Great Finger Paint...

We love to craft and make messes around here!  Recently I found a recipe for finger paint from Easie Peasie and we gave it a try!  It turned out faboulously finger painty!

Homemade Finger Paints
3T sugar
1/2 t salt
1/2 cup corn starch
2 cups water

Combine ingredients in saucepan over medium heat.  Stir until mixture thickens... I stood there contemplating whether it was done or not, but you'll know it when it's done for sure, all of a sudden it turns into the perfect consistency.  Put into containers and mix in food coloring!  Wah-lah! 

Happy Painting!

Trying not to hold her too tightly...

1st Day of Kindergarten

The August 23rd entry in my Jesus Calling book by Sarah Young really resonated yesterday....

Entrust your loved ones to Me; release them into My protective care.  They are much safer with Me than in your clinging hands.  If you let your loved one become an idol in your heart, you endanger that one - as well as yourself. 

When you release loved ones to Me, you are free to cling to My hand.  As you entrust others into My care, I am free to shower blessings on them.  My Presence will go with them wherever they go, and I will give them rest.  This same Presence stays with you as you relax and place your trust in Me.  Watch and see what I will do.

This was timely

Tomorrow is our big day!  Sadie starts Kindergarten... I know everyone says it, but it's true - I can hardly believe this day is here.  Tonight I was reading from my Jesus Calling book and today's passage came at a good moment...

Accept each day just as it comes to you.  Do not waste your time and energy wishing for a different set of circumstances.  Instead, trust Me enough to yield to My design and purposes.  Remember that nothing can separate you (or Sadie) from  My loving Presence; you (and Sadie) are Mine.  (italics mine... but wouldn't that have been over the top cool if Sadie's name had been in my book tonight!?)

Part of this excerpt is from Isaiah 43:1... I'm going to work on memorizing this week!
Isaiah 43:1
"But now, this is what the Lord says - he who created you, he who formed you: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine."

Back to School Count Down!

We count down events around here based on how many sleeps we have until the big day.  School is just 8 sleeps away!  Today I made a count down chain to help us get ready for the 1st day of School!  

Count Down!

Every night we will tear off a piece of the chain.  I have put a verse on the back of each one for us to read and talk about how it relates to school.  Here are the verses I am using, if you'd like to do the same!

• 8 - Psalm 56:3 - When I'm afraid I will trust in God.
• 7 - Proverbs 17:17 - A friend loves at all times.
• 6 - Romans 15:13a - May God fill you with joy and peace as you trust in him.
• 5 - Psalm 73:22 - I am always with you.  You hold me by your right hand.
• 4 - Philippians 2:14 - Do everything without complaining or grumbling.
• 3 - Philippians 4:6-7 - Do not be anxious about anything.  Pray about everything and the peace of God will guard your hearts.
• 2 - Philippians 4:8 - Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things.
• 1 - Psalm 46:10 - Be still and know that I am God.

Note: Many of theses verses are NIV or ESV... If you see one that doesn't line up with that, it's a KF (Kristen Franklin) summary to better help our little ones with some of the wordiness or terminology.  :)

Stop and take it all in...

On the way home from church the other day, Sadie spotted a group of ants working together to carry something... I never could figure out what it was.  They both stopped for awhile to watch them.  I love how kids can spot the simplest things and enjoy their wonder... makes me want to do the same!

Ant watching!

Romans 15:13a

I've still been working on memorizing two verses of scripture every month.  I think so far I have memorized 12 since January, which means I've missed a couple here and there... but I'm rejoicing over the words I've memorized and am so excited when they come to mind in different circumstances.

I recently shared that I've been teaching Sadie Psalm 56:3 as she prepares for school - "When I'm afraid I will trust in God."

Truth be told, as I've been teaching her those words and reviewing them with her, I have been desperately praying that God would help me to trust Him with her.  It's so hard for me to start new seasons of life in parenting (really anything new freaks me out), but I'm constantly reminded that He knows our children's deepest needs before we ever get a glimpse of them.  The last few days I have been working on memorizing Romans 15:13a - "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him."


God has proven faithful time and time again and more than trustworthy.  It is my prayer that in this new season, called Kindergarten, that He would indeed fill me with joy and  peace as I trust in Him with Sadie.

Thoughts on going back to school....

Every year about this time I start getting the jitters... the back to school jitters.  There's just something about the smell of a 24 pack of Crayolas that gets me all nervous and excited at the same time.  This year the feeling is more intense as we are getting ready to send our oldest to Kindergarten.

Sadie's 1st day of Preschool

 I've been asked by multiple people over the last few months, "You mean, you're not homeschooling?"  Apparently I look to fit the mold of a homeschooler... and I will take that as a compliment because it takes a lot of motivation, enthusiasm and discipline to take on that role!  ;)

I am not opposed to homeschooling, especially if it is done well... and there may be a season of life God calls us to that, but for now, our family feels extremely called to and passionate about the Public School.  It's been a passion Eric and I have shared for a long time.  There are so many needs in our local schools.  Right now, our schedules allow us to be at the school, be a part of what is going on, and a help to meet the unique needs that are there.  I am so excited to see how God is going to use our whole family as we begin this adventure.

With anything new, there are adjustments that need made and things to think on before sending your kiddo to school.  I am no expert on this, but there have been things I have noted as a mom and a teacher that are helpful in getting your little ones (and you) ready for their first week at school. 

• Take time during the summer to go up to the school and play on the playground.  Give them a chance to try out all the equipment and teach them how to use it correctly.  While you are there peek in the window to their classroom so they can get an idea of what it looks like.  It also gives them a chance to see that their teacher is getting ready for them!
• Have your child draw a picture of how they will get to school.  Will they walk, ride their bike, ride the bus or will you take them?  Use this as an opportunity to talk about safety and appropriate behavior while walking, biking, bus riding etc.
• Model what it looks like to be a good friend.  Teach them how to talk to kids they have never met before... for some kids this is very natural, for others it is very nerve racking.  Teach them how to introduce themselves to someone and ask them to play or be their partner for an activity.  While this seems very simple, we cannot assume that they already know how to do this.
• Sadie recently shared that she is feeling a little nervous about going to school.  Instead of telling them not to be (which can tend to be our default because we don't want them to have uneasy feelings), let kids know that it's okay to feel nervous!   Sometimes it's good to know that it's okay to feel that way and once they are used to going, they will become more comfortable.  
• Replace anxious thoughts with the truth.  When Sadie shared about being nervous, we found a Bible verse that would help her with that feeling.  We chose Psalm 56:3 - "When I'm afraid I will trust in God."  We have spent a lot of time over the last couple weeks reciting that and talking about what it means.  I'm trusting that God will bring that verse to her memory when she is away from me and is feeling anxious.  As the school year progresses, teach them verses that will deal more with their character - being a good friend (Proverbs 17:17) or doing all things without complaining or grumbling (Philippians 2:14).  We constantly need to be looking at our kids and thinking about what the deepest need of their heart may be and how we can help develop them and nurture them into what God desires them to be.
• Buy and label school supplies together.  Talk about what they might do with each one.  Also talk about the supplies they are taking that will be for their personal use and what will be for the class to share.
• Pray together for their new teacher and friends!
• Share some of your favorite school memories with them.  We want our kids to love learning... they are going to be in school for at least 13 years (and will hopefully have the desire to be lifelong learners after that!)... talk positively about going to school and learning.

What other things can you think of to help get your kiddos ready for school?  We have about 3 more weeks to prep them!  The big day is coming soon!