A Joy Filled Home

By Nicole VanGelder

The Beauty of Chaos

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I used to believe that in an ideal world, my house would be clean and orderly, almost always. I would have more money in the bank and life would have a nice rhythm with only good interruptions (think: travel). 

I still enjoy a clean and orderly house (on the rare occasion it happens, at least). And, I certainly wouldn’t turn down more money in my account if it were offered! However, I no longer believe that this is what an ideal world looks like. In fact, it may sound crazy, but I wouldn’t choose it even if I could. The reason for this is because I believe wholeheartedly that an ideal life is a life lived with people. And, anytime people are involved, so is a certain level of chaos.

It is uncomfortable, irritating, frustrating, and stretching to the point of actually breaking, for your life to be lived in close connection with others. (This is particularly true if they are little people that are born without boundaries or even the most basic of manners!) Nothing has stretched my character the way that being a wife and mother has—not to mention my comfort level. And by no means is this a reflection on my family! Instead, life with them has exposed the real me: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

But, the miraculous thing is that this exposure has been the very thing that has brought me life! I have been found wanting so many times. There are many instances where I have fallen short. Yet, life goes on. Daily life and the demands of it don’t stop. This requires me to move past my shortcomings and keep going. As a result, I grow. 

Some days, I have had a harder time with this than others. But, I love my family. I sincerely want to be a positive force in their life. I want my marriage to thrive. I want my home to be a place of love and peace and joy. Because of this, even when my weaknesses are exposed, or I don’t know how do keep going, I can’t quit! Instead, I have to dust myself off and try, try, again. This can be a very humbling experience. But, I’ve also learned that it is the very place where the most beautiful things happen. 

For example, I am confident of my husband’s love for me. Not because our life together has been perfect, but rather the opposite. He has seen me at my lowest, at my worst, and yet, he loves me. We have lived through both triumph and tragedy, joy and deep pain. We haven’t always responded well. Yet, it is perhaps the hard times that have forged our connection the strongest. We’ve failed each other in countless ways—but, we’ve never actually failed, because we never quit! Instead, we have chosen to keep going. In the process we’ve learned countless lessons, yes—but, none more important than the truth that love really does win the day if you just keep choosing it. At the start of our journey, I couldn’t have imagined how pure and deep my love for this man would grow to be. And, it isn’t done growing, yet! I am sincerely thankful each day for our journey together. My heart truly overflows with love.

Living with kids, in the close confines and chaos of family life, has also changed me more than I could have guessed it would. Don’t get me wrong, I still have some growing to do. (Okay, a lot of growing to do!) There are days when the chaos of a family of ten gets to me. I still sometimes fantasize a little about a real life “Baileywick”* to come and bring order and a little magic to our life. But, I also find that my heart gets joy out of some of the very things that I used to fight against. Some of this is because I have actually grown. But, my perspective has grown too. The way I see has changed. I know that the days of my family existing under one roof are numbered. I know that being involved in the process of my children’s daily life is a privilege, a true honor. I understand that external messes are much more easily cleaned up than then internal ones caused—even unintentionally—by a mom with the wrong priorities. I also know that if I don’t embrace the chaos of life with them now, I very well may not be invited to be a part of their lives later—and I desperately want to be a valuable part of their lives, always!

Proverbs 14:4  says: “Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.” (NASB) Obviously there are many applications to this. But the basic truth remains the same: Life is cleaner, and easier to manage when there is less in it. The downside is that there is less in it. 

Another version of this verse reads: “The only clean stable is an empty stable. So if you want the work of an ox and to enjoy an abundant harvest, you’ll have a mess or two to clean up!” (TPT) 

If this was specifically about family life it would probably read more like this: An empty house is clean. But, a home filled with people is rich; not in money, but in life—and messes!

Family life really is rich. Yes, it is messy. But, if it is done well, it overflows with love, joy, laughter, safety, growth, kindness, and so much more. 

Today’s Prayer: 

Father, thank you for the journey. Thank you that you are with me helping me to grow so that I can be more like You and live the life I was created for. Thank you for my family. Help me to see them like you do. Give me grace for the messes of life together and eyes to see the beauty in the chaos. Thank you that you love me in spite of my messiness. Help me to love my family in that same way. Thank you for the honor of being a part of their lives. Help me to treat them accordingly and to order my days according to those things that are truly important. Amen. 

 

*Bailywick is the butler on the show Sofia the First. 

Homeschool Prep Tips

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I love the start of a new homeschool year! New school supplies, plans, books…it is an exciting time filled with hope and anticipation for all that the new year will hold. But, this can also be overwhelming, because homeschool is a lot. This is especially true if you are just starting out, are adding a new student (or “little” to occupy while the older ones are doing school), are coming off a difficult year, etc. 

To help make your process easier, I’ve thought through what steps I take and am sharing some of the key ones below. I hope they are helpful for you! However, keep in mind that each family is unique with its own structure, personality and needs. So, use what I share to help spur you on as you create your own process.

HOMESCHOOL PREP TIPS:

1.) PRAY

If possible, this should be your first step. Spend time in prayer before you do anything else! (If you’ve already spent time preparing for the year, it isn’t too late though!) It is easy to ask the Lord to bless what you’ve already decided to do, but this isn’t what I am talking about. I mean, spend some time asking the Lord to give you wisdom and an understanding heart for the year ahead. Ask Him what He would have you do with the year ahead. Then, listen! Make note of what He says—thoughts you have or something that happens in your heart, etc. Then, make (or adjust!) your plans accordingly. 

