Find Us Faithful

     Fall has arrived...but just in name only around here!  Even though it is still hot, I am ready to start celebrating fall!  it is my favorite season, and my feelings can be summed up in a quote from one of my favorite books, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers!"

     Of course, fall does kick off a busy season around here!  We have several events filling up the calendar for the next few weeks.  School, Scouts, church, and family activities keep up moving around here for sure.

     One of those activities I have been taking part in for about 25 years.  That event is our tent revival meeting with the Stewarts.  I first met them when I was about 13 or so, and they have been a part of my fall season every year since then.  We first had them for a tent revival when my Dad was pastoring in Pennsylvania. (Just FYI, Octobers in PA are a lot different than Octobers in AL... it was freezing our first meeting!)  They began doing them here at church before we moved down here when my grandfather was pastoring here.

    This year, as I was watching my boys help set up the tent, I was thinking about faithfulness.  I did the same jobs 20 years ago that they are doing now.  I can pass on this tradition to my kids, and that makes me happy.  But that wouldn't be possible without faithfulness.  The simple faithfulness of two humble servants of God who just simply serve each day to the best of their ability.  Since I was the age my kids are now, they have steadily served in this ministry.  (I think their official count is 30 years with the tent.)  This is such a rare thing now.

     People just aren't content to do the same thing steadily for any length of time.  We are always looking for the next big thing, or content to think we just don't have time or energy to be faithful.  We struggle with just getting up and meeting with God every day, much less putting our whole life to the same task.  Have we lost the importance of simple faithfulness in the hustle and bustle of this crazy life?

    As I see the Stewarts slowing down just a little more each year, I pray that I can carry on their legacy.  Not necessarily as a tent evangelist, but just the faithfulness to the minstry God has called me to.  I think the legacy of faithfulness is growing ever more rare.  I want to pass it on to my kids.  I want them to be able to look around and see those who are steadily faithful on a daily basis.  Just doing the right thing each day because it is the right thing.

     I hope this encourages you to determine to be faithful....even in the busy times of life.  Because those who come behind us need to see our faithfulness so they can be faithful.  It is a legacy we can't afford to neglect.  :)

Making Miles and Memories

     Well, I didn't make the July blog post, but it is still officially August, so I made this month's at least!!  July was a really busy month for the Lipskoch family!  Between summer school prep, family get-togethers, and cross-country road trips, there wasn't much time for blogging! 

     We managed to pull off another road trip for two weeks in the middle of July.  It had been three years since our last trip out West to see Daddy's family, so we decided it was about time to pull out the suitcases and get packed up.  And it takes a lot of suitcases for 6 people to take a two week road trip!!  But finally we got it all together and got on the road!

     One of the main purposes of the road trip was to visit family we don't get to see very often.  The kids enjoyed spending lots of fun time with cousins they don't get to see very often.  Good times were had by all!

    Travel is an important thing for you to do with your kids, as much as you are able.  There is so much of the world to see, and you'll never see it if you never leave your own back yard.  Observation, planning, flexibility, and confidence are just a few of the things kids develop when they are exposed to new places and things.  Not to mention the sense of reality it brings when they can compare their experience to the things they may learn about in school.  Those covered wagon journeys don't seem so far removed when you driven across the country for a thousand miles!  "Big" takes on a whole new meaning when you stand under the shadow of a mountain.  "Wild" seems a whole lot more real when you're looking at the claw marks of a bear in a tree on a trail you are on!   And prairie dogs are really cute up close and personal!

     We ate sandwiches on paper towels as we drove down the interstate.  Daddy and First Born stopped in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere to see the Milky Way.  Middle Biscuit and Stitch taught Little Sister to play 21 in the back seat.  I got flattened pennies where ever we could find them.  (The best souveniers!)  Miles were traveled, memories were made, and that was the whole point.  It wasn't a resort Disney vacation.  We didn't stay in five star hotels with pools and wi-fi.  (We didn't even have cell signal most of the time!)  But I hope they remember it as one of their best times.  We know we don't have much time left with all of them together.  Soon enough we won't be able to coordinate everyone's schedules to take the time to go somewhere together.  But until then, we'll keep traveling and talking and laughing and arguing and being a family.  Because that's what's important.  :)

   

Summer Days!

    I can't believe we are halfway through the summer already!  It's been one thing after another around here lately...and I'm sure y'all can relate!  For not having our normal schedule, it sure does seem like we are just as busy around here.  Not sure how that happens...

