Beverly and I will be away on vacation next week. So things are slow here. Hopefully, when we return we can finish up some projects and have a couple of new publications to offer you in the fall. At least that’s our hope and prayer.
In the meantime, we’ll be travelling with the kids, and husbands and my other daughter on a trip to take in some historical sites.
God bless you and yours. Perhaps you will have a chance to do some travelling with your children too. If so, hope this article helps a little.
What a messy dreary day we’re having. Soaking rain all day long, it’s the type of day that often brings on gloominess in the heart. I needed a tickle to make me giggle and thought you might like one too. What can tickle us better than the things that kids say? I thought you would appreciate these two:
While working for “Meals-on-Wheels”, an organization that delivers lunches to the elderly, Paul used to take his 4-year-old daughter, Lois, with him on his afternoon rounds. Lois was unfailingly intrigued by the various appliances of old age, particularly the walking sticks, triangular walkers and the wheelchairs.
One day Paul found Lois staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. As he prepared himself for the inevitable barrage of questions, Lois merely turned and whispered, “The tooth fairy is never going to believe this.”
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Nathan, after his first day at school, returned home and told his mother, “I’m wasting my time at school. I can’t read, I can’t write, and they won’t even let me talk.”
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Have a great weekend with your kids and grandkids! Be thankful for the smiles they bring!
We’ve talked about the VOM Action Packs before on this blog, so I thought you might like to see this post at the Persecution Blog which has a behind the scenes photo of some children receiving them. This is just a reminder to you that this is an excellent way for you and your children to get involved and help.
I was taking my walk around the block yesterday and saw markings on a driveway for hopscotch! I was quite happy and excited about that because it means children are still playing the old-fashioned games of my childhood. Go here to read an article I wrote about outdoor games in the newsletter from May of last year. There’s a link at the end of the article which will take you to a site with the rules for this great game. Then, take a look at this short video:
Here at Speakable Gifts, we cannot stress enough the importance of good reading materials for children. The Christian Children’s Book Review is such a good resource for parents (and grandparents, and uncles and aunts and friends). I am excited to announce that CCBR is hosting a giveaway starting today!
Go to the giveaway post to read the details. CCBR is giving away over 10 titles!
This is a picture of the young lady who won the title of Miss California this year, and subsequently became the first runner-up for the Miss USA contest. So she can be classified as a beauty queen. You may have heard about the controversy surrounding not just the Miss USA pageant and her answer to the judge’s question about gay marriage, but also the recent hoopla about some unfortunate photos which were taken of her prior to all this. I heard Miss Prejean being interviewed one day shortly after the pageant where she gave testimony that she is a Christian. She spoke very well about her faith and I agreed with her position as she defended her response to the judges question. However, what has transpired since then has been quite ugly to say the least.
I don’t want to get into the sordid details of this whole issue, but wanted to take the opportunity to express my disappointment and sorrow over the lack of role models which we have for our daughters in today’s society. I would like to think that our girls could have more examples of the beauty that really matters to our Lord, not that which they would think requires them to show as much of their bodies as legally possible. I wish they could see more women in today’s spotlight who are adorned with those qualities that emanate from a pure heart. It’s not for me to judge girls who paticipate in the pageants of today, but I do pray that those who claim Christ would think again. And I also pray that our daughters and granddaughters will desire the beauty that goes beyond the skin.
I thought this was a good time to put in a plug for the little book we’ve had around for a couple of years now. It’s called “Beauty Contest” and it’s designed to make young ladies in preteen and teen years think about the qualities of true beauty. I’m currently still working on a guide for parents and teachers to go along with this little booklet, and will let folks know when that’s completed. Go to the product page for this booklet to find out more about it.
In the meantime, I think it’s important for us to pray for Miss Prejean at this point in her life. I think she wants to serve the Lord from what I heard her say in her interview. Let’s pray that she will and that the Lord will speak to her heart as to how she can go on from here.
Thank God for little children,
Bright flowers by earth’s wayside,
The dancing, joyous lifeboats
Upon life’s stormy tide.
Thank God for little children;
When our skies are cold and gray,
They come as sunshine to our hearts,
And charm our cares away.
I almost think the angels,
Who tend life’s garden fair,
Drop down the sweet wild blossoms
That bloom around us here.
It seems a breath of heaven
Round many a cradle lies,
And every little baby
Brings a message from the skies.
Dear mothers, guard these jewels.
As sacred offerings meet,
A wealth of household treasures
To lay at Jesus’ feet.
~ Frances E. W. Harper
Remember to guard these jewels, mothers; they are precious. They are our “household treasures.” My prayer for all mothers who read this is that you will indeed lay them at the feet of Jesus.
The above photo is of the two newest treasures in our family, my two grandchildren. Need I say what my prayer is for them?
Have a blessed and Christ-honoring Mother’s Day, whether you are a mother or have one. If neither applies, may the Lord Jesus draw near to you and be your all in all. After all, that should be the case no matter what the circumstances.
Don’t you just love this song for your little ones? It’s a great one for them to listen to over and over, because it’s so packed with biblical truth with its simple repetitions that even the youngest can understand. It’s teaching them to be careful what they do because God is watching! I may have talked about this some time back at this place but it’s worth repeating: get your kids off to a good start by teaching them this song!
I really do like the Cedarmont Kids, and thought I’d treat you to them once again. They sound a wee bit like the kids singing this song on our children’s cassette. (It’s on sale!) My two year old granddaughter loves it and I think your kids or grandkids would too. In the cassette, my younger daughter was just five years old when she had the part which said “Oh be careful little tongue what you say.” Now she’s sixteen, so that will tell you how long that cassette has been around and how long many young children have enjoyed it. So, enjoy these children who you can hear AND see:
A quick thank you to Shari Lyle-Soffe for her free promotion of our Bright Gems book. We appreciate it so much, Shari! If you want to know more about books for your kids or grandkids, hop on over to Shari’s blog.
Spring cleaning has just gotten a little bit easier for me in the past week. We have two girls age 2 years and 6 months old, and you may be able to imagine that messes abound in our house. I also have chronic hip pain, and lugging our reliable but heavy vacuum cleaner around really takes a toll.
The Dirt Devil Versa Power All-in-One Vacuum Cleaner is four pounds, my friends. Four. Pounds. When it arrived last week and I first picked it up I could have danced. This little friend isn’t for heavy duty cleaning, but it is perfect for households with little children and/or pets. It works wonderfully on those crumbs, tiny “bits” of whatever, hair on the bathroom floor, or stairs. It also has one attachment that gets in corners or atop dusty baseboards.
Things I like about my new friend:
· Its four pound lightness!
· The fact that it can be a stick vac, hand vac, and utility vac – whatever you need
· It doesn’t use a vacuum bag – it has a dirt cup that you empty
· My two year old actually vacuumed her room with it – all by herself.
Any of you moms out there have a favorite household “friend?” Tell us about it! And while we’re talking about spring cleaning, don’t forget to check out our Spring Sale! We are offering great items for your young ones - my favorite deal is the Dover Activity Books (9 pack) for only $4.50!
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