2.) DETERMINE YOUR TOP PRIORITY / VALUE

During this next school year there will be many tasks you need to accomplish. However, those are separate from this. This is the driving value that will determine the how not the what. For example, it may be that the main reason you are homeschooling is for the connection it will create between you and your child(ren). Or maybe you want the opportunity to engage more purposely with their spiritual formation. Perhaps, it is because your child is coming out of a tough season and you are trying to protect them and help them regain their sense of self.  Even if you are homeschooling because you have no other option, there should be a top priority, even if it is simply to survive the year with your sanity intact. (I do encourage you to dream at least a step beyond this, however!) It is important to know this because it will inform the way you approach everything else. If your goal is connection, then it is important to keep that in mind so that you protect your connection in the midst of the busy days. Determine your top priority and then allow it to help shape the plans you make!

3.) KNOW YOUR TOP 3-5 GOALS

There will be many things for you to accomplish this year. Some are required because of the stage and age of your children. Others are skills or activities that you want to add for other reasons. One of the best things about homeschooling is the fact that you can tailor your experience to encompass all of this! However, it is helpful to know what your top 3-5 goals for the year are. These are practical things that you need to accomplish. These can be a subject or curriculum or a skills your child needs to develop or grow in. Whatever the case, knowing clearly what they are is important because if a day comes when you hit a bump in the road—a life circumstance, a child struggling in grasping a subject or skill, etc.—you can pare down the rest of what you are doing and focus on the top goals only. Then, as the road smooths out, you can add back the “extras”. This helps you to maintain progress and, ultimately, will lead you to a successful year, even if it looks differently than you had originally planned. 

4.) RESOURCES

There are so many amazing resources out there to help with homeschooling today! Take advantage of them! I highly recommend finding a complete curriculum to use as your base. This is so helpful in helping to give you a framework for each year. It is also extremely helpful in your record keeping (especially for older kids who will need to have credits organized on their transcripts, and so on). However, with that said, use the resources out there to your advantage! It may take some time, but don’t be afraid to tweak the curriculum to better fit your family That way you can use its strengths without being limited by its weaknesses. No curriculum will be perfect! I especially recommend this for larger families. I use the same curriculum each year, however, I have tweaked it over time—subbing in books that I prefer, etc. I still cover the same subjects and it helps me to have peace of mind that all of the basics are covered. But, I have found books and prefer for various reasons and that work better for my kids in some of the areas. Also, there is a lot of variety in both styles and price ranges in terms of what is available. So, take the time to research a little to find what best fits you. (And, if you settle on something and it doesn’t work, that stinks! But, don’t let the cost you’ve contributed keep you tied to something that isn’t a good fit. Instead, as you are able, make changes.)  

Also, on the topic of resources, homeschooling is the perfect opportunity to tailor your classes according to the skills and interests of your children. You may need some time to simply get the basics figured out. But, then, I do encourage you to add subjects or special projects that help them to discover more about the things they are naturally interested in. Bonus points if you can do this for the core subjects, too. 

5.) FORMS

A note on forms: The emotion is usually (if not always) disproportionate to the experience.. For whatever reason, filling out the required intent to homeschool forms feels terrifying. But, it is actually quite simple—at least in MN. So, I encourage you to just do it! Note: There are forms available on-line that you can print off and mail in to your school district. I highly encourage you to use those. They are available on several sites with a simple google search such as, “homeschooling mn forms”.  (Many useful sites are out there that will answer any questions you have about requirements and so on.) 

6.) SCHEDULE

I definitely recommend taking time to plan out your schedule for the year—both your daily schedule as well as optional field trips, etc. For your daily schedule, think through when & where you will be doing school, what meal and/or snack times will look like, and what your expectations are for both your kids and yourself during school time. Helpful questions to consider are along these lines: 

*What does it mean in your home to be ready for the school day? (For example: Is it okay to show up for school in PJs? Is breakfast a part of the day or do they need to eat beforehand? Etc.) 

*Are your kids allowed to have a break before all of their school work is completed? 

*Can they do independent work in their rooms? 

*Are there daily chores you want to build into their schedule?

*What is acceptable for you during school? (For example: Is it okay to pause and throw in a load of laundry? What about checking your email?)

*What are your plans for any “littles” that you may have who aren’t yet in school? How can you help them to be successfully occupied during school time? 

*When will you check over any independent work? 

This is by no means an exhaustive list! But, hopefully these questions have helped you think through what daily life in your home looks like and what factors will be helpful for you to consider going into the school year. Setting clear expectations will help everyone to be successful! I highly encourage you to set the bar high, too. I don’t mean impossibly so, of course. But, it is much easier to loosen expectations & requirements as you go than to tighten them. 

A few other notes: If you are adding a spiritual element into your day, I recommend doing it first. It is all too easy to throw it out the window if the day gets busy otherwise. Also, I highly recommend doing the hardest subjects first—these can be the most difficult for your students and/or for you! Either way, it is helpful to tackle those things first because then you won’t be tempted to not do it if the day gets busy, plus it helps you to end the day on a high note if you save the “fun” stuff for later. 

Finally, don’t hold to the schedule you create as though it is unmovable. I do encourage you to stick with it for at least a couple of weeks to give you and your family time to adjust to it. But, then, feel free to tweak it here and there to best suit your families needs. Remember also that what works in one season may not fit in the next. 

7.) ORGANIZATION

The more organized you can be, the easier life will be! However, organized doesn’t mean that there is no mess or noise, etc. (Make your peace with days of organized chaos! You home is now a schoolroom, lunchroom, gymnasium, preschool, possibly your remote work office, etc. Life is messy! But, it can still be organized.) Also, keep your organization as simple as possible. You want to set a standard that is attainable for both you and your kids. 

A few tips: Everything should have a home—including your children’s schoolwork. If you have a separate school space, this should hopefully be fairly easy. But, even if you don’t, try to find a space where school books belong when they aren’t in use I also recommend providing a binder (or shelf or bin) for each child that they can keep their school papers & projects in. Also, help your children to grow their organization skills by making them responsible to put their papers, books, supplies away. (This means the system needs to be simple enough for them to be able to easily follow it!) Along with this, I highly recommend your students have an assignment notebook or a place in their binders to keep track of what independent school / chores they have to do. (Obviously, this is dependent on age.) This will help your days to go more smoothly, but even more importantly, will help them to grow in responsibility. 

