So I was going over Eli’s letters with him and remembered a time when I wanted to stop reviewing them with him altogether.
My reason for wanting to stop was that I didn’t think that he was paying much attention and I was really putting my all into getting him to know his letters amongst other things. I felt like he would pay close attention from A to D and then from M to O and then X, Y and Z. Lol! Thinking about it now reminds me of how funny this actually was. So one day I overheard Eli going over his letters and mentioned letter I didn’t think he knew. He recited the letters out of order and pointed them out each time he was acknowledging one he knew.
Watching him made me so happy because I knew that he was actually learning and taking something away from our time reviewing the letters together. Not only was he learning his letters but he was also picking up other things like numbers and shapes. Seeing this definitely encouraged me to do more with him and it also prompted me to write this blog.
Playing Peek – A – Boo while reviewing our ABC’s! 😄
I wondered to myself, “How many parents probably stop teaching and training their children because of this same feeling ?” Feeling like you aren’t really getting anywhere with your little one so why bother. I believe that this kind of discouragement has probably come to all parents more times than one.
The Bible instructs parents to “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” Proverbs 22:6 NLT
I remember being a little girl and whenever I would drop something on the ground in attempts to litter my mom would make me pick it up and throw it in the garbage. Even if the item was as small as a gum wrapper, I would be told to pick it up right away. This continued on into my teenage years which as you’ve probably already guessed became a little embarrassing. Until one day I just decided to stop littering and actually make not littering something I stood for. After this moment I never littered and if I try to throw something out and accidentally drop it, I pick the item up if the wind doesn’t blow it away before I can get to it.
This is a habit I want Eli to keep as well. I mentioned this story because I believe it embodies the power of us directing, training and teaching our children. The right path is attainable and it’s important for our children to know this.
We live in a day and age where we can put our children in front of a tablet, television or phone and allow them to be directed, trained and taught by what they are watching and then wonder the question of “Where did you get that from?”
In order to direct our children we have to be present and active in their lives. So many things fight for our attention and our children shouldn’t have to be one. We have a responsibility to raise them right and we are capable of doing this. I wanted to write this blog to encourage a parent to keep going as far as educating and directing your child goes. They see you, they hear you and they are taking in each moment of interaction you have with them. Even if it doesn’t seem like it, your hard work is not in vain. God sees you and so does your little one. Yes, they will gain many other teachers and examples in their lifetime, but you are and will always be their first teacher. Don’t stop and allow someone or something else to raise your child or teach them. They need you and their time spent with you is priceless. It makes a difference. You make a difference.
Galatians 6:9 NLT
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
A holiday by definition is a day of festivity or recreation when no work is done.
It is my belief that most holidays are believed to be just that, and then there are other holidays that have been apart of some lives for as long as the person could remember.
Holidays like Halloween, Kwanza, Yom Kipper and Christmas. Some families have always celebrated specific holidays and some always will.
Another definition of holiday is : a day on which one is exempt from work
specifically : a day marked by a general suspension of work in commemoration of an event
The Bible teaches us to celebrate.
I am by no means “traditional” when it comes to celebrating holidays and my reason for this is because I believe that some traditions are simply cliche or traditions that we are overly familiar with and that we don’t even really know why, we, ourselves participate in them. I like to do things with meaning and for purpose, not just because, so there are a lot of ways that I acknowledge and don’t acknowledge holidays that may seem out of the norm for others around the holidays and I am okay with that.
Holidays I Celebrate:
The only holiday I truly celebrate in its entirety and for its true purpose is Easter better known and understood as Resurrection Sunday. It’s a day where the death and resurrection of my/our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is celebrated.
My Activity On This Day:
CHURCH! CHURCH! CHURCH! I want to be in the presence of others that understand how special this day really is to all of humanity but I also want to be intentional about sharing this Good News/information of this holiday with others, even if it’s just one other person, so that they’ll learn why they too should celebrate this day (Luke 24:38-39). Leading up to this day I like to dive into the scriptures that lead up to the death and resurrection of my Lord, Jesus. I get books that help introduce this story to Eli and share as much of the beauty of this day as I can with him. The Sunday before Resurrection Sunday is called Palm Sunday which marks the beginning of Jesus’ journey to the cross. It is celebrated by church goers receiving Palm leaves on that day (John 12:12-19). That Friday is called Good Friday, traditionally a day of fasting and commemorates a day of suffering and death for Jesus. It is called “good” because of the way we (all of humanity) benefit from the death and suffering of Jesus. For Christians this day celebrates what we believe to be the most significant weekend in the history of the world (1 Corinthians 15:3).
My thoughts on Christmas:
I love the season, the festivities and the joy felt around this time of the year. Is it a holiday that my family goes all out for? No. Some celebrate the day believing there is a Santa Clause that comes to deliver presents to little children that are on a good list. Some celebrate a day closely related to Christmas called 3 Kings Day while others celebrate the actual birth of Christ on this day. I do know a bit of history about this holiday and that is was originally a pagan holiday (holiday celebrated by unbelievers – someone who does not believe in the true and living God) in which Christ was later incorporated into in order to win unbelievers over to Christ, and I get it. I personally don’t see CHRIST in some of these traditions and choose to opt out of celebrating Christmas the traditional way (gifts, trees, Santa etc.)
