Going Camping

We are so excited to be taking our first summer camping trip of the summer. As part of Micah's birthday celebration we are heading out to camp. We love camping and we camp in a tent not a camper. We do cheat and use air mattresses and find a place that has shower facilities, but we love the smell of a camp fire and the whole atmosphere that surrounds camping. We love the fact that our children love it too and it doesn't cost much. We usually try to find a place that offers some type of swimming, whether it be a lake or pool.

So, that's what I'm getting ready for, packing and preparing in between posting this blog. Hope everyone else out there has fun plans for the weekend. Be blessed.

It's Micah's 8th Birthday!

Today is Micah's 8th birthday and we are having fun celebrating with the house decorated and having all his favorite meals today. Tonight we will have ice cream cake after supper and this weekend we plan on camping (his request for his birthday).

Micah is my sweet, compassionate, thoughtful, funny, smart little boy. I enjoy being around him because he makes me laugh and he loves to cuddle. He has been a joy and a treasure ever since he joined our family and I am so thankful to be his Mom. I wonder sometimes how I was chosen to be so blessed as to be his Mom. For whatever reason, God looked down and gave him to me and I am so grateful He did.

Micah, I love you so much. Happy Birthday, Sweetheart.

Why Not?

Kaitlyn and Matthew catching rain

All the kids getting wet

Jonathan

Christiana, Joshua and Kaitlyn

Matthew

So many times I find myself saying "No"to my kids when they ask to do things. Not because they shouldn't do it but because of the inconvenience that it causes me and I just don't feel like dealing with it. Well, I'm now trying to do better.

I can't tell you the number of times my kids have asked to play in the rain and I said "No" because I didn't want to deal with all the wet kids that would come tracking dirt and water into my house, in wet clothes that would need to be changed. Then I stop and think, how many times as a kid that I wanted to play in the rain and how much fun it would have been. Then I start thinking, "Why not?" I mean really, there's no reason to say "No" except my inconvenience, and how much fun would the kids have if I just said "Yes." It's really not that much extra work and why deny them of the fun I always wanted to have when I was a kid.

So Monday I finally gave in and let them play in the rain. They had so much fun. Their smiles and laughter were worth the little bit of mess they made when they came in and to be perfectly honest, it wasn't that much of a mess. I just handed each one a towel when they came in and had them change their clothes. Wet stuff went directly into the washing machine and that was it.

How many times do we as parents tell our kids "No" when there is really no reason why they can't do as they request? I'm not saying that we need to tell our kids "Yes" to everything, but do we really need to tell them "No" as often as we do?

Training Them Up

Yes, that's my three year old folding laundry. He loves to help fold towels and washcloths and he is actually quite good at it. I always lavish him with praise at how good he did and let him know how much I appreciate his help. I get, in return, a huge hug and smile. I love it.

Do you have your little ones help out with chores? If not encourage them now to do what they can to help. The little ones actually enjoy it more than the older ones, and they will be less likely to argue with you about it. So encourage the little ones and always remember to smother them in praise as they help. It will also make them want to help again next time. Got to love sweet little helping hands. I know I do.

Garden Update

Cutting some lettuce for lunch

Our first zucchini

Tomatoes

Christiana in the garden

Future squash

Our garden is doing great. God is truly blessing it. We are so excited and can't wait to start harvesting fresh veggies to eat. I'm also looking forward to canning and freezing some of our harvest.

Today we cut some of our lettuce and enjoyed a delicious salad for lunch. The kids that don't even usually eat salad enjoyed it because it came from our garden (makes a happy Mommy). And some kids even had seconds, of salad :)

Do any of you have gardens, and if so how are they doing? I love gardening, anyone else out there feel the same way? Let me know.

Brotherly Love

Each day before VBS I have had the little guys take a nap. Sometimes in my bed sometimes on the living room couches. On this particular day they were in my bed and this was what we found when we went to make sure they were asleep. I thought it was a sweet picture. I like to think of it as brotherly love :)

Courageous-The Movie

For those of you out there who haven't heard, the makers of Flywheel, Facing the Giants, and Fireproof are producing a new movie called Courageous. It is about how honor begins at home with Fathers. An inspiring movie to encourage good relationships between Fathers and their children. It will be in theaters in 2011. In the meantime you can keep up with production through their website as well as through Facebook and Twitter. Their website is www.courageousthemovie.com. Check it out and keep them in prayer as they are winding down and almost done with filming. I can't wait until this movie comes out and I hope everyone gets a chance to see it. Blessings to you all.