For the last few years, my family has participated in a program called Lads to Leaders. It encourages children to hone their skills needed as they grow so they can be leaders in the church in the future. We have insisted our son participate in Song Leading the last few years because up until now, he hasn't had to do anything but get up and start the song. Well, he's in third grade this year, and that means the requirements are a little more. He needs to add in the hand motions too.

Know what my ten-year-old daughter is excited about this summer? 
If you guessed shelling peas, you're right! But I bet you probably didn't. Because who gets excited about shelling peas?
Apparently, my children.
When I brought home the seeds and we planted them, she said, "I'm so excited. I've always wanted to shell peas."
And it caught me off guard.

From the years when our children were little bitty and couldn't sit still through until now, when there are still wiggles and moments it's hard for them to focus, my husband and I have had one goal. Bring our children up to love God. To us, that means being at Sunday school and worship services and all things in between. Every time the doors are open. We also sing hymns and praise songs around the house and in the car. We talk about God in our everyday conversations. Because they need to see God in us more than anything.
But that doesn't mean it's always been easy. Bringing a baby to church sometimes means the mama doesn't get anything out of the services for a while because she's so focused on teaching how to be quiet. Or making sure cheerios aren't spilled all over the floor.

His whole life, my son has had us pray with him right before bedtime. Sometimes, we do it all together as a family and sometimes it's either my husband or me with him one-on-one while the other prays with our daughter. In the last few months, my son has worked up the courage to say some prayers himself. And I am learning a lot from my eight-year-old, watching his faith grow.
First and foremost, that he listens when his daddy and I are praying. Because while we do keep it semi-formal, we also are very conversational in the way we talk to God. It is a conversation for us. So, as we do with any other conversation, we add side-notes or just state things the way they are. And my son does too.

If you're a parent, I'm sure you've probably had the conversation during communion where a little body next to you leans in and whispers, "I want a cracker too." It's only happened a few times with us. We quickly explain it's for grown-up Christians, knowing they're not ready for all the details yet, though we're getting closer. And they yearn to grow older so they can participate.
Lately, my son also wants to help pass the trays. The cracker one isn't quite as nerve-wrecking to allow him to handle as the juice. But often, it just takes longer for him to be allowed to hold it for that extra second or two than for my husband to hand it over him to me. And I have to remind myself to allow him those extra seconds. Because he's yearning to serve.

When you see new neighbors moving in, do you have a list of hopes or expectations about future interactions? Are you the kind of person who just waves as you pass or spot each other when checking the mail? Or are you the kind who stops to chat at the corner of your yards several times a week because you truly enjoy the people you live near?
We've been super blessed the last six and a half years while living in our house. Right beside us is the sweetest older couple who have basically adopted our kids as grandkids. And my kids love them just as much. Down the street are others who I chat with when we see each other walking or stop to say "hi" as we pass in our cars. It's a friendly neighborhood and feels relatively safe.

Over the past few years, I've been reading the Laura Ingalls books with my children. We go faster in the summer months and then slow down during the school year, so it's taking us a while. But we're nearing the end. Only a couple more books to go.
I've thoroughly enjoyed getting to revisit all these tales my mom read to my sister and me when we were growing up. But I also forgot a lot of things that were included in these books.
They seem like simple, innocent little stories at first glance. After all, they're about a little girl growing up out on the prairie, right?
Yes. But what you might not realize/remember is that back then, they saw some things a bit differently than we do today.

When you receive a gift card, do you want to spend it right away? Or save it for something special? Well, let me tell you, it's hard on kids to wait. After all, they want think they should be able to spend money or gift cards the moment they receive it.
Especially my son. Especially if it's for a place that has donuts or ice cream. Or both.
Needless to say, the gift card he'd received way back on his birthday in August was burning a hole in his pocket by the time Christmas had come and we still hadn't used it.​

Our congregation participates in a program each Spring called Lads to Leaders. The convention is over Easter weekend and it's huge. Basically, it's a program designed to encourage children to learn about the Bible and to learn how to be leaders in the church as they grow up.
There's scripture readings and memorization, Bible bowl, artwork, and then things like song leading and speech. Among a ton of other options.
We've participated the last few years, encouraging our kids to get out of their comfort zones, try something new, and study the Word of God. And we've probably learned just as much as they have, honestly.

"Read your Bible and pray every day and you'll grow, grow, grow." That's how the children's song goes. But how often do we actually encourage it? In our own lives as well as those of our children?
Our home congregation is working on having a revival year this year. Growing closer to God and each other. One of the ways we're doing that is a daily Bible reading. Try to read the Bible at least a little each day.
But, for those who can't do that, or don't want the pressure of reading the whole Bible in a year, they're also doing monthly challenges. One month it was to read the four gospels. One month to read Acts. This month is Psalms.