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9/9/03 EMPTY NEST, WHAT A DAY!, CHILDREN AT PLAY, PEACHES

#1 · September 9, 2003, 1:45 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on September 9, 2003, 1:45 pm
Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>

HEART TO HEART NEWSLETTER
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN
Compiled especially for YOU with LOVE by Lois Breneman

9/9/03 EMPTY NEST, WHAT A DAY!, CHILDREN AT PLAY, PEACHES

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~

CONTENTS:

COPING WITH THE EMPTY NEST

THE WAY TIMMY SAW IT

WHAT A DAY! LADIES, CAN YOU RELATE TO THIS?

CHILDREN AT PLAY

ACTIVITIES FOR CLASSICAL MUSIC MONTH

ENJOY THE RIDE: MAKE YOUR COMMUTE TIME COUNT!

MAKING GOOD CHOICES ~ "CHARACTER COUNTS"

A HEALTHY NO-COOK BREAKFAST, SNACK OR DESSERT IDEA
EASY PEACH COBBLER

COPING WITH THE EMPTY NEST
by Eileen Rife (c) 2003 ~ Used with permission

(Excerpt taken from Chuck and Eileen Rife's book, When Mourning Comes, Living Through Loss) To order: www.iwanttomakemymarriagework.com
This article was also included in www.womentodaymagazine.com/family/emptynest.html

My husband, Chuck, and I stood on our front stoop waving to our oldest daughter as she pulled out of our driveway on her way to Tennessee. With a sly smile, Chuck uttered through clenched teeth, "She doesn't have a clue where she is going." I thought to myself, Neither do we! Rachel was concerned about finding her way to a Christian camp. We were concerned about finding our way through the transition years to the empty nest. Rachel did make her ultimate destination. Sometimes, I wondered if Chuck and I would.

THE REALITY OF PARENTING
As Chuck held the storm door open for me, he joked, "Parenting reminds me of that line in the Jurassic Park movie, 'First comes the oohing and aahing, and then comes the running and the screaming.'" One of the main characters, a scientist, who had previously been to the dinosaur reserve, was explaining the typical reaction of a newcomer to the park. Then, when faced with an actual life-sized dinosaur, reality set in. As new parents, we had experienced our share of "oohs and aahs." No longer "new kids on the block," we now embraced the glaring reality that parenting is just plain hard work and at times, downright scary. Some days, we just wanted to scream--at our kids, at ourselves for handling a situation badly, or simply to release the pain we felt at saying goodbye to our grown children.

PARENTING IS TERMINAL
As I said goodbye to Rachel that day on her way to camp, I realized anew that parenting is terminal. It does eventually come to an end, or at least it should under healthy conditions. I spent the year before Rachel's high school graduation coming to terms with that fact. Grieving her lost childhood and uncertian about my new relationship with her, I snuck behind doors to conceal my tears, scurried off to the bathroom in the middle of dinner to blow my nose, and smothered her with hugs whenever she walked past me.

SAYING GOODBYE DOESN'T MEAN FOREVER
One day, while washing dishes, I burst into tears. Rachel walked into the kitchen and I immediately opened a cabinet door to hide my face. I didn't want to make her transition from home any harder on her than it already was. I started to leave, but as I turned to walk away, Rachel looked me straight in the eyes, took me in her arms and squeezed. That "squeeze" opened the door for a closer relationship, as I no longer tried to shut her out of my pain. We could now walk through the transition together. With broken voice, I stammered, "I know you have to leave. That's good and right. Please bear with me as I deal with saying goodbye. Crying is just part of being a mom." Rachel quietly responded, "I know. And guess what? Saying goodbye doesn't mean forever. I'll be back."

THE WAY TIMMY SAW IT

Contributed by Joyce Cronin, Virginia

Timmy was a little five year old boy whose Mom loved him very much. Being a worrier, she was concerned about his walking to school when he started Kindergarten. She walked with him the first few days, but he came home one day telling her he did not want her walking him to school every day. He wanted to be like "big boys." He protested so loudly that she had to find another way to handle it. She asked her neighbor, Nancy, if she would surreptitiously follow her son to school at a distance, but close enough to keep a watch on him. Nancy said that, since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise so she agreed. The next school day, Nancy and her little girl set out behind Timmy as he walked to school with his friend Ronnie. This went on for a whole week. Timmy's friend noticed that this same lady was following them every day. Finally Ronnie asked Timmy, "Have you noticed that lady following us all week? Do you know her?" Timmy nonchalantly replied, "Yea, I know who she is." Ronnie asked, "Well, who is she?" "That's just Shirley Goodnest an' her little girl Marcy," Timmy said. Ronnie inquired further, "Well, why does she follow us every day like that?" "Well," Timmy explained, "every night Momma makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers cuz she worries about me so much. And in it, the prayer says, 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life.' So, I guess I'll just have to get used to it."

