Taking a Moment

It's the moments that matter. Whether it is watching your children splash in a wading pool, have their first (or fiftieth) taste of sweet watermelon, taking a walk with those you love, or taking them to make a donation for those who have lost everything, it is the small moments in which you can teach the most and that they will remember the most. Today I took the boys to do what we could for the people of Joplin, MO. We picked out a box of diapers and dropped it off at the truck that was being loaded at our church. We talked about why the people there didn't have these things and how important it is for us to help out when we can. I pray that these little lessons shape the hearts of my boys and teach them not just to sit by when tragedies strike, but to reach out and help in any way they can. First and foremost we can help with our prayers. Then we can figure out what we feel we can do to help. As the boys put the box of diapers into the truck, Isaac noticed that someone had donated a pillow pet just like the one he has. I think that struck him to realize that the children in Joplin have literally lost everything. We will continue to keep all of those affected by recent tragedies in our prayers, and we will continue to find ways that we can help others. There is no better way to teach your children how to be compassionate than to be compassionate yourself.

Stars, Smiles,and A Sleepy Boy

Tonight at family devotional, our verse was Psalm 96:1 "Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth." After reading the story and lesson from our current devotional book, God's Amazing Creatures and Me by Helen Haidle, I asked Isaac "Do you praise God when you get up in the morning?" He replied "My heart does". Oh, the smile that brought to my face! Even if we are not singing out loud, we can praise God with our hearts! Ethan must have been exhausted because the poor little guy fell asleep at the table during devotional. Before going to bed, Isaac asked me to read his current favorite bedtime story, Mommy's Little Star. It is a really cute story about a curious little fox who wants to know how high the sky goes. I love spending precious time with my boys! I am so thankful that God has blessed me with these two boys to raise, and I pray that they will follow Him as they grow and become men.