Forever Friends

Good morning friends!

Wow!  It's been a busy weekend of festivities with the upcoming wedding in August. Our daughter Abby and her future husband Jimmy are having a very large wedding party and I was reminded this weekend when I saw them all together the importance of good friends in your children's lives.

As parents, we play a huge role in helping them understand what true friends are and model that in our own friendships.  Throughout your child's development,  teach them the necessary social skills to interact with others in a loving and respectful way. Pray they are surrounded by faith-filled people who always have their best interest in mind and make sure you talk to your child about the qualities of a good friend.  Children need to understand that their dearest friends should always be people who bring out the best in them and make them strive to always be their best for others!

I'm thanking God today for my children's friends and future spouse :)

Peace and blessings,
Lesa

"What draws people to be friends is that they see the same truth. They share it." ~ C.S. Lewis

Share More

Hello beautiful morning!

I was thinking about the blessings in my life today and how each of us have different gifts we can share.  Whether it's a talent, a skill, or a material possession.  When children are young, we always try to teach them to share their toys but as they get older, we also need to teach them to share themselves with others.

Our son has the amazing gift of patience and compassion so we have encouraged him to volunteer for a  camp this summer serving children with special needs.  I know he's going into it thinking he is doing service for others but in the end I think he will learn more than he anticipates. That's what's great about teaching your children to help others. It actually helps them love more, give bigger and appreciate better.  Setting your children up for these type of life experiences can have an everlasting impact on their lives.

When they are young it may be as simple as helping the older neighbor lady weed her garden or take her trash out but as your children get older, present opportunities for them to serve others.  Let them think of ways they can be Christ to one another.  Children are amazing little givers, they may surprise you with their great ideas :)

Peace and blessings,
Lesa

         

"For it is in giving that we receive." ~ St. Francis of Assisi

Step Aside

Good morning friends!

This morning I just took a picture of our oldest daughter leaving for her first job in the "big world."
It was the same pose she had when I took her picture on the first day of preschool.  It's amazing to look back and reflect on her journey!

When your children are young let them know they can do anything they want to do or be anything they want to be but it takes a lot hard work on their part.  Throughout their education let them make mistakes, take learning risks and even push themselves harder than you can imagine.  That's when you begin to see complete ownership of their goals forming.  

As parents, we need to make sure we step aside... give them the freedom they need to grow, pursue their goals and create their own life God has planned for them.  Parenting looks and feels different at every stage of your child's development but as long as they know you are always there supporting and praying for them...their capabilities are endless!

Peace and blessings,
Lesa
                                                         

     "The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."   ~Proverbs 16:9

The Candy Bar Concept

Good morning friends!

As I reflect and pray this morning, I am so thankful for something my husband Jerry used to tell the kids.  "Always give your brother and sister the best, and always be happy for them."  He would go on to explain, "If you have a candy bar that you're sharing, give them the bigger half." In a self-serving society, this is often a foreign concept to children, but teaching them selflessness in small ways is key to  Christian living. This is a philosophy that we have carried through our parenting and we are seeing our children live out!

As we prepare for the upcoming wedding of our oldest daughter Abby, I'm watching the other kids continue to give and help with everything.  They are so happy, excited, and thankful for this time in her life!  Even when they don't feel like helping with preparations, they do it anyway because they want to give her their best!

Teach your children this little concept and watch them apply it to everything they do at the different stages of their lives; it will not only make you smile, but God loves a cheerful giver too :)

Peace and blessings,

Lesa  

     "It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving."

Mother Teresa

Just Laugh

I love sunny mornings!

It's really starting to feel like summer around here. The kids are home, the nights are later, and the house is a little messy :)

I remember wanting to always make the most of the summertime with my kids, so we made a deal. All chores or responsibilities needed to be finished by 11:00 if they wanted to swim or play outside.  It worked great for our house because we were early risers. They were so motivated to get everything completed, and then we would have lunch by the pool or play outside.  Goals like this are a great way to set your expectations for the summer and also give them a little needed structure to their day.

However, as much as good planning is important, not everyday will be a well run ship around the summer house.  There will always be chores that can wait or appointments that need to happen, but remember to enjoy these days with your kids and don't forget to laugh with them even when things don't go the way you planned.

I was reminded of this yesterday as I was starting my day and unknowingly placed my cup upside down  :)

"Live a good life and in the end it's not the years in a life, it's the life in the years."

Abraham Lincoln