Whining.. Do you hear it?

I don't know about you...

But...

Whining drives me crazy.

Crazy.

Do you tend to hear whining in your children daily?
It comes in all sounds and noises...

Like:
"I want a snack..."
"Do I have to..."
"Mommy, mommy, mommy..."
"I don't want to take a nap.."
"She is touching my armmmmm...."
"Her foot is near my car seat,...."

" Can we have one of those?"
"My food is too hot.."
" I'm bored..."
"It's too hot out here!"
"I wanted to wear my other flip-flops..."

and so on...

Squeaky, scratchy, high-pitched voices 
trying to convey their irritation, their desires, their complaints, or their only form ever learned of communication.

Tip 1:

What you don't encourage or allow from the beginning won't become a habit.

Tip 2:

If you answer a whiner,,, then they will always expect a response.

Tip 3:

Explain that whining is not allowed ,.,, in any shape or form,, even if it is to convey a positive request... and 

Tip 4:

TRAIN how to NOT whine.  The correct and expected form of communicating... that way there is no confusion of what you are expecting.

Tip 5:

Train and Re-train - Training is not a One-Time Deal.

Whining is a selfish way for any of us to communicate,

It is elevating our noise, our desires above another persons.

Whining doesn't have to ruin your day or any one else's for that matter.

Our children will only act out what we expect and train them to be.

Much happy noise is better than a little whining!

Even our children are happier with guidelines,,, and happy communication.  I am sure that even though it may seem like they ENJOY whining.. that they really, truly don't!

Much better!

What are YOU working on in your home right now?

Whining also?

Why God gave me these children

Oh, I am sure there are many, many reasons my Lord had in giving me these children.
Probably reasons that I will never know..

But, every day I find a another nugget to hold onto.. showing me WHY He gave me each and every one.

I see so much of myself in each child.  Scary, huh?
I see so much of what I need to work on.
I understand God's comfort, His Love, His forgiveness, His plan for my life.

What a gift children are.

Just This Week I :

***Woke up and Rolled over to find baby blues gazing into mine own, reaching into the depths of my heart.. telling me that no matter what was going to happen when I rolled out of bed... God loves me so much to give me such a beautiful gift first thing in the morning.


***Held the little hands of my children as we skipped, and jumped on sidewalk cracks, giggling and sharing moments of joy, another gift that God gave me.


***Prayed with my teens in the late night hours, crying out to the Lord for guidance, deliverance, and hope.  Holding my grown daughter, and praying with her for her future.  Prayer- with my children - Gifts.


***Held my little boys hand, as he told me why he thought I loved the Lord..."Mommy,,, I know you try to be a good Christian,,, because I see you sing praises to Him, learn Scripture. read the Bible, talk to God, and teach children" - all from my 6 year old's little mouth, and large heart and observing eyes.  


***Rubbed my little toddlers legs, as she struggles with growing pains... while she cries and trusts that I am able to help her.  Just a little comfort goes a long way- isn't that so true friends?


***Waking this morning to my two year old singing, "I will seek you in the morning, and I will learn to walk in your wayssss,, and STEP by STEP ...".. reminding me of the Newness in a day,, and how I need to seek Him,,,,, all from the simple message sung by a two year old.


***Watching my son handle a difficult situation with guidance and direction from the Lord. Showing preference for others and letting The Lord has perfect will and work in His life.  A firm reminder to me this is.


***Cleaning and Bandaging a boo-boo,,, ( or two, or three), and the assurance my little ones feel that I am able to make things better, as I look in the deep pools of tears that come from the pain of their scrapes or falls. Knowing that the Lord is always caring for my family, even when I cannot make things better.


***Having talks with my growing middlers,,,, as they ask many questions about their faith, their decisions, and their responsibilities   Looking into their eyes as we chat, seeing the earnest desire to do what the Bible says, and not man.....reminding me of my own walk, my own thoughts, and my own responsibilities.

Why did God give me these children?
To raise, teach, guide in the ways of the Lord.
To nurture, care for, and love.

And..
To be an ever present reminder of God's working in my life.. every single day - through my children.

Take a peek over here for some more encouragement in seeing your children/family in a light that sheds insight into what the Lord has planned for the family:

Are you in?

Remember THIS  post?

Did it spark a desire in your heart and mind to PRAY for your Boys?

It is time .. time to gather and pray for our sons...

Join me in this wonderful e-book designed to walk you through the areas we can effectively pray for our sons?

