Back in the Swing of Things

Finally, we're getting back in the swing of things. Small groups are up and running and I'm very excited about the ones I've chosen.

The first is a Beth Moore study called A Woman's Heart. I actually missed the first video because, well, I was throwing up. I'll be there next week. But I'm doing the homework. If you're familiar with her studies, she has a lot of homework to prepare you for the next lesson. So far, it looks like it's going to be really good. I love it when she digs through stories you already know, like Noah's ark and Adam and Eve, and puts a whole new spin on things. But the overall theme is the desire of a holy God to dwell among us and within us. I can't wait!

Then I have my "playgroup" small group. You see, my kids think that this group is for them! We'll just have to keep that a little secret. It's really for ME!! When you go all day talking to a 2 and 4 year old, you NEED some adult conversation sometimes - and you can't count on it always being your husband!! So this is a group of moms that meet at various places around town and play and share prayer requests!!

The third group I'm doing is Mom's Notes. Robert and I recently took a small group/class called Growing Kids God's Way. Basically just a parenting class. But this Mom's Notes is an extension of that. GKGW is a lot of "umbrella" themes and good overall ways to raise your kids. But when you're a mom and in the heat of the moment, you need SPECIFICS. She literally spells it out for you. We listen to a tape of a woman's lecture and follow along on our handouts. This week's was great. It was about getting to the heart of your child.

All parents hope to raise a child that is responsible and we hope to do that by training and teaching them through biblical principles. I want my kids one day to WANT to make the RIGHT decisions. Discipline goes hand in hand with training. This course teaches appropriate ways to hand all sorts of "issues" all parents deal with.

But getting to the heart is OH so important. Helping steer you children to having a good attitude can be hard. Their little hearts can be hurt so easily with our words. And it can make a HUGE difference in their attitudes. For example, (and I know I do this) say the kids are playing and one of them refuses to share a toy. I would probably say, "You know that's called being selfish!" When another way to word that without putting them down would be, "Were you thinking of others first? How would you feel if they did that to you?" That way, I corrected them and also pointed them towards good behavior. We should be elevating the good in our children, not pointing out the bad!

Wow, what a difference wording can make. Though I have to say, I felt a little good today because some of the examples she gave on how to speak more encouraging, I feel like I use sometimes. Like when the kids clear their plates without being asked, or clean up a spill they've made, I know I have said, "Thank you so much for cleaning that up without being asked! And with such a happy heart! " But there were many other things she touched on that I look forward to implementing.

We'll also be learning about training the angry child, dealing with a child who is stubborn, teaching your child to deal with his emotion, focusing and concentrating skills for children and then finally, on being wise in your own eyes. It covers all the different personalities - Choleric, Phlegmatic, Melancholy, and Sanguine! COOL!!

Well, I was digging through some pictures today and found a cute one of Olivia when she was 2.


She's running away with a bowl full of marshmallows that Lovey (my mom) gave her! Sneaky little thang!!