So this year we started a new tradition of ice skating ⛸ on this day and I want to continue it. We make a big breakfast and a decent size dinner and eat. On this day we enjoy each other and the gift of this. A church I used to attend (Church City USA -Eli was dedicated to God here) currently has a Prayer Service Christmas Eve called ‘O Come Let Us Adore Him’ and if God permits I would like to join this prayer service every year on the eve of Christmas with my family. How I see this holiday is that if we’ve made it about Christ, let it be about Him. I believe that this service is a perfect way to keep our thoughts and actions towards Christ birth in during the Christmas season. Brooklyn Tabernacle always has an amazing play around this time of the year which leads me to another way I celebrate this time of Jesus’ birth being celebrated. I take advantage of the fact that there are a number of plays and productions put on around this time sharing the story of Christ or stories of a Christ like attitude and I desire to expose Eli to these stories, plays and productions all in hopes to teach him about this season. I took him to a few this year and he enjoyed them all so much, (even at his tender age of one, lol). I also enjoy all of the “Winter Fun” that goes on around this time of the year, you can definitely find me outdoors or indoors at a Winter Wonderland event around that time of the year!
My thoughts on Halloween:
It’s not a holiday that I believe, believers should celebrate. It’s not a holiday that I’ll ever celebrate and just hearing about testimonies from some believers that were actually devil worshipers before coming to Christ about that day has drawn me to the conclusion that on this day, specifically, Christians should unite in prayer against the plans and work of the enemy.
In the past I held prayer on this day with a few other women of Faith on a prayer conference call. If this is not an option I pray and pull down strongholds right in the middle of my kitchen the night of Halloween. I also don’t participate in any activity that takes place at my workplace and take the day off away from these festivities if possible. I just believe that it is close to impossible not to compromise in some way when I’m “unofficially” apart of a Halloween celebration. Again, this is just my take.
My thoughts on Thanksgiving:
I don’t celebrate the holiday as much as I recognize the opportunity we have to give thanks. I don’t celebrate the reason behind this holiday but I do celebrate the concept, which is Thanksgiving. How we celebrate is with a big meal (this year it will be completely vegetarian 🌱, ha!), games, laughters and family. This is how we celebrate.
THANKSGIVING every year.
Thanksgiving:
1. The expression of gratitude, especially to God.
2. A public acknowledgment or celebration of divine goodness
There are so many others holidays, too many to list them all.
The Bible makes it clear that God loves and wants us to rejoice and celebrate! The biblical definition of celebrate is to perform (a sacrament or ceremony) publicly and with appropriate rites; to observe a notable occasion with festivities. I love to celebrate and want to share more about how God wants us to celebrate.
Exodus 10:9 NLT
Moses replied, “We will all go—young and old, our sons and daughters, and our flocks and herds. We must all join together in celebrating a festival to the LORD.”
Exodus 23:14 NLT
“Each year you must celebrate three festivals in my honor.
2 Samuel 6:21 NLT
David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the LORD, so I celebrate before the LORD.
Esther 8:17 NLT
In every province and city, wherever the king’s decree arrived, the Jews rejoiced and had a great celebration and declared a public festival and holiday. And many of the people of the land became Jews themselves, for they feared what the Jews might do to them.
Matthew 25:21 NLT
“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
Luke 15:23-24 NLT
And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.
The Bible talks about celebrating God, celebrating others as well as celebrating holidays and celebrating on certain holy days. It is clear that celebrating is not a bad thing to God, in fact I believe that God delights in celebration. Similar to other topics of debate on God’s view, something to keep in mind, is the fact that God cannot go against His own word. Neither God nor the Bible is hypocritical or contradictory. So I believe that as long as our celebrations honor God and his principles and commands, they are fine to celebrate. If they go against what is acceptable to Him this is when the celebration is no longer okay to engage in. Our motives matter in celebration as well as the meaning behind our celebration.
Psalm 89:34
No, I will not break my covenant; I will not take back a single word I said.
Exodus 34:14
You must worship no other gods, for the LORD, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.
Thank So I was asked about some of the things that I feed Eli and wanted to share some of my go-to foods for him. I try not to over complicate Eli’s meals and try to include all the types of foods he’s supposed to take in on a daily basis.
At times, I do get lazy and want to stop making all his meals but then I think about it, and know that this is the best thing for him as well as I am reminded of the fact that I want him to be healthy. I also order some meals that are prepped in advance from Raised Real for my lazy weeks, which are extremely helpful and serves as my meal prep accountability.
Disclaimer: In no way do I claim to be a nutritionist or a professional that can instruct you in creating healthy meals for your little ones. I am simply listing things that help me in meal prepping as well as some examples of what I like to include for Eli’s meals.
Morning Go-To’s
Smoothies– I include all the things I know he’d never eat but is good for him in his morning smoothies. I include his greens, chia seeds and berries which are all things that Eli will not eat if they are placed on his plate. I began making smoothies for Eli because trying him with new veggies and fruits became such a hassle, so I began to just incorporate whatever I wanted him to have into his smoothies and it worked so well. We have kept up with our smoothies and they have grown to be something we enjoy drinking together.
Tip: Cut up and prepare the ingredients for your smoothie the night before, it’ saves so much time!
Oats – The great thing about oats is that its simple and fast but also one of the healthiest grains and a great source of vitamins, fiber, minerals and antioxidants. Topped with fruits it’s the perfect blend of sweet, hearty and healthy for Eli in the morning. Not to mention that the warmth always helps soothe the stomach in the morning.
