For Lutherans (at least LCMS) Lent is kind of a penitential season. Ash Wednesday was yesterday and signifies the official beginning of the Lenten season. Is is a time of prayer, fasting, and reflection leading up to Good Friday and Easter. (No, I don't fast). During this season especially, I try to reflect on how I live and carry out my life as a Christian... looks like it's time to change some of the things that I'm doing. But what do the ashes represent? They "represent repentance, sacrifice and the claim of Christ and the cross as the way to forgiveness and new life". In other words, it is time to get down to the serious business of living in the way that God wants us to.
The thing I remember most about Lent as a child was having to "give something up". The Scriptures themselves do not require this. But my parents focused on this aspect to teach me to remember what Christ gave up for me -- He gave His life on that cross. It is great in theory to personalize it and try giving something up for Lent, but I never truly understood the true meaning of this until I got a bit older.
I found the following information on the net and wanted to share ways that you can teach your kids about Lent (it is from 2008, but the message is the same).
Teaching Children to Make Meaningful Lent Promises
Lent promises are in important and meaningful tradition in the Christian tradition. Children can learn a lot about their faith by making and keeping Lent promises.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/559003/teaching_children_to_make_meaningful.html
Best wishes on your journey toward the cross on Good Friday and waking up to the joys of the resurrected Christ on Easter Sunday!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Always with good intentions
So, I haven't been able to blog as much as I had anticipated. Mostly because day-to-day duties and activities call me away. Plus I have been spending more time working with Andrew more at home with his speech therapy. The other reason being that Facebook sucked me in. It has been great connecting with friends this way, but it also has some other addicting qualities that I need to steer clear from. Those of you who can and do blog regularly... hats off to you. It takes me too long to put my thoughts into words sometimes.
So back to Andrew's speech therapy... I haven't been completely satisfied with his progress from his twice a week visits to the pathologist(s). But I'm no expert and grateful that he is receiving services. There are just times I can see where the results have been positive and he is doing much better, but then there are those moments where I am baffled because I didn't understand one word of what Andrew just told me. He seems to play alot there, but they all remind me that at this age speech therapy works best through play. He is no way a severe case, so I am grateful for that. Since he is not in preschool it is hard to assess his progress compared to others his age. But when we attend playgroups or are around other kids his age I can notice the difference, he does not articulate as well as others. I suppose that only time will tell and I pray that it all gets worked out.
Tyler will be starting tee-ball in March, so that will be another thing taking up our time. Looking forward to that. I really hope he enjoys it because I played softball in grade school and just had a blast doing it. He continues to excel at school and is showing signs of maturing in many ways. Sometimes it completely floors me at how grown up he is becoming. Other days when he throws a 2 year old tantrum or has decided that hitting a friend is a 'good choice' when angered I remember that he is only a kindergartener and I need to give him a break sometimes (that still doesn't mean hitting is acceptable). He is still finding his way in the world and will be for a long time. I only hope that I can help to guide him and Andrew both to become kind yet strong, well rounded young men. Well of course Daddy will have to be the ultimate example in this department... I'm just the MOMMY.
Hopefully I will have more to blog about soon. It's not that I don't have the content I suppose, it's finding time to do it!! I need to post some pictures sometime. I take lots of phots, but most of the time they don't get published or sent off to the appropriate relatives snd friends until months later. I always have good intentions though. Well, that's all for now
So back to Andrew's speech therapy... I haven't been completely satisfied with his progress from his twice a week visits to the pathologist(s). But I'm no expert and grateful that he is receiving services. There are just times I can see where the results have been positive and he is doing much better, but then there are those moments where I am baffled because I didn't understand one word of what Andrew just told me. He seems to play alot there, but they all remind me that at this age speech therapy works best through play. He is no way a severe case, so I am grateful for that. Since he is not in preschool it is hard to assess his progress compared to others his age. But when we attend playgroups or are around other kids his age I can notice the difference, he does not articulate as well as others. I suppose that only time will tell and I pray that it all gets worked out.
