Birthday Traditions

Posted by My Heart Song

7/5/2019

We celebrated our littlest boy turning 2 last weekend. He is the first in our family to celebrate a birthday in 2019. The rest of us all have birthdays between now and Christmas. 


We are making an intentional shift in our birthday traditions this year. Here's the reason why. Bear with me as it will seem that I'm shifting gears here, from birthdays to Christmas traditions.

 We have seen a disturbing pattern in our family over the last few years related to Christmas. What is generally considered to be a season of giving has turned inward, with the focus on getting/receiving. Our kids, like so many others who live in abundance and privilege, make lists of what they want and have high hopes of what they will receive. In essence, Christmas was all about them and what they would get, thus turning it into a functional 2nd birthday that happens each year. More gifts for them. 

 Now we know that we are somewhat to blame for this confusion. We have not historically made a really big deal about birthdays, but Christmas is a big deal. We have spent more money on our kids at Christmas than at birthdays. We have perpetuated the emphasis on gifts for everyone at Christmastime. We have bought into the consumer-driven culture and let the focus drift from the real meaning of Christmas. 

BUT GOD used some friends recently to present a way to shift our focus, as this couple simply described their birthday traditions. They make a REALLY BIG deal out of birthdays. They go all out. They buy big gifts. They decorate, a lot... with streamers and balloons. They include elements of praising God for the uniqueness of the birthday boy or girl. 

And by making birthdays a really big deal, they can then make Jesus' birthday a really big deal too... and the focus stays on Jesus!

 If a birthday is a time to celebrate the birthday celebrant... with decorations, with special desserts, with gifts for that person, with special poems/speeches/pictures we created with that birthday person in mind... then all of this can easily carry over to Christmas as Jesus' birthday and keep the focus on Him, where it belongs! 

 So this shift in how we celebrate birthdays all year long will affect how we celebrate Christmas this year. There will not be gifts for our individual children from us. There will be a focus of what we can give to Jesus for His birthday, which will lead to some great discussions of what Jesus really wants for His birthday (things like our hearts, our love and obedience, our sacrificing for others and thinking of others instead of ourselves, etc). All of the decorations, the special foods, the time and energy that goes in to preparing for Christmas as Jesus' birthday will all reinforce the idea that birthdays are super special time to celebrate the birthday person. 

So we have the rest of our family birthdays to celebrate yet this year, all between now and Christmas. I'm excited about this! I'm excited because it is encouraging to hear family members recognize one another's contributions to the rest of the family and to voice them (or draw them). I'm excited to help cultivate a sense of generosity in the kids as they think about buying a gift for their sibling's birthday. I love their excitement over helping decorate or helping pick out the perfect balloon for their sibling. I love walking down memory lane together, sharing memorable moments with one another as we flip through pictures of the last year. 

 Traditions.
I think I've undervalued traditions. 
I am looking ahead with great intentionality. 

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Happy Birthday, America!

Posted by My Heart Song

7/4/2019 


Happy Birthday, America! 

I value my freedom and thank those who purchased it for me!

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Baby Boy's Birthday Party

Posted by My Heart Song

7/3/2019


We celebrated our littlest boy's 2nd birthday last weekend. What a fun time to just celebrate his life together as a family!


Each of his siblings had purchased a gift for him. He received a flashlight toy, Mr Potato Head, a racecar and a rubber ducky. Mom and Dad gave him a battery-operated bubble blower - that makes for a very slippery kitchen floor but is great fun outside :-) - and a set of bowling pins and balls and finally a t-shirt that says I'M 2! Daddy also made him a special crown to wear for his birthday. 

Each family member also created something for him. Some wrote down some special memories of this past year. Some drew a picture, made a card, wrote an acrostic with his name or wrote out a prayer for him. 


We also made a trip to the nearest Build-a-Bear Workshop. I recently learned of their "Buy Your Age" birthday bear. So we were able to buy a bear for only $2. We spent a few more dollars on minimal accessories and birthday boy now has his own stuffed bear.



The birthday boy got to choose what food to eat on his birthday. We enjoyed cinnamon rolls and scrambled eggs for breakfast. Morning snack was popcorn and pretzels. Lunch was pizza. Afternoon snack was birthday cupcakes. Supper was Burger King fries and chicken nuggets. 


We also Skyped with Grandma K in Wisconsin, so she could watch birthday boy open the gifts she had mailed here.

A very fun birthday celebration, as we thank God for the gift of this little boy. Families are a blessing.
"God sets the lonely in families" (Psalm 68:6) We're thankful for the fun, the challenges, the uniqueness that this little boy brings into our lives. 

