Precious in His Sight

"for of such is the kingdom of heaven"

Jello Popcorn Balls

It had been a while since I made these popcorn balls. I forgot how easy and fun they are to make. I can't wait to do them with the grandkids!




Pop 6-8 quarts of popcorn. (I use an air popper.)
(I haven't tried microwave popcorn. If it works, let me know.)

Melt:
1 stick of butter or margerine (either in microwave or in heavy pan)

Add:
1 pkg of marshmallows

Stir well.

Add:
1 sm. pkg. of Jello (your favorite flavor or color)

Stir well, again.

Pour over popped corn.

Grease palms with shortning or butter.

Form balls (or other shapes)and place on wax paper (or greased cookie sheets)
(It cools quickly, so work quickly.)

While cooling, wash bowls and pans and spoons with hot, soapy water.

EAT !!!!

(Try different colors, flavors, and shapes. Tell me about your ideas.)

A Visit from a Friend

Can you tell a story in 100 words? My friend, Jan Ackerson, can create characters, setting, and a plot in just a tiny slice of time. Here's one she created for any mother or grandmother -

Macy Helps

"Sleep when the baby sleeps," they say, but they don’t factor in the big sister. It was silence that woke Leigh. She looked at the clock; she’d only been asleep for ten minutes. “Macy!” she called. Toddler footsteps pattered away from little Nico’s room.

Leigh jumped up and followed, stopping for a peek in the bassinet. Nico was awake, happy, a smear of something on his face. “Macy!”

The two-year-old appeared at the door. “Emmies, Mama!” She held out a fistful of M&;Ms. “Nico have two emmies!” Expertly, Macy tipped open Nico’s chin and dropped another candy in his mouth.

~ ~ ~

To read more of Jan's mini-stories,

go to her blog One Hundred Words .

Frog Eggs

A friend brought her home-schooled daughter to our house this week to get some frog eggs. I was very glad to oblige!

I donned my rubber shoes, a jar, and a ladle. The mosquitoes were fierce and the water slimy and cold, but we found a nice cluster of frog eggs.

The green jelly blobs floated in murky pond in our jar. There was even a bug swimming around in the bottom. We collected another jar of algae to feed the tadpoles when they hatched. I'm sure the girl will enjoy her mini-pond aquarium as much as her mother did as a child.

My own children had a jar of frog eggs on the kitchen counter every spring. We'd see them get darker in a week or so. Then one by one the tadpoles would break out of their eggs and start swimming about. Sometimes we'd have to put a few back in the pond, if we had too many. Also, we learned not to overheat them by putting the jar in a window. Every few days, one of the boys would get some algae to feed the little polliwogs.

When they were about an inch long and starting to form their back legs, we'd put them back in the pond. One year, we put a few in a bigger tank and saw them develop all the way to frogs, but only a couple survived and they were a bit stunted. It was best to let them go.

It's a great learning experience for kids!

Give me a HIGH FIVE!

Highlights for Children has a new magazine for preschoolers called HIGH FIVE. It has simpler hidden pictures and lots of colorful pages designed for communication development and interaction with your child.

Having grandchildren just discovering the world of books, I'm excited about this magazine. Highlights for Children has done much to promote children's education, and now they have something for the very little ones, too!

(Of course, having an action poem, "The Bullfrog", being published in the August issue is exciting too! )

The Highlights for Children company has more than magazines. There are crafts and electonic toys, teacher aids, plus math, geography, and thinking puzzle workbooks. Check out all the new products and ideas happening there!

Going Barefoot

"If I had my life to live over, I would start barefooted earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall."
(poem "I'd Pick More Daisies" by Nadine Stairs, age 85)

Anyone that knows me, knows that I love to walk barefoot. I love the feel of grass or sand or even mud on my bare toes. There are two surfaces I don't like: gravel (with wet feet) and paved roads (on a summer day). I love the soft warm feel of a cleanly swept porch and the rushing water of brook.

Children need to experience the world. They need to feel the different textures and temperatures of things. They need to go barefoot more often.



Let them dance in the raindrops
and stomp through the puddles.
Let them roll down a grassy hill.
Let them swing from the branches of a tree and blow dandelion seeds in the wind.
Let them eat berries in the fields without washing them off.
Let them dig in the dirt and find wiggly worms.
Let them catch frogs and feel slimy slugs.
Let them handle an ladybug and watch the ants.
Let them sniff a flower and get pollen on the end of their nose.



