Tag - Bible

The Thought Box

November 23, 2015

How a Vacuum Cord (& God) Sparked a New Way to Encourage My Child

Last week as I was getting ready to vacuum the house, I began to unwind the vacuum cord and then stopped. The day before Elijah had had to sweep up a mess he’d made, and I had shown him how to wrap the cord onto the back when he was finished.

As I looked at the precise job he’d done of wrapping the cord, I made a mental note to tell him later that

I had noticed his effort. With his curious, active personality and stubborn, independent nature, there are some days when he gets “noticed” more for less-than-positive reasons (bossing his little brother around, getting into things he’s not allowed to, talking back), and I wanted to make sure I pointed out this “something good.”

The more I thought about it, the more I wished I could just send him a little note so he would know that I was thinking about him. Had it been my husband I wanted to acknowledge, I’d probably just shoot Brad a text message, but Elijah is only 5. He’s not going to have a phone for quite a while.

Then I had an idea.

I’d write a note and leave it for Elijah to read when he got home from school. However, rather than just hand it to him or tape it to the refrigerator, I’d make it fun and special.

Grabbing an empty cracker box, I cut down the sides, tucked three of them down in, and left the fourth as a flap that covered the opening.

Ta-dah: a miniature “mailbox.” (All my Pinterest browsing has kept my creativity very active.)

I wrote out an easy-to-read note for my little man and slid it into the box.

This would be a special place where I could put notes of encouragement and praise throughout the day to let him know that I had thought about him often while he was away.

I dubbed it his “Thought Box.”

While I was in the note-writing mood, I went ahead and made one for Brad because, you know, husbands like be appreciated, too.

Once I had Elijah back home from school, I showed him the cracker box. I had every intention of digging out some wrapping paper and making it all fancy, but as it happened, the day flew by before I could.

However, Elijah didn’t mind at all. He was thrilled to have a special note just for him, delighted that Mommy had seen his careful work, and overjoyed at the prospect of getting more messages from Mommy and Daddy in his Thought Box.

He immediately wrote a letter for his Daddy’s box, too.

The next day, Brad was off work, so he picked Elijah up from school, and as Elijah came running into the house, the first thing my little boy said was, “I want to see what’s in my Thought Box!”

And I winced. I HAD thought about writing his note, but then got distracted by a phone call, and HADN’T WRITTEN ONE.

I said, “Oh, honey! I didn’t write one yet.”

Elijah’s face went from radiant to rejected in a heartbeat, and I felt like the WORST MOM EVER!

I apologized and explained that I had started to write his message but didn’t get to it right away and forgot later that I hadn’t done it.

Thankfully, he’s a sweet, understanding boy, and he was fine with Mommy writing it out right then. (Whew!)

But seeing how important it was to him made me determined not to let him find an empty box again.

It also confirmed in my heart what I felt when the idea first sparked in my mind.

This was more than just a good “Mommish” idea. This was God once again directing me to a unique way to love my child. Just like the book I wrote for Elijah, this “Thought Box” idea would minister to his little heart and help us to encourage and affirm who he is growing up to be.

This weekend we finally decorated the boxes, and Elijah changed his from a cracker box to one that used to hold teabags and has a lid. It now holds all the notes from last week.

Life in Lape Haven: The Thought Box - How a vacuum cord (& God) sparked a new way to encourage my child.

Clearly, I live in a house full of boys: Star Wars, blue, and Spiderman.

We made one for all my guys, although Elijah didn’t see the point in Josiah getting notes when he can’t read yet. (The plan is to draw pictures or read them to him.)

As if encouraging my family wasn’t enough, this idea has another facet that illustrates just how efficient God is when He does even the smallest things.

Following the example of Philippians 1:3, “I thank God for you whenever I think of you,” I have purposed to pray for my guys and thank God for them every time I write a thought about them for their boxes.

Clearly, He had all of us in mind from the start of this. It’s a nice reminder that we are always in His thoughts, too.

4 Reasons Why Bedtime Is Our Best Family Time

November 12, 2015

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Life in Lape Haven: 4 Reasons Why Bedtime is Our Best Family Time

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A day in the life of a mom (or dad) can be hectic, unpredictable, and distracted.