     We had a couple of firsts this summer.  The two older boys went to a local church camp for the first time this summer.  They had a great time, and are looking forward to heading there again!  You might be thinking that 14 and 13 is a little late for the "first summer camp" experience.  Confession: I am paranoid about who my kids spend time with when I'm not there.  It amazes me that some people can just drop their kids off at a day camp, or zoo camp, or ball practice or whatever and not even bother getting to know the people who are in charge of their kid!  I want to know and I want the people in charge to know that I want to know.  I don't think that this is "helicopter parenting"...just intentional parenting.  Thankfully, we are good friends with the people who work at this camp, and so the boys were able to enjoy this experience. 

     They went to Scout camp this year too.  (Not by themselves, though!)  Spent lots of time learning and growing in new experiences.  Came back with bruises, bumps, bug bites and a bit of sunburn, but also with memories and confidence in new skills.  The first was that First-Born filled out his first job application to work there next summer!  Side note: how do I already have a kid who is old enough to fill out JOB APPLICATIONS?! 

     Stitch has been growing and learning how to be a big kid.  He is in that middle stage of childhood where he feels too big for some things, but is too little for other things.  But he is weathering it fairly well... he is our hands on kid and has been learning how to use the grinder to make wooden swords.  He also spends a lot of time climbing trees and "adventuring" outside.

     Little Sister has had a couple of firsts this summer too.  She started taking piano lessons, which she was excited about.  And I don't have to nag her to practice!  (Yet...)  She enjoys doing something "big" like the boys.  She also learned how to paddle and steer the kayak all by herself.  I was really impressed that she was able to manage it on her own!  This week she will get to do one first she is really excited about....her first library card!  She is really looking forward to this important day! 

    As I think about these milestones I am reminded of that saying about how the "days are long but the years are short."  Seems so true as I look back.  What happened to all those days that I thought would never end?  Where did they go?  Now, my kids are big enough for another first...one I though would never get here.  They can stay home by themselves.  I can leave them to run to the store, or even go out for a lunch date with Hubby.  Y'all... I remember thinking that time would NEVER come!  And now that it's here, I wonder where the time went. 

    So, my thought for today is even if you're stuck in the middle of something stressful (potty-training, juggling toddlers and babies, working on a specific "attitude adjustment"), take heart.  Even though it seems like it will last forever, it won't.  I'm not going to tell you to "enjoy every minute" because really...that's a little silly.  I'm never going to enjoy cleaning up bodily fluids or stepping on toys I've said to pick up a MILLLION times or reminding someone (not so nicely) to do the chore I've already told them to finish 25 times today.  But I will tell you to take that 5 minutes at the end of the day (when they are all in bed!) and sit and think about the day you just had.  To remember that it is done, and tomorrow is a new day.  For new starts and new mistakes and new grace.  And it's one day closer to not having those little people under your roof every minute of every day.  Which, frankly, sounds amazing most days...but one day it will be reality, and you'll be busy in different ways, and you'll long for those days when they were little enough to pick up and hold...even if it was just for a few seconds.  Enjoy those moments while you look forward to the new ones that seem so far away.  And when those bigger "firsts" start happening, enjoy those too!  :)

Crops or the Cross?

     Well, it is nearly the end of a whirlwind month!  May is always an extremely busy time for our family as we wrap up school, Scouts, and a few other things.  Middle Biscuit turned 13 a few days ago... I now officially have two teenagers!  How did that happen so fast?

     We didn't get to celebrate with him on his actual birthday, because we are on a school trip.  For the last two years, our school has attended the International Student Convention hosted by ACE, which is the curriculum program we use in our school.  So, every year at this time, we prepare to attend this major event.

     This year, we have First-Born with us, and two other school students.  They have competed in events ranging from chess to table tennis to music performances. It is a very fun, although tiring week!

     Confession time: when Hubby told me several years ago that one of his goals for our school was to attend Regional Student Convention, and then Internationals, I admit I was reluctant.  (Read: whiny.)  It was too much work; too much money; not enough time; encouraged bad attitudes; I had a million excuses.  But he was persistent ( no surprise there!) and so I finally caved and said we could work on it.  Five years later, here I am, 5 Junior Conventions, 4 Regionals, and 3 Internationals under my belt.  It is work.  It is tiring.  We do have to be apart from the younger kids.  But he was right; it's totally worth it.  (Shhh...don't tell him I said that!!)

