Praying For Your Toddler From Head To Toe

Author's Note:  I know I am performing "easegesis" rather than "exegesis" with the verses I mention. It is meant for comedic relief.

A few weeks back, I came across this wonderful list of how to pray for your child from head to toe. 

I loved it!  That day, after bath time, I was cuddling Aidan, with my nose on the top of his head, and I went through, and prayer those beautiful words over him.  It was a perfect moment.  That was Sunday night.

But Monday always comes after Sunday.  And this one was a particularly “Monday-esque” Monday.  I got a note home saying he had bitten another kid, and during the day, I could hear his teacher saying his name, because he had let go of the rope thing they’re all supposed to hold onto, and had run ahead.  And fallen.  And hit his head.  Again.  So that night, as we cuddled, and I tried to stuff my working-mommy-guilt as far down as I could, and tried to balance my anger/frustration with grace… I started to pray over him again.  But as I prayed, I found that the words I was saying started to change.  And I felt that there MUST be other moms of toddlers out there who feel the same way.  So, for the days that you really want to run and hide, but are STILL trying to be the mommy God called you to be, here is:

Praying for your TODDLER from head to toe

1. Pray for Their Head

Pray that they will stop running into, diving off of, and tripping over things headfirst.  They say brain cells don’t grow back, and it would really be a shame to lose them at such a young age.  Plus, having three bruises on your forehead gets mommy really weird looks at Target.  Psalm 145:14: “The Lord helps the fallen.”

    2. Pray for Their Eyes

Ask God to help them have a good, full night’s sleep.  One without crying, bad dreams, blow-outs, or loud cars outside their windows.  For we just KNOW that our little dictators will wake up in a better mood.  Psalm 30:5: “For his anger lasts only a moment… but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

    3. Pray for Their Ears

Pray that they would LISTEN!  That’s it.  Proverbs 6:20: “My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”  BOOM!!!

    4. Pray for Their Mouths

Ask God to help them keep their teeth to themselves, and somehow, miraculously shut their mouths like the lions’ in the story of Daniel.  Also, if we could tone down the screaming “mine” phase, that would be an added bonus.  Daniel 6:22 (paraphrased): “My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouth of ______________________ (insert name).”

    5. Pray for Their Heart

This one can absolutely stay the same.  “Ask God to give your children a happy, cheerful heart.  Pray that they’d come to faith early and would trust easily and completely in Him. Proverbs 15:13a: “A happy heart makes the face cheerful.”  Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.  My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”

    6. Pray for Their Hands

Pray that they would hold your hand when crossing the street, wouldn’t take things out of other children’s hands, and wouldn’t push others.  Psalm 118:13: “I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me.”

    7. Pray for Their Legs

Pray that they wouldn’t run away from the teacher, and wouldn’t kick their friends under the table during lunch.   Psalm 119:32: “I shall run the way of Your commandments.”

    8. Pray for Their Feet

Ask God to help them keep their shoes on their feet, and not grow out of them so fast.  Also, back to the tripping and falling.  God, please help him to look where he’s going.  Proverbs 4:26: “Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established.”

And you know what???  It was still a beautiful moment.  Because at the end of the day, I was praying over my toddler.  And when he thinks, even for a second, that I might be leaving his room, he whispers “Hug?”  The other stuff will come and go.  My prayers will change depending on what he is going through, but at least I’m praying.

Working Through The Grumpiness - Learning WITH Your Toddler

Grumpiness.  

The lazy emotion we get onto our kids about.
And yet, I find myself falling into it with greater ease than I would like to admit.  So, what can be done when we wake up on the wrong side of the bed, we've had a lousy day, spilled our coffee, the kids are whining, and your initial instinct is to lash out at the closest person near you?
Not surprisingly, the same things we tell our students/kids work for us too.  We just have to have the self-awareness to recognize our own need for them.  We all have bad days.  What's important is learning how to overcome them, and not let it define who we are.  Aidan being a toddler, gets grumpy on a regular basis.  Through helping him gain the tools to deal with his grumpiness in a constructive way, I've also been reminded of how important it is for us, adults to practice disciple in this area as well.  So, these tips are for you, and the little person in your life.

1. Find An Outlet

Find a healthy way to express your negative emotions, and channel it into something physical.  Some things we've tried (and by we, I really mean "we") are:

a) Going outside and throwing oranges - our house has an orange tree in the back, and like with any fruit tree, some fall off the tree before they're ripe.  We have been known to use them for our grumpiness-remedy!