From the time you are getting everyone up, ready for the day, and out the door for whatever you need to be doing until you’re back at home, tidying up, doing homework, eating dinner, and getting ready for bed, there can be days where your quality time with your family doesn’t really get to happen until bedtime.

At least that’s how it works for us, but that’s okay because it is usually our very best family time.

Why?

#1 – Bedtime is the one time when all four of us are present without distractions

My hubby works four 10-hour shifts a week, with a 9 a.m. start time. This means that he doesn’t generally get home until nearly 8 p.m. (or later) most nights. With Elijah in school and having a stricter bedtime now, time with Daddy during those days is limited.

However, by bedtime, we are all there. We’ve turned off the television, we put down our phones, and we focus on sharing time together.

(And I will be honest, sometimes I’m a late-comer to the party. There are days when I can’t work on writing or editing pictures until Brad is home, so when it’s time for getting the boys ready for bed, he’ll take the lead and let me work until they are ready for me to come join them. I try not to miss it, though, because it is such valuable family time.)

The boys take turns getting to pick the bedtime story each night, which means we can pretty much guarantee an argument every few days about whose turn it actually is to pick the book. J

We all snuggle up on Elijah’s bed to read our story. If we’re in a time crunch because they took longer brushing their teeth or dawdled while getting into their pajamas, I’ll read. I’m a much faster reader than Brad, and I’m quite good at summarizing as I go along, just in case Elijah has picked a particularly lengthy book. (Now that he’s learning to read, however, I have a feeling I may get called out on this little trick sooner or later.)

Of course, if Elijah hands me our copy of Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss, there isn’t much even I can do. We’re going to be tongue-twisting our way slowly through that one. (But we still love it!)

A 3D bedtime story.

Sometimes it’s hard to get through a book quickly, though, because…

#2 – Bedtime is when the boys are the most talkative

My boys are always pretty talkative. (I think they get it from their mother.) However, at night time, they are even more so. Maybe it’s partly a technique to stall the inevitable “going to bed” part of the bedtime routine, maybe it’s because they know they have our full attention, or maybe it’s because they have started processing their day by then. I’m not sure. I just know that when we’re trying to get them to settle down, they are trying to start all kinds of conversations.

We try to allow time for this in our routine because we want them to know that what they have to share is important to us, no matter what they want to talk about. We chat while they’re getting faces washed and teeth brushed. We chat while they are changing into jammies and picking out tomorrow’s ensemble. And we chat before, during, and after their story, their Bible reading, and their prayers.

Which brings me to our third reason…

#3 – Bedtime is when we spend time in God’s Word and in prayer as a family

While we pray with our boys throughout the day, bedtime is when we really get to, again, do so without distractions and all together.

We read a story or passage from one of their children’s Bibles or use our Kids’ Bible App to study the Word together, and then we each take a turn praying.

From the time our boys could talk, we started leading them in simple prayers, just saying, “Thank You,” to God for family and praying for safety and good sleep. With just a little guidance, before long they start to pray on their own very easily, and now, sometimes they surprise us with their words (in a good way).

We end our bedtime routine with a song, usually “Jesus Loves Me,” although they can request whatever song they’d like.

Then it’s time for kisses and cuddles, which is our last reason.

#4 – Bedtime is when my boys are the cuddliest

From snuggling on our laps during a story to laying down on Mommy during prayers to giving tons of good night kisses and hugs, our boys are especially affectionate as they wind down from the day. Josiah will even flat-out lie and tell you that “I didn’t get a hug!” when you know you just hugged him after you tucked him in, right before you said, “Good night,” and turned to leave his room. Another stall tactic, maybe, but another hug, too.

Watching how quickly my boys are growing, I know that our bedtime routine will someday change. Soon they’ll be able to get ready completely on their own. They’ll be able to read to themselves and won’t always want us to read them a bedtime story. At some point, we definitely won’t be able to fit all of us comfortably on a twin-sized bed because they’ll no longer be snuggled in our laps.

