Laurie this is for you.....Letter for Parents taking their children to church!

You are doing something really, really important. I know it's not easy. I see you with your arms overflowing, and I know you came to church already tired. Parenting is tiring. Really tiring.
I watch you bounce and sway trying to keep the baby quiet, juggling the infant car seat and the diaper bag as you find a seat. I see you wince as your child cries. I see you anxiously pull things out of your bag of tricks to try to quiet them.
And I see you with your toddler and your preschooler. I watch you cringe when your little girl asks an innocent question in a voice that might not be an inside voice let alone a church whisper. I hear the exasperation in your voice as you beg your child to just sit, to be quiet as you feel everyone's eyes on you. Not everyone is looking, but I know it feels that way.
I know you're wondering, is this worth it? Why do I bother? I know you often leave church more exhausted than fulfilled. But what you are doing is so important.
When you are here, the church is filled with a joyful noise. When you are here, the Body of Christ is more fully present. When you are here, we are reminded that this worship thing we do isn't about bible study or personal, quiet contemplation but coming together to worship as a community where all are welcome, where we share in the Word and Sacrament together. When you are here, I have hope that these pews won't be empty in 10 years when your kids are old enough to sit quietly and behave in worship. I know that they are learning how and why we worship now, before it's too late. They are learning that worship is important.
I see them learning. In the midst of the cries, whines, and giggles, in the midst of the crinkling of pretzel bags and the growing pile of crumbs, I see a little girl who insists on going two pews up to share peace with someone she's never met. I hear a little boy slurping (quite loudly) every last drop of his communion wine out of the cup, determined not to miss a drop of Jesus. I watch a child excitedly color a cross and point to the one in the front of the sanctuary. I hear the echos of "Amens" just a few seconds after the rest of the community says it together. I watch a boy just learning to read try to sound out the words in the worship book or count his way to Hymn 672. Even on weeks when I can't see my own children learning because, well, it's one of those mornings, I can see your children learning.
I know how hard it is to do what you're doing, but I want you to know it matters. It matters to me. It matters to my children to not be alone in the pew. It matters to the congregation to know that families care about faith, to see young people... and even on those weeks when you can't see the little moments, it matters to your children.
It matters that they learn that worship is what we do as a community of faith, that everyone is welcome, that their worship matters. When we teach children that their worship matters, we teach them that they are enough right here and right now as members of the church community. They don't need to wait until they can believe, pray or worship a certain way to be welcome here, and I know adults who are still looking to be shown that. It matters that children learn that they are an integral part of this church, that their prayers, their songs, and even their badly (or perfectly-timed, depending on who you ask) cries and whines are a joyful noise because it means they are present.
I know it's hard, but thank you for what you do when you bring your children to church. Please know that your family -- with all of its noise, struggle, commotion, and joy -- are not simply tolerated, you are a vital part of the community gathered in worship.
This post originally appeared on I Am Totally *That* Mom.

 

Backyard and Deck updates....

Added the wine bottle tree.....

I thought that I had all blue bottles....may have to use some green ones....I am going to try to find "Red" one for the holidays....

My Pinterest idea....it is getting weathered already with all of this rain.....I want it to look gray...black...brown....it is on it's way!

The flower garden is coming...I did have to replace several perennials that didn't make through last winter!

 "Fairy" Tinker Bell is still watching and taking care of the garden.....thank you so much Ella for the "Fairy dust" it is like magic!

I added the Sun....so when it is cloudy I still have sunshine....and the wind makes it spin!

Added some color for the little "Gnome" he sometimes moves to different areas of the back yard with the help of a "Neighbor"

Ella's bubble blower added some pink the the front porch!

My little "4th of July" sparkler on the front porch!

My bargain 4 pillows for $10.00 Kmart Special....I don't even take them in at night and let it rain on them....they dry so fast!

 

So you see that I have been busy with lots of weeds because of all the rain.  Mowing because of all the rain.  Now I have to water because of no rain!  Always very busy!

Love my "Girls"

Graduation....Great time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Day 2012

Dan and Mary dressed for Luck in playing BINGO!

Elliot Big Winner with "Fiddle Faddle"

Alex was excited with his "Elfie" Brownie Pop and hidden gift card!  :)

Mary and Dan have been together for 25 years....

Grandpa and Grandma will be celebrating 65 years in June....awesome!

Larry and Barb helping keeping everything running smooth.

Steve and his Marine boys......

Crystal loving her Marine sons....

The "Bingo caller" and the "Wooden Stick" Prize keeper....keep the game exciting....

Crystal and me!   :)

The Best BINGO prize and I won it!  :)

It was a great afternoon.....lots of laughs and way too much food!  Another day of memories......

Christmas Eve @ the Tommingo's

Alex and Elliot happy to be back in the U. S. They wanted you girls to know that is was the same stories....same laughs as last year!  It was great!

Grandma in her new glasses loves her gift from Ella and Zoey....the pictures were a great hit!

Crystal is so creative....these  are picture panels....and our dog's and cat's....Even the boys got one from Sabrina and ?????

I got some awesome gifts.....love them all!

 

 

One of the things I love in the fall.....

I just got back from the grocery store and of course I see a large display of Candy Corn and Peanuts.....I couldn't resist....I love it...but of course you have to buy the Brach's brand!

Getting ready for Halloween....

Ella wanted the spider and web put up while she was here....so it was up in the dining room.  Today I put it outside on the deck and put lights around the web!  The neighbors were over and thought it was a bat hanging in the web... got a laugh...but I am getting ready for Halloween!

Please show Ella Nana's Butterflies....

I am sad that fall is here and I will be losing my backyard flowers....this year was a challenge because of the triple digits this summer and the large water bills.....I have added some solar lights and an awesome wind spinner that I could just watch spin in the wind.....