The evenings are getting longer and the temperatures warmer. Play ball, take a walk, get a little dirty...kick off your shoes and go BAREFOOT!

"Do You Love Me?"

I love the musical Fiddler on the Roof by Jerry Bock. At one part, Tevye wonders if Golde loves him. It had twenty-five years after an arranged marriage. He asks her, "Do you love me?" They realize that living with someone through the hard times of life had taught them to love each other. It didn't change anything, but it was nice to know.



It's nice to see young couples in love. They want to be constantly with each other. Their minds are off in dreamland half the time. They splurge on unnecessary trinkets for each other. They laugh and sing and write poetry.

Ahhh...young love!
But is that love?

Will that carry them through "for better or for worse, in sickness and in health?"



A couple in our church just celebrated their 50th anniversary and wanted to renew their vows. Only, the wife was battling cancer and the husband had recently suffered a stroke. We didn't know if they'd make it, but they did. When they promised again to love each other "in sickness and in health" it brought many tears to our eyes. They knew what it meant to really love someone.

Love is not emotions, for emotions can change. Love is a matter of the will. Can you tell your husband or wife,
"I will love you...no matter what." ?

Love is longsuffering.
Love is kind.
Love envies not.
Love vaunts not itself, is not puffed up.
Love does not behave unseemly.
Love seeks not her own.
Love is not easily provoked.
Love thinks no evil.
Love does not rejoice in evil, but in truth.
Love bears all things.
Love believes all things.
Love hopes all things.
Love endures all things.
Love never fails.

(I Corinthians 13:4-8)

When I was a child, I would be embarrassed for my my parents kiss each other in front of my friends. Yet, at the same time, I was pleased that they loved each other. I didn't have to wonder.

My husband shows his love to me in many ways. He cooks supper when I am extra busy or tired. He brings home a chocolate bar and sticks it in the freezer as a special treat for me. He rubs my back each morning as I'm waking up. He keeps the car and house repeaired. He budgets our money very well. He thanks me for baking his favorite cookies. He tells others that I'm a writer. Everyday, he kisses me and tells me that he loves me, but it's more than that. I know He loves me.

Do your children know that you love each other? Have they seen you make it through some hard times and come out closer and stronger? When they are old enough to look for a spouse, do they know to look past the pretty face and search for the qualities of a strong character, one that loves the Lord first?



Randy, you are my best friend.
I thank the Lord for giving me a husband like you.
I love you!

Baby Home School

Even before birth, your child is in school--your home school. He is learning from you, his first teacher.

A newborn's brain is like a computer. Everything that contacts it through sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste is stored and sorted in its networks. During the first five to six years of life a child’s brain retains most of what it receives. Where is the child during those years? At home, with you, his parents. What a responsibility and a privilege!

Haven’t you noticed how children are constantly trying to learn? Every child is a scientist. He’s exploring, experimenting, and questioning everything. Even an infant will put a new toy through the test. He’ll shake it, squeeze it, bite it, throw it, and start all over again.

A toddler loves to explore every inch of his surroundings. He’s pulling out bowls, flushing anything he can down the toilet, splashing in puddles, and washing his hair with hand cream. Some days you wonder why you bother to clean the house. The little “elves” make messes faster than you can keep up.

Sometimes you have to let your little one get dirty. You have to let him get muddy when he’s making roads, sticky when he’s making cookies, or quite wet when he’s “washing dishes”. Oh, don’t get too upset. It will clean. Give him a cloth to help. He’ll be learning all the while.

Children want to learn. Did you ever watch a child practice something new like climbing stairs or buttoning his clothes? He’ll do it over and over until he masters it. I know it’s hard to let him do it his own way, but now experience is his teacher. No dictionary or professor can teach him what he wants to know. Only you can by giving him the opportunity to do it by himself. All it takes is a little patience and caring.

A good teacher is one who provides opportunities for the student to explore and find his own answers. How can we be this kind of teacher to our child? – By putting before him a constant variety of experiences from which to learn.

Starting from birth, your baby can be learning about his world through bright pictures on the wall, mobiles, mirrors, rattles, musical toys, and any other interesting thing that catches his attention. Another way to expand the baby’s horizon is to give him various viewing points. Let him sit in an infant seat or swing in whatever room you’re working in. There are also many commercial back pack or baby slings that make it possible to free your hands as you carry him around, much like a papoose.