8.) REMEMBER: YOU ARE A PARENT FIRST

Much like motherhood, homeschooling is a marathon, not a sprint. This means that some days you will be more tired than others! Parts of it you will find that you thrive in, hitting your stride! But in other areas you will need to keep going until you either develop the muscles needed or simply get through it (or—most likely, both). 

This means that there may be days that you need to work extra hard to protect your “mom / dad” relationship with your child. For example: Especially if your child is struggling as a student, you don’t want your relationship to be dominated by the ‘teacher / student” dynamic. You need to put that aside and connect as mom & child, too! (Or, maybe you are the one struggling. Same thing! Put aside the teacher hat & connect as a parent.) Hopefully your kids will experience you as a loving, engaged teacher. But, no matter what the school dynamic is like, it is especially important to protect your relationship with them as a loving, engaged parent!

Also, if you find that you are having trouble helping your child to be successful in an area or skill, don’t be afraid to get outside help. First of all, it doesn’t mean that homeschool is failing or you are failing. It may simply be that they need more help in a specific area. (This happens in public school, too!) As a parent, your number one priority is to help your child to be successful. So, don’t let the fact that you are their teacher stop you from getting them outside help or changing up your curriculum or methods to address the area that is need of help.*

*On a different note, but worth saying: Children don’t develop the same!! Some will easily grasp a subject while others may take more time. Don’t compare their progress with each other. And, don’t be too anxious if progress is slow. Instead, simply know what markers that require you to get outside help or address the situation differently. And, then don’t panic! Just keep going, giving both of you ample grace & patience as you grow together!

9.)  COMMUNITY LIFE: CO-OPS & OTHER ACTIVITIES.

As homeschool has grown in popularity, there are more and more co-ops and other activities that are available to homeschooling families. (Homeschooling kids are also able to participate in sports and other extra curricular activities in your local school district.) So, don’t feel limited by your choice to homeschool! It may require more intention on your part, but your children have the opportunity to be as involved in outside activities as you & they would like. 

With that said, don’t feel obligated to participate in any of it. Don’t base your choices off of what others do, either. Instead, look at what best fits your family! Because our family is a larger one, we have often limited outside activities like organized sports. This is a bummer! There are a lot of good things that come from participating in sports! However, the cost for us has always been too high. (For example: It would make family dinner a lot more difficult. Our family is on the larger side and it is very important to us that we have regular family time for many reasons, one being that it helps all of our kids maintain connection with each other. At dinner we talk about our day and specifically connect with what is happening in each other’s lives. We also do a prayer time together after during the school year. If we had kids participating in different sports that would all but be eliminated as the family scattered in different directions to drive, cheer kids on, etc.) That is the choice that we have made, but that doesn’t mean it is the right choice for another family. It also isn’t necessarily going to even be the right choice for us in every season. The point is that you should both be aware of what options are out there for you & your kids, and then you should make thoughtful & intentional choices based on the values & priorities driving your current season. 

10.) THE GOAL IS PROGRESS, NOT PERFECTION.

No school is perfect. This is comforting because yours won’t be either. But, also? Yours won’t be either! Should I say it one more time, just to make sure you get it? You are not creating a perfect system! Instead, you are doing your best for your kids. This is all you can do. And, you know what? Chances are good that it will be enough! 

But, it means that things won’t be perfect. There may be days that you don’t get through all that you hoped to get through. In those times, know that happens to everyone. (Even the best public school teachers!) There may be days when things feel hard. That happens to everyone too. The good news is that you will learn (along with your kids) and things will get easier. Don’t be thrown off by imperfection. Instead, know that the journey is about progress! If plans are continually falling apart, stress levels are unbearably high & not going down as time passes, or your kids (or you!) are really struggling or failing to make progress—by all means, step back! Get help! Make changes! But, otherwise? Don’t be thrown by imperfection. No situation is going to be perfect. So instead of worrying about that, make peace with it. Then, keep going! You will be amazed at how far you & your kids will actually go as you faithfully stay the course. 

This is by no means an exhaustive list. But, I hope it was encouraging and helpful for you nonetheless. Homeschooling requires a lot, but it has amazing potential for you & your kids. So, know that the investment you make is worth it & there will be lasting good that will come from it! Blessings to you and your families at the start of this new year!

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas:

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Mother’s Day is perhaps a little bit different in our home than in others because of the nature of our profession. Being pastors, Sunday is a work day for us! While various kids do always make me breakfast in bed, it isn’t really possible to have a lazy morning or relaxing day off which, to be honest, has always seemed my ideal way to celebrate. (At our own private ocean front beach, which is equally difficult being as we live in MN. And aren’t millionaires.)😉🤣The good news is that I don’t actually need any of those things to feel cared about by my family. I do however like to feel appreciated on this day! 

I don’t know what your ideal day looks like or how likely it is to occur. The way people celebrate Mother’s Day varies as widely as the circumstances and personalities of families. There is one suggestion I have for everyone however, and it is to thoughtfully acknowledge the important mothers in your life in some way. I will share some practical suggestions below, but I ask you to keep in mind that the amount of money you spend pales in comparison with sincere & thoughtful care. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways. 

Also, an important note for moms: If you have expectations for this day, please express them to those who you are expecting to fulfill them! I know this might feel awkward. I also know it is tempting to think that if you have to express it, it somehow takes away from the specialness of it. This is a trap! The truth is that your hopes may or may not be able to come to pass. But, if they are unknown, then it will be almost impossible for the people in your life to bring them about & you will all end up disappointed & disconnected. Instead, have a conversation & set expectations for the day before it comes about. 

