PARENTING/DISCIPLINE IN PROVERBS - Ch 15

There was so much in this chapter that could apply to parenting. Here are a few more.

15:13 "A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken."

~It's good to laugh with my children. Teddy Roosevelt made it a habit to laugh 100 times a day. I could do this while eating those fruits and veggies. ::snort:: I must snort 100 times a day - that should count.

Speaking to the issue of finances
I realize many sacrifice financially so that Mom can stay home with little ones and that some wrestle with not being able to provide all they would like for their children. . . maybe these verses will encourage you...

15:16 "Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and turmoil with it."

15:17 "Better is a dish of vegetables where love is than a fattened ox served with hatred."

~Hmmm...some would think the whole fattened ox thing sounds like something to avoid...doesn't sound real appetizing to me...but the point is....love and fear of the Lord is better than "treasure and fattened ox" IF the heart attitudes and home attitudes will suffer.

FINALLY - 11:40 and she's finally asleep. I wonder what wound her up tonight. It's too late now to return any of the 3 calls I received while trying to get Stacia settled - so I'll update and go to bed. LOL

I can't remember what I did today. I suppose I should read the earlier entries to remember. ::snort::

One thing I do remember is that we got quite a kick out of *Peter Pan* tonight. I'm so GLAD that we are reading some of the classics.....the older boys are even enjoying them. I was reading along, inflecting properly, gesturing wildly....having a good time and I hit this line, "Let us now kill a pirate to show Hook's method. Skylight will do..." I read it - the older boys laughed, the younger ones looked at me quizzically....I re read it...yep that IS what it said.

Or this line, " We ought to use the pluperfect and say wakened, but woke is better and always used by Peter."

Grammar lesson as well.

PRODUCE CO-OP

I'll update.....later....I did spend a bit of time today on the phone with Adrienne explaining how the "share thing" can work well for a produce c0-op. Jared is insisting I'm a produce commie and that basically I'm promoting communism. It's the GREEN SCARE! ::snort::

Adrienne and I have been buying cases of produce and splitting it. I could keep up with their produce consumption (fairly well), so the share thing wasn't real important....

A funny....last week she told me that "we should be eating 150 pieces of fruit and veggies a week" to eat the recommended 5/6 servings a day. Yep - sure - except when she and Heather had been discussing it, Heather meant a FAMILY, not an individual. I spent two days trying to eat 25 pieces of produce each day. I finally did the math myself. ::Snort:: I love to tease her.

Anyway, we were trying really hard to keep it "simple", but we're to the point that the share thing will be easier, I think. I think we are getting it nailed down so it will work smoothly. I think having shares will allow those who need to UP their consumption to do that without swamping those of us who are swimming in grapes. ::snort::

I am using those questions I shared earlier in the day to determine when, where, and how much I want to invest in this...and she is being very gracious to be sure I don't over-committ. "Does this build my house?" Yes, on a couple of counts. It helps the budget and it builds our health. "Does this detract from my god-given priorities for family/children?" This is trickier. We're working to find a time that will not interfere with school or Friday Fun. LOL I'm not sure we've got that nailed down yet - but we'll play with it until we get it working...and if we can never figure it out...we can go back to splitting cases....but I sure love the variety of having others joining us.

THIS is why I need a produce co-op.

I've learned to NEVER leave a salad unattended. She is also notrious for taking bites out of fruit in the fruit basket.

*Saks & Violins by Mary Daheim*

I'm partial to this author. I love the setting of the Pacific NW. In fact....I have even been known to try to find some of the locations in the book in the Seattle area. LOL

This is another of the *Bed and Breakfast* series. I enjoy the antics of Judith and her cousin Renie. I enjoy the bed and breakfast aspect of the series. I'm not sure I like these ladies aging before my very eyes. LOL

I don't know if I'm more distracted than usual, or if this book had more subtleties than usual, but I was guessing until the end to figure out who committed the murders.

I always love to read the newest additions to old favorites.

TOYS FOR CHAPLAIN G

Here is what I put in the chapel bulletins for this week:

Chaplain G is leading a group of troops to (country removed) orphanages in December. He would like to provide small gifts that the troops can give to the children they meet. If you would like to participate, please bring small new or gently used toys to the chapel NEXT WEEK! Small dolls, matchbox cars, action figures, stuffed animals, balls - even Happy Meal Toys - will be a blessing to a child. "Small" is key - remember all must be mailed! Packages must be mailed the 27th to arrive in country on time.

