31 Virtues for Our Kids ~ Faith

Over the next few months we will be praying for 31 Virtues for our Kids maybe even for ourselves too!

Luke 17:5-6 (New International Version)
5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"
6 He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.

Hebrews 11:1-40

Sometimes, faith is one of the very hardest of virtues to really grasp. It is an act of stepping out and believing in something you can't see, hear or feel. It is one of the biggest hurdles for many people and is the very thing that keeps them from knowing God. Faith is one of the biggest pieces of becoming a Christian. It is the biggest act of love from us toward God. Faith is saying, "I trust in You and Your Word even though I do not understand all that you have for me. But, I know you are True and You are who You say You are!"

We see in Luke 17:5-6 how far even a little faith can take us; and the faith that we have albeit small is more than efficient. True faith is enough to carry us. The only factor that can be an obstacle is implementing that faith. I find that doing as the apostles always helps....asking, "Lord, increase My Faith!" In Hebrews 11 we see the Heroes of Faith. Take some time to read these examples of faith. Keep in mind their humanity; but notice God's sufficiency!

I find that when I doubt I seek God more. My faith is my own based on a relationship with my God. My children's faith must also be their own. They must come to Christ on their own terms. As much as I would like to MAKE them be Christians...I can not, nor would I want that. Christ does not make us love Him...why would I ever consider making my children have to serve Christ. Christ does not treat us like puppets on strings. We always have a choice to love Him. I can not deny it is my hearts desire for them to serve Christ. I will give them as many opportunities and be an example of His love for them. I will then have faith in His promises that if I do my part He will do His.

Pr 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
(I blogged about this verse before...check it out!)

*"I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children's hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them."



*by Bob Hostetler, it is excerpted from Pray! magazine issue #4, 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids

Finding Me

So, I have always maintained that my kids look just like their dad. They have his big brown eyes...all three of them. For the last 10 years I have looked and looked for myself in them, to no avail.

Until just recently...I found me.....

Had to be in an angry face...hahahahahaha!

Love it!

Of Summer and Things

So here is what the my family's summer break is looking like so far.....

Hanging out with family!

Going to the movies....Toy Story 3 a must see this summer....bring the kleenex!

Visiting dear friends!


Making new friends!



Soaking in the sun!

Enjoying sweet new babies...love you Elijah Kol!

Eating the best cookies in the world....Thank you Tom's Mom!

Messy faces!

Monday night church softball games! Go daddy, GO!

And of course lots swimming!!!!

Ooooo, this summer is giving me such joy and it just started....

Wednesday Walk Through My Garden!

There is nothing I like more than hanging out in my garden. I have been working on it for years and it is starting to come together. I have a lot more work to do and it is a friendship garden. Many of my flowers have been given to me from my friends gardens; trust me there is not much money invested in this garden.
I love working in it. I think of memories from long ago, reflecting on stories of my grandma's garden and praying to God as I spend time weeding. It has become a very calming place for me. I love picking flowers from it and it was part of my design to let my girls pick flowers from it. So today, I will let you walk through my garden and see the beauty of God's creation. It is God's living art in my backyard.

Jenilee at The Goodwin Family is hosting Wednesday's Walk.

Girly Summer Craft Ideas!

I love craft ideas for the summer here are a few....

Tye Dye
Okay so this is a "Must Do" project. I was always afraid to do this because of the mess and it seemed hard. Well, just wear nasty clothes and do it outside on a nice sunny day and who cares about the mess. It is so much fun and it is not hard at all. To do this project, go to your local craft store and buy a kit and some white t-shirts. Apparently one kit makes a ton of shirts. This picture is of my very first shirt. I love this project and I want to do it with my girls very soon!!! Isn't the shirt toooo cute! Love this!

Hanky Purses
This handkerchief purse turned out really cute. You need to two handkerchiefs.

1. Put the handkerchiefs good sides of patter facing out.

2. Cut off an inch on three sides (leave the top uncut this is the opening of your purse and you need the nice sewn part so it doesn't fray) Set aside those inch strips.

3. Cut 1/2 inch strips, as far in as you want your size purse to be, on the sides and bottom. The bottom corners just cut off the square on each side (you will know what I mean as you do it).

