Doing Some Research
Our feeding therapist suggested we look into The Center for Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. I have been looking into it online and here’s what I found.
St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital offers a unique, methodical, and multidisciplinary approach to the assessment and treatment of pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders. It is designed to focus on the medical, motor, and learned patterns that often accompany this dysfunction.
Tier One - Outpatient
Initially, all children are scheduled for an evaluation as an outpatient. A list of factors that are interfering with feeding success or progress are identified, and a stepwise management plan is devised. This may include interventions here at the Center with training of the family and community therapists to continue the child’s program in their natural environment. Patient follow-up and parent/therapist training are essential elements for the outpatient tier. Treatment frequency is assessed based on need. Children who require more intensive interventions will be referred to the Day Treatment or Inpatient component of this three-tiered program.Tier Two - Day Treatment
Day Treatment is recommended specifically when a child is not making progress on an outpatient basis, or for the child who is ready to make significant rapid changes such as learning swallowing compensations to make swallowing safe for more oral intake, or advancing from tube feedings to oral intake. Children who live at least two hours away from the Center can send in medical records and a videotape of a feeding session to be considered for admission directly into the Day Treatment Program. Admission goals in these cases may be to complete a full evaluation and initiate a treatment program that will then be carried out primarily at home with consultative assistance from the Center’s team. Children coming from Outpatient treatment will also have specific goals determined by the team and family. Each treatment plan in individually established and modified daily using treatment session data and applied behavioral analysis. Our focus is to establish positive learning experiences on a foundation of good nutrition and optimized function of the body systems that support feeding. Family involvement in this program is crucial and begins initially through observation and education. As the child and family progress, supported interactions at meal times are gradually reestablished. Once the child parents are able to consistently and independently carry out the treatment program throughout the entire day, discharge is planned. The Day Treatment setting is similar to a specialized day care. A nurse supervises the play area and provides tube feedings, medications, and daily care as per the doctors’ orders. Therapy staff implement multiple motor and feeding sessions according to the child’s plan. The environment is safe, clean, and designed for children. Daily schedules include time for naps, play, and lots of interaction. Day Treatment occurs from 8:30am to 4pm, five days a week. Treatment goals are established for the weekends at home.
I’m not sure how I feel about this. On one hand, I would like for this to be over. I need my child to eat and I need her to eat now. It’s been more than a year.
On the other hand, am I making things worse by putting her through all this? Will she REALLY learn to do it on her own in time? I think I am going to look into in further and see exactly how they plan to get my daughter to chew her food and not freak out if I offer her a cookie.
If anyone out there knows anything about the feeding therapy at St. Joseph’s, please e-mail me at stacymae76@hotmail.com
A Mother’s Love Will Live Forever
There is a saying -that a mother’s love is forever. I believe this is true. My mother is in her 70’s now and her love is an everlasting love. She has always believed in me and supported me in whatever I have chosen to do. We spend time together and have always run a business together. For over 20 years we had a day care center business together.
Then, the time came - when I needed to seek a new career and for a few years I did an early morning paper route. Only a mother’s love would motivate someone to get out of bed at 3:00 a.m. and help deliver papers. I had a deadline and couldn’t possibly get all the papers delivered on time by myself. She let me keep the money and she delivered papers through snow, ice, sleet, rain and darkness. We made the best of this time together - we prayed for and witnessed to people on the paper route.
As I mentioned before - we have always worked together. So, when I accepted a job for the Salvation Army thrift store - I asked Mom to volunteer. She came and volunteered and eventually I was able to hire her as a cashier. It was during this period of time I received my pastor’s license and was willing to continue working for the Salvation Army Thrift Store and start the ministry God had called me too. But, the Salvation Army Thrift Store board saw it as a conflict of interest and told me I had to make a choice between my ministry and my job. Of course,I had to follows God plan and continue with the ministry. Mom worked one morning after I resigned and then she resigned. We had always been a team and she didn’t feel right working there without me. This is another quality of a Mother’s love - Loyalty!