OK - so if you want to do this - you can mail a box directly to Mike. If interested, please email me and I'll send Mike's address. It's an APO address and so you only pay American postage....but you will want to mail by the last week in November as the trip is 10 December. I have found priority flat rate boxes at $8.10 to be a deal....they usually arrive in 5 days.

This is cool. The (removed country name) native base commander got excited about this. Now the Minister of Orphanages (a government position) is excited and plans to meet the troops there....I think it would be GREAT if the troops had gifts to give the children...sort of break the ice type thing.

Mike is also collecting religous books for the base library and to pass out. Same details as above....email me if you want the address.

Thanks for spurring me on Kristine in SA...I've been meaning to post....Anyone can feel free to pass this info on.... Kristine....I miss you and AK, how about you?

PS we are having fun collecting toys. My children have brought up that english speaking toys won't be understood and some action figures may be offensive in their culture...but Mike and the guys can figure that out on that end. They know the culture better than I by this time. LOL

PARENTING/DISCIPLINE IN PROVERBS - Ch 15 - CONTROL YOUR TONGUE!!!

I had no idea there would be so MUCH in Proverbs on parenting. I suspect it was breaking out of the "find the rod, commands to children" box that opened my eyes to so many other verses that speak to my parenting/discipline/training of my children. There are so many today that I will take it in chunks.

THESE VERSES AREN'T ON PARENTING!!!! Sure they are. Why would I treat my children worse that any other person to whom I speak? They are HUMAN - they deserve my godly response as well as Sister Jones. Would you talk to your minister the way you address your children? There is more to controlling one's tongue than avoiding gossip.

15:1 - "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

15: 2 "The tongue of the wise makes knowledge ACCEPTABLE, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly."

~Does it seem that your children aren't accepting your teaching? How well have you been controlling your tongue? Are you teaching wisdom or folly? Do your words bring life or are you maiming with your bursts of angry words?

15:4 "A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit."

~What a great verse....such vivid words.....soothing, tree of life, crushes...

15:7 "The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of the fools are not so."

15:18 "A hot tempered man stirs up strife but the slow to anger calms a dispute."

15:23 "A man has joy in an apt (Very Appropriate) answer, and how delightful is a timely word."

~How often are the words I speak to my children very appropriate and timely? My goal is for this to be the characterization of my speech - with all whom I interact.

15:28 "The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things."

~Am I pondering or pouring????? I don't have to have a reply the minute my child asks....they learn to wait as I ponder...and they eventually realize that I take their questions seriously if I take the time to respond wisely. Now, I don't ponder EVERY little thing or I'd drive them to frustration....Three days later, "yes, I think it would be wise and encourage godliness in you to go play with Ashley." ::snort::

PARENTING/DISCIPLINE IN PROVERBS - Chapter 14

14:1 "The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands."


~I have learned (the hard way) to evaluate my choices, attitudes and activities with two questions, "Will this build up or tear down my house?" and "How will this affect my god-given priorities and goals for my home?"

14:12 "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."

~Who cares what seems "right" to others around me or to the "experts"?? I must be in the Word and prayer for MY children. Others don't know my children. What does the Word say? What has God impressed on my heart for each of my children through prayer?

14:17 "A quick tempered man acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated."

~Am I allowing the Holy Spirit to control my actions?

~Am I walking by the Spirit (Gal 5)?

~Am I responding to the conviction of the Spirit on the temper issue?

14:23 "In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty."

~Read, pray, study but ACT!

14:26 "In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence and his children will have refuge."

~My focus is relationship. I must mirror a reverential relationship with God for my children to inspect and imitate.

14:29 "He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.

~Only a fool responds consistently in anger.

~Show some grace and mercy in your dealings with your children if you really want to be "God natured" in your parenting.

14:30 "A tranquil heart is life to the body, but passion is rottenness to the bones."

~I used to be a person who thrived on chaos and turmoil (in surroundings, relationships...). If there were no chaos or turmoil, I would create it, so that I could solve the problem. I was always either offending or offended by someone else. ::snort::

~Great PEACE came from submitting this tendency to God and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform this area of my life.

~tranquility in my heart builds an atmosphere of trust where my children are comfortable approaching me with their hearts.