A Science "Experience"

    The Lord has been helping me teach my kiddo's His truth in new ways.  For a while we would read a bible story and then act it out! They loved that.  The other day I did a "science experiment" Bear miss understood me and now calls an experiment and "EXPERIENCE."  I kind of love that.  Teaching through experience, as an adult I still benefit so very much from a good visual or word pictures.  This is a gift God has given many of our pastor's they give us examples to help the truth of God's word stick in our brains long enough for us to get out and live it! 
     So I wanted to share about our experience!  For weeks now I have been teaching and learning with the kids the sign language for the scripture 1 Cor. 13:4-8 

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails.

     So, I got a jar and a rubber band and had Troy snag 4 army guys.  We strapped the army guys to the jar. I asked the kids where does the love that we have been learning about come from. "God!" Bear shouts, good one Bear.  I explained not only does love come from God, but we get to love because God lives in us by the Holy Spirit. (Troy and Bear have invited the Holy Spirit to live in them and Christ to be their Lord) We need God to pour His Holy Spirit in us continually because we leak! 

     Next I took food coloring and had them shout out one aspect of love form memory.  "Its kind, It doesn't boast, always protects!" Every time they said one I would drop color into my big jar of water.  This was just a visual of how beautiful those aspects of God's love is.  So all those things are in the Holy Spirit and when we start to get crunchy attitudes with each other we can ask the Holy Spirit to refill us with love. AND HE WILL! (Side note: I usually teach my kids whatever I am learning so that its fresh baked spiritual bread!) I began to pour the colored "Spirit" water in to the jar in the middle of the army men.  I told the kids the jar was  me and the men were Paul, Bear, Troy and Abi. As the water filled the small jar they were excited but giggles broke out when it over flowed and I shouted look at all that love getting all over you guys! 

     Each of them had a turn to color their water and would say Holy Spirit please fill me so I can love my family.  Then they would pour.  It was exciting every time.  We of course had to contrasting it the nastiest thing we could think of.  Duke's poop (our puppy). How much more pleasant and refreshing it is to be refilled with the living water of the Spirit to splash love on one another that our stinky flesh! 

    I don't want to post about this as a "Ta Da!" Look how clever I am but as an encouragement to Mom's or others with little ones. Use whatever gift you have to teach them the truth of God's word in a way that there little minds can "experience" it! 

*We also talked about how the Holy Spirit refilling us might look different for each person. That God has given us gifts to love one another in different ways just like the different colors we used to color the water. 

OH NO! NOT ANOTHER CHORE CHART! SHEESH!

      I have been wanting to make a chore chart for ages. There are so many options out there that its over whelming!  So let me add one more!
     It is really important to us to equip our kids to become age appropriately independent.  There are so many things kids can do around the house so that Mom is not a pick up and cleaning machine.  This also frees up more time to do things with them and not send them off to do the fun things while I get the chores done.  The kids and I work together for a couple hours of each day. (of course there are days I put them in front of a show and get it all done in half the time, but in general we work together).  Work first and play being a reward is a much more realistic model for life to come when our kids are hopefully productive members of society.  We have grown up and found our age bracket to be lazy and entitled (not everyone of course but its a growing problem).  Just imagine what our kids are gong to face.
     Our goal at our house is to work well together.  Pretty simple but if you are a parent you know that just sorting the laundry together can be EPIC!  So we teach and we train and ask Jesus to help us be patient and kind in the process!  Right!

   THE CHART

      I used vinyl off of a box my Mom sent.  She always wraps our boxes in unused vinyl! She is so fun.  I guess you could use a sticker of some sort if your parents don't own a sign company.  For magnets we use magnet strips (also from my parents shop) which Wal-Mart sells.  Left means it needs to be done Right means it is done. (I didn't label eveything cause that just feels cluttered to me).  The star magnet is on Troy's stripe because he is the "Child of the Day" today.  That just means he gets to do extra chores, pray for the meals, and go first anytime there is a turn.

 Here is a up close.  I hope to make cooler magnets and straight lines one day but I didn't want having it "perfect" to stop me from fallowing through when I finally decided what I wanted to do.

