Kindness is a virtue

Is it? I really don't know but it sounded good when I thought long and deep about it typed it this one second ago. Whether it is a virtue or not, I intend to nourish my children with kindness and to help their selfish, inward thought provoking, and just down right human nature of sin that my children were blessed with, to think of someone else sometimes. I mean, I pray for more than a sometimes nice gesture of kindness, but I am realistic in my approach to having perfectly well behaved children. So, my heart is set on sometimes and if, God willingly, He gives my children the desire to pour their heart into kindness more often then I will "praise Him in this storm." If you know what I mean.

That realization became, well real, this last week when Conlan came home with two yellows and a red on his behavior card. He is suppose to strive for Greens. He missed the mark by a long shot. But that is besides the point.

Anyways, here is my layout for teaching my children kindness.

First, lets start with forgiveness. We needed a clean slate to begin this journey towards kindness. Conlan and Hutson each took a turn saying to one another, " I am sorry for all the unkind words and things that I have done to you, will you forgive me." Which in part, the other would say, "I forgive you." A hug and a smile at one another and I believe this was the start of a new calmness in our home. I was absolutely amazed at how, just this little statement, made a world of difference in these boys hearts. What a powerful step towards a Godly life for my boys.

Next, as the boys were sitting next to one another, truly loving each other after the power of forgiveness sunk in, I began to explain to them.


kind·ness
   /ˈkaɪndnɪs/ Show Spelled[kahynd-nis] Show IPA
–noun
1.
the state or quality of being kind: kindness to animals.
2.
a kind act; favor: his many kindnesses to me.
3.
kind behavior: I will never forget your kindness.
4.
friendly feeling; liking.

Teaching my children that God calls us to be kind to one another, loving to one another is high on my to do list. But unfortunately I was falling short on getting started. Until now. So, I gave each boy a jar with their names on them. Each jar started with 12 cents ( I don't know where I came up with 12 cents, but just go with it, k) and each time one of them is unkind such as, hitting, saying unkind words, teasing, etc... that child has to give me a penny. At the end of the week, whatever is left from their jar, they get to keep. We have completed our first week of this and Conlan had been so amazing and his heart is definitely in a different place than last week with Hutson. He only had two pennies taken away. Hutson is slowly understanding what that jar represents and he said, " I be kind and get mo pennies thes week." when examining his three pennies left in his jar. At first I was afraid it would be more about the money but it really has not been. As a bonus, I am also teaching them money skills along the way.

Also, I am having Conlan at the end of the week write down " 5 things I did this week to show Kindness" on a piece of paper. Giving him an outlet to really act on being kind and to remember them by writing them down.

Another idea is to have every family member place their name in a hat. Then everyone pulls out a name. Throughout the week you secretively do kind things to that member on the paper. At the end of the week, everyone tries to guess who had their name.

As a mother, I want my family to know we are a team. We work together, learn together, love one another, and accomplish life together. I believe our home is where my children need to learn life lessons and it begins here.

Virtue or not, kindness is key to moral excellence and that is where I am determined to lead my children too.

it continues...

UPDATE: I have no idea what photobucket is upto tonight. The wording under the photos is not my doing.




hiding,

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turning his back

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on me

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when the camera comes out

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but not

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him

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he loves being

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in the

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spot light

excitement crushed

I found out today that Lennox has not had her visa physical yet and it is not scheduled until March 10th. Nothing else can be done until the physical is completed. I am devastated. Every time I think we are close, we get slapped with another hold up. Ugh! So are the days of my life...
Here's to waiting another 4-5 weeks until travel call. I went from thinking I was getting a 9month old baby to praying and wishing we will get her before she turns one. This is so hard and I was doing well until today. I am crushed and I don't feel like I can get through another month of waiting. But I have too and I will. I can do this!

EP!!!!!!!!!

Yes, we got it today! Praise God. Thank you for all your prayers. God has given me so much peace, a peace that surpasses all understanding, the last couple of weeks. It should be another two to three weeks before we get Travel Call! Praying it lands on spring break for us. That way we will not have to worry about school schedule. They can just relax and enjoy their time with their grandparents while we are off to Seoul. OMG! This is really happening!

This is the reason I have not been blogging lately....



...and because we are still waiting on her Emigration Permit. Pray with me that this is our week!

who needs a Lennox fix?

My very close friend, Brooke, took these pictures for me while she is in Korea getting her daughter! So excited for her. Look at all those smiles she got out of her. She is 9.5 months right now.

her tush

I have been researching, contemplating, and rethinking cloth diapering for the last year. After seeing my little girl's tush in "old fashion" cloth diapers at her current home, I decided to jump on board. Her little bottom will be used to it and everything about cloth diapering these days just makes sense for us. Now, I will say, honestly. I am not going to be a 100% cloth diapering mama. No, I will classify myself as a part timer. Because that is just how I roll. I still love me some disposables, especially when out and about.

So, I made the purchase. It was actually very emotional for me. The gal helping me probably thought I was nuts. Crying while picking out cloth diapers. She probably thought, " why is she doing it then, just stick to disposables if it going to be that bad!"



I was thinking about how I have never seen her little tush. Is it chubby with a few extra cheeks? Bubbly round, like my boys? Flat, and petite? Dimply?

I have never seen her little thighs either. Does she look like a Michelin baby? Or lean little thighs? I don't know...

I am going to have to withhold myself from asking if, at the first meeting, they could just bring her in a diaper.

totally kidding....maybe?

This mama wants to see her girl in her cute diaper tush.



I also got the detergent for the special washing these diapers require and a cute little bag to put the wet diapers into.






Any advice from you cloth diaper mama experts would be greatly appreciated.

one year ago

Today, marks our one year anniversary of when we started this journey to our fifth child.

***A year ago...***

an application was placed in the mail, that day changed the rest of my life.

I did not know her face, but today I do.

I did not know God would teach me the depth of His love but today I see it so clearly

I wouldn't have thought my daughter would be deaf, but today I wouldn't want her any other way.

I feared we would not have the money for the expenses, but today we have paid every penny.

I did not know I would be flying around the world to get our daughter soon but today I sit anxiously waiting for it to happen.

I did not know how much my life would change, but today I am happier than ever.

I did not know how much I could love a child that did not grow under my heart, but today I am so in love, my heart aches for her.

I did not know her name would be Lennox, but today I can't decide if we call her Lenni, Nox, Yujina, or just Lennox.

I did not know the friendships I would make, but today I can't see my life without them.

I did not know my Studly would be so in love with his little girl, but today I see it when I catch him gleaming at her pictures.

I did not know I would be thinking about a woman who selfishly gave my child life, but today I pray for her.

I did not know I would find the cutest boots from H&M for three dollars, but today I can't wait to put her feet in them.

I did not know I would influence someone else to take this leap of faith, but today I praise God for letting me be His vessel for His lost children.

***A year ago....today***

Here she is!!