Jun19

“A Poetry Tea”~ Littles-style

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“A Poetry Tea”~ Littles-style

I’ve seen the idea spiraling around Pinterest, and I just had to get in on the action. I mean, poetry and a party was absolutely too much of a temptation for this poetic party animal.

So we had a “Poetry Tea,” littles-style.

Sharing Poetry with little ones

I found a few super fun poetry books at my local library (hint: illustrated poetry is a definite plus if you have little ones).

Poetry for little ones

 

And I gave in to all those years of “Ovaltine” commercials I heard growing up. I saw it in the tea aisle and figured it was as kid friendly as I could get, and nutritious as a bonus. To stick with the truly English tradition of tea, I made scones (a simple pre-packaged, pull-apart, throw on a baking sheet kind of scone—don’t be overly impressed, folks).

The kids were absolutely stoked. They pestered me for days about having our poetry tea. I had Middlest pick a bouquet for our table, and the party began.

Even Littlest decided to wake up from his nap in time to join us.

Poetry for Little Ones

All around an absolute blast. It’s definitely something we will do again, just not so sure I can pull it off as a weekly thing. Whenever we get to do it again, these littles will be super hungry for more!

Poetry for Little Ones

“More Ovaltine, please!”

Jun17

What does “ministry” look like?

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What does “ministry” look like?

Missional Mothering

Whenever I have the opportunity to speak with a mom of more experience, a godly mentor who loves the Lord and has grown or nearly-grown children, I have a question I love to ask: “What does ministry look like when you have small children?”

The answers are usually pretty similar, so it’s not that I don’t know the answer. Maybe it’s that I need the reassurance, maybe it’s my means of fighting my own insecurities, maybe it’s that I’m a slow learner. But ministry with little ones isn’t easy. Anyone know what I mean? I’m lucky to make it out of Walmart with my testimony much less having witnessed to the cashier. Should I be doing more than getting my kids to stand calmly at the cart and not pick up every candy bar on display?

So, struggling through my own mommy-guilt, I ask those who have been where I am. What does “ministry” look like right now? Most often, the answer is that ministry, at this stage in my life, looks like loving my kids and loving my husband. One mother added this thought that had encouraged her years before:

“Would I feel any different if there were X number of adults living with me and I was ministering to their needs, teaching them about Christ? Would I feel that was more important?”

What surprised me was that I instantly knew that I would feel differently. I love my children, and I do understand that my tasks are significant. Yet I am still easily deceived into thinking that there might be something more important. Of course, witnessing and disciplining begins at home!

On the other hand, there is the very practical side of wanting to include my children in ministry, shepherding their hearts toward Christ’s heart of compassion for others. But even here, the Lord has helped me to remember simple ways that I am ministering in the midst of my Littles.

Finding the teaching moments. Quite honestly, my teaching moments rarely occur in the check-out line. But there have been many car rides home where the kids have mentioned something we saw or encountered at the store. These discussions have been great teaching moments, and most of those moments have ended with prayer for a person or family that we saw.

We’ve also had the opportunity to include the kids in prayers for those my husband has been able to witness to. The teaching moment doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m evangelizing in the presence of my kids. Then as well, there are the moments of teaching the gospel to my children, witnessing to them at every available opportunity, parenting with grace, and sharing the sweetness of forgiveness.

Ministering from home-base. Another avenue for ministering that I am learning is opening my home to others. We often do this by having other families to dinner. And while I often feel like I haven’t done my part (keeping my children occupied while grasping for snippets of conversation here and there), I’m probably doing more than I know. I’m allowing my children to experience ministry and hospitality, and I’m allowing others to see how we interact as a family.

Beyond these meals, however, the Lord is helping me to find other moments in my day where I can minister from my home with fewer distractions. Nap/quiet times have been perfect opportunities to make myself available to others. Play dates have been another opportunity to fit in a little extra ministry. My home, then, becomes headquarters for ministry, and my children get a front-seat to the action.

Sharing Daddy. One last area where I have tried to help my children understand ministry is by “sharing Daddy.” Whether this is an unexpected evening away from home or a planned international missions trip, my husband is sometimes called away from us; and my kids miss their Daddy. I miss him, too. But I know that my greatest ministry and their greatest ministry to him and to our church is allowing him to do what God has called him to do. By sharing him, we have a part in his ministry, too.

Of course, my children get many other opportunities: visiting the sick or bereaved, coloring pictures and sending cards to those who are hurting, etc. And I’m sure the Lord is at work in other areas I’m not even aware of. The fact is, ministry is not a prescribed set of activities. Ministry is life, living my faith out in front of my children and others. It’s not about the perfect opportunity, but about my response when the opportunity wasn’t perfect.

