Thursday, June 14, 2018

They are listening...

Last night we told the truth about the Bible to our boys. 

You know, the fact that it isn't just filled with stories of hero's and do gooders, miracles and people coming to Jesus. 

Yes, we told them the truth. 

Let me give you the background. We had a certain situation where a person told a story around us (not just us, a lot of people actually). We, as a family, thought it was filled with inappropriate themes. Since this instance my kids have felt that they shouldn't listen or be respectful of this particular person. We actually took our concerns to some people, including the person in question. His response was respectful. We are trying to teach the boys that just because someone has done something that is inappropriate or wrong, it doesn't mean that we have to shut them out and decide that that person is not good or deserving of respect. Because the truth is we all sin. We all fall short of God's glory. God forgives each one of us. He loves each one of us. 

Fast forward (well technically rewind) to last night. We had to break it to them that King David, yes, the hero who killed Goliath, saw a women who was married, decided he wanted her as his wife (we didn't go into too much detail here seeing how they are still 7 and 9), had her husband killed so that he could then marry her. 

Owen's response was "but she was already married. You can't marry someone who was already married!" I love his sweet innocence. 

That was our point. He was getting it. David sinned. He did things that were "inappropriate" (their words). Yet, he was still knows as a man after God's own heart! I'm not quite sure they really got our point, but I think they might have at least heard what we were saying. 

Sometimes we fight so hard to get points across to our kids. I think though that they hear us. They like to play devils advocate. However, when it comes to it, they hear us and they learn from us. So keep teaching them. Don't get warn out. Parenting is tough. I'm not sure that was the point I was going with when I started this post, but I do want to encourage you. Search for signs that they are listening. Because I promise you they are!  

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Gardening...

My boys and I decided to have a vegetable garden this year! I forgot how wonderful it is to watch God's amazing creations grow into the food we eat! It truly is amazing. It has been so much fun getting my kids involved this year. I have tried in years past, but I think they were just too young to truly get into it and understand the work it takes and to really enjoy it. This year, however, they are helping and from what I can tell, loving it! Every time we spot a vegetable we all get excited! 

We currently have three pepper plants, watermelon, zucchini, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and lima beans! And of course we have planted some marigolds to help get some bees to come around as well as keep some bugs away. Apparently some bugs don't like marigolds! We have the lima beans, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini are in containers or pots. The pepper plants and watermelon are in our raised garden bed. (see pictures below)

We started watching youtube videos from MIgardner and have learned a lot about gardening from him as well as other pages that I have been reading. My boys got inspired from MIgardener and asked if they could start their own youtube channel. I said they could (of course I am the one in charge of it). They are having fun doing that! Check out the link that that here.

I have to say that I have found that gardening has given me some sort of purpose. I'm not sure if that makes sense or not. It's not like we really needed this garden. I mean, after all we can just go to the store and get these vegetables. I don't know really how to describe it. I have just really enjoyed it. I feel like it has helped keep my depression at bay. Anyways, I hope you can find some happiness in gardening or something like it!

Here are a few pictures from our garden so far. I'm hoping we have a good harvest of all things planted! I'm already planning for our garden for next year. I guess I should plan for our fall garden. I heard it was important to have things planted in your garden bed so weeds keep out. Perhaps we will just do one thing in the whole bed for the fall, just to keep busy.