Heads Up, Seven Up

This is my 94th post. Sometimes people do crazy and wacky things for their 100th post. So you might want to check back in a few days...or 6. Just saying.

February Goals

When report cards came home last week and The Thinker had a less than stellar grade in math. I hit the roof and he had no idea why. Then I realized that Mr. Steady and I had never told our boys what we expected from them in school. They had always done really well and so it was never an issue. It wasn't until I explained to him that this was an unacceptable grade that he understood.

I gave the boys a heads up in the middle of the week that we would be having a family meeting tonight and I gave them the task to think of at least 3 goals to work on for the month of February.

Today we read the book The 7 Habits of Happy Kids by Sean Covey (son of Franklin Covey, the author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People). and discussed our goals. We wrote them down and talked about ways we could help each other reach our goals. The boys each came up with honorable goals and we were able to discuss how to set goals that were attainable and yet, still stretch us a little bit.

In this way the boys know what is expected of them and they know what Dad and Mom are trying to work on in their own lives. They see that you are never too old to set goals and you never stop trying to better yourself, with God's help. I am looking forward to having this family meeting every month and checking in with each other.

I'm aware that this vintage Valentine has nothing to do with goals but have I mentioned that I have three boys and love Valentine's Day?

Who Wrote the Book of Love?

Do you know what holiday is coming up in less than 3 weeks? It's one of my favorites. I have three boys, you know so any chance I get to sprinkle a little pink around the house tickles me...well, pink.

I love me some Valentine's books and while I've already put mine on hold you might still be able to snag some of these titles. (Bold titles are AR books.)

Be My Valentine Charlie Brown Charles Schultz

Five Little Candy Hearts William Boniface

Happy Valentine's Day Abbie Mercer

Happy Valentine's Day Carol Barkin

Hearts, Cupids, and Red Roses Edna Barth

Let's Celebrate Valentine's Day Peter Roop

Little Bear's Valentine Else Minarik

The M&M's Valentine Book Barbara McGrath

Mushy! The Complete Book of Valentine Words Lynda Graham-Barber

My Froggy Valentine Matt Novak

My Very Own Valentine's Day Robin West

On Valentine's Day Judith Zocchi

The Story of Valentine's Day Clyde Bulla

Tokens of Love Roberta Etter

Valentine Carol Carrick

Valentine Boxes Wilhelminia Ripple

The Valentine Cat Ann Nagda

The Valentine Express Nancy Wallace

A Valentine for Norman Noggs Valiska Gregory

Valentine Hearts Lee Hopkins

Valentine Surprise Corrine Demas

Teachable Moments

I have been trying to think of some ways to include the boys in reaching out the community. They want to help and I want them to love helping but they are still kind of young.

Today the older two boys and I baked sugar cookies and packaged them up. We prayed for the men and women who work on the street department in our town and asked God to keep them safe while they were out plowing and do their work. We also asked Him to be with the families because I've been a plow widow before and I know it can get pretty lonely when we have weeks and weeks of snow. Then we tromped off to the street department and delivered the cookies along with some pictures and thank you notes from the boys. Tonight we'll read If I Had a Snowplow by Jean L. S. Patrick.

I think the boys felt good for doing something for someone else. The Thinker said "I think the men will like these because it will remind them of when their moms used to bake them homemade cookies" :o)

I would like to keep choosing one community helper in our town each month and do this. So far I've got plans to visit the library, post office, sherriff's office, fire department and the doctor.

How do you instill a love of service to others in your children?

Dollar a Day Challenge

UPDATED TO ADD: Faithful reader Lisa asked for some clarification on the Dollar a Day. Here's my best explanation...sorry I am so wordy. "Yes, for instance, last night we got gas in the car and the total came to $20.41. So to us, it really totalled $25.00 because the remaining $4.59 went into our "Dollar Jar" (which is actually a glass lantern but you get the idea).

We've also taken it a step further and for any checks we write, we round up to the next $5 increment and write a check to the Dollar Jar. We saved over $9 that way. We are actually saving our coin change for a big family trip when I graduate college so the $58 did not include any coin change."

ORIGINAL POST:
Has anyone else joined me on the Dollar a Day challenge? How is it going?

Today our loan payment was due so we emptied our stash and ended up with an extra $58 to add to our payment! Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!

"Have a great and godly day, for what use is a good day if it isn't also godly?"

A Day in History

Thank you President and Mrs. Bush for your service to our country. Thank you for giving so selflessly of yourselves to protect and serve us these past years. I pray God's blessings upon you as you return to your Texas home and create a new "normal".

Thank you President and Mrs. Obama for your willingness to step into a new role and serve our country. I pray that God's blessings would be upon you and your girls as you fulfill His purpose and plan.

Today is a wonderful opportunity to teach our children that no matter how much we agree or disagree, like or don't like, those whom God has put into leadership over us, we are to show respect to them. Let us never forget to pray for the President and all of those in leadership. God has allowed Barack Obama to be the president of our country today. Glory be to God and Him alone.

Prayer Request for Baby Harper

Scott, Kelly and Baby Harper need your prayers. Harper was born yesterday and had to be care flighted to another hospital with heart and/or lung problems. They intially thought they were going to have to do a bypass on Harper but now it is looking better. Click on the button on the right to go to Kelly's blog and learn more and pray!