Cereal – Dry cereal is the best for mornings when you are rushing. I like cereals that provide a great source of grain, so ones that have multi grain clusters, or that are made up of oats are my favorite.
Pancakes – Are another simple and tasty breakfast for Eli. They are definitely a nice treat for him and I also include a fruit, like bananas or blueberries to sweeten them for him.
Bread – We have a bakery right around the corner from the house and we all love the bread from this bakery. So some mornings I’ll go downstairs and purchase a few small loaves and we eat that together for breakfast, with possibly some strawberries or whatever fruit we have at home on the side. Toddlers should have at least 6 servings of the Grain Group each day, so bread (the right type of bread) is perfectly okay for providing one serving each day (approximately ½ slice).
Note: Eli is allergic to eggs so that’s not something that I can make apart of his breakfast but I’m sure you can with your little one!
Lunch Go-To’s
Grain – I include Rice (mainly basmati or jasmine) or Pasta for his lunch and dinner meals. I try to sneak in some kale or spinach in both so that he is taking in the right things during each meal. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. I like to add a tomato paste to Eli’s pasta or a nice flavored sauce, but some days all he wants added to it is a bit of butter and a little salt and some cheese and he devours it.
Veggies – Carrots and broccoli are my go-to veggies! They just are, it may be because they are so easy to cook.
Something Sweet – Can include a fruit or a sweet potato, which is Eli’s favorite super food! I honestly go into the supermarket and pick out all of the items that I will use as sides in the fruit and vegetable aisle.
Snack Go-To’s
Crackers – Anyone else’s kid just love crackers? I carry around crackers with me everywhere I go. Why you ask? Because Eli is at the age that when he is hungry he will scream out “Eat! Eat! ” and those crackers are the first things I reach for to quiet him down! Can I get a #MomWin ?!!!
Goldfish – But not just goldfish, pretzels and any other finger food that can be bagged and taken on the go is great.
Fruits – I recently discovered that Eli loves dried mango so this is going to be one of my next go-to snacks. Right now my favorite fruit snacks to take along with us are strawberries, grapes cut into fours, tangerine slices and bananas. I peel the tangerines, slice the strawberries and cut up the oranges the night before so we can just get up and go with them when we are ready. Bananas are just such easy snacks, and the clean up is even easier! Apples have become our favorite at home snack and I’ve noticed that Eli loves to wait a little before he eats them for whatever reason. I’ve taken a bite of his apples after he waited a while and noticed that they do actually taste sweeter after waiting.
Tips: Tangerines can be a bit messy so when I offer tangerines to Eli I also use the cup bibs. I linked them below! If you don’t have them already, they are a great investment!
Veggies – My favorites are listed above! I also want to include the way I cook these veggies. My go-to way to prepare veggies is to boil, steam or sauté and season to my liking. Eli loves veggies and enjoys eating them plain. Oh and I love making cauliflower mash for him as well. It’s so simple all you have to do is boil, blend to mash and season according to your liking!
Potato, Grains or Pasta – Eli enjoys mashed and roasted potatoes, regular white potatoes, a potato medley or sweet potatoes will do. I listed my grain and pasta options above.
Tip: My favorite pasta tip is to switch up the different types of pasta you use. It’s fun watching the facial expressions of your little one when they see a new pasta shape but taste it and realize that it’s has the same taste, just a different shape. Also, consider healthier pasta’s like green bean pasta or pasta’s that are made of something healthier, like quinoa but still looks like the pasta your child knows and loves!
Beans – Beans are a great source of protein and so much more, which my little one needs a lot of since he isn’t a fish or meat eater. They are also a great source of fiber and B vitamins. My go-to beans are lentils, kidney beans, black beans, green beans/peas, chickpeas and when we go to Chipotle, pinto beans. Ha! They become sides for most of Eli’s meals and are normally mixed into his rice or pasta. He loves to eat them separately as well.
Tortilla – I continue to reintroduce tortilla to Eli in different ways, like tacos and as a side. He hasn’t taken to it yet but I believe that the main reason for this is because he doesn’t know what to do with it yet. He doesn’t know that if he dips it into the sauce and eats it that the taste will improve. I am going to continue to introduce it to him until he starts to develop a greater taste for it.
Fridays Dinner: Always Pizza Night OR Fries – There is not many junk food options that Eli likes so pizza (mainly the cheese on the pizza), plain fries and sweet potato fries are his go-to junk foods.
Things I want to introduce more to Eli:
Veggie Burgers – Friday Nights + Movie Night
Cheese – Just simple cheese squares for on the go. I hope he begins to find a taste for it on his own.
Salad – I would love for Eli to just eat salad like I do. So this is a food goal for us and I’ll keep you posted on how that goes. Lol
Things I Order:
Raised Real Meals
I’ve shared more information on this company in my stories on Instagram a few times and I don’t mind sharing it again. Simply put they are a company that puts together plant based, organic and clean label meals for our little ones. These meals are flash frozen in order to preserve the most amounts of nutrients for them. These meals are also designed to create a healthy palate in your tot by introducing new flavors and textures in the meals.
There are a number of coupon codes on retailmenot.com that you can use to purchase your first order for close to nothing. Check them out and take advantage of the offers! Woop woop!