Happy 2nd Birthday, my son!

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Baby Boy Turns 2

Posted by My Heart Song

6/28/2019

This daring little boy is turning 2! 


He's a climber, that's for sure. He can often be found standing up on stools, chairs, tables, and desks and reaching as high as he is able, to seek out some treasure (like a pen, off-limit toys, etc).


He adores his siblings. Anything the older ones are doing, he is following closely in their footsteps.


Drumming with the others and getting instructions from Mr. Music, 3-year-old brother.


Following big brothers around at the playground.


Most of the time the big brothers don't really like this little shadow. And yet there is the occasional moment when they do play together nicely. Here they were playing spaceship - each having their own bunk-bed in the spaceship while on the way to the moon. Creative!


Being dressed up by big sisters... it's all part of that youngest child role! :-)


Piggy back rides from Daddy are his favorite way to go to upstairs or on walks in the neighborhood.


This remains one of my favorite pictures of this baby boy. 
So sweet!

We're all looking forward to celebrating this weekend!

Happy birthday, Mystery! 

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Trips to the Zoo

Posted by My Heart Song

6/25/2019


We have been to the zoo a few times this spring. We are well acquainted with our local zoo and know where our favorite animals are located and how to avoid the most popular/busy spots for a more relaxed walk through the zoo.


While these zoo trips are old-hat for my older kids, the younger ones really enjoy all there is to see. 


The zoo train and the carousel are always highlights. 

We're thankful for our local zoo!

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Marriage Resources

Posted by My Heart Song

6/24/2019


I'm not a marriage expert, that's for sure. But I have been married over 19 years now and have learned a thing or two on this journey.

Here are a few marriage resources that I would recommend to anyone wanting to grow in their marriage relationship, whether newlywed or old married folk like me. 

  • The book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas


  • The book Marriage After God by Aaron and Jennifer Smith. 

  • FamilyLife.com marriage articles 

  • DesiringGod.org marriage articles


  • The podcast Marriage After God with Aaron and Jennifer Smith.


  • The podcast Faithful Life with Matt and Lisa Jacobson


I love that we can continue to learn and grow in our marriage relationship. We learn more about one another while also learning more about marriage, its purpose, God's design for marriage, etc. In the last year, I've enjoyed many of these resources and they've broadened my understanding of marriage and given me a greater vision and purpose for my marriage. They've also given my husband and I great date-night discussion fodder which has helped us grow closer together and be on the same page. All good things!

I encourage you to invest in your marriage by reading and listening to what others have to say about the importance of marriage. Discuss it together. Grow together. 
A healthy marriage means a healthier family. 
A healthier family means a healthier society. 
Nobody can argue with the great need for healthy marriages and healthy families this day and age. 
Well, the good news is that there are resources available! 
Take advantage of them today!

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Vacation Bible School

Posted by My Heart Song

6/21/2019


Last week our church hosted Vacation Bible School. My oldest son participated, while my oldest daughter and I both volunteered. 



This year's theme was "Roar - Life is Wild but God is Good!"
Each day there was a different focus on the times when life is wild - like when I'm scared, when I'm sad, when life changes... but in all of these times, God is still good. 



The setting was jungle and African savanna. Our church did such a great job with decorations! My husband and oldest daughter volunteered to help with decor and loved being a part of the transformation. 


So many creative people in our church that put their gifting to work on these projects. So fun to see a side of people you don't normally see or even know is there.


 I helped with PreSchool Snacks, so about 70 Preschoolers went through our snack area where we served them and also interacted with them (asked questions, reviewed the theme and Bible verse of the day, etc). This was our snack room, where the kids rotated through in groups of 15 or so. My job was to keep water pitchers filled, prep plates for the next group coming in, clean up messes, wipe down tables, etc. We stayed quite busy, which made the time pass quickly. 

My oldest daughter helped lead a group of elementary students. It was a stretching week for her, but she truly enjoyed the week and didn't want it to end. 



My son participated in all of the elementary activities and had a wonderful time. 

It was exhilarating to be a part of something big and exciting, interacting with 400 kids and over 100 other volunteers. Every aspect of VBS - from the snacks to the high impact worship songs to the interactive Bible stories (just think of walking through the Red Sea and feeling the mist... yup, they did that!) - was intentional, gospel-focused, and fun all in one. 

When the final night was done, we stayed for an extra hour to help with clean up. This was a sacrifice of sleep, after a very long week, but even the clean up process was a bonding time with other volunteers and was fun. 

