This is such a great experience for them.  They have so much fun!  They get up, do their chores and are ready with their bibles in hand each morning.  Ready on time so we aren’t late,   I can’t ask for much more than that. 

I asked them what they like about Vacation Bible School and these are their answers.

Quote from my 6 year old boy: “I love that it’s 3 hours and it’s so fun!”

Quote from my 9 year old daughter: “I like hat it’s Christian, the crafts, games, snacks, and Bible Teacher!”

Quote from my 12 year old son: “That I get to play pingpong.  The games and the snacks are also good!”

Now those sound like pretty funny answers, but I love the honesty.  Since it is Christian based they learn scripture, and have God loving teachers.  They get to play tons of fun competitive games which usually include water.  They get to do crafts they never get to do at home.

It is 3 hours of fun!  I am so happy for them this week.  I get a little time to myself which isn’t as full filling this time as I was hoping.  It is only Tuesday, though.

My almost 2 year old is a lot of work, and I am feeling old this week.  Why does every thing seem so hard at times.  So I am not feeling that rejuvenation I was hoping for from a short break from them each day.

But you know what?… They are getting rejuvenated.

So which is more important?  I think my kids getting a break from our day to day and getting their own rejuvenation with the Lord by their side is equally important!

So yeah for them!  I will keep on ‘keepin’ on this week just for the sake of my lovely children! 

Post from: Jenna Storms

Vacation Bible School

As I have been a mother for quite a few years now,  I have come to realize she had to constantly be working inside that house.  My room was hardly ever clean, because that was the only thing she wouldn’t do daily for my sister and I.  We were the two youngest out of 5, so I don’t really know how it was for my other siblings.

Our room would be ‘out of control’ dirty, before we would finally have to clean it or there would be major consequences.  So once a week or maybe even longer we would have to sweep everything into a HUGE pile, and then take what seemed like 3 hours putting toys, books even dirty clothes where they go.

With our first boy, we started having him help us clean up his little toy messes as soon as he understood.  It has snowballed into making sure our kids are learning to be self sufficient in all that they do.

So they have daily chores…morning and evening.  The chores are age appropriate.  The 6 year old mainly needs to make his bed, tidy baby toys, open shades he can reach, put away clean silverware  from the dishwasher…pretty easy.  So the 12 year old unloads dishes  and the 9 year old loads dirty dishes.  As they get older I give them more responsibility.

It has not been easy by any means, but it has taught me that taking care of yourself and your home is learned.  I will also add that they are not little shining stars of clean perfection, but they do clean up after themselves where most kids will leave their messes for some one else.

Now what is so enduring about this venture… they still have their little personalities in their chore process.  My oldest who is 12, does a really great job of bed making and daily chores given to him.  He however will get overwhelmed due to the amount even if it isn’t that much, and the detail isn’t always as important to him… Just getting them done is his objective.

Now my 9 year old daughter does not like upkeep.  She would rather hide her dirty socks in toy baskets then take them to the dirty clothes hamper.  She has things pushed in nooks and crannies and under the bed, for the appearance of tidy.  However, if you give her a job like sweeping and washing the kitchen floor…she will do an immaculate job.  She loves the detail and will do it for an hour, same with dish washing by hand.

Now my 6 year old just wants to keep Mama happy.  He will do what ever you ask him, but he is a bit absent minded.  He has a heart of gold…we call him ‘passionate’.  So he leaves his little snack garbage in his toy shelf,  and he loves certain toys that will pile up in one place because they are so important to him, at that moment.

The cute thing is in a week… he can’t find anything in the pile because there is so much.  As soon as you express your frustration with his pile of ‘important toys’, he says “Sorry Mom”, and acknowledges that his pile of necessities can be put back where they actually go.

So my point is..  I believe doing chores is a healthy and important part of my kids lives.  They need to learn how to be self sufficient, and depending on their personality, there is a learning curve.

It doesn’t mean your house and their rooms will be spectacular… it means they are learning the skills to be tidy adults.  I think that the Lord gave us so many years because due to sin, so much gets in the way of us just loving and learning.

I am thankful that God gave me the wisdom to use my experience as a child to realize that you have to start young and teach them about chores and that if you don’t keep up on daily chores… you live in a pig sty.

They are responsible for their own mess… as it should be.  They need to clean up after themselves, it should not be left to someone else.

A great blessing is when you do their work for them and they notice… and they thank you for it.  What more could a home maker ask for? 

Post from: Jenna Storms

Chores

Life is so simple for them.  Pictures in books, singing ‘Patty Cake’ with hand movements…they love all of  it.  Why do we grow up and turn into needing so much stimulation?  We don’t appreciate the little things.  We aren’t impressed by much.  It makes me sad.

Our 4th child has just discovered he can open doors.  He loves it…he feels a new sense of freedom.  A new sense of freedom that scares us all.  Opening doors means toilets, dangerous toys in his mouth.  We can hardly keep him in a safe place anymore.

My older children turn into miniature parents running around calling his name in annoyance when we can’t find him.  Let’s see…we have found him playing with tub toys in the toilet (yuck), we have found him in Daddy’s office punching away at keys on the keyboard or clicking away on his mouse.  I can’t believe how hard it is to take care of a toddler.

I love the first years of life with my kids because discovery is a true blessing from God.  Our babies remind us of how special it is to see the moon shine bright in the sky, or to see a plane soar through the air, how about birds as they chirp loudly and  jump from tree branch to tree branch.

I love the little things.  If you haven’t noticed the little things lately…stop and look.  Watch and listen to the trees blow in the wind.  If you are out at night, look up at the stars…even if there are only a few…they are beautiful and amazing especially if you consider what they really are.

My biggest boys’ first words were “pane” (plane) and “chuck”(truck).  Every time he saw or heard one he said the word.  The cutest thing was they were every where.  So the whole time in the car I would be replying to him…”yes sweetie a truck, yes a plane, yep there’s another truck”.  I still can hear his sweet voice and his little fat finger pointing away with his innocent enthusiasm.

It was things that were alive, anything that moved for my daughter (bugs, animals, fish)…she still hasn’t changed.  She still sees animals and flowers like it is for the first time.  I find it hard to engage sometimes just because she wants me to see at the most inconvenient times…but I have to remind myself…this is why I am here …for them…to be their Mama and let them share all that comes up, with me.

New things are great but seeing things for the first time is amazing.  So if you have a young child…enjoy their new experiences with them because it goes away.  You know something to think about…you will know your kids longer as adults then as children.

That concept is hard to wrap your head around while they are there consuming your life… but it is true.  So engage with your children as they discover new things with a sweet innocent mind. It is a special but temporary gift.

If you don’t have kids you can still find joy in the little things.  Every one was a child once and the little things are what you started out with.  The little things were what made you happy in the beginning of your life!  Isn’t that so beautifully simple?

Post from: Jenna Storms

The Little Things