Some practical ideas: 

Words of Appreciation — A few simple, sincere words of appreciation come with little cost and can have great impact! I encourage everyone to practice this for the mothers in their lives! You can do this through a variety of ways: a card, a simple handwritten note, a video recording, etc. I encourage you to express your own thankfulness & then also to help the kids to do so also!

Breakfast in Bed — I would add to this a day of pampering as much as possible! Don’t stop at breakfast! Also, and this is key: Do the dishes after! (Also, the breakfast can be simple. The key is that it is made in love!) 

Coupon Book —. I know these are cheesy. But, they are also fabulous if you include thoughtful coupons for connection & some quiet time / pampering for her!

Devotional Book — A devotional can be very helpful for a mom that doesn’t have a lot of time to spend alone with her Bible! The bite sized chunks can inspire and encourage her on days when she doesn’t have time or capacity for anything more. (I love “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers. There is a paperback copy available for less than $10. But, there are many good ones out there.)

A “Best Mom Ever” Mug — I love coffee and I love mugs. But, I underestimated how special it would be when a couple of my girls used their own money to buy me one of these. It warms my heart each time I use it. 

A Family Fun Day — Treat your wife & whole family to a “family fun day”. This can take place right in your home or you might want to get out of the house for the day. 

Note: If Mother’s Day itself is too hectic, plan it for another day! For several years we went to the Zoo in the afternoon with my parents and extended family. The amount of crying kids and stressed out parents was always remarkable to me. Don’t allow the pressure of the day to force an activity that isn’t enjoyable for anyone! So, if Mother’s Day isn’t a good day, instead plan something for another day! Also, make sure to think through what kind of activities she enjoys! This could be a day outside in the local area — Como Zoo, Minnehaha, the Lock & Dams, etc. if you are here in the Twin Cities. Or, it could be a day shopping. Perhaps you stay home and play some games / watch a movie. Or, if you have the time & budget you could do a longer day or even night away & head up to Duluth or someplace within a day’s drive. And so on.

Flowers — Not all women appreciate flowers, but for those that do, a beautiful arrangement brings a pop of joy into your home (& heart!). Bonus if it is something that lasts.

Clothes/Accessories — Each mom has a different style & this may or may not be her jam. I love it. The jewelry my husband has given me for various occasions over the years will always be treasured. As will the pieces I have that my kids picked out for me—especially the ones they paid for themselves. (They may tarnish over time, but they have left permanent sparkle in my heart!)  The point is something pretty that makes you feel good to wear / use. As a bonus look at Trades of Hope or similar companies that empower women & do good while providing quality goods! 

Gift Card — Giving a mom a gift card allows her to shop guilt free. As a bonus, watch the kids while she has a couple hours to herself to shop!

Nespresso Coffee Maker — A gift that can be enjoyed each day. Note: Consider how the pods will add to your coffee budget. You could also invest in other drip coffee makers, an Aeropress, a French Press, a Pour Over, etc. I love my morning coffee time with my husband, its one of my favorite parts of each day! So, maybe along with this start a morning ritual of a few quiet moments with coffee together. 

Massage / Salon Visit — A massage can be quite a gift for a tired mama. Or a fresh hair cut, and/or color. This gift is about pampering her with some relaxing, quiet time while she is being cared for. 

iFIT Bike — This is a very costly purchase & it may be tricky to gift in a way that doesn’t say “Hey, it seems like you could use more exercise.” But, I LOVE my bike! I get to have some time just me on the bike, virtually experiencing some of my favorite places. Recently I’ve been biking through Hawaii & Moab, UT. Both places I love. Before that it was Italy (which is now on my bucket list for travel). You get the point. On top of that, it is good for me & that feels good, too. 

I hope these help to spark some ideas for you. No matter how you celebrate, I hope you have a very special day!

Happy May Flower Activity!

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May is here & hopefully with it will be flowers & sunshine!

Here is a simple craft that my daughter helped me to put together for a curriculum I created that goes along with this theme that you & your kiddos can have fun doing together. See example below. To make, simply use the templates provided to print & color as many flowers as you would like. Cut the flowers and leaves out then attach them to straws or pencils to act as the stems. Color the pot template provided, cut it out & attach it with glue or staples to another piece of paper to create a pot that opens at the top. Put the flowers into the pot and create a beautiful bouquet.

Supplies needed: crayons, paper, straw or pencil, printed templates (see below), glue/staples, scissors.

I hope you enjoy!

Flower Pot Activity Sheet

Flower Pot Activity Flowers

flower in pot craft

flower in pot craft 1

Family Easter Week Bible Readings & Activities

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Dear Friends,

I hope that this Easter week is a special one, and that these days leading up to Resurrection Sunday are filled with a renewed wonder at just how good the Lord really is!

During 2020, I put together some simple devotionals for families of our church to do together in the days leading up to Easter. (Note: They do not cover, or even attempt to cover, all of the events leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus.) They are simple but I hope your family enjoys them together! (Don’t feel pressured to do them all! Instead, pick and choose what best fits your family and the time you have.)

READING ONE:

Read: Mark 11:15-18

Note: This reading can be startling because it seems to be a moment of uncontrolled anger. However, Jesus may have been angry, but He hadn’t lost His temper! He had already been in Jerusalem and knew what was happening. When He took this action He did so because He was seeking to protect people from the exploitation of the religious leaders. His desire is, and always has always been, to remove the obstacles that separate people from entering into true worship and prayer–and true relationship with His Father. So, the best way to apply this reading may be to simply ask the question if there is anything that is getting in the way of your family (together or individually) spending time in connection with the Lord. If there is, remove whatever the obstacle is! (I suggest not using the same methods Jesus used in this passage though!) 😉 Then, commit to spending a short time together in prayer each day this week.