As the infant grows into the crawling and walking stage, he wants to touch and taste everything he can reach. It’s a trying time, but I know he must be learning by all he does. Instead of confining him to a stroller, let him run barefoot, weather permitting, and feel the difference between grass, gravel, and even mud. It seems he’s putting things in his mouth faster than you can take them out, but he’ll soon learn that rocks and leaves aren’t good to eat and move on to discover other things.

A choking child is a very scary experience. First of all, keep marbles, pennies, and small objects out of reach. If your child does choke, he won’t cry or cough, because he can’t breathe! Learning the Heimlech Manuever could be lifesaving. Kitchen cupboards are a favorite pastime for this age, so safety becomes very important, with locked doors and cleaning products out of reach. My little tykes spent hours “cleaning” my drawers, clattering pots and pans, rolling cans across the floor, and hiding in the empty shelves.

The toddler starts to discover how he can control his movements like running, hopping, coloring, and building. This age enjoys the toys that help him use his hands, body and imagination. Often something as simple as a cardboard box or a water-filled squirt bottle will be enjoyed more than most store-bought toys. The toys to buy or make should spark creativity like blocks, balls, crayons, and realistic stuffed or rubber animals.



Each child is unique with individual interests. As parents, we need to be aware, watching and listening for signs of his separate talents. Some children are musical or poetic or athletic. Some are mechanical, pushing buttons, turning knobs, and taking things apart to see how they work. One child may love animals, while another likes to help in the kitchen.

Every talent should be encouraged and guided by providing materials and time to develop his interest. We want our little ones to grow pleasing to the Lord and using their talents for Him. Teach your youngster that he is special in his own way and encourage self-respect, but not pride. Should the problem of personal pride arise, the young protégé should learn that God has allowed him to have that certain ability and to give the Lord the credit. He should know his own weaknesses, plus the strengths of others, seeing that we need each other. Teach him to ask for help and admit when things are too hard.

We shouldn’t boast of our child’s accomplishments or make him perform in front of guests. On the other hand, personal praise and encouragement is necessary. Teach him to compare himself to past performances and not to others. Notice that he colored insides the lines or turned a good somersault. Tell him that you appreciate his help when he fetches the baby’s toy or finds a missing shoe. He needs to feel needed. He needs to feel that someone is behind him, but not pushing him beyond his ability.



Each one is so different. None can be treated like another. Some learn quickly, others take their time. Some want lots of help and others would rather work alone. Watch and listen to your child and no matter what kind of person he is, together you will thrill over each achievement.

Reading is a doorway to the world. Teach your child to love books. Let him see you reading, buy books often, and most of all, read to him often, at least once a day. Start as soon as he will sit still on your lap for a few minutes. Talk about the pictures. Make animal sounds and point out familiar objects. As he begins to enjoy this time together, he will soon have some favorite books. I have memorized many books by reading them to my children over and over and over again. The child is learning that the words say the same thing every time, and that’s the beginning of reading.

Teaching and learning should be an all day process. Ask your little one to count the cups to put on the table. Ask him to find his red shirt or put his left foot in his boot. Tell him how apples and cheese are better for his body than cookies and candy. Take walks and catch tadpoles or pick wild strawberries. A toddler can’t sit still very long, so teach him on the run.

Use your imagination to make simple learning games. Have him match socks or sort tableware. Make simple lotto games with animals, colors, or shapes. Play “Simon Says” to learn the parts of the body, including difficult ones like ankle, hip or wrist.

Talk to your youngster whenever you can. Point out something new or ask him questions about what he’s doing. Give reasons for why you do things, like vacuuming to get the floor clean and turning off lights to save energy or wearing mittens to keep fingers warm. It makes him think out things and to learn to ask “why”, which should continue throughout his life.

Asking “why” is a specialty of four and five year olds. Questions seem to pour out of them. My boy would wait until he had my captured attention in the car. Then, he would bomb me with one question after another, each one unrelated to the others. “How high are the clouds?” “Why do we have belly-buttons?” “Where did my balloon go when I let it go?” Some questions seem silly and others are mind-boggling. Each question is important to the child, so don’t ignore them and try your best to answer all of them. Many times I had to say, “I don’t know; let’s look it up when we get home or ask Daddy.”

There’s a big world out there, and many wonderful things to learn. Teaching our children is a God–given privilege, and it’s not much more than showing them how to notice God’s wonderful world around them.

Good Night, Sleep Tight

My grandchildren aren't newborns anymore, and the parents are trying to establish sleeping routines. I remember those days! Those first few months are the most exhausting times of your life. It seems you never get enough sleep. The baby is asleep when you are busy during the day or need to go somewhere. Then he is awake when you want to go to bed. Something has to change eventually.