 

b) Going for a tricycle ride - Aidan got a tricycle for Christmas from some friends, and he LOVES it!  We both came home the other day in REALLY BAD moods.  So, I suggested we take that thing out, and give it whirl.  His feet don't quite touch the pedals, which actually worked out perfectly.  I sat on the back, and pushed him along.  It was a great work-out, and the fresh air did us wonders!

 

Whatever you find around you to do, we've found that having it involve actual physical exertion seems to help.

2. Take a minute

Sometimes, we need to just take a minute, remove ourselves from the situation, and breathe.  All on his own, the other day Aidan started going into his room when we get home, shutting the door, and being very, very quiet.  This was new, and out of the ordinary, so I went to check on him, and he said, "no mama, my door!  My room!"  So I turned his baby monitor camera to where he was sitting, told him I love him, and that it's okay to need some space sometimes, and left him alone.  This was so foreign to me, but he has always been a good self-soother, and I thought this might be an extension of that.  I also came to the realization, that he has to be "on" all day, from 8 am to usually 5 pm, he is forced to share, vie for his teacher's attention, follow classroom directions, etc.  I know how tired I am by the end of the day, and can't even IMAGINE how tired my little nearly-two-year old boy is.  So, I've been letting him go to his room in the afternoons for a while.  After about 10 minutes, he sweetly says, "Mommy!  Com'ere!", and I join him, sit on the floor, and join in what he is doing.

 

(Note the same outfit as the last post.  Yeah, it was a rough day.  Also, that is an "Anger" Tsum Tsum from Inside Out.  Not accidental.)

3. Be Goofy

When you're in the middle of feeling sorry for yourself, and letting it all "hang out", to the outsider, there really is an element of humor.  It's not usually as bad as it seems.  In moments like this, it's important to take a step back, and let your "Goofball Island" out.

4. Take A Bath

I don't know what it is about people and bath time, but it doesn't seem to matter what your age is, a bath is always a good idea.  So, when grumpy Gus gets to be too much for this mama, I shout, "BATH TIME!"  You've never seen a little boy try to get out of his clothes so fast! Of course, then there's the tears when you turn the water off, or he can't find his favorite toys, or he keeps telling the mama turtle that the babies are "my babies", and she's "not nice", because she "won't share", but at least he's contained!  I find for myself too, that taking an extra 20-30 minutes at the end of the day to relax really helps me sleep and wake up in a better mood the next day.

          

5. Mamas, Take Some Time For Yourself

If you're grumpy, it'll inevitably trickle down to your kids.  I find this in my classroom, as well as at home.  I decided that I needed to make a change, and for me that was asking for a Journaling Bible for my birthday.  Honestly, I've always struggled with making time to read God's Word, but I feel like I've found something that will help me (not that God's Word needs help to be interesting -it's a self-discipline issue).  I've been making an effort to honestly meditate on a couple verses at a time, and instead of hurrying through a certain passage, take my time, and let it seep into my heart.  This way I'm reminded of a specific thought throughout the day.

I can only pour into Aidan if I am not running on empty.  I can't teach him to love the Word of God, if I don't.  He has a Storybook Bible that he loves to read together.  He knows some of the story titles, and says, "Jesus" and "cross", which makes this mama's heart very happy!

I know I'm not saying anything new, or monumental, but sometimes it's good to be reminded that being grumpy is a choice, although we don't like to admit it.  And in the same way we try to give our children to tools to cope with them, we should also take on the responsibility of doing so ourselves.

DIY Modge-Podge Wood Ornament

Happy New Year!

As I'm sure many of you have been as busy, if not more busy than we have been!  BUT I did want to share this year's family ornament with you.

I make an ornament every year for my family.  Last year when we were all together, we had family pictures taken, which was wonderful!  It's always nice to have good family pictures, and one of the perks is that it's the gift that keeps on giving.  When we took the pictures, we got one of our feet, with shells in the middle that wrote out "2015", that I intended to use for the ornament.

Here's what you'll need:

- Printer

- Tissue paper

- Double-sided tape

- Drill

- White painted 3.5 inch wood round

- Aleene's Clear Gel Tacky Glue

- Paint brush

- Twine

- Nail file

Directions:

1. I watched a video on youtube.com on how to print on tissue paper.  Basically, I cut it to an A4 size, and stuck it to the regular printer with double-sided tape at the two shortest ends.

2. When printing the pictures, in my printer setting I chose 3.5 x 3.5.  4 pictures fit on each side.

3. Trace the wood ring on the back of the pictures, and very carefully cut them out.

4. Using the paint brush, evenly distribute glue on the wood ring.  Then gently place the picture on the round.  The reason you need to be careful, is because once it's stuck down, it's really hard to get it back up nicely. (I originally used mode-podge, but for some reason it started turning the picture yellow, but the gel clear glue worked great.)