Optional Activities: 

1. In the days of Jesus, the temple played an important part of worship for the Jewish people. Today, we have the joy of being able to worship Jesus in a different way.  So, throw a family worship party! Some suggestions: put on some music and dance before the Lord; try painting or drawing as an act of worship; praise the Lord with your words during a time of prayer, etc.

2. Do some coin rubbings. This is a simple activity that you should have all the supplies for easily on hand. Find a variety of coins, some paper, and some crayons or pencils. Put the coins under the paper and rub the crayons back and forth over it until the image of the coin appears. As you do this, ask your kids why they think Jesus was so angry and the moneychangers. (They were exploiting people and interfering with their ability to worship God. They were being greedy. They were misusing God’s House.)

3. Look up the what the temple looked like in the day of Jesus. (You should be able to find this with a simple internet search.)

4. And, just for some fun that isn’t directly related to the lesson:Here is a Paper Doll Coloring Page created by my daughter, Eliana. Color, cut out, and have fun getting her dressed up for Easter!

READING TWO:

Read Mark 11:20-26

Discussion Questions:

1.  What does Jesus command in this passage? (To have faith in God.)

2.  According to this passage, what is the result? (That you will be able to pray without doubt.)

3.  This passage also talks about forgiveness. How important is it to forgive?

4.  How do you think faith is connected to forgiveness? (For example: we receive forgiveness through faith. Since we have received such great forgiveness for the Lord, how could we not forgive others?)

6.  Can you think of a time you were forgiven by someone? Or, can you think of a time when you’ve had to forgive someone? How did it feel?

*This would be a perfect opportunity to take some time to release forgiveness over others as needed, as well as to receive forgiveness.

Optional Activities:

1. Taste test: Find an assortment of both sweet and bitter foods to taste test. Have some fun tasting them, and point out that not only do we need to forgive because the Lord commands it, but unforgiveness is bitter. It will make us sick if it stays inside of us too long. But, giving forgiveness freely is sweet. To take this lesson a little further, have fun making some spring themed sugar cookies.

2.  Prayers of Faith: Find a jar or a box and some notecards or small pieces of paper. Have each person write down a prayer request that they have. (They don’t need to share it with anyone else.) As a family, prayer over the requests. Keep the jar over the next year & whenever a prayer is answered, make sure to keep track of that, too!

3.  Here is a fun Bunny Coloring Page. Do your best to find the five eggs that are hidden in it!

READING THREE: 

Read Mark 12:41-44. 

This time of year, when we remember all that Jesus has given to us, it is important to take some time to consider our attitude in return. After all, how can we, who have received so much, not be generous in response?

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your most valuable possession? Is it easy or difficult to share? How about your favorite dessert? Is that easy or hard to share? What is something you have a difficult time sharing?

2. Is it easier to share with your friends than with a stranger? Why/why not?

3. The Lord is very generous with His kids. Why do you think that is?

4. What might make it easier for you to share with others?

5. What is something of value that you can offer God?

Optional Activities:

1. Brainstorm ways your family can practice generosity towards others. Then make a plan for putting one or two of those ideas into practice.

2.  Practice Secret Generosity. Over the rest of this week, each person in your family should look for ways to be secretly kind and generous to one another. Then, at the end of the week, talk about the experience. Even without sharing specifics (although that is okay, too), discuss the impact on your home. How did it feel to do kind things for others? Was there a difference in the atmosphere in your home? Encourage your family to make this a normal practice.

3.  Spend some time in prayer thanking the Lord for His generosity towards you. Be specific. Make a list and post it someplace you can see it to remind yourself everyday to be thankful.

4.  Make one of the favorite desserts mentioned during the discussion questions as a special treat. Make an extra to deliver (while keeping your distance!) to a neighbor or friend.

READING FOUR:

Read John 13-14. 

Note: If you have smaller children, you may want to only read John 13:1-30. After you read through the last supper that Jesus had with His disciples, the best activity I can suggest is to actually take communion as a family. Click here to watch a video to help walk you through this process, then gather the needed elements (and your family!) and do as Jesus commanded.

READING FIVE:

Read John 20-21

The reading today is all about the resurrection of Jesus! If your children have never prayed to receive Christ, this is the perfect opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus with therm. After today’s reading, simply ask your children if they understand why the death and resurrection of Jesus is so important. Explain that because Jesus died and rose again, those who believe in Him and receive Him as their Savior have the opportunity to live with Him forever in heaven someday, and also walk with Him here on earth!  You can ask if they have ever asked Jesus into their hearts / if they have ever accepted Jesus death and resurrection as payment for their sins and made Him their personal Lord and Savior. If they haven’t, and would like to, simply lead them in a prayer like this: “Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross as payment for my sins. I believe in you and receive you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you for coming into my heart and giving me life now and in eternity. Help me to walk with you and learn your ways. Amen.” If your children pray this prayer, make sure to celebrate big!

Optional Activities:

1. Jesus is ALIVE! So, celebrate with a time of prayer/worship. Thank Jesus for the cross and all that He has brought into your lives. Let the joy of that fill your hearts and homes with excitement as you celebrate together.

2. Here are some coloring sheets of the cross (from which Jesus has risen!!) Cross_Coloring_Page  Cross_Coloring_Page 2
Cross_Coloring_Page 3

3. Play pin the tail on the bunny. Here is a template to use: Pin_The_Tail_On_The_Bunny_ 2.

4. Celebrate the empty tomb! First, colorJesus’s_Tomb. Then, color and cut out Jesus’s_Tomb 2 (including the “arm”). Finally, cut on the dotted line on the coloring page and slide the “arm” of the rock into the slit on the coloring page. Now you can open the tomb and celebrate that it is empty!

5. Color the Easter Eggs: Easter_Egg Coloring Sheet 1  Easter_Eggs 2  Easter_Eggs 3

A Devotional for Moms: Wearing the Armor of God

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Verse Highlight: 

Ephesians 6:10-18 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,”

Ephesians 6: 11-18 (The Message) “And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong.   So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.”

