Teens

Hello out there! Didn't realize how long it has been since I blogged? Haven't thought much about blogging since my last post....until recently when so many words and thoughts have been swirling around in my head...and I realized that I write these thoughts down more for myself than my readers and I need to blog!  So many things happening...you better sit down and grab some coffee....

I'm enduring deployment no. 2.  Not fun single parenting teenagers...I've learned alot about myself and my teens.  Number 1...just because you raise them right and talk to them endlessly, doesn't mean their always gonna make the right choices...they do need accountability and supervision...even the "good" kids.  Sometimes, I think because they are older they don't need me as much....quite wrong...they need me MORE!  I keep thinking of that verse in the Bible, "A child left to himself, bringeth his mother to shame."  I need to pay attention to the influences around them...someone or something 24/7 is having an influence on them; their music, their friends, their books, the tv, my friends, their coaches, teachers, ect.  See what I mean? 

Number 2 Teens need EXTRA love and positive encouragement.  In a world that condems you for what your wear, where you live, how you act, ect. It's important for me to encourage them in a positive way to be true to themselves, and not let people dictate who they are.  Instead of critising what they aren't doing, they need verbal appreciation for what they are doing. You want them to talk to you about the big stuff? Then talk and laugh with them about the little stuff...the stuff that is important to them! Those that rule with an iron fist and constant condemnation never amounted to anything. Fear will keep a person from moving forward and producing good fruit.  Rule with love, kindness, forgiveness, long-suffering, and gentleness...and you will win their heart and see them thrive and be happy in life.  I've read these similar words many times, but I see in my teens that it is so true. 

Can I expect my teen to wake up in a good mood and love life when I wake him up barking orders about cleaning his room, open the window cuz your room smells, you got five minutes to get to the table for breakfast so we can have our devotions and start school! wow! Even if I was a morning person...that would've have totally ruined my day.  What is this a concentration camp?  How about Good Morning?????   I'm NOT a morning person, but I'm working on waking up more cheerfully and starting my day with greetings, smiles and music....yes I really do put in music...it brings a cheerful mood to the house in the morning and everyone is hopeful for a good day! More is caught then taught.....if mom has a smile and a joyful spirit, chances are so will your kids. If you complain, expect your kids to complain...if you whine expect your kids to whine...if you see your life dark and depressing, so do your kids. 

I did not intend one bit to write a whole paper on teens....I was going to update you on all the happenings here in Germany...I guess I will save that for next time.

Aubrey xo

Chicken bones in the sock drawer ect ect

I hate kids!!

I'm Kidding......

"They" say this too shall pass and one day we will miss these awful things they do to us!

I just wonder if "they" ever had kids...or more than one at least.

Anyway, I sighed, took a picture... and today I'm googling how to pull molasses-like tar out of stuff and....... looking for the tea fairy that will magically fill up the tea jug if you put away empty, and wondering if a chicken really did crawl up in the drawer and die, or if they REALLY did put a chicken leg in their sock drawer!!

Found empty cereal box...common. I guess there is a cereal fairy too!!

My husband asked why in the world I was taking pictures in the kitchen while mumbling under my breath. I told him he wouldn't understand seeing as how he wants another one of them two little legged creatures.

Can you tell I had a long day yesterday...hahaha...I went to a ladies meeting at church and came home to a spotlessly clean house, laundry done(albeit my silk blouse was washed with white towels), and my shoes all in a neat row in my closet.....awww...he's AMAZING!!!!

No wonder people say I have a wonderful sense of humor....if I didn't ...well I'll just leave it at that.

It's not so hard to deal with all the chaos and imperfections a big family can bring, when there are sooooo many other things about them that are such a blessing and make your life so incredible!!

Aubrey xo

My little men

My little men....I feel so blessed to have these two guys in my life. In a few months I will have two teenagers (they are 13 months apart) and I can honestly say that they bring great joy to me. They have such good attitudes and carry a positive outlook on life. They help me out so much, I rarely have to ask ...they have really helped to lessen the load of caring for so much with their dad away. He would be very proud of them.

I'm bragging on them because the past year their dad has been gone, they have had to take on extra responsibility and they haven't complained one time!! They take each day as it comes happy and cheerful.....and I marvel that teens CAN actually be happy and helpful afterall :P
Ive felt bad for having to ask so much of them...they are just willing and obedient and do it!!!



