Teach Them Diligently

Kyle and I have been watching this Food Network show that teaches the worst home cooks how to be fabulous home cooks. As it turns out, their family and friends nominate them as the worst cooks. How humbling!

So, the show starts off with each of these culinary dunces explaining why they're so awful in the kitchen. Really it all boils down to one thing: they were never taught. One young lady said:

I'm well-educated. I went to college for four years. I got my degree. But somehow I never learned how to cook.

I thought she summed up the problem very well. How many of us were prepared to write research papers, could type well, knew how to give a presentation, but had no idea how to plan a menu when we married?

(Raising my hand)

As moms, it is our job to teach our children how to cook. Do your children know the names of the vegetables you consistently cook with? Do they know how to use spices and herbs? Do they know how to read a recipe?

It's our privilege to teach our children these things.

Schools prepare children for academics. That's not enough! As moms, we need to prepare our children for life.

First Trimester Tutorial

I've learned a thing or two about herbs that help during pregnancy. Here's my first trimester survival guide:

Milk Thistle - cleanses the liver to reduce or in my case eliminate nausea. Solaray makes a One-A-Day which means less pills to take. Sold!

Bentonite Clay capsules - also good for morning sickness if milk thistle doesn't cut it for you. Take 2-3 capsules/day or 1-2 tsp daily. Drink plenty of water with it. 

Cod Liver Oil - good for baby's developing brain and lots of good Omega 3 fatty acids for you too. 3 capsules or 1 tsp. daily.

Raspberry Leaf Tea - strengthens the uterus and bladder so you don't have to get up so many times in the night ;) Drink 2-3 cups/day. Sweeten it and drink it cold, trust me. Raspberry Leaf tea is also great at the end of pregnancy to tone the uterus in preparation for delivery.

Cayenne - increases gastric acid to eliminate indigestion. Increased progesterone in the first trimester reduces gastric acid and relaxes the smooth muscles, causing indigestion. Cayenne kicks the stomach back into gear. Take one capsule with a meal once a day, as needed.

God of Miracles

Do you remember this sweetie?

His adoptive parents, on a long roller-coaster of an adoption process, went to pick him up to bring him home. But when they went to court, the judge denied his adoption. She said he would would be better off in an institution.

NO CHILD IS BETTER OFF IN AN INSTITUTION THAN IN A LOVING FAMILY!

Well, yesterday, the Davis family went before the Supreme Court in Moscow and the judge overturned that ruling and little Gregory Kirill is going home!!

They are on their way to pick him up and take him home for real.

Our God is a God of miracles. He sets the lonely in families. (Psalm 68:6)

The Power of Thoughts

I tend to rehearse the negative in my mind. It's what comes naturally to me because I'm a sinner.

I think:

• He never remembers to brush his teeth. We do it twice a day every single day. Why can't he remember that?

• She's complaining again! She is always complaining about something!

• Why does she always get so emotional when she does math? Good grief, it's just math!

• When is she going to remember the vowel sounds correctly? Why is reading so hard with her?

Here's what I could be thinking on instead:

• That boy is so precious to me. He's so affectionate and loving!

• She is so encouraging! It just comes so naturally to her! She's going to be a great mommy one day!

• I love her sensitive spirit. She's always the first to notice when someone's feeling left out.

• That girl's tenacity really impresses me. It must be so hard for her, but she just keeps working at it!

As moms, we have a choice: We can focus on the things our kids don't do well and thus think the exact same way as the world: Kids are burdens.

OR

We can focus on the traits God is developing in our kids and thus think the same way the Lord thinks: Children are a blessing, a gift, a reward.

We destroy arguments and every opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ

2 Corinthians 10:5

They Act Like Who They Are

I was reading an adoption blog recently when the mom posted her confusion over why some people say such hurtful things about her family. She was shocked that anyone could say anything so awful and hateful. I have also heard the same sentiment expressed by Christians on any number of horrible things that people say or think.

But how else could we expect a nonbeliever to act or speak?

Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Psalm 51:5

Why do people say and do such wicked things??

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9

"Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks." Luke 6:45

"The mouth of the wicked pours out evil things." Prov. 15:28

People say evil things because of the evil that is inside them. Apart from Christ,

"there is none who do good. None who seek God. No not one." Romans 3:9-18

The only righteousness we have comes from Christ. Romans 3:21-31

It is time we as Christians stopped being so shocked by the sinful behavior of sinners and started having compassion for them in their lost state. It is only when we have a heart of compassion that we will be moved to share the gospel with those who so desperately need it.

Boy Brains

I have been reading a book called Boys which has answered a lot of the questions I've been asking myself about our sons. Questions like: What goes on in that boy's brain?, What was he thinking when he decided to _____, Why can't I get that kid to talk to me?!

Questions I've never asked about my girls because they tell me everything that's going on in their brain and I never have to wonder. But boys think radically differently than girls.

A couple months ago, I was in the garage painting cabinet doors, when Daniel came out there to get the trash can full of old paint gunk. (His chore at the time was to collect the trash cans, so Isaac could take the trash out.) When Daniel opened the door, Misha (our cat) saw her chance at freedom and ran for it. I yelled: Quick, Daniel, get her! It's not safe out here for her.

A look of panic came over his face as he stood stock still.

He said: I can't! I've got the trash can in my arms!

He couldn't figure out how to hold the trash can and Misha.

I tried not to fall over laughing. I didn't want primer in my hair.

Daddy Time

There is nothing more precious to me than seeing the love of my life loving on my children. (Or just laying down and letting one of his lovies examine him.) So sweet!

Daddies have such a unique role in the lives of their children. They are there for all the physical affection. And the kids love it!

Of course, Daddies are also there to teach their sons how to grow up to be men. They teach them how to work hard, protect their sisters, and develop their passions. Isaac's passion happens to be electronics.

Did I ever tell you about the electric feather duster he built for me out of parts he found lying around? He's a genius I tell you. And he was in hog heaven getting to share his new love with his favorite man. Brings joy to my heart.