Category Archives: parenting

August 5, 2013 · 7:02 am

His Last First Day.

I prayed over them both. I rubbed their backs. I nestled my fingers in their hair. I talked to them about the first day of school. I kissed their forehead. And before I left each bedroom I heard, “Mom, don't walk me into school tomorrow. It's a little embarrassing.”

I knew this day was coming. You're just never really ready.

Anna's first day of school clothes were displayed across her bed. Every single item new. Every single item very Anna Takle. She knows what she's doing. After all, she's the girl who stops me before I walk out the door with “You need a fashion check?” And, I'm the one who always bites the bullet and says yes.

John Henry, on the other hand, had older, a little more tattered clothes poured across his bed. I asked him why he wouldn't want to wear something newer. Something a bit nicer.

“Mom, you can't wear your best stuff the first day of school. You can't be the kid who starts off the school year with brand new clothes. I'll throw in some nice clothes randomly.”

And, somehow, I actually got it. He didn't want to look like he was trying so hard. I get it.

I also get them not wanting me to walk them in. Even if it's a BRAND NEW SCHOOL. Even if I went to bed and cried to Kris and made him relive with me every funny thing John Henry did from 10 months old to age 4.

Even if it's the last first day of John Henry's elementary school days.

I get it. As much as I love to relive Anna Takle as Super Girl. John Henry as a Buzz Lightyear. Anna yelling out “vuck” to her pre-school class for words that start with V. John Henry peeing on the dog, because, well, it's something to do. Anna telling me, “You're a monster!” John Henry touching home plate and running out to ask, “Did you see that, Mom?” The two of them together playing in mud puddles. Sliding downstairs on an air mattress. Laughing. Fighting. Forgiving. Loving.

Being small.

As much as I love these years. I know it's better that they grow. That they need me less.

Because the less they see their need for me, the more they'll see their need for Him. And, while I will sometimes fail them, He never will.

So, grow. Become strong. Become conscious of Who is within you. Become aware that you already have everything you need to do all God's called you to do. Because, HE is with you. Beside you. In front of you. Behind you.

WITHIN you.

And, when you need me…..

I'll come running.

Posted with Blogsy

9 Comments

Filed under Kid Stuff, Motherhood, parenting

Tagged as first day of school, Motherhood, parenting, school

March 22, 2013 · 7:55 am

You Make Everything Better.

Me: “Remember that summer when I said, ‘Hey, wanna have another baby?’”

Kris: “Oh yes.”

Me: “That was a good call.”

Jett Takle, you’ve been more than a good call. You’ve been the mint in my chocolate. The creamer in my coffee. The salsa to my chips.

You make everything better. Everything complete. And, I am so glad you turned our world upside down by becoming the caboose to our train.

We may have said goodbye to a four-door sedan for the next several years, but we opened our arms to a super-hero who flies through the sky.

A cowboy who gallops around our family room.

A Buzz Lightyear who takes us to infinity and beyond.

A thumb-sucking, flannel pajama wearing, blankie holding charmer that gets us out of bed to make waffles.

An air guitar that makes me happier than Sting. (I know, right?)

A laugh that makes us forget any worry that may have crept in our minds.

A smile that lights up our home.

Jett, you make me stop and soak in moments more than I ever have. Maybe, it’s because you’re the littlest Takle. Maybe, it’s because I know now how fleeting these perfect moments are. I breathe in a little heavier when I put my nose to your blonde head. I place your feet on my cheeks and I leave them there a little longer. You sit in my lap, and I postpone bedtime.

Thank you for making life so much sweeter. Thank you for teaching us what’s really eternal.

Father, thank You for placing Jett Takle in my arms three years ago today. You are so good.

Happy 3^rd Birthday, Jett Man.

I love you with every single part of my being.

Love,

Mom

6 Comments

Filed under Kid Stuff, Motherhood, parenting

Tagged as birthday, Motherhood, super-heroes, three-year olds

February 11, 2013 · 10:14 pm

And, I Felt Like I Was Failing.

After a very hard evening with Jett, I sat on my sofa exhausted.

Weary.

Feeling I failed in that moment of being his mother. Even grasping for hope for an easier evening tomorrow.

Tears streamed down my face, and my head collapsed in my hands.

Then, I heard the tender voice of my oldest say, “Mom……..I believe Jett is going to be great.”

Jett is going to be great.

Finally those words began echoing from my own Spirit. And, then, I began to give thanks.

I am thankful for so many who whisper words of Christ to me. Who encourage me. Who renew my mind. But, there is nothing like your very own child reminding you of who you are. And, who THEY are.

