Get Out There

I just heard the weather report - why are you even reading this! Share in the comments how your family is going to celebrate this great fall weather. If you need a few ideas, check out this website that Chris Freborg shared with me. It is full of great ideas from the National Wildlife Federation to help get your family outdoors, it is called Green Hour.

Turn-table

Had lunch with a friend yesterday. She had called and asked for help with her relationship with her daughter. I agreed to meet her only after she acknowledged that I was her friend and not an expert! As she told me examples of what was frustrating her, I kept saying, that is a great idea! I'm going to try that with my family! Two points: 1. She stepped out and asked for help. So many of us don't! 2. In asking me for help, she ended up being a blessing to me! I truly walked away from our conversation with a new resolve to better my relationships at home. Moms and dads, let's stick together -
1 Thessalonians 5:11: So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
Stay tuned and I'll share one of her great parenting ideas with you in a few days!

Give Me a Sign - Baby!

How cool to have a gathering of little people, their moms and dads, and even some daycare providers all learning about how to use sign language with little children. It seems that as little ones are developing, they have better control over their fingers than they do over the complex work of the lungs, larynx, tongue and teeth all working together to make sounds. Signing has become a great way to stimulate communication between little ones and the ones who love them! It is kind of like a temporary and limited way of expressing themselves until they get their full voice! Check out this great site to learn signs that encourage vocabulary growth in little ones.
It makes me think of how as I praise God and cry out to Him in prayer, that I still have a long way to go before I come into my full voice; I am limited in how I express myself to Him. I can't wait to be able to let loose oneday in heaven! I'm sure we have no way of knowing what it will be like - singing, dancing, . . .signing?

Mo-Daug: Taste and See

What a great retreat! Mom's and daughters hanging out with other moms and daughters - growing closer to each other and to God. Had to quickly share a few photos before I head for bed . . . . I'm certain you'll be asking for our recipe for truffles. Are there calories in the stuff you lick off your fingers? Who cares! Right Erica and Marissa?

Fall or Winter?

We had to pull out the winter “outerwear” box for gloves this morning. This crisp air is certainly a reminder of how fall is a transition season – from warm to cold (frigid), from light to darker. Actually, all of the seasons are transitions with signs reminding us of the season to come. Makes me think of how we’re living out our time here on earth, in transition while we wait for the time when we will live with Him in heaven. As the seasons transition from one to another we certainly do experience great joys ( and pains) inherent in each season, but every season is also interspersed with those reminders that this isn’t permanent, the next season is around the corner. It’s exciting! But I am holding out hope for a few more glorious warm days!

Going Green?

One of the goals that we have for our family dinners, is that along with focussing on some great Christ centered topics, we would also try to model some behaviors that reflect our core values. So, we decided that we're going green - which also means - that we're washing dishes. Some would argue that running the dishwasher is not so green, and debate that what we waste in water and electricity equals what we waste in paper that we throw away. The point isn't which practice has the bigger impact on the environment, but rather what we model to our children.
The other part of what we are allowing kids to see and be involved in, is how we care for others as we serve and clear our tables for one another. What do you think? Weigh in with a comment!
Oh, and please sign up for our next dinner (click on e-mail address) -
Tuesday night, 6:15, Chicken Alfredo - Theme - sent beyond ourselves - we're making cards for the troops and having a few other surprises.

Dinner for You?

Our next family night is already on the horizon! Only a few weeks away. We're cookin' up something special - in the kitchen and beyond! We're really hoping for another great turnout - but we're also hoping to have a better guesstimate of how many will be joining us. Contact me (click here to contact me then click on my e-mail under my lovely photo) if you need me to get your name on the list. We're serving up chicken alfredo - kid friendly - and some neat opportunities for families to talk about and act on what it means to live beyond ourselves.

Mo-Daug

Getting really excited for the Mother - Daughter retreat for fifth and sixth grade girls. Bev Johnson and I drove up to Camp Onomia last week to check out our spaces. MAN it was beautiful! By October 24 and 25 most of the color will be gone, but I'm sure the tranquility of the lake setting will add to the "coolness" of this retreat. We are building our content around some songs from High School Musical. Happens to be the same weekend that HSM III opens in theaters! Looking forward to seeing how God is going to be at work in this weekend. Contact me if you want more info!