Shortly after we resigned - we started a Thrift Store called: “Blue Jeans For Jesus Thrift Store”. Normally, Mom runs the cash register and I take care of stocking. The ministry called: “Ring of Fire Evangelistic Ministry/Blue Jeans For Jesus Food and Clothing Ministry” started in my parent’s basement. Soon, the group outgrew the basement and we rented a store front building. Again, a Mother’s love and dedication to serving God was her motivation for everything she does for the ministry. An opportunity came to purchase a small church building -again my parents borrowed the money to purchase the building. My mother has always supported me in my decisions.
I cherish the time we are able to spend together and I realize how important it is to spend quality with my mother. Time goes by so fast and circumstances can change in the twinkling of an eye. My grand-mother recently died and it seemed like she became old - all of a sudden - without warning. Time does not stop for anyone. So, we must cherish today and make memories that we can cherish forever.
That reminds me of the time I went on a mission job to Kansas. The job was not what it seemed and I ended up going back home. But, Mom had traveled with me to Kansas and was to ride back with a church friend. Mom had a difficult time -the lady was very mean to Mom on the way home and made her find someone to pick her up in a small town about 2 hours from where we lived. God was watching out for her and my dad with my grandparents located her and picked her up. The next morning - I found out the job wasn’t what I had been promised and wouldn’t be paid. I remember thinking - I am never going to see my Mom again and I will never taste her sausage and
pancakes again. A mother’s love motivates her to check things out. After she got over the shock of her ordeal - the Lord motivated her to call the sheriff in Kansas and find out about this place. She probably saved my life - because he told her to get me out of there. This place had been shut down a number of
times. So, she called me and told me what the sheriff had told her. I wanted to come home - but how? She called the sheriff back and he got the owners of the place to loan me enough money to drive back to IL.
So, I started my journey from Kansas to IL with only a cell phone - no map. I drove by faith and with the guidance of Mom from the cell phone. I drove through 2 major cities. I was so glad to get back home. I had sold my furniture, quit my job and had put my house up for sale. Mom was very supportive - it was a most difficult time in my life. The church that had helped me goes to this mission opportunity - completely turned their back on me and I wasn’t welcome at church. I was able to get my paper route back and again a mother’s love saw me through this difficult time.
There is a special bond between a mother and child. This bond can never be broken. Take the time today to let your mother know you love and appreciate her. Spend quality time with her and take time to laugh and share about the memories of childhood. If you are a mother - why not start a scrap book or a Remembrance book - that will be shared and cherished for years to come.
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Deep Down, All Men Are Pyromaniacs
Deep down we are all pyromaniacs - especially men! The 4th of July proves it….
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Frustrated with Feeding Therapy
I thought I’d give you a little background on an issue my family has been dealing with for more than a year now. My 3 year-old is in feeding therapy. She DOES NOT chew her food. She has what is called tactile defensiveness. More to the point, she has a problem with texture. Hates anything crunchy or lumpy in her mouth. Will not touch certain foods. She will only eat smooth things like yogurt, pudding, applesauce, baby oatmeal, etc. For the longest time, she was eating ONLY baby food. Pureed jars of baby food.
I noticed something wasn’t right when she was about 8 months old. She had no interest in Cheerios. Wouldn’t touch them. She would gag if I put them in her mouth. She would gag if they were in MY mouth. I tried other things like cheese or pasta or even bread, but she wanted nothing to do with any of it. My pediatrician kept saying it’s no big deal. She’ll get there. Give her some time. So I did.
On her first birthday, things were no different. I wanted so bad for her to taste a piece of her yummy vanilla cupcake but she refused. Wouldn’t even lick the icing. Any time I tried she would scream and cry. Needless to say I never got the face-full-of-cake picture I was hoping for.
Still my pediatrician said, "don’t worry." She was gaining weight so there was no cause for alarm. She’s just picky people tried to tell me. I knew it was more than that. She didn’t like the way the grass felt on her bare feet. She hated finger paint and sand. She would have a tantrum if the sun was in her eyes. It was drivng me crazy that these things were upsetting her and everyone kept saying it was normal.
So, at her 2 year checkup with the doc, I said I wanted to see somebody. He suggested a feeding therapist. I went to see her and she also suggested getting her evaluated by Early Intervention, which I did.