Reward

     This is the reward system to go with it.  One penny for each chore and 5 pennies if they take a proper nap. No talking, no playing, they currently lost their 5 pennies as I type.  I am going go to the $1 store and buy a couple of prizes.  I will put prices on each of the prizes and have "O'Brien Store" once a week or a month, I have decided yet.
     This is not all the chores and work they do in a day, far from it but its the ones I want to reward them for.  For every 10 pennies they earn they will get to take one and give it to Jesus at church.  I'm not worried that a penny isn't worth much, it what I have to work with and the concepts of working hard, being paid and giving back to Jesus first are the key right now.  Abi is to young to get much of this but she loves to be included, so she is.
     Today is the first day.  I will try to write a fallow up in a few weeks once the excitement has worn off and let you know if it is still a helpful tool or just one more thing that we don't really need to do just because it seems like everyone else is doing it.  Today they love it and we have had a really productive morning!
 

Home Education

     This is the first week I had a real lesson plan!  Paul and I had a discussion when we were engaged about the education of our one day children.  The conversation lasted about 3 seconds.  He said I'd like to home school our kids.  I said me too.  The end.
     Present day we have a 5 year old, 3 year old and 1 1/2 year old.  Our 5 Troy knows how to read and write. Mainly because I hit the academics hard with him at an early age and he is the kind of kid that does well with structure and a class room, sit down type setting.  I backed off with Troy for a while as God convicted my heart that I was trying to make sure my kids knew how to read above all else.  The English language is my greatest weakness and it affects every other subject.  There was a heart issue that needed to be dealt with.  I was trying to fix what I don't like about myself in my kid. That's like parenting 101 what to never do ever with your kids! I may have had a 4 year old how could read and I could brag about but the motive was super off.  I was encouraged by a wise and dear woman in my life to slow down.  Teach my kids how to do life and do it well.  For the last year or so I have had troy read books here and there but really spent the bulk of our days at home learning how to be a team and run the home together.  Teaching things like cooking, cleaning, setting the table, doing loads of laundry, putting away the laundry, playing with the dog, and so on. Just everyday life stuff.  Its amazing how much to can teach your babies in running the home.  Heart issues, problem solving, math, reading, writing and most of all appropriate interaction with others.  If you are going to do life tasks with 3 little ones you really have to slow down!  I had to search my heart for idols like "my way," "perfect," and "efficient." None of these things are bad in and of themselves but if worshiped will cause you to be frustrated in parenting and frustrated quickly!
     Our home by no means looks perfect....ever but it is maintained.  Our kids understand the concept that life is work and play is a reward.  We work and do lessons 5 days a week.  We have what we call "play day."  This is also Mom's bible study day.  No chores just play.  I of course continue to maintain the home but not to the level or intensity of a "regular" day.
     Now that things are running more smoothly at home I felt is was time to implement a little more structure into our lessons.  Currently we are going through the Alphabet.  One letter a week. This week (my first week of actual preparation and lesson planning) we are learning about the letter "E."  I asked the boys if there was anything they would like to learn about that stared with an "e" sound. They said EGGS!  So I went to the library (BY MYSELF!) and got 8 or so books on eggs.  I pinned a ton video's and craft ideas on Pintrest having to do with eggs.  I started into this week with a plan for each day.  Books, crafts, and games all having to to with eggs and incorporating reading, writing and math.  It took probably 2 hours on my "weekend" and now I wake up with a plan to teach each day already ready to go!  This is so exciting!  I understand that this is  probably very basic to the experienced Home Educator but I am in the beginning stages and just wanted to share as I go through the process God has for us.  I'm sure next week will look a little different.
     To encourage anyone who would like to educate at home but think they can't.  Let me tell you if I can do it any one can!  I also want to mention that I don't think school at home is "the way."  I think God calls different families to function in different ways.  School (lessons) at home is what we believe God has for us.
     If you have any tips on educating my babies I would love to hear them!

Had to get tires on Dad's Truck so we did 1/2 our lesson there. 

Crunched up egg shells from eggs that were given to us from a farm 

Beautiful! 

