a walk with my son

We were at the farm recently and I wanted to take a walk in the field to look for arrowheads before the ground gets worked and the field planted. I had my little man with me, and for some reason he thought we were looking for corn. (It had been planted in corn last year….) He wandered behind me for awhile.

"Mom, I can't find any corn."
"Alright, son."

We walked to the edge of the field. Whack!
Whack. Whack.
I turned around. What is he doing?

I was half tempted to tell him to quit hitting the corn stubble, then he stated to me:
"I'm getting the bad guys for you." He smiled so big and gripped his make-shift sword from a corn stalk and continued to whack away.

"Don't go too far Mom. I'm your protector." Whack Whack.
"Oh no. The bad guys broke my sword!"

I turned around, waiting patiently as he stripped another stalk back to get a new sword.

"Ok, you can go now." Whack, whack. "Oh, they got me!"

We stop. I say to him: "Pick up your sword. Don't give up now. Don't let the bad guys win."

He whacks away for a few more rows. "Ha, Ugh, Yah!" Whack, whack.

A few steps more, I ask my little prince, "Are you alright?"
His cheeks are bright red; he is breathing hard.

"Yes, Mom. I'm going to get all those bad guys for you. I'm strong. I'm your protector."

He gave it all he had, whacking away at the corn stubble with his sword. He was proud of his work. We walked to the edge of the field and hopped on the golf cart. He put his arm around my neck and gave me a kiss.

He smiled big and said, "You are my beauty…….and I'm your prince."


I didn't find any arrowheads, but I found something even better. My little four-year-old son fought a valiant battle and won….and he showed his mother that the greatest battle for a man is fighting for what he loves. He was never taught to be this way, but his Creator instilled this into him. And I am proud he wants to be a protector.

learning to smile

My little Claire is such a sweetie, but shy towards strangers. She normally would stare at them without smiling and people tend to think she is grumpy. This past week she really learned how to smile when we asked, and then she learned that she got a lot of attention when she smiled. Her smile is a cute almost grimace, and her eyes disappear just like her Daddy's when he smiles.

Here are some pictures of her smiling goodness:

for mothers of little boys

I read an excellent article this evening about mothers showing respect to their sons. Sometimes as a mom we wonder if we are teaching are sons to be gentlemen, strong in character and sweet in spirit....growing to follow the Lord with their whole heart. How do we raise and train a son in the ways of the Lord and show respect for him at the same time? Boys really are different than girls. They learn differently; they need love differently. Love for a man (and little men) includes respect. And that is why this article spoke to me.

my little prince

Before I comment on the article I would like to share a little about my son. He is such a sweetheart, and loves to be a boy. Stuck between two girls might make some little men feel squelched, but not my Frederick. He loves to play hard, throw balls, read all his books at once, and be heard. He also has a tender spirit and wants to be loved, and cares deeply about how I feel about his behavior. Sometimes I struggle as a mother because I feel like all I do is discipline and I feel somedays there is more correcting than hugging, but when he finally gets what is being taught it is worth all the heartaches of the day. I pray so much for my children, and it seems quite often for my boy. I know when the Lord is talking to him because it plays out in his behavior. And at the end of the day when he is talking to Jesus, he has the most profound prayers: observant of the needs of others, a desire to do good, and so genuine. Those moments are a gift from the Lord as I know that a hard days work in coming to fruition.

Here are Ten Ways for Moms to Respect Their Sons, by Jen Smidt. I suggest reading the rest of her article too as it is not too long and full of good thoughts.


1. SET JESUS AS THE STANDARD
There is no man other than Jesus who demonstrates perfection. You will never go wrong in upholding him as the source, pointing to him as the example, and depending upon him for the answers.

2. PRAY FOR THEM AND OVER THEM
You aren’t in control of their lives, you never will be. What better time than now to put yourself in submission to God’s plan for your sons by releasing them in prayer? Mothers have an awesome responsibility to pray for the intimate details that she knows about her son’s heart.

3. WATCH YOUR TONE
Respect is often given and destroyed in the little things. I know the look in my son’s eye when I speak to him with a harsh or shaming tone—it is the pain of disrespect. Speak graciously, kindly, and firmly to your sons.

4. LET THEM MAKE DECISIONS
Start small with choices like red or blue shirt, and move to increasing responsibility over time management and bigger life choices. Give them opportunities to lead in your home: chores, devotions, and family nights can be planned and executed by sons growing in maturity.