 

5. After it dries (make sure it dries), go over it again with the clear glue on top.  If you do it before it dries, it'll come up.  

6. I wanted it to look a little more worn, so I ran a nail file along the edges.  

7. Then Dan drilled a hole at the top of each, I strung twine through it, and voila!

  

Happy crafting!

Forgiveness. It's Not What You Think.

I have been putting off writing this post for a while.  I didn't want anyone thinking they knew/trying to figure out who this post is about.  So, I've waited what I think is an appropriate length of time - let's call it a mourning period.  Besides, this isn't about any one person.  Well.  It is about one person.  Me.  And my journey of finding forgiveness through Christ.

It is not in human nature to forgive.  Our natural tendency is to want things to be even.  If we feel that we, or someone we love has been wronged, we want it remedied.  We simply do.

However, as Christians we are called to die to ourselves, and one of the very real outcomes of that is forgiveness.

I've heard unforgiveness (my computer just tried telling me unforgiveness isn't a word - let me reassure you, it most certainly is) described as drinking poison, and expecting your enemy to die.  It's true.  When we harbor negative feelings towards someone, it doesn't affect them - they either don't know, or don't care about the offense.  The only person it is hurting is yourself.  So let's talk about how we can make our way to forgiveness and healing.

People are not always nice.  People who say they are Christians are not always nice.  Christians are not always nice.  So, what do we do when we feel genuinely hurt by someone, especially someone who is supposed to be a brother or sister in the Lord?  Because as much as we would like to think that this sort of thing doesn't happen, unfortunately, I'm here to tell you that it does.  Even to people in ministry.  Especially to people in ministry.

Last week in church, we were singing a "new" version of Amazing Grace, when it dawned on me, that in the same way that Jesus died for my sins, he also died for the sins committed against me.  I'm not going to sugar-coat it.  Sometimes there truly are sins committed against us.  Not just someone being rude, or snippy, not just forgetting our birthday - real, painful, biblical sins.  But how can we expect/hope for God's forgiveness in our lives, and yet begrudge it from someone else.  Because that's where I was at.  I didn't want to forgive, and I didn't want God to forgive them either.  I wanted Him to punish them.  Because that's how our society works.  If you commit a crime (and are caught for it), you pay the fine/do the time.  And while there are consequences for all our actions, God is a God of grace - to us, and those who hurt us.

I was being Jonah.  I was hurt, and wanted those around me to hurt too.  I felt like these people needed to know how they made me feel, and suffer the consequences.  But you know what?  While confronting someone for their transgressions is fine, and healthy, it still can't come out of a place of unforgiveness.  Or else the motive is wrong.  We have to forgive the person whether it is asked for or not.  Whether they think they've done anything wrong or not.

Because at the end of the day, we will all stand before God, and I would rather be humbled, and forgive someone who probably didn't "deserve" it, in my mind - even though I don't "deserve" forgiveness either - than have to account for harboring ill-will towards someone.  God will deal with the sin in someone else's life, in the same way he would with ours.  He WILL come to our defense, but not on our schedule.  We have to be willing to do the right thing, even when it hurts so bad you want to throw your hands up and cry.  

Because forgiveness is hard.  It feels backwards and unnatural.  You know the song "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word"?  I respectfully disagree with Elton John.  "I forgive you" - whether said out loud, or in your heart - is the hardest thing to say.

And yet, I'm saying it.  I forgive you for mistreating me, I forgive you for using me, I forgive you for hurting me.  Not because you deserve it, not because I deserve it, but because it is a commandment, and because if I don't forgive you, I have no business asking God to forgive me (Matthew 6:15).  I am being obedient, even though it's hard.  We seem to forget that following Christ means we WILL be hated and persecuted (Matthew 10:22).  It's not the lovey-dovey part of being a Christian.  It's the nitty-gritty, real life stuff.  It's the stuff that makes or breaks you.  And my salvation is worth more than holding unforgiveness in my heart.