One on one time

building

Ps. I didn't spend a dime on the whole week of learning. There may be times that I will have to spend $ but since there isn't an education budget to speak of God is so faithful to give creativity to work around that.

LOVE IS:

     I feel like I have been through a boot camp of sorts.  My idea of love has been broken down once again and build back up with the standard of God's word.  We learn so much about what love is in 1 Cor. 13.  We hear this scripture quoted in wedding most often. Which is especially wonderful because in my experience there is no one on earth I gotten to learn how to love God's way more than my wonderful man.
     So with out going into needless detail my man and I had some struggles this week and I was challenged by a wise woman about my understanding of love.  What is a normal attitude of love.  I was so blessed by these useful words and description of 1 Cor. 13.  I wanted to pass them on.  Ps. Paul and I worked through the struggles and have come out the other end more unified.

LOVE IS:

Love is passive. Waiting to begin. Looking forward to how God is going to take my obedience and do what He wants. This brings freedom from emotions.

Love is not in a hurry.

Love is Calm.

Love is ready to do its work when the summons comes.

Love suffers long, by obeying God in the same direction for a long time.

Love Bears all things not by white knuckling but goes with the discomfort and looks for how God will use it.

Love Believes all things about Jesus and God and doesn’t worship a formula. Believes God is holy and just and will use it for His glory.

Love hopes all things in Jesus. He has paid the price and that is where we hope.

Love understands and therefore waits. Understands God is holy and just and good. He loves me to discipline me to get me ready for continued kingdom work.

Love keeps its gaze on Jesus instead of what it wants. 

DIVIDED HEART.

I say then: Walk in the Spirit , and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. Galatians 5:16-17

     We experience this in our home daily...hourly and some times moment by moment! Between the 5 of us there is a good chance that someone is "in the flesh"or having a bad attitude.  There are those wonderful moments of play were we are having family wrestles and for a moment everyone is smiling and having a blast...and then some one wacks someone else in the face and the training begins!  Conflict resolution is called "doing business" in our home.  We do a lot of business....kid to kid, parent to kid, and parent to parent! 

     Where does it all come from?  SIN!  For those of us that have trusted Christ with our lives and hearts there is a battle going on all the time.  Are we going to walk in the newness Christ has given us through salvation?  Living out the fruit of the Holy Spirit in us?  Love, peach joy, self- control and so on.  Or are we going to function as the old person not saved by grace?  Walking in the "flesh," a self-centered existence. 

      Our oldest Troy has been really struggling this last week.  Paul has been working his regular hours and then going to the old house to get it rent ready each eventing.  When we have weeks that the kids don't get the Dad time they desire there is a shift in behavior.  Everyone is more sensitive and a touch quicker to meltdowns.  At nap time yesterday we ran into this lack of Dad behavior in Troy.  I laid down with him and said "let talk. "  "What is going on in your heart right now?"  "I don't know."  Isn't that the truth!  So often I find myself asking my kids a question that they don't know themselves enough to know how to answer me.  He didn't know what was wrong.  He doesn't totally get this battle going on in his heart between the flesh and the spirit (Troy has accepted Christ).  "Mom, I need my heart to be cleaned!  It is just so dirty.  I feel so angry.  I don't really know what I am thinking I am just mad that I don't get my Dad!"  We prayed.  Troy asked God why he doesn't get his Dad and asked Him to clean his heart so he could be happy.  As he prayed I asked the Lord to show me a way to teach him what is going on inside him in terms that are on his level and  in line with Galatians 5. 