And those days when my three children are the only people I see are the God-sent opportunities to pour into their lives with all of the passion I would spend on three adults living under my roof. “Go and make disciples” doesn’t necessarily mean that I head out across town; it means I get out of bed. And as I’m “going” about my day, I intentionally disciple those souls God’s placed in my life, no matter their age or size.

 

If these posts have been a blessing to you, I would encourage you to pick up a copy of Sally Clarksons’ books Ministry of Motherhood and Mission of Motherhood. They’ve been a huge source of encouragement and inspiration to me.

Jun10

Centered Affections

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Centered Affections

Missional Mothering

Home: the place in which one’s domestic affections are centered

Minister (v): to give service, care, or aid, as to the wants or necessities; to contribute, as to comfort or happiness

Sometimes, in the busyness of getting things done, I forget to just love, to center my affections on my home. Yes, I understand that my affections should be set on Christ and his kingdom, but part of His kingdom plan, according to Titus 2, is that I should love my family.

Have you ever stopped to think about what a strange command that is. As if we, the emotional creatures, would need to be reminded or taught this simple truth. And yet, the advice I often receive from those older than I am is to “love on those babies; they grow up so fast.” And when you ask an older couple, celebrating 50 years together, what the secret is to longevity like that, often the advice is simple “just love the man, through everything.”

When I’m honest with myself, the advice I take for granted is the advice I need the most. In my hurry to get the day’s tasks done, to keep the house clean, to feed the family, to train the children, to launder the clothes, I forget to daily take the time to just love them. To smile at my children, and laugh at their antics the way they want me to. To take the time to “just watch this, Mommy.” To take time to cuddle, even when that crying-fit is most inconvenient for me. To smile at my husband, and admire him. To just look at him the way I did while we were dating. To laugh at his jokes, and to have fun together.

How easy it is, in a culture centered on accomplishments, to lose the focus of our affections. But here’s my challenge to myself and to you this week. The next time someone asks you, “What did you get done today?” or “What did you do this week?” smile at them, and be able to say, “I just loved my family.”

Jun7

Music Together Singalong Stories

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Music Together Singalong Stories

 

 

Disclaimer: I received these products for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 

Music Together Family Favorites

Last fall, I had the opportunity to review Music Together’s Family Favorites CD and teacher book. (Read my previous review here.) It soon became an unexpected favorite and often requested part of nearly everyday. I’m not exaggerating! Now that Littlest can get around and make his wishes and whims known, he’ll often head for the CD player motioning his baby sign for “please.” I know exactly what he wants:

  • Hello Everybody
  • Biddy Biddy
  • Driving in the Car

(links to samples of the music here)

We all dance together, beat out the rhythms, and sing along to our “family favorites” (pun absolutely intended). We’re not just having fun and bonding, though that alone is valuable; we’re learning about rhythms and harmonies, language and cultural diversity.

So when I had the opportunity to do a follow-up review with some of Music Together’s Singalong Storybooks, made to accompany our favorite songs, I was absolutely giddy!

  Music Together Singalong Books

Music Together has taken some of their most popular songs and illustrated them as read-aloud, sing-along books, available as both board books ($8.95) and hardcovers ($12.95). We were given Hello Everybody, She Sells Seashells, and One Little Owl for review.

Music Together Singalong books review

The day these arrived was like Christmas at my house. The kids were so excited.

There are several aspects to these books that I love. For one, there are so many interactive ideas and suggestions provided within the books themselves. (A free download of the accompanying song is also provided.) Sing the story, read the story, sing and let your child complete the phrase, make up  your own verses to the song as you read, count the objects, find the characters and objects, and more. And because the books were written to our favorite, already memorized songs, the story-line and the experience went with us throughout the day, even after the books were closed on the shelf.

Each book comes with suggested activities for using the story with your child.

Each book comes with suggested activities for using the story with your child.

In addition to rhythm, music, and language, these books are great for reinforcing counting and addition, colors, and even identifying seashells!

One Little Owl by Music Together

One of our fun activities was to dramatize the “One Little Owl” song, inspired by the pictures from the book. Pictured here is the verse “The poor old tree said, ‘Oh, no!…All these things are sitting on me.”

One Little Owl

The various ideas gave me a chance to interact with each child at their own level with the same book. My one  year old enjoyed hearing me sing the song and point out the characters as we read. My four year old loved to count the animals on each page and finish the song for me when I paused. My six year old was all about making up his own additional verses to the songs.

