Syllable by Syllable

Words ... they have such power.  Simple syllables strung together can break, heal, destroy and mend.

The world around us seems to have gone crazy with their words.  Have you heard some of the phrases dribbling out of mouths lately?  As a momma, how do I teach my lil' warriors to wield these weapons with grace and kindness? 

Honesty here, it's a battle I have fought as well.  Those sneaky syllables seem to slip out when I least expect it.   Discouraging remarks.  A raised frustrated tone.  Words ran rampant in our home, and not the best ones either.  

By no means am I an expert, but I am mom.  And we have been getting a tight grip on our words.  Wanna know how?  Happy you asked ...

Get creative.  March into battle.  Take it into our every day.

We call them building words, straight from Ephesians 4:29.  And yes, we sing that verse in our home as well.  As for now, think of a slew of kids and mom singing a bit off key to our own tune with catchy hand signals ...

"Do not let any unwholesome talk, come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up ..."  

To teach the power of our words, we grabbed our wooden building blocks.  Any blocks will do ... We all took turns saying kinds things about mom.  I even joined in the fun.  With each kind thing, our tower built up, block after block, word after word.  Then, with one quick word of unkindness out of my mouth about myself, I hit the tower sending blocks scrambling to the floor.  Eyes popped wide.  Hearts ready to listen.

Words build up.  Words tear down.  Really, there is no in between.  This led to lively discussions around our home.  My kids, blesstheirhearts, really dig deep.  Is everything I say either building someone up or tearing them down?  Can we really do this, ALL the time?  Would God give us this command if it was impossible?  And we dug together.

Its taken time and we're going strong.  As we grasp the power of our words, these kids and their momma might just change the world, syllable by syllable.


It's Tuesday.  Missed the Momma Monday by a day.  New momma here.  Baby slumbering in our home.  Grace.  Thanks.  But I couldn't miss your words.  I would be splashed happy to have you link up with momma notes.  Anything gloriously mom.  Our notes.  Creating a melody.

Building Words

Shout those building words ...

Words ... they have such power.  Simple syllables strung together can break, heal, destroy and mend.

The world around us seems to have gone crazy with their words.  Have you heard some of the phrases dribbling out of mouths lately?  As a momma, how do I teach my lil' warriors to wield these weapons with grace and kindness? 

Honesty here, it's a battle I have fought as well.  Those sneaky syllables seem to slip out when I least expect it.   Discouraging remarks.  A raised frustrated tone.  Words ran rampant in our home, and not the best ones either.  

By no means am I an expert, but I am mom.  And we have been getting a tight grip on our words.  Wanna know how?  Happy you asked ...

Get creative.  March into battle.  Take it into our Treasure Time.

We call them building words, straight from Ephesians 4:29.  And yes, we sing that verse in our home as well.  (I'll video us and youtube it for you all if you would like :)   As for now, think of boys and mom singing a bit off key to our own tune with catchy hand signals ...

"Do not let any unwholesome talk, come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up ..."  

To teach the power of our words, we grabbed our wooden building blocks.  Any blocks will do ... We all took turns saying kinds things about mom.  I even joined in the fun.  With each kind thing, our tower built up, block after block, word after word.  Then, with one quick word of unkindness out of my mouth about myself, I hit the tower sending blocks scrambling to the floor.  Eyes popped wide.  Hearts ready to listen.

Words build up.  Words tear down.  Really, there is no in between.  This led to lively discussions around our home.  My boys, blesstheirhearts, really dig deep.  Is everything I say either building someone up or tearing them down?  What about hello?  (we concluded it was building someone up to say hello to them and greet them).  Can we really do this, ALL the time?  Would God give us this command if it was impossible?  And we dug together.

We encouraged building words by plopping marbles from our character jar each time we heard them.  We built each other up at every meal.  Mom sat with the boys as they practiced baseball and played together, catching them in wholesome words to mark it and celebrate.  When we oopsed, and tore down, we built them back up right away with 5 block building statements.  We created new habits ... of building others up.  

Its taken time and we're going strong.  As we grasp the power of our words, these boys and their momma might just change the world, syllable by syllable.

Tuesday Treasure

eggs of the season

Tis that time, Tuesday. A day when we can come together and share our ideas (so hoping you will share some with me) on how to create true treasure times.

I promised to share the stuff that we cram into our treasure chest. Drawers spilling with hands on ways, tattered well loved Bibles, holding the truest treasure in our home.