First of all, remember that a child needs at least 12 hours of sleep until they are five years old. ( Baby Sleep Patterns)
Each child is different. Some may need more, some need less, but it's usually more than you think. A regular routine will help your child to feel rested and happy and be healthier.

At first, a newborn needs to eat every two-three hours, day or night. He doesn't know the difference, but he has felt a routine of your movements for nine months. You walked and moved during the day and rested during the night. He has seen the brightness of daylight and the darkness of night. Don't keep his room darkened during the day. Let him sense the differences.

As the child grows and is able to eat more, he should be able to sleep for longer times. Between 4-6 months is a good time to begin establishing a consistent pattern. By now, your child may have learned that you will pick him up whenever he fusses. He may want to be rocked to sleep. These are fine (and expected) for a newborn, but after awhile he needs to put himself to sleep.

Establish a comforting bedtime routine. It doesn't really matter what you do or say, as long as it is the same each time. Read a book, sing a song, play a music box, say a poem, etc. Encourage him to snuggle with a blanket or teddy bear or something that can be easily washed-for it will definitely get dirty!(You may want to find duplicates, so one is always clean while the other is being washed.)Also, a little light in the room is also very comforting.

Choose a time when your own schedule is not busy to begin a sleep routine. (The first few days may be hard on everyone.) In the evening, feed your child and put them to bed. They will probably cry. Don't pick them up. Put them gently and firmly back down and walk out of the room. Every five minutes or so, check on them. Don't pick them up. Speaking softly and firmly, put them back down with their snuggle item. This may last 30 minutes or more. The key is to NOT give in. Consistency is important. Once you give in, it will be so much harder the next time. You will have taught them that crying will give them whatever they want. This is the hardest part. Don't give up. Eventually your baby will go to sleep.

You may need to feed them and change their diaper in the middle of the night, but don't make it a play time. Put them back to bed. You may need to repeat this a few times. Personally, I have no problem with bringing the child to bed with you in the morning, for a cuddly dozing time,but you will not sleep soundly if they spend most of the night with you, neither will they ever want to sleep in their own bed.

After only two or three nights, the crying will have mostly stopped. Your child will have learned to put himself back to sleep. Before long, the whole family will be getting a full night's sleep. Everyone will be happier and healthier.

Later, I will address the importance of an established bedtime for children.

"Dear Vonnie" White Lies

NOTICE: I will be moving my "Dear Vonnie" to Thursdays. Look for "Fun and Families" on each Saturday, with crafts, recipes, and parenting ideas.

Each Saturday, I will do my best to answer your questions. I don't pretend to be an expert, but I know it's not easy being a wife and mother. It can be frustrating and discouraging, yet very rewarding. I'd be glad to listen to you, pray for you, and share some of my thoughts with you.

So, ask me something... anything...





Dear Vonnie,

I saw on TV a discussion on telling “white lies” as a parent. Is there such a thing? Is it ok? The example they used was serving fish and saying it was chicken in order for the child to eat it.



"Lime lips are abomination of the Lord."

(according to 4 yr. old Micah when he saw his green tongue)
(not a picture of Micah...sorry)

As part of our homeschool routine, we were learning a verse from Proverbs each week. That week, it was Proverbs 12:22 "Lying lips are an abomination of the Lord."

The word "abomination" means something that is putrid and disgusting; such as a bird making a deposit on your hot dog. It turns your stomach! You toss it far from you! It's horrible!

That's how God sees lying. He hates it! We should hate it too.

Sin is sin. There are no degrees of sin. A wrong thought is as bad as committing murder. All are an offence to a holy God.

"For whosoever shall keep the whole law,
and yet offend in one point, he is guilt of all."
James 2:10

Lies have a way of tangling us up into knots. One lie will lead to another, until we are so twisted up, we can't get free. It's best not to start with the first little "white lie."

In our home, if a child admitted a wrong doing before they were caught, the punishment was diminished considerably. They may still have to pay for the broken window or do extra chores, but if they lied about the offense, the punishment would be doubled--a normal appropriate discipline, plus more for lying. Any lie was punished harshly and quickly. We wanted to instill in their young minds that it would not be tolerated at all in our home. They all knew the story of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" very well.

It saddens me to see young kids lie. Some are so good at it, that it's hard to tell the truth from the lie. Some do it so much, that they don't know how to tell the pure truth; they have to embellish it somehow--to make themselves seem stronger or smarter or popular than they really are.

