Joyful Heart

Our children raved about our family’s 2008 Summer Olympics so much that before the 2010 Winter Olympics even began, they were asking what we were going to do to celebrate and compete at home.  I have to admit that the winter sports were much more challenging to try to recreate in order to have some fun learning experiences for the kids.  I searched online, combined ideas from various sites, and finally came up with a plan.   So, without further adieu, come follow our Olympians as they compete at the 2010 Indoor Winter Olympics!

Opening Ceremonies
Our Opening Ceremonies were not grand by any means, but it built excitement that would lead up to the Olympic events for the day.

• We located Vancouver, British Columbia on our globe (as well as the other countries for which we had flags).
• Each child represented their chosen country. We attached mini flags to our shirts and to our winter hats to indicate which country we represented.
• We reviewed and discussed Colossians 3:23–24.
• The children made Olympic Rings from tissue paper.
  
• To get more familiar with the winter sports involved in the Olympics, we viewed photos of real events and watched a few short video clips from the official Olympic site.
• Next, they played Winter Olympics Bingo.
  

Our Olympic Events

Figure Skating
The Olympians ‘skated’ in their sock feet, attempting to spin and twirl on one foot, jumping and landing on one foot, and of course, performing the free skate.

Ice Cube Bobsled Race

Yes, we had to bundle up…After all, it’s cold on the track!

Olympic Ring Toss
The Olympians attempted to throw diving rings onto a full bottle of pop.

Curling

Cross Country Skiing

Luge

Snowball Throwing


Should he have been disqualified for stepping over the line?

Sight Word Ice Hockey

This was a cute idea from Making Learning Fun.  You could also do addition or subtraction facts!

Additional Activities
For added fun, we brought some snow inside to discover ways to melt it.  Each child received an ice cube as well and tried to be the first one to make it disappear.  They tried adding salt to it, pouring warm water over it, rubbing it between their hands, and even tapping it.

The kids also did a Roll and count activity, Olympic word searches (1) (2), and watched as their ‘ice’ hockey player and figure skater glided across the counter.

Closing Ceremony
Instead of simply passing out gold medals to all of the Olympians, I had them work extra hard to earn their gold.  To their surprise, they were given bowls filled with ice treasures!  The Olympians, at first, experienced a bit of a dilemma, but then they began to enjoy the challenge as they dug, picked, scraped, brushed, pounded, and poured hot water over the ice in order to get to their medals!

At the very end of the day, we even enjoyed a surprise Olympic sized cookie!  Congratulations to all of our Olympians.  They showed great sportsmanship and cheered each other on.

What a fun, but exhausting day, celebrating the winter Olympics –INDOORS!

Oh, how I wish that could be said of me!

Instead, God is allowing me to see this much needed trait through the sweet, sweet spirit  of our oldest child.  She has been experiencing quite a few off and on headaches since June, with an almost constant headache for the past two months.  Has she complained and moaned about how bad her head hurts?  No.  She continues with her schoolwork and play, rarely mentioning her pain.  However, if we ask her how her head is feeling, she says, “It hurts.”  “How long has it been hurting?”  “All day,” she says and then returns to what she was doing.  We just recently had an MRI done and it was discovered that she has “Severe Left Sphenoid Sinusitis” infection.  She is now on antibiotics and they are hopeful that by the end of the third week, her headaches will subside.  I am pleased to say that she has handled herself so well as she has had to visit doctors, have blood work taken, and then had the MRI done.

I truly think she is well on her way to hiding Philippians 2:14 into her heart and mind.   ”Do everything without complaining and arguing.”

Maybe I could learn a few things from this sweet child that God has blessed us with.  Thank You, Lord.

Who says young children can’t begin to hide God’s Word in their hearts and minds?  Moments like these bring great joy to my heart as I hear and see my little ones joyfully singing God’s Word!

Our just turned two year old has been bringing the Joyful Hearts Tune binder to her siblings and I multiple times throughout the day.  There have been instances when I have been washing dishes and she’ll come up to me, hold out the binder, and ask with a spark in her eyes, “Sing mommy?”  How can I resist a moment to sit down and share in singing God’s Word with my littlest one?  I can’t!

Thank you, Lord, for the sweet, sweet, sound of children’s voices.

That’s me!

I truly believe that children are a blessing!

Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him.
Psalm 127:3

However, parenting, and more specifically, mothering can be quite challenging living out the practical day to day.  Another load of laundry, preparing meals, the never ending dishes, the wet and dirty diapers, the constant tidying up after others… With these monotonous, daily tasks, even as a Christian, I can become discouraged and drawn into self pity.  I get distracted – away from the blessings that I have been given.

Yes, I have been there, done that, and (sadly) will probably revisit this area of motherhood.

So, how can I change things around once I’m there?

I have to turn the focus off of my self, because, contrary to popular belief, this life really is not about me.

Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things.  Preserve my life according to your Word.
(Psalm 119:35-37)

I must read God’s Word and look to Christ and His example.  For it is God’s words that will penetrate my heart and mind.

Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
(Hebrews 12:1b-3)

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)

Christ was a servant.  He died for me.  I must be willing to serve Him and bring Him glory – even through what I sometimes view as the mundane.

I need to give thanks to my heavenly Father.

Be joyful always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances.
For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

For a crying toddler?  Yes, for God made her healthy and strong.  For the 4 year old who refuses to eat?  Yes, because the opportunity to work with him and train him on this issue now will help with harder issues when he is older.  It also develops patience in me.  For the pile of laundry waiting to be put away? Yes, because God has provided clothing for our family…

Expressing gratitude through prayer and song helps me to refocus on Christ and has the added benefit of allowing my children to see and hear their mommy praising the Lord.

I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High. (Psalm 7:17 )

I need to be reminded that motherhood is a high calling.

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.  Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. (Titus 2:3-5)

We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. (Psalm 78:4)

Teaching, loving, being self controlled, and busy at home……all in an effort to tend to the hearts of my children and prepare them, the next generation, to know, love, and serve Him.

It also helps to sometimes step back and take a close look at the precious little ones He’s given, spending some time observing their interactions and interests.  Then, I try to delve into their world, spending quality time with them.  How is God working in these young lives?  Then, I remind myself that God has chosen me to gently lead them.  Wow!

Doing these things may not always change how I am feeling right away, but it definitely helps to place my situation in perspective and gives me a glimpse of God’s greater plan.

It is only through His guidance and strength, that I may become the mother (mom, mama, mommy) that Christ desires for me to be.  For my help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Update: 2/3/10  A friend from church just posted a great testimony that relates well to this post.  Very worth the read!

God brings joy to this mama’s heart through

• the voices of children spontaneously singing hymns in praise of God.
• finding children curled up in comfy spots around the house reading alone or to a sibling.
• children anxiously waiting for Daddy to read the nightly devotional.
• a proud little boy running from the bathroom shouting excitedly, “I went poo poo!”.
• the sight of siblings choosing to play together and hearing them call themselves ‘Best Friends’.
• hearing siblings encourage one another.
• a bubbly toddler filling the room with giggles.
• hearing the heartbeat of a new little life for the first time.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for these five precious gifts.