WHAT A DAY! LADIES, CAN YOU RELATE TO THIS?

Author Unknown, Contributed by Dianna Bishop from Ohio

Dear God, are You still awake? Have You got a minute or two?
You're pretty good at understanding and I really need to talk to you.
You see, Mommy came to tuck me in, like she does every night.
I was trying to play a trick on her, since she can't see without the light.
I was going to close my eyes and pretend to be asleep.
But when I heard her crying, I didn't dare let out a peep.
She started talking to you, God. Did You hear the things she said?
Could You hear what she was saying as she stood beside my bed?
Why would Mommy be so sad? I wondered just what I had done,

And then I began to remember it all as she named them one by one...

This morning we worked in the garden, but, honest, I really didn't know
That if I picked all those little yellow blooms the tomatoes wouldn't grow!
Charlie and I were trying to be helpers, 'cause I know that's what Mommy needs,
But I don't think she was too happy with us when we pulled up carrots instead of weeds .
Mommy said we should stop for the day. She decided we had helped quite enough.
I sure had worked up an appetite ... I didn't know gardening was so tough!

We had peanut-butter and jelly for lunch and I shared too much, I guess,
But I didn't realize until I was done that Charlie had made such a mess.
Mommy said she needed a nap. She had one of her headaches today.
She told me to keep an eye on my sister and find something quiet to play.
Well, God, do You remember all those curls You gave my little sister Jenny?
We played barber shop ... very quietly ... and now, well, she doesn't have any.
Boy, was Mommy mad at me ... I had to go sit on my bed.
She said never to cut "people's hair" again. I guess I'll practice on Charlie instead.
We sat and watched poor old Albert, I just knew he must be so bored,

Going round and round In the same place all day, Wouldn't You think so, Lord?
I didn't think it would hurt to let him out for a while. I mean, mice need exercise, too.

By the way, have You seen Albert lately? He's been sort of missing since two.

Mommy sent us outside for the rest of the day. She said we needed fresh air.
But when Daddy came home she told him she was trying to get something out of her hair.
We thought Mommy needed cheering up, so we decided to brighten her day.
But, God, did You see the look on her face when we gave her that pretty bouquet?
We had gotten a little bit dirty, so Mommy said to get in the tub

And "Use soap this time," she reminded, "And please don't forget to scrub."
Charlie didn't like the water too much, but I lathered up real good.
I knew Mommy would be so proud of me for cleaning up like I should.
I went downstairs to the table, but during dinner it started to rain...
I'd forgotten to turn off the water, it seems, and I hadn't unplugged the drain!
I decided right then it was just about time to start getting ready for bed,
When Mommy said, "It's sure been a long day," and her face began turning all red.
I lay there listening to Mommy as she told You about our day.
I thought about all of the things I had done and I wondered what I should say.

I was just about to tell her that I'd been awake all along,
And ask her to please forgive me for all of those things I'd done wrong.
When suddenly, I heard her whisper, "God, forgive me for today...
For not being more understanding when those problems came my way...
For not handling situations in the way You wanted me to...

For getting angry and losing my temper, things I know You don't want me to do.
And, God, please give me more patience, help me make it through another day,
I'll do better tomorrow I promise ... In Jesus' name I pray."

Wiping her eyes, she kissed me and knelt here beside my bed.
She stroked my hair for a little while ... "I love you, precious," Mommy said.
She left the room without ever knowing that I'd been awake all the time.
And God, could we make it our little secret? You know, just Yours and mine?
I'm sorry I was so much trouble today, I really didn't mean to be...
Daddy says, "It's tough being a kid sometimes, but I think it's harder on Mommy than me.
Well, goodnight, God. Thanks for listening. It's sure nice to know You're there.
I feel so much better when I talk to You 'cause You always hear my prayer.
And I'll do better tomorrow, I promise ... just You wait and see!
I'll try not to be much trouble again, but, God, please give more patience to Mommy.
Just in case! Amen.

