Potty Training Experience

The other day we were shopping  at Hobby Lobby- mainly me - and Aaliyah had to go to the bathroom. I asked Raymond to please take her because I was "on the clock". So he did. They enter the bathroom.
Aaliyah: Daddy, I have to poo-poo.
Daddy: Ok.
Aaliyah: It is good for you to poo-poo, right?
(Man in the next stall laughs hysterically)
Daddy: No talking in the bathroom, Aaliyah!

P.S.  on another note  of the same song - We have officially began potty training Cassidy.  She does pretty well usually.  The only problem I am facing now is that she waits until after she potties in her panties, then she tells me she needs to potty.  Praise the Lord we don't have carpet!!!

Until next time,

Sisters!

It is so strange how two people could come from the same parents and home; but be so different.  Aaliyah is very obedient, eager to please, and cautious.  Cassidy obeys most of the time; but with some reluctance, is super affectionate, and takes every opportunity to throw caution to the wind.  I took the girls to the park recently and Aaliyah did what she always does.  She went straight to the swings.  She doesn't really like to slide because she doesn't like to "fall".  I demonstrated climbing the monkey bars to them and after about three times with assistance, Aaliyah was climbing on her own.  Cassidy on the other hand, whom I did not want on the monkey bars; decided that if her Mama and sister could do it, so could she.  Life with children is so much fun!!!

Until next time,

Our "New" Home

We are excited to be a real house!!!  We were able to move into the parsonage and be somewhat settled by Thanksgiving of last year.  There are still many projects that need to be done; but slowly we are making this house our home.  I am very excited about certain features of this old house.  Two of my favorite are it's hardwood floors and the fireplace in the living room. 

One of the most hilarious things about us moving into the parsonage is the fact that the girls had to get used to walls.  The church fellowship area was just one huge room; but now we have many walls and many doors.  I remember our first night at home.  I was making the girls' beds in their room and Cassie and Aaliyah were in the living room.  I called the girls into their room Aaliyah came immediately; but Cassidy stood by the wall seperating the two rooms crying.  She could hear my voice; but she didn't know how to get to me!  I thought it was hilarious; she wasn't laughing. 

Until next time,

KHATS (14) - STUDY

My little Cassidy and Aaliyah the Sunday before Christmas.

Cassidy is very serious about her music!

I never in a million years would have pictured myself as a wife and mother, especially not a great wife and mother.   Then one day I found myself married with two precious little girls .  What do I do?  Do I just expect my natural instincts to help me along? Do I follow the examples of the women in my family before me?  Do I subscribe to Parenting magazinse and use them like a Bible?...
When I first became a mom someone sent me a free years subscription to Parents and Babytalk magazines.  I was so excited...in the beginning.  As I read, I realized how much awful advice was being dished out as fact based on what Dr. such and such found in his/her research.  Most of the mom's they interview in such magazines are celebrities who don't even raise the one or two children they have.  I also noticed that they only interviewed mothers with small children. 

As mothers, we cannot expect being a good mom to just "come naturally" to us. In 2 Timothy 2:15 Paul encourages us to - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

If you want to be a great mother, study.  Study women who have gone on before you and experienced a measure of success with their children.  Remember that from some you may learn what not to do.  I know women who spend years studying to be a great nurse, lawyer, doctor, business woman, etc; but they leave rearing their children to someone else or "do their best and hope and pray" for the everything to turn out ok.  My encouragement to you today is to Study to be the best wife and or mother that you can be. Having a great home where your spouse and children are nurtured and cared for in a way that honors God is the best, and most fulfilling, job you can have!  Invest  your time well.


Until next time,

It's Either Me or Them!

Praise the Lord we have been living in the parsonage for a total of two whole months now! It is not quite "home" yet because we have a lot left to do by way of cleaning, organizing, and decorating; but we are enjoying living in a real house; but I must say that seeing mice run around you house is NOT fun.

"It's Either ME or THEM!!!"  This is what I felt like saying to my husband last week when I saw another mouse run through my kitchen.  Two weeks ago one even ran across my foot!  My husband and I have very different opinions about how one should view having mice in your house when you live in the country. (We live between three huge farm fields.)   He says it is inevitable; I say...You wanna bet!


I am happy to report that to date Nikitta has killed two (Who knew our American pit bull terrier is a cat-dog!!)!  She is earning her keep and I must say she has earned a lot more treats from her mommy  recently. But after some research and some cleverly placed traps we have caught eight mice- two baby ones have escaped. We bought traps because Raymond didn't want to poison the poor little mice. This way we catch (using dog food as mouse bait) them and then Raymond empties all the traps in a field across town and everybody is happy.  It has been three days since I have seen any mice; but I know they will come; so I am looking in to a beeping device that is supposed to repel them.  I will let you know how it works.

Until next time,

KHATS 13 - Don't Scorn

My next challenge to you mothers in to never scorn or criticize anyone your child should respect...This may include, but is not limited to their sorry, good-for-nothing daddy, your pastor, police, or anyone in authority.  You may think the marked out words; but never speak them.  They will find out the truth about the deadbeats in their lives all too soon.  Let  Pray that God will do a work in their hearts and lives so that when the truth comes to the light they will accept it gracefully and desire better for themselves and their future family. 

I guess my mom's way of obeying this principle was to never speak of my dad.  I have encountered him only two or three times in my life.  (He has since passed away.)  I know very little about him; but the little I do know is not very favorable.  When I met my husband one of the things I looked for in him when I met him was if he would be a good father or not.  My husband is very good with kids.  I love that about him. 

In the case of this challenge the old saying works..."If you can't say anything nice; don't say anything at all."  In my experience when you criticize someone a person loves and respects, it makes that person loose respect for you - their opinion of the other party is rarely changed. 

Proverbs 18:21


Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Until next time,

So You Want To Win...

When I say Win a bus kid, I don't mean to lead them to the Lord as far as salvation is concerned; I am talking about keeping them in church through their teenage years and even through adulthood.  The things I plan to share are things that I believe won me.  They don't specifically apply to Black children; but I will address that for those of you who are in predominately White churches; but reach out to the Black community.

Tip #1
Remember that not every kid that that comes on the bus will serve God.  Do your best to share with them about salvation; but realize that most of those kids we pick up today but we don't even know where to find them tomorrow.

Tip #2
Look for a child that seems really hungry for the Word of God and start praying specifically for them.  It really sends chills down my spine when I think that I might be the only person praying for that child and their family.  Note:  It is important to realize that praying for their family is vital as well.  Several members of my family have been saved since I have been in church; to be honest it really all began with my Grandma.  She was the first to attend Windsor Hills and commit her life to Christ.  She gave our address to her bus captain, who gave it to the bus director, who gave it to the Jackson's, who visited us and invited my whole family to church.

Tip #3
Once you have selected a faithful child and have begun to faithfully pray for them; make sure they attend at least two out of three services a week.  This is VERY important.  I don't know any serious Christian who ever did anything for God that only attended church once a week.  I would add that I think it is important that the child ride to church in a car, rather than a bus, for at least one of the services.  This gives the child (and their family) the opportunity to see faces other than those who work on the bus.  In my situation, my mom became good friends with several people in our church.  She knew that their was a whole host of folks who cared about me and my family other than just the bus workers.  She often cooked for them on the holidays to show her appreciation for them transporting me and my siblings to church and caring for us.

To be continued....

Until next time,