4. Tie the coordinating strips together so that the back of the purse is tied to the front of the purse.

5. Use the left over strips from step two and braid three of them together. This will be the handle of your purse. Hand stitch handle to your purse.

Now all you savvy seamstresses I sewed the three edges so there will be no little holes in the purse. You don't have to do that but my little girls always just throw tiny treasures in their purse and if you don't sew it there small things may fall out

Funky Hair Ties

Hair ties are so fun. These were made out of various fun ribbons tied (double knot) to a chunky rubber band. The key to these fun ones is keep it to one color of various shades or three colors that are found within the ribbon (the green and yellow is a good example in the pic) All the ribbons in a pony tail look really cute. A little girl can do this project...it is super easy!

Barrettes & Earrings
Make fun barrettes and earrings. The barrettes are made out of paper chains...maybe you made them as a kid out of bubble gum wrappers. I love Ehow go here and they show you how! The Gerber daisy barrettes are made out of the petals of the flower and a giant rhinestone glued to a Barrett. Earrings can be really easy and you can have a lot of fun picking out beads with your girl. It doesn't have to be expensive either. The earrings in the picture are three things...the part that goes in your ear, a long wire with an end on it (kinda looks like a pin for sewing), and beads. I used one tool with these earrings needle nose pliers that are rounded. I am sure there are technical terms for all these things but I don't know them off hand. Oh, for fun I used glow in the dark beads, the girls loved those.

Bracelets

Teach your daughter how to make friendship bracelets (call em BFF bracelets now : ) ) There are so many different ways of making them. Here is one kind you could make here.

Too Cute Hat

I found this bucket hat at a local craft store; it was like less than 2 bucks. Sew on a cute bow and Gerber daisy (take a part to just the petals). Glue on giant rhinestone!

Flippy Floppies
We love flip flops at our house. I made two kinds and they were easy, easy, easy to make....
Material Flip Flops
1. Cut one strips of really cute material.
2. Tie (double knot) onto your flip flop.
Gerber Daisy Flip Flop 1. Glue daisy top to the flip flop (our on a clip that you clip to your flip flop)
2. Glue a giant rhinestone to the center

Pretty Pillows

Sewing is becoming a lost art... sad : ( . So, if you know how teach your daughter how. It really is a fun and creative experience. My daughter designed this idea for a competition at our girl’s ministry retreat, Powette. She got a blue ribbon. She was really proud of her creation!

Side note Glue is very important so you want to make sure you find the right kind....sorry Elmer’s and glue sticks are just not gonna get the job done. Sometimes hot glue isn't going to be that great either. I did find some great glue at my local craft store, it is a tacky glue that adheres to metal and plastic which is exactly what I needed for the flip flops and barrettes.

Have fun being creative this summer and




I made of these things to sell at our girls ministry retreat. They all turned out really cute!

31 Virtues for Our Kids ~ Contentment

Contentment

Over the next few months we will be praying for 31 Virtues for our Kids maybe even for ourselves too!

Philippians 4:12-13 (New International Version)

12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Here is another one of my favorite verses; but reading it again I feel I have a different take on it then I had before. I love it when God shows you something new and challenges you more in your walk with Him.

Verse 13, I quote all the time...throughout my whole life. It is just one of those awesome motivational verses that just keep you going. I kind of always looked at this verse as (hang in there with me) more of cheerleader type verse. I can do it...God gives me the strength. I don't think there is anything wrong with using this verse for that reason. But looking at it again, today I noticed something about it that I never had before.

Being content is one of my own personal struggles. When I think about contentment nothing pictures it more to me than my sleeping baby. My baby is a peace. He is feed. He is cared for. He is loved. His needs are met. He has no cares in the whole wide world…perfect contentment. But as you become an adult all that seems to slip away.

Here we see Paul sharing his heart about learning to be content. He talks about that he knows what it is like to live this life. He has experienced being in need and also having all his needs met. He shares that he has learned the "Secret" to being content in either of those situations. "Secret" caught my attention...I want to know the secret! I don’t have ANY problems being content when I have all I want. I want to know what I can do to be content when it seems like we don't have enough money, when the kids need new clothes, when our car breaks down, when kids are sick, when you are going through rough times. What is the "Secret"? What is the answer?