My Greatest Tip:
Keep trying different foods with your little ones. Don’t get discouraged when they don’t like something. Keep trying! It can take them up to 15 times to like a new food!
So, Eli doesn’t drink milk and hasn’t had formula since he was 12mo old. The schools nutritionist recommended eating yogurt or taking vitamins that contain calcium.
Here’s the vitamins she recommended: Vitamins Recommended By Nutritionists
So this is another one of those questions that I believe all children will ask at some point in their life.
What is Prayer and how do I explain it to my child?
I would start with this simple but true statement.
“Prayer is simply the way we communicate with God”
Prayer is the way we access God. There are some details that I would personally make know to my little one when explaining prayer to them.
1. Prayers Should Come From Your Heart – There are no specific words that have to be said in order for your prayer to mean something to God. Prayer is a conversation between you and God. The most genuine prayer is between just you and God. Genuine means sincere or truly what something is supposed to be; authentic and real. God wants our prayers to truly be ours and for us to come to Him privately. Matthew 6:6 NLT says But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
2. Praying God’s Word is An Effective Way To Pray – God’s Word is God’s will! When Jesus spoke on how we should pray He included these words in His sample prayer in Matthew 6 “…May your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” God’s Word is His will, He has given us His Word as a guide and when our prayers are based on the Word of God we can be assured that those prayers are in fact God’s will. This is why it is very important for parents as well as our little ones to learn God’s Word.
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
1 John 5:14
And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.
3. Jesus Modeled Prayer For Us In –Matthew 6:9-13 “Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” It is my belief that this prayer is a model of what the heart of our prayer should look like. The intentions of these words are essential, of great importance, and should be the center of our personal prayers. This prayer is also something that can lead us back to the heart of God if we ever get sidetracked regarding the purpose of prayer.
4. Prayer Is Not A Substitute For Work And God Is Not A Genie – Prayer is not something that can replace the steps we have to take in order to accomplish what we are looking to accomplish. Prayer can strengthen us for the things we must do and help lead us to wisdom, but our prayers are not a substitute for the work we have to do. Jesus is a perfect example of this. He came to this earth for a purpose and that purpose wasn’t completely ideal for Him to experience but it had to be done. Jesus prayed to God asking for this “cup”, which symbolized what Jesus had to do to pass Him by but Jesus had to drink from it. In order for most things to be accomplished or done in our life, some action is required on our part. God cannot grant our prayers if the action that has to be done on our part is not completed. Read Matthew 26:36-56 NLT for more of the story I am referring to.
5. The Reason We Pray “In Jesus’ Name, Amen” – The Bible teaches us that no one can get to God the Father except through Jesus.
John 14:6
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
When we pray we are praying to God our Father. Because Jesus is the gateway to God the Father we ask and pray our prayers in His name. Jesus goes on to say in John 14:13-14 “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!”
I also want to mention that Jesus’ name holds weight with God. Because of how Jesus lived on this earth God has not only elevated him to the place of highest honor but He has also given Jesus the name that is above every name.
Philippians 2:8-11 NLT
he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
6. Prayer Is A Necessity And Not An Option In The Life Of Every Christian – Jesus is the ultimate example of Christian Living. Not only is He the example of what Christians should be like but He is also the example of what God is like. It is noted in the Bible that Jesus, being our example goes off to pray numerous times. Luke 5:16 NLT says “But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.” There is also a parable (a story that is used to teach a lesson) that Jesus told to His disciples in Luke 18 and the purpose of this parable was to show that they should always pray and never give up.
7. Prayer Keeps You Close To God – Just think about the people you communicate with daily or even hourly. How much closer are you to someone you are always talking to, always with and always sharing things with than someone you never see and never talk to? There is a big difference, which makes perfect sense. The same thing goes for God. If prayer is the way we talk to Him than the more we pray and communicate with Him, the closer we get to Him. The Bible says in James 4:8 NLT “Come close to God, and God will come close to you…”
Here are some of my favorite simple books including prayer, for kids!
Prayers for Little Hearts by Carolyn Larsen
When I Pray for You Matthew Paul Turner Illustrated by Kimberly Barnes
What Happens When I Talk to God – The Power of Prayer for Boys and Girls Stormiest Omartian Artwork by Shari Warren
Note: The various details and scriptural references are for parents use in order to better explain the topic of PRAYER.
Flamingos are long-legged wading birds that are usually covered in bright pink feathers. With a name that derives from the Spanish or Portuguese word meaning “flame-colored,” the birds are known for their vibrant appearance. Though it is their most-famous quality, the pink of the flamingo’s feathers is not a hereditary trait. The birds are in fact born a dull gray. So, if it’s not a part of their DNA, why do these birds take on shades of pink and red? For flamingos, the phrase “You are what you eat” holds more truth than it might for humans. The bright pink color of flamingos comes from beta carotene, a red-orange pigment that’s found in high numbers within the algae, larvae, and brine shrimp that flamingos eat in their wetland environment. In the digestive system, enzymes break down carotenoids into pigments that are absorbed by fats in the liver and deposited, for flamingos, in the feathers and skin. To actually color the physical attributes, carotenoids must be ingested in very large amounts. Because the flamingo diet is nearly exclusively carotenoid-filled delicacies, the birds have no problem coloring themselves.