    Because it's about more than the competitions.  It's about more than the new experiences.  It's about more than the fun and games and new friends.  It's really about getting away from the comfortable box you've been in.  It's about being away from other influences that distract you.  It's about the time every night that God speaks and moves in the hearts of the people sitting under the sound of His Word.  Which brings me to my title...crops or the Cross?

     The speaker last night spoke about Cain and Abel.  Everyone knows the story.  Cain brought an offering; Abel brought an offering.  God accepted Abel's offering; Cain grew angry and killed Abel.  But he brought out an application that really spoke to me.

     You see, what Cain brought was the sum of his efforts.  His sweat and hard work.  "Look what I have brought.  I worked so hard for You.  I did my best."  It was beautiful.  It was fragrant.  It was his.

    Abel brought what he was asked.  What hurt him.  He loved these little lambs.  His sacrifice was messy.  It was bloody.  It was hard.

    Cain brought crops.  Abel pictured the Cross.  And it made me think.

     What am  I bringing?  During the message, raising kids came to my mind.  Am I raising "crops" that will reflect my hard work and effort?  Am I working to make them good, and helpful, and nice so I can say "There's my hard work.  Look what I worked hard to raise."

    Or am I raising up the Cross?  Am I being a reflection of God's grace and mercy?  Am teaching and training, not so it is a testament to my effort, but so that it a testimony of God's love shining out?  Am I offering a picture of the Cross to those around me?

     So, maybe take a minute and ask yourself the same question I did: crops or the Cross?  And really stop to listen to God's answer.  He wants our sacrifices, but He wants them the right way.  Not our own efforts and struggle.  He wants our trust and rest in Him.  He wants to see the Cross, not our crops.  :)

Strength From the Storm

     Hey y'all!  It's almost the end of the month, so it was time to get back to the blog!  (I'm trying to keep my goal of one per month!  So far, so good!)  Plus, today came with some reflection time for me.

    Most of you know, eight years ago, all of my immediate family went through a tornado.  Or, to be more specific, a tornado went through us!  Ha!  If you want to read more about that, check out my post here.  We were amazingly protected and preserved through this major event.

     Today was also the volunteer appreciation picnic hosted by the pregnancy resource center I volunteer at.  I spent a couple of hours of fun and fellowship with some great friends I have met through this ministry opportunity.

    Well, the coincidence of these two events got me thinking.  Really, that storm marked more than a miraculous preservation of our lives.  It was a beginning of an overall shift in the focus and direction of our family.  Not long after that event, we went mostly full time in the work here at the school and church.  We said goodbye to the financially stable, full-time job and stay-at-home mom lifestyle and said hello to going to work together at the school every day and focusing our energies on growing and nurturing that ministry.

     You see, it became time to think, "Why are we here?"  God preserved us miraculously...He has a plan for our lives...are we living it?  Is there more we could be doing?  Turns out, the answer was "yes."  And since that time, we have seen even more evidence of God at work in our life.  Stepping out on faith was just easier when we had just been shown evidence of God's active work in our life!

    In the Bible study I've been attending the last couple of months, we've been studying the fruit of the Spirit.  This week's fruit was faith.  And one statement really stuck out at me.  The two enemies of faith are fear and familiarity.  And it was the second one of those that caught my attention the most.  How easy is it to become too "familiar" in our Christian walk?  We know the Bible, we may have grown up in church.  It's so easy to just make it our "culture."  To simply exist rather than be active.   Our faith cannot be really strengthened if it is never exercised.  So, sometimes, God needs to shake up your life to see if your faith is able.  Able to hold.  Able to believe.  Able to trust His plan even when we can't see what is good.

     So, my faith grew because of that storm.  I was able to trust that God would provide for our still-growing family even without a "real" job.  I was able to face with faith the next storm.  I was able to deal with relational challenges, personal sorrow, and the day to day busy-ness of our new life without thinking, "Why is this happening?  I can't do this any more."

    Because I knew why.  God had more for me to do, and to be able to do it, He needed me to grow up in faith.  To overcome that trap of familiarity.  So that when He whispered, "You need to do this for Me," I was able to believe and move forward.  When He said, "You could teach that class," I didn't say, "But I'm already doing so much...how can I do more?!"  I simply moved.  Because I knew how I could do it.  And it wasn't me.  It was Him.

    So, if you are just coming out of a "storm" in your life, it's a good time to think about what your faith level is.  Is God sending you through some "growing pains?"  Is He challenging your faith because He has even more planned for you?  It's a good possibility.  It may be that God is getting you ready for your next big adventure.  I promise you, it will be amazing, and you won't want to miss it!  :)

Book Review--"Girl, Wash Your Face" & "Girl, Stop Apologizing"

     Hey, everyone!  Hope you are enjoying your first few days of spring...and that you have gotten a break from winter weather for at least a couple of days!