We, as parents, should be trusted to always..ALWAYS... tell the truth to our children. How can they trust us, if we don't? How will we be able to trust them, when they grow into teens, lying when it is convenient?

We should be known as trustworthy honest people.We that call ourselves Christians are examples of Christ to others. We should always tell the truth, no matter what, even to our own hurt.

Now..there are times when we should be quiet if the truth would hurt someone's feelings--if someone has gotten a bad haircut or their clothes don't match--but even then, if asked for your opinion, tell the truth kindly and honestly.

This overlaps last "Dear Vonnie", concerning speaking the truth in love. There are times to be quiet, but if you must speak, do it honestly and lovingly.

Lord, teach us to see sin as You see sin, to hate it and seek to rid it from our lives. Help us to live honest and faithful lives before our children and neighbors. May we wear the name of Christian will honor and strive not to bring dishonor to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen

Resurrection Cookies

Here is recipe that gives a good object lesson:



(Read all the way through before attempting.)


*VERY IMPORTANT*
(preheat oven to 300 deg.)

1 cup whole pecans
3 egg whites
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vinegar
pinch of salt

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let cildren beat them
with a wooden spoon into small pieces.
Read John 19:1-3
Explain that Jesus was arrested and beaten by the Roman soldiers.

Let them smell the bottle of vinegar.
Put 1 tsp into a mixing bowl.
Read John 19:28-30
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross,
they gave him vinegar to drink.

Add 3 egg whites to the vinegar.
Read John 10:10-11
Explain that eggs represent life. Jesus gave his life for us.

Sprinkle a little salt in each child's hand.
Let them taste it. Sprinkle a little in the bowl.
Read Luke 13:27
Explain that this represents the salty tears of Mary
and the followers of Jesus.

Add 1 cup of sugar.
Read John 3:16
Explain the sweetness of the story
that Jesus died because He loves us.
He wants us to belong to Him.

Beat everything with a mixer on high speed for 10-15 min.
until stiff peaks are formed.
Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3
Explain that the color white represents God's purity
and those who have had their sins forgiven.

Fold in the broken nuts and drop batter by teaspoon
onto waxed paper covered cookie sheet.
Read Matthew 27: 57-60
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb
where Jesus' body laid.

Put cookie sheet in the oven.
Close the door and turn the oven OFF.
Give each child a strip of tape
and seal the door.
Read Matthew 27:65-66
Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed
by order of the high priest and Pilate.

GO TO BED!
Read John 16: 20-22
Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies
in the oven overnight, just like
Jesus' followers were sad when the tomb was sealed.

On Resurrection morning, open the oven
and give everyone a cookie.
Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.
The cookies are hollow!
Read Matthew 28:1-9
On the first Resurrection Day, Jesus' followers
were amazed to find the tomb empty.

HE IS RISEN!

Pussy Willows and Black Flies

Who doesn't love spring?

Well, I don't like the mud and the cold, wet, rainy days. I wouldn't want it to be spring all year long. But, in Maine, spring (which doesn't really come until May) means that the winter snow and ice is finally over.

The mittens and hats are packed away. The blankets and flannel sheets are washed and saved for next fall. Sweaters and snowpants are exchanged for t-shirts and shorts.Rubber boots and light jackets are the perfect outer wear now. Sleds are stacked in the shed, and the bicycles are oiled and adjusted.

This is a great time to let kids just play. Send them outside to explore. Let them float things down the rushing ditches. Let them collect frog eggs and pussy willows.let them count the robins and listen for the migrating geese. Let them play ball in the soggy fields. They'll come back wet and muddy, but it's springtime. Life is too short to worry over a little dirt.

In Maine, spring also means black flies, those pesky gnats that swarm around your eyes and get in your mouth. They'll bite without you feeling it and leave swollen, bloody lumps behind your ears and on your neck. Little children seem to be the most tasty. Skin-So-Soft, produced by Avon, seems to be the best stuff against black flies. Sometimes, if a child (or anyone) gets too many bites, they can run a fever. We'll endure them for the joy of spring.

It's time to plan a garden, although it may be June before you can plant. You can start some tomato and pepper plants in the house while you are waiting. When it is time to sow your seeds, get the whole family involved. Even a toddler can pick up rocks. There's nothing more satisfying than to plant a row of seeds. Teach them the wonder of seeds and the spiritual lesson of something dying to bring life.

So, get outside and enjoy the world coming back to life!

Keeping Baby Close

Micah and Gabriel
















I have babies on my mind,right now!




