Summer Focus: Nurturing my Family

I like to create goals - not that I always, or even frequently, meet the goals I set for myself.... At the beginning of every new season, I look ahead and think about what I would like to do differently; what I would like to accomplish. As summer approaches, and as I look forward to no work and no school, I can not help but consider summer goals. My main focus this summer will be my boys: Tanner and Tyler. They have patiently (sort of) endured my educational journey. This summer will be dedicated to them.

Chuck Swindoll recently spoke on nurturing our kids. I caught his 5/13/09 Insight for Living broadcast. It appears I only heard the third message of a three part series. Even so, the message spoke to me about my summer goals. Swindoll defined "nurture" as (1) helping our kids know their God-given giftedness and (2) cultivating those gifts. This has inspired me to consider and pray about Tanner and Tyler's giftedness. Tanner is 11, so his are clearer to me than Tyler's gifts. Tanner is a "behind the scenes" kind of guy. He comprehends technical things with amazing ease. He has an exceptional memory, and he is a good athlete. His teachers tell me he is very social at school and is quite funny - I think of Tanner as more shy than social.

I believe Tyler's gifts may be related to leadership and they need some serious honing - if you know what I mean! Seriously though, Tyler is perseverant and outgoing. He has some creative interests, but he doesn't express much care in pursuing them, yet. Tyler is 9 and he is more interested in emulating his brother than developing his own strengths.

This is my prayer:

God, help me to know Tanner and Tyler better; to respond to them with more sensitivity; to nurture their growth in You. Grant me the wisdom to make decisions with their best in mind. You know my strengths and weakness, dear God, nurture my parenting skills and guide me in growth.

On May 18, 2009, Lysa TerKeurst wrote of "Mommy Guilt." She hit the nail on my head! If I have areas vulnerable to Satan's attack, then mommy guilt is one of those areas. What I really liked about Lysa's blog, though, was her guidance in dealing with mommy guilt. In following her direction, I pursued reading and applying Proverbs to my diagnosis of mommy guilt. From my time in Proverbs, I am asking God for wisdom - He is the provider of wisdom. Based on the wisdom He provides, I am seeking consistency, discipline, self-control, honesty, and purposefulness in being a better mom and wife.

"Let the words of Christ, in all of their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise.... And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus."
Colossians 3:16-17 (NLT)

Back to the Birds

I am really not certain how many babies we have in our labor and delivery unit. The first of the eggs hatched four days ago. We started out with 6 eggs, but mommy bird has plucked two babies from the nest. This is a little sad... and gross because the babies landed in the floral arrangement next to the nest. They were still moving - last I checked, but I do not have much hope for them. :(


The babies in the nest are beginning to look a little cute. Have I mentioned that I am really not that fond of birds, in general? I did attempt to take some pictures of the outcasts, as well....

Mac & Mandy Sittin in a Tree....

Mac & Mandy are dating, so the kids think.... We are dog-sitting this weekend, and I am quite humored by the dogs' behavior.





When my kids were babies, I did not enjoy watching other kids (unless I knew the behaviors of the other kids very well) - it stressed me out (I know, I am weak).


Dogs are similar to kids except there is much less guilt involved and dogs are simply easier. Kids are much more fulfilling, joyful, intelligent, and fascinating. (Side note: I am feeling a little guilty for not having pictures and stories about my kids.... My boys won't let me take pictures of them unless they are making faces at the camera, they get mad at me when I tell funny stories about them, and Tanner has learned to Google his own name).

Watching Mac & Mandy together is cheap entertainment.

My observations:

1. I take pride in the fact that Mandy is successfully potty-training, so every time she does her business outside, I feel a sense of personal accomplishment. When Mac goes outside, I feel a little grossed out by watching him - like when I changed another baby's diaper.... Weird, I know.
2. As a parent, and as a dog owner, you grow accustomed to the schedule and behaviors or your own. As a girl dog, when Mandy goes out to pee, she does so once. We're done. Let's go back inside. As a boy dog, Mac pees multiple times... on EVERYTHING. It makes me laugh. After the first time Steve took Mac out, I ask him, "So, how many times did Mac pee?" to which Steve replied, "a bunch." I said, "Isn't it funny?" Steve responded with, "It's ridiculous!" Again, it makes me chuckle.... Dogs & humans, we're all funny.
3. Mandy is the most compliant dog I know (the Lord knew what I needed to accompany the craziness of my life with 2 sons). Since I am by myself today, I did not want both dogs bolting out the door when I took one of them out to the backyard. So, as I prepared Mac to go out, I said, "Mandy, cage" to which she looked at me and obediently entered her crate. Mac looked at her like she was crazy (actually, so did I). Compliance is such a nice change of pace around here. :) Mac has learned better - he'll enter his crate only for a doggy treat... smart dog, he is.
   
4. Mandy is much younger than Mac. Mac sort of endures Mandy's "puppy" antics - he is so mature, you know. When we first got Mandy, it was Mac that taught her how to bark - wish I had that on tape. When the two of them are together, it is a barking fest. I tried to bate them into barking on tape to demonstrate the fun, and they barked a little, but it wasn't so impressive. Dumb me, I replayed the footage on my camera to evaluate its use, and they went wild - thinking there were other dogs in our backyard barking.... This went on for a long time... stupid me.