John 17:15-19
My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world even as I am not of it.
Sanctify them by your truth. As you have sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself that they too may be truly sanctified.
Up until Aspen was three years old, there was no question in my mind that we would put our children in private school. Mark was more neutral on the subject, but it was something that I was very
adamant about. That is, until one of my good friends sent me an email outlining why they chose public school. It was so well written and thought out that it really challenged me. I started to ask God what He wanted us to do. Simple in theory, but it was really hard for me to question a decision that I had made long before even having kids.
After much thought and prayer, I felt that God led me to the above scripture. Honestly, I was kind of disappointed! I made a note of the scripture and then let it rest. Who wants to have to change direction? It's humbling. Over time, as I came back to the scripture over and over, I felt more peace about it.
I wish I could say that I never question whether I heard God right when it comes to this, but so far, I'm happy with the decision to send him to public school. Aspen loves it (a huge answer to prayer), and I haven't seen any attitude or behavior changes since he's started school. Our first parent/teacher conferences are next week, and I'm really looking forward to getting his teacher's perspective on how he is doing. Aspen doesn't say a lot about what they do in his class, and I haven't been able to volunteer in his classroom yet so I feel like I know much about what they do.
Finding time to just be silly. Life can be so serious. Especially with Aspen. Sometimes it feels like we spend most of our time either refereeing arguments or punishing them. He can be so antagonistic (apple doesn't fall far from the tree...). It's highly frustrating and something we are still trying to find a solution to that works. Unfortunately, the satisfaction he gets out of making Journey scream seems to outweigh the punishments so far.
But.........I think we have happened on a solution.......if we can be consistent with it that is.....CHORES!
Something I ask Aspen many times a day is "are you choosing to cause stress or peace?" Of course the answer is generally stress. Well, now the consequence for causing stress is to add peace back to the house by doing chores. Because a cleaner house = a more peaceful house, right?
Sounds genius, huh? He's busy for 15 -20 minutes, unable to bug Journey and I'm getting a cleaner house!
It all sounds so great until you are here and have to implement the consequence. Let's just say there's a lot of drama. Crying, screaming, begging for another chance, refusing to do it, etc. So, that's why I say that I think we've found a solution if we can stay strong and consistent.
Here's kind of how it goes:
By the time we came home from church on Sunday Aspen had earned himself the privilege of vacuuming his room, Journey's room, our room and closet, plus the hallway. Quite a bit of work for a five year old.
Mark and I had to laugh as the drama unfolded when we sent him upstairs to vacuum. He spent the first five minutes crying as loudly as possible (it's too much work! it's going to take me forever! i can't do it!, etc.). Next, he decided he better get started, but of course could not do it without a little more drama. We heard him stop crying, turn the vacuum on and start vacuuming the first room. But minutes later the vacuum went off and he walked back into the hallway (where he knew we could hear him) and again began crying as loudly as possible. He worked that for a few minutes until he realized that he wasn't getting a response, and went back in to finish. This cycle repeated itself a few times before he got down to work and fairly quickly completed the rest of the rooms.
We've been working on being consistent with this and I think things may be getting a tiny bit better. I am enjoying a cleaner house though! I haven't vacuumed in quite awhile :)
Journey's best friends right now is her friend Eliza and cousin Ava. I love watching her play with other little girls. She is already a super girly girl, constantly loving and mothering her babies, but she changes into a giggly, flighty little girl. Especially with Ava. It's adorable.
Next they had fun pushing Willow in her swing. Good thing Willow is so laid back and used to being pushed by toddlers....
Then they had a blast playing dress-up in Journey's closet. They decided that they wanted to wear matching pink leggings, and then tried on many different skirts before they each decided on which one they wanted to wear. See Journey in the background trying to pull on her skirt?
Looking good, girls!
After deciding on their clothes, they played in Journey's bed with their babies. I think I had almost as much fun as they did just watching them play. They did a great job sharing and I didn't have to break up any fights. It was all fun :)
Just a little fun in the backyard between rain showers.
Trying to get a good picture of Journey in our traditional fall picture spot. Ugg, Journey is SO not photogenic...drives me crazy!
Journey & Ava
Caught in the middle of a picnic with their babies :)
