Elyse Decks the Halls

I love Christmas Carols. The last couple of years we were in Eureka California and I had the privilege of leading a kid's choir for a special event. We had our share of funny moments...a 3 year old somersaulting off the 3rd stair of the platform, girls sitting not so lady like, one of them putting their fingers in their ears while someone sang a solo right next to them. All priceless moments!

Elyse has been giving us some laughs in her rendition of carols. Here's the latest:

Deck the halls with bows of holly fa la la la la la la la la

Twos the season to be jolly fa la la la la la la la la

Join the ni ni two be carol fa la la la la la la la la

deck the halls with bows of holly fa la la la la la la la la la

Enjoy your kids this Christmas season and make sure you write

down some of the funny stuff. I know I will be!

Bible Marathon

Back in October I posted a blog about Bible reading, and making it a part of our kids lives. Over the last week or so I have been developing a Bible reading plan for our Children's Ministry. Here's the idea:

• All kids who attend Bethel are going to be encouraged to make reading God's Word part of their daily lives.
• We, together, are going to read the New Testament all the way through from January to December, 2010.
• Parents of kids that aren't able to read yet are encouraged to read TO their children, allowing the kids to still follow the plan. Even if your kids are babies and toddlers, read to them!
• All of our kids can earn rewards every 2 months for bringing in their completed Bible reading plans. I'm saving a really awesome reward for those who stick to it all the way until December!

As I have been going through the New Testament, preparing this plan, I realized, once again, that there is some things weaved throughout God's Word that are hard for kids to grasp. There are things that will provoke conversations with your kids and move you out of your comfort zone a little. Even if your kids aren't understanding every word, imagine the impact reading God's Word every single day will have in their lives!

Over the next two weeks, I am going to be talking about this plan to your kids at church. It will make it's debut on December 20th, and will be available throughout the year. I do want to encourage you to grab a copy before January 1st so you can start with the group. I imagine the starting line of a marathon; we are all there ready to take on this challenge. Remember that it's not a sprint. It will take endurance and encouragement.

I believe by our kids reading or hearing the Word every single day, it will begin to transform their lives. Our Bethel kids are going to be growing in their relationships with Christ in exciting ways.

What do you say? Will you and your kids meet me at the starting line?

It's that time again...

December. My most favorite month. I grew up in a house where traditions are revered, Santa is real, and Jesus is first. My Dad loves Christmas more than any other person I know. Growing up, as a steadfast rule, we didn't start Christmas until after Thanksgiving. Decorating the tree was a family activity (some of my childhood creations still make an appearance on my parents tree!) My childhood memories of Christmas are precious to me.

It seems like every year Christmas is commercialized more and more. One thing that we have tried to instill in our own children is that Christmas is not about what we get. It seems to be a message that lays heavy on my heart each Christmas season. Jason and I have taken a couple of years and tried to simplify Christmas; buy less for ourselves and give cheerfully, to the fullest. Parents, that is the message that your kids will be bringing home this Christmas season from church. We will be answering some questions: Why do we give? What should we give? How can we give?

I want to encourage you as a family this month, not to get caught up in the "busy-ness" of the season. Take some time to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas. Enjoy your family traditions. If you are a young family and don't have traditions yet, start some. Don't let this month fly by. Don't buy into the idea that you have to experience "Holiday Stress." This might just be the year to simply your family Christmas.

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas Season....

Thanksgiving

Today after church we are leaving for Colorado to spend the week with Jason's family. We are super excited. The last time we took a family vacation, JJ was a brand new baby. If you do the math, it's been nearly 2 years since then!

In just a little bit, I'll be with the kids in KidzBlast to talk about how we can serve, give and be thankful. Jason will be with CLUB56 talking about the same thing. I'm excited to be able to share these things with our kids.

In a few short days, the fall decor will change to Christmas, and our focus will be on other things. I'm glad that this week at least, the focus is on being thankful. What am I most thankful for? My amazing family, health, our new place in the family at Bethel, friends...and most of all, Jesus.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Jason Lee Peter, Jr.

I am working on making this blog more about updating parents on what is going on in our Children's Ministries here at Bethel, but there has been something stirring in my heart for the past few days, so...

Approximately 2 years ago right now I was pregnant. Very pregnant. The day the ultrasound revealed we were having

a boy (we already have 2 girls) after the little celebration in my heart, I immediately started dreaming about what his name would be. It didn't take me long to pick my name, the name I felt like my son was destined to have. His name would be Andrew Reese, (middle name after his Papa Peter, first name just cause I like it) and we would call him Drew. I was set on it. Then, Jason told me he wanted to name him Jason Jr. I couldn't believe it. I had so many misconceptions about "Juniors." I didn't want to name him that! I fought it and fought it. I loved the name I picked out, and I didn't want my little boy running around being called Junior! I wanted him to have his own identity, and his own name.