Here is how to get started:

1. Purchase your own copy of Warrior Prayers: Praying the Word for Boys in the Areas They Need it Most (just $4.99 on Amazon Kindle!)
2. Commit to praying for your son(s) or grandsons 10 times a day for 21 days straight. This is a huge commitment, so if you feel God leading you to participate, pray and ask Him to give you the strength and endurance you need.

Here is an example from the 1st Chapter of this valuable Resource:

Heart Change

May__________first clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean (Matthew

23:26).

Give__________a new heart, and a new spirit put within him. Remove the heart of stone from his flesh

and give him a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26).

May__________honor God with his heart, and not just his lips (Isaiah 29:13).

May__________out of the good treasure of his heart produce good, for out of the abundance of his heart

his mouth speaks (Luke 6:45).

May__________'s heart cry be, “not my will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42).

May__________draw near to God, and He will draw near to him. May he cleanse his hands and purify his

heart (James 4:8).

Create in__________a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within him (Psalm 51:10).

May__________be like the wise man, whose heart inclines him to the right (Ecclesiastes 10:2).

Join me?  Leave a comment, or e-mail me to start this 21 Day Journey with me soon.

Funky, Groovy Fun

 Soo.

I have this daughter.. who is in all sense...

Eccentric

dramatic,

Adventurous,

Musical

and 

yes...

Fun!!

Don't you just LOVE her new shades??!!

We went to the Goodwill Store

and this was her find..

swim goggles..

But she tagged them as her Bike Glasses

For .25 Cents..

I couldn't refuse!

As soon as she woke up from her nap,, she ran out with her new glasses,

barefoot,,

a glass of Rice Krispies Cereal for her adventure..

and she was off!

Need an adventure?  There is always one brewing here .

What made you smile today?

Share here...

So I have this son.....

And he is now 16!  And he now has his driving permit!
And...


He is a Gift- from - God!
Matthew- Gift of God

It is easy to remember the birth of this special son... he arrived 13 (THIRTEEN) minutes after arriving at the Hospital!
He was a very quiet baby... always taking in the details around him.
We would place him in front of the large fish tank with his blanket and he would watch the fish for long periods of time.

Matthew has grown into a young man that has a quiet passion for the Lord..
He is sensitive, caring, helpful, unassuming, and is best buddies with his younger siblings.
He seems to sense the feelings of others, and acts upon the right thing to do.. rather than ignoring others and moving on.

Time, prayer, dedication and surrender will tell what The Lord has planned for Matthew.
I am so excited to see!

I love you Matthew, and I am so thankful the Lord placed you right where you are in our family.
You touch my heart in many ways, and I am so thankful to see the Lord working in your life more and more.


Happy 16th Birthday!

Sorry ,,, It is hard to find a picture that Sarah isn't in.. she and Matthew hang out together!

My Little Tornado

To my friends and family:
( or whom it may concern...)

If you notice the following ...  then DO NOT be alarmed...

*Excessive graying in my hair-line


*Stress lines in the crease of my brow


*Major memory lapses over a short-period of time


*A little paranoia in public where there are hiding places for small people


*First-aid kit attached to my daily ward-robe


*911 programed into my cell-phone on Speed dial 1


*Holes cut -out of my clothing where I have not noticed


*Toothpaste hidden in very high spots in my home


*Velcro attachments for a certain child while out and about


*Our toilet lids with locks and a secret pass -code for any users


Please do not be alarmed if you notice these or any quirky habits of the like in me...
Because..
when God gave us THIS child..we read the fine print... and there was..

A TORNADO WARNING!!!

And thankfully we have a SHELTER for the storms that come with her...

The only Tornado we will ever be thankful for.  :)

Oh JOY!  Ava finds the make-up! 

She looks so happy here, doesn't she!

Not so happy here... It's is time to clean off the fun!

Do you have a child that brings a lot of adventure to your days?

This is my family,,, Need I say more?

~Thanks to Shirley Temple's project this week to draw our family~

By the way...

Do you see where she drew the baby?

AND..

My husband and I really want to know why she drew her daddy with a black eye?

A fun-filled life..

That us!

Pregnancy Pictures - 33 weeks

Every Day that I feel her move,, every moment is a gift from God!

49 Days to go.. Give or Take.

We love you Baby Blessing!

Books with Character for Kids- GREAT!