Ephesians 6:11-18 (TPT) “Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you. Put on God’s complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser! Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage. Because of this, you must wear all the armor that God provides so you’re protected as you confront the slanderer, for you are destined for all things and will rise victorious. Put on truth as a belt to strengthen you to stand in triumph. Put on holiness as the protective armor that covers your heart. Stand on your feet alert, then you’ll always be ready to share the blessings of peace. In every battle, take faith as your wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at you from the Evil One! Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies. And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken Word of God. Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. Pray the blessings of God upon all his believers.”

Dear Moms,

A life of faith requires…well, faith. Though the Lord is real and very present in our lives, living according to faith means putting stock into things that aren’t always visible to the naked eye. Most of us practice our faith easily during times of great importance or struggle in our life—for example, even people who have never prayed before tend to do so naturally during times of great tragedy or trouble! And, if we are in the habit of attending a regular church service (something I highly recommend, by the way!!) we find ourselves “practicing” our faith during those corporate experiences. Both of these are good things! But, they aren’t enough to sustain your faith or your life. Daily life is the place where faith solidifies and deepens. It is where intimacy with the Lord is sustained. 

One key to seeing your faith come to life is proactively applying “truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation” each day, in moments both big and small. It can be easy to miss this in the busy nature of daily life with kids. Your kids are right there, placing demands on you. (Along with laundry, cooking, cleaning, paying bills, and so on.) It can be overwhelming! Did you know, though, that sometimes the emotional toll you are feeling is not actually because you are overworked or too tired?

Yes, those things do affect our emotional, mental, physical and spiritual well-being. But, as believers, we actually have the ability to rise above and live according to a greater reality. There is abundant grace, peace that passes understanding, and unquenchable joy available! It is possible to display patience, kindness, and all the other aspects of love in our daily lives in increasing measure. In fact, not only is it possible, but it is the natural course of a life of faith. 

So, what if this isn’t happening? Well, it could be that you have simply disconnected your heart from the Lord’s and you need to stop, repent and reconnect. Or—and most likely—it is a combination of things, with a key one being that you have been influenced by outside sources and you haven’t even realized it. The schemes of the devil are sometimes obvious—war, tragedy, disease, and do on. But, the ways that he can infiltrate our lives are often unnoticed. We feel overwhelmed, agitated, hopeless, stuck…etc. We don’t realize that our thoughts aren’t ours and make choices that end up being based all on lies! 

The good news is that we don’t have to live like this. Instead, the Lord has equipped us to overcome the enemy and his slander! Our job is to learn to use the weapons we’ve been given! As you put these into practice each day, you will find that your heart changes, your mindset shifts, and the atmosphere of your home grows more peaceful and loving!

The Lord is with you, mama! He loves you. He loves your kids. You might not realize it, but He has given you all you need to overcome the enemy and stand firm! So, whatever you are facing this week, trust that He has already prepared you for victory!

Action Step: Put on the Armor of God (Daily)

Reread the passage from Ephesians above. As you do, practice “putting it on”. For example: “Thank you, Lord, that you have equipped me with truth. Help me to know You and Your ways, and to recognize the deception of the enemy so I don’t fall for his schemes.” 

Do this line by line, putting it into a prayer in your own words.  (I encourage you to use different versions   to get the most full expression of the passage) Do it every morning this week. Then, at the end of the week, take note of the result and celebrate any victories that occurred! 

You’ve got this, mom! You were created for victory, so don’t be discouraged! Keep on going and you will experience it in your life and home—your kids will, too.

Family Devotional: Through the Bible Series: Genesis 12-21 || Abraham

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See previous devotionals for tips as to how to open up your devotional time in prayer, etc. For today’s devotional, I do encourage you to find the most complete account of Abraham’s life in a children’s story Bible to share if possible. Otherwise, you can focus on the portions shared in the Verse Highlight. I do recommend looking them up in a translation that will be easy for your kids to follow along with and understand. (If you are interested, you can find a chart that correlates different Bibles with reading levels: https://kidsministry.lifeway.com/2012/08/07/choosing-a-childs-bible-1/ .) 

Scripture Focus: Genesis 12-21  Hebrews 11

Verse Highlight: Genesis 12:1-5 “Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.’ So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan.”

Hebrews 11:8-16 “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE.

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.”

Introduction Questions: What is the most amazing gift that you can imagine receiving? What if I told you that you were going to receive it on your next Birthday? Would you be excited? Would it be hard for you to be patient until your birthday came? What if you waited and when your birthday finally came, you found out that it wasn’t going to be your gift this birthday—but for your birthday fifteen years from now? Would you still be excited to receive it? 

Discussion: The Lord gave Abraham and Sarah a great promise. This promise was so big, that it would affect the whole world! That’s pretty awesome! There was a catch, though. 

Abraham and Sarah had to wait a long time before the promise would come true. And, a lot would happen as they were waiting. For example: he moved to a different country because of a famine; he fought in a battle to rescue his nephew Lot; he had a son named Ishmael (that was not the son that God promised); he helps Lot escape the destruction of the city he lived in; etc. 

Even once Abraham and Sarah had their son Isaac fifteen years after God first gave them the great promise, the promise wasn’t fulfilled. It was still just starting to be fulfilled. In fact, it is still being fulfilled! This is because you and I and everyone who knows the Lord is considered heirs of Abraham. And, God is known as the “God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”.

There are a lot of lessons we can learn from Abraham and Sarah, but one important one is this: Patience and faith go hand in hand. When we trust the Lord, it means that we trust Him indefinitely. We don’t need to understand when or why or how. Instead, we simply need to do our best to trust Him, follow Him, and live faithfully. 

The Lord is faithful and His promises will always come true—just like they did for Abraham and Sarah. 