They are dressed for church in the pic above...they sang with their little sisters that night. It was funny because we had practiced a song that week just in case they are ever asked. I told them they should always be ready as the Lord may call on them to share His Word in song...well, there was no special singing that evening, so the song leader asked if the kids could sing.....wished you could've seen their faces!!! (mom is right once in awhile)

I'm praying they keep their sweet spirit of joy and happiness as they continue grow in their teen years! I plan to have lots of fun with my teens!!

Aubrey

My kid climbed the lamp post today...what did yours do?;)

Last night I finally broke out my knitting needles and started on my afghan for the couch. I love a cozy knitted blanket to read with in the winter. This prompted my girls to get their knitting looms and start on some wool hats for winter. They prefer the looms right now to the needles. Ziggy patiently sat on Genevieve's lap while she knitted!

I don't know what is going on with the weather today, I took my kids to the library and had to turn on the AC! It was actually a bit warm! It cooled down again later this afternoon, but wasn't expecting the warmth. So we took advantage of what could be our last lovely day of fall, as the trees are already looking bare, and strolled down to the park.

Way off the subject~ my daughter does not do anything the conventional way. She has a huge imagination and she uses it everywhere, not just in her writing(she's writing a book) At eight years old, she still loves to climb everything in the park, from the bars that hold the swing to the slide, to the lamp post. It might as well be Mount Everest, she has to tackle all of them and see just how high she can get. {I see a peakbagger in the future :)}

I sit and marvel at her bravery and her imagination (like climbing up the swing set to slide down the pole) when she sits atop the monkey bars while other little girls are swinging from the rings she is imagining she is a pirate on top of the mast of a great vessel spying for enemy ships. Meanwhile another mom is telling her child to quit climbing UP the slide, "that's not how you do it".

While I'm not encouraging disobedience in the least{I expect obedience from her from the first command!} I expect my kids to sometimes think outside the box!!! Not just vacuum their room, but wonder what makes the vacuum suck up stuff...."hmmmm I wonder will it suck up my pj's and underwear?" (it's happened recently) ;) Maybe for the past five years she has always gone down the slide frontwards, now she wants to see what happens when she slides down backwards or on her belly. What does it feel like to swing on my belly?

I imagine that before Thomas Edison ever invented the light bulb, he must have tried at least a ton of different things and methods unconventional to the logic mind. What about the famous 14 yr old that skates all these ridiculous moves and jumps and swirlys in the air, one day he got the bright idea to stack bricks and boards to see high his bike/skate would go and could he land on one wheel?

Many successful inventions and discoveries were spurred on by the freedom to use their imagination and braverly to conquer a feat they set out to accomplish.

Maybe you didn't like hockey when you were little, or rafting, but don't tell the kid standing in line at the library with 15 books on water rafting and how to play hockey, that it's scary and you broke your nose and three legs! He's about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime...let him explore these wonderful opportunities...to enjoy life to it's fullest...Encourage, explore and enjoy and they will love people, life, and an exuberant confidence in themselves driven by all that you supported and encouraged him in!

My .02 :)

Enjoy your week~ Aubrey

It's raining it's pouring it

Today I,

• Had a headache
  


• took two VERY loooooong exams
  


• drank a whole pot of creme brulee
  


• made up an apple dessert
  


• wore my lil black dress
  


• listened to michael buble while making dinner
  


• read in two books I'm trying to finish




• played with ziggy and Lowie




• played Cranium with my kids ....I hate "bored" games btw...intentionally misspelled. Why? I hate when you have twenty people and you have to wait your turn...bad bad bad stuff for me who has chronic ADD/ADHD. Either I get told a million times that it's my turn...or I take a turn out of place. My mind wanders after the first 10 minutes and I become this invisible board piece that moves when it's told to.

And don't get me started on Monopoly!!! That's just torture....I can hardly stand 10 minutes and he invents a game that takes 5 hours --sometimes two days to complete.

I start to become extremely generous with my money and property after the first 20 minutes of that game. My kids call it a good deal and I call it a quick way to end a dumb game!

I wonder how long they'll be this naive!!! I like to play games that keep you engaged the whole time....I can't understand why nobody wants to play TWISTER anymore. I always thought it was kinda fun! ;)

Goodnight ~ Aubrey

More is caught than taught

Well, it is midnight here, but I had to blog this post. It's been
on my heart for awhile and ...there....
I have finally got the words out:)


"More is caught than taught" A popular saying that
recently is ringing more close to home!

I don't know about you, but in all my striving to put my whole
heart into my devotions and chatting about God to my children,
I still feel I fall short of exemplifying who Christ is to my
children.

