DAY 12: Do a Marathon

Both Benjamin and Elijah ran last Sunday in the yearly Marathon in Eindhoven. Benjamin ran the 5K and Elijah even though he trained for 2.5 K , that was taken out of the lot and it was just a 1.5K. They both thoroughly enjoyed it. Bobby ran with Benjamin which started at 10 am and then at 11 am ran with Elijah. I guess, God willing this might be something they might do every year with Bobby. Who knows, maybe they will take up to running. A special time with Bobby! When they were toddlers they also went regularly for the toddler swimming lessons with Bobby. That was their time together. 

Next year I hope they can run for a cause and understand the need.

Benjamin does his first 5K

Proud of my boys

Elijah goofing with the PSV mascot Phoxy

Such a lovely picture of Elijah, smiling and reaching the finish line

DAY 11: The Gift of time

In this day and age, where time is so precious and rare, its so difficult to find TIME. We often wish we had more time. With after school activities, things to do, housekeeping, jobs, new baby, 24 hours isn't enough. I seem to be running all the time. I didn't have 10 minutes these past few days to catch up on my posts. What have I been doing? A lot. How much of it was spending relaxed quality time with the kids? I am ashamed even to give you an answer. I read somewhere, children spell love T-I-M-E.

How can we spend time with them when we don't have time? Slowing down would be a great start for me. Having my to do list for just today and not all the things I want to get done is a good start too.

Here are some ideas:

• Spending one to one time with them is the best thing we can give our kids. Like I mentioned in an earlier post, date nights are great. but this needs a little bit of scheduling and planning.
• Reading aloud with the children for 15 minutes a day.
• Getting them involved in household chores. So, that doesn't mean you tell them what to do and leave them to it while I get something else done. If its emptying the dishwasher, do it together. If its cleaning the playroom, do it together. 
• Sit with your kids while they have breakfast. Maybe you do, and thats fantastic. I usually get the school bags and lunches ready, change and eat my breakfast running around. 
• A family devotion time is a great way to sit and talk with them, discuss the Bible passage you are reading. Hear from them what they think about it. You will be surprised on how much they will ask and talk during this time.
• Go for a short walk. 
•  

DAY 10: Traditions

As a child , I remember a few family traditions we had. Some were around Christmas, some during the summer holidays. We also fasted a week before the new school year began.

With Christmas around the corner, this is the best time to have meaningful memorable time together with family. That can be remembered for years to come and probably continued by your kids for their family. Family traditions strengthen family bonds, bring them together especially when they are all grown up and busy with their own lives. Its also great to pass on  and remember cultural traditions.

It could be as simple as having something for dinner on a particular day. I know a family who come together (sons and wives and their children) to have their fathers macaroni dinner ever Thursday. A wonderful time to come together and spend time with each other. Benjamin regular mentions that kids in their class have a fries night once a week. Dutch "Frietjes" (fries) are thick and quite tasty. But  once a week is too much for me. I agreed once a month.

For Christmas , I have done Ann Voskamp's "A Jesus Advent Celebration". And also Truth in the tinsel from Oh Amanda.  This year I will use Ann Voskamps Unwrapping the greatest gift.

I also will be starting a grateful for journal with the boys. Have a small notebook and at the end of the day ask them what was the one thing they were thankful / grateful for and write it down. Each family member gets a turn.


What traditions will you be doing with your family ?

DAY 9: A fun present for my boys when they are adults

 I keep a jar near the laundry to collect all the things that come out their pockets, what I find in the washing machine and the dryer. And I am saving it to give it them or show their wives. To royally embarrass them and laugh about it.

A keep sake memory of fun things from the past!

What can you collect and keep to remember the childhood days, to laugh about it, to talk about ?