A couple of months later, with no prompting whatsoever, Madelyn starting bringing home a paper daily from school that she had drawn in "choice time" of her and her little brother, J.J. Seriously?? I couldn't believe it, but I kept the hope alive for my choice, Andrew Reese.

Then, one day I was laying down trying to nap, and I was praying about this whole name situation. I'm not sure exactly what I prayed that day, but I know I was confident that God would change Jason's mind and we would settle on my name of choice. However, that's not what happened. I laid my head back, closed my eyes, and God gave me a very vivid picture. I saw Jason walking, and behind him, a little boy that looked very much like him. He wasn't walking hand in hand, but behind him, copying Jason's every move. God whispered to me in that moment, "Aimee, this baby boy is going to adore his father. Don't you think he would love having his name?" Ugh! I knew in that moment, I had to lay my desires aside and choose the name my husband wanted for his son.

So, fast forward 2 years. We have a 22 month old son named Jason Jr. It hit me like a ton of bricks a few nights ago as I saw JJ copying Jason's every move that the picture I had seen 2 years ago was unfolding before my very eyes. Daddy was pretty close to JJ's first word. He looks just like him, and his personality is pretty much identical. He beats on everything like it is a drum, and loves music more than any other child I have ever seen. Every Sunday when Jason is on Worship Team, JJ runs upstairs and wants to go in the Worship Center and listen, and catch a glimpse of Daddy. No other name would have done him justice. I'm thankful for that picture that God gave me 2 years ago, and thankful that I surrendered my will even though it was hard. As for Andrew Reese....well, I'm sure it made a fine name for some other little boy.

It's all in how we perceive things

This morning I had a surprising conversation with our oldest, Madelyn. As I was brushing her hair in the bathroom, she told me "it stinks in here." Now, it didn't "stink" at all. It actually smelled great because I had just bought a new air freshener; some harvesty, fallish, thanksgiving type smelling stuff. I explained to her that it smelled great in there; like Fall. She then tells me the part that surprises me: "I HATE Fall. It's cold, it rains, it's dark before dinner, the leaves all fall off the trees and I you can't swim in the Fall. I hate it." I was floored. Mostly because lately I have been enjoying Fall so much! I love that it's getting colder, love that it's dark earlier, love the pretty leaves on the ground and frankly, love that I don't have to sit out by the pool in the baking hot sun anymore! So how can my precious daughter who is like me in so many ways have such stark difference in opinion about my most beloved season? Perception. I can see why a kid could dislike Fall; it takes away summer fun. She's not looking past that. Rather than seeing what Fall takes from us, I see that it ushers in Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the holiday blends at Starbucks.

We all know that a child's perception of things is so much different than our own. I had another conversation with Madelyn yesterday evening about attitude. We had a difference in perception over why I had to raise my voice to get her attention. She explained to me her side of things and we both agreed to be more aware of how we perceive the situation (in 8 year old language of course).

My point today? Kid's have perceptions and opinions of things and most of the time, they aren't wrong. They are just seeing things through their very childlike eyes. I like to talk through opinions and perceptions with my girls and the kids at church because it helps me to see how they view their world. It's then that we can open up the door to Godly conversation that helps shape their worldview.

I hope one day Madelyn loves Fall as much as I do. One day she may see the beauty in the falling leaves or love the crispness in the air. But if she doesn't that's okay too.

BGMC Pop Out for Missions

On Sunday we are launching a month long campaign that will challenge our kids, and hopefully boost our children's giving to missions before we wrap up 2009. The national BGMC (Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge) office is challenging kids to give up soda or pop or whatever YOU call it during the month of November. The money that would have been spent on soda would then be given to BGMC, which helps needy children around the world. Here's how it works:

Kid's across the nation are to make a pledge to give up soda pop for one, two or three weeks ending on Thanksgiving Day. On that day, kids may once again drink soda - remembering to be thankful for their own blessings, but also remembering the children around the world who don't get to celebrate the many material blessings we are thankful for on Thanksgiving.

Okay, so as a parent you are saying "but I am the one who buys the pop for them." You are encouraged not to buy soda a restaurants or the grocery store, and calculate that savings to be giving to BGMC. Kids can also get pledges from friends and family. There are downloadable pledge forms at www.BGMC.ag.org

Then of course, there are those of you who don't drink soda or sugary drinks that would be hard for your kids to give up. That's another time when the pledges would be a creative way for your kids to gain support for BGMC. Maybe they can talk adults around them into giving up a favorite treat - like Starbucks, Sonic, etc. GASP you say?? Okay so coffee would be hard, but I'm giving up Diet Pepsi. I will, however reinstate my soda drinking on Thanksgiving in order to drink the traditional glass of cold root beer, no ice.

The point is simply to give up a little in order to give a little; for our kids to feel the sacrifice in order to bless others. This Sunday, November 1st K-6th graders will be given one last can of soda, with a sticker label to wrapped around it. After they drink it and wash it out, they can use it to put all of the money the collect during the month. On Sunday, November 29th they will bring them back and we'll celebrate together what God has done through their sacrifice!