Vacation in El Paso, TX

I am writing this post from my in-laws living room in El Paso, TX.  I was planning to post details of my son's 4th birthday before leaving, but packing took priority.  So I made sure the pictures I wanted to use were uploaded and headed to El Paso.  I sat down to type Teaching Tuesday:  How to have a Super Buggy Birthday, but I am not able to access the pictures as I had originally thought.  So that post will have to wait...hopefully I can squeeze in time to post while I am here.  I will be very busy swimming, snacking, and taking naps.  Hope you are enjoying your summer. :) 

Teaching Tuesday: Learning from the Oil Spill

Today was my first born's fourth birthday.  I feel like we have been celebrating all month long.  Coming later this week is a post about his Bug party, but today I wanted to point you to one of my favorite blogs.  Under the Sycamore is so much fun!  She includes lots of diy projects, photography tips, and great lessons for children.  Today was no exception.  She has a great post on how to teach your children about the oil spill and how to gt them involved in helping with the clean up efforts.  Check out her post here.  While you are there you may want to look around, I don't think you will be disappointed.

Bringing Up Girls

This little face

Is why I was so excited when I received this

for Mother's Day.

I am here to tell you that boys are very different than girls.  Therefore raising boys is very different than raising girls.  Our little princess is only 2, but I can tell we are in for lots of smiles and tears "bringing her up."  We have only read the first four chapters of the book, but I have already learned so much.  Did you know that little girls go through infantile puberty?  I did not.  

From the Inside Flap

You’ve got daughters? Then you’ve got questions.
Parents, teachers, and others involved in shaping the character of girls have a lot on their minds:

• Are girls really fundamentally different from boys? If so, should they be treated differently?
• Whoever said that girls are “sugar and spice and everything nice” never met my teenager. What can I do?
• My adolescent daughter seems to be on an emotional roller coaster. One minute she’s giddy with excitement; the next she’s moody and withdrawn. Is this normal?
• As a mom, I so badly want to be “best friends” with my daughter. Why isn’t it working out the way I dreamed?
• How does a dad’s role in his daughter’s life influence her character and decisions—including her eventual choice of a husband?
• How can grandparents contribute to raising a healthy granddaughter?
• What’s the best way to educate girls?
• How are girls affected when their parents divorce?
• What should we be doing to shape the next generation of women?

I am telling you this is going to be a good read.  I will keep you posted after I finish too.  Have any of you read the book?  I would love to hear what you thought.

Bravery

I had a good talk with this little "big" guy about bravery.

As we were walking back to the house after checking to see if we had any raspberries growing yet, he took my hand.  Then he told me that he holds B'yane's (his nickname for his little sister) hand when she is scared.

"Like when she is scared of bugs or bears getting her."

 "I can do that because I am brave.  She is smaller then me."

This little one taught me about bravery too.  Soon after this picture was taken I saw the bird flap his wings and try to fly.  The momma bird was watching and coaching from a nearby tree.

She didn't interfere with her little one's first flight, but she was there to cheer him on.  I think that is one of the hardest parts of being a momma...not interfering with our little ones' flights.  Sometimes I want to try and micro manage each decision and behavior of my children, but I am reminded that God has a plan for each of their lives. 

He has set the path before them, and one day this little "big" guy will leave the nest.  I have to let him be brave now, so he can be brave then.  I know it sure takes bravery to follow the path God sets before me.

Teaching Tuesday: Learning from my Daughter

Last night I was awakened by Elaine screaming.  I guess it was actually very early morning around 2 am.  At first she just let out a scream, and then as I hurried up the stairs to her room she began calling for Daddy.  Daddy was at work.  When I got to her room, I picked her up and began to console her.  I asked her if she had a bad dream and she answered, "yes."  I said what happened and she said, "Daddy left me."  I reassured her that Daddy hadn't left her, he was at work.  I told her that her Daddy loved her too much just to leave her.  She soon calmed down and drifted back to sleep.  As I headed back to bed unable to fall asleep right away, I began to think about how much our Heavenly Father loves us.  Yet so many times we think He has forgotten, overlooked, or even left us.  Elaine reminded me in the middle of the night, that we are never alone.  God never leaves us. 

Elaine's dream also reminded me that Dads have such a huge role in their daughters' lives.  They are the first encounter little girls have with Fatherly love.  Dads must work hard to reflect our Heavenly Father to their daughters (and sons). 

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."  Deuteronomy 31:8