However, I pray they never outgrow spending time with us before bed, even if it looks differently. I pray that they will value reading the Bible together and praying as a family. I want them to be able to talk to us and share about their day, their concerns, and their questions. I never want them to be too big to give me good night hugs and kisses, even if it’s done before they head off to tuck themselves in.

Mostly I pray that Brad and I are always redeeming the time now, while they are young, taking advantage of our best family time, realizing how important it is that we don’t miss the beautiful moments we have with them. These are the moments that will make spending time with us more important to them later.

When is your family’s best “Family Time”?

My Boys and the Giggles

October 31, 2015

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Life in Lape Haven: Write 31 Days - My Boys and the Giggles. A joyful conclusion to a challenging 31-day writing challenge.

One of the most amazing sounds to a new parent’s ears is their baby’s first laugh. It’s is like nothing else. In that moment, your child’s individual personality really begins to show.

As your children grow, their chuckles, giggles, and chortles become the music of your home, delighting everyone who hears it (well, except for when they are doing something they aren’t supposed to be…).

So, for my last day of the Write 31 Day challenge and the last entry for my series “Out of the Mouth of Babes: 31 Quotes from My Children,” I’ve decided to end with more than a quote.

Today you get a small sampling of the beautiful, unquotable symphony of my children’s laughter.

Elijah and the Amusing Broom

With a seven-month-old keeping me busy, it was after Christmas by more than a month when I finally got around to taking down the tree and decorations after Elijah’s first Christmas. I was cleaning up the pine needles that fell off the tree when Elijah became rather amused by the broom.

Josiah and His Silly Brother

Sometimes all you need is a funny sibling to make the day hilarious. It’s so nice when they can entertain each other.

My Boys and the Air Conditioning

This little game was invented by my mother when she was babysitting my nephews. After hearing about it, I decided to let the boys try it out.

All you need are tiny pieces of tissues and a running air vent, and you have a recipe for fun for as long as the air is running.

Thank you so much for joining me on this month-long adventure through all the funny, encouraging, and amazingly wise things my children have said. I pray that you have been challenged, inspired, and delighted every day and that God has ministered to you in some way through at least one of our stories.

It has definitely been a challenge to have something ready to post every day, but I have enjoyed it and am rather proud of myself for sticking with it and managing to share something each day without fail.

Thank you for reading along and encouraging me. Your visits, comments, and shares have helped keep me inspired to continue.

In writing my posts over the last month for the Write 31 Days challenge, I began to see a recurring theme. Most of the things my boys have said have pointed me over and over again to trusting God with a childlike faith.

People might say that having childlike faith is easy for a child (it’s in the description). Apparently, they think that since adults have seen “real” life, it’s okay to become hardened and cynical, seeing the negative much quicker than the positive. Trusting God is a “nice” idea, and it’s cute for those innocent little ones. It’s not “real” life for many grown ones.

However, I would argue that if Jesus did not expect us to have a childlike faith beyond childhood (and know it was possible), He wouldn’t have told us “For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” (Mark 10: 13-15)

Over the last 31 days, God has allowed me to reflect on how much I am truly trusting Him (or not). It has been a challenge that I did not expect when I signed up, but it has been an edifying challenge nonetheless.

Again, I pray that this series has been edifying, challenging, and encouraging to you as well.

So, let me know: Have any of the posts challenged you or encouraged you? How has God used this series to minister to you? What was your favorite quote from the 31 days?

Elijah and the Birds

October 29, 2015

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Life in Lape Haven: Write 31 Days - Elijah and the Birds. Expecting God to provide in unusual ways.

Names and their histories and meanings have always been a big thing for me. It may be because my name, Kishona, is unique and has its own story, and I have always loved that (I was named after the River Kishon, sometimes called the Brook Kishon, in the Bible.).

So when we began making a list of possible names for our first child, pretty much as soon as we knew that I was pregnant, you can imagine the importance I placed on finding just the right name. Once we knew for certain we were having a boy, the search was on in earnest, and we prayed for God to make our child’s name obvious to us.

We wanted a more unique name, preferably Biblical, that had a strong meaning and history. We also didn’t want one that would be easily shortened to a nickname, and it had to sound good with our last name. I really like the name “Joel” but with our last name it just sounds like “Joe Lape.” And “Gideon” is cool, but when you try it out with “Lape,” it comes out too close to “Giddy-up,” which is not the most playground-friendly.