Some ideas:

1. A shell , or a pebble from every holiday. Write the year and place on it and put it in a jar. 
2. I used to write letters to my dad (we obviously lived together) on how my mum wasn't fair to me , or when she scolded. I saw these letters a few years ago in file in my dads drawer. How cute that he saved it all these years.
3.  A page of favourite things from each year: have a list of favourite things such as favourite colour, tv show, book, food, activity. Let them answer those questions every year. You will how different or same their answers will be over the years. Add it to their school year files. See more here  .

Any other ideas?

DAY 8 : Don't panic about creating memories

Reading these 31 days of  creating memories, can cause stress and the feeling of "are we doing enough for our children" moments.  The intention is not to feel overwhelmed, stressed, not good enough at all. The intention is realise that its important and that it can be done in our own pace, strength and time. Being intentional about it is the key. 

We are great in multi tasking and I am sure like me, you too can fold laundry while doing something with your children.And thats fine when you really need to find clothes for your family to wear and they still lying on the table like a mountain that rises periodically. 

A friend and I were talking about this topic , and how we get so obsessed with other things when our children talk to us. The other Benjamin was telling me about an incident at school and how he reacted well to it and the director complemented him about the way he responded to a difficult situation. All I could think of was that "HE WASNT WEARING ANY SOCKS OR HIS SLIPPERS AT THE MOMENT"(and its autumn). Look at the height of my obsession about these silly small things. I was angry at myself for not giving him my 100% attention to him proudly talking about his actions. 

Well, I learned from my mistake and focussed on him the next time he came with something important. And I didn't even notice the milk dripping from his titled cereal bowl! Am I great or what?

Life is busy as it is and you don't want to hear someone giving you 31 ways to create moments to make  you feel guilty. You do what you can well and intentionally . These children are God's assignment to you and we have just 18 years of their life(even less now these days) to shape them, pour into them and teach them the values God wants them to have.

Day 7: Reading

Reading out aloud to your kids , since they are babies and even when you are carrying them has been proven to help their literacy skills, affinity to reading, higher awareness of sounds and letters.

Other than these scientific and academic reasons , reading a special book (a big chapter book and not only picture books), is another moment to share a special bonding time with the kids. It can be part of the routine before going to bed.

We read to them when they were tiny kids, why not continue that when they are older too . I am sure they will like it , at least until they are 10 or 11 years perhaps. All kids can be different.

They can look forward to hearing what happens next the following day. Ask questions, discuss about the events, explain new words to them and even let them share in the reading from a few lines to a paragraph. Its not a time to test their reading ability but a lovely time to snuggle with them and read for just the love of reading, hearing stories.

Choose a book with them and begin reading to them as much as you can..... These precious years of pouring into them, strengthening your bond with each child will fly away soon.

Day 6: Family Devotion

In an age where families are  busy with  hectic schedules, after school activities, church events, birthday parties, sports, having a family devotion ends up last on the priority list. Church going, Sunday school are equally important but families need to build their relationship with God together as  a family.

Adding to the Christian journey , of each family member , is praying together on a daily basis. A family devotion is a great way to share, encourage, teach, discuss and answer questions. Its a place where both adults and children can be part of the family's prayers. Being equally involved and responsible to uphold each other. A place for children to learn how to pray for others, to hear us as parents pray and to learn God's Word.  While praying , its also important to model the Lords prayer, showing them that our communication with God starts with praising Him and glorifying Him, thanking Him, telling Him our needs,

With the recommendation of a friend, we have started this devotion a couple of months back. While the children were young we used toddler devotions such as "Toddler Devotions".

"Long Story Short". This is a 10 minute family devotion from the Old Testament (There is another one for the New Testament). Its 5 days of devotions connecting to Jesus on one of the days. Pointing out to God's salvation for us.
This worked really well for that age. Now that they are 5 and 8 , we use

Some lines picked out from the description on Amazon :

"Long Story Short will help busy parents share with their children how every story in the Old Testament points forward to God's story of salvation through Jesus Christ. "

"Long Story Short is a family devotional program designed to explain God's plan of salvation through the Old Testament and is suitable for children from preschool through high school."



The family that prays together, stays together........