Disciplining a Child

I saw a website that had some pretty creative ways to discipline your child, some of them are just silly but some of them might not be to bad to try on Gracie.  The one’s I might try are:

If you repeatedly open the door to your child's room only to catch him in an act of disobedience, take your child's bedroom door off the hinges. It sounds harder to do than it actually is. And it works wonders!

*I think this happened to someone in our family, I just can’t remember.  I am sure it was me, I was always in trouble!

**Also, Gracie’s door is see through (french door) so right now it is not a problem!

An especially tough but effective correction for teenagers who forget to wear their seat belts is to add an additional day past their sixteenth birthday before they can take their driver's test. Hey, it's important!  **I got grounded for two weeks from my car if I was caught without a seatbelt or if I let someone else drive my car!  But then again, I was always grounded!

If your children are constantly turning in sloppy schoolwork, get a few photocopied pages of printing or cursive exercises. (These can be found at any teachers supply store.) Then ask your haphazard child this: "What takes longer: a report done neatly in 15 minutes or one you've sped through in 10 that must be redone and warrants a page of handwriting practice?"  **We will see how her schoolwork is in a few years!

Does your child slam the door when she's angry? You might tell her, "It's obvious that you don't know how to close a door properly. To learn, you will open and close this door, calmly and completely, 100 times."

If your child likes to stomp off to his room or stomp around in anger, send him outside to the driveway and tell him to stomp his feet for one minute. He'll be ready to quit after about 15 seconds, but make him stomp even harder. 

**Gracie is already starting both of these, so might as well try it**

Some of these sound like torture though, like the Barney music or running the backyard to check for turds, YUCK!!  I am sure somehow, this one would backfire!  What do you think?

http://imom.com/parenting/tweens/parenting/training/21-creative-consequences/#.TyKjpq57m-Q.facebook

Blessings

Sometimes when you least expect, God throws a curveball of a blessing your way. It is nice to not be expecting anything and then BAM! Right in the kisser!


I think sometimes in life we are so busy and get caught up in the rat race of life, that we forget to slow down and enjoy life’s little moments.

Let me just say how proud I am of my husband! I love him dearly and I am so glad that God is bringing great things into his life!

Daily Devotional for Gracie

We have been working really hard on praying together as a family, teaching Gracie to pray, reading a daily devotional at night with Gracie and trying to get her to memorize memory verses out of her book. She loves to see what story is coming next in her book:




http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0310714818/ref=oh_o02_s00_i01_details




A friend of mine recommended this book, and Gracie loves it. We all do! We tell her a story, then a bible verse and make her repeat it. We just finished it last night, and we are already looking forward to starting all over again tonight!

Things that are swirling around this pretty little head…

So many things that I have been thinking about lately…

We are starting a small group on Sunday and Brian is leading it.  He is very nervous and it is a very in-depth study.  It is called 40 Days in the Word.  Please pray for guidance for him and please pray that he knows where to lead us.  We are suppose to pick a project as a group to do, and he is getting very nervous and overwhelmed. 

If you were categorized as a mom, would you be a modern mom or a perfect mom?  What about as a wife?  I am by far a perfect mom or a perfect wife.  As some of you may know, I don’t do Brian’s laundry, I never have.  Now, I will help him out when he needs me to, but just to throw his clothes in with mine, I don’t do it.  I do all the other laundry in the house, but his.  Why is this?  Why don’t I do my husband’s laundry??  I also don’t have the cleanest house in the world.  Dust is on my furniture, and yes, my cabinet is cluttered with papers that my daughter brings home daily from Pre-K.  Don’t even get me started on my second bedroom.  It looks like a hoarding situation in there.  Does any of this mean I love my family less, NOPE, sure doesn’t.  I like to come home and spend time with my family, not cleaning.  Since I work full time, I like to come home and spend time playing barbies or coloring with my daughter, or even enjoying a TV show, that all three of us can watch.  Of course, this is after dinner is made and cleaned up.  Gracie is only with me three hours a day before she goes to bed, why would I want to spend that time cleaning and away from her or away from my husband who I haven’t seen all day!

What about as a friend and a sister/daughter?  I have to work on these for sure!  If anyone was to describe me, I would hope somewhere in there, they would put honest and trustworthy.  But, just being there for people in my life, I definitely need to work on.  I should spend more time with my friends/family, I should make time for girl time!  I try to get a lot of this done at lunch if possible, because like in the previous paragraph, I only get to see my daughter and my husband a few hours a day, so I want to spend time with them!  But there comes a time when you need girl time! 

