Parenting with A.W.E.

"Nine tenths of education is encouragement." Anatole France

I've been attending a great parenting class at church called Confident Parenting. It is based on the book of the same name by Jim Burns. There have been many super nuggets to think about and apply as I journey down the road of parenthood. This week we talked about parenting with A.W.E. I love that because the acronym is simple to remember. However, while the acronym is quite easy to remember, it isn't always simple to apply--especially when you're in the moment...

A=AFFECTION

W=WARMTH

E=ENCOURAGEMENT

I think I'm pretty good with the A and W. However, I think I'm really going to have to work harder on the E part. I have noticed that I am not always great at providing encouragement to those who are closest to me. I give my best to others and don't always reserve as much as I should for Don and Lindy. It just is easy to get in that rut of being nit picky and more critical than affirming and encouraging.

I want to parent with A.W.E. It is my prayer to continue to get better at giving Lindy affection, creating a warm home by minimizing stress and conflict, and to grow leaps and bounds in the area of encouraging her.

Friday Night Lights

In case you've been in a cave, high school football is a REALLY BIG deal in Texas. Perhaps you've heard of the book, movie, and TV series called Fr*iday Night Lights??? It is set in Texas and some of it is based on actual events. Okay, okay, I'll totally admit I get just a teensy bit defensive when some people (ahem, Don Osborn) think Texas is the only place where high school football is king. My high school alma mater, C*entral B*ucks High School West in Doylestown, PA, was quite the powerhouse in the 1980s. I am super proud they were undefeated during the entire time I was there and that their coach (and my really challenging Global Affairs teacher), Coach P*ettine, was a class act. His son, the star quarterback in 1984, is currently the defensive coordinator for the NY J*ets. How 'bout them apples? Did I mention two of the greatest quarterbacks who've played the game--Dan M*arino and Joe M*ontana--are from PA?


Whoa, did I digress or what? This past Friday we had the opportunity to get out and watch some high school ball--Texas style (which meant we WEREN'T freezing to death). Lindy had lots of fun hanging out with her Auntie Carolyn, going into the swanky suites, drinking "Sprout," and eating who knows what. She loved watching the band, the cheerleaders, dance team, and, oh yes, the game. Don and I call very enthusiastic people "woo hoo" people and our girl is definitely a "woo hoo" girl. Every once in a while (when she was with us in the stands and not socializing in the suites), we'd hear her cheering and she did admit having fun at the baseball game. (We're still teaching her.)


While I was in the stands, I really enjoyed people watching and taking in the sense of community. It was a lot of fun seeing little tiny children, parents, and grandparents, friends, and family assembled together donning their appropriate school colors and supporting the kids and a fun tradition. It also made me think about a man we knew from church who routinely made it his ministry to support high school football players from our congregation by attending their games. Charlie passed away last week at the age of 56 and was laid to rest on Saturday. Although I didn't know him well, I am certain he was a huge source of encouragement to the young athletes he cheered for from the stands. I also am certain the next time I see Charlie it will be light and bright because we'll be basking in the presence of God in Heaven. How wonderful it'll be to be under that light not just on Fridays but for eternity. And that, I believe, deserves a big woo hoo!

Happy Birthday, Dad

"Live your life and forget your age."--Norman Vincent Peale

Wishing you a very happy birthday, Dad!

I love you~
Lisa

Thankful Thursday

It has been a while since I've done a Thankful Thursday and I really felt called to take a break from my housework and do one right now...

Today I'm thankful for many things, especially my parents. Today they are celebrating their 43rd wedding anniversary. They were kids when they got married and have been through many things--both wonderful and difficult--together. I'm so thankful for the Christian home I was raised in and for the way they still teach me about love and life and doing the right thing. I love them so much and they mean the world to me. Congratulations, Mom & Dad!!!

I am thankful for news of new babies! Two of my dear friends are expecting and publicly announced their great news yesterday. It will be fun watching these little mommas-to-be blossom and dream and I pray they will both be blessed with a safe and healthy pregnancy and that God will give them the desires of their heart.

I am thankful for birthdays. Oh, no, NOT MINE. This week my sweet sister-in-law and Don's baby sister, Anne, had her birthday, Lindy's adorable little friend, Henry, turned three, and one of my "big sisters", Trina, has a birthday on Saturday. There are others, too, I haven't mentioned. I love the people God has brought into my life and celebrate each one of them!!!

I am thankful for the Chinese adoption community FAMILY. There are many things I can say about this but I'll just say it is wonderful to see how people come together during exciting, difficult, and challenging times to encourage, educate, exult, and edify. Over and over, I'm blown away how people--whom often HAVEN'T met--call on each other for support and receive it in tremendous ways. Just this week, I have a dozen examples that come to mind.

I am thankful for the opportunity to get in God's word more as I work with my friend to write our Ladies Bible Class lessons for the fall semester. It is time-consuming but worth every moment. It is true that you learn more when you teach. I know I have lots to learn!!! Our series is called Unwrapping God's Gifts. It is based on the book The Ultimate Gift, which I highly recommend! We are taking the gifts in the book and putting a biblical spin on them. This week we examined the gift of work. It is a challenge for me to always find worth in what I do and I don't often feel a lot of pleasure in sweeping the floor over and over. We issued a challenge to the class to meditate on Colossians 3:23 this week, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men..." I realize I don't always find joy in what I'm doing and I focus so much on myself in the process of the mundane chores. So, in addition to being able to work on the lessons, I'm thankful for the work I have and the opportunity I have to stay at home with Lindy and (hopefully) bless my family.

I'm thankful for all the rain we had last week and for the hint of cooler weather in the air! It has been a LONG, HOT summer and the hope of autumn brings a huge smile to my face. I can smell the wonderful scents of cinnamon now...

I could keep going but I have the gift of closet organizing waiting for me!!!

What are you thankful for today???

Wordless Wednesday

Mid-day meal monotony

I need a little help...Lindy starts back to preschool this week and I realized that means I better have some lunch box appropriate stuff in the house.

I don't think lunch is really her favorite meal (it definitely isn't mine, either), so I've got that working against me and then there's that whole issue of her being social and not really getting to the business of eating while she's at school.

So, won't you please let me sneak a peek into your lunch box and see what you pack your kiddos??? I'd love to hear your ideas for healthy lunches! And, hey, I'll trade you my pb&j for whatever you've got in there...

Wordless Wednesday