This made me think about myself and people in general. Knowing that God was leading me to start this blog, I wanted it to be one of substance and truth. This in turn lead me to examine myself and what I intended on putting out. I want this blog to show what is good inside of me. There is a song that says “the only thing that’s good in me is Jesus” and I can relate to it entirely. I know that my righteousness is but filthy rags and that just as the flamingo is born a dull shade of grey, so was I. Not full of radiating color but having the potential to possibly be one day. So I pride myself on my intake. What I eat spiritually, physically and mentally and said this prayer to God – “God let me be filled with you! Like a flamingos coat and look changes based off of their diet. Let me eat from the Bread and drink from the living Water, and when it’s all said and done, let the outside of me reflect what is truly on the inside of me. Let it be all of you and none of me.”
I wanted to begin this post with a phrase I’ve heard someone say over and over again. When writing this blog, this phrase was the first thought that came to my mind “I’d rather live my life hoping there is a God and die to find out that there was never a God, than to live as if there is no God and die to find out that God really does exist”.
Here’s another thing I recently read in a text book of mine but I’d heard the phrase before:
“It takes more faith to believe in the Big Bang Theory than it does to believe in the way The Holy Bible describes the beginning of creation”.
The following words are cited from The Beginning of Wisdom: An Introduction to Christian Thought and Life on Worldviews:
“It is important to note that one’s view of the world is never merely intellectual. A worldview is a product of the heart as much as the mind, and it is shaped profoundly by one’s interaction with the physical world and other human beings. In other words, one’s deepest convictions are formed through a combination of experience, action, and reflection.”
“Worldview: A foundational set of assumptions to which one commits that serves as a framework for understanding and interpreting reality and deeply shapes one’s behavior.”
focusonthefamily.com describes the Christian Worldview or Biblical Worldview here:
“A biblical worldview is based on the infallible Word of God. When you believe the Bible is entirely true, then you allow it to be the foundation of everything you say and do. That means, for instance, you take seriously the mandate in Romans 13 to honor the governing authorities by researching the candidates and issues, making voting a priority.”
Watch this video from biblestudytools.com on Biblical Worldview :
The way I would explain how we know that God is real is like this:
I would explain the answer in two parts.
Explaining Faith (Believe/Belief) –
I believe that knowing that God is real takes examining the FACTS presented to us about God but it also takes FAITH, belief and trust in God.
We who currently live on this earth have never met Jesus face to face (human to human), just like we’ve never met or seen Abraham Lincoln face to face. We know of them through literature and facts provided to us about them. I can speak personally about Jesus and say that I also know Him because I have invited Him to live in my heart forever. God the Father in heaven has revealed Him to me. So, I believe in all that the Bible says He is and in all that He came to do and all that He will return to do.
Matthew 16:15-17 NLT
Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.
There is a story in the Bible where Jesus is talking to one of His followers and He tells them that they see Him so they are able to believe in Him, but then He goes on to say blessed are those that haven’t seen Him and still believe.
This statement refers to us, we are THOSE that haven’t seen Jesus but still believe.
We haven’t physically seen Jesus but we believe in Him and therefore we know He exist.
John 20:29
Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”
(Read all of John 20 for more information.)
This scripture speaks of the faith that we need in order to believe in God, and those of us that do believe know that our faith in God is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:14)
Information Provided For Parents Use:
Faith (n) resilience, loyalty, or complete trust in God; a system of religious beliefs
Believe (v) to trust in; to hold a firm conviction about: to accept as true genuine or real
Trust (v) to place confidence or depend; to commit or place in one’s care or keeping; to rely on the truthfulness or accuracy of
It takes faith to believe, it takes belief to trust and it takes trust to hope.
Hebrews 11:1 NLT
Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.
2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT
So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
Tip:
Read Hebrews 11 to your child. It is a chapter in the Bible that talks about Great Examples of Faith. It references the forefathers of our faith.
Explaining Facts –
Fact (n) a thing that is known or proven to be true.
I spoke to my cousin about this because she asked me the question the blog is about. I followed her questions with a question.
I asked her : How do you know that dinosaurs 🦕 are real? She mentioned the bones 🦴 that we see in museums etc. I let her know that this was called EVIDENCE OR PROOF. I also let her know that the same way there is evidence of the existence of those dinosaurs there is evidence and proof that God is real and proof of His existence.
We can poke holes 🕳 at the information given to us about dinosaurs just at much as we can poke holes about every and any other topic.
It really comes down to what WE CHOOSE to believe.
I visited Israel 🇮🇱 about 3 years ago and for me, it was like the Bible came to life. I learned so much about the history of the Bible and visited places mentioned in the Bible that actually still exist. Like the Sea of Galilee, this is where I am sitting in the picture attached to this blog. This is literally the place where Jesus performed a number of miracles. (Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25, Mark 6:45-53, John: 6:16-21, Matthew 14:22-33 and more)
Or, I actually walked into the tomb where Jesus’ body laid dead and where He resurrected from the dead, INSANE RIGHT?! I love it, I’m so glad and so happy that there is factual evidence to prove the existence of my God. It’s so amazing to me. The proof of God’s existence is extensive and it’s way more detailed than I have listed. There are people that have committed themselves to proving this truth and their research and findings truly is astounding.
1 Corinthians 15:1-8 NLT
Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters,of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.
Blessed are those who don’t see and still believe!
Resource:
Movies:
Great movies to watch with older little ones about the topic is God’s Not Dead and The Case for Christ, they are both great for explaining the topic.
