~♥~ Happy Birthday ~♥~

Our adorable neice turns 8 today!! Happy Birthday Shanelle!

Love: Uncle Conrad, Aunt Joanie, Rachael,

Reuben, Hannah, Emily & Alex :)

*Ps. I'd like to make this a monthy post as a birthday comes up :)

Do As I Do

With the understanding that actions speak louder than words, parents can use family activities to emphasize important aspects of good character.

~ Author Unknown

What a busy weekend this has been! I have come to the conclusion that blogging won't be a daily occurrence for me. There just aren't enough hours in the run of the day some days in Storeyland. Friday, I didn't even turn the computer on and Saturday was spent doing odd jobs around the house. We didn't have much leisure time until today and even then I am still tending to a couple of children that aren't feeling well. A woman's work is never done....*sigh*

Hubby finally had the opportunity to fix our table last night so today we had our first family meal together at the table in a few weeks. It was nice to sit around the table instead of eating on stools at the breakfast nook. The kids were happy to have things come back to 'normal' too even though it hasn't been an overly long time since it broke. It seemed like forever because our everyday routine was affected by it. We have always made it a point with our children to have family meals together. Not only does it create unity but it also gives us a chance to talk about the day's events. Sunday is our day to have a big dinner with all the fixing's.

In an attempt to try and make things run a little smoother here we have been reinforcing the rule of cleaning up after yourself...taking your dishes to the sink when done eating etc. Reuben, our oldest was invited to dinner at a friends house recently. When I went to pick him up, the parents of his friend let me know how impressed they were with his manners and how he took his plate to the sink etc. It made me feel good that even though he was in a home were it wasn't necessary to do that, he still insisted on doing so. Sometimes the task of teaching our children responsibility can seem daunting but for the most part children learn by example so it's important that they see us doing what we want them to do.

I remember growing up, my Mom would say at times...do as I say and not as I do. Well, sadly that principal doesn't work with children. Actions speak louder than words and children will always copy our actions. It would be nice if we could remember that all the time everyday but sometimes we let emotions get the best of us and we forget that little eye's and ears are watching our every move. It is in those moments, that I apologize right away and tell them that it's a problem that Mommy needs to work on to improve. We are human and we will make mistakes in parenting the important thing is to learn from those mistakes and be real with our children letting them know that it shouldn't have happened or been said etc...

My children reassure me often that I am the Best Mommy in the world and that they love me very much. They love me despite the fact that I am impatient with them at times. Grumpy because they haven't completed their chores or they are giving me a hard time about doing them. They love me despite all the mistakes I make in Mothering them. No matter how misbehaved they are, I love them too for our love is unconditional! Unconditional love is an amazing thing. It forgives all and covers a multitude of mistakes. It's the kind of love that should exist between Husband and Wife, Parents and Children and with it comes a deep feeling of peace and satisfaction. God has that kind love for us. His love knows no limits and it has no conditions on it. Some people think they need to be 'good' before they can become a child of God but he wants you to come as you are. No one is perfect and we all make mistakes but the important thing is to learn from our mistakes and use is as a stepping stone into a brighter and better future keeping in mind that actions really do speak louder than words!