Then we see it right there in verse 13...you know that verse I quoted a million times...right there as plain as day in front of my face. The secret is it is only God's strength that will help me to be content. I need to call on the supernatural...the divine. Can I tell you the light bulb went one in my head just like that after all these years. So many times I think I can take care of these problems on my own or I worry about how things are going to work out. The point is I try to do it on my own. But really what can I do in my own strength… nothing really and I will only become frustrated and more worried.

When I find my strength in Christ then the God of the universe has control. I need to give Him that control and then He can help me learn to be content. Contentment is trust. Trust in a living God who has it all in His hands. Letting God be all who His is and all He has promised. When we allow God to be our everything and be our strength we will learn the secret of being content in any and every situation. The “Secret” to being content in this life is the strength that comes from God who gives it to us which then enables us to be content.

Oh Jesus, I want my kids to learn and understand what it means to be content.....

*"Father, teach my children the secret of being content in any and every situation, through Him who gives them strength."

*by Bob Hostetler, it is excerpted from Pray! magazine issue #4, 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids

Ice Cream+Sticky+Dirty Kids= Summer

It is official, summer is in full swing at the Johnson's and the first week nearly killed me....just kidding. It is a definite change having the girls home all day and will take some getting use to; but I love having them here. If I could only keep them quite during my baby's nap time then we would be doing great! He loves having them here and there is a definite change in his attitude. I think he was bored with just me all day.

Our summer is going to be filled with ice cream, swimming, sunsets, church softball, picnics, dirty children, sand, riding bikes, long walks, going to the library, visiting friends & family, sun block, fireworks, sprinklers and did I say ice cream. Here are some of the things we are going to be doing over the next three months....My oldest is going to go to kids camp on her own for the first time ( I am gonna try to not freak out about it). We are going to our annual family vacation to Ludington. We will be working at Jr./Sr. High Camp at Lost Valley. Our 14th wedding anniversary will be in July( wow! ). My hubby will be taking a group of our youth to Detroit AIM which will be in conjunction with the National Fine Arts. I am going to be a judge at it (YEAH). My hubby will be officiating my cousins wedding in July. I hope to have a garage sale somewhere in all of this and squeeze in one more family vacation in August.

I love summer. So many fun events happen and we expeirence so many exciting things. I love spending time with my kids and maybe even a few date nights with my man. Oh, and don't forget....there will be lots of ice cream!

Wednesday's Walk ~ Duct Tape Passion!

I remember it as if it was yesterday, my hubby and I heard the sound of the rip of duct tape coming from the kitchen and then a small voice uttered..."COOL"! That very moment was the beginning of my daughter’s love of all things duct tape.

She began to wield her magic on this colorful tape. Wallets, purses, bracelets were just the beginning. She has moved on to bigger and better...hair accessories, backpacks, shoes, hats, a vest and the most recent a full wearable dress. I also realized that I am thankful for dollar stores that sell it for 2 bucks... or this could be a very expensive hobby.

I love my daughter’s passion for all things creative; but I have been reluctant to allow her to wear her items in public. She has been asking...no bargaining...no pleading with me..... to let her wear her fashions to school. I put my foot down on the vest....I was afraid kids might make fun of her. But I could see my fears where huge disappointment to her.

But with the permission of her teacher, today was the day....

My bold, creative, totally awesome girl wore her duct tape dress! I must have asked her a million times if she wanted to do this. She emphatically said, "YES!" As I watched her walk into the school, I have to admit I was pretty proud of her. I am proud that she doesn't care what people think. She doesn't care if other kids don't like it. She is proud of who God has made her to be this incredibly talented and creative girl. I need to remember that, direct her, encourage her and let God do the rest.

Now so all you moms don't think I have totally lost my mind there were some rules...
1. She had to wear a tank top underneath.
2. She had to wear shorts too.
3. It couldn't fall apart.
4. If she gets to hot she had to take it off.


Thank goodness it is only a 1/2 day today....

Jenilee at The Goodwin Family is hosting Wednesday's Walk.