Dig Deeper, Grow Taller

"Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up..." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

"Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock." Matthew 7:24

The weather has taken a turn for the better, which means I've been able to take up outdoor walking again. I strapped Z in the stroller and took off without my iPod for once. I decided to instead take in the world around me and use that time as a time to commune with God. Not only did it make time actually go faster (do you ever notice how when you have good conversations with friends it seems to make time fly), but I also learned a valuable lesson.

My walking route is in my neighborhood and goes by the Joplin High School construction site. The day of my walk was like any other busy day in the construction zone. Something that struck me as odd was the fact that they were both drilling deep holes and also erecting large columns at the same time. I thought to myself "shouldn't everyone just focus on the drilling or the columns so it gets done?". Then I realized that the workers were drilling down to make a firm foundation for the columns to be set in so that they could be raised higher.

This reflects what God wants us to do in our lives. We need to dig down deep in our hearts and work there, building upon solid Biblical truths, in order for us to outreach and spread love and strength through Him as far as we can. We are called to build each other up, but at the same time must have a firm foundation.

Homemade Pizza "Lunchables"

Z is still a little young for these, but they are always a hit with my little sisters and the children at my mom's daycare. A few Ritz crackers, some spaghetti sauce, and you can use either shredded cheese or a couple of cheese slices. To take it "to go" put the sauce in a condiment-sized Tupperware container and the cheese and crackers in a larger container or baggies. I like to pop mine in the microwave for a few seconds so that the cheese is good and melty!

Healthy In, Healthy Out

Parenting is tricky. You not only have to figure out how to raise a human being, but sometimes you have to raise yourself too. Previously you lived your life how you want, without much regard to how much your actions may mold others (at least I did) and then suddenly there's a brand new person who looks to you for every single queue.

Now things that used to seem to be a personal matter are a household matter. Take weight loss or healthy eating, for example. I've realized that being frustrated with my body and making poor eating decisions will effect someone other than me. The negativity that I spout may someday form bad thoughts in my child's head. This saddens me and is more motivation than ever to change my ways. I've brought this before God and I've formed a new motto for myself:

"Healthy in, healthy out."

I will strive to only put healthy things into my mouth and only let healthy, productive words out of my mouth. Hopefully I can remember this when I want to curse at someone in traffic while being tempted to stop for a fried chicken sandwich.

Natural Sharing

At what age is it appropriate to teach children how to share? I think it happens naturally when they first encounter a situation where it applies or is an issue. But there's some small things that I feel like parents may overlook. It's in those little moments that even I learn something about sharing and giving.

Zane sat on my lap with his little plate of scrambled eggs next to mine. I helped him wi his first couple of bites then ate my breakfast. He saw my plate was empty and tried to feed me a bite. I did what most parents do, I acted like I ate it but didn't. He refused to eat his food. So I ended up eating the mushed up scrambled egg out of his slobbery little fingers and the smile on his face melted my heart. He said "good!" much like when we feed him and he is doing a good job. Zane then. Proceeded to finish his eggs, happy that he had shared when mommy had no food. I was proud of my boy for being so caring but I also had another thought: how often do our kids do this and we tell them "no" because, quite frankly, M&M's with half the coating melted off are gross? How often do we stifle their nurturing or caring spirit, only to create an artificial environment on which to teach them to share?

Cleaning Schedule

I'm a chronic list maker, so it's no surprise that I have a weekly list of basic cleaning duties. I have it saved in my phone so that it doesn't get lost.

Why a schedule though? For me, it keeps things from piling up and having to do them all at once and makes sure that not too much time goes between tasks. Basic straightening in the morning and evening helps everything continue to be at least semi-orderly in case visitors stop by.

Indoor Snowman Sensory Activity

Z has had a fascination with the snowmen around town, but the snow is at that stage where it's more mud than snow and so it's not very fun for anyone. I wanted to bring the snow indoors, but we didn't have any flour so I had to resort to using crisp rice cereal. Turns out, he loved it!

I made a paper snowman, showing him the circles. We then practiced putting the "snow" on the "circles" on the "snowman", which helped him get better at saying those words. This was great for getting him to learn to slow down and listen to simple commands, something that many rambunctious little ones sometimes struggle with. He also loved the crunchy sound and feel of the cereal and I wasn't too worried if some of this craft ended up in his mouth. I look forward to trying other shapes and textures soon!