     This morning we had some bad attitude BEFORE BREAKFAST!  I sent my little man Tory to his room got the others set up with their food.  As I walked down the hall I was asking the Lord what the feel of the correction needs to be.  We have done a lot of firm lately.  I felt like gentle and instructive was the theme.  I climbed up on the top bunk with him.  He had calmed and handed me his puppy to snuggle.  I asked him again.  What is going on?  Again he didn't know how to answer...."Oh shoot Lord I am doing it again.  Show me how to ask him questions that help him understand himself better." "Troy, do you sometimes feel crazy in your heart?"  "Yes."  "Does the crazy happen a lot before you make a bad choice?"  "Yes!"  "May I teach you what is happening?"  "Yeah."  "Well, I know a little about this because I still feel crazy in my heart before I make bad choices too.  The Bible teaches us that there is a battle going on in our hearts.  A WAR!"  This peek his interest as he is all boy!  " We have to parts to our heart."  I made half a heart with one hand and explained.  "This half of our hearts loves Jesus, it knows the truth and loves to make good choices."  Keeping that half shown and making the other hand into the other half of the heart I said, "This half of our heart is super yucky.  It doesn't want to obey Jesus.  It just wants to be selfish and all about it self."  I then put my hands together to form a heart.  "This is your heart.  One half loves Jesus and the other half just loves yourself.  They are constantly fighting.  (I then punched my fist together) Your heart has a battle going on.  The side that will win is up to you.  Which side do you want to win?"  He pointed to the side that loves Jesus.  "You know how you make it stronger that the other half...you keep talking to Jesus when you are upset and happy, you go to church and learn more about Jesus and you obey Mom and Dad because we teach you how to live a wonderful life."  We proceeded to punch our fists together and play heart battle!  He got it! The lights turned on!  I said, "Would you like to pray about those sides of your heart?" Also I taught him that the Bible calls the sides flesh and spirit. 

Troy: Jesus, please make my, whats this side again Mom? 
Me:The Spirit. 
Troy: Oh yeah the Spirit stronger so it can beat up the...what's this side again Mom
Me:  the flesh
Troy: so it can beat up the flesh, beat it up so much it can never get up and make me angry! AMEN

     The best part about teaching is that You usually have to learn it before you can teach it.  Desiring to teach him this has called my attention back to the battle going on in my own heart constantly. Oh how I desire to walk in the Spirit and be that example to my little ones. 

OBESITY.

     OK, I am jumping right into a subject that can be a touch in the sensitive zone.  Let me start with I have had major struggles with weight and body image.  God has healed much of it but I am still very much on my face with Him when it comes to self- control with food.  Even though being over weight has been a struggle for me and even some that I love with all my heart it is something that Troy asked about and its an issue like any other. If we don't teach our kids about it the world will.
     Growing up in our home I don't think Troy has ever heard us talk about "fat people" or even use the term "fat." I know this because just recently he heard his cousin use the term and came and asked me, "what does fat mean."

Ci Ci Pizza trip in the summer. Its the last pizza picture I
have.

     The teaching came about during our move. We were out of our minds tired one evening and had no food to feed our kid's.  Paul and I decided we were going to Ci Ci's Pizza.  A family favorite and treat. As dinner was just about over a larger man walked past our table.  "Dad! That guy has a huge tummy! and he isn't even covering it with his shirt, that is not appropriate."  We of course hoped the man didn't hear him and began to teach quietly in our booth.  "Troy, you are right it is immodest not to cover your tummy when you are out, but that isn't something you say real loud when you see it."  "Why is that guys tummy so big?"  "Well, you know how we try to eat really healthy foods?  Most likely that man doesn't make the same choices.  Some times people have things going wrong with inside body parts and their bodies look bigger like that but a lot more times its because they make bad choices with the food they choose to eat. You know how we have not been eating very good food while we are moving and you just asked if we could eat better because its making your body not feel so good.  People living in those bigger bodies probably feel like that all the time. OK, so we have just told you that bigger or fat people make bad choices with their food, this is not something you tell some one that has a bigger body.  You can know that it isn't healthy but you do not ever tell someone about their bad choices.  Jesus will talk to them about it.  We all make bad choices some times its just that when some one makes bad choices with food you can see it on their bodies.  They need self-control from Jesus just like you need self-control from Jesus to obey Mom and Dad the first time we ask you to do something.  Do you understand what we are saying?"  Troy was paying attention and we were sure he got the part about not correcting some one about their weight and not pointing out larger people in public. His response was, "Yes, I get it, can I get some more pizza?"
     Especially with our oldest, teacher, put things in their place boy we want to be so careful to teach the truth but also teach how to be appropriate with the truth. Just because you know something to be true about someone else doesn't mean you have the right to correct them. What a valuable lesson for us adults as well. I love that we are getting to venture into teaching these bigger life issues. I love that we get to shape our kids world views. What a heavy and wonderful responsibility it is to take the time to explain life issues and teach what God's word says about them!