She qualified for both and has been receiving occupational therapy and feeding therapy for a little more than a year now. The progress has been EXTREMELY slow going. The worst part for me is not having anyone to talk to. I know absolutely no one who has ever had to deal with something like this. I searched the web but the moms I found had kids who were either autistic or had downs syndrome and my daughter has neither. In fact, she is super bright. And that’s part of the problem.
I could never trick her or bribe her or force her to eat. When I did get past the fear and anxiety and get her to eat a spoonful of macaroni and cheese or pastina, she would gag and throw up. It is a vicious cycle.
I’ve gone from feeling hopeful to desperate and finally back to hopeful.
She has made some great progress. She loves french fries and will put them in her mouth and pretended to chew. She will suck on them and even break off small pieces and swallow. It might not sound like much, but if you know how we’ve been struggling for the past year, you’d be proud.
But I feel myself losing hope. Even the feeding therapist seems confused. Why is she still not chewing? She suggested I check out St. Joseph’s Hospital. They have an intensive feeding program where she would go every day for a few hours and they guarantee success. I’m tempted but finances are tight and chances are it won’t be covered by insurance. As it is now, her therapy is only covered 80 percent.
Let Peace Rule
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” Colossians 3:15 (KJV)
It was a poorly organized Wal-Mart shopping trip. We had already picked up all of the groceries, including ice cream, and now here we were in the toy department, waiting on my seven-year-old daughter to pick out a toy. We had been waiting for at least twenty minutes.
“Cassie, hurry up,” I said, exasperated. “The ice cream is melting. Just pick something and let’s go.”
“I’m trying,” she replied. “I just can’t decided.”
“Then I’ll decide for you.”
“No, Mommy. Wait! I’ll pick something.”
I waited and waited, thinking about the ice cream melting in the cart. We still had the check-out to go through as well as a fifteen-minute ride home in a hot car.
Finally, I helped her pick out a coloring book. With all four children in tow, we hurried through the checkout, only to discover in the parking lot that the slinky my five-year-old had chosen wasn’t in the bag.
“Arrg!” I exclaimed, sounding a bit like a pirate. “We have to go back.”
I glanced over at the cart return, hoping the slinky was still in the basket. A couple walking to their car noticed me and said, “Someone else already took your cart.”
“I’m just so frustrated,” I told them. “We have this ice cream….and it’s melting…”
The couple nodded and walked on, but all I could think about was how ridiculous I sounded. The ice cream…I was letting a $2.00 box of ice cream ruin my day.
“Let the peace of God rule in your hearts….” Often when we read this promise in Scripture, we think about God’s peace during traumatic or difficult events: a terrible storm, an illness, a lost job, the death of a loved one. But God’s peace is available all the time, even for the small things can upset us. God’s peace can keep our hearts and minds when we are late for an appointment, when our children won’t stop arguing with each other, when one shoe is lost somewhere, and even at Wal-Mart when our ice cream is melting.
How do we find that peace? The Word says we are to LET the peace of God rule in our hearts. It is up to us to step back from the situation and give it over to Him. We are to CHOOSE the peace of God: seek Him in prayer, seek Him in the Scriptures, seek Him with thanksgiving.
“Thank You, Lord, for four precious children with whom I can share a box of melted ice cream. Thank you, Father, for Your peace.”
My Sex and the City Moment
When I first started watching Sex and the City, I envied Carrie Bradshaw. Not for her fancy clothes or expensive shoes, but for her job. She was a columnnist. How cool is that? She gets to writes about her fabulous life.
Granted, my life is not as glamorous, but I still dream of putting pen to paper and sharing my life with the world. Not because I think anyone will care, but because I need to empty my brain. There’s so much going on in there, so much swirling around and it needs to come out.
The most dangerous people on television — interior designers
I felt the helplessness of every mother who sees her child fall ill. I watched my daughter’s eyes glaze over. She turned to me, her cheeks flush, her voice rasping as she asked if I had any fabric she could use. I knew I would just have to let the fever run its course, supplying plenty of liquids, measuring tapes and sketchpads.
Watching Out for Angry Words
“He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly…” Proverbs 14:17 KJV
My nine-year-old stood at the door, leaving it wide open. His pet bird was out of the cage, so I told him to shut it quickly before the cat came in or the bird took off. But different thoughts were swirling through his mind.
