[Well friends, I never claimed to be gifted with technology. Unfortunately I prematurely sent the email before working out all the kinks, *ehem* the poem’s format and all the links below (which by the way, previously did not work. shaking my perfectionistic head over here). Hopefully you will extend grace to me for the double post, but I wanted you to have the final and corrected product of this newsletter. Enjoy, possibly again!]
Welcome to a parenting edition. [But keep reading it even if you’re not! Maybe you’ll have your own precious little crazies one day.]
There’s an adoption free verse poem that I basically cried through/had a panic attack as I wrote (lol kidding. kind of), then there’s also lists of parenting books, resources, and habits that will hopefully be a blessing to you as we all seek to disciple our kids.
And please remember, we are all works in progress. We are all being sanctified in various ways. We all need each other. We can start small, but we must start somewhere. And we must flee from pride either way—from putting ourselves down or building ourselves up based on our actions. It’s all by grace through Christ who enables us, friends! Parent on. Those littles are our most important places of ministry.
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This newsletter is a result of some pretty sobering happenings with our adoption journey in the past month, hence these emails not coming to you as often, and though we’re not ready to share details just yet, the mess sure is making me long for a time when the Lord makes all things right again.
Y’all, if I’m being really honest here, this building a family thing is not for the faint of heart. Not simply because the actual parenting part is hard (which if you’ve tried it for two seconds, you obviously know it is), but even the getting to that stage is fraught with hardship, too. Yes, of course, there are so so many joys, but that’s for a different post. Because the more life I live alongside others in similar stages, the more I get a front seat to its particular heartaches.
Adoption.
Infertility.
Miscarriage.
Losing a child.
Shame, fear, deep loss, hope deferred.
I think you all will relate though, parents or not. Because the fractured pieces of living in the earthside “already but not yet” post Jesus, pre full restoration extend to all segments of humanity. And sometimes, it can’t be wrapped up nice and tidy with a bow of perfect closure, though every ounce of my positivity and Christianese desires to tie it as such.
But maybe it’s ok for us to learn to sit in the undone places. To not immediately dull the pangs of imperfection post the fall and sin that are wreaking havoc everywhere they can sink their ugly teeth into; instead, I wonder if we can enter with our eyes wide open and let the pain point us to something. If we can allow our hearts to scream out— Jesus, WHY? And trust him when it’s not an easy answer.
In our contentions with both the world’s and our own anguishes, maybe we will also catch glimpses of the strands of hope threaded through.
Or at least, if we can’t see the strings, we’ll remember…the giver of ultimate, eventual hope was—is—there. Always there. Holding our hand as he wraps us up in himself.
And he beckons… It won’t always be like this. But until then, Don’t give up. For I am with you.
Waiting for that day alongside you, while also fighting for his kingdom in the here and now—
Not yet I get a call Her claims rip through Biddings to run To go another route The forewarnings spilled over I half believe Half already know But dear Lord, don’t let it be although, it could all be …true We only wanted to step into a need Not as saviors, no All too aware of our own desperate need for redemption But perhaps a family is better than none Could we be that for a baby without one? A calling placed down deep in the fabric of my being I can’t shake it Despite… despite Why does it have to be this way? They say I don’t know if we would do it again So, should we? But we walk the road once more In shock, continuing to place one foot forward even after being pushed ten steps back Saying, O Lord, please help. We believe. Help our unbelief Praying, begging, waiting— For the child he already knows, though we ourselves still…somehow… Don’t. …not yet
Five books we love
For parenting:
Habits of the Household:Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms, By Justin Whitmel Earley
The Lifegiving Parent: Giving Your Child a Life Worth Living for Christ, By Clay & Sally Clarkson
Mama Bear Apologetics: Empowering Your Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies, By Hillary Morgan Ferrer
For our kids:
The Biggest Story Bible: How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden, By Kevin DeYoung
Colorfull: Celebrating the Colors God Gave Us, By Dorena Williamson
Five discipleship resources we love
Having a large map in a regular family spot
This helps us talk openly about the world, pray for the nations and for missionary friends, let the kids visually see America, Kenya, Malawi, etc.
An absolute classic that you HAVE to have on your shelves!
Anything by Tiny Theologians
We’ve been going through Big Words of the Bible and LOVE learning alongside our kids
Slugs and Bugs Music
He creates fun and silly songs that quote various Bible verses. Our kids have memorized so many verses through these songs!
The New City Catechism for Kids: 52 Questions & Answers for Our Hearts & Minds
These are simple liturgical questions and answers that can help build a theological foundation for our kiddos
Five habits we’re practicing
High, Low, & Buffalo at dinnertimes
We each share a high of the day, a low of the day, and a “buffalo” (something funny or interesting") of the day; It’s always chaotic, but the kids love it!
Praying out loud throughout the day
Whenever we see needs (this morning we prayed for the man digging through the trash on our way to school; any time our kiddos see a lady in a hijab we pray for her to come to know Jesus); if someone brings something up (“I don’t want to go to school”—“Ok, let’s pray for God to help you not be afraid and to remind you that he is with you”); etc.
Family Phrases with verses
Ex: We lay down our life for others (1 John 3:16—And this is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay our lives down for our brothers and sisters.)
It’s helpful to have these printed out and somewhere you see often!
Weekly rhythms we look forward to as a fam
Friday night pizza and movie nights, Sabbath Saturdays, having one night a week where we invite friends over, etc. Any other ideas you want to throw my way to start implementing?!
Recited prayers or liturgies
We got these ideas from Habits of the Household
For bedtime—God is good (kids repeat). God is here (kids repeat). God loves me (kids repeat). And mommy and daddy love me too.
For leaving in the morning—(Parents say a few words, then kids repeat) Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank you for this day. Bless us as we work, study, and play. Be present with us in all we do. May we bring glory and honor to you. Amen.
Five hilarious things our kids have recently said
“What?! They’re walking sheep?!” (As a man is clearly walking dogs) —Lyla
“Don’t hit the ball with somebody’s face!” —Brayden
“There were footballs (soccer) there, and they were footballing. And they were cheareding for them.” —Brayden
Dragon show plays, “We all need a hero. Someone who can save the day.” Lyla—“But God saves us, Brayden. This is just a made up show.”
“Why is that truck stealing that car?!” (As a tow truck drives by) —Brayden
What hilarious things have your kids, your nieces/nephews, grandkids, little kid down the street said recently? Comment below (on the app) so we can all get a good chuckle together!
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