5. SERVE THEM
Love them with food, fun, folding of laundry. Let them see that you are willing to sacrificially serve them. Teach them to be grateful and one day they may actually thank you.

6. TEACH THEM TO SERVE YOU
Respectable men serve others. Servanthood does not come naturally to most of us. As you cheerfully serve your son, make sure you instruct and involve them in active service also. There will come a time when it is no longer sacrificial but sinful for you to be folding your boy’s undies.

7. NO SECRETS
Hidden sin is an insidious trap for men. Cultivate a climate of open confession and generous forgiveness. It is much more powerful for your son to feel like he can freely confess sin than have to hide in fear of your reaction.

8. NAME SIN BIBLICALLY
Do not fall into “Boys will be boys” thinking. Differentiate between childish foolishness and downright rebellion. Instruct the former and correct the latter. Name their sin with accurate descriptions from Scripture so they can repent.

9. NAME CHARACTER BIBLICALLY
Read to them and have them study passages of Scripture that speak to men (1 Cor. 16:13-14). Have them memorize passages of Scripture that describes their identity and riches available to them in Christ (Ephesians 1) so they can rejoice.

10. LET CONSEQUENCES FALL ON THEIR HEADS
Respectable men recognize the painful effects of sin. If our boys are continually being shielded from natural consequences, they will have a distorted sense of self and sin. Let them feel the pain of their sin coupled with the restorative effects of grace.

....My favorite line from the article: If our boys are continually being shielded from natural consequences, they will have a distorted sense of self and sin.

happy LOVE day

My sweet hubby surprised me when I arrived home today by having these lovely roses in the kitchen for me.  These light pink with yellow are my favorites, and he had them in my white pitcher - nice! He had cards (which I love) on the table for us too. My mom and dad also had sent the kids cards in the mail, and my Elauna was very excited to open hers.

The co-op we attend decided to let the kids share "valentines", so I designed some today and assembled them. I pasted the kids pictures on the back side of the card. My family has called Valentine's day "love day" for awhile as we have a friend whose last name is Loveday and February 14 was her special day.

I was making valentine bags for my co-op class to put their cards into and take home. I took brown paper sacks and used scalloped scissors to trim the top of the bag. Next, I folded the top over and and punched two holes and ran a red ribbon through. My mom had been cutting hearts out of a paper towels to amuse the kids and I loved the way it looked. She cut out some more for my bags.
Thanks, Mom, for all your help!

in all circumstances

I wanted to name this post "Murphy's Law", but the Lord quickly spoke to my heart and reminded me of his words to "give thanks in all circumstances." Some of the crazy things that have happened this week are down right laughable, others not.

The freezer. We came home tonight to unload groceries only to find our deep freezer was completely thawed....apparently our breaker was malfunctioning or it was hit by lightening. As I was pitching our meat and emptying freezer boxes full of food into the dumpster, I was wondering the good. "Give thanks," he said, "and be grateful." So I began.

• I dumped the applesauce: my sister-in-law had so graciously made it for us last summer when I was pregnant.
• I dumped the fish: Jeremy and my brother had caught some when we were in North Carolina last.
• I dumped the whipped topping: our friend Foster had given us some great varieties from his work. I kept the tiny milk jugs for my daughter to use with her play kitchen, thanks again to Foster.
• I dumped my freezer jam: remembering some family meals with Jeremy's family where they always served homemade jam.
• I dumped the meat: the steaks, the roasts, the hamburger, and wishing I had shared more of it with my family and friends. This freezer should have been empty for other reasons.

Somewhere floating in the back of my mind were the words a friend spoke to me recently that she now cans most everything because she once lost a freezer full of food. (I don't remember who said that, but your words live on....take credit for them, please, whomever you are). There was good: I remembered so many things while emptying the freezer, and I give thanks for those memories, the kindness showed to us. We have been so blessed.

The heart. Thursday my Dad had a heart attack and was taken to the emergency room, then careflighted to a local heart hospital where they were able to put a stint in. Watching my Dad get packed into an ambulance (the pain very high for him even though he is so strong) and then seeing him with tubes everywhere was a jolt. He did maintain his sense of humor the whole time, joking with the EMT that he was allergic to hospitals and doctors. His poor nurses kept telling him he wasn't allowed to leave yet. While I was praying for my Dad, the Lord led me to read Psalm 112. Here is an excerpt: "Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands...They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes."  Tonight, I give thanks. My dad is home from the hospital! Thank you to so many for your faithful prayers.

Elauna's note to Papa