HOW DID IT GO?

    My previous post on Authority may have been misleading.  I would want my readers to think that we had this glorious time of teaching with the kids and then a perfect peaceful day after making our "Family Authority Chart."  I have every intention of being REAL with this blog.  So what really happened was this.  We made our chart, had a sweet time of teaching, did our chores with out any problems and then nap time hit!  We are in a transitional time with nap right now.  Troy (almost 5) and Bear (3) are to my dismay they are genuinely not tired most days.  This is a huge shift for a Mama who has had 5 years of a 2 hour break in the middle of the day.  I rise at 4am. with my man right now so by 1pm. I am physically ready to shut her down for at least an hour!  On the day I am share in this post I was ready to shut down and my boys were not.  We have a standing rule that you do not get out of your bed or call after the door closes.  Of course bathroom is used and all needs are met prior to the door closing.  I think I counted 8 times between the boys.  There were pop pop's given, privileges taken away and still I would hear the nauseating sound of the door creaking and my "down time being taken away."  A whole other heart issue for another post :).  I lost it.  I was so angry I told (well yelled) them they would stay in their beds till their Dad got home.  I said they would be getting more pops but I wasn't going to do it while I was so angry at them.

     My wonderful man gets home to the boys in bed, Abi screaming because she didn't get enough sleep from getting woken up from her nap early and a wife on the edge!  He was amazing.  He dropped his plans for going to the old house to paint and told me, "You are done with the old house I will finish it on my own, I am staying home this evening and you will not deal with the boys another moment." He was firm with them and so loving at the same time.  The balance of the rod and rich communication is so rad!  We don't always do it right but when we do its beautiful.  The Lord really knows what He is talking about in scripture!  Right!?  So, I am a mess at this point balling because I'm angry at the boys and them balling some more because I'm so angry at the boys!  Did you catch that.  I was angry at them then angry at myself for being so angry and a "bad mom."
     As a result of coming home to his family in a cyclonic storm of conflict Paul laid down some big consequences.  The boys had lost anything with a screen, (TV, video games, computer) Toys, Drinks with flavor or food that is sweet and they were not even aloud to play with out toys.  Not for the rest of the day that was only 3 more hours.  They were in bed until dinner and then back in bed time sleeping time.  This consequence was for the whole next day, with out the promise of it being lifted then next day!  EEEK EEEK EEEK!  In my emotional state I was wishing I had held it together because it felt like I got a consequence too!  I kind of did and I kind of needed it!  I went to bed that night feeling a bit hopeless.  How was I going to keep those boys busy with chores ALL day!  We do a lot together most day but not ALL day.

     Paul and I had some good talking and praying before he went to work on the ALL PRIVILEGES LOST day (yesterday).  He said, "OK, Babe I know it is difficult this time of the month but going from I'm going to kill my kids to crying over what a bad Mom you is a little much. Lets not high five balance as you pass it by. Can you do that please?"  "Blahahahahahah! Yes that will be my top goal for the day!"  Such a valid Hubby request.  I am so thankful for my man and the rock his especially during this crazy season.

