Christmas Break

For most of you, your kids are off of school for the next two weeks. Here are some fun ideas of things that you can do with them while you have them home:

1) Have a movie night - pick a movie as a family, make some popcorn and enjoy together!

2) Go sledding (if we ever get snow of course :)...)

3) Board Game Night - choose a board game as a family

4) Walk around your neighborhood at night and look at all of the lit up decor on the houses

5) Pizza Night - Buy the supplies to make your own pizza's, let the kids pick out whatever toppings they want. Make the pizza's together and enjoy. While you are having dinner go around and say one thing that you are thankful for this month.

6) Make cards to encourage neighbors, friends, or family

7) Find a local soup kitchen and help serve a meal as a family

8) Go to the library and have everyone pick out a book they want, then go home and spend some time individually reading your "book of choice". Make some tea or hot chocolate and enjoy the quiet time together.

9) Spend some time together setting goals as a family for the next year - what are some things that you would all like to do together within the next year for your neighbors, community or church?

10) Everyone dress up warm and go outside to make snowmen and snow angels.

Let me know what fun things you do over break with your family! Merry Christmas!

Influence

Influence. There are people in our lives that influence us in ways we will never forget. People who bring us to Christ, people who develop friendships with us, people who share there hearts with us, the list can go on and on. There are people in our lives that we influence ourselves through teaching, babysitting, friendships, relationships, etc.

There is one woman I want to focus on today that has made a huge influence in my life. Some of you know her and some of you were not able to get to know her. Through the last 6 years I have been able to do ministry with her, I have been able to laugh with her, I have been able help take care of her and her family, I have been able to go through sickness with her. She has this amazing heart for children and for serving. My favorite memories of her is from camp. She came every year with me to our 1st-2nd grade week, and she would have this gentleness with the children that was really touching to see. The kids just loved her.

What I admire the most about her is that she never gave up on God throughout her entire battle with cancer. Whenever I had the chance to spend time with her she always had hope and she always trusted. Deb Brown was an image of a child of God.

I am so thankful that she was a part of my life. She influenced me in ways that I can not explain. Honestly, I am jealous that God gets to have her now, but I know that she is loving it with Him.

Influence. Sometimes people influence us in ways that will make an impact for a lifetime and they don't even realize it. Deb Brown is one of those people. She will never realize the influence she had on so many.

Parent Time

I can hardly believe that it is December already!! This month we are learning about compassion - caring enough to do something about someone else's need. The bottom line for this past week's lesson is: God saw our greatest need. Whose needs do you see?

So many times throughout this holiday season we tend to worry and think about getting the tree up, putting lights outside, getting the best deals on gifts, making the right cookies, how to pay for everything... and the list can go on and on.

This week take some time with your child(ren) to brainstorm people in your neighborhood or people that live close by that may not be able to shovel their driveway this winter, or who may live alone, or a family that may need some extra help. Figure out what you can do for those people and figure a time to serve them. It can be shoveling snow, making cookies for a neighbor, sending a card to someone in need, etc.

Take some time out of your day with your child(ren) to think of the needs of others. Let me know what you do and how it went!

BiteBack Campaign

I just counted the final numbers of the money that your children brought into KidZone. Throughout the month of November we have been doing a BiteBack Campaign through Compassion International - for every $10 your children brought in it paid for 1 mosquito net for a child in Africa. Our goal was to purchase 25 nets. The numbers are in and your kids brought in enough money to purchase.... 39 NETS! Thank you for partnering with us to help your kids raise money for this cause!

Parent + Church = Greater Impact

Did you know that two combined influences make a bigger impact than just two influences? Did you know that you, as a parent, play a huge role in using your influence to impact our children each week? Each week you get 40 hours with your children - where the church gets about 1-2 hours a week with your children. When we combine those two influences (church + parent) and work together we can truly impact this next generation.

Just think... if you, as a parent, took a little bit of time each day to reinforce what they are taught on Sunday, how much more would your kids understand the concepts of Christianity as daily values for life? That is my prayer for you and for our church- that we can all work together to raise up this next generation to be the spiritual champions we desire for them to be.

Parent Time

This week ask your kids these 3 questions each day while they are home from school:

1. What was the best part about your day?
2. What was the worst part about your day?
3. Where did you see God today?

Encourage your children as you have this conversation and figure out ways that you are thankful for what God is doing in your life.

Let me know how it goes!

Parent Time

This week I love the 2 questions that are on your refrigerator door cards. I want to encourage you to talk about these questions with your kids this week:
For your kids: Why do you think it's important to God that we help others succeed?
For parents: Who (besides your kids) do you help succeed?

Have fun talking about these things this week!

BiteBack

This month during KidZone we having given the kids a challenge. We are raising money for the Biteback Campaign through Compassion International (http://www.biteback.net/). For every $10 we raise we can purchase 1 net for a child in Africa to be safe from malaria. Our goal for the month is to raise enough money for 25 nets. Check out this video and the website to learn more about it. Help your kids earn money this month to bring in for KidZone.