     How many of you have heard of the two books I mentioned in the title?  I admit, I hadn't heard of them (or the author, Rachel Hollis) until about a year ago.  This is about the same time I became involved in my side hustle (which you can check out here, if you don't know about that.)  Anyway, if you've spent any time in DS, or any type of networking type business (or even just work in an office environment) you know there's a lot of "you can do it" positive thinking books and resources out there.  I have read several of them.  (I have an affinity for self-help/time management books.  I get it from my Dad.  No joke.  Who knew that could be genetic?!)

    These fall into that category for me.  I enjoyed reading them for that purpose.  She has some good ideas about time management, some better ideas about getting big things accomplished in life, and she isn't afraid to be pretty real about her story and her circumstances.  (I mean, it's her book...she could have left the parts about majorly embarrassing things that happened to her out, but she didn't.  Kudos for that!)

      Then, as I'm reading them, and doing a little research into her and her books and biz, I start hearing these rumblings from other websites and bloggers about how terrible the books are and how they are a personification of everything that's wrong with Christianity today.  Wait, what?!  Who is reading time management/self help books for Bible study?  Do people do that?!

     Apparently, they do.  Or they know other people who do.  Whatever.  (And maybe that is part of what's wrong with Christianity today...)   Um, no where that I could find are these books classified as a Bible study, y'all.  So, first of all, stop freaking out.  If your church is doing a Bible study on them, and you have an issue with that, yeah...go talk to your pastor.  (Nicely!)  Because that's not what they were meant for.  (And it's not really fair to attack a book or an author for something that she didn't even intend...just saying.)  And *news flash*  just because a book is published by Thomas Nelson or is sold at LifeWay DOESN'T make it appropriate for a Bible study or a personal devotion guide.   If you are wondering if these books are good for that, they answer is no.  They are good as what they are: time management/ self-help books written by a woman who has built a very successful lifestyle business from literally nothing.  If you are looking for that, then by all means, check them out.

    If you are looking for a Bible study book, maybe look for the ones who actually say "Bible Study" on them. (Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, and Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth or Francie Taylor are just a few names to start with in that category.)  Just saying.  Or just study the actual Bible.  Be discerning, people.  It's your job to do that.  Not the internet, a Christian article from that website you read, or your friends.  It's your job to search the Scriptures "to see if these things are so."

     So, to sum up, if you have a thing for rah-rah, you-can-do-it books, then you might want to check these out.  You'll definitely get a laugh, if nothing else!  If you are looking for your next devotional book, these aren't it.  And that's okay.  There are plenty of great ones out there to choose from!  (Also, the Bible...in case you didn't hear me before...)  But most of all, discern!  Take the good, filter out the not-so-good, and stay away from the bad.  Practice.  Because I'm pretty sure no one wants to be one of those "silly women" Paul referred to in 2 Timothy 3.  So, go wash your face and read your Bible!  :)





   

   

Joy Check!

    In my personal devotional time these past couple of months, I have been working through the book "Adorned" by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth.  (Snag your own copy here.)  Anyway, over this last week or so, I have been in the chapter that discusses the principle mentioned in Titus 2:4 as "...to love their children."  She really covers the idea well, but that was not the aspect that really struck me this time.  It was when she mentioned another verse, almost in passing.  It is found in Psalm 113:9.

    And there it was... like a brick.  "...joyful mother of children."  Huh.  Well, then.  Okay.   It also coincided with my recent watching of Marie Kondo's show on Netflix, and the new buzz words going around: "Does _______ spark joy?" 

     Am I a joyful mother of children?  I know I'm a busy mother of children.  An often impatient mother of children.  An occasionally frustrated mother of children.  A distracted mother of children.  But joyful...?  Hm... ouch. 

    So, I thought I'd spend a bit of time thinking and meditating on this idea, and just wanted to share my musings with y'all.  What are some practical ways I can be a more joyful mother of children?  Here are a few things I came up with: 

            1) It only works with Jesus.  Really, you don't even have to look elsewhere for this...it's right in the verse: "He maketh..."  Y'all, we can't do this motherhood thing without Jesus.  All the parenting books, videos, seminars, and blogs won't help a bit if we don't have the right foundation to build on.  And, believe me, I know how hard it is to find time to connect with my Lord in a meaningful way.  But if we really think about it, we can find those 15 or 20 minutes in our day.  Even 10.  To stop, come apart, and re-connect with our Power Source.  Do it.  Let the laundry sit.  Don't respond to the chirp of your text notification.  Put in a DVD for your little people.  Sit in your car before work.  Spend the time... it isn't wasted. 