CHILDREN AT PLAY

By Lois Breneman

Heart to Heart Newsletter, [email protected]

There are so many activities that can be done with your children and grandchildren to help them learn and grow physically, mentally and spiritually. Let me hear your ideas and I'll do a follow-up article with more children's activities with names of Heart to Heart ladies. Be sure your state or country are represented, okay?

Scripture Songs and other Good Music ~ As your children play, fill their minds with good things by way of music. They learn so fast at this young age, so take advantage of it.

Read Books ~ It goes without saying that reading books to your children should be at the top of this list, but I'll add it anyway, to be sure it isn't overlooked.

Mixing Colors ~ You may find you have a budding artist after this activity! Make playdoh

(recipe below, but omit food coloring). The playdoh will be white. Divide up into four sections and color three sections red, yellow and blue, using food coloring, by kneading in the colors. Leave one white. Then mix the colors, observing how two different colors make a new one!

blue with yellow to make green
red with blue to make purple
yellow with red to make orange
blue with green to make teal
each color with white to make it lighter - pink, peach, lilac, aqua, etc!
Now have your child find the crayons in his box that match the colors he made!
Thank God for the beautiful colors He made for us to enjoy!

Playdoh ~ This Playdoh is better than the Playdoh in the store, as well as lots of fun to make!
1 cup flour
1 cup water
1 Tbsp. oil
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp. cream of tartar
food coloring
Blend in blender. Cook about 5 minutes in a Teflon pan sprayed with Pam.  Let cool. Wrap well in plastic wrap and it will last a long time. If it dries a bit, just add a few drops of water and work into the dough. This does not need refrigerated. It is fun to make blue, yellow and pink ~ then mix colors to make orange, purple and green. Another method of adding color as well as fragrance such as coconut or peppermint, would be to add Kool Aid, rather than food coloring and fragrance.

Beanbags ~ Sew up some round beanbags, leaving an opening. Turn right side out. Let the children fill with dried beans or rice, using a spoon. Hand sew shut with a double thread. Toss back and forth to each other.

Ring Toss ~ Using beanbags and a hoola hoop, toss the beanbags into the circle. You can also make a circle with a ribbon. Do not leave a ribbon, rope or cord with young children unattended, however, as it is can be a hazard if it gets around somebody's neck.

Jump Over the River ~ Lay out two ropes on the floor, parallel to each other. Put them close together at first. Have the children jump over the river! Move them farther and farther apart and see who keeps his feet dry the longest! To add more adventure, you could put a stuffed animal into the river, pretending he is just waiting to grab a foot. Only do this if it's not too scary for the children. You be the judge.

Dump Truck Alphabet Game ~ Using toy letters of the alphabet, ask your child to drive to the "Alphabet Store" to buy you an "A," then drive back home. Your girls may want to use a baby buggy to shop!

Scrap Paper ~ Call and ask business offices for stacks of scrap paper that they would normally throw out. Let your children draw, color and paint using that paper. Your local newspaper may also have rolls of unused newsprint that they will give to you. The long rolls are great to spread out at the edge of the driveway (with your children's knees in the cool grass) and let them paint with water colors or poster paints.

Marching Band ~ Using pots and pans, have a marching band. Wrap the teeth of a comb with wax paper and you have a kazoo to hum out your own tunes.

Tent ~ Make a tent by draping a blanket over a card table.

Playhouse ~ Using a huge box, cut out windows and a door for endless fun! Decorate with magic markers.

Train ~ Line up boxes or chairs to make a train. Paint the caboose red, if using boxes.

Airplane Control Panel ~ Save all kinds of colorful and shiny lids. Using a cardboard box, glue on lids of all colors to make an airplane control panel. Shampoo lids flip open - use those too. Kids love to open and close them. Some cosmetic lids are shiny and will be fun to use too. Hot glue should work well to fasten the lids to the box (not a job for little hands)! Since some lids are small and could be swallowed, however, be sure not to leave a child under three years of age unattended. If there are tiny tots in the house, make sure that small lids that may become unglued are not left on the floor to be swallowed.