Anna and Carter



















If you have been following my blog, you know that I have two new grandsons. My daughter-in-law made a sling for her baby. It was so simple! Baby Slings Basically, it's a long (6'x 1') piece of cloth attached to some rings. (sorry, no pics yet of Grace, Micah's wife, with the sling)




She tried it out at a restaurant, when little Gabriel was only a week old. He loved it! He snuggled right down into his little hammock and fell back to sleep. She was able to use both hands without having to hold him. Later, he woke up, but didn't fuss. I wish I had known about those when my kids were little.

We, of the "civilized world", are learning from the mothers in other cultures the benefits and conveniences of having our babies close.





Babies need to feel close to someone, preferably their mother. I'm sure Gabriel could hear his mother's heartbeat, much like he did in the womb. You can't spoil a baby by holding him too much. They need the human touch, the security of being cared for.

With a sling, the mother can discretely nurse whenever he is hungry. When his needs are quickly responded to, he knows that all is well. He can grow and learn without the need of searching for attention. When he is ready to explore and venture from his mother, he will with confidence that she is there if he needs her.

To a young infant, he and his mother are one. He doesn't know time. He doesn't know distance. When he is separated from her, there is a feeling of anxiety and panic because part of him is gone. As he matures, he learns more of the rest of the world. He learns that his mother is not completely gone, when she is out of sight.

Are we like this with our Heavenly Father? Do we crave to be close to His heart, to feel His arms about us? Do we panic when our routine gets disturbed or have we matured enough to know that He is still there, even when we can't see Him?


Lord, may we want to stay close to Your heart.

"Each One Unique"

Yesterday, my daughter and her husband brought their two month old to see his new cousin. Of course, he was more still more interested in his next meal than seeing another baby, but he did seem to know that this little person was different.

Different...those two little boys are very different! One is almost bald, rolly and jolly, smiling at anyone who catches his eye. He gulps his milk and then spits it back up with a loud belch. The other seems fragile with his tiny arms and legs. His dark eyes stare at the light of the window. He quietly nurses and dozes as his father tries to get a tiny burp. Yet, each is beautiful and sweet in their own way.

It it easy for mothers to compare another baby to their own.

"He is bigger."
"He is sleeping better."
"He is rolling over."
"He is talking already."
"He can read."
"He can ride a bike."
"He can play the piano."
"He gets better grades."
"He has lots of friends."

It goes on and on...

but it is wrong to think this way!

God made each child special and just the way He planned for them to be. Each child has their own strengths and weaknesses. None is better than another. All are precious in His sight.

Psalm 139:13-17
"...Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
I will praise Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
My substance was not hid from thee,
When I was made in secret, and curiously wrought
in the lowest parts of the earth.
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect;
and in thy book all my members were written,
which in continuance were fashioned,
when as yet there was none of them.
How precious also are thy thought unto me,
Oh God! how great is the sum of them!"

God knows each little toe and curly eye lash. He knows their talents and personalities. He knows the way that He has planned for them.

What a great and wonderful God we have!

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for these two precious little boys. Teach them Your truths, guide their steps, lead them in Your ways. I pray that they will seek You with their whole hearts and desire to serve You all their lives. In Jesus' Name, Amen

What day is this?

This week, I am staying with my son, Micah, and his wife, Grace, and their new son, Gabriel, who was just born a week ago!

It's hard not to just gaze at him. How much cuter could a baby be? It's fun to notice his little characteristics; kicking off blankets, wanting his fingers to near his mouth all the time (not good when he's trying to nurse), not liking bright lights, loving his swing, etc.

This weekend was a tumbling hubbub of people in and out wanting to see the new new baby. Grace's family (four brothers and a sister and her parents and grandmother and two aunts) were here. A lady and her daughter from the church brought a meal.

Poor Gabriel, he doesn't know that we need to sleep. He's up every two or three hours, throughout the day and night, wet and hungry. The new mother is learning to take naps whenever he does. Hopefully, by the end of this week, those night naps will stretch a little longer.

At this point, the parents wonder if their life will feel normal again. I know that it will never be the same. Having a child will change their whole outlook on life. They'll be great parents; it's just this part that is a little rough right now. Soon Gabriel will learn the difference between day and night, and everyone can get some sleep.

Lord, thank you for the joy of seeing new life. Thank you for this little boy. Help to grow healthy and strong, physically and spiritually. Give his parents wisdom and patience. Thank you for the blessing of grandchildren. Amen

Teach Them Diligently, Part Two

( Part One )

Matthew 18:3-5
"And (Jesus) said, 'Verily I say unto you,
Except ye be converted, and become as little children,
ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child,
the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
And whoso sha l receive one such little child in my name receiveth me."


