"So promise me you'll never forget...that you aren't an accident or an incident...you are a gift to the world, a divine work of art, signed by God. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on this earth...Flooded by emotion, overcome by pride, the Starmaker turns to us, one by one, and says, 'You are my child. I love you dearly.'" Max Lucado, God Thinks You're Wonderful







Friday, February 5, 2010

So Thankful!

So Blake is finishing up his interviews (thank you Lord!) and he asked me to join him on this last one.
We've not taken a vacation alone in almost 4 years, so we desperately needed the time together!

And, it was a rather cheap choice since he already had to fly, get a car and a room. So early Thursday morning we flew to Reno then drove to Lake Tahoe!
Oh my goodness, it's incredibly beautiful here! I can't imagine getting to live here for a year. A gorgeous lake on one side, and enormous mountains on the other (with casinos in between). What a fun town!
So I loaded my suitcase with books to read on the trip and have so enjoyed my first: The 5 Love Languages of Children by Chapman and Campbell. As I am reading I am just heartbroken. I don't blog about discipline, punishment and misbehavior often, because I don't want to focus on it. There are so many wonderful things to talk about with our kids: why even focus on the other, right?
Well, this book has opened my eyes to so much that I am doing wrong and given me such hope with things that I can do to help our kids feel so much more love in the midst of misbehavior. Don't get me wrong, we are not screamers around here, our home is full of love. Of course, we think our kids are angels, but they do at time make poor choices (shocker, I know!). And I do struggle with behavior modification and punishment. So this was such a great book for us right now. I also plan to re-read one of my favorites Love and Logic, because I think they work well together.

So many times I see that parents don't enjoy their kids and don't love parenting. It's almost seen as a nuisance when the kids hit "terrible two's" and "horrible 3's" and honestly that just breaks my heart. I don't want our kids to ever think that I see them as "terrible", or question that they are "horrible", or that I get annoyed with them. How awful for a child to think their parent feels that way about them? But it happens so often and it just kills me to hear those words.
This book has opened my eyes to so much of what I was doing in not understanding their love language, and therefore possibly using that language against them in punishment. So, if any of you need a good read out there, this one could not be read soon enough!
Can't wait to share pics of Lake Tahoe but I didn't bring my cable to upload them!

These are a little old, but I am not sure I ever shared them...our Christmas picture from this year!

5 comments:

Kristy said...

I completely agree with you, why focus on it! We are so much calmer and more relaxed this time around with Aaron then our first two I guess cuz were older and also we have learn to pick our battles. There is a Love n Logic conference coming up that I really want to goto!

Al's World said...

Okay, this is so God...I mean so God. I was just about to go to bed and thought I would check my blog...and saw that you wrote something ans since you always write the most amazing things, i couldn't wait to read what you said. Well you did not let me down. JUST TONIGHT for a reason i can't remember I was thinking how when you and Laura speak about your kids you never, ever talk about them negatively, especially you. You are ALWAYS praising them, always loving them and in every picture you can see the love they have on their face, the love they feel from you and Blake. You can feel the love you have for your children through your words and pictures. You many times have inspired me not to raise my voice, but to talk to my kids with LOVE. And you have again. I don't know how you do it, well I know, but I hope that can have the same heart as you that comes straight from the Holy Spirit. You have been so encouraging to me telling me how much fun I am going to have with three and for this mommy who is SCARED TO DEATH I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it.

Well, sorry so long, but I just had to say thank you. Thank you for the inspiration, for the living example of Christ-like love to our children and for being so humble about it at the same time. Love you and hope you and Blake have a wonderful time together!!!

Julie said...

I am going to have to get that book. :) I feel so convicted after reading your post. Thank you, Molly. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

danielle said...

thanks for the book recommendation.. i have been wanting to read one on discipline... trying to figure out what is going to work for our family! :)

Chassidy said...

I'm going to get that book right away! Sounds awesome! So glad you had a nice getaway...what a blessing. Can't wait to see pics