Small Trampoline ~ Let the kids take turns jumping with supervision - to use up some of their energy!

Exercise time ~ Jumping Jacks, Touch the Toes, Reach for the Sky!

Rub Your Tummy ~ Have your children try rubbing their tummy, while tapping the top of their head at the same time.

In and Out ~ Lay out blocks or objects at 3 or 4 foot intervals (outdoors works best). Have your children run or walk to the left, then to the right - in and out.

Preposition Commands ~ Ask your young child to follow simple commands, which include words such as, "in, out, on, off, over, under, beside, through, below, above, between, around."

Action Commands ~ Ask your young child to follow simple action commands, which include words such as, "walk, run, jump, fly, climb, skip, hop, wobble, limp, smile, cry, laugh, look up, turn around, clap your hands, sit down, stand up, fall down, jump up, lie down, go to sleep!"

Blocks ~ Build a tower, house, a road. Creativity will expand the possibilities!

A City in Your Driveway ~ Draw roads in your driveway with chalk. Add a church, school, fire station, etc. Then drive tricycles and Big Wheels on the roads.

Matchbox Play ~ Using a yard or so of fabric, draw roads and a town with permanent markers for your children to drive the cars around. This can also be drawn on a piece of wood.

Paint the House ~ Paint the outside of the house with water, using large paint brushes.

Squirt or Spray Bottles ~ Squirt or spray each other with water in bottles - outside, of course!

Press Flowers ~ Pick flowers and press between two paper towels and place a few heavy books on top for several days or until they dry. Help your child make a greeting card to send to Grandma!

ACTIVITIES FOR CLASSICAL MUSIC MONTH
By Deborah Shelton ~ Used with permission

September is Classical Music Month. What? You didn't already have that marked on your calendar? All kidding aside, here are a few ideas to help you and your family celebrate this obscure holiday.

* Anytime Music ~ Incorporate classical music into your family's daily routine. Classical music is very calming for bath time. It's soothing for nap time. And there is no better music
for clean-up time than Flight of the Bumblebee.

* Outdoor Melodies ~ Attend free outdoor musicals and symphonies in the park. If these aren't offered in your area, create your own by bringing a radio tuned to the classical station, along to a family picnic.

* Water Orchestra ~ Make your own music by conducting a water orchestra. Fill drinking glasses with varied amounts of water, and add a drop or two of different food coloring for effect. Gently tap each glass with a metal spoon. Each makes a different sound!

* Classical Biographies ~ Visit your local library, or surf the Internet, to learn more about the masters of classical music. Create a poster board collage with photocopies of sheet music and pictures of the composers that you studied, along with other pictures that relate to their lives and music.

* Fish Lullabies ~ If you have a pet fish in a small bowl, or hundreds of fish in a large aquarium, involve them in your Classical Music Month celebration. Turn up the volume to the classical music station and watch the fish swim to the music. If you have a large aquarium with a light, turn off the other lights in the room and focus on the music and the dancing
fish.
__________________________
Deborah Shelton is a mother, freelance writer, and author of the brand new book, "The Five Minute Parent: Fun & Fast Activities for You and Your Little Ones." Visit Deborah's website for more family-friendly ideas: http://www.fiveminuteparent.com Read reviews of The Five Minute Parent at

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1886298130/thefiveminute-20

ENJOY THE RIDE: MAKE YOUR COMMUTE TIME COUNT!
By Colleen Langenfeld, Copyright (c) 2003, Used with permission

Are you a commuting parent? Do you know what that is? Not just a parent who commutes, but a mom or a dad who must commute WITH their little one each day.  If this is your daily routine, are you making the most of it?  Lower your frustration level and enhance your relationship with your precious child by taking some simple steps to ensure your daily commute time with your child is the best it can be.

For example, if your child is preschool or elementary age:
* Fix up several different sets of traveling toys and rotate them. Expect each set to be interesting for about two days in a row; then put that set away for awhile. Upgrade your sets every 6 months or as necessary to keep the interest level high for your child.  Need ideas? Try these:
- Book/puzzle set.
- Magnetic toys set.
- Dress up stuff (hats work great while buckled up and make for a silly game of 'Who Am I?'.
- Beads and strings.
- Handheld video games.
- Traveling art board.
- Puppets, hand and finger variety.
- Plastic dinosaurs, action figures, toy animals, etc.

