AiOH Season 2 Episode 2-Because You Have Young Children

This episode covers a listener requested topic. Thanks to Kelly for messaging us on our Facebook page & asking us to address things we CAN do BECAUSE we have young children.  We were blessed to be joined by our friends, Tommy & Michelle Johnson, to discuss many good works that can be done in the church today with the help of our children.  They also had some great suggestions for help with worship, personal Bible study, & focusing on our marriage during this season of life.

Ways to Serve with Young Children:

• hospital bags
• baking/cooking
• cards, drawings, paintings
• prayer
• visiting
• making calls
• play dates
• donations (We have done NICU donations & the Johnsons have done children's home donations in lieu of birthday gifts.)
• make communion
• pick up communion cups
• clean the church building (or just certain areas)
• take children with you to purchase items for the church pantry, mission trips, etc. 

AiOH Season 2 Episode 1 Accepting Criticism

AiOH Season 2 Episode 1 Accepting Criticism
Welcome back for Season 2!  We appreciate the encouragement & support you have given us as we try to help & uplift other families who are striving for Heaven.  At the beginning of this episode we have some EXCITING news about Polishing the Pulpit. We are looking forward to meeting those of you who will be there.

• It seems like no matter what we do, we will always receive some criticism or correction for the decisions we make as parents. The most important thing we can do is to receive it in a Christlike way. This episode was a listener requested topic.  We hope it will be an encouragement to you as you strive to make the best choices for your family!  

Micaiah Update

Here's Micaiah's Update:

Common Micaiah sayings:

• Thankyoufoodiscuse (Thank you for my food, may I be excused?)
• Du-dozer (bulldozers, etc....it's going to be a sad day when he stops calling them this!)
• Johnny tractor
• It's delicious!
• After I ....., then I'll.....
• But I might wike it (like)
• You could hide! Then I'll count!
• I want to wove on you (He would want to sit in my lap facing me & lay his head on my chest--sweetest thing ever!)
• S'race (Sarah Grace)
• I just a boy! (If we would say he was silly or a cowboy or anything like that)
• It's too scary! (LOTS of things: the dark, loud noises....)
• So I just did it (If we ask him why he did something)
• A-B-A-S that says Ma-Caiah!
• A-B-SUS that says Ma-Caiah!
• Don't hush me! 
• Don't say, "We'll see! Say YES!"

Some things Micaiah does not love: loud noises, going to sleep (ever since we got rid of his paci a month or so ago), obeying...., being "hushed," if we say "we'll see."

Some things Micaiah LOVES: cheese & crackers, milk (he drinks it all day long), playing outside, working outside with Daddy or Papa, playing with Sarah Grace, singing Trust & Obey or Standing on the Promises, reading books, Thomas the Train, riding the tractor, riding "my new tractor" (he's had it for several months but still calls it this), going to Bible class, singing songs even when he's playing, coloring, "writing," riding on the Ranger, checking cows, feeding the chickens, catching chickens, swinging on the swing set, going to Nana & Papa's house, playing with the big boys at church (Eli, Cody, & Ryder), jumping, jumping off of the steps at the church building.  

He likes to eat crackers, cheese, applesauce, anything in a pouch, bread, Papa's cinnamon rolls every Sunday, mac & cheese, biscuits, Cracker Barrel.  He is pretty much fully potty trained for during the day. He really likes to potty outside!  YIKES!

He is a VERY active & wild, at times, little boy.  We are blessed to be his parents!  

Easter

This jacket & bow tie was Wesley's, made by Nana

Mother's Day

This suit was Wesley's, made by Nana

Hannah Kate Update

I've had a running list on my phone for months of things to blog/journal about for each child. I am having a hard time keeping up!

Here are some common sayings from Hannah Kate over the past few months:

• "conscusting" = disgusting....mainly diapers!
• Why I want.....is cause......
• "There is a Habi-Nation" is one of her favorite songs (There is a Habitation)
• What can I even smell?!  (She has one of the most distinctive sense of smells around! She takes after her mama!)
• Sure is!
• Yummy yummy
• I want to eat some chicken, bawk bawk
• Scratching = itching
• "Trach-tor" (tractor) & the big, cab John Deeres is "Johnny Trach-tor"
• "Can I put on shoes so my feet can be fancy like I'm going to town?!"
• day nap & night nap or dark nap (any sleeping times)

We sure do love this girl! Some things she really loves lately are coloring, making "projects" (any kind of art thing), going to Bible class, playing with her toy fairies & blocks, reading books, playing dress up, dressing up her stuffed animals & dolls, holding Sarah Grace's hand & rubbing her soft skin, playing hide & seek with Micaiah & Daddy, playing with friends, singing songs from the movie Frozen, playing at Nana & Papa's, eating sweets, going to the library for story time, snuggling with Mommy, climbing in our bed when she wakes up in the morning or after nap, watching Strawberry Shortcake, Daniel Tiger, Dora, or Frozen, asking, "Is it time for PTP yet?!," playing outside-sidewalk chalk, hopscotch, catching chickens, riding the toy tractor, playing on the swing set.  Her best friends are: Micaiah, Sarah Grace, Maggie, Mollie, Nola, Ryder, Addison, Matthew & Miles, Talya, Chi, Emery. She also asks often to go see Melanie, Ella, Kelsey, & Gracie or Brody & Karlee.  She is begging to "go to school & ride the bus," so we have decided to do a homeschool co-op this year even though she will only be in preschool.  She is disappointed that she won't be riding a bus, though!  She loves to do "school" at home including her Bible lesson "on paper," any kind of school work pages I choose, writing & coloring.  She can write H & something that she says is K for her name.  She can also write some other letters by herself (L, O, A, I, T, maybe others but I haven't kept a list).  She's doing great with Bible memorization work & loves to make up Bible songs for us to sing at Bible time.  Usually the song goes something similar to this, "God made everything, we love God, Our God is precious, He loves us, we obey Him, Our God, Oh God....," or similar phrases over & over.  It's pretty sweet.  She is going to be in at least two weddings over the next year & is convinced that when you get married, you become a Christian (because we pray for her to grow up to be a strong & faithful Christian & marry a strong & faithful Christian).  She also decided that she will just go ahead & get married herself at the first wedding.  She has told us that she is going to marry Ryder since he will be a Christian too.  She has told him that, but I told her she should probably keep that to herself for a few more years!  She is a great helper at home & can do a lot of things around the house independently as well.  

We are unbelievably blessed to be this sweet girl's parents.  So thankful for this opportunity.

Easter

Mother's Day

May