A child has no fear, no distrust, no doubts, no deception. They come to God as they are, believing with all their heart.

My daughter went outside to swing one day when she felt sad. She told me, "I asked God to pick me up and hug me, and He did."

As we were driving over a mountain, my son was so excited to be in the clouds. He said, "We're going to see Jesus!" I didn't want to say anything. It was possible!Make God and the stories of the Bible as much a part of your children's life as food and breath. They should know more about David and Daniel and Peter, than Barney and Elmo and Thomas. They should know the difference between Moses and Noah, between Jericho and Jerusalem, and between passover and parable.

Teach them the Books of the Bible. Have them sit next to you in church and follow along in the hymnbook and Bible. Give them their own Bible as soon as they begin to read. Teach them to respect it and honor it by keeping it clean and using it often.

Prayer should be more than "God bless Daddy and Mommy." Pray with them often, when they are sick or sad or have lost something or need something. Pray for others. Rejoice over answered prayers. Write them down, if it helps, and review how God has provided over the year. Teach them that a "No" from God is an answer, too. Sometimes, what we want isn't best for us.

Our family often received used clothes and then passed them to other families. We had some athletic shoes with cleats given to us. They hung around our house for awhile, but I stuck them in a bag of clothing to go to a family of boys. Little did I know that one of their sons had just joined a soccer team and needed some cleats. Not having much money, the mother told him to pray about it. Everyone was surprised and delighted that the shoes were just his size. What a great example to both families of God's great power and love!

Little children, ages three or four or five, can realize their need of salvation. I have seen a young child, angry and rebellious, change to a loving and submissive one when they confess their guilt to God. One little kindergartner led his grandfather to the Lord. He told what he knew, and God did the rest.

Children have a different perspective, seeing things that we don't. I had told my class that Jesus would have died on the cross for them, even if they were the only one. One little boy said, "If I were the only one, then I would have had to kill him." That brought me to tears, because, in a sense, we did.

God can give young children the call to serve Him at a young age, to be a missionary or pastor. Do not squelch their desire to reach out to others, to give, to invite others to church. Jesus warns us about offending a child, about turning them away from spiritual things.

Matthew 18:6
"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about this neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."

Dear Lord, give us hearts like a child. Let us love You and trust You completely. Let us feel Your presence. May our conscience be tender to sin. May we want to be close to You as a child is to his daddy. In Jesus' Name, Amen

New Grandbaby!

I wish to announce
that

GABRIEL MICAH BLAKE
(7lb. 5 oz., 20")
was born
to
GRACE MARIE FITZGERALD BLAKE
and
MICAH NORMAN BLAKE
on
MARCH 2, 2009
(at 12:30 AM)

Teach Them Diligently

Children are so sweet and innocent, yet they are sinners and need to be shown the way to God.

Children are very trusting and eager to believe. That's good, yet it is frightening, because they will believe anything. That puts a big responsibility on us to make sure they get the truth.

I love teaching the young classes at Sunday School or Vacation Bible School. I love to tell the stories of Jesus to someone who's never heard them before. I love to see their faces when the Lord shows His power in the stories of Joshua and Gideon. I love to teach them the truths about my God.

By the time they leave my class, I like them to know these facts about God:

1. The Bible is God's Word and is completely true.
2. God made them and everything around them.
3. God is everywhere and knows all things.
4. God can do anything. (teach the word "miracle")
5. God is holy, pure, and hates sin. (teach the word "sin")
6. God loves us, and sent us His Son to take the punishment of our sins.

A little boy once had to fetch something from his bedroom one evening. As he walked into the darkened room, he said, "God, I know you're in here, but don't move, or you'll scare me out of my socks!"

Most of a child's teaching about God doesn't come from church. It comes from you as you live day by day. The years before they become busy with school and other activities is the time to teach them. Establish a foundation of truth in their minds as you talk with them each day. It doesn't have to be a set Bible time, but part of your normal conversations as you work and play with them.

Teach them about God's creation when you walk to the mailbox. Teach them the difference between true stories and pretend stories when you watch TV or read books. Talk about sin; talk about heaven; talk about miracles. Make the things of God a natural topic of conversation.

When my daughter was very young, she had trouble understanding what it meant to die. I prayed that I would be able find a way to show her. The next day, our cat brought in a dead bird. As we examined the lifeless animal, I was able to explain that the wages of sin is death and that she died to take the punishment for our sins.

