DADDY'S HOME!

Hey Everybody,

I hope that everyone had a GREAT Father's Day, celebrating with with your dad, with your spouse, or with your memories!

But I was wondering: Does your husband know how special he is EVERY DAY? Because he really should know! When my kids were little, we always made a big deal out of Daddy's arriving home. (Now that one is driving, we make a big deal out of her arriving home!) In the summer, the kids would have parades. Nothing is quite so cute as seeing toddlers with pots and pans banging a "Welcome Home!" for Daddy in the front yard. They would also work on pictures of what they had done that day to set beside Daddy's plate. Sometimes (and I admit, we still do this), someone will cry out the infamous words, "Daddy's home! Pretend you're asleep!" and everyone just drops, wherever he/she happens to be, into a sound sleep! After a long day at work, Daddy longs to come home to happy children and a happy wife!

If you stay at home, you can do several things to make your husband's transition from worklife to homelife smooth and easy.

1. Problems? WAIT to discuss them after dinner.
2. Dinner? Have something in the oven, in the crockpot, or on its way from your favorite pizza place. Some husbands enjoy winding down from the day by getting a meal together. If you happen to have a husband like this (blessed one!), then be sure you have all the ingredients together that he needs!
3. You? What kind of shape are you in, Mom? Take 5 minutes to pray while Daddy's on his way home. Ask God to give you energy to enjoy family time, a positive outlook in case he's bringing home problems he needs to talk about with you, and godly wisdom to help him sort through his day.
4. Tradition? Create a ritual for "daddy time" with your baby while you get things together for your evening meal. Most dads like to play on the floor with baby or take a walk outside. Also, this is a great time to introduce a bottle to your baby if you're a nursing mom.

And what if you work, too? Well, things can get a little complicated once the baby comes along. If you didn't talk about it before the baby's arrival, then it's time to talk about it now. Your evenings should not be spent haphazardly. You don't want to get home and both be wondering what's for supper. You don't want to blame each other for never having a meal together. You don't want to both be griping because the other one doesn't understand how hard you work!

If you both work, then you'll have to have a plan for dinner when you get home. You can each cook one night a week--so that takes care of two nights; fix something easy two nights (soup, salad, or sandwiches), and then have one night when you go out or order in. Whatever you do, have a plan! When you both work, celebrate: "Family's Home!" Enjoy every minute you spend together with your baby!

Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. Proverbs 4:1

~Rebecca

Complaining hurts my ears!

From the time our children are born it seems they complain.  As newborns they cry  (which seems like complaining to an overwhelmed mother) as a way of communicating their essential needs.  They need food, sleep, and diapers.  More often than not, they are crying because they want to be comforted and held.  

As our children grow, they continue to complain.  I could fill a book chapter with all the complaints my children have had this month.  Last night at dinner I about blew a gasket.  The baby complained about the chicken, my Kindergartner complained about the green beans, and my nine-year-old daughter fussed about the parmesan cheese on the noodle salad.  Not one person said thank you for anything.  It really makes my blood pressure soar when my kids complain about their dinner.  I am constantly aware of the World Vision children who we support who most likely had rice once on any given day.  That being said, I don't have much patience for their nit picking of the wonderful meals they are provided.  

I tend to focus on my chidren's complaining because I really want to change that behavior and the heart behind it.  Unfortunately, I see so much grumbling in adults as well.  Everywhere I look people are fussing and not happy with one thing or another.  That is why I find it to be such a pressing issue in my household.  I don't want these children to grow up to be unhappy, grumbling (hard to work with and hard to be around) adults.  

Philippians 2:14 says, "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a depraved generation in which you shine like stars in the universe."  

So the Bible does point out that people who don't complain ARE different.  Oh to shine like a star!  What a great and powerful way for us to stand out as his children.  I challenge you to share this verse with your children.  A few years ago we had a big, yellow star with this verse on it on our fridge.   Meal time is typically our complaining hour.  I think I might make a new star today!  I also challenge you to watch for your own complaining.  God is good, isn't he?  We want for nothing.  I'm not sure I always act like it.  How about you?  

Be lifted!

Sue