As we were getting ready to go to the tree lighting ceremony downtown my son asked, “Mom, can I tell Santa that he is not what Christmas is all about?"
I love that as we anticipate Christmas, my kids know that we are preparing to celebrate Jesus' birth. Yes, they know we are going to have presents under the tree, and they even sat on Santa’s lap at Scott’s work party, but when I asked my son what he likes best about Christmas, he answered, “celebrating Jesus' birthday.
I mentioned before that Scott and I have been spending a great deal of thought, prayer, and discussion lately on a few big family decisions.
1. How will we educate our son next year?
I can’t believe it, but my oldest will be ready to start kindergarten next year. Since he was only months old, I’ve been hounded with questions from friends, family, and acquaintances about where we will send him to school.
My son came home from school the other day with a craft he had made listing the things he was thankful for. They were
Mommy and Daddy (yea, we made the list) his sisters (doesn’t this just warm your heart) toast ice cream This list was quite insightful to me. Who know that toast got such high billing? I’ll be sure to have toast around more often now that I know how much he values it.
My son was playing in the backyard swinging his stick like an ax into the mound of dirt when he announced in an overly dramatic voice, “I am working like a slave!” I am sure it’s not hard for you to guess what we’ve been studying this year in Bible Study Fellowship.
That’s right…the life of Moses.
I was recently reading in Exodus 16 about the Israelites wandering in the desert.
A recent dinner conversation resulted in one of those, “wow” moments for my husband and I as we listened to our four year old speak truths that truly made us rejoice.
We had been talking about voting and my husband asked if my four year old son new what voting was…
Son: Yea I do I learned it at school…it’s the government who makes all the rules
Dad: Right… and we get to vote on who will make those rules
Last month the topic of our MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers) meeting was patience. As we shared in our discussion groups, one mom shared a verse that she had read which had really helped her control her anger.
James 1:20
“for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires."
When she read the verse every mom around the table sat up. “Woa, that’s a good one, where is it?
I was brushing my daughter’s hair the other day when I noticed how long and pretty it was getting.
Me: Wow, your hair is getting long and so pretty
Daughter: No I’m not
Me: Why not? What do you want it to be?
Daughter: I want to be nice and kind.
(My son starts giggling at this point)
Me: Hmmm that’s good, but you can be nice and kind and still have pretty hair.
Ya know the kids song, “Father Abraham”? It’s typically popular with Sunday School and VBS kids everywhere. When I taught third grade it was a fav of my students.
Not such a hit with my four year old. I’ve said he’s analytical, and he proved that point.
We’re driving along in the minivan listening to a Kids Praise CD when “Father Abraham” comes on. I’m singing along in my head not really paying much attention when my son asks, “Why does it say I am one of them?
Last week in our Catechism Class, I taught the kids the song “This Little Light of Mine.” We talked about how we can let our lights shine and how we can hide our light. We played a game where I would name some actions (like obeying your parents, or hitting your sister) and then the kids had to say if that action let their light shine or covered it up. (They got to turn the flashlight off or on when it was their turn to answer the question).
Our church has a catechism class for 4-9 year olds that meets weekly on Sunday evenings. This year I will be co-teaching my sons class on the beginning catechism. Throughout the course of the year he will work to memorize the first 48 questions in the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
I am really excited about this because the catechism provides an easy way to teach and remember vital Biblical truths.
For example here are the first five catechism questions.