into the classroom, I asked his teacher about the "talent show", she just looked at me with a blank stare unsure of what I was talking about.  Then she began to smile and informed me that they had just talked about the Fruits of the Spirt and how God gifts us with TALENTS.  Apparently this discussion had made quite an impression on my son.  So, when I told her about his idea...she ran with it! 
As I pulled up to pick him up from school, his teacher had a glowing smile.  She informed me that not only did he dance for the class, he even performed with his air guitar.  She proudly said, "Well, at least I know he was listening to our talk about fruits of the spirt, he just took it to a whole new level". 

What a great way to start his first week of Pre-School!