Snowday 5 digression

Jesus....have you experienced Him.....



Interviews with my kids.......


Addie - 4 years old

1. What is something I always say to you? Clean up, You gotta listen.  I love you.
2. What makes me happy? If I listen
3. What makes me sad? If I fuss
4. How do I make you laugh? tickles
5. What was I like as a child? like me
6. How old am I? 31
7. How tall am I? I don't know
8. What is my favorite thing to do? Work
9. What do I do when you're not home? Cry
10. What am I really good at? Working
11. What am I not very good at? Not listening to Daddy
12. What do I do for a job? Play, Go to the school and be a teacher
13. What is my favorite food? Coffee
14. What do you enjoy doing with me? Snuggling

Owen - 10
1. What is something I always say to you? I love you.
2. What makes me happy? Hugging you
3. What makes me sad? Not listening
4. How do I make you laugh? tickling me
5. What was I like as a child? you....a good girl
6. How old am I? 30
7. How tall am I?5'11''
8. What is my favorite thing to do? Play with my kids
9. What do I do when you're not home? Watch TV and clean house
10. What am I really good at? Having Fun
11. What am I not very good at? Punishing
12. What do I do for a job? Teach 8th Grade
13. What is my favorite food? What is your favorite food?
14. What do you enjoy doing with me? Playing outside.  Throwing football



I can't stop listening to this song.....

entitlement...it's a problem

"But mommy, {insert name} has beats and a PSP 4."

"I wish I had new shoes."

"I want that."  "I want that."  "I want that."

These words echo through my house.  Familiar?

Entitlement is a problem.  Going way back from the beginning.  We humans we want things we don't have.  We want things others have.  We look around and compare.  Guilty?  Me too.  

And then our children learn what they see us live.  If we talk about what others have and how we wished we had.  And one day we will have this and that.  But we don't talk about how we work and how we spend and how we save.  If we don't show them how to give and how to serve.  

Will they learn this?  Giving, serving, saving, working

What will our children ever learn, if we don't live it?

This poem hung in my house as a child and I never got it until much later in life.  

Children Learn What They Live
By Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.


Let me add

If children live with gratitude, they learn not to be entitled.

So, I have been honored to be part of a launch team for Kristen Welsh's new Book 

Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World: How One Family Learned That Saying No Can Lead to Life's Biggest Yes

and I have found another mom who is living this struggle just like me.  She tells her story and failures and her accomplishments.  It has practical solutions and Godly advice. You will cry, you will nod your head and scream yes, and you will feel conviction.   Because let's face it, its not just our kids problem, it's our problem.  

How are you combating entitlement?

less

no resolutions

no new years solutions

just one word

one action

one "to do"

less

less weight......more healthy

less social media.....more family

less soda......more water

less spending.....more saving

less time wasting....more blogging

less procrastination....more planning

less inside....more outside

less talking.....more listening

less excuses......more honesty

less clutter....more organization

less entitlement....more gratitude

less avoidance.....more adventure

less fast food....more home cooking

less worry....more trust

less me....more GOD

less

just less

because lets face it

less is more 

and there is really just that one thing we need

 "but few things are needed—or indeed only one."

Luke 10:42

i'm looking forward to sharing my #lessismore2016 with you

and caring on #adventureswiththecombs from 2015