Tyler will be starting tee-ball in March, so that will be another thing taking up our time. Looking forward to that. I really hope he enjoys it because I played softball in grade school and just had a blast doing it. He continues to excel at school and is showing signs of maturing in many ways. Sometimes it completely floors me at how grown up he is becoming. Other days when he throws a 2 year old tantrum or has decided that hitting a friend is a 'good choice' when angered I remember that he is only a kindergartener and I need to give him a break sometimes (that still doesn't mean hitting is acceptable). He is still finding his way in the world and will be for a long time. I only hope that I can help to guide him and Andrew both to become kind yet strong, well rounded young men. Well of course Daddy will have to be the ultimate example in this department... I'm just the MOMMY.
Hopefully I will have more to blog about soon. It's not that I don't have the content I suppose, it's finding time to do it!! I need to post some pictures sometime. I take lots of phots, but most of the time they don't get published or sent off to the appropriate relatives snd friends until months later. I always have good intentions though. Well, that's all for now
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Good Search: Give to LUNGevity Foundation
What a blessing to have found GoodSearch since I use the internet constantly and I can now donate one penny to this charity every time I search. This may not seem like much, but every little bit helps. I have known way too many families touched by lung cancer and at least this leaves me feel like I am doing SOMETHING!! I hope you will consider using it too, while surfing the web or doing some online shopping. See http://goodsearch.com
I found LUNGevity Foundation while spending countless hours researching non-small cell lung cancer adenocarcinoma, the cancer that ended my dad’s life in 2006(www.lungevity.org). Since his passing I have wanted to give to the organization and finally found a way to do it! Just by surfing the internet or shopping online I can donate to the LUNGevity Foundation. This is done by using GoodSearch (a search engine designed to give back to non-profits).
LUNGevity Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that relies on donations and volunteers to help save the lives of the thousands of people diagnosed with lung cancer each year. They fund innovative research designed to treat and cure lung cancer, the nation’s leading cancer killer. In addition their website supplies information and a support community for lung cancer patients and their families.
It’s so simple:
1.Go to http://goodsearch.com
2.Click on the icon for ‘Web’ and be sure to enter LUNGevity Foundation (Chicago, IL) in the space that says “Who do you goodsearch for?”
To shop all you have to do is access your favorite shopping sites through Good Shop, part of the Good Search website. By accessing your favorite on line shopping sites, like Amazon, Lands End and Toys R Us through GoodShop, 1% to 30 % of what you spend is donated directly to the LUNGevity Foundation.
It’s the same process for shopping, just click on the icon for ‘Shopping’ and enter LUNGevity Foundation (Chicago, IL) in the space that says “Who do you shop for?” Your purchases and gifts you buy can be a double blessing!
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
I found LUNGevity Foundation while spending countless hours researching non-small cell lung cancer adenocarcinoma, the cancer that ended my dad’s life in 2006(www.lungevity.org). Since his passing I have wanted to give to the organization and finally found a way to do it! Just by surfing the internet or shopping online I can donate to the LUNGevity Foundation. This is done by using GoodSearch (a search engine designed to give back to non-profits).
LUNGevity Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that relies on donations and volunteers to help save the lives of the thousands of people diagnosed with lung cancer each year. They fund innovative research designed to treat and cure lung cancer, the nation’s leading cancer killer. In addition their website supplies information and a support community for lung cancer patients and their families.
It’s so simple:
1.Go to http://goodsearch.com
2.Click on the icon for ‘Web’ and be sure to enter LUNGevity Foundation (Chicago, IL) in the space that says “Who do you goodsearch for?”
To shop all you have to do is access your favorite shopping sites through Good Shop, part of the Good Search website. By accessing your favorite on line shopping sites, like Amazon, Lands End and Toys R Us through GoodShop, 1% to 30 % of what you spend is donated directly to the LUNGevity Foundation.
It’s the same process for shopping, just click on the icon for ‘Shopping’ and enter LUNGevity Foundation (Chicago, IL) in the space that says “Who do you shop for?” Your purchases and gifts you buy can be a double blessing!
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
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