Diet/Exercise…UGH!  I am trying to get back into the swing of things and I have been faithful going to Zumba, but the eating is a different story.  It is hard to get back to hungry.  I mean, it is hard going without again.  Use to, I would just shovel it in whenever I was hungry and now, I have to find healthy snacks to eat and to not overeat them!  I am also dealing with some back pain.  I want to do crunches, etc… at night, and I don’t mind doing them because it takes all of 15 minutes to do a little routine, but my back is hurting and I am thinking it is because I am trying to get used to all of it again.  ALEVE, I need you!

Year End Review

WOW, what a year we have had!!  You all know, that Brian and I both were saved and baptized this year, which has made a world of difference in our lives.  Gracie started Pre-K, and she started a new daycare.  Her world has changed too.  She wakes every morning by saying “Just let me sleep in a little longer.”  And since we have been on Christmas break, she has asked almost every day why I can’t retire and stay at home.  I finally got to see my brother, neice and SIL after 9 months, which was a great treat!   Brian and Gracie sang in the Christmas production at church and they did really good!  I learned that I should slow down and enjoy life, especially when it goes by so fast.  Gracie is growing up so fast, and learning so many new things, where is the time going.  She is getting to big for her britches is what is happening!

God, has blessed our family in so many ways this year.   We have so much to be thankful for, we sometimes forget that we are healthy, and loved!   We should be loving on each other as much as possible, and telling each other how much we love them, because you never know what could happen.  We should spend time with family and enjoy it, we should spread our blessings around , and slow down!  We shouldn’t be so selfish with our time, nor should we be about our possessions.   We can’t take them with us when we leave this earth, so why keep them?  We gave more to our toy store at church this year, because God allowed us to do so, and it was honor to do so.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and I pray that everyone has a awesome New Year!  Many Blessings to you and yours! 

Be Thankful!

So…I haven’t written in a while, so here it goes…

I have an interesting past couple of months.  Gracie turned 5, Brian got saved and baptized!  Which is totally awesome!  Our family is making a change and for the better I might add.  Gracie has had a great few weeks at school, we are just chugging along at church and work, but something kept feeling like it was lacking.  On my part that is.  I kept feeling like I was lacking in the parenting department and I couldn’t shake it.  What if I wasn’t making the right decisions when it came to Gracie, why couldn’t I get her to listen, I didn’t want to have to get in her grill all the time to make her listen because then all I felt like I was doing was yelling and punishing.  I wanted “THAT LOOK”.  You know that look I am talking about, the ones our mom had, the silent but deadly look, we got and we knew we were gonna get it if we didn’t straighten up.  I realize she is 5 and just a little girl, but I want to do everything in my power to make sure she is safe and that she grows up to be a respectful young lady.

But today I read something that kind of put everything into perspective for me, and it kind of  hits home with me:

We yell, control, walk in silence, are short, abrupt, react, discipline out of anger, and so many of us make the shift from walking in GRATITUDE to walking in GRIPEITUDE!

PARENTS!! I acknowledge that life is tough at times, but we must remember that we have so much to be grateful for!

• Be thankful for kids! Some couples are unable to have kiddos.
• Be thankful that you have the resources to feed your kids.
• Be thankful that your kids are healthy.
• Be thankful that God has given your kids special gifts, passions, and abilities.
• Be thankful that God trusts you enough to give you kids.
• Be thankful that your kids have some spiritual hunger.
• Be thankful that Romans 8:29 says “all things work together for good”.
• Be thankful that when you are not in control…that God is.
• Be thankful that God loves your kids more than you!

Here are a few verses to help you regain perspective…

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

“Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…” Ephesians 5:20

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” Psalm 107:1

First Day of Pre-K

Here it is, it came and went like a flash of lightning.  Yes, we all cried, but I did leave her there, so that is a start, right?  I had to run out the door, while she was crying but that is an everyday occurrence.  I waited until I was almost to the car and then the waterworks started.  I know she will be fine, but she is growing up!  She was so excited this morning and I can not wait to pick her up in a little bit and hear all about it!

