When I walk off the stage on Sunday morning it as if the sun goes down on my week. The week is finally over. When I get home laziness overwhelms me and my body longs for a couch and a remote and my eyes begin to shut.

Yesterday my cousin and her husband were visiting us, so my normal routine was a bit off. We were all talking in the kitchen when I peered into our room to see Elianna resting in our bed.

When I opened the door she jumped. This is normal for nap time. Nine out of ten times when she is supposed to be sleeping, she is playing. An open door is a sign that she is busted. But this time, I whisper, “It’s ok, Daddy wants to cuddle with you.” I climb in to the bed, pull her three, almost four-year-old body, next to mine. As she snuggled up next to me her beautiful blue eyes searched until they met mine and she said, “You are the best poppa in the world.”

My heart melted. I pulled her close, kissed the top of her head, and closed my eyes knowing I needed to remember this moment.

Having three kids all under that age of five often feels like a tornado. In the midst of trying to get everyone dressed with their shoes on and in the car, I often forget to get on their level and enjoy them. Yesterday was a reminder for me….

Take time. Get on her level. Do the things that matter to her – even if it means being a princess and holding a doll. She is worth it.

Each of my kids are different.  They feel special in different ways.  Overtime, I have identified what each kid loves. My two girls love individual time.  You can read about that here and here. Now just to take the time and do it.

So what about you? How do you make your kids feel special?

1. Oh no you didn’t.
2. Frustration
3. Develop a plan to eliminate the negative behavior – still very frustrated.
4. Realize that I rebel against God just as much or more than they rebel against me. I challenge everything he says, throw fits, and do things my own way.
5. Humbled and regain patience.

My kids and my wife are gifts from God that constantly reveal that I am broke and in desperate need of a saviour.

Go check out this Free Christmas Carol Songbook by Praise Charts.

via: Chris from Canada

The situation:

• News Flash: Santa is not real.
• The Scripture is clear.  We are not to lie or bear false witness. We are also told to let our yes be yes and our no be no

The Problem

How do you reconcile these two things when your 3 year old is asking very detailed question about Santa? I am not trying to be holier-than- thou or uber-spiritual.  Kari and I are just having a problem telling un-truths about Santa when we assure our girls all the time, “Mommy and Daddy always tell you the truth.”

What do you tell your kids?

Kari and I have read Tedd’s book Shepherding a Child’s Heart and loved it.  We also went through it with our home team and had great discussion.

If you are in the middle of raising kids, this can be an excellent resource for you.

The sessions included are:

• Session 1: The Call to Formative Instruction
• Session 2: Giving Kids a Vision for God’s Glory
• Session 3: Helping Kids Understand Authority
• Session 4: Helping Kids Understand the Heart
• Session 5: Overview of Corrective Discipline

HT: JT

Kari tells the first part of the story on her blog. (You have to read it before the rest of the story makes sense.)

So I come in and say,

Brent: We can’t see Jesus, because Jesus is in heaven.

Avery: Heaven?  (very confused)

Brent: But one day he will come and we will get to see him.

Avery: How many days, 1, 2, or 5?

Brent: We are not sure, but one day he will come for us.

Avery: Why not today?

Brent: Kari, Your daughter has a question for you.

I was recently asked what I did on those dates.  Since I took Avery on a date last night, I figured it would be a good time to show some pictures and talk about what we do.

1. Make her feel special. No matter what age, everybody likes to feel special.  When a date is planned and full of surprises, she can’t hardly stand herself.

2.  Join her world. So often when we are at home, we make our kids join us in what we are doing.  When we are on a date, I act like a three year old and get excited about what three year olds get excited about.

3.  It is about time, not money spent. Our dates are usually very cheap.  In fact, most of the time less than $10.  But we laugh, run, play, and experience life together.

So with all that said, here is the running list of what we did last night.

• Chick-fil-a, and played
• Went to a park with a big slide!
• Bought bird seed to feed birds
• Went to pet store and played with the pets
• Got ice cream
• Came home and went to bed

What do you do with your kids to make them feel special?

]]> http://www.worshiply.com/2008/10/date-night-with-avery/feed/ 4 http://www.worshiply.com/2008/09/dating-my-daughters/ http://www.worshiply.com/2008/09/dating-my-daughters/#comments Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:12:59 +0000 Brent Minter http://www.worshiply.com/?p=206 Here is a voice mail my oldest daughter left me several months back.  At the time she was 27 months old.

Audio clip: Sorry RSS readers, if you want to listen you will have to go to the post.

Dates are important in our house.  Kari and I make it a priority for our relationship.  We also make it a huge priority that I take my daughters on dates. Here is why I do it.

1. To Set a Precedence of Honor - I want my daughters to grow up and expect a world where a man respects and honors them.  Every door opened, every chair pushed in, and every conversation listened to.  I cannot control how a 16-18 year old boy will treat them when they are away from the house, but I can control their expectations for how boys/men treat them…..and it should be total respect and honor.
2. Uninterrupted Attention -  Our house is chaos most of the time.  When our kids are awake, we try to be in their world.  But with all that is going on, conversation can be stunted.  But when it is me and Avery for a couple of hours by ourselves, the conversation takes on a new level….She has dad’s undivided attention.
3. Her Smile - When Avery finds out it is a date night, she gets so excited and smiles from ear-to-ear.  Her anticipation and excitement is blessing to me because I see how much she loves and cherishes me.

Here are the pics from my last date with Avery. Elliana is still a little young, but I will begin the process with her when she turns 2.

What special things do you do with your kids?

Pause for a moment and give thanks for your family.