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.

My children are "church babies." It means they're growing up where the church building and the people in are another home. There are no strangers in church. Even if it's somewhere we're visiting.
For instance, a few weeks ago, when we were in West Virginia, we attended a Wednesday night Bible study where I spoke that Saturday. There were a few other kids there, though none of them exactly the same age as my children. And no other girls. My friend introduced my kids to their Bible teacher and they went. No questions asked. No worried clinging to my husband or me. They went to class.
It does a mama's heart good to see that. Especially since when they were younger, we did go through the phase where they clung and cried and didn't want to leave me.

Are you still singing Christmas songs in your house? Is it because your children are still singing Christmas songs? That's the way it is here. Ugh. I'm over it.
But it keeps an issue in the forefront of my mind, too. You see, this year my children actually paid more attention to the lyrics. Know what is in the lyrics of quite a few Christmas songs?
​Euphemisms.

I have a water bottle with lines on it. The lines have various times of the day and encouraging little phrases supposed to help me drink more water. I can normally fill and empty it about twice a day if I pay attention.
The other morning, it was sitting on the table at breakfast and still had some water left in it from the night before. My kids studied it while downing their toaster pastries.
"Mommy, did you not drink enough water yesterday?"

Have you ever made resurrection rolls? If not, let me explain a little about what they are and how they work.
Basically, it's a fun recipe to do with your kids around Easter to help explain the story of the resurrection. It's a cinnamon-sugar covered marshmallow inside a crescent roll. The marshmallow represents Jesus and the roll the tomb. When they bake, the marshmallow disappears, leaving only an empty tomb.
Here's an easy recipe we've been using.
Except this year, something went wrong.