Overall, VBS was a wonderful experience that we were glad to participate in. And we were exhausted and glad that it's only a one-week-per-year event! :-)

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Girl Time

Posted by My Heart Song

6/5/2019


My 5-year-old was feeling left out recently, as all of the other children had some special things they got to while she was too big or too little to participate.


So, she and I enjoyed an afternoon out together. 
Just us girls. 

We enjoyed some shopping. She picked out a new swimsuit and new shoes. Both very sparkly and bright with sequins and jewels. She's one who loves everything flashy! 
And she got an ice cream cone too, which was perfect for our hot afternoon out!

Love you so much, Rosebud!

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First Flights

Posted by My Heart Song

6/4/2019


Two of my kids experienced their first airplane flights this week! 


This took place at a nearby airport and was available for kids ages 8-17. The pilot was a volunteer, was very friendly and willing to answer any questions the kids had.


My 5-year-old was sad to miss out, but did get to sit in the pilot seat for a picture.


The local firemen had fire trucks available for the kids to climb in while they waited for their airplane rides. The little ones really enjoyed that.


What a neat opportunity for a young people! 

You can learn more here about the organization that puts these free flights on for kids across the nation and look for a similar event near you: 

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Homeschool Co-op End of Semester

Posted by My Heart Song

5/14/2019

We have once again come to the end of a semester of our homeschool co-op. 


This semester was different in a few ways. First, my oldest daughter (age 15) opted to sit this semester out. She stayed home and did her usual school work while the rest of us participated in co-op. She quickly found out that she missed co-op and was very bored by herself at home and has decided to rejoin co-op for the fall semester. I'm glad! 

Secondly, this was my first semester in a new role at co-op. I had previously served as the Treasurer for our group, but began as a Co-Director this semester. I have learned a lot more about the behind-the-scenes planning that takes place to make co-op so great! Working alongside two other gals, I was able to be a part of the initial planning of meetings, overseeing the computerized class registration process, laying out the schedule for every kid and every mom to know where to be all 4 hours, helping make morning announcements, filling in wherever help was needed, taking pictures throughout the semester, and helping to plan the final program. This was a growing experience, for sure! 


For my kids, this was another great co-op semester. My oldest son was in Gym, Nerf War, Christian Heroes, and Creatures that Defy Evolution. 


He had to do a presentation on the Christian Hero of his choosing. He chose John Bunyan. We read some books about him and researched together, creating a posterboard. This was his first ever presentation in front of a class. He did well! Here he is with some visual aids he used - a copy of Pilgrim's Progress and a Lego scene with John Bunyan in jail. 



My 5-year-old participated in K-1 classes this semester. She took Gym, Art, ABC Show & Tell, and Cook & Book. She enjoyed all of her classes. Here she is showing the page of her ABC book for the letter S with her drawing of our bird Skittles and a sunshine.


Here she is with a little cake she decorated in art class.


Her favorite part of co-op is being with her good friend Addy!


My 3-year-old moved up to PreSchool this semester. This means more structured learning time, with a focus on one community helper each week. They also play big group games in PreSchool gym, which he loved. 



My littlest guy was in the nursery all 4 hours. I popped in occasionally but was not in there regularly. He handled it so well. He has no attachment issues whatsoever. 


He loved the days when there were balloons to play with.


And the brave nursery leaders let the kids paint (something I'd never let him do at home). He loved that!

Our Scripture passage for this semester was Ephesians 3:14-21. "For this reason, I kneel before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you being rooted and established in love may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpassed knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." 

We practiced this passage each week, working to memorize it. At the end, any kids who can recite it from memory receive a small reward. So we always practice it at home as a family so even the littlest ones know some of it by heart.

We're so thankful for our co-op. It's so encouraging to see each mom using her gifts to teach or lead or facilitate or help. And I love sharing in my kids' excitement over something new they learned or a game they played or whatever. We always have to take turns in the van on the way home so each person can share what they did at co-op. So much enthusiasm and excitement. We love our co-op!

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Park Fun

Posted by My Heart Song

5/8/2019


I surprised my kids with a fun morning at the park this week. I was a fun mom, for a change.


I have to remind myself that I'm in a new season of life. My youngest is almost 2 and not a baby anymore. I am not pregnant or nursing, as I have been for the last 5 years of life. So this summer, there is newfound freedom and adventure awaits! 


So we went to the park and enjoyed being outside together. A couple other families joined us, so each of the kids had some friends to play with too. This is a newly remodeled park with lots of fun options for all ages. 


I'm realizing that I have not been good at finding joy in the little things or just truly enjoying being around my family. I'm working on this. Today was part of the solution - spending time playing and just having fun together.

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