As Easter approaches, the eggs always surface. Boys, ages 7 and 10, still clamor to read, grip in their hands, hide them, and seek. Seek the truth behind the colored plastic.

Our crated box of the Easter story, worn well with age and use and little smudgy fingers growing up, tells the simple story of Easter. Each egg holds a piece of the story, and my boys never tire of popping a color wide open and sharing from heart what it means.

We have used over the years, a few tried and true resources, packing them up and moving them from country to country.

* resurrection Easter eggs that you can buy online

* or get creative and make your own set by following the directions here.

* the best book for little ones (teaches in simple rhyme, the story of Easter using the resurrection eggs. Here is a set I found with the book and the eggs plus some bonus items.

* Benjamin's box is the book we read throughout the year, and pull out our eggs to tell and retell the story together. This one is a longer read, but you could do a page a day if needed for little ones.

This year, our boys are crafting their own. Digging deeper with eyes as wide as their smiles, as they read the words from favorite Bibles. Choosing colors and items, they are creating their own Easter egg story with scriptures scribbled with crayons.

The joy as they read His Word and plant it in their hearts ... a treasure for this momma.

We've added a few new plans for celebrating with creativity.

making scrumptious soft pretzel crosses

growing our own garden for the empty tomb

making cinnamony resurrection rolls to tell the sweetest story

.... and we are looking for more. Please share with us your treasure ideas.

In what ways do you celebrate Easter in your home, a favorite recipe, a verse, a song, a memory of the past, please share that our treasure chest may fill to the brim.

I just joined the pinterest party, you're invited to stop by and see some of the other ideas I have discovered for celebrating Easter with our family this year.

Finish Before You Start

Any builder knows it ... the secret to building exactly what you want ... finish before you start.

Imagine our family huddled around a giant tree, deciding to create a treehouse for our kids. My oldest looks up and says "a good tree house ", my youngest shrugs "a fun one." Doesn't help much. In reality ... He wants a ladder to climb, a big window, what about a rope swing, and the dreams soar.

To build our perfect treehouse, we have to finish it first. We draw out the plan, sketch the dreams, make our calculations accordingly. Once we finish it, we can start to build.

In my journey, of train up a momma, it's much the same. I needed to finish before I started, to see the end project of children raised and loved and thriving and changing their world. Finishing before I start, determines the steps I need to do to get there.

I realized it was impossible to to know how to train my kids, if I didn't know what I wanted in the end.

The common answers ... Good kids. Kids that love God. Kinda like a good tree house. How do you build it? Knowing specifically what we want, the end result, enables my hubby and I to use the right tools, purchase the supplies, and build.

Builders draw blueprints ... mommas cast a vision.

To have a vision for my kids. Without one, our hopes and dreams for our kids shrivel and die. I realized that a vision is a vital part of parenting because it is what guides me to the finish line. It keeps me on track, reminding me of what I'm doing and the why.

Honesty here, wide open ... my parenting a bit weak in vision and inconsistent at times. One day my boys would do something and I was fine. The next, it was too much and momma went off. They didn't always know what to expect. Neither did I. Without vision, it was hard to give direction because I didn't know where I was going.

The vision we created for our boys, the first step in our journey. It is our guide along the way, keeping us on the path of great parenting.

"There is a principle here that applies to you and me: God takes small, imperfect things and builds them into a habitation for his glory. O, how we should take courage in our little spheres of influence! And is this not the message of Advent and Christmas?

What more appropriate word could God have said to Mary as Jesus was growing up: Take courage, young mother, you build more than you see. And so it is with every one of us. Nothing you do is a trifle if you do it in the name of God. He will shake heaven and earth to fill your labor with splendor. Take courage, you build more than you see." - John Piper

Train Up A Momma

Let the Training Begin ...

Tis time ... When you really want something, dream it, eat it , live it, you train for it. Only the ones that train with dripping sweat and a determined stride ever really grab the prize.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way to get the prize." - 1 Corinthians 9:24

Tis time ... This momma is lacing on her running shoes. Going into training, for a real prize, the hearts of my children. Entering into training, to be the best, the best mom imaginable for my boys. Going after a real prize.

Tis time ... A house full of first time obedience with a happy heart. Love lived out loud oozing from every room and smiling face. A world where my children have taken what I give to them and carry it on ... from generation to generation.

Tis time to share ... Our family, amazing realities in each day as we've been in training for a bit now. I invite you to join me on my journey ... to train up a momma.

"All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally. I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got." - 1 Corinthians 9:25-26 Message