The name “Elijah” was on our list, and we had already passed on it a couple of times when one day it just stood out. I was getting ready for work, and I kept thinking, “Elijah, Elijah, Elijah Lape.” I mentioned to Brad that we might want to reconsider it, and then later that day, in a conversation with someone we barely knew, they suggested one name for our baby. They said, “Elijah.”

After that day, since I already knew a good bit about Elijah of the Bible, I began to look into its meaning, which is “My God is the Lord.” That was promising. When combined with his middle name, his name would mean, “A strong warrior whose God is the Lord.” Yes!

We waited until we saw our little guy for the first time before we told anyone what his name would be. We wanted to make sure that it fit, and it also gave us something to surprise our family with when he was born.

From the start, it was clear that there was only one name our boy could have been called, and as he has grown, it has only become more evident.

: Newborn Elijah. Photo courtesy Picture Bliss Photography.

: 1 year old Elijah. Photo courtesy Picture Bliss Photography.

: 2 year old Elijah with Mommy & Daddy at a family wedding

Just like I love my name and its history, Elijah LOVES reading all the stories about “Elijah from the Bible.” His favorite is, of course, when Elijah calls down fire from heaven at the contest on Mt. Carmel against the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). Funny enough it wasn’t until he was born that I remembered the connection of “my” river to that same story. (It’s where Elijah killed all the false prophets.)

Elijah also loves the story in 1 Kings 17 of God using the ravens to feed the prophet Elijah during the drought.

One day when he was a little over 3, he came up to me and asked,

“When is God going to have the birds feed me?”

I knew he was thinking literally, as in he expected to walk outside one day and have a flock of chickadees or robins fly over and drop down some yummies. But God, being awesome as always, already had an answer in the works for that same evening.

That day God didn’t choose to use a bird (thankfully). He chose to use a Brad… or rather, Brad’s work.

My hubby texted to let me know that he was bringing home leftovers from one of the company’s catered meetings.

Just like that, I was able to let Elijah know that God was sending him dinner. (Bonus: I didn’t have to cook!)

We talked about how God can provide for us in many different ways, sometimes completely unexpectedly, and how He knows what we need before we do.

Jesus told us in Matthew 6:31 & 32, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”

As adults, we feel the responsibilities of life, and we tend to worry. We think in terms of bills, saving for unexpected expenses, and making sure we always have enough.

Yet God already knows what we need. And He is more than capable of meeting any and every need we have. It may not be how we expect Him to meet it (how many of us would want to live by a brook while birds brought us food?), but He will still provide.

It doesn’t mean we’ll have excessive amounts of things we want or even things we need. But we will have what He knows we need.

Instead of worrying, we should live in expectation, knowing that our Heavenly Father loves us, and when we ask for bread, He won’t give us a rock. (Matthew 7:7-11)

I’m not sure that we should go outside and start watching for a flock of ravens, but God knew that our Elijah was expecting Him to provide, and He didn’t let our little boy down.

“I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.” – Psalm 37:25

Elijah and the Morning

October 28, 2015

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Life in Lape Haven: Write 31 Days - Elijah and the Morning. Determining to make each day wonderful by choosing a positive attitude.

When I was pregnant with Josiah, part of our preparation for his arrival was having two-and-a-half-year-old Elijah spend the night at either my parents’ or Brad’s parents’ house every so often. Since Elijah was still so little, he hadn’t had too many sleepovers, and we wanted him to be used to being away from Mommy and Daddy overnight when he had to stay with his grandparents while we were at the hospital.

My mom was taking care of my nephew at my brother’s home during the week, so whenever Elijah stayed with my parents, he got to go with her in the morning and spend the day with his best friend in the world, his cousin Christian. Both of the boys loved that.

One evening when I went to pick up Elijah from my parents’ house, my mom shared a cute story about how their day had started.

Since she needs to be over at my brother’s home in time for his wife and him to leave for work, my mom’s day starts early. She was up, getting ready, when Elijah woke up at 6 a.m. (So glad he was over at her house!)

