Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Manners

Dear God,
Tonight is Halloween and we've had a bunch of kids come to the door looking for candy. Thank you God for their sweet spirits, for the excitement in their eyes and voices. Thank you that there are families who still trust their neighbors and keep traditions like trick or treating alive. God my prayer tonight is for Caroline's manners - Halloween is a day where you see manners of children exposed. God I pray that Caroline always has good manners, and uses them regularly. Please make Dan and me good examples of good manners, so that she's raised in a house where it's just a way of life.

Thank you Lord for our sweet Caroline. Please keep her safe and healthy.
Amen.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Fall

Dear God,
Fall has just arrived in Central Florida and it's met with energy and happiness from everyone around - we wait so long for the nicer weather. Fall seems to have a reputation of slower times, happier moments, old fashioned traditions, family togetherness and also anticipation of the joyful holidays held in the next few months. God this morning my prayer is that Caroline has some Fall-like qualities through each season of her life. I pray that she learns how to slow things down when she feels like life is moving too quickly. I pray that she never forgets the importance of creating small, happy moments. I pray that we remember to build in some traditions from our childhood - so that she grows knowing some traditions that are greater than just her own life. God I ask that you bind our family together in a way that no matter what's in the way -- work, distance, exhaustion -- we know how to be close and rely on each other. God thank you for this Fall that's come to our home, and please keep us grateful and humble.

Amen.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Independence

Dear God,
Everyday now I'm seeing more independent behavior from Caroline. She likes to do things herself, likes to explore on her own, she's becoming a confident child. Thank you Lord for this confidence and independence. Please help us teach her how to use those traits in the most positive ways.

Amen.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

New Girl

Dear God,
Today a blog posting came across my desk, and it was enough to make me afraid for Caroline. The mom tells a story about her daughter being the new girl - and an attempt at making friends at a party. God it's so hard as a woman to walk through a door alone, into a place where no one knows you yet. I don't think it's easy as a child, teen or as a grown adult. I'm afraid for when Caroline has to do this. I pray that she has enough confidence, poise and personality to handle it, and that I have the strength to let her go. I know that no matter in what community we raise her, how few times we move, how steady our lives are -- she'll be the new girl at least a  couple times in her life. God please make those moments as few as possible, and let her be capable of making new friends quickly.

Amen

The paragraph below is a side note for me. I need to come back and read this whenever Caroline goes through this for the first time. It's from the original posting.
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Tell her to never give up. Encourage her to keep trying. Help her pull down the walls she builds to protect her heart. Remind her she’s not alone. Quiet her doubt. Be brave. Lose the self-loathing. Love her. And don’t forget to remind her every day to accept His perfect love that casts out fear.
Link to original post: http://www.incourage.me/2012/10/for-the-new-girl-in-all-of-us.html

Monday, October 15, 2012

Generosity

Dear God,
Today we were struck by the kindness of others, by the generous spirit that people can have. My prayer tonight is that you develop that spirit of generosity in Caroline. Please make her a child who shares her things, wants to give to others and feels good about herself when she does. God please show me how to be a good role model for this behavior.

Amen.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Breathing Room

Dear God,
Today we took Caroline out to the country outside of Orlando for a morning on the farm. We did a corn maze, checked out the pumpkins and just breathed some clean air. One of the things I loved the most about my childhood was how easy it was to get away from the busy. Part of that was growing up where we did, but part of it was having parents who made it important. God I pray today that you give us opportunities to get Caroline out of the busy, scheduled, social agenda that we live each day. God give us the wisdom to remember the simple things in life, and the importance of keeping space for them. Thank you Lord for today, for us having the time to spend together, for the farm where we went and for safe travel.

Amen.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Safety and Courage

Dear God,
You've clearly given Caroline a sense of adventure. I found her today standing on the dining room table - when I didn't know she knew how to climb! Thank you that you've made her courageous, and that she feels free to explore like that in our home. God the moments when things like this happen make me nervous - I'm so afraid of her being hurt on my clock. God please help me learn a balance between letting her explore and keeping her safe - and please also instill in her an understanding of self-preservation.

Amen.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Excitement & Fear

Dear God,
Recently I was chatting with a friend about how closely linked fear and excitement are. She noted, wisely, that some of the most brave people simply recognize that feeling we get before big moments as excitement, while others recognize it as fear. You've given Caroline parents on the opposite ends of that spectrum - I'm more inclined to fear, and Dan to excitement. My prayer today is that you help Caroline lean toward recognizing those feelings as excitement - to keep her from being afraid. God please show me how to raise her to be courageous.

Amen.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Kisses

Dear God,
Caroline's stopped kissing me - and that's ok. I know kids go through phases, we all do, and right now - it's no kisses for Mom. However, she's still giving her daddy kisses, and that's what I'm thankful for tonight. Thank you for their bond, for their special relationship. Thank you that she's so excited when he comes home, and that her excitement lets him let go of the day and enjoy the moment. Please keep them close.

Amen.