Thursday, March 4, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
More December Picks
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Raffi and his usual cuteness. And I finally utilized the Christmas Cards I received this year in a decorative fashion!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Choosing Thanksgiving
I’m just finished the woman’s Bible study on Wed mornings at church. It is by James MacDonald called “Lord, Change my Attitude.” I have some attitude problems like everyone else, but this study really showed the gravity of my errors. It is the month of the Thanksgiving holiday, to give thanks. And that is one attitude that I realized I needed major help on. My attitude was one of complaining, and since this study I realized that complaining is not a harmless venting of feelings but something that makes God angry and is a sin. Ouch! James MacDonald defined complaining as “to express dissatisfaction with a circumstance which is not wrong and about which I am doing nothing myself to correct.” If I put that definition to my complaining about the slow driver in front of me, the little husband annoyances, my housing situation, etc. I am convicted.
In Numbers 11, God tells the story of Moses and the Israelites who were out in the wilderness because of their complaining. Over and over the Israelites complained about everything, and the consequences were severe, even death. Granted, a pillar of fire isn’t going to consume me for complaining…I hope. But I really don’t want that attitude making me an unhappy person and negatively affecting my relationship with God.
But there is hope and a way of combating our tendencies to complain. The answer is gratitude and thankfulness to God. First you have to decide, like so many things in the Christian life. Sitting around waiting for spiritual things to happen to you isn’t going to work. It takes decisions and actions. Decide to have a thankful attitude and back up that decision by reading the Bible. God’s word gives us the reasons for us to be thankful. Our relationship with God is strengthened and God gives us the strength to help us act gratefully.
Even if you do not feel thankful, you can choose to thank God for all the many wonderful things He has done and will do. Make a thankful list of these four things:
1. Things to be thankful for,
2. People I appreciate,
3. Spiritual blessing,
4. Everything else.
Review the list a couple of times a day. You can also make this a family activity and get everyone involved in reminding ourselves of our blessings.
This website also has some great thankful activities:
http://www.squidoo.com/thankfulhearts
In Numbers 11, God tells the story of Moses and the Israelites who were out in the wilderness because of their complaining. Over and over the Israelites complained about everything, and the consequences were severe, even death. Granted, a pillar of fire isn’t going to consume me for complaining…I hope. But I really don’t want that attitude making me an unhappy person and negatively affecting my relationship with God.
But there is hope and a way of combating our tendencies to complain. The answer is gratitude and thankfulness to God. First you have to decide, like so many things in the Christian life. Sitting around waiting for spiritual things to happen to you isn’t going to work. It takes decisions and actions. Decide to have a thankful attitude and back up that decision by reading the Bible. God’s word gives us the reasons for us to be thankful. Our relationship with God is strengthened and God gives us the strength to help us act gratefully.
Even if you do not feel thankful, you can choose to thank God for all the many wonderful things He has done and will do. Make a thankful list of these four things:
1. Things to be thankful for,
2. People I appreciate,
3. Spiritual blessing,
4. Everything else.
Review the list a couple of times a day. You can also make this a family activity and get everyone involved in reminding ourselves of our blessings.
This website also has some great thankful activities:
http://www.squidoo.com/thankfulhearts
Sunday, November 8, 2009
small victory for mom
Attached picture is before this...
Tonight I actually did something I wanted to do as a mom, but haven't. When I was pregnant I had all these glorious visions of doing activities with my child and spending quality time with him. But so often that has not not happened. And when he gets too tired in the evening it is all too easy to turn on the television to try to mellow him out.
So tonight, I pulled out my toddler activity book, which I recently got to try to get me started. I know I'm late he is over 2 now, almost 2 1/2. Anyways...I went to an activity which I thought would be easy to do. Peanut Butter play dough, and its edible. Honey and dry milk and we are good to go. I actually held Raffi's attention for 30 minutes. I made a dog and a cat in the dough then we made balls and tossed them into a bowl and counted. And after the peanut butter dough was successfully in Raffi's hair, we did coloring with markers on his big coloring book.
It was wild and crazy fun! And kept his attention and let his dad get some work done. He still was a bit hyper after but at least he wasn't leaping off the window cill to the bean bag!
Monday, November 2, 2009
End of Oct review
Pictures:
Raffi wearing last year's costume at Preschool.
Raffi crying because I forced him to put on his super cool SuperMan costume with muscles. That he won't wear.
Trick or Treating at local town street w/ friends. (Costumeless!)
Hanging at the pumpkin patch on Halloween day.
Raffi wearing last year's costume at Preschool.
Raffi crying because I forced him to put on his super cool SuperMan costume with muscles. That he won't wear.
Trick or Treating at local town street w/ friends. (Costumeless!)
Hanging at the pumpkin patch on Halloween day.
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