Parent Time

This week in KidZone we introduced a new virtue for the month of November. The new virtue is Cooperation - working together to do more than you can do alone. They learned about Nehemiah and all the people he pulled together to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. Our kids learned that doing the undoable takes more than them. Through God all things are possible, when we allow God to use us we can do the undoable - like Nehemiah.

This week with your children look around your neighborhood and see what needs your neighbors might have - brainstorm together some ideas to work together as a family to help a neighbor. Maybe it is raking their leaves, or baking some cookies to take over, whatever it is work together to share Jesus' love with them.

As many of you know I am a coffee drinker. I love waking up to a cup of coffee in the morning. Adam and I love going to coffee shops and playing cards or reading when we have an afternoon or evening free. Every Saturday morning I meet with our high school girls at a coffee shop and we share life together. This past Saturday morning while I was spending time with the girls I looked over and saw a precious sight. A couple of tables over there was a dad and his daughter who looked like she was 3 or 4. They were sitting at a small table spending some time together drinking coffee and hot chocolate. The dad looked like he was working while his daughter was coloring a picture. Every once in a while I would notice the dad look up at his daughter, praise her for her beautiful picture, and then go back to what he was doing. Every time the daughter was praised by her father she just beamed with joy. She was completely content to be there with her father. I was so caught up by this sight that I took a picture on my phone of those moments (if you want to see it come ask me and I will show you) - it really touched my heart.

There are so many spiritual lines you can draw from a seeing something like that. But I want take a different perspective on it. As a parent, you have this amazing influence on your child by your actions and words. Take advantage of the time that you have with your child, and the words that you say to your child. You have this amazing opportunity to speak Truth into your child daily. Lean into your child this week - show them how much you love them.

Parent Time

This past Sunday we were teaching our kids about Dorcas. Through this story we wanted them to recognize that they have talents and abilities that can be used to help others. This week I encourage you to talk with your child about what they are good at and what they like to do. Figure out together how they can use that to make a difference in someone's life.

All month we have been teaching our kids that they were made for a purpose and with that purpose they can make a difference. Take time to speak encouragement into your child's life each morning before the day begins.

Family Value #5

Widen the Circle
"Hear, O Israel..." - Deuteronomy 6:4

In this passage (Deut. 6:4-9) Moses starts the entire thing off with addressing all of Israel. Then he goes into raising up this next generation. He was talking to every parent and every leader. It is so important that we allow other adults to work in our kids lives as well. Adults who are saying the same thing that you, as parents, are trying to say to your kids. To widen the circle of influence in your kids lives.

If we are really honest we know that our kids will seek out another adult's validation on their own OR as a parent you can be a part of that process and we can pursue strategic relationships for them. Relationships that we know are healthy for them with adults that can be mentors for them.

When you are widening the circle for your kids, the goal is to have other trusted adults in the lives of your children before they need them so they will be there when they do need them. Moses was passionate about passing these values along to the entire community because he knew that it would take multiple influences to guard the faith of a generation.

Energy

As a staff we are reading Think Orange by Reggie Joiner. It has created some really great discussions about the family, the church and how we can combine our influences to make a greater impact on the next generation.

Today a question came up about families that we were unable to answer, I am hoping that you can help us out.

As a family, where do you get your energy from?

Parent Time

This entire month the kids are learning about the virtue: Individuality - discovering who you are meant to be so you can make a difference. The theme is "body building" - helping the kids discover their part of the "body" so that they can make a difference.

This past week we talked about the heart and how important it is to have a healthy heart. Just like it is important to have a physically healthy heart, it is also important to have a spiritually healthy heart. We tied that into the story about Epaphroditus from Philippians 2:25-30. Epaphroditus was a messenger, a brother, a worker, and a soldier. It was about how he knew how to have a spiritually healthy heart through serving with Paul.

During one of your rhythms this week (Bedtime, Drivetime, Morningtime or Mealtime) talk with your kids about what makes people physically healthy. Then talk with your kids about what makes people spiritually healthy.

Let me know some of the ideas that you and your kids came up with.

Family Value #4

Create A Rhythm
"Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."
~ Deuteronomy 6:7-9

Moses is explaining to his people that these commandments, God's Truth, needs to be everywhere we go. We need to talk about it with our children during the natural rhythms of our day - morning time (when you get up), meal time (when you sit at home), bed time (when you lie down), and drive time (when you walk along the road). Moses recognized the importance of not compartmentalizing the faith - to make sure that the next generation knows that this thing called faith is something that is lived out every day.

What I absolutely love about these rhythms is that they are a part of what we do every day. If you can choose just one of these times that you have with your kids and talk with them about what they learned on Sunday, pray with them, or ask your child where they saw God that day - that would be awesome. Use the Fridge Door cards and God Time cards that the kids bring home for KidZone to help begin some of these conversations.

