Budding Artist

Last year, Beth took gymnastics. She wasn't interested in continuing that. We looked into piano lessons for her, but she wasn't enthusiastic about that. We thought for a while before we came up with the idea of art lessons. Beth LOVES to draw and color. If she wakes up before her alarm in the morning, we will either find her reading or doing art stuff. So, we looked around and found a couple options. After talking with Beth, the choice, with full enthusiasm, was a drawing class- "Young Rembrandts". Tonight was her second class. She is loving it! The teachers walks them through step by step to complete a drawing. Last week, Beth even drew the same picture on her own, a couple days after class. What a memory she has! So, here are her first two signed masterpieces. I can't wait to see more!

Moving on

Christmas was good and lots of fun. All the toys and things found new homes in their appropriate storage areas. School is back in session. Life is returning to normal. Jacob is finally interested in potty training and off to a great start. We're dreaming of warmer weather and looking forward to springtime fun.

This past weekend, we made the trip to Houston. My sis and her hubby were in town, too. I haven't seen my sis in almost 1 1/2 years (they live oversees while my BIL serves in the AirForce), so it was good to see her again. Of course, the visit wasn't long enough, and we never really got to sit and chat just us, as sisters should be able to do. Oh well. Bonus, we saw Popi and Yaya too! Then, super bonus, my aunt and amazing grandmother came for lunch Saturday. What a nice time with family!

Lucky us, Houston weather was about 20 degrees warmer than what we left, so we actually got outside play time! We found an incredible sight- a butterfly weed with a bunch of Monarch butterfly caterpillars. Thanks to internet, we learned that this plant is one of their favorites to feed on. When Mom planted it, she thought it would bring butterflies, not realizing it would bring caterpillars. Monarch caterpillars are only caterpillars for about 2 weeks. You can see a baby one on the top left leaf. Hard to believe it will grow to the size of the others in such a short time. Hopefully, they had enough leaves to eat to enter the cocoon stage!

Prayer Changes Things

Ages ago, I got this email thing about praying for my children. I printed it, tucked it into my Bible and then just passed over it once in a while. One of my goals for 2011 is to spend more time in prayer, talking to God about the desires and concerns of my heart. I pulled out this little thing, so glad that I kept it. Going by the date on the calendar, I pray that same one from the chart. It's been something lately as I pray for my children and realize I desire these same things for my own life. We're always growing and changing, hopefully in a good way. Praying for those changes, God will grant the desires of your heart. He may teach a hard lesson along the way to get that growth out of you, but He's faithful and loving. He is our Heavenly Father, having adopted us into His family when we accept Him as Savior. As adopted children, we know we are wanted and chosen. How awesome is that! As a parent, I can relate so much more to seeing God as my Father. A parent wants to give their child the best they can, a child wants to make their parent proud. I hope that I please my Father God in my actions. This little list is certainly a reminder of the things God, my Father, desires in me. I hope you will join me in praying these things for your children (and even for yourself).
1- SALVATION Lord, I pray that my children would obtain salvation that is in Christ, with eternal glory (2 Timothy 2:10, Acts 16:31)
2- GOD'S GRACE I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior (2 Peter 3:18)
3- LOVE Father, grant that my children would learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit that is in them (Ephesians 5:2)
4- INTEGRITY Lord, may integrity and uprighteousness protect my children because their hope is in you (Psalm 25:21)
5- SELF-CONTROL Father, help my children not be like many others, but to be alert and self-controlled in all they do (1 Thessalonians 5:6)
6- LOVE FOR GOD'S WORD Lord, may my children regard your Word as more precious than gold and sweeter than honey (Psalm 19:10)
7- JUSTICE God, help my children to love justice as You do and act justly in all they do, all the while not passing judgement on others (Psalm 11: 7, Micah 6:8)
8- MERCY Oh Father, grant that my children would be full of mercy and compassion as You are, Lord (James 5:11)
9- RESPECT Lord, help my children to show proper respect to everyone, as your Word commands (1 Peter 2:17)
10- SELF-ESTEEM God, help my children develop a strong self-esteem, rooted in the realization that they are Your workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)
11- FAITHFULNESS Let faithfulness never leave my children, but bind this virtue around their necks (Proverbs 3:3)
12- COURAGE Lord, may my children always be strong and courageous in their character and their actions (Deuteronomy 31:6)
13- PURITY Create in my children pure hearts, O God, and let that purity of their heart be evident in their lives (Psalm 51:10)
14- KINDNESS Father, I pray that my children would be kind to each other and everyone they meet (1 Thessalonians 5:15)
15- GENEROSITY Lord, I pray that my children will be rich in good deeds, generous and willing to share (1 Timothy 6:18)
16- PEACE LOVING Father God, help my children make every effort to do what leads to peace (Romans 14:19)
17- JOY Heavenly Father, grant that my children would be filled with the joy given by the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 1:6)
18- PERSEVERANCE Lord, teach my children to persevere in all they do, help them run with perseverance the race set before them (Hebrews 12:1)
19- HUMILITY God, please cultivate in my children the ability to show true humility toward all and about all (Titus 3:2)
20- COMPASSION Holy Father, I pray that You would clothe my children with the virtue of compassion (Colossians 3:2)
21- RESPONSIBILITY Lord, grant that my children would learn to be responsible, for each one should carry his own load (Galatians 6:5)
22- CONTENTMENT Father, teach my children the secret of being content in every situation, through Him who gives them strength (Phillipians 4:12-13)
23- FAITH Lord, help my children to fight the good fight of faith, taking hold of the eternal life to which they were called (1 Timothy 6:12)
24- A SERVANT'S HEART God, help my children develop servant's hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly (Ephesians 6:7)
25- HOPE God of hope, grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13)
26- PATIENCE God, strengthen my children with all power, so that they may have great endurance and patience with all people and situations they come across (Galatians 5:22)
27- PASSION FOR THE LORD Lord, I pray that my children's souls would pant for you as the deer pants for streams of water (Psalm 42:1)
28- WISDOM Father, I pray my children wold ask and that you would generously give wisdom to them as you promise (James 1:5)
29- PRAYERFULNESS I ask that my children be committed to prayer, and not faint, lose heart or give up (Luke 18:1)
30- GRATITUDE Lord, help my children to live lives that overflow with thankfulness, always giving thanks to You (Ephesians 5:20)
31- BOLDNESS I pray that my children would fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel of Christ Jesus, that their lives and words speak for God (Ephesians 6:19)

I hope you will join me on the journey this year, of praying daily for our children. Nothing but good can come of it!