“Sister quit the game we were playing,” he informed me.
“Close the door.”
“She left right in the middle of it,” he continued.
“Close the door now. The bird is out.” I could see the cat sneaking up the back porch.
“Now she won’t play with me.” He kept going on and on, and the door was still open. I was tired and aggravated, and I wasn’t about to let him keep ignoring me. I had had enough.
“Close the door!” I shouted out in anger. My son jumped back, closed the door, and retreated to the yard. Of course, I followed him out of the house, ranting on and on about how he should have done it the first time I asked him. The bird was out, and it could have been killed. Blah…blah…blah….
Somewhere in that lecture, I’m sure he tuned me out. If it were me, I would have tuned me out near the beginning. An effective discipline technique? I would say “no.”
I once heard someone say that if we were pulled over for speeding, and the police officer fussed at us and gave us a long lecture on the dangers of fast driving, would we speed again? Probably. I’ve never known an angry lecture that was effective in changing behavior for any length of time. What keeps us in check the next time we get in a car? A ticket that costs fifty dollars or more.
The consequences for our children’s disobedience should be equally effective. Instead of lecturing, I could have walked over after telling him the first time, closed the door myself, and gently held his chin and turned his head until we were looking eye to eye. In this way, I would have saved the birds and commanded his attention. I could have then explained the urgency of the situation to him until he acknowledged that he understood. Finally, I could have addressed his concerns about his sister.
What would have been the result? My son would have a real lesson in listening, and I would have a lesson in self-control. “He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly”… I’ll be wiser next time.
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Toddlers and Separation Anxiety
Does your toddler become upset or cling to your body at daycare, an activity or any old time she is dropped-off or when you try to leave? If you have to spend more than fifteen minutes trying to calm her down, then separation anxiety is probably the culprit.
Toddlers, and even some preschoolers, will display their fears of separation anxiety by becoming clingy, crying, and even a full-blown temper tantrum when a parent tries to leave.
Bring the Kids Meals Out First!!!
By: Monica Levine-Sauberman, www.familyvacationcritics.com
As my family walks into the restaurant on vacation, I am hoping I chose a good place to eat. Every parent knows the drill. Is it too fancy? Will we disturb the couples? Can we actually get through the meal? Do they have a good children’s menu? Highchairs?
As the Chief Critic at FamilyVacationCritics.com, I always get the question about where to eat at a certain destination. Here are a few things to think about before walking through the door of a restaurant.
Location and Timing
When planning where to eat dinner try to pick a restaurant close to your activities. To travel a distance to eat can be hard on the children. Most children become tired between 4:00 and 6:00pm, especially on a long day of sightseeing or amusement park play. Take a look at the time that is best for your children and stay close to your hotel.
Call in Advance
This is a good idea for two reasons. First, is to make sure the menu is appropriate for your children. Is there a children’s menu? Are there items on the menu that your children like? Second, find out if you need a reservation. If they take a reservation that is great, but if it is a stand-by beware! Waiting with your children can be a disaster. Just the children smelling the food can make them hungry and tired. Then eating with them can be difficult. If they don’t take reservations, ask if there is a line and what is the best time to come if you don’t want to wait. Don’t go to restaurants during their crunch time.
Tricks in the Bag
My husband and I swear to always carry a portable DVD player. Most parents don’t want to use it, but when are kids are watching it every parent with a screaming child wishes they had one. The price of the portable dvd players are getting more reasonable and you can get a cheap one for under $100. Here is a link to a few of them.
No parent should be without coloring books and small toys. A coloring book can at least give you time to order. If you have a baby always bring teething toys and Cheerios.
Kids Meals First
Always look at the menu when you first get it and if you have to wait before seating, decide what you are going to order! Order everything at once and ask for the kids meals to come out first. Do not wait and order the items separately. Then when the food comes, ask for the check. This way you do not have to rush, but if you need to leave quickly you have that option.
People always are amazed that I take my children out to dinner all the time. Other parents say my children will not sit still. If you take certain steps, eating out can be great!
Crib Notes � June 14th
For Father’s Day it’s time to send out a special shout-out to all the Dads who stay at home with their kids.