Closing Activity: Spend some time thanking the Lord for His faithfulness. Think of specific times He has been faithful to you or others (even Biblical people) and praise Him for His goodness! Then pray for your family to both see God’s faithfulness personally and to trust the Lord and live faithfully for Him. 

Bonus Activity: Sing Father Abraham

“Father Abraham had many sons… I am one of them and so are you, so let’s all praise the Lord.”

Uhh, what? This was a song many people sang as kids without any idea of what it meant.  (Myself included!) Hopefully the lesson today helps to clear that up! Remind your kids that because of God’s faithfulness to Abraham, everyone who is part of God’s family is part of Abraham’s family, too—even you! Then, have some crazy fun singing (make sure to do the actions!) the “Father Abraham” song together. Remember: the goal is to have fun, so you may need to set aside your pride in order to have some silly (and perhaps silly looking) fun together. Bonus points for group laughing fits!

You can find the song with lyrics & motions here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASXowiv3FAc

A Devotional for Moms: Rejoice • Pray • Give Thanks

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Verse Highlight:

1 Thess. 5:16-17  “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (NASB)

“Let joy be your continual feast. Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.” (TPT)

“Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.” (The Message)

Dear Moms, 

It stinks, but cheerfulness is a choice. This is not what you want to hear the morning after you’ve been up all night with a fussy baby or when you are trying to make your finances work—not to mention trying to navigate any number of tragedies that life throws at you!

Yet, there is no asterisk. No exceptions. Rejoice always. Choose joy. Be calmly cheerful. Always. How is this possible? And, why is it important? 

Well, first of all, I want to clarify something. The Lord is not ignorant of the pain of your life. And, it isn’t that He doesn’t care! He cares deeply! He cares about you and the issues that you face—both the big tragedies and the rubs of daily life. In fact, He doesn’t just sympathize with us from a distance. He truly understands! As Hebrews says, “We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all..” (Heb.4:15 The Message)

The Lord understands. He doesn’t grow angry at our tears. He wipes them from our eyes—and even cries with us. But, in the midst of that, He also call us higher. 

Let’s look again at Hebrews. This time the whole verse and the one after: “We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.” (Heb. 4:15-16)

When Jesus was on earth, He experienced all that we experienced! There is one big difference though—He responded without sin. Because of this, we can too. 

It isn’t that everything will be easy. It isn’t that we won’t experience frustration or difficulties or pain. But, even in the midst of all of that, we choose how we respond. We can choose to rejoice, pray, and give thanks. 

Rejoice. Be glad. Choose joy. This isn’t just an outward, fake smile. This isn’t pretending that everything is okay. This is actually a reflection of your faith. You are glad, full of joy, because your faith won’t allow anything else. Your faith knows that God is good. Your faith sees beyond the current moment. You faith trusts that the Lord will prevail and your life will display His goodness and glory! Dwell on this and it won’t be long before your emotional state matches your mindset. God is good and this is reason enough to rejoice!

Pray. Let your life be a prayer. Stay in constant connection with the Lord. Talk, yell, cry. Listen. Shape and be shaped by the reality of heaven touching earth through your prayers. 

Give thanks. Thankful for what? Well, you could start by being thankful for Jesus. Thankful that He understands. That He is with you and He cares. Thankful that He freely gives mercy and grace in abundance. Start by being thankful about that and you may be amazed at how many other reasons you find through be thankful after. 

God’s will for us is to trust Him. To stay connected to Him and live according to a higher reality. So, today, I encourage you to do just that. 

Action Step: Rejoice, Pray, and Give Thanks!  

Whatever your day holds, make a purposeful choice to do these things. If you face trials, tragedies, or frustrations, don’t deny your experience! But, instead of growing angry or defeated, pause. Go to the Lord for the grace you need. Then choose joy. Pray. Be thankful. As you cultivate these values and responses in your heart, you will find it impact the atmosphere in your home, too. As a result, your home will become a safer (and more fun!) place to be.

St. Patrick’s Day Fun

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St. Patrick’s Day is a great opportunity to shake up your homeschool routine a little, or just to have some fun celebrating the day with special family time outside of school hours. Following are a few of the ideas we have had fun with over the years. Enjoy! 

Media Recommendations:

Adventures in Odyssey does a great two part series that shares the life story of Maewyn Succat, the boy who we know as St.Patrick. You can find it here: 

https://www.adventuresinodyssey.com/episodes/394-saint-patrick-a-heart-a-fire-1-of-2/

VeggieTales does their own charming version of telling the story of “pig boy” aka: St.Patrick. You can find it here:

https://youtu.be/gBhG-7pj43E 

Writing Prompts:

Choose a writing prompt and give your kids 5-15 minutes (depending on the prompt you choose, plus their age and ability level) to write about it. Then have everyone share what they came up with. 

  1. The day started like any other, at least that is what you thought as you got out of bed & made your way down to the breakfast table. You didn’t pay much attention to the startled gasps in the room until your mom said, “Very funny. You turned yourself green for St. Patrick’s Day. It’s time to get ready for school though, so eat your breakfast & wash it off quickly.” Green? What is she talking about? Then you realize the hand holding your spoon is, in fact, green! Write about what happens next.
  2. Do you believe in luck? Why or why not?
  3. St. Patrick was a remarkable man. Although he was English by birth, he will forever be associated with Ireland because his faith in Jesus impacted that nation so dramatically. What country, culture, or area of society would you like to impact with your life and faith? Why? Brainstorm some ways this could happen. 
  4. Brainstorm an entire’s day worth of meals using only green foods. What would your menu include?
  5. Blinking, you rub your eyes in bewilderment. Yup, its still there. Quickly you close your eyes and then cautiously peek at the scene in front of you. “I must be asleep,” you think. “That has to be it.” You try to jolt yourself awake, but as you are doing so, you feel a tug on your pants. Startled you catch yourself just in time, before you kick what appears to be a quite real Leprechaun. You take the scene in—rainbow, Leprechaun, pot o’gold…wait, that’s not gold!