He was still lying in bed when Mom heard him declare, “It’s a wonderful day!”

Knowing that he was going to be playing with his cousin all day, I’m sure he was anticipating all the fun they were going to have together with each other and with their grandma.

However, he hadn’t even gotten out of bed before he decreed how his day was going to go. He hadn’t looked outside to see if it was sunny, cloudy, windy, or rainy to determine what the morning would be like (it still would have been dark, anyway).

He had already decided that it was a wonderful day.

So many more of our days would be wonderful ones if we started them off this way, if even before we opened our eyes, we reminded ourselves that “this is the day the Lord has made;” and determined that “we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)

Our attitudes, perspectives, and expectations can make a great situation miserable or miserable situation great or, like Elijah, a good situation wonderful.

Today, I’m challenging you to find your inner “Pollyanna,” and just like the little girl who could find something to be glad about in any circumstance, look for joy, look for good, and look for God working in, around, and through you.

When you’re tempted to complain, remember all the many things for which you have to be thankful. When you want to criticize, find something to praise. If someone frowns your way, hit them with a megawatt smile (sometimes just annoying that grumpy person will be enough to make your smile last all day).

Yes, we have hard days and trials, and sometimes the silver lining is hard to find in an overcast sky. When that happens, here’s a jumpstart for your positive thinking: you are not alone. You are NEVER alone. We have a God Who loves us, and He will walk with us, comfort us, guide us, work miracles on our behalf, carry any burden we entrust to Him, and give us hope and peace in every circumstance if we ask Him and let Him.

With God, we can begin every day with anticipation, knowing that it can be a wonderful day.

So how is YOUR day going to be wonderful?

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Josiah and Colossians

October 19, 2015

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Life in Lape Haven: Write 31 Days - Josiah and Colossians. In teaching my children Bible verses, they reminded me that I also need to be remembering what God's Word says.

Over the summer, I began giving Elijah some Bible verses to memorize. I tried to have a new one picked out for him every Monday morning, and then we would go over it throughout the week. If he could say it by himself without help on Sunday, then he earned a dollar toward his King’s Island fund.

It only took the first couple of days of going over the first verse for me to realize that Josiah was not going to be left out of this. He wanted his turn to repeat the words after Mommy. That was fine with me. Whether he could really remember them or completely understand them, he would be learning God’s Word. I searched for the most kid-friendly translations, and we always talked about the verses as we learned them.

Elijah memorized them easily and eagerly, but Josiah’s determination to learn them really surprised and delighted me.

Some of the verses we studied were John 3:16 (of course), Proverbs 1:7, Philippians 2:14 & 4:13, Luke 6:31, and Colossians 3:20 & 3:23.

One day during breakfast, as we were going over our verse for that week, which was Colossians 3:20, I recorded Josiah working on his verse. Here it is:

For just over 2, he was doing a really great job, but did you hear what he said at the end?

“Now yours turn.”

Hmmm.

Most people probably equate Memory Verses with Sunday school or Children’s Church, and thus, children. However, we are reminded continually throughout scripture of the importance of knowing God’s Word, of having it before us, around us, and in us. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, for example).

Josiah’s words challenged me. I was teaching scriptures to them and remembering those verses as I taught them, but when was the last time I had purposely set out to memorize God’s Word for myself?

Having been in church all my life and having attended a Christian school from 6th grade through 9^th grade, I’ve had plenty of Memory Verses, whole chapters of Psalms, and even the Lord’s Prayer in Spanish (Thank you, Mrs. Bolds). Then, of course, teaching children for several years means that I’ve helped them learn many of the same verses I learned.

So, I know some scripture. But I definitely don’t know it all.

Now I understand that some people just aren’t good at memorizing. Some people can remember the words, but not always the reference (I’m there often).

However, having even a basic familiarity with what God has said makes it so much easier to find those Words when you need direction, encouragement, or even correction.

I don’t think God is looking so much for us to be able to perfectly recite the entire Bible, but He wants us to WANT to know it. To NEED to know it.

If we are serious to know His Word and do our best to study it, then He’ll help us recall what we need to when we need it.

Sometimes we just need a little reminder of all we need to remember.

“Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You.” – Psalm 119:11

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