Let’s face it, even in these enlightened times, stay at home dads have it tough. Up until last year, my husband was a stay home dad and as such was the only guy volunteering at the preschool, the only guy at the playground and the only guy for miles carrying around a plastic baggie of goldfish in his pocket. He was like a rare albino tiger in our neighborhood.
According to Spike TV (THE source for guy surveys), 22% of dads are stay-home-dads, and 56% are thinking about becoming a stay at home dad. Of course the census puts the actual number of stay-home-dads closer to 147,000, but what do they know? I’ll put my money on a cable channel with the Three Stooges every time.
Just imagine the revolution it would be if Dads start to stay at home as often as Moms. A world where people will stop asking Dads if they are with their children to “give Mommy a break.” It would change the world!
First of all, there’ll be diaper-changing tables in every men’s room. And not just in trendy restaurants and fast food places. This means you, oil and lube shop!
There’ll be story time at the hardware store, complete with face painting in the paint aisle and bubble mowers in the garden center.
The weight limit on jump castles and slip and slides will increase because Dads are never satisfied with just watching from the sidelines.
We’ll have sing-a-longs and nursery rhymes that involve such classics as the pulling-of-the-finger and burping along with Daddy.
Strollers will come with all terrain wheels, helmets and air bags for off-roading.
Diaper bags will come in camouflage – urban and jungle.
Play doh will come in 5 gallon buckets and be suitable for building a full size replica of Stonehenge.
Bar-B-Que grills will be built to accommodate bottles and chicken nuggets.
Restaurants will realize they have to provide crayons for dad too, and plenty of napkins.
Our former Stay at Home Dad misses the days of full time parenting, but I’m not about to give up these wild women under 4 foot tall. After all, I’ve just gotten the hang of Play doh and need just a few more lessons in burping good morning.
Training A Child To Respect Others And Show Compassion
Training A Child
A friend of mine who was in her 80”s fell while walking one day. Unfortunately, she fell into a mud puddle. Some young kids were on bicycles and rode around her and laughed. They did nothing to help her. Eventually, someone found her and helped her.
This is a perfect example of children not respecting adults. In today’s society –children are not taught compassion for others and how to serve others. The world will only change when God and values are brought back into the home. The problem is that there needs to be a Godly value system. This should be taught to children early in life –when a child bites at age two hopefully they are corrected and this behavior stops. So, when the child is sixteen-they are not still biting. A child learns what they live and by example. So, if a child lives in a home with parents who set a Godly example-then they will grow up seeking God and will have been exposed to Christian values.
What values are you teaching your children?
Proverbs 22:6 “Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it.” (New Living Translation)
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Desperate Times Call For Desperate Measures
Crumbs littering the table, the bread bag left open, an empty milk carton in the fridge and peanut butter and jelly fingerprints on the walls were too much to ignore. It was time to face the facts. “We have house trolls,” I told my husband….
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Today’s Choices-Grace or Rules?
Rules or Grace-Make a Choice
John 3:16 “ For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it” (New Living Translation).
One of my friend’s fathers had a rule that the door was locked at 11:00 p.m. if you weren’t in-then you didn’t get in until morning. One night he went outside and forgot his keys. The door was locked at 11:00p.m. so he couldn’t get inside until morning. The next morning his wife was letting the dog out – she found him sleeping in the truck. She woke him up and he started explaining that the door shouldn’t have been locked because he didn’t have his keys. She reminded him-he made the rules and so the rules were followed.
This man wanted special grace or privileges given to him. But, no grace or mercy was shown because the rule was made and enforced. In the same way before Jesus died on the cross for our sins-the law had to be followed. Thanks to God’s mercy and grace-God sent his Son to die on the cross for our sins. Then Jesus was raised from the dead. Today grace is available. Just ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and wrongs and to come into your heart. If you do this-then you have accepted God’s free gift of salvation. You will not be under law but will receive God’s free gift of grace.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done so none of us can boast about it”. (New Living Translation)
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Rejoice in Your Extraordinary Parenting
“Ordinary people doing extraordinary things….” You’ve probably heard this phrase many times before, applied to many things, but when it comes to raising a child with a disability, it really hits home.