Books:
How Do We Know God is Really There? by Melissa Cain Travis
So, I (not to long ago) switched a few products that I own for all natural ones. These are products that I use monthly. I used to order them online and thought this process was such a hassle at times.
I have learned that many of these products are now sold in Target. I have put together a list of feminine products that are all natural as a way of encouraging other women to consider natural options for their body.
Below is this list as well as some details regarding each product. I hope this is helpful as I believe there is a stigma on natural products. We are at times lead to believe that it is more expensive to go natural but when comparing the price of certain products it really isn’t. For the most part the prices of natural feminine products are actually the same price or cheaper than a leading brand product would be.
I want to encourage you to do your research on the products you use so that you can make an educated decision on if continuing to use them is the best choice for you. Enjoy this blog! I’m providing 5 options for each category as there really are so many natural product options.
Myro is an effective, plant-powered deodorant that makes doing good as easy as smelling good. With mood-boosting scents that inspire, and a pro-planet, refillable case that looks as amazing as it functions, Myro makes it easy to love your daily routine.
Try this aluminum and paraben free deodorant that has over 5,000 five star reviews! Native Deodorants are not only simple and safe, but also effective. Long lasting odor protection that goes on smooth and smells addictively good.
A MODERN PAD, DESIGNED BY MODERN WOMENWe worked with women in the know to design this pure, powerfully absorbent pad for light bladder leaks, so you can laugh, sneeze, and move-fearlessly. And, it’s FREE OF chlorine, polyester, fragrances, dioxins, chloroform, latex, and other scary ingredients.•100% ORGANIC COTTON: hypoallergenic, cotton topsheet naturally wicks moisture to prevent skin irritation•YOUR PURCHASE SUPPORTS A GIRL’S FUTURE: Your purchase provides pads and health education to girls in need
Made from pesticide-free cotton and infused with lavender, rose, aloe vera, and mint essential oils, which create a “cooling” effect to soothe, refresh, and reduce cramps and discomfort. Our cotton sanitary pads with wings contain no artificial fragrance, parabens, carcinogens, pesticides, or chlorine! Designed by people with vaginas, for people with vaginas, which means maximum comfort and minimal leakage.
Gentle and effective Rael Natural Foaming Feminine Wash helps maintain healthy pH levels to alleviate odor and irritation. Infused with natural ingredients like lavendar and eucalyptus oil, our soothing wash is safe to use every day. One pump is all you need for a luxurious, airy foam to cleanse and protect your intimate area.
Maintain a perfect pH while keeping you and your cup clean. Yes, you can have your cake and eat it too! Saalt Cup Wash is perfectly formulated to wash away bacteria (which is what actually causes odor) and protect your skin from residues and irritants. It’s specifically formulated to clean your Saalt Menstrual Cup without soaking into or damaging the silicone and works with all menstrual cups. Oh, and it is naturally scented with essential citrus. Think less period, more bouquets of fresh oranges. And it is proudly made in the USA.
Keep your smile fresh, clean and bright with Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint All-One Toothpaste. This fluoride-free toothpaste is made with 70% organic ingredients, for a product you can feel good about the whole family using. With the fresh peppermint flavor, you’ll be feeling great all day long. Health Facts: Aluminum-free, paraben-free, Sulfate-free, artificial color-free, vegan, phthalate-free, fluoride-free, contains coconut milk, formaldehyde donor-free, formaldehyde-free, propylparaben-free, butylparaben-free, nonylphenol ethoxylate free
Burt’s Bees Extra White toothpaste is crafted to leave your breath fresh, and your mouth feeling clean. Experience the refreshment of Zen Peppermint toothpaste which will leave you clean and fresh! This toothpaste is crafted to help remove surface stains to help you achieve a beautiful smile! Burt’s Bees Toothpastes with Fluoride are ADA accepted. Not tested on animals and made without: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS free), Triclosan & Parabens, Artificial Flavors & Sweeteners, Preservatives & Blue, Red, Yellow Dyes and Plastic Microbeads. Tubes and Cartons are 100% recyclable (see BurtsBeesOralCare.com for more details).
So when beginning this blog I thought that I was going to give my readers a step by step guide to telling your little one who God is after they’ve asked you that famous question and you’ve realized it left you a little stumped. The truth is that there is no one-way to explain God to your child. Don’t stop reading because of my statement; keep reading so that I can explain myself further. God is a big god, He is vast, He is high and He is wide. There is no one word that can describe Him nor is there one phrase that can encompass all that He is.
In this blog I will attempt to provide you with beginner or starter ways to explain to your child who God is. Ultimately, our ability to explain God comes down to the connection we have with Him or our level of understanding of Him. The best way that you can explain God to your little one is by getting to know Him for yourself as well as reciting and memorizing your findings of whom He is. We can better explain anything when we have a clear understanding for ourselves of that thing. Along with this explanation I will provide a few resources for you to reference regarding your little ones knowledge of God.
One way to explain who
God is to your little one is by explaining who He’s been since and before the
beginning of time.
God is the Creator of
all things.
Colossians 1:16-17 NLT
forthrough him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see – such as thrones, kingdoms, rules, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.
Ultimately knowing who
God is as an individual comes down to believing in what is written about Him.
If I were to explain
to Eli who God is I would start with Genesis 1. I would read it to him using an
easy to read Children’s Bible (or International Children’s Bible), the New
Living Translation Bible or The Message Version Bible.