          2)  Let it go.  Fair warning... this is my biggest struggle.  But to maintain a joyful spirit, you might need to overlook certain things.  I mean, is it really going to hurt anything if your toddler goes to the store in mismatched socks and a super hero cape?  If you give your kids cookies for a snack instead of carrot sticks?  Baths only happen every other day?  Does that make you less of a mom?  Nope.  Not to your kids.  But they will remember it if everything you do turns into a power struggle over your way or theirs.  Ask yourself, "Why do I feel that this is so important to me?"  If you can't give yourself a good answer, you may just want to roll with it.  At a minimum, it will be worth it to see the look on your kids faces! 

          3)  Don't let it go.  Ha!  Contradiction warning!!  Yes, on the surface, this one appears to be the opposite of what I just said, but hold your horses.  I have come to see the importance of letting little things go... and the importance of not letting the big ones slide.  Is it easier to let your kid get down from the table after you made yourself clear about the remaining broccoli on his plate?  Well, duh.  But did you give a firm direction?  "Eat the broccoli?"  Well, then, you'd better stick it out.  Obedience is one of the best things we can teach our kids.  That sports game happening during Sunday morning church?  What are you teaching about priorities?  Kids are crazy and you're tempted to skip family Bible time and just put everyone to bed so you can veg out a few minutes early?  Careful... they are paying more attention than you think.  So, be consistent on those big things. 

          4)  Smile when you see your kids.  I heard this quote from someone several years ago... and I have never forgotten it.  They said that when your kids come into the room, or you are seeing them for the first time in a while (picking up from school, daycare, etc.), to let them see your happiness to see them on your face.  It is so easy to let our faces reflect the million other things we are mentally juggling when we interact with our kids.  But when is the last time you just made eye contact with your kids and smiled at them?  Rather than a distracted, "Hey, honey. Have a good day? Get in... we're late for ...."  (Or in my case, "Hey guys.  Pick that up. Put away your stuff.  Have you done your chores?")  I know this is one I need to put into a bit better practice for sure! 

     I hope these tips help us to re-focus on being joyful in our motherhood.  God thinks kids are important, and He entrusts them to us for a short time.  Let's not treat that responsibility as if it only means drudgery and depression.  Let your kids see that Jesus has made you to be their joyful mother...even in the daily dose of chaos!  :)

Growing Their Roots; Spreading Their Wings

    So, I'm trying to do a blog post every month this year... so far, so good! ;)  My baby boy just turned 10 a couple of days ago.  I was looking through old pictures to make the obligatory Facebook post showing his growth--always a bittersweet experience.  Those little kid days seem so long ago. 

    This was really brought home to me even more this weekend, as First Born and Middle Biscuit were going their separate ways to do separate things in their respective areas of interest.  This has been happening more and more as they get older, and it has me being reflective. 

    As they grow, they will spend less and less time here in the nest.  Which is, of course, the goal.  (No 30 year olds living in my basement, thank you very much!)  I was listening to our local radio hosts the other morning, and they were commenting how that those baby and toddler years seem to last forever, but that once your kid gets into high school, it's like the time speeds up to warp levels, and they're gone before you know it.  And I am reminded of a little plaque that hangs in my grandmother's house.  I remember reading it as a kid, and not really getting it.  But now I do.  It's the one about roots and wings, and how we need to give our kids both. 

    First Born is in high school this year, and Middle Biscuit is in junior high, and I can see the end coming.  It's barreling down the tunnel, and there's no getting out of its way.  So, I'm thinking: have I done all I can to get them ready?  Are they grounded in their faith?  Can they stand up for what's right?  Do they have manners?  Can they clean up after themselves?  Are they on their way to being decent human beings?  And I can only answer: We're trying, and we're not giving up yet! 

    It seems like that happens often.  People just sort of stop parenting once their kids get to be about 11 or 12.  I guess I figure that is actually the worst time to stop parenting.  You see, your kids are going from kids to adults in those last few years.  Before, they were only changing from little kids to a little bit bigger kids.  You have to teach them staying-alive skills, like listening, obedience, don't eat cat food, etc.  Which are really important, of course. 