Pets Are Not Like Kids
Dogs and cats don’t roll their eyes when you tell them to do something. They don’t throw themselves on the floor and pitch a fit. They don’t lie and make you ask them forty questions before you get a straight answer.
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Stringing The Bikini…
Swimsuit season has officially begun, so I guess its time to throw in the towel and admit defeat. The deadline for my weighty New Years resolution to shed thirty pounds by the start of summer has come and gone … and yet it still remains very much unresolved. And to think, 2006 was to be The Year of the Bikini.
Heaven
You may have been wondering where I’ve been. I’ve been in heaven and Eddie; well he’s been out of town. That’s right he is visiting relatives in the southern part of the United States. Eddie turned three in April and to my dismay, he is not potty trained. Mother says, “don’t worry he will go when he is ready.” And I guess she should know because she did raise five children. But I don’t have time for that. Eddie needs to use the toilet like the “big boy” that I keep telling him he is. My brother and his wife; have graciously offered to care for him for the summer and have vowed that he will be potty trained by the time he comes home. I am elated not only do I get a summer vacation, but I also will be getting back a kid who uses the toilet.
It is not easy being away from Eddie for this long. Every day I think about getting into my car and driving to go pick him up, but then I hear the sounds of peace and tranquility calling out to me and I regain my sanity. Eddie is having fun; every night when I call he tells me about his day, he sounds happy and is even speaking much clearer over the telephone. That is until he really tries to describe something to me, and then it sounds a little like this, “I was, going, and then I saw over to the can man.” I just respond, “That’s wonderful.” And he seems to accept that.
Recently while at church I found out that Eddie is a musician. He saw a lady playing the piano and he went up and stood beside her and let his little fingers roll over the keys. He looked like a natural on that piano. The drums caught his attention so he gave us a solo. Eddie is interested in music so I am going to get him music lessons. I will probably start out with the piano, since he likes that. Eddie is also a marvelous singer. We sing together, and then I let him go for it, and he sings his little heart out with an original song. The ladies at church always ask about Eddie, they want to know where he is, I respond,
He is spending time with family out of time. They say, “ooohhh, you got rid of him.” I smile and say no, “Eddie is on vacation.”
Now that Eddie is on vacation I have so much more time in the morning. I can actually drink a cup of coffee before I go to work. I can even take a bath after work, instead of just a two minute shower in the morning. Slowly I am reminded of how my life used to be before Eddie you know having, free time, or “me time.” Now I relax as I drive home, instead of the mad dash to pick Eddie up before 6:00pm when the daycare closes and charges me ten bucks for every fifteen minutes I’m late. Yes, it feels good. But Eddie has changed my life, because now I have purpose. I have everlasting love and a friendship that is so different than any other I can not even describe. Being a mommy is something you have to experience, it is the greatest joy on Earth. But I wouldn’t know anything about that right now, because I am in heaven.
Appreciation for Dads
What happens to families, specifically to the kids, when there is not much interaction with the dad in the family? They go looking for someone to provide them with the discipline, conversation, fun, approval and love that they see other kids getting. Sometimes, even if we know these facts, we still have a tendency to forget how crucial Dads are and assume that they are either not interested or don’t care.
That is why it is so important to invite fathers to participate more in the lives of their children by sharing a few things here and there–but don’t overwhelm him with long lists of facts.
Make Your Own Doggie Treats
Make Your Own Doggie Treats
A dog is not only man’s best friend, but is also a child’s. They lick their faces, give hugs, and cuddle up with lots of fluffy love. What better way to show your dog how much you love them than with some homemade doggie treats.
Ingredients
2C. Whole Wheat Flour
1C. Oatmeal
1C. Peanut Butter
1 Egg
¼ C. Vegetable Oil
1C. Water
Directions
With a parents help, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together, making sure they are well blended. The dough may be heavy, but that is okay. Sprinkle flour on a flat service, and then roll the dough to about ¾ of an inch thick. Using doggie cookie cutters, or any cookie cutters, cut out shapes and place them on a cookie sheet. Bake the biscuits for 20 minutes, then turn them over and bake for another 20 minutes. After the biscuits are done, turn off the oven but, leave the biscuits in the oven to dry out for about one to two hours.
