March for Babies PSA

This year, we are marching for babies! Paces is sponsoring a team to help raise money for the March of Dimes. Paces' mission is 'to help young parents raise healthy, nurtured children'. Our mission lines up closely with that of the March of Dimes. Both agencies are in business to make sure the next generation has a healthy start in life. To that end, we have created a website where you can donate online. Please help us by visiting our website at www.marchforbabies.org/paces. Or you can just link to it here. It's pretty self explanatory from there. The event is April 26 here in Jonesboro. If you like you can view the March For Babies public service announcement below to find out more about why we are doing this. You might also want to consider coming out to walk with your families. Event information can be found on our webpage. Thanks for helping us out. We are trying to raise $500. Any amount you can give is appreciated, even if it is just a little bit! Thanks everyone

Birthday Thoughts

Today is one of those days that is bitter sweet. Today is Kiley's Birthday! She is four today. It's weird to think about where I was at this time four years ago. But it's even harder to think about where my family was a year ago. At this time last year, my Dad had just survived Throat Cancer and we thought he was going to be okay. He came out for Kiley's birthday party and we had the best time our family had had in a long time. We all laughed together and spent a lot of really good time together. It was not long after that Dad got Lung Cancer and the year from hell commenced. So, today is a happy and sad day all at once. I knew it would be a good day to go run. Even though I am very sad right now, I can feel myself coming out of this funk I have been in for many months. I feel the cloud is lifting. I have so many emotions that I can't articulate, but I can say that there are days when I just know the Lord is walking this road with me and today was one of those days. I had a great run. The sun was beginning to rise behind the clouds, it was quiet and peaceful...restful. I needed it today. Have you ever had times in your life when a song just seems to come out at just the right time? I think part of my recovery has come since the release of this Natalie Grant song. It's been a while since I have heard a song that encapsulates the message of Christ so well. I smiled a lot today as I ran listening to this song. How can you not smile at the thought of this kind of power working in you?

CMOM

We always try to keep our Saturdays sacred to do something purely fun with the girls. This past Saturday, we took them to the Children's Museum of Memphis. It was so amazing to see how much Kiley has changed since the last time we were there. I saw a video clip recently that talked about disciplining your toddler. It said that it is important to let your toddler lead but to also follow behind. We have been struggling in our household with helping Kiley understand that she CAN get dressed by herself, she CAN eat without supervision, she CAN put her toys and shoes away. It is never a matter of CAN it is a matter of WILL. I can't imagine where she gets a strong will!? Anyway, while we were at the museum, I made a point to let her lead me around the museum. She always got to lead the way. "Mommy, let's do this", "Mommy, do it this way", "Mommy I want to show you this". And do you know what? Ever since we got back from the museum, she has gotten dressed by herself, she puts her clothes in the clothes hamper, she puts her shoes on, and she has been finding ways to help out around the house. I think something clicked with me this weekend. I don't expect this sudden change of heart to last forever, but I don't expect that it was coincidence either. Hmmmm, it turns out it really is important to let them lead and sometimes be the follower. I'll have to work on that.

Keystone

It was the trip of a lifetime! We went with 2 other couples and all of us agreed that this was the most flawless trip any of us have ever taken. Although it was a busy week, it was at once relaxing and invigorating. I have never seen so much snow and these pictures will not do it justice, but this is a sampling. On our last day, we took a snowmobile excursion into the tundra. I felt like I was in the arctic somewhere. There was no wildlife, a whole lot of snow, and very little air. We finished the tour at 12,500 feet and ended at the Continental Divide. I was not able to take pictures there but it was snowing so hard that the conditions were white out. I was very glad Brad was driving. We ate a lot of great food including a fondue adventure at the peak of one of the mountains. I'm glad to be home, but what a great time! Here are some of the pictures...





If you ever get the chance to go...take it!

Blizzard '08

Here are some pics from the big snow day! It was gone by noon.


Kiley the poser!

Our snow goddess! She got a few cat calls from the neighborhood boys. It's a good thing she melted before anyone noticed she wasn't wearing a top!

Robyn curious as usual! No time for pictures.

No snow day is complete without snow angels. I think this was number 42.