     But taking your hands off the wheel just when your kid gets to the controls is a bad idea.  Am I an advocate of "helicopter parenting?"  No way.  (I'm probably the least helicopter parent I know, ha!)  But there's a difference between hovering and intentional parenting. 

     Intentional parenting is parenting with an end goal in mind.  Not just stopping a behavior or decision because it's annoying or inconvenient, but because you have a definite purpose and plan for your kids.  You want them to be adults one day.  Competent adults that know how to do things. 

    So, what are some ways we intentionally parent?  I'll share a few with you, but there's no one-size-fits-all plan.  But I think these are good starting points, and they are how we try to raise our kids.  Who are by no means perfect (WHY CAN NO ONE FIND THE HAMPER?!?) but are growing every day a bit at a time. 

     1) Prayer.  Of course, this seems like an obvious one, but unless you start the habit early, you'll find time has flown by and your kid is out the door.  This is one that can be done any where, any time.  Start simple--pray for them to have a good day at school.  It's easy to go from there.  Pray for their attitude; pray for their behavior struggles; pray for their friends; pray for their future spouse.  I know people who choose a verse to pray over their kids.  There's no one right way to pray, except to just start. 

     2) Tell them the truth.  We don't lie to our kids.  About big things or little things.  We don't tell them things we know aren't true.  The truth is a very big deal in our house, and pretty much the earliest lesson we began teaching.  But how does a kid know not to lie if the adults in their life do?  You can tell the truth no matter what.  We say Santa is a fun pretend, not that he's real, or that he brought their presents.  We tell them the truth when they ask the hard questions.  And, believe me, it's not always easy.  Some of those questions can be really hard.  But your child's trust in you is a key aspect of their eventual trust in God.  So be very careful to be honest with your kids, even when it's difficult.

     3) Protect them.  This seems like a no-brainer as well, but so many kids are thrown to the wolves every day.  *soap box warning*  Because their parents give them access to electronics without knowing what that entails.  You turn on the parental controls and assume everything is great.  But her "friend" is the one telling your daughter she could stand to lose some weight.  His "friend" is introducing your son to thoughts and images he will never recover from.  And all I hear is, "But...but... but..."  But I know what I have seen kids turn in to when they get their first phone.  I know the ways they get around you.  I listen to them talk to each other when they think no grown-ups are listening.  So, protect them.  Maybe your kid has a phone.  Fine.  Do they need internet on it?  Probably not.  Maybe they watch Youtube.  Fine.  Do you go back and watch everything they do?  Do you spend as much time on their accounts as they do?  "I don't have time for that," you might say.  Fine.  Then they don't have time for it either.  You know the statistics.  You know the numbers.  Why would you risk it?  We decided that we would be in charge of what our kids have access too.  It works for us.  (I have a college acquaintance who recently wrote an article about why his teenage son has a flip phone.  I've linked it here.  It's worth the five minutes or so to read it.)

     4)  Don't shelter them.   This might seem a contradiction after the last one, but (at least to me) there is a big difference between protection and sheltering.  I do not think that the first exposure to the world around them should happen when your kids get out on their own.  I've seen too many kids who have been too sheltered become overwhelmed when faced with the myriad of things (good & bad) life has to offer.  They spin their wheels, lose their focus, and sometime lose their way.  So, don't hide the world from your kids.  Find the right balance of exposure and protection.  And don't forget to tell them the end of the story.  Show them the results of bad decisions, don't hide it from them.  Be truthful.  Help them grow their own filters and discernment while you still have a majority of the control.  Then when they are on their own, they will have a grounding point.

    5)  Challenge them.   Let's face it...one thing you learn about life is that it is not easy.  Now, imagine you are a kid who everything has been easy for because your parents never pushed you out of a comfort zone.  What is going to happen when the first tough thing hits you?  You're either going to cave or run home to your parents to fix it.  So, challenge your kids.  Make them do stuff they don't want to.  Make them try new things.  Try new things together.  Make them find away to get along with "that" kid or "that" teacher.  (There are always going to be "those" people in your life.  You won't always be able to switch classes or instructors.)  Make them get up and go again if they fall down.  Mop up the blood and move on.  Because that's what life has to be sometimes.  You fall. You bleed. You get up. You go again.  Teach this to your kids.  There are too many quitters out there.

     Well, this post is getting long enough.  I hope it encourages and inspires you to be more intentional with your parenting.  Look for the end of the tunnel, because it's rapidly approaching.  Ask yourself the tough questions: what kind of person is my kid going to be?  Am I passing on my faith?  Can they do hard things?  Can they find the hamper?  :)