Resolved

Resolve, to decide firmly on a course of action. The theme for our church for 2010-2011 is Resolved, All in and Pressing Forward. Each week we've been looking at different areas of our lives that we need to be resolved about, this past Sunday was our kids.

I was challenged by this question, is making Anna and Maddie a disciple of Christ a top priority in my life? Do I pray for them with diligence for their present and their future? Am I spending quality time with them? Is my life (not just my lips) showing them who I worship?

On Monday I opened up a book entitled Disciple Like Jesus for Parents: Following Jesus' Method and Enjoying the Blessings of Children that I received for Christmas that was the perfect companion to the Sunday sermon. It too challenged me:

Most of us do a great job of providing adequate food, clothing, shelter, and protection. But do you provide the protection, teaching, and nurture required of a faithful shepherd? Do you personally take your children out into the world and show them how to live the Christian life? Do you lead them to places of solitude from a dangerous and busy world? Do you personally deliver words of life to your children?

The writers go on to say

Teaching your children to obey the commands of Christ is more than teaching doctrine. It is more than the transfer of information. This teaching involves applying doctrine to their hearts that they might obey.

I tend to be one that often focuses on merely the transfer of information rather than the transformation of the heart. SO much to contemplate here and I'm clinging hold of James 1:5,

"If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him"

But while I'm still learning I can still be resolved, DECIDING what path I am going to take; using my might and not settle to life's excuses. May we all be resolved for our kids.

You can listen to the sermon here.

Big Girl Maddie

Lately many friends have been commenting on how Maddie is looking older and more like a big girl and I too feel like she is coming out of the two's and preparing to be three. One of the biggest pieces of progress on that front is potty training. Over Christmas Erik was off of work and so he began what we are referring to as "daddy bootcamp". I must admit I was not overly motivated to potty train Maddie and my patience with her strong will was severely lacking and so daddy taking over was exactly what we needed.

It began as most potty training experiences do, the first day or two involve lots of clothes washing and floor scrubbing but by day three Maddie was showing signs of progress. By the middle of week 2 we were taking her out to the grocery store in big girl panties! And this weekend she even told her Sunday school teacher that she had to go potty, so I'm calling her potty-trained :).

Finishing up 2010

Today is back to 'normal' - the Christmas decor has been put back into its boxes, the snow has melted and Erik has returned to work. But before moving on here are some pics from the end of 2010:

The girls sitting by the fire in their Christmas pj's awaiting daddy's reading of the Christmas Story:



Maddie in her cute reindeer dress from Mimi:



The girls styling Anna's new 'Jenny' doll's hair:



Our pup, Cassie, enjoying her Christmas toy:


Snow!!! It started snowing on Christmas Day and covered Raleigh: