Littlest Salvation Army Volunteer

 Big Sis (Zoe girl) has been volunteering with her daddy to ring the Salvation Army bell at the local Buehler's on Fridays during Advent for two hours! She has been doing a super fabulous job and many who pass by just can't resist not putting some extra change in the kettle!

All smiles! 

"Merry Christmas"

Littlest volunteer ever!

Who can resist that?!?!

The gifts of our children...

I've been meeting with a neighbor friend of mine every few weeks to take time to pray for our children. As many a mother would acknowledge the necessity to pray for her children, I have found that meeting and agreeing together with another mother to pray is so powerful as scriptures tells us: 

 ¹⁹ “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:19-20

Recently we focused on praying for our children's spiritual gifts. And even this past week Zoe's bible memory verse was a paraphrase of Matthew 7:11 "God gives good gifts". In this season of gift-giving it only seems appropriate to thank God for the gifts he has given and pray for these gifts to be fostered in our little ones. 

Let Zoe, Roman, and Samuel use their gifts and talents for your glory. 1 Corinthians 10:31

 Show Zoe how to use her gifts and talents wisely, being faithful with the abilities you have given her. 

Matthew 25:21

 Thank you for the special gift you have given Roman.  Show him how his gift differs from the gifts you have given others, and let him be generous, diligent, and cheerful in using it. Romans 12:6-8

Let Samuel use his gifts for the common good, recognizing, how he fits into the body of Christ and using his special abilities to build up and complement others. 1 Corinthians 12:7-26

As Roman considers his gifts, cause him to lean not on his own understanding, but acknowledge you in all his ways, so that you - the One who created and gifted him - will make his paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6

Give Zoe a sense of destiny, and show her that you set her apart and appointed her with gifts and talents even before she was born.  Jeremiah 1:5

Cause Samuel to be diligent in developing his gifts and talents so that he will become "skilled in his work" and "serve before kings," using his abilities to fulfill your purposes. Proverbs 22:29

Even at an early age the gifts of my children are becoming apparent:

Zoe is a loving an sensitive little girl who has a super memory and loves to sing praise songs!

Roman is very mechanical and has a sensitive spirit about him where he desires to please. He is fun-loving and  full of enthusiasm (and as his sister says, "he's full of strawberry jam!")

Samuel, our newest addition, is sweet as sugar and a content little man.  I pray that he continues to exhibit contentment through all his life:
 I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
 Philippians 4:12b-13