For informational purposes I want to explain the reason for different versions of the Bible. The Bible’s original text is written in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic. In order for people like you and I to understand its words, the Bible needed to be translated as accurately as possible for modern or present-day readers. This is it, the answer to that question, “Well, why is the Bible translated into so many different versions?” It’s not only translated in different versions but also different languages, for the same purpose, for us to understand more clearly the original text and message of the Bible and it’s ancient times.
Back to explaining
God…
Genesis 1 explains how everything was created and how we all came into existence. Not only does it explain this to us but it also emphasizes facts about God and about humans that I believe to be important.
Genesis 1 ICB
The Beginning of the World
In the beginning God created the sky and the earth. The earth was empty and had no form. Darkness covered the ocean, and God’s Spirit was moving over the water.
Then God said, “Let there be light!” And there was light. God saw that the light was good. So he divided the light from the darkness. God named the light “day” and the darkness “night.” Evening passed, and morning came. This was the first day.
Fact #1 About God:
One fact that our little ones should know about God is that He is the Creator and that nothing created Him. He was always here and is unmistakably different from His creation.
Then God said, “Let there be something to divide the water in two!” 7 So God made the air to divide the water in two. Some of the water was above the air, and some of the water was below it. God named the air “sky.” Evening passed, and morning came. This was the second day.
Then God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered together so the dry land will appear.” And it happened. God named the dry land “earth.” He named the water that was gathered together “seas.” God saw that this was good.
Then God said, “Let the earth produce plants. Some plants will make grain for seeds. Others will make fruit with seeds in it. Every seed will produce more of its own kind of plant.” And it happened. The earth produced plants. Some plants had grain for seeds. The trees made fruit with seeds in it. Each seed grew its own kind of plant. God saw that all this was good. Evening passed, and morning came. This was the third day.
Then God said, “Let there be lights in the sky to separate day from night. These lights will be used for signs, seasons, days and years. They will be in the sky to give light to the earth.” And it happened.
So God made the two large lights. He made the brighter light to rule the day. He made the smaller light to rule the night. He also made the stars. God put all these in the sky to shine on the earth. They are to rule over the day and over the night. He put them there to separate the light from the darkness. God saw that all these things were good. Evening passed, and morning came. This was the fourth day.
Fact #2 About God:
God is creative. Creative by
definition means
having
the quality or power of creating.
resulting from originality of thought, expression, etc.;
imaginative:creative writing.
originative; productive (usually followed by of).
I am noting these little facts
as well as giving alternative words so that we can better articulate to our
little ones more information on who God is. I believe that its not always that
we don’t know something or don’t know of God, it’s that we don’t know how to
say or simplify what we mean, know and understand. So, I am adding definitions
and synonyms as help in doing this.
I also mentioned above that memorizing
what we do know is important as well, not that we will be tested about it, but
so that we can always have an answer to whoever may ask.
1 Peter 3:15
Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.
Then God said, “Let the water be filled with living things. And let birds fly in the air above the earth.”
So God created the large sea animals. He created every living thing that moves in the sea. The sea is filled with these living things. Each one produces more of its own kind. God also made every bird that flies. And each bird produces more of its own kind. God saw that this was good. God blessed them and said, “Have many young ones and grow in number. Fill the water of the seas, and let the birds grow in number on the earth.” Evening passed, and morning came. This was the fifth day.
Then God said, “Let the earth be filled with animals. And let each produce more of its own kind. Let there be tame animals and small crawling animals and wild animals. And let each produce more of its kind.” And it happened.
So God made the wild animals, the tame animals and all the small crawling animals to produce more of their own kind. God saw that this was good.
Fact #3 About God:
God is eternal, other words that mean the same
thing is, everlasting, never-ending, indestructible, permanent and timeless. He
is the one who is in control of the world. The world and everything that has
been created is subject to God.
Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image and likeness. And let them rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky. Let them rule over the tame animals, over all the earth and over all the small crawling animals on the earth.”So God created human beings in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female. God blessed them and said, “Have many children and grow in number. Fill the earth and be its master. Rule over the fish in the sea and over the birds in the sky. Rule over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
God said, “Look, I have given you all the plants that have grain for seeds. And I have given you all the trees whose fruits have seeds in them. They will be food for you. I have given all the green plants to all the animals to eat. They will be food for every wild animal, every bird of the air and every small crawling animal.” And it happened. 31 God looked at everything he had made, and it was very good. Evening passed, and morning came. This was the sixth day.
Fact #1 About Us:
God created us and we are important to God.
We are valuable to God and are more important than any other living thing
(animals etc). God created us as an expression of His love. God is love and God
loves us.
Genesis 2 :1-4 ICB
The Seventh Day—Rest
So the sky, the earth and all that filled them were finished.By the seventh day God finished the work he had been doing. So on the seventh day he rested from all his work.God blessed the seventh day and made it a holy day. He made it holy because on that day he rested. He rested from all the work he had done in creating the world.
The First People
This is the story of the creation of the sky and the earth.
You can also continue
reading for more information on what proceeded after God created everything,
more about Adam and Eve and to learn about the Bible.
So I have been around and have taught a number of children over the course of the past 11yrs. They have come from so many different walks of life, wealthy and poor, of different nationalities and differ in so many ways. Something I have noticed about them all is that after being around them for a while I can clearly see their weaknesses and can clearly see their strengths. Like adults, they are good at some things and not so good at other things. Like adults, when I look at them I can see what they are good at and my prayer as a mom and as an educator is that they’d thrive in the areas they are supposed to.