Another great addition to your homemade dog treats is to personalize your very own dog treat jar. A mason jar, powdered lemonade or tea container, or any plastic or glass container with a lid works great. The imagination can run free. Construction paper, gems, glitter, photos, the possibilities are endless.
This project is also a wonderful idea for holiday gift giving. Children will enjoy the fun, creative way they can express their love for their faithful family friend.
Building Moral Character is Nothing To Sniff At
Well, it finally happened. One of my kids has outsmarted me when it comes to eating vegetables. The two-year old, demonstrating sheer brilliance on his part, now surpasses his older siblings in weaseling out of eating healthy foods. To be blunt, he shoves veggies up his nose and there is no way I’m paying the bucks to take him to the emergency room to have kernels of corn extracted from his wee brain. Even though that would make a GREAT column….
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Are You On Fire For The Lord?
Are You On Fire For The Lord?
The youth were gathered around the campfire. Most of the youth were sitting quietly watching the warm glow of the coals. The coals were hot they were preparing to cook hamburgers. The youth pastor saw a chance to give an object lesson about the importance of attending services. The youth pastor took a set of tongs and removed a few coals-so they were no longer touching. In a few minutes these coals were cold and dark. The pastor then explained – the hot coals represent your life when you are faithfully serving the Lord, sharing the good news of Jesus and attending services regularly. The separated coals represent your life when you are half-heartedly serving the Lord, miss services and are neglecting to share the good news of Jesus with others.
The church is not a physical building in which God’s people meet. The Lord lives in your heart and you must bring a heart prepared for worship to encourage others. So, the night before a service prepare your heart and mind for worship. Stay faithful to the Lord at all times.
Psalm 27:4 “I ask only one thing from the Lord. This is what I want: Let me see the Lord’s beauty and look with my own eyes at his temple.” (New Century Vision)
The Wayward Child
When we arrived in this small country town, I felt I needed time to settle in before I went about meeting the neighbours. However, my neighbours and our dog had other ideas.
A Rustic Picture Frame for Dad
A Rustic Picture Frame for Dad
Father’s Day is June 18th and here is a wonderful idea to show your Dad just how much you love him.
Supplies
12-16 twigs
Twine or string
Glue
Photo
Embellishments
Directions
The first step in this fun project is to pick your favorite photo. It can be of you and dad or even a favorite vacation photograph. After you have collected your twigs, make sure half of them are about 2inches longer than your photo and the other half are about 2 inches wider than your photo. Next, arrange your twigs in the shape of a square frame around your photo making sure they extend outward about an inch in each direction. Now, using your twine or string, tie the twigs together making an “X” shape at each corner to create the frame. The next step is to glue your photo to the frame. After you are finished, remember to glue a piece of twine or string at the top in the shape of a loop so the picture can be hung.
Other ways to personalize your frame are to use embellishments such as foam shapes, buttons, pennies, gems, or even glitter. Whatever you choose, your gift will be extra special. This project is easy to do and doesn’t cost a thing. Imagination is the sole key and Dad will love the fact that it was made with your own two hands.
Losing My Cool…
The other night, I was trying to explain to my seven year old twin boys, Jared & Jasper, what an oxymoron is. It’s you when have a combination of contradictory words that just don’t seem to go together. I tried to illustrate with some examples like, “jumbo shrimp”, “awfully nice” and “pretty ugly”. “Oh”, chimed in my ten year old daughter, Sydney, without missing a beat - “You mean like ‘cool mom’?”
Lost in an Amusement Park- We�ve got Some Simple Tools
A parent�s worst nightmare! You are in Disney and one of your children has wandered away. You scream for your son. You are not carrying a picture of your son, so the police only have a vague description. You forgot to set a special meeting place, and your son is only 3 years old, so he does not know your phone number. After a few minutes you find him. Consider yourself one of the lucky ones.
Mornings Are For The Birds
I’m not a morning person and this morning proves it.
At 6AM I’m up packing lunches, fumbling around in my state of near unconsciousness, hoping that it’s peanut butter I’m spreading on bread and not Crisco, and there is a cat hanging on the screen to the window over the kitchen sink looking very much like somebody shot him there from a slingshot….