 

Gracie’s First Day of Pre-K

Starting Pre-K

On the eve of Gracie starting Pre-K, I must say I am a little overwhelmed.  I can’t believe my little girl went from this

 

To this

 

Where has the time gone??  She is super excited, she says, so we shall see in the morning! 

What is Guaranteed?

There are some things in life that are never guaranteed.  You are not guaranteed happiness, you have find happiness, and create it.  It comes with those who you choose to surround yourself with.  Love is not guaranteed, until you have a child, and then you will certainly know unconditional love.  I mean the kind of love that hurts when they hurt, the kind of love that is never ending.  I had a friend who lost a child Saturday.  That child just recently celebrated his first birthday.  He recently got to come home from a lengthy stay in the hospital.  He was at home when he passed away with his family, where he should have been.  No mother or father should ever have to lose a child, it is probably without a doubt the hardest thing they will ever have to go through.  I can’t even begin to fathom what they are going through right now.  One thing that is guaranteed though, eternal life.  They will both get to spend eternal life with their child,who will no longer be sick, he will be a healthy baby boy in heaven!

Please take time out to say a prayer for this family for healing and grace to make it through this difficult time. 

Moments that Matter

You know, things in life start looking a little different when a holiday rolls around.   I wish that wasn’t the case, but it is true it happens to everyone. 

With Father’s Day around the corner, I would like to praise the Lord for my husband. I'm so blessed to be married to him and pray for his continual leadership of our family.  He is trying so hard, and doing a wonderful job at it. 

I know that he gets to be the fun one most of the time;  he gets to eat popsicles with Gracie, and wrestle with her, and dance out in the middle of the garage like no one is watching.  But he also has to be the stern one sometimes too, but is very quickly forgiven.   Kids forgive so quickly.  He is making memories with Gracie that will never be forgotten.

Not that I couldn’t do all of that stuff too, but I am usually in the  house cleaning up after dinner, or do laundry. 

So, Brian Lynn, thank you for just being you!  You make me laugh every day! Olive Juice!

Revelation

You know there are some things in life that you just have to turn over to God.  Let God handle it.  If I didn’t do this with certain things, I would be lost.  I know he has the answers for me, and sometimes I am not listening.  Sometimes I am doing other things and not paying attention.  When I just sit and open my heart and ears I hear it…It makes it all better!  What a difference one single thing can make! 

Here is my favorite part of this song!

I know that you are holding all the answers
I'm tired of losing hope and taking chances,
On roads that never seem,
To be the ones that bring me home
Give me a revelation,
Show me what to do
Cause I've been trying to find my way,
I haven't got a clue
Tell me should I stay here,
Or do I need to move
Give me a revelation
I've got nothing without You
I've got nothing without You

It is all about giving it to him, he has the answers, just listen…I just hope that I wasn’t listening to the wrong thing :)

What about when I get older?

Gracie is 4 years old, and she is always asking for things for the future.  Like she wants an iPad when she turns 7, and a cell phone when she is 5.  What makes her think we are buying her an iPad, before we buy ourselves one?  So, I started thinking, what do I want when I get older…

• To go to the restroom by myself, with no little fingers or dog paws under the door.
• I want to be able to take Gracie to Disney World, and let her get dressed up by the princesses
• I want to be able to hold a conversation with my child without her whining, “but MOM!”
• I want Gracie to be able to trust me enough and not hold anything back, I want her to tell me everything, even though I may not want to hear it, I still will listen!
• I want her to never be afraid to tell the truth, no matter what, I don’t want her lying.  That is a personality trait that I can’t stand!
• I want her to understand that even though I sent her to daycare every day, I loved and missed her dearly.  But Mama has to work baby!
• I don’t want her to remember the times that I was too tired to play, or that I used the TV as a babysitter, I want her to remember every time I got in that floor and colored with her, or played Barbie's with her.
• I want her to know the countryside, I want to be able to take her on trips all over the place!
• I don’t ever want her to be too spoiled to wear Wal-mart clothes, I want her to embrace it and wear it with pride, and never make fun of someone that is wearing it.
• I want her to be friends with everyone, be nice to everyone, no matter the color of their skin, their looks, or a disability…be nice to everyone
• I want her to know the Lord, and pray to him when she fears something, he will guide her through it
• Most of all, I want her to know that her Dad and I love her very much and that we would do anything in the world for her…except bail her out of jail (the first night anyway) LOL!

