New Year's Resolution #1

I really don't make resolutions, but this year I am making some changes at our house.  Several years ago we had family devotions pretty regularly, and then while home schooling we were in the Bible everyday, but as the summer flew by and school started, we haven't really put any new time in place to have family devotions.  So, since, like I said before, we always have dinner together, I decided to use that time for family devotions and family prayer time.  We are using this really cute devotional that actually really fits all the ages we have.

The other thing that I've started began with this little spiral notebook that I got free on Vistaprint!

I designed the cover just special for this purpose.  In it we write down the kids prayer requests in it and anyone else that is on their hearts, and then we divide up the requests and we pray about them.  As each prayer request is answered, we write the date that it was answered next to it!  All of this has been going on for exactly one week, and I am so amazed at the growth in just that one week!  The first night the older two kids were a little hesitant to participate, but in a couple days, after seeing some prayers answered (yes, that fast!), they are sharing their own concerns now.

Out of all the kids, Zach is the one that has amazed me the most, he is such a heart-felt, and passionate little man of prayer, the very first night, his most sincere prayers were sent up and it brought tears to my eyes.  He prays for others to "Get Jesus in their heart and keep Him there", he listens to his brother and sister's concerns and it almost seems like he sees past what their request is to what they really need prayer for, and prays that for them.

The prayer that I find most humorous in a really ironic way, actually, is Faith's prayer, which simply is "Sleep all night, Amen", the deal is that if she sleeps all night and doesn't wake up mommy she gets to choose a treasure from the treasure box, which is full of, essentially, free crap from garage sales last summer, it's little trinkets and toys, and little bit of plastic jewelry, and she wants something out of there so bad that she will do almost anything, anything, that is, but stay in her bed all night!  But we keep praying for her, and as Zach says, "God didn't answer that one yet, I guess we will just have to keep on praying!"

I struggle to give things over to God, I really do, so this is as much for me as it is for them.  I am blessed beyond measure with the opportunity to train these children, they really do let me see a little of what God sees in me, feels for me.  Nothing compares to this love.

Accused!

I have been accused of posing my baby on the scooter! Well, here's the video proof- Mom!

Not Even 2!

This one is not even two years old yet and he is ridding a Razor scooter, I can't believe it. Keith showed him how and of course he's been watching all the kids ride those things constantly, and it took about one evening of practice and that little guy is ridding it all by himself!

Nine Year Old Prayer Warrior

I had to share with you one Grace best qualities. She is a prayer warrior. She is so sensitive to things going on around her, but what is truly amazing to me is that even as young as nine, she turns it over to the Lord. After my Mom and I had rushed her cousin Bailey to the ER, Grace gathered her brother and cousin Joy together to pray for Bailey. What is truly amazing is that at the exact time that they were lifting their eyes toward heaven, Bailey, in a packed ER, was taken back for a CT scan and stitches, and she was so calm and peaceful during the whole ordeal, she had even fallen asleep in the waiting room just before going in for her CT. That in itself was a miracle. 5 days later-Bailey's all better, just a scab and a couple black eyes!
I expressed to Grace that our family is under attack by Satan and that it was important to pray for our family and to ask Jesus to bind Satan from us. Right then and there, with me, she and I lifted our family up to Him, we both cried as we did.
Tonight she received an e-mail from my Mom that had pictures of these amazing sculptures in sand and wood carvings, Grace was truly amazed. In her prayers tonight with me she thanked God for those people and their amazing and unique talents. I teared up! I don't know that I ever would have thought to thank God for those people and their talents, even though I was blessed by them.
Never consider a child too young to pray, and never underestimate the power of a child's prayer.
But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Luke 18:16b-17