     So how did it go?
 Well I'd love to say great but I will say, good.  It was a whole lot more work keeping them occupied with chores.  At 5 and 3 you can't just turn them loose with cleaning the garage!  We did however get so much done at the only house I'm to be working on!  If they were working they were sitting apart from each other.  A whole day of work or time outs!  Wow!  Troy got it and was almost excited to get on with the day of chores and constantly asked what he could do next.  Bear on the other hand didn't really get it until about 4 chores in and then Mom had to work on the computer and he couldn't go play. He would ball and ask why.  Because he is 3 I chose one thing that I wanted to change from the day before.  That was getting out of bed.  I would tell Bear this is because you got out of bed.  After a few more times of sitting in between chores he would just cry and say I will never get out of bed again!  I started to see some real brokenness by 11am!  So exciting!  At lunch Abigail put her peanut butter finger all through her hair so as I took her to the bath I told the boys to sit on the toilet till you poop.   A major excuse for getting out of bed. They did.  I got Abi cleaned up and in bed for nap.  As I closed her door I realized there wasn't a sound or motion from anywhere in the house.  I went in the boys room first to find my "Wild Rebellious Bear" all struggled in bed with his animals just so.  He look up at me and said, Mom I will not get out of bed."  I wanted to cry!  I kissed him and with out conflict left him to his nap.  Troy sleeps in mine and Paul's bed or plays with toys in our room which ever we are allowing that day.  Today was a sleep day.  Troy too was all snuggled in.  My kids slept!  I think Bear still needs naps but if he is busy thinking about how he can get out of bed he wont settle.
     After nap was good but a little more crazy.  We were all very done with the no privileges thing.  Troy and I had a good talk about finishing strong.  A talk I needed to hear as much as he did.
     Today the boys have earned their toys back.  Paul said he wants to see how hearts are with out giving back everything.  A wise move I think.  Bible study starts today so that is such desert for all of us.  I get to have God's word poured into me and they get to play with some of their favorite kiddos!
     So that's what we did this time and the blessings and struggles of it all.  If you are a parent let me encourage you this is not a job for the faint of heart.  We have to battle for our babies souls with the eminence love we have for them.  They need structure and boundaries.  It is a lot of work but wild undisciplined kids has got to be more work. We are in this together! Press on!

Oh this house will happen! One day 

AUTHORITY

Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this right. "Honor your father and mother,"- which is the first commandment with a promise- "that is may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth" 

Eph. 6:1-3

    So very basic but so very hard when you are 5, 3 and 1 1/2. At least in our home.  As we have moved into a new home it seems we have left all our standards of living and interacting as a family at the old house.  My sweet Troy was looking a bit blue one day recently as we did some chores.  I asked what was wrong and he replied, "I just thought we weren't going to do chores at the new house."  "Oh, right because your 5! Even though you act 13 half the time your little world is being rocked and you don't really know how to place it all!"  I thought to myself. I previously thought getting the new house completely unpacked was a top priority, I now see that their is one higher.  A shift has graciously been made in my heart and thinking.  THANK YOU JESUS!  It will happen this new house will get set up.  I don't want to miss the opportunity to train my babies how to do a life transition for the sake of my preference.  That being a well organized home a week after move in. 

    We have been experiencing much disobedience and challenging of instruction.  There is a fine balance between being sensitive to their worlds being turned up side down and maintaining the standard. 

    We are going right back to the beginning this week.  Children obey your parents!  Yesterday morning we spent the breakfast time talking out what every word in Eph. 6:1-3 means.  We went to the living room and made up hand motions so we could act out the verse as we say it.  They love that part and I must confess so do I! 

     Some of the issues we are up against is misplaced thinking on authority.  

They are clear that God is the "most in charge" and that Dad is under God and Mom is under Dad.  Its the kids being under Mom and Dad and not over each other that needs some work. 

     We talked about how Mom and Dad love and fallow Jesus. Troy and Bear of course pipe in how much they love Jesus too. I smile. I explained that our family is "in the Lord" as Eph. 6 states.  So we were going to draw what that looks like. 

    God at the top of being "in charge." I will soon teach them the word AUTHORITY.  For now we are using kid words.  So, from God all the way down to Duke (our chocolate puppy) I had them draw themselves in their proper place and line up in the family.  This of course was super fun.  We put our Family Authority Order on the fridge. 

     I have been surprised at how useful it has been in one day!  Bear loves Batman.  He hasn't watched a lot of Batman cartoons so its amazing how much like his favorite super hero he is.  A vigilante to the core.  Desires things to be right and just by any means necessary.  If Abigail has Troy's toy don't worry Bear to the rescue!  He will pummel his sister to make sure she doesn't have something she shouldn't.  I love the bottom line of his heart but of course we are working on the method.  Our oldest Troy loves things in there place and is quite the teacher.  Often these two personalities are usurping their authority over one another.  Paul and I use the phrase, "That is a parent job not a brother job."  With the Family Authority Order drawing we are able to go look at it and see that all the kids are on the same level.  I remind them that they can trust me to take care of issues with their brother or sister. 