They form a picture of who God is, by what I protray Him to be!

Pretty sobering thought.

Am I portraying a Lord they will one day be willing to forsake
all and follow?


How do I teach my children that God is loving, compassionate,
forgiving, merciful, longsuffering, patient, delivers righteous
judgement, rewarder of those that do good,a hater of sin.

I find that the best way I can possibly teach these attributes of God
so that they learn to know Him, is to live "Christ-like".
I will never be perfect, nor able to perfectly show forth these
attributes of God, but God enables me with power and wisdom to
give my children a glimspe of Him through me.

I can love them, and be loving and compassionate to others, and they
see God is love and full of compassion.

Example: (Mom takes dinner to the neighbor because she's been sick,
stops to speak to the teen girl in the back of the church and
encourages her even though she's different, stays up to read to a
sick child, sings to the elderly, picks up the phone to let a
friend knows she cares and is praying for her.)

I tell them God forgives sin. I can forgive my children their
faults and not provoke them to anger. Restoring a relationship
with them, because that's what God does when He forgives.

Example: (Acknowledging my child is a sinner and forgive them
when they mess up, not bringing it up again, and letting them
know and feel their relationship is important to me. I encourage
them and help them do better and be stronger. And because of our
relationship, my loving-kindness, goodness and mercy to them draws
them to repent to restore our broken relationship.)

I tell them God will hear their cry and answer their prayer.

Example: by listening attentively to them even if I don't think it's
that important, and patiently answering their questions. Being aware
of their feelings and unspoken words so that I may attend to their
needs and answer accordingly. By this my children understand that
God IS there when we cry unto Him! It's no matter your age or your
ability, God will listen and answer.

I tell them God is longsuffering.

Example: by enduring the hardships or trials I go through with
prayer and faith, by loving and praying for the person who speaks
ill towards me, by bearing my burdens with a meek and quiet spirit.

I tell them Jesus is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Example: The friends they see me laugh with are the friends they also
see me cry and pray with. I am my children's friend. They are not
just little people I like to dress up or cows that need to be watered
or fed, they are growing and blooming into servants that God wishes to
perform His work in. I can be their friend at any age, that's how I can
build a close relationship with them...so that they can put their faith
and trust in me. "what a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and
griefs to bear"

I tell them God hates sin and judges the righteous.

Example: I am quick to rebuke sin and will not tolerate disobedience.
They understand that sin is sin...there is no grey area. It's black
or white. There are no white lies, lying period is a sin. They
understand there are always consequences for their sin. That they
must stand before their parents to give account for the wrong they've
done. So they see that God requires the same. I show them true
repentence by humbling myself even before my children and confessing
my wrong and asking their forgiveness when I've hurt them or committed
sin before them.

I tell them that God blesses the righteous and plentifully
rewardeth the upright.

Example: I offer praises to them when I see their faithfulness to their
hores and schoolwork, and good attitude. I reward their good works and
their upright behavior. I don't critize them to get them to do better
if I see they've given their best. Instead I praise them for their
effort and encourage them by doing so. They will take great delight
in pleasing me, and will seek to feel my pride and joy in them and
their good work!

So I wonder tonight if my actions are speaking louder than my words?
As I speak of the marvelous characteristics of Christ, am I revealing
a glimpse of these in my daily walk through life?

If I am cold, indifferent, unforgiving, gossipy, angry, bitter, selfish,
and uncharitable in my Christian walk day after day, I am telling
my kids that I really don't believe God is loving, kind, merciful,
forgiving, or longsuffering. To them I am a cantankerous, angry,
bitter woman whom they try to steer clear of lest they be yelled
at or humiliated in front of.

How I want them to know what the love of God feels like! What it feels
like to have your sins forgiven, cast into the deepest sea, removed
as far as from the east is to the west! How it feels to have a prayer
answered and a need met! To have a friend like Jesus that is near you
in your darkest hours of life...to know that HE is listening! I want
them to fear a HOLY God who cannot look upon their sin, and they MUST
repent and return to the Lord...and find the mercies and loving
kindnesses of Him.

I hope they find the joy and peace of serving the Lord more
rewarding than fulfilling their dreams and amibitions in the world!

I was pondering the severity of this thought: I only have them
ONCE...I cannot do it again...if I should fail!

I know there is not a parent out there that has it all down pact...the
answers to all our questions.

But if I should be successful at anything as a mom, I pray
that I can paint a clear picture of who God is to my children.