Here’s my list of questions to ask your kids sometime around the New Year. We always love this time of hearing their thoughts from the previous year and thinking together about the new one. Use it as a starting place for your own family or friends.
What was your favorite memory from this year?
What was the hardest thing about this year?
What was your favorite book of the Bible that we read together? Why?
What was your favorite other book?
How have you grown this year?
What is something you learned that you didn’t know or couldn’t do last year?
What was your biggest disappointment or failure?
What is one thing you want to learn this year?
What is one thing you want to be different this year?
What is one way you want to grow in loving God this year?
What is one way you want to grow in loving others this year?
What is one thing you’d like to do with the family this year?
How can we pray for you?
This year I have the questions written down in my journal with places to record the answers. I hope these provide opportunities for some great conversations!
Viewing the Jezreel Valley from the Nazareth ridgeNazarethNazarethPaul’s view from the hotel in Nazareth (oh yes, I am jealous)
(Reposting the Israel series due to technical difficulties) = )
Today really was fabulous. The morning was great; lunch has been fine (as that was a concern seeing it is the biggest time the girls see Paul). Naps happened early and then we were off to do an errand, which led to a surprise visit to the park, which led to dinner with a friend and her little girl. Hooray for unplanned happy occasions!
Even coming home and bath time went great. By the way, the girls really climbed at the park. I was so proud; being a lover of climbing myself. It was so fun to see them try things that they had never done before.
Anyways, what I’m about to tell you is going to seem like it has nothing to do with what I’ve said previously, but just hold on:
We only have one santa hat in the house. Doesn’t sound like a problem? Oh, it has been. Especially between Hope and Sophia. Let’s just say that Hope decided she wanted to wear it first today and that gave us a great little opportunity to teach Sophia about being happy and content even when someone else has something you want.
Right before bed, Sophia grabbed the hat and put it on, planning to wear it to bed.
“No, no santa hats in bed.” I took the hat and put it out in the hallway.
At some point in the middle of the night, Sophia came into my room, crawled in the bed and asked for a drink. I’m not as tough in the middle of the night as I am during the day.
“Okay.” We got the drink and then visited the bathroom. (Did you know that’s one of the hard and fast rules of parenting? It’s okay to give a kid a drink in the middle of the night, but always take them to the bathroom as well. You’ll never regret it. = )
After walking back down the hallway and entering her room, I realized that she wasn’t with me. “Where…what…” my groggy mind thought.
All of the sudden, she came around the corner… wearing the santa hat!
I don’t care.Wait is there a way that it could be dangerous for a three-year old to wear a santa hat in bed? Because if there is, then I’m going to have to say no and that would be really sad.
Before I had time to decide, she pulled off the hat, wadded it up, stuck it under her arm and dove in bed.
Smiling to myself (and not a little unrelieved that I didn’t have to deal with it), I tucked her in and left the room.
You know, sometimes when your dad is on the other side of the world… you just need a santa hat under your arm in bed.
Thanks for reading my first series: Taking care of four little girls alone (while my husband is on an amazing study trip to Israel). Here are links to the other related posts.
Viewing the Jezreel Valley from the Nazareth ridgeNazarethNazarethPaul’s view from the hotel in Nazareth (oh yes, I am jealous)
Today really was fabulous. The morning was great; lunch has been fine (as that was a concern seeing it is the biggest time the girls see Paul). Naps happened early and then we were off to do an errand, which led to a surprise visit to the park, which led to dinner with a friend and her little girl. Hooray for unplanned happy occasions!
Even coming home and bath time went great. By the way, the girls really climbed at the park. I was so proud; being a lover of climbing myself. It was so fun to see them try things that they had never done before.
Anyways, what I’m about to tell you is going to seem like it has nothing to do with what I’ve said previously, but just hold on:
We only have one santa hat in the house. Doesn’t sound like a problem? Oh, it has been. Especially between Hope and Sophia. Let’s just say that Hope decided she wanted to wear it first today and that gave us a great little opportunity to teach Sophia about being happy and content even when someone else has something you want.
Right before bed, Sophia grabbed the hat and put it on, planning to wear it to bed.
“No, no santa hats in bed.” I took the hat and put it out in the hallway.
At some point in the middle of the night, Sophia came into my room, crawled in the bed and asked for a drink. I’m not as tough in the middle of the night as I am during the day.
“Okay.” We got the drink and then visited the bathroom. (Did you know that’s one of the hard and fast rules of parenting? It’s okay to give a kid a drink in the middle of the night, but always take them to the bathroom as well. You’ll never regret it. = )
After walking back down the hallway and entering her room, I realized that she wasn’t with me. “Where…what…” my groggy mind thought.
All of the sudden, she came around the corner… wearing the santa hat!
I don’t care.Wait is there a way that it could be dangerous for a three-year old to wear a santa hat in bed? Because if there is, then I’m going to have to say no and that would be really sad.
Before I had time to decide, she pulled off the hat, wadded it up, stuck it under her arm and dove in bed.
Smiling to myself (and not a little unrelieved that I didn’t have to deal with it), I tucked her in and left the room.
You know, sometimes when your dad is on the other side of the world… you just need a santa hat under your arm in bed.
Thanks for reading my first series: Taking care of four little girls alone (while my husband is on an amazing study trip to Israel). Here are links to the other related posts.
By my clock, there are twenty-six hours and forty-eight minutes until Thanksgiving. I have a little over half of that until my company comes. And today, I felt it.
Yesterday I was motivated. With my to-do list in hand, I ran around the house fixing, cleaning and preparing. But not too much; just enough to accomplish what needed to be done, knowing there was a set plan for the next two days.
Fast forward to this morning. I don’t know if it was me or the girls, but something wasn’t clicking. Gracie had four accidents; Hope and Sophia pulled their dresser over; Mckayla was cranky and my efforts notwithstanding, the word for the day was futility.
I hereby declare that I think stress is inevitable during the holidays! (So stop publishing misleading articles about a stress-less holiday, you lovely magazines that we all adore!)
Let’s see, I’m suffering from menu-picking paralysis, I need to clean the kitchen floor, tidy up the house, fold some laundry and go to the store. All before going to bed tonight. but I want to go to bed now! No matter. Oh and all that I just listed is so that I can be ready to do what I need to do tomorrow. (sarcastic smiley face)
All right, it’s not all that bad. I mean everything I said is true, but the stress levels haven’t reached dangerous heights. Just lettin’ you know, I’m feelin’ it. How about you?
P.S. To all those who are reading my new somewhat rough blog: Thank you so much for reading; I really appreciate the encouragment. Have a lovely Thanksgiving.
small steps, big picture 