Jett is going to be great.

I am going to be great.

YOU are going to be great.

Stop believing whatever your mind is telling you. You tell your mind what to say to your spirit.

Because of Christ IN you….you have everything you need to do everything God has called you to do.

Because of Christ IN you….YOU ARE GREAT.

3 Comments

Filed under God Stuff, Motherhood, parenting, Spiritual Journey

Tagged as failures, hope, Motherhood, raising children, truth

February 24, 2012 · 5:00 am

Playing the God Card.

It’s no longer easy clothes shopping with Anna Takle. Not that it ever has been. But, friends, it’s harder. Much, much harder. I had to try to resuscitate Kris after Anna asked for a bra. In every store, little bras hung, and Anna clung to them like that little undergarment would make her world complete.

Then, she insisted on trying on a pair of shorts her father and I were not going to pay for. They were just too short for our taste. We let her try them on. And, subsequently, we still told her no. The bewildered look on her face to our opposition to the shorts let us know she thought we were being a little over the top. She looked at me and said, “You just don’t get my style.”

I realize her intent with the short shorts is probably not to be a sexy little seven-year old. So, what’s the big deal? It’s probably not. Not today. But, it will be one day when her young innocence becomes a little more infiltrated with what society deems as beautiful for girls. And, I’d just rather loosen the reigns later than have to tighten them. So, I remain a stick in the mud kind of mom, I suppose. Who doesn’t get her style.

I didn’t go into the conversation of “Anna, you are not the sum of your parts,” speech. I just didn’t think it timely for her age. But, I also didn’t tell her “Those shorts aren’t Godly.” Because, that would’ve been a legalistic explanation, I’m sure. I just told her that we didn’t think those shorts were the right choice for her today.

I think too often we play the “God card” with our kids. It’s something I have recognized in my own parenting.

“How do you think it makes God feel when you are being ugly to your sister?”

“How would Jesus had handled this situation?”

“Do you think it makes God happy when you deceive us?”

The list could go on.

I serve a God who loves me no matter what. Whose blood covers a multitude of my stupid mess-ups. Who has an endless supply of grace that He lavishes on me. So, who was this God I was teaching? Not the One I cry out to. Not the One who shows grace to me when I screw up as a parent.

I haven’t played the God card in every parenting situation. There have been plenty of moments where pure discipleship abounded. But, those times I’ve played the God card didn’t even rest well in my own spirit. It just seemed convenient. And, a quick fix.

So, instead of asking “How would Jesus had handled this situation?” I might ask, “Why do YOU think it’s better to forgive?” “How does it make YOU feel when you forgive?”

Because, friends….

Teaching our children to do right for the sake of doing right isn’t going to cut it by itself. Through every life lesson, we need to do our best to tell them WHY His way is better. WHY forgiveness is just as much for us as it is for the one who hurt us.

And, I have a life full of examples of why choosing to do things God’s way has made all of the difference in my own life.

So, share your own life examples with your children. Tell them why it has worked for you. Don’t make your children live in fear of not only disappointing you, but disappointing their Creator. Instead, portray their King in such a way….live for Him in such a way….that they will TRUST that His ways really are better.

And, when they mess up, show them the same grace He shows you. Discipline when needed. But, let grace be the covering of it all.

10 Comments

Filed under God Stuff, Motherhood, parenting, Shopping, Virtue

Tagged as discipleship, discipline, grace, parenting, raising daughters

January 1, 2012 · 7:59 am

It’s 2012!

Hello friends! And, Happy New Year! Resolving to write more this year, I decided to kick it off today.

Here’s a recap of 2011 from the Takle five:

John Henry. Well, he’s just a really good kid. His compassion for others continues to melt us. He’s a protective big brother. He loves music, and he has learned so much on guitar. He loves Legos. And light sabers. Oh, and he’s teaching me some of his Math homework.

Anna. I’m not gonna lie. Her dad and I have to look up some of the information she drops on us, because, we know there is a good chance it’s accurate. And, it usually is. She is learning to play the piano. She loves it. She loves a lot of things. She loves to learn. She loves to write. She loves wearing tights with holes under shorts. And, she loves to make us laugh.

Jett. This kid is nothing but fun. He learned to walk in 2011. That was kind of a big deal. And, if he could talk in coherent sentences, he would tell you he’s a good drummer, too. The use of the words, “Pees” (please) and “One Mo” (one more) pretty much get him as many popsicles as he wants. The Wiggles are his jam. And, he will live with me for the rest of his life.

