Sunblock is your friend

Note to self:  EVERY time you wear a tank top—Put. On. Sunblock.

I mean, seriously.  Wouldn't you think in 40-some years I would figure that out?!?  I guess I just got fooled.  We were at the park for 5 hours with my cousin and her kids, and we were under a shady tree for quite a while... but then the sky clouded-over and I never once gave thought to the sun's rays still coming through the clouds.  Tsk-tsk.

Obedience

In the old way, obedience was an obligation to keep the rules. In the new way, it is an opportunity to be exactly what you were created to be.

-Ethan Formo

Raising Kids with Christ-like Character

I like to listen to Focus on the Family (on my laptop) while I work in the kitchen.  This morning I was listening to a broadcast from May 30th called "Raising Kids with Christ-like Character," featuring marriage and family therapists Paul and Virginia Friesen. 

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/radio.aspx?ID={C2CCF3DF-55DB-4CA4-858B-6C83B75748AB}

This part really resonated with me... 

JIM DALY:  The thing that I notice with our Christian parenting, particularly, is this ideal for perfection. I mean, Jean and I experience it; we want our kids to act correctly all the time, and if they get out of line we get nervous—somehow it reflects on us.  And we’re doing far better with that now that they’re a bit older. But I think that’s normal for parents. In that regard, when we’re looking at our parenting style—again, especially as Christians—how do we relax that desire for perfection, [and] at the same time understand that we can please the Lord even if we’re not perfect?

VIRGINIA FRIESEN:  I think that the Christian community through the decades has been more committed to appearance management than to heart-driven pursuit of Christ. That probably sounds like a strong indictment, but I will level it at ourselves as well as anyone, because it is true—especially when our children were younger. We just so wanted to look good as parents; we wanted to make sure that we were doing the right thing, ostensibly so that we would help them find Christ.  But there’s an awful lot of our own insecurities that end up being wrapped up in that, and if our child behaves, we can feel better about ourselves as parents. And I think for ourselves, raising our children in the ministry context from the very beginning, we discovered that if we focused on appearance management we would miss their hearts, and our own hearts would probably move away from what matters most to God.

Sensory tote

My younger son loves "sensory" stuff.  So I thought I'd put together a sensory bin for him.  Super easy!  And doesn't require any special creativity.

Step 1:  Purchase rice.  I bought a 25-pound bag of white rice for under $10 at Sam's Club.  Note: a smaller bag would have sufficed... perhaps like 10 pounds?

Step 2:  Purchase a large flat tote with locking handles. 

Step 3:  Dump rice into tote.  Leave plenty of space to move.

Step 4:  Add items of interest.

Step 5:  Play!

Pursuing what matters

Pursue righteousness and you'll gain happiness.
Pursue happiness and you'll miss both.

(Posted by a friend on Facebook today.)

Praying with your fingers

I thought this was a neat idea. (I don't know who wrote it—it was from a forwarded email.)

Praying With Your Fingers

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."

2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct, and heal. This includes pastors, teachers, and doctors. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble, or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

5. And lastly comes our little finger—the smallest finger of all—which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

 

Friday funnies

Life before the computer:

• Memory was something that you lost with age.
• An application was for employment.
• A program was a TV show.
• A keyboard was a piano.
• A web was a spider's home.
• A virus was the flu.
• A CD was a bank account.
• A hard drive was a long trip on the road.
• A mouse pad was where a mouse lived.

Maybe worthy of a little grin? :)