     Its exciting to see light bulbs turn on in there thinking.  This is training up a child in the way they should go.  What is at stake here is life going well for them (Eph.6:1-3).  I love them so much I desire with all my heart for life to go well for them.  I have not done these days perfectly.  I am pretty sure I have apologized every single day for my frustration and yelling at the kids.  "Yeah, kind of yelling a lot Mom," Troy pipes in. "Yes, Troy that is why I am apologizing and that is not appropriate to say while I am tell you sorry, because I am already aware of my sin." "Oh, well then I forgive you Mom." "Thank you son."  By God's grace we are pressing on one life lesson at a time. 

Potty Training

Potty Training! Who loves this part of the job? NOBODY!

This was our Diego Adventure Trail! To the fare Left you can

see Diego is taped to a clothes pin. Every succesful potty

Diego moved forward. I tried not giving candy till he got to

each pack but there wasn't enough gratification in that for

our Bear. So we gave one M&M for each try. Some don't give

candy at all. I used to think that was super important to me and

now with 3 kids I don't care. Its 2 weeks of to much sugar and

we are back to healthy eating and no diapers! 

Tried to make it fun this time around. 

Every time Bear got to the end of the ribbon he got one

pair of new undies.

We have used the Fisher Price Froggy Potty chair and love it.

Especially with boys you want to get a seat with a high front

design and I prefer one that doesn't have a lot of small places

 for pee to get into. Potty Training is nasty enough with out

having a frustrating potty chair. This is a link for the chair

we use from Target.

 http://www.target.com/p/fisher-price-froggy-potty/-/A-13764601#prodSlot=medium_1_10&term=potty

Playing Store

STORE

So this one is not a spiritual lesson but I found this old school register that I played with when i was a child. I paid $1 for it. The gal at the flee market couldn't have know it was worth so much more! The original money wasn't included so I used some disc that my Mom gave us from their sign shop and super glued money to it so we could play store and continue learning the basics of the worth of coins. We use the paper with money taped to it for price tags. We use any old toys around the house. Last time we did this we bought and sold Mr. Potato Head pieces. Once you build your potato head we switched cashiers. 

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What is a Fool?

     Our Big Brown Puppy gave us something great to talk about this morning! VOMIT!

#1: Mom! Duke barfed!

       Duke had just eaten breakfast so he was in his kennel and the mess was just wet dog food.

Me: Boys watch what Duke does with his vomit.

       Duke of course eat it.

Boy: YUCK! Gross!

Me: Yep, isn't that disgusting! Guess what the Bible talks about dog's vomiting!

       Got their attention with that one! I got out my bible and read. (Trying to get the bible out more so they see for themselves that it really is in there)

Me: Proverbs 26:11 

As a dog returns to its vomit so a fool returns to his folly. 

So guys, what is a fool?

Boy: don't know

Me: Is someone who keeps going back and doing something wrong over and over again and he doesn't want Jesus to help him stop. 

#1: So he is a bad guy!

Me: Yes bad guys are foolish but we can do things like a fool too. Do you think a fool is a wise man or unwise

Boy: unwise

Me: do you think a fool is teachable, he likes to learn to do the right thing or unteachable, doesn't listen when someone is teaching him?

Boys: teachable.

Me: So a fool is a person that does something wrong and just like Duke went back and eat his nasty vomit a fool returns to his folly. 

Troy: what is a folly mom

Me: great question, a folly is like what I did this morning. I got frustrated with while you were not reading the way I have taught you. I was wrong. A folly is doing something you know is wrong. 

#1: like if I lie?

Me: yup, Bear can you think of something you do that is a folly? LONG PAUSE Like maybe hitting?

#2: Oh yeah that is bad. 

Me: So a folly is doing that sinful thing over and over and not wanting to change it.