Fall Family Pictures 2.0 - 5 New Tips On What To Wear, What To Do

Fall is my favorite time of year, for many different reasons, but one of them is: family picture time!!!
After our pictures turned out beautifully last year, I wrote Fall Family Pictures: 5 Tips on What To Wear, What To Do.  This year, the stakes were even higher - since we were having pictures taken for our prayer cards, since we are becoming missionaries, and although I didn't think it was possible, our pictures turned out even prettier!  
I didn't want to repeat myself, so here are 5 NEW tips on what to wear, and what to do for you family pictures:

1. Combine Textures and Layer

I got a little more brave this year about what textures we used, and it's actually thanks to Dan.  He picked out his outfit first, and asked if I could come up with anything to compliment it for our pictures.  I was just excited that he came up with such a great outfit!  He chose a really nice burgundy button-up, navy knitted sweater and khakis (all from Abercrombie and Fitch) - which was actually genius.  Whenever you wear layers, it then adds layers to the textures, which makes for a more interesting and inviting pictures.  I wore a beige knitted top (Old Navy), with a white crochet knit top (Solitaire) and burgundy cardigan (Old Navy) and navy skinny pants (Max Jeans).  Aidan wore an adorable burgundy and navy printed white button-up with a burgundy bowtie and jeans.

2. Trust Your Photographer/Hire a Professional

This is our third time having our pictures taken by Hillary at Southern Sisters Photography.  We absolutely LOVE her, and highly recommend her!  She hears what you want, and does excellent work!  We always feel really comfortable around her, which is a huge bonus with kids.

So, find a photographer you love, and then trust them.  They know what they're doing.  Here's a great example of photographers knowing their stuff:

The photo on the left, is what the shot looked like before editing, and the one on the right is what it looked like after she edited it.  If she wasn't a professional, this shot would've gotten lost, but now, it's one of my favorites!!!

4. Location, Location, Location

I have to hand it to Dan, he picked this one out this year too!  He found this beautiful tree in downtown Jacksonville, called Treaty Oak.  We went right before sundown, so the sun was peeking through the leaves, and it was magical!  Choose somewhere that has appealing colors, is pretty easily accessible, and works with the overall look you're going for.

3. Candid shots

Of course, you want that perfect picture for your Christmas card, or to hang in your living room (or in our case - prayer card).  But, as Hillary later reminded of, especially with kids, when you let them roam, and follow their lead as far as their interests.  For example, one of Aidan's new favorite words, is "acorn".  Well, as you know we were at Treaty Oak.  What are oak tree seeds?  Acorns.  It was a match made in heaven!  For most of the shoot, we just followed Aidan around, and looked at acorns with him!

5. Beeee Yourself

Every family has different things that make them unique, or who they are, and at the risk of sounding mushy, what makes us us, is love.  We love spending time together, we love being the three of us, and we LOVE being parents.  So that's where the focus ended up.  

If your family is goofy, don't be afraid of a slightly-off-beat picture.  If you're adventurous, choose a location that reflects that.

We actually, originally were going to use a traditional family picture for our prayer card, but this more relaxed picture - that truly reflects who we are - ended up being the winner!  It was actually one of the first ones of the day too!

So... maybe family pictures are right up your alley, so this was all stuff you already know - I'm so happy to find a kindred-spirit!  Maybe family pictures are intimidating for you, and you don't know where to start - I hope this post gave you a little bit of direction!

Wherever you're coming from, I hope you enjoyed the post, the pictures, and have a wonderful time with your family taking your own pictures!

Family Star Wars Costume DIY

As you probably now by now, I love dress-up!  So naturally, I love this time of year.  Our sweet little resident all-boy is crazy about Star Wars, so naturally we decided to a galaxy far, far away...

If you want to recreate the looks, here's what you'll need:

Han Solo:

- My sweet husband indulges me, so when he asked if he could wear just a Han Solo T-shirt, I said yes.  :)  Your husband will thank you if you let him off the hook every once in a while. 

Princess Leia:

- I found the white turtleneck at Goodwill.

- The white skirt is from a dance costume website.  We bought them for a Christmas production one year (I actually layered two, because they were a little see-through).

- The belt is aluminum foil.  I didn't go crazy with all the accessories this year, but I think it turned out pretty cute. :)

- I wore some white flats that I had.

- I made two sock buns - which turned out adorable, if I do say so myself.

Ewok:

- We ordered a bear costume from amazon.com.  It was cute, and served our needs perfectly. 

- I bought a brown men's shirt for the hood.

- I cut the side seams and arms off the shirt, and placed the bear head piece on Aidan.  I then laid the shirt on his head, with his face in the head hole .  I drew lines for where the ears were going to pop out, and cut out holes.

Aidan had an adorable toy ewok from his Aunt and Uncle, so of course we had to get a picture of them together.

Family selfie!

I hope you liked our costumes this year!  Any ideas for next year?  What did your family dress up as this year?  Do you still do family costumes, and if not, when did your kids decide they were too old for them?  I'm already dreading the day...