Daughter Date Night

Wednesday night my husband and I drove to church seperately because our 2 year old was somewhat ill. We only live 2 minutes from our church and since I am the Children's Minister, I have to be there and stay for the endurance. We were not sure what was going to happen and sure enough, my husband had to leave early. Not sure what the source was, but my son woke up from his nap ILL!

So...my soon to be 6 year old rode to church with me and suggested that we go somewhere for a treat after church, "just the two of us since we have not done that lately." Of course, I agree because I cherish those moments and it seems that we do not have much one on one time any more. Before her brother, it was me and her all the time during the day. We have really tried to make it a point to do date nights with each child, but in the last month... we have not done so well.

We left church and headed to the local Burger King. That was about the only thing open in our SMALL town. We live in a SUPER small town. We order and sit down. As we get situated my daughter looks at me and says,

"Wow, this is so much fun. We need to do this again. So, what do you want to talk about?"

At that moment, I had to fight back tears. I was totally stunned by her way of conversation. We just had "girl time" a month ago, but she is growing UP WAY TOO FAST! It's like she has grown up even since last month. She is 5 and will be 6 in August. We sat there for about 30 to 40 minutes making up stories. That is one of her favorite things to do! It is as if the time just flew by. I could have sat there for hours, but it was already past bedtime.

I was going to share a video from tonight, but I could not get it to turn the right direction. So, here's a picture instead!

As I got home and started to reflect on our evening. I thought about how easy it is to get caught up in the day to day things and REALLY MISS your child. I hear her, but do I really hear her? I am thankful that I got to spend that time with her and I can not wait for our next Mommy-Daughter Date!

Reaching for You

I heard  this song today and it reflects my heart. I desire for my heart to know Him and for my life to serve Him! What a powerful thought. When we see life through His eyes, it really changes how we see things and how we live life!

Reaching for You
by Paul Baloche and Lincoln Brewster

You created me inside Your great imagination
You're the One who gave me my first breath
You have overseen my life and brought me to redemption
And I know that You're not finished with me yet

I'm reaching for You
I'm singing to You
I'm lifting my hands to praise You
I'm lifting my voice to thank You
I'm reaching for You
Jesus I need You
I'm giving my heart to know You
I'm living my life to serve You
I'm reaching for You

You're the one who spoke the Word of life to light my darkness
You opened up my eyes 'til I could see
Jesus You have promised to complete the work You started
Faithful to fulfill Your grace in me

Pour out Your love from heaven
Fill me until I overflow Lord I want more
Reach down Your hands from heaven
Pull me closer than ever before Lord I want more
Pour out Your love from heaven
Fill me until I overflow 'cause I want more
Reach down Your hands from heaven
Pull me closer than ever before Lord I want more

Oh I'm reaching
God I'm reaching for You

*************************************

As I read through the words again; I started to think of my life on a daily basis. What am I really reaching out for through the things I do? What do my children see me reaching out to? What message am I sending them? Am I leading them to reach out to Jesus through the way I live my life. My life says more than the words that I say. OR am I teaching them to reach out toward things of this world that will soon fade away. Just a thought. WOW! I desire to see my children love God passionately and pursue His Way over any other.

Intentional Parenting

I have been trying to decide what to name this blog and I keep wanting to name it "Intentional Parenting," but know that would probably not be a good title in the end. I am passionate about intentional parenting, but I am more passionate about an intentional life. So, if we live an intentional life, we will intentionally parent.

I read something recently that grabbed my attention. It said: "Average parents follow the crowd. Intentional parents pursue the goal." My question is: "What is the goal?"

Many people don't understand me simply because I do not "follow the crowd." I realized during Anna Grace's first year of life, that people expected certain things of me as a Mom. I was simply shocked at the pressure I felt at times by other Moms to do this and do that. I have to admit, a few times I was kind of SUCKED in before I even knew what was happening. I really didn't enjoy what I was doing and it was a burden. I began to seek God and ask Him why in the world did I not really enjoy what I was doing. The things my daughter and I were doing were not bad at all. God simply whispered in my ear, "Because that is not My way, it is the way of the world." Let me get something straight before I go any further.....the things we were doing were not bad, in fact I felt they were good for my child. And when I say world, I interpreted that to mean...not God's way for me and my daughter...my husband. So, at that moment, we started down a different path. I began to seek God and He redirected our life. I think that was the moment I realized that God had a SPECIFIC plan for my family. He had a path we were to travel and it took me and Daddy to get them down that path! They could not get there without our direction. And what really shocked me even more was the fact that I was very intentional about my life prior to Anna Grace, but when the parenting thing starts it is 24/7 with very little "down time." Jason and I were very intentional about naming our children. We talked a lot about parenting and their future, but I think it all happened so fast, I felt in a world wind. Before we knew it we were not being as intentional as we had planned to be.

Today, as we were doing 1st grade science, we were talking about seeds. We talked about if you plant a tomato seed; it will always be a tomato plant. It could never be anything else and this is God's plan. It is that way in life, if we plant bad seeds in our children; they will produce bad. If we sow good seeds in our children; they will produce good. "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." ~ Galatians 6:7

It is up to us, as parents; to lead and guide our children under the direction of the Holy Spirit. They cannot be left on their own to decide what is best and what they always want. They are our children entrusted to us from the Father. It is time for us to decide NOW what we want the end result to be and PLANT GOOD seeds. Our children will make decisions that we will sometimes not be proud of, but know that you did your part to sow good seeds!

Now...
I know what my goal is.... But do you know what your goal is? What do you want the life of your child to look like as an adult? (again, it's their decision, but we play a big role in this EARLY ON).