Easy Crafts:

  1. Color the provided three or four leaf clover coloring sheets. (You might want to add some extra sparkle with green glitter.)
    1. Three_Leaf_Clover_
    2. Four Leaf Clover
  2. Make a rainbow. Cut a paper plate in half & paint a rainbow on it. You can add streamers or yarn in matching colors by gluing them along then edges if you’d like to make it extra special. 
  3. Make a Clover “Suncatcher”:
    1. “Paint” glue on a piece of wax paper. Then put small pieces of different shades of green tissue paper onto the painted area. After it dries, peel the wax paper off & cut into the shape of a clover using the coloring pages provided above as a template. (You can keep the wax paper attached if it isn’t able to be removed easily.) Then tape to a window or use a hole punch and thread to create a way to hang it. 
    2. Put several shades of green crayon shavings between two pieces of wax paper. Then use an iron or hair dryer to melt the crayon shavings. Once it has cooled down, cut into the shape of a clover using the coloring pages above as a template. You may want to line the edges with a construction paper “frame”, but this step isn’t necessary. Then, hang in your window and enjoy!

Easy Green Treats:

  1. Make green rice cereal treats. Simply follow the directions to make rice cereal treats, adding in green food to the melted marshmallows. Let your kids have fun & do their best to craft a clover shape out of a small portion of it. Then, let them enjoy their treat! 
  2. Staying with the green theme, but straying from St. Patricks a bit: Read Green Eggs & Ham by Dr. Seuss. Then enjoy some green eggs & ham by simply adding some green food coloring, or a green veggie like spinach to the eggs as you scramble them. (A purée of green veggies works especially well.) If you’d like, you can make your ham green too. But, it also works to dice some ham and simply add it to your green eggs. 

A Devotional for Moms: A Good Work

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Verse Highlight:

Philippians 1:6 “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (NASB)

Amplified Version: “I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].”

Dear Moms,

I like to plan. I don’t really like to commit to the plan, necessarily, but I like there to be a plan, even if it is just in my head. And then I like for things to go according to plan—unless I am the one who has dictated otherwise. I like a clean house. I like it when children obey immediately every time. I like it when we get in a really good day of homeschool and are still done early! I like it when everyone is healthy and when every one gets along (no bickering) and when there are periods of quiet in the house (because people are all quietly behaving themselves). I could go on, but you get it. 

And, thankfully, most days do go well! But, rarely do they go completely according to plan. And, the truth is they aren’t meant to! Life is not an artificially scripted experience. And, thank God for this!

Life is a journey where the Lord leads, guides, teaches, corrects, comforts, and loves us as we grow. It is on the journey that maturity and completion come. 

Biblically speaking, perfection means “completion, finished, accomplished, fulfilled, to bring to an end” etc. It is what something becomes as it grows & matures—it’s end state. But, to grow & mature you must, well, grow & mature! You must go through process. And, process is often messy. It rarely goes according to plan. But, if you embrace it, you will find joy in its beauty, even in the midst of the messiness!

Understanding this is essential because it will allow you to make room for the journey—yours, your kids’, and everyone else’s! No longer will you be defeated if a day doesn’t go according to plan. Instead, you will see it as an opportunity for growth & grace to win the day. 

There is a key to success: Trust God. Put your faith in Him, and not in a generic way. Put your journey in His hands. After all, He is the one that will bring you to your finished state. The Voice Bible says that God “will not stop in mid-design but will keep perfecting you ”. I love that because it indicates that there is a plan. It just may or may not match yours. 

This is good news for you because it takes the pressure off! You don’t need to aim for perfection. You don’t need to panic if things don’t go according to plan. And, you aren’t even ultimately in charge of the “grand plan”. This is good news for you personally because you can have confidence that the Lord is with you & will equip you & help you to grow to maturity. You don’t need to be put off by your lack, or messy (even ugly) parts. Instead, trust Him to lead you, guide you, and finish the work He has started in you as He does. (This doesn’t mean you don’t have a part to play, by the way. You will find that following Him is very good, but often not easy as it requires you to do things His way—which requires a lot of growing & stretching as you change to be like Him.)

This is good news for your kids too. First because it makes room for a household that celebrates growing instead of perfection. And, secondly, because it means the Lord can be trusted with their journey, too. This takes the pressure off of you & them. Instead of needing to micromanage, worry, and control their lives, you are free to stay an engaged & loving parent who is partnering with the Lord in their lives. This doesn’t make parenting easy. But, it does remove the wrong type of pressure, leaving room for more freedom, joy, and love in the journey. 

You’ve got this mama! No matter where you’re at, its never too late to trust the Lord. So take a deep breath & trust that the Lord’s grace will carry you & your kids as you learn, grow, and love each other this week.

Action Step: Make Room for Perfection.

As said above, perfection is completion. It is a result of maturing. Maturing happens because of process. Your kids will mature as they are given more opportunity & responsibility. You will mature as you learn, grow & change, too. So, this week: make room for growth. Find one practical way to make space for both you & your kids to grow! 

For example: Give your children a new chore to do. This may be something they do with you or something you show them how to do & then trust them to do on their own. The important thing is to allow them to grow into it. Don’t be so concerned with the lack of immediate perfection. Instead, celebrate their progress. Guide them, but give them room to grow & mature in doing it. 

For yourself, it may mean being honest with yourself (& others). Give up the pressure of having to look like you have it all together. If there is an area of struggle, be honest about it! Ask the Lord to help teach you first & formost—and then actually follow Him as He leads in that area. Also, you may want to have a conversation with your spouse or others where you share your struggle, admit that you are messy in this area & are processing it with the Lord. Ask them simply to give you space and grace as you go. You may be amazed at how giving yourself permission & making room for the process will actually lead you to an increased maturity in an area.