Teach them to talk to God, not a memorized prayer, but to talk to him as friend, anytime and anywhere. Children seem to understand prayer better than most adults. They have no doubts when they approach God. They come to Him trusting and believing that He hears them and will answer.

Deuteronomy 6:7
"Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children,
and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house,
and when thou walkest by the way,
and when thou liest down,
and when thou risest up."


(Look for more examples of childlike faith next week.
If you have any stories of your child learning about God,
I'd love to hear them.)

"Dear Vonnie" Doing Things the Hard Way

I have a pet peeve:

Children don't know how to do things the hard way.

As a teacher, it was frustrating to me to have kids not know how to tie their shoes because they grew up with velcro sneakers. Some had trouble buttoning their shirts straight. They couldn't tell time because they had digital watches. They complained if the microwave didn't work, and something needed to be heated on the stove.

We live in a time when everything is so fast and easy that we've forgotten how to work. I think we have become lazy as we acquire more and more appliances and tools. I realize that our life is made better, but we forget how to do thing without the conveniences.

When is the last time you sewed on a button with needle and thread?
Do you hang clothes on the line in the summertime?
Has your child ever seen yeast make bread rise?
Do they know how to use a broom?
Have they helped you make a cake or cookies without a mix?
Have they ever watched a cow being milked or gathered eggs?
Do they know that potatoes grow underground?
Have they ever pumped water from a well?
Have they washed a whole day's dishes without a dishwasher?
Have a they written a letter with paper and pen?

I'm not saying we should live this way all the time, but our children just do not know what life is like without electricity or grocery stores or machines. They need to know where we started-- how many people in the world still live. It will help them appreciate how much they have been blessed with.

Camping is a great tool to learn the basics of life. Cooking over a fire teaches many lessons. Just living a week without TV or phone or computers would be a drastic change for many children. It would be good for them to hike and swim and talk and play together.

If God calls your child to be a missionary on a foreign field. It would be nice if the culture gap was not too wide. It's hard enough to learn a new language and customs without having to learn to live close to nature.

"Hard work builds character." I'm a strong believer in making children do chores. All my kids, boys and girls, cooked and washed clothes (we did use a washing machine) and stacked wood and washed dishes and sewed on buttons. We enjoyed our toys, but I didn't want them to think that's the way life is all the time.

So, get back to basics. Walk to the store, visit a farm, shovel the driveway, plant a garden, and learn to live the hard way.

Read Me a Story

Books...books...books...I love books! Why? because they have always been a big part of my life.

I don't remember not being able to read. Was I born with that skill? Of course not! I was taught somewhere along the way. I know my parents read to me from the time I was an infant. My favorite one was "The Counting Book" published by GoldenBook, the one that starts;

"One little puppy,
A roly poly puppy,
Alone as he can be!
Isn't there a boy or girl,
Who wants to play with me?"

When a little child hears the same words read over and over, he learns that those markings say the same thing every time. When you point to the words, he starts to associate them with the sounds. Show him what his name looks like. If it begins with "M"...make a "mmmmmmm" sound and point it out in other places. Teach him the sounds of the letters, not the names. (that will come eventually)

My family read books together in the evenings along with our Bible readings and prayers. My father told us of "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" and "Tom Sawyer". One of our favorite poems was "The Raggedy Man" by James Whitcomb Riley.

Even after a child can read on his own, read to him.(I still like hearing a story read to me.) Let him hear the pattern of phrases, and styles of dialects. I loved to hear my father reading "Uncle Remus":

"Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear, dey lay low..."

We didn't have a television while we were growing up, and books became my friends. I read them over and over. I loved "Heidi" and "Island of the Blue Dolphin" and "Jingo, the Wild Horse of Abaco." I would read into the night to finish a Nancy Drew mystery or a Grace Livingston Hill book. I found ways of hiding the light of my room, so my parents wouldn't know I was still reading. (I'm sure sometimes they knew but let me anyway...if there was no school the next day.)

Make books a part of your family's life. Read nursery rhymes and simple books to your baby. Make the silly animal sounds and talk about the pictures. Read Dr. Seus and other fun stories to your toddler. Let him hear them over and over and over again. That's how he'll learn to read by himself. Read longer books together as your children grow. Teach them good classic literature. Take your chidren to the library and let them have their own card. Let them see you reading books. Buy books as gifts and rewards for accomplishments.

Books...books...books... I love books!