We own a lot of books... some of them we read once, and some are on our "favorite to read more than once" list!
If you have the desire to give your child a book of meaning- one with true character lessons, and grit...
then try the two books I share here:

For the special young lady you may want to share a Book with special meaning:

The Princess and the Kiss

A loving king and queen present their daughter with a gift from God - her first kiss - to keep or to give away. The wise girl waits for the man who is worthy of her precious gift. Where is he and how will she ever find him? The surprising answer in this marvelous parable will touch the heart of parent and child alike.The Princess and the Kiss beautifully portrays the ageless message that "love... comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith" (1 Timothy 1:5 NIV)

For that special young gentlemen that you wish to share a gift of a lifetime:

The Squire and the Scroll

This captivating adventure follows a young squire who travels a long, dangerous road beside his brave knight, on a quest for their king. The action builds until the final face-off with the monstrous, evil dragon. Only then does the squire learn of the secret beyond the cave that ends in a joyous celebration for the entire kingdom.Children will gain valuable insight as they learn, along with the young squire, what it means to face the dangers of temptation, and what it takes to guard one's heart from all that is impure.

 

 

Have you read this books to your children?  Let me know what YOUR thoughts on these two books are... I would love to hear from you!

Drum Roll...I would like you to meet....

Our newest miracle...

Still tucked safely inside my womb..

Loved by so many...

So sweet and precious already!

My arms ache to hold HER!

Baby #10 is (another) girl!

Will you please pray for this new miracle?

In two weeks we will return to a specialist to hear how she is doing.

Already one ultrasound down... and a little "concerned."

Paths walked before cause a stir within me for those words.

And, so, my blogging friends... if you will pray with us over this sweet, beautiful, baby girl that gave my heart a special leap upon seeing her on the screen yesterday... and to feel her gentle movements within me.. helping me remember that HE knit her together..with Love.

Introducing...Sweet Baby Girl....

Love Baby Love... Soo many love you already!!
Mommy

Absence makes the heart...

.. grow fonder?

Or Absence makes... the heart grow stronger!?

Today marks the day that we greet our daughter home after only one week of her being away at a basketball camp.
OK.. I am SURE that all of the parents reading this that have had children move on... go to college, marriage.. move away.. etc. are rolling their eyes at this post.

Honestly,, this post is not about missing my child.. or her absence.. it is about my honesty.
I have mentioned before.. and I will mention again... I am a transparent person, and as genuine as I can be...
so, when I write about the praises of my children, I also write about the weaknesses of mine.

So, back to basketball camp.
One week away - she sent one text, and called and left a "Happy Anniversary" song on the machine for us this week.
Other than that... she was experiencing a big week, and I was reflecting.

Reflecting on that whole ..
"Absence makes the heart ..."

Sarah was born with a tender heart.  Would you know that from talking to her?  Nope.  You have to really KNOW her.  She is one that will make you laugh.
Sarah was born  to lead... Would you know that from meeting her?... probably.
Sarah was born to show little emotion.  Humanly speaking.. when it comes to the Lords plan for her life.. the emotion is there.
Sarah was born 2nd- but oldest girl.... and she takes that pretty seriously.
Sarah and I always agree.  Not really.
Sarah loves domestication and shares my interests.  Not really.
Sarah is anxious to be out and serving the Lord.  I can see it happening fast.

Sarah went away for a week, and I expected my heart to grow "fonder",,,,
But, rather..
"Absence made my heart grow stronger.."

The Lord is preparing me to let her be what HE has always wanted for her.
It was just my job to guide and raise her for this time in her life.
My heart is stronger now...
That I have reflected on all of the things God gave Sarah from the time she was born...

Sarah is His.  Would you know that from meeting her - 100%  yes!
So, I will not stand, weeping for sadness when my girl goes off to basketball camp, or when she graduates next year...
I will weep ( and she won't - no emotion - remember?  heehee,)... for JOY..
that our hearts can grow STRONGER with absence!
Another week of great lessons from the Lord to me.

I am so glad you are home again, my dearest daughter.

Look Into their eyes

And see...
All that we are, and all that they will be.

It was day, just like any other..
nap time..
and I told Maryahna, our three year old- Shirley-Temple, that it was time for naps.

As usual, nap time is right in the middle of school, lunches, chores, and I am do not spend a lot of time on the more meaningful things : 
  Songs, books, rubbing their heads... we save that for bedtime.

I ask Maryahna to lay down, so that I can tuck her in...
cover her with her blankets,
recite the every day quote.." Now lay down and rest, ok?  Do not get up and play right now."

A moment passes while I cover her up with her special blanket, shut the blind, and breathe a sigh of motherhood..

Then..
I lean down to give her a kiss...
and..
I look into her eyes..

the window to her soul.