For Sale

Well, it is official. Our house is For Sale! We have been so blessed to share this home together for the last 4 years. While I am sad to be selling, I know it is the right time. So many people have asked what our plans are for the future and why are we selling? The most honest answer I can give at this time is that I have no idea. Brad has loosely planned to continue his education after he finishes his undergrad but we don't know what that will look like. However, we both agree that it is time to down size a bit to get us in a position to pay for school. We always seem to have a lot on our plate, but we have some very exciting times ahead of us. I can't say that I know where we will be at this time next year and I am excited about that. I like to plan things out but I'm not going to get that luxury this time. I have come to understand that planning is a privilege and blessing God gives us just like any other. My getting to feel like I have any control in anything is as much a blessing as my car, my children, my spouse, my house, etc. If at any time God decides to withhold that blessing for a while it is just because He knows more than I do. Duh! I figure the more I say it, the more I will believe it. So, our home is up for sale and the future is up for grabs!

40 Assets

I was talking to someone recently about a study I know of. This study was published by the Search Institute and it basically states that there are 40 assets every young should have access to. They are:

EXTERNAL ASSETS
Support Family support- Family life provides high levels of love and support.
Positive family communication- Young person and her or his parent(s) communicate positively, and young person is willing to seek advice and counsel from parent(s).
Other adult relationships- Young person receives support from three or more nonparent adults.
Caring neighborhood- Young person experiences caring neighbors.
Caring school climate- School provides a caring, encouraging environment.
Parent involvement in schooling- Parent(s) are actively involved in helping young person succeed in school.
Empowerment- Community values youth Young person perceives that adults in the community value youth.
Youth as resources- Young people are given useful roles in the community.
Service to others- Young person serves in the community one hour or more per week.
Safety- Young person feels safe at home, at school, and in the neighborhood.
Family boundaries- Family has clear rules and consequences, and monitors the young person's whereabouts.
School boundaries- School provides clear rules and consequences.
Neighborhood boundaries- Neighbors take responsibility for monitoring young people's behavior.
Adult role models- Parent(s) and other adults model positive, responsible behavior.
Positive peer influence- Young person's best friends model responsible behavior.
High expectations- Both parent(s) and teachers encourage the young person to do well.
Constructive Use of Time- Creative activities Young person spends three or more hours per week in lessons or practice in music, theater, or other arts.
Youth programs- Young person spends three or more hours per week in sports, clubs, or organizations at school and/or in community organizations.
Religious community- Young person spends one hour or more per week in activities in a religious institution.
Time at home- Young person is out with friends "with nothing special to do" two or fewer nights per week.
INTERNAL ASSETS
Commitment to Learning-
Achievement motivation- Young person is motivated to do well in school.
School engagement- Young person is actively engaged in learning.
Homework- Young person reports doing at least one hour of homework every school day.
Bonding to school- Young person cares about her or his school.
Reading for pleasure- Young person reads for pleasure three or more hours per week.
Positive Values- Caring Young person places high value on helping other people.
Equality and social justice- Young person places high value on promoting equality and reducing hunger and poverty.
Integrity- Young person acts on convictions and stands up for her or his beliefs.
Honesty- Young person "tells the truth even when it is not easy."
Responsibility- Young person accepts and takes personal responsibility.
Restraint- Young person believes it is important not to be sexually active or to use alcohol or other drugs.
Social Competencies- Planning and decision making Young person knows how to plan ahead and make choices.
Interpersonal competence- Young person has empathy, sensitivity, and friendship skills.
Cultural competence- Young person has knowledge of and comfort with people of different cultural/racial/ethnic backgrounds.
Resistance skills- Young person can resist negative peer pressure and dangerous situations.
Peaceful conflict resolution- Young person seeks to resolve conflict nonviolently.
Positive Identity-
Personal power- Young person feels he or she has control over "things that happen to me."
Self-esteem- Young person reports having a high self-esteem.
Sense of purpose- Young person reports that "my life has a purpose."
Positive view of personal future- Young person is optimistic about her or his personal future.

What's interesting about this is that the stats say the kids who have 30+ assets have a higher rate of success in life. Not surprising. What IS surprising is that all kids surveyed who had fewer than 10 of these assets ALL had the last one...Positive View of Personal Future! Now that is resiliency. Even when they don't have anything, they have hope. Isn't it our responsibility as Christians to deliver on that hope?