These games....

As I look back on our games from last week, mine and Bruce's, it is not a pretty sight. My girls were 10-goaled by Farmington and Bruce's team was also mercy ruled. It is so hard when you feel like you do the best you can to condition and train and prepare your kids for everything that might come down the field. When the whistle blows and there is still time on the clock there is nothing harder as a coach or athlete. It is very hard not to take these games personally and really reflect on what you should have done differently. I saw my girls with tears in their eyes and their heads hung low and my heart hurt for them.

My coaching friend reminded me that "These games do not define us." Loosing or winning does not define us; they are just games. What defines us is our character in these situations and how we handle ourselves. Our words and actions towards others are what define us and show our true character. As my girls had their heads hung down and their spirits crushed they began to fight with each other on the field and even put each other down. I realized later that this is what I needed to do differently. Teach them how to learn from these situations and how to come out on top even when you are on the bottom.

In 10 or 20 years they may not even remember these "games" but they will remember their reactions to the challenges in life. These games do not define who they are or who I am as a coach; it is how we come through these storms that shows those around us who we live for and what is really important in life.

"If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Gal 1:10

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the lord, not for men...It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Col. 3:23-24

What defines you?

Parenting Guidelines....continued

Some of my friends commented on this, but I was really hoping to hear from more so if you would like to add to this list please feel free to send me more advice to add.

1. Go with your instincts
2. Never be too busy that you can't stop to be a super hero or have a tea party or read a book
3. Build a strong marriage...that builds strong kids
4. Your children are not a situation - so cultivate a attitude of sacrifice
5. Notice your children when they come into a room and let them know you are happy to see them
6. Each child is different and has unique needs for love, affection, and discipline
7. Love your kids in a way they can understand
8. Make eye contact
9. Hug them like you mean it
10. Never say never about something your kids might do....Just be ready to handle it and love them when they get off track.

I hope this list will continue to grow as others have time to add onto this. What great advice from some amazing people.

Fun on Sunday

Madelynn loves shoes "ooshos" as she calls them. She wears ours and tries to help us dress.
It is too early to teach her to tie her shoes? Please ignore the tan lines...Wow, not a good angle

Daughter like Daddy...our little mini me copies everything we do these days. She is really quite funny!

You sometimes you just need to sit on a pillow and think.

Ready for church and looking so cute. I think this outfit was one of Victoria's passed down to Cassidy, but I am not sure. I just love it!

What a great day with some happy memories. I wish my baby felt better. Went to bed with a 102 degree temp tonight...probably some teeth on the way.

A challenge for you

I love this blog Time-warp wife. Well she has a challenge on her blog for October for loving our husbands. So I am passing the challenge onto you guys. You can click on the button on the right to learn more. If you would like to do this, would you please let me know because I would love to pray for you during this time.
Happy Fall!

Do you have guidelines for childraising?

What, Mom? I'm not doing anything wrong.

"Madelynn, don't stand on that chair"

I can still hear the words I was saying in both of these instances. One thing I found amazing as Madelynn has grown is how quickly the disciplining has started. She is just a little baby and we already have to think about how we respond in certain situations and the lessons we are already teaching her. Before she was born I probably had four books next to my bed that I would read about what to expect and how to laugh through it and how to be prepared, but then once she was born we just went with the flow each day. I never really thought about or wrote our what my goals were.

My Bible study the other day was about guidelines for parenting and in it I was encouraged to write out 5 Guideline or Rules for Childraising. I had never thought about this before or even tried to put them into words. So this is what I came up with so far:

1. Never make a promise or threat you are not willing to go through with (this was advice Bruce gave me when I first started teaching and I think it still applies)

2. Start training your child early in the way you want them to go (Proverbs 22:6)

3. Don't sweat the small stuff --- Choose your battles

4. Make your kids a priority everyday

5. Treat your kids with respect, as people, not as equals, but respectfully ( I feel this is somehting my parents did very well when they were raising us and in turn we respected them)

I asked Bruce what his 5 would be. He had trouble coming up with some. He shared my 1st one (I guess that is ok because it came from him in the first place). I hope he has some I can post in the next couple of days.

I would love to hear from you guys. Even if you are not a follower on my blog, email me some of your guidelines and I will complie them into a list. I am sure over the years my list will change and grow, but there will always be a basic foundation that I am sure we will try to follow.