I see:
big brown eyes - and I can SEE what she sees:
a mom in a hurry,
sadness over my sharp tone,
Confusion as to which "mommy" I am going to be when I tuck her in.

My bright eyed beauty has eyes that tell how I am doing as a mommy. 
When I look into her eyes, they tell ALL.
Happiness,
laughter,
Sadness,
Joy or frustration,
contentment,
understanding..
and love.


Talk about conviction!
Take time to Look into their eyes MORE..
and see:
all that we are
and
all that they will be.

A New Blog

Will you visit this new blog because:

I love the guy who started it...

Because:

I think he is pretty cool...

Because:

I love to hear him play the piano...

Because:

He is pretty handsome

Or Because:

He loves the Lord with all his heart...

Because:

He is my first-born son...

Or Just Because I asked you too?

Because,,, I think you will enjoy stopping by there.
Already a few of my bloggy friends have, and I am so thankful that they took the time to do that.
Thanks friends!
 Here is the link to this New Blog:  Sharps and Flats
http://www.benjamindanielmccarthy.blogspot.com/

Timeless Moment

A favorite of my Sam.

Tell Me the Stories of Jesus

My son, Samuel, is 4 years old, and in the last month, he has become more aware of WHO God is, and WHAT He has done and is doing.

I get a little teary and emotional when I think or talk about any one coming to know the Lord. It is like this tender spot in my heart that swells with excitement upon hearing about someone coming to His knowledge and presence in their lives.

Sam has a family/life centered around the Lord, but there will be a time when he has to make a decision on his own, as to whether he is going to follow the Lord, and believe in His name.

Being a parent brings some amazing opportunities to witness some amazing things! I am so thankful for this.
It is an amazing thing to see the heart transformed.. beginning with awareness and curiosity and then desire.

Samuel is so precious. He communicates every thing that he thinks and feels. All of the time. He also has this really tender heart for others. He does not like to see me sad, and verbally shares his every thought with me. He will often tell me that his "heart hurts" when he is sad himself.
It is really precious. He even will tell me when he needs/wants correction for something he has done wrong that is bothering his heart. It is amazing.

This past month has brought about some special things in his life:

-He is now talking about how Jesus died on the Cross . He talks about the nails with great sadness for a four year old.

(The other day he stepped on a nail - and his first concern was how Jesus felt. He said, "I got a nail in my foot like Jesus on the Cross. And he hurt really bad.")

-Driving down the road the other day , he asked me how God made Light and Dark.
How neat it was that he recognized that GOD made them. Not a random happening.
(How amazed HE was when I told him that all God had to do was to say, "Let there be light," and there was light!")

-His prayers are becoming more specific. From his own heart, in his own words.,,, voluntarily, and not prompted to pray. That desire.


As I tell my children the Stories of Jesus while they grow, I know I am planting the seed of knowledge in their minds, but this understanding that they begin to show at young ages is ALL from GOD!

I am reminded to keep telling them of the Lord's unending love, and challenged to keep praying for them to each make a decision to follow Him.

May my children be a light to a dark world. Let all of our lights shine!

"Jesus Loves Me this I Know! For the Bible Tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, they are weak, but He is Strong!"

This Moment in Time...

I knew that this day would come. It just arrived too quickly.

It is something casual to many,, a common occurrence.

I haven't discovered yet how to take any new change in my children's lives with a shrug, a nod, or even a blink...

If I did... I might miss something special.

My oldest son will turn 17 this weekend. Not many make a fanfare for 17. We will probably not either . But my heart is stretching as he himself grows - in years. I know it is all in preparation for his and mine future... apart.

He is my firstborn son. A gift in the middle of a storm.
A melody in my heart as he grew, and now making his own melody with his own gifts from God.

My Benjamin - Ben... I love you son.

My heart and voice prayed over your life in the womb, and now - as you grow into manhood.

Prayers of Health, safety, purity in thought, action and living.

Prayers for your life to Honor the Lord in all that you attempt to do.
Fervent prayers/ Pleading prayers/ Thankful prayers.

You have been a blessing to us through your 17 years, and we love you.
It is our prayer that you will keep your eyes focused on Christ. Keep your life verse close to your heart - 2 Timothy 2:15.

Your smile is contagious-mischievous.

Your laugh- subtle often. Hearty - fun .

Happy Birthday Ben! Son. I love you.

This Moment in Time.

Ben holding little Sister Maryahna at Beach

Ben and Baby Sister Ava