That’s us. You already know that’s us. We had some pretty fun experiences together in ’11. From the Sundance Film Festival in Park City to Celine in Vegas to Sting in Boston. It was a fun year. Being married to a pilot has its perks. But, being married to Kris Takle is just pure joy. We grew a lot individually and together. And, we have so much more growing to do.

I know I do.

At the beginning of each year, I try to choose a scripture for our family for that year. This year, you might say that scripture chose me.

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:7

And, this is my greatest resolution of the new year. That our roots will grow down into Him deeper. That we build our lives on Him like never before. That our faith grows stronger. And, that we overflow with thankfulness.

If you could pick a resolution scripture for your life this year, what would you choose? Or, what scripture has chosen you?

5 Comments

Filed under Kid Stuff, Life Experiences, parenting, Spiritual Journey

Tagged as 2012, growth, learning, life scriptures, New Year

September 30, 2011 · 5:00 am

Turning the Other Cheek Isn’t So Easy On the Playground.

We try to make discipleship a part of life conversations in our house. Sometimes, we see it playing out really well. You know, we see them practicing forgiveness, being generous, and other awesome things the Bible teaches.

Other times, we see we need to revisit a thing or ten.

Anna: “Mom, remember the really mean second grade boy, Shane? He saw me on the playground today and said, ‘Well, looky here. It’s Little Miss Anna who’s about to get her butt kicked.’”

Me: “What did you do?”

Anna: “I told Mrs. Walker, and she said she was already on it.”

Me: “Good. You handled that well.”

Anna: “And, then I went back up to Shane and said, ‘Well, looky there. It’s Little Mr. Shane who’s about to get his butt kicked.”

Pretty sure the whole “bless those who curse you” talk didn’t exactly run through her cute little head at that moment.

And, to be honest, part of me wants to revisit the topic. But, the Momma Bear part of me? Well, that part wants to teach her a few of my karate moves. I feel confident that’s the discipleship route her daddy would take.

I’m just sayin’.

Have a great weekend, y’all!

4 Comments

Filed under God Stuff, Kid Stuff, parenting

Tagged as discipleship, parenting, playground, school

September 19, 2011 · 5:00 am

She’s Not Your Normal Six Year Old.

I really don’t know a funnier, braver girl than Anna Takle. I’m sure they are out there. But, she is mine. So, I really love hanging out with her. Her prayer requests never get old.

“Mom, please pray I’ll have super cool dreams about vampires.”

Nor do her artistic expression requests.

“Mom, can I, please, draw bones and skulls on my bedroom wall?”

Um, no. But, you can dream about them.

Of course, this same girl who doesn’t care what you think about her outfit pick for the day can also beat her momma at a game of chess. And, create brain teasers that her momma can’t answer.

And, she always knows exactly what to do to make me laugh.

Do I think it’s normal for a six year old girl to be more interested in her karate moves than princesses? Or to ask random questions like, “Can you get your tongue tattooed?” I know, right?

Probably not.

But, I’m really okay with it. I don’t want “normal.” Normal isn’t working. Normal is wanting to be like everyone else.

Normal is over-scheduled kids.

Normal is thinking that sex before marriage is okay, because “we live in a different world now.”

Normal is a lot of things I don’t want Anna Takle to be.

So, I know that if I can help her submit her unique, dare to be different, wonderful personality to Christ, she will be a God kind of different. More than ever, I am aware of the fact that we are called to be in this world but not like this world. It doesn’t mean we are judgmental of people who are not followers of Christ. It does, however, mean we make it easy for them to tell us apart from the “normal.” So, they will want the better things that aren’t normal, too.

We are called to be different. And, different really is better. And it’s happier. And, I like happy. Especially, this happy girl.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2

5 Comments

Filed under God Stuff, Kid Stuff, Motherhood, parenting

Tagged as conformity, different, raising kids, unique

August 1, 2011 · 5:00 am

One Shot.

Sometimes in the middle of raising three children, I stop and think how easy my parents had it bringing up just one. I’m mean, it was always two adults to one child. How hard could it have been taking me to my weekly gymnastics that I quit as soon as I started? Just one kid. And, a sweet, compliant one at that. It’s my blog, I can lie if I want to.

It’s not the easiest making sure we invest into each of our children in a way we feel is “enough.” As a matter of fact, we rarely think it’s enough. We just trust that God has given us everything we need to accomplish everything we need to as parents. And, we trust His grace to take care of the rest. ‘Cause you know….I have one shot at this parenting thing.