San Antonio Trip

We took a family vacation and went to San Antonio for a few days.  Took Gracie to the Alamo, the Zoo, Riverwalk, and Shopping.  She got a lot of stuff, and a good time was had by all!

 

 

Swimming

Gracie went swimming for the first time this summer on Mother’s Day weekend.  She said the water was freezing, but she didn’t care

 

 

My oldest nephew

Well, Harrison, my oldest nephew graduated about a week ago.  I am so excited to see where God leads him in his life.  I can’t believe that this little boy

 

grew up to be this big boy! 

 

Gracie answers questions about me

Last night at Mission Friends at church, the ladies asked Gracie a bunch of questions about me, and I want to share some of them with you:

What is something Mom always says to you?  Kiss Me Goodnight

What makes Mom sad?  Pinkie bites her

What was your Mom like as a child?  Watch TV

How old is your Mom?  14

How tall is she?  70

What is her favorite thing to do?  Clean

If your Mom becomes famous, what will it be for?  Going on TV at a Restaurant  (I was actually on Discover Oklahoma while they were filming at Guiseppes’)

What does your Mom do for a job?  Eats lunch

How are you and your Mom the same?  We have silver hair

What does your mom like most about your dad?  Kissing

Oh, how I love this girl.  I am so proud to be her mother!  And speaking of mothers, I am so very thankful, that the good Lord saw it fit to bless me with the mother I have.  She is just so great!  I love you mom!

Ok, so I am a horrible blogger…

Well, I have been busy is all I have to say… Here is a look at some of our Easter Pictures:

Here is Brian in his Easter Play at Church.

Easter at Aunt Kenna’s House

And Gracie Lou in her dress

She is something else!  We went to the dentist two days ago and they found a cavity, so that should be fun.  We leave for our trip to San Antonio in one week, and Harrison is graduating high school!  WOW, time flies!

What in the World??

So, I am going to  get on my soapbox here.  Have anyone noticed that there is a a lot of talk about bullying lately in the news?  It is so sad that these kids have to make other kids feel inferior to them.  I don’t care what you call it picking on them, just playing that got out of control, or bullying, your kids should not be doing it!!  And they should be punished if they are caught doing it.  I just saw a news story where a 5 yr old got tied up to a pole with a rope, duct taped his mouth shut, and cut his clothes, by an 11 year old.  The mother wanted to file a police report, but was told that they couldn’t file charges on kids this young.  Didn’t a 9 yr old murder someone in Colorado not to long ago?  They filed charges on him…I don’t want this happening to anyone in my family especially my daughter, and I plan to talk to her extensively about it, and continue talking about it.  This is an issue that will never go away, if she doesn’t know how to handle it.  I am very saddened by this and I am scared that my child will have to face it someday.

A new day…

So, yesterday was a brand new day for me.  A whole new experience for me, that I was so ready for, and didn’t know all this time.  I got baptized.  I think my husband was more anxious than me the whole day, I was ready for it, let’s get this show on the road!  I went behind the stage to get dressed and as we waited, one by one went in, I sat and waited patiently for my turn.  There it was, I was next, I asked if it was too late to go to the restroom :)  No turning back now, I walked out there, and smiled from ear to ear the whole time.  I kept thinking my face is on the big screen, you have to smile, plus I was happy!  I don’t remember a single word Brother Joe said to me, besides do you believe in Jesus, of course I answered Yes, Sir.   Then came the time to get out of the water, OH MY, first step, good night, second step, what in the world, everyone is watching me, third step, I’m out, and this robe has suctioned cupped itself to my body!  I thought, you need to get yourself off of that stage and fast.  I never thought about that part!!  And the towel, well I might as well had a washcloth, it didn’t cover ANYTHING!!  Oh well, that is not what we were there for right? 

 
See I told you I was cheesing!  There I was on the big screen!

I really don’t have to hold my nose to go under water!  Plus I think I grabbed my nose a little too quickly, he wasn’t ready yet.

It was a whole new day for me!  I couldn’t quit thinking about it last night, therefore I didn’t fall asleep until well after 11, but it was all worth it! 

Time out!!

Do you ever need to put yourself in a time out?  I need a time out today!  I need a break, a break to sit and think about some things.  A break to quietly pray about some things.  Maybe I will get it, at 10:00 PM tonight :)