So many times we are tempted to compare ourselves and compare our kids to others. We want them to line up with something and be something that looks good but, I am sure isn’t all that great especially if it isn’t who the should be.
The Bible teaches some things on comparison. A few scriptures go like this:
Galatians 6:4 (NIV)
“Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else”
Romans 12:6 (MSG)
“Let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.”
I am convinced that there is never a good ending to comparison. Know your worth and the worth of the little ones you are raising. Know that no one in the world
can be them and know that no one in the world can be you. Their is an individual mold for every person walking on this earth. God intended all of us to be alike in basic ways but very different in other ways. I’ll never raise Eli to be like anyone else, nor will I compare him amongst anyone else. In my opinion, the act of this is just plain insulting. There is greatness in every single individual walking on this earth and to compare my greatness with any other is an insult. Firstly, to the Creator of all things and secondly to the uniqueness of our individual makeup. Know that just like no two fingerprints are alike no two people are alike. It is my honest belief that if we were to comprehend the vastness of that fact alone we would never try to compare one individual to another.
Don’t compare your child to any other one. They are special and unique in their own way. Love them, teach them and raise them. Enjoy watching them become. Enjoy watching them be molded into who they will be. Enjoy them! Let them know how great they are, how much they can be and the possibilities of their reality. Make no mistake, who they are no one could ever be. Know this about you too ( who you are, no one could ever be).
Hey, so while I was cooking dinner the other day I gave Eli
a cupcake pan and placed some of his shapes in it so that I could finish a few
things up in the kitchen. I thought that this would buy me, lets say 10 minutes
max in the kitchen but this simple idea actually bought me all the time I
needed to prepare dinner and prepare a plate for us both.
I began thinking, hmmm! Maybe a mom could use a few cool
tips to keep her little one busy while she is cooking, so I put together a list
of 5 Ways to Keep Your Little Ones Busy While You Cook.
Here they are:
1. Toys & Manipulative Cupcake Tray Play
What is your child interested in right now? Is it balls, shapes, colors or legos? What ever it is I’m sure that you can fit these items into a cupcake tray for some fun while you cook. Eli filled the tray with shapes and emptied them out again. He did this a few times and really got a kick out of throwing them out of the pan. Next, he filled the tray up and walked around with it, back and forth, from the kitchen to the living room and pretended to be a waiter. All of this gave me time to finish cooking and time to prepare our plates.
2. Leave Your Pots & Pans Or Tupperware Draw Or Cabinet Open For Them
Let them run wild in these draws. Playing with the lids of plastic containers and uncovering them is major fun for a toddler. Allow them to make a band with your wooden spoon and a few of your pots and pans. Have your child or children reorganize the kitchen floor by allowing them to place each pot, pan or plastic container in its own square on the floor. Ask them to hop over it or play a game, pretending the items are hot lava and if they touch it they get burned. You can increase the level of difficulty of the game by creating different rules for different aged children. They can even build and stack the plastic containers for fun, knock them down and begin again.
Another great thing that will keep your little ones occupied while you cook is the recycling. Of course you want to keep all metal or sharp items out of their reach but plastic bottles, boxes, newspapers and magazines are always a great way to keep them busy. Give these items to your child and allow them the freedom to do with these items whatever they want. It’s fun to see the things they come up with while playing with the recycling bin and it’s items.
3. Give Them A Chore In The Kitchen
Eli’s favorite chore in the kitchen is sweeping and reorganizing the fridge. He removes items from the fridge, lays them on the floor and then proceeds to place them in the fridge where he thinks they should go. He also loves sweeping with the dustpan. While peeling your carrots or dicing your dinner drop some of the peels or food chunks on the floor. Ask your child to pick them up with the broom or dustpan. Spill a little water and ask them to get the mop to clean it up. They love the simple task and watching their little grins once its completed is always worth the mess. They feel accomplished when they get things right or feel like they are big enough to help in some way.
4. Allow Them To Help You Cook Or Prep The Food
Prepping! Get a plastic knife for them and allow them to help cut up a few items that you’ll need for dinner. Allow them to stir the pot while you are supervising or holding them the entire time. Bring a step stool into the kitchen and allow them to help you do the dishes while you cook. Any part of the process that your child can be of assistance, allow them to be.
5. Pie Dough Or Bread & A Cookie Cutter
Have you ever tried this? This, I am sure will keep your little one busy for about an hour. I recommend using the pie dough because you can put it back together and use the different shaped Cookie Cutters again. If you don’t have dough bread works just fine. It’s so easy just give your little one these items and watch them go to work on the dough or bread. Get more creative by using food coloring to change the color of the dough!
The great thing about these options is that they are free
from screen time. Yes, yes I said it, free from screen time! I know that screen
time can be the go-to option when we parents have to get something done but I’m
a firm believer that there are other ways to keep our tots busy when we need a
little or a lot of time to finish up a task.
Cooking Safety Tip:
I normally use the back burners when Eli is in the kitchen while I cook. It may take a little more time limiting myself to two burners but it is worth my thoughts of an accident being put at ease. I can move freely throughout the kitchen and so can he because of this Cooking Safety Tip.
TrulyArielleA 