She Sells Seashells

Middlest’s favorite book

 

Music Together Review

Oldest’s favorite book

 

Hello, Everybody

Littlest’s Favorite

One other aspect that I love, especially for my Littlest, is the language development that comes from hearing the story in song. During one of our “Baby Story Times” at our local library, the librarian mentioned how songs slow down our speech and make it easier for babies to hear certain sounds and words. Adding the pictures and story to this experience of singing makes this a very powerful teaching tool. And I’m not the only one to recognize this; these books have won long lists of awards from various organizations.

  • Mom’s Choice Award
  • NAPPA Honors Award in Educational Tools
  • National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval
  • Academics’ Choice Smart Books Award, and more!

Then, there’s the fact that these books are just plain fun—beautiful illustrations and quality books that are enjoyable all by themselves. With literally shelves upon shelves of books at our house, these are favorites that all of my kids (including the littlest of all) keep coming back to again and again.

Now, Music Together is even more of a favorite. Not only do we have the catchy tunes with lots of rhythm and movement, but now we have the added element of a fun story with pictures. It’s learning and fun that keep us coming together for more.

Want to see for yourself? Visit the website to watch the video preview and hear samples of these fun singalong books.

Disclaimer: I received these products for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 
Jun5

Summer Unschooling

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Summer Unschooling

We’ve got a tradition at our house that is now 3 years in the making. Summer school is absolutely the highlight of the year. All of us can hardly wait to close the textbooks and start summer.

I started summer school at the end of Oldest’s K4 year for a few different reasons. First, we love the structure that school brings to our day. Too much unstructured play breeds chaos and bickering at my house. We’re a family that loves a routine and a regular schedule. Second, I didn’t want to spend three months forgetting what we’d just spent months to learn. I wanted something to hold it all in their little heads and to keep it growing.

Thus, summer school was born, but not an endless rhythm of the same lessons: even we need a break. Summer school is our time for nature walks, nature journals, and nature study; science and discovery; messy art and picture studies; classical music, water parties, and mud pie bakeries. It’s not at all “school” in the traditional sense. It’s not even school in the classical sense. It’s more a mixture of Charlotte Mason and unschooling, nurturing a fascination for the beauty of creation.

Summer School

And our summer studies have been some of our most memorable. Middlest, who was 2 when we had our first “summer school,” loves Handel’s water music and often asks when we will have another water party. Both of the kids light up when they see a waterlily painting; it’s Monet! And the nature journals are close-companions all summer long, including on vacation trips.

So what’s on the agenda for this summer?

Let’s break out the swimming pool and turn up the Mozart. It’s time for summer!

Jun3

Embracing imperfection (and calling it “home”)

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Embracing imperfection (and calling it “home”)

Missional Mothering

Home is a place where life happens, and life is messy. Fights ensue. Messes splatter across fresh cleaned floors. Laundry piles behind closed doors. And meals are consumed as quickly as possible before the next thing needs to be done. In the disillusioning reality of it all, it’s easy to become discontent and look for solutions in the wrong places: if the house were bigger, if the kitchen were newer, if the furniture weren’t so old, if the kids had less junk. In the midst of doing and living, sometimes it’s even easy to forget what our homes are.

How can I be a keeper of my home if I’ve totally lost the vision for what it is?

I’ll tell you what my home is NOT. It’s not a House Beautiful or Better Homes and Gardens magazine home, where the decor is perfect, the toys have all been contained in cute little hampers, and the children are cleaned up and happy—at least for however long the photo shoot lasts. It’s not a sitcom home where the problems and solutions all wrap up neatly within a half hour drama. It’s not even the picture-perfect blog home, with peaceful smiles and sunlight streaming in. And if any of these were my vision for my home, I’m afraid I would live in utter defeat and hopelessness because these images are not reality.

My home is a place of messy mistakes, sinful people, and dusty furniture. But I do have a vision for my home that embraces all of its imperfection.

  • I want my home to be a place of grace—where we sin and learn forgiveness, where we spill and learn responsibility, where we succeed and learn humility, where we live and learn the purpose of life, where we discover what we cannot do and learn of the One who can.
  • I want my home to be a place for life, a greenhouse of living—a place of nurturing and encouragement, a place of redemption and creating, a place of equipping.
  • I want my home to be a place of sustaining—where we learn to give when we are all spent, where we learn to love when there is nothing left, where we learn we have needs and Who can meet those needs.

It’s a lofty vision, one that could be as impossible to attain as House Beautiful. But here’s the key: it will not be accomplished by what I do as much as by who I am.

My home will not be a place of grace, if I’m not living in the grace I’ve been given. My home will not bring life if my heart and words are not reflecting the Life. My home will not sustain anyone if I am serving out of the limitations of myself instead of out of the abundance of the I Am.

So if the choice comes down to new decor, a cleaning frenzy, or some quiet time alone with God, it’s going to be my vision for what my home is that determines the choices I make. And those choices will define me as much as the home I live in.