Family Fun with a Purpose!
A couple months ago, my family had a really fun family time, and I thought you might be interested! I went to the library and checked out the CD "The Tree Inside the Acorn", by Max Lucado, bought fairly large flower pots at the 99 Cents Store, acrylic paints and the boys choose seeds - both of those we purchased at Walmart. (You will also need potting soil if you don't already have some lingering in a shed somewhere.)
The boys listened to the the CD as we drove to purchase seeds. We talked about the message, and then they were allowed to choose seeds! "Mr. I" choose radishes because they grow quickly, "Mr. E" choose corn, and "Mr. M" choose red corn. Then, the boys painted their pots, put soil in them once they were dry, and planted the seeds.
The plants are growing - though we should have planted more seeds - we only did a few and they didn't all come up. It was a really fun time. We learned about God's Will for our lives as well as how nature works, and got an art project worked in there, too. Very simple - inexpensive - and we will eat the fruit of our labor!
Hope you get to have meaningful fun with your kiddos today!
-Nicole
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
They Will Know We are Christians By Our Love...
Easter is almost here. Yes, it is REALLY early this year! Last year it was at the end of April and this year it is April 8th! One of the things God has really laid on my heart is to reach out to my neighbors. For the last three years, my family has delivered Poinsettias and Christmas and Lilies at Easter for the neighbors we know well. About 8-10 each year. This year, we were led to deliver Poinsettias at Christmas to EVERYONE on our street! We looked like door to door Poinsettia dealers with our stroller packed to the gills with 35 plants in tow!
So, the plan for Easter was to give Easter Lilies, but we have now decided to give each family a bag of jelly beans, instead. I also made some simple cards on VistaPrint (love those deals and groupons), to attach to the jelly beans.
Why in the world am I going to deliver bags of candy to neighbors? Many I barely know? There are quite a few reasons. #1 - God has led me to love my neighbors. This is just a small way to say, "Hey! You are important! Have a little treat on me!" #2 - My kids are learning lessons about loving their neighbors as themselves. #3 - I LOVE making people smile! When we delivered flowers at Christmas, we didn't realize what an impact it would make. We gave one to a family that had just lost their teenage daughter a day or two before, she had been in a coma for a month. There was also an elderly man who was asking other neighbors who we were. He was so touched, because that was his first Christmas without his wife. She had died recently, and Christmas was much harder than ever before. We also met the guy who had crazy parties at all hours of the night. He was really surprised that we were doing what we were doing. My husband thought I had lost my mind, wanting to deliver plants to the doors of people we didn't know, but by the end, we were both so very glad we had gone for it. It was worth a little discomfort.
OK - it is YOUR TURN! Get in on the FUN!!!!! You still have a few days left before Easter. How can you show your neighbors a little taste of God's love? It doesn't need to be expensive! Just thoughtful! Pray about how you can be a light to your street! You won't regret it!!!
Blessings,
Nicole
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:34,35 (NIV)
Easter is almost here. Yes, it is REALLY early this year! Last year it was at the end of April and this year it is April 8th! One of the things God has really laid on my heart is to reach out to my neighbors. For the last three years, my family has delivered Poinsettias and Christmas and Lilies at Easter for the neighbors we know well. About 8-10 each year. This year, we were led to deliver Poinsettias at Christmas to EVERYONE on our street! We looked like door to door Poinsettia dealers with our stroller packed to the gills with 35 plants in tow!
So, the plan for Easter was to give Easter Lilies, but we have now decided to give each family a bag of jelly beans, instead. I also made some simple cards on VistaPrint (love those deals and groupons), to attach to the jelly beans.
Why in the world am I going to deliver bags of candy to neighbors? Many I barely know? There are quite a few reasons. #1 - God has led me to love my neighbors. This is just a small way to say, "Hey! You are important! Have a little treat on me!" #2 - My kids are learning lessons about loving their neighbors as themselves. #3 - I LOVE making people smile! When we delivered flowers at Christmas, we didn't realize what an impact it would make. We gave one to a family that had just lost their teenage daughter a day or two before, she had been in a coma for a month. There was also an elderly man who was asking other neighbors who we were. He was so touched, because that was his first Christmas without his wife. She had died recently, and Christmas was much harder than ever before. We also met the guy who had crazy parties at all hours of the night. He was really surprised that we were doing what we were doing. My husband thought I had lost my mind, wanting to deliver plants to the doors of people we didn't know, but by the end, we were both so very glad we had gone for it. It was worth a little discomfort.
OK - it is YOUR TURN! Get in on the FUN!!!!! You still have a few days left before Easter. How can you show your neighbors a little taste of God's love? It doesn't need to be expensive! Just thoughtful! Pray about how you can be a light to your street! You won't regret it!!!
Blessings,
Nicole
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:34,35 (NIV)
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Posted this on FB today. Guess it's a good place to start.
An elderly woman asked me to drive her home today. She had walked a LONG way to get to the Salvation Army for their food pantry. I finally understood where she told me to go. We had to turn around once when I missed her place. She kissed her hand and rubbed my arm more than once. I was blessed by Mary, God and Jesus - and I think she threw in Allah for good measure. :) Then she gave me a hug and left a bag of elbow macaroni in my car. I told her she didn't have to do that, but she wanted to. I felt I was given a widow's mite. I am so humbled right now. What a blessing she was to me!
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