Birthdays!/KHATS 7

I feel like I am behind a time curve.  A couple of weeks ago I had jury duty, then  {among other things}I had a major project to complete for the church.  Now I am preparing for a major trip to California in celebration of my in-laws 40th wedding anniversary.  The trip is still a ways away; but it never hurts to be over-prepared!  So...all that being said...what has been going on with us? Aaliyah and Cassidy had a birthday party to celebrate Aaliyah turning 3 and Cassidy turning 1.  I can't believe how the time has flown.  It was a lot of work preparing for the party; but it was also a lot of fun.  Part of the work was staying within my budget.  My goal was to spend no more than $25.00.  I felt guilty about spending $50 until I remembered that I was planning a party for two people!  25+25=50!  (That salved my conscience anyway.)  Click on the link to view pics from the party.

Birthday party pictures


KHAT Challenge:

Don't spend money and a lot of effort on things your kids won't remember anyway.  We could have gone to Chuckie Cheeses, or I could have rented a bounce house; but I chose not to.  One thing I had to remind myself of over and over again is that the party wasn't about me...it was about making the day special for our girls.  The goal was not to impress all in attendance with my creative juices and mothering skills; (but again) it was about making it special for our girls.
Until next time,

KHATS (6)

Just say no!....to bad advice. Say yes!... to good advice...in fact ask lots of question from those who you see are doing things right. I recently gave a discipline/training demonstration to a single mother in our church. I praise the Lord that she was open to a little advice and I look forward to seeing the fruit of that in her life and the lives of her children. Two things I shared with her are:

• Remember the Bible says to "train up" a child, not discipline up, reason with then to bring them up, or build their self-esteem up. Training is different from each of these other things. While I am a fan of disciplined children and children who have a healthy opinion of themselves, training is so important. Show them what you expect of them...then expect it. Don't settle for less than their best behavior.

• Exercise self-control. It is very important that you be in control (of yourself) at all times. Don't yell at your children. It goes without saying that you should never curse at your children.  Never discipline them when you are angry (post-pone until you are in control of yourself). It helps when you have spent time with the Lord, after all self control is a fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-26
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another."
Proverbs 22:6
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Psalm 1
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.  The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.  Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.  For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.


Until next time,