When you spend intentional and consistent time with your family your relationships will be healthier and your children will have opportunities to talk with you about things that are going on in their lives. Your family already has a daily pattern of how you do things. Find the beat of your family and you will see over time that those moments with your children are opportunities to celebrate God's story.

Parent Time

This past Sunday the kids learned about Onesimus (Philemon 1:1,8-21). This was one character in the Bible that I did not know that much about. Basically, Paul is writing a letter to Philemon about Onesimus and how Onesimus has changed because he became a believer in Christ. The bottom line for the week is: When you belong to God, you can make a difference. When we turn our lives over to God, He makes a difference in us and in turn we can make a difference in others.

Some time this week within the natural rhythm of your family (meal time, drive time, morning time or bed time) take some time with your child(ren) to write out some characteristics of God. Pick one that stands out to you and write it on a piece of paper. Decorate it together and focus on that characteristic of God all week. Find ways to allow God to use that characteristic in you and your children this week. If you see your child displaying that characteristic point it out them. They will be able to see how God is being displayed through them.

October

Individuality - Discovering who you are meant to be so you can make a difference.

This month your children will be learning about the virtue Individuality. These are the 3 main ideas that we will be going over during our KidZone hour:

1)God is one-of-a-kind Himself. There is no one like Him.
2)He wants us to be who He made us to be, making a difference in our individual ways. As we follow Him, He'll make an even greater difference through us.
3)When we use what we have now instead of waiting around to be stronger, smarter, or more talented, there's no end to the difference God can make through us.

Rainy Days

Have you every tried making anything completely from scratch and was not sure how it would turn out? I am not a "make from scratch" type of person. In fact, in my house my husband is the one who does most of the cooking :). I never really had an interest in cooking, especially something from scratch.

There is something about rainy days that I absolutely love. It is like they give you permission to stay inside and do something fun. They have a way of making a cup of tea and a good book so relaxing. Or finding that puzzle you have in the depths of your closet and deciding to put it together. Yesterday it was raining all day, we had the day off and nothing really huge planned for the afternoon. We decided to experiment by making apple sauce. It may seem like a simple thing to you - but coming from someone who can not even make Jello - it was a big endeavor for me.

We cut up the apples, put them in our crock pot, added some cinnamon and we let it cook for the entire day. When we came home last night we had homemade apple sauce :).

Rainy days... they have this way of making me try something new. What about you? What is something that you and your family like to do on rainy days?

Family Value #3

Make it Personal
"These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts." Deuteronomy 6:6

Moses is saying that before we can ask who are children are becoming, we have to examine who are we personally becoming. To allow God's Word to be saturated into our lives. One of the mind shifts that I am starting to make personally, is to believe that one of the greatest things that can happen, is what happens in the heart of a parent. All parents will influence there children - whether for the good or the bad.

I have worked with children now for 6 years and the one thing that I love about them is their realness. They are so honest, and if I am having a bad day, or if I screw up in some way - they point it out. Humbling as it is, I love that about kids. I have found that when I express my heart to them, they respond to that and respect it.

For parents, I encourage you not to hide who you really are with your kids. Be honest with them so that they can see where God is working in your life. Allow them to see your relationship with God so that they know what it looks like. Be that positive influence on your kids and make it personal, allow your kids to see your faith in action by putting your personal and spiritual growth first. Allow your kids to see you pursuing a better relationship with God. Show your kids what it looks like to prioritize Jesus above anything else.

When you, as a parent, make it personal - it becomes personal for your kids. Some of my favorite stories that I hear from the kids in my ministry is when they talk about how their parents faced adversity and grew because of it. There is a story of redemption and restoration that God is writing for you - allow your kids to be a part of it.

When your kids see how God is restoring your life, they will see what God can do in them. That is a beautiful thing.

Wisdom

This past Sunday our kids learned about Wisdom during our KidZone hour. The bottom line for the morning was: Wisdom is knowing AND doing. It was all about the idea that life is hard and each day we face situations where we have choices to make. We may know the wise choice but having wisdom is acting on the wise choice.

When your kids get home from school today take some time to talk with them about their day. Ask them if they had to make a wise choice today about something and how it turned out.

I am trying out this new blog and I am pretty excited about it. If you know me at all you know that I am extremely passionate about Orange. The idea of churches (yellow) partnering with families (red) to create Orange.

This blog is an opportunity for parents to see what we are doing within our Children's Ministry at Memorial. But also for people to see deeper into my heart. I am looking forward to trying this out and seeing how it works.

Hope you enjoy...

“No one has more potential to influence a child than a parent.”
~Reggie Joiner

Orange

The idea of parents partnering with the church to raise their children into spiritual champions is a beautiful thing. The idea that parents take on the full responsibility of the spiritual health of their child and the church is there to guide them in that quest. Did you know that in a year the church has about 40 hours with each child, and parents have 2000 hours (that doesn’t include school, sleep, etc)? If we combined those influences, imagine how much of a greater influence we can have on the next generation. That is Orange. Combining red & yellow. Red being the heart of the family and yellow being the light of the church. This is my heart in ministry.