WHY OBEY YOUR PARENTS

Our children write quite a few book reports and research papers.

I thought over time to share some of these with you.

Here is one from Kerri.

In the Bible there is a verse that says "Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right." Ephesians 6:1. I think this verse is saying even when it is not fun, we need to obey our parents because it is right and we need to obey God. We need to have a happy heart when we obey, not just a happy heart, but a joyful heart. Even when it's hard, if you just ask God He will help you, but you still need to try no matter what. I think if we learn to honor and respect our parents we would understand obeying more because I think obeying your parents is practically honoring and respecting our parents. In Romans 5:19 it says, "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." So this verse is saying that we need to be a good example to others, so that when they watch us, they see how we obey our parents, but it is not supposed to be a show, just be yourself. When our parents make rules, it is not to be mean, it's the opposite. It's because they love us and care about us. Another reason they make some rules is because God told them to, so they obey God. We obey our parents, so through obeying our parents, we are obeying God. Obeying your parents is in the ten comandments too. Except for it says, "Honor your father and mother" which is kind of the same.

ITS CHRISTMAS SEASON

Tonight the girls begged for the 4th night if we could decorate the house for Christmas. I finally gave in. I was waiting until I had enough energy but realized that it was not going to happen anytime soon if I waited for that! So we put up lights and garland and candles.... And now the Christmas music is playing and it feels like... CHRISTMAS SEASON! I was watching the kids as they were pulling out the decorations from the boxes, untangling the lights, and hanging up things. They were so excited. It reminded me of when I was younger and I realized in the last few years I have gotten tired of the commercialism of Christmas and so really have not been that excited about it. But when you see the excitement in their eyes and hear it in their voices it is catchy. And it wasn't long before I got into it! And then I realized, that's how it should be in our walk as Christians. We should be so excited that it is catchy! What a great God we serve, what an amazing concept that God sent His son for us, what a great opportunity we have to share Him with others. I feel like going Christmas Caroling!!!! Maybe another day.

BROOKE

This is our baby Brooke (as everyone in our family affectionately calls her:) She is almost 5 mths old. We are finding it quite different having a little girl after 4 boys. Her sisters are really enjoying dressing her up and can't wait to do her hair. She's a little short of hair right now so they will have to wait a bit! She has a very BIG smile and likes to communicate in her baby language. When the action around her starts to slow down she doesn't quite know what to do with herself. We are getting to know her and love her more everyday.

IF YOU GIVE MOM A MUFFIN

I HAD TO LAUGH AT THIS ONE BECAUSE SOMETIMES THIS IS

WHAT I AM LIKE! (EVEN THOUGH I DON'T DRINK COFFEE)

If you give a mom a muffin,

She'll want a cup of coffee to go with it. She'll pour herself some. Her three-year-old will spill the coffee. She'll wipe it up. Wiping the floor, she'll find dirty socks. She'll remember she has to do laundry. When she puts the laundry in the washer, She'll trip over boots and bump into the freezer. Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan for supper. She will get out a pound of hamburger. She'll look for her cookbook ("101 Things To Do With a Pound of Hamburger"). The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail. She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow. She will look for her checkbook. The check book is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two-year-old. She'll smell something funny. She'll change the two-year-old's diaper. While she is changing the diaper, the phone will ring. Her five-year-old will answer and accidently hang up. She'll remember she wants to phone a friend for coffee. Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup. And chances are... If she has a cup of coffee, by now... Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it! ~~~~ Author Unknown ~~~~