One shot at making sure this tender heart stays tender, so he can be the face of Christ to those who need Him.

One shot at showing this smart girl how there are no limits to what her determined, fun spirit can do when it is submitted to His Spirit.

One shot at teaching this fearless, wild at heart, (sometimes spoiled) kid three that God wants to use His adventurous heart for His Kingdom.

One shot. That’s it.

I don’t remember all of the extra-curricular stuff my parents made time for. But, I do remember the life experiences they turned into discipleship opportunities. I do remember God always being the center of every single decision. And, I remember looking at my parents so many times and seeing what the love of Christ looks like.

I hope that’s what my three remember. I hope they remember Jesus in our house.

And, maybe when they are thirty-six years old sitting around a lunch table with Kris and I, they will still be amazed at the amount of Jesus pouring from our lives.

Just like my parents continue to amaze me. Even if they did only have one kid.

2 Comments

Filed under God Stuff, making an impact, Motherhood, parenting

Tagged as children, parenting, raising children

June 21, 2011 · 6:06 am

It’s Always Better.

And, this is how the conversation went yesterday.

John Henry: “Mom, Anna says you die when you get baptized.”

Anna: “Mom, it’s true! The old Anna dies and a new Anna comes up out of the water!”

Me: “Anna is right.”

John Henry gave me quite the dumbfounded look. So, of course, I explained what dying to oneself means. Dying to one’s own thoughts, belief systems, and desires and whole-heartedly seeking after those of Christ.

The truth is.

I have to die myself every single day. I have to consistently make myself make right choices in how I respond to people. I have to consistently choose to forgive even though holding a grudge seems easier at times. None of it is always easy. But, it’s always better.

It’s always better to admit to my children, “Mommy was wrong. Would you please forgive me?” This way they know the behaviors and words that are good and healthy.

It’s always better to squash my pride and take my husband’s hand after an argument. This way we both know we are okay.

It’s always better to forgive a friend and shut my mouth about it. This way I can continue to pour into her life and she into mine.

It’s always better to forgo a day set aside for some “me” time to spend the day counseling someone struggling. This way she will know God loves her, and her life matters.

It’s always better to give up sleeping in on a Sunday morning to go to the local church. This way my children will always be reminded Who their source is for every need they will ever have. And, they will know how much they need the body of Christ.

It’s always better to choose Him. I don’t always understand His ways and thoughts. But, I do know that choosing them is always better. I’ve never heard someone say, “The worst mistake of my life was forgiving that person.”

Or making up with my husband. Or making things right with my children. Or going to church. Or helping out a friend in need.

Dying is always better. It’s in the dying that I truly live for Him.

23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. Luke 9:23-24

3 Comments

Filed under God Stuff, Kid Stuff, parenting, Relationships

Tagged as baptism, dying to self, following Christ

April 12, 2011 · 8:01 am

The Real Battle.

I spent the greater part of my morning explaining to my 8 year old why less is more when it comes to cologne. He was concerned with the fact that I had rolled the windows down on the car ride to school, worried that his cologne would dissipate.

Much to my chagrin (and the chagrin of his teacher, I am sure), it didn’t.

The other part of my morning was spent explaining to my 6 year old why dancing to “Wake up in the morning feeling like P Diddy” in the school talent show was not appropriate. Perhaps, it’s the line, “brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack,” I don’t know. And, if it takes a village to raise children, I need my village to tighten up the ship. Or the village. Or whatever. In other words, I need my dad to pay more attention to the “prizes” Anna chooses when she is with him.

So, she doesn’t come home with a doll that looks like this.

Yes, those are vampire teeth and werewolf ears.

For. The. Love.

And, to think I took a stance against Bratz dolls in our home in this post.

We definitely choose our battles in this house. Apparently, we don’t choose this battle:

And, the battles we fight now are not the battles we fought two years ago. Nor, will they be the battles we fight two years from now. But, we fight the ones that matter. And, quite frankly, most of the battles I fight right now are my own. The battle of choosing to make memories with my children over a clean house. The battle of choosing the house of the Lord over a soccer game. The battle of seeking God over my selfish desires. Because, it’s these battles that win the hearts of my children and point them towards the One who loves them more.

In the book of Ruth, Naomi didn’t set out to ruin her children. But, she chose pleasure and temporary comfort over serving the King. As a result, her children suffered.

Choosing Him in every area of my life is really the most crucial battle in raising my children. And, while I can rest in the fact that God redeemed Naomi’s life, I know that choosing Him today will make these child-rearing years better. And, they will be better because of it.