* Is your child old enough to read? Purchase a question/answer or trivia-type handheld game
appropriate to the age of your child and reserve one commute per week to exploring the questions. Excellent conversation starter plus you will bask in the glory of being the 'expert' for your child. (Really enjoy this; it won't last forever!)

* If your child is preteen/teen, go to the library and check out current-event magazines. Again, a great conversation starter plus an excellent way to pass on your family's values and beliefs.

* Plan your family's weekly menus and grocery lists during one commute.

* Get some audiotapes to listen to together.

* One commute can even be song or music time. Search the library or Internet to gather
age-appropriate songs you can learn and enjoy together. Pass on your love of music to your child and listen with him or her to what's 'popular' these days. Again, a tremendous opportunity to share your values with your child.

Got teens?
* Ask the question, 'if you could do anything...'. Then listen.
* Ask the question, 'what's bugging you the most these days?' Then REALLY listen.

You get the picture.  Carve out a little quality time from a daily grind and watch your relationship with your child blossom. Plus, when the two of you do arrive home, you'll probably both be ready to spend some time alone or with other family members.  The key? No matter what your schedule, make every moment together count.
____________________________________
Colleen Langenfeld delivers deals, tips and creative resources to working moms who want the most out of their homes, families and careers at http://www.paintedgold.com . Sign up for our free newsletter and get an online Creativity Toolkit as our gift to you!

MAKING GOOD CHOICES ~ "CHARACTER COUNTS"
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts. www.charactercounts.org

        In Florida, two young men, eager to win the admiration of fraternity brothers, removed a stop sign and brought it back as a trophy. In Tennessee, a couple of teenagers were at a party in a high rise apartment and one dared the other to slide down the trash shoot in the hall. In Colorado, an Air Force Academy cadet with a promising future played strip poker with a female classmate and, ignoring her protests, forced her to have sex.
        The Florida boys were convicted of manslaughter after a fatal accident occurred at the intersection without the stop sign. The Tennessee boy who slid down the trash shoot was killed by an automatic trash compactor and his friend is left with guilt and grief. The cadet's military career was destroyed and he may face criminal charges.
        What makes these stories all the more tragic is that we're not talking about bad kids; we're talking about funda-mentally decent kids who made really bad choices. That's the recurring nightmare of caring parents. Children seriously damaging themselves physically or emotionally by unwise decisions--engaging in reckless conduct to impress friends, endangering themselves through drugs, alcohol or imprudent sex, or getting involved with irresponsible, manipulative, cruel or selfish people.
        Sure, we want our kids to be successful, good-looking and clever, but it's much more important that they make good choices. This requires more than cultivated instinct. It requires an ability and willingness to act rationally rather than impulsively and to evaluate situations and anticipate potential consequences.

A HEALTHY NO-COOK BREAKFAST, SNACK OR DESSERT IDEA

Recipe from Grandview Bed and Breakfast in Reedville, Virginia

This is a real treat and so pretty too! Like a "breakfast dessert!" ~ Lois

Use pretty parfait glasses for breakfast.

Make layers of all three ingredients. Repeat once more.

Vanilla yogurt or any flavor would work great to give variation

A mixture of All Bran and grape nuts

Fruit - fresh or canned

Top: Fresh blueberries or strawberries on the top for extra color and maybe mint leaves.

A Few Examples:

Banana-Mango yogurt with bananas and/or mangoes

Peach yogurt with peaches

Strawberry yogurt with strawberries

Blueberry yogurt with blueberries

Strawberry-Banana yogurt with strawberries and/or bananas

EASY PEACH COBBLER
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cornstarch
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
2 cups sliced peaches
1/2 cup biscuit mix
1/4 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. lemon juice

MIX first 5 ingredients. Pour into greased casserole. Mix remaining ingredients; Spread over peaches. Bake at 350°F for 40 minutes.

May God bless each of you as you serve the Lord in serving your families!

Remember to take good care of yourselves too!

Your "Heart to Heart" friend,

Lois

Friends may subscribe to "Heart to Heart" by e-mailing [email protected] and sending their first and last name, city, state and name of the person who referred them to this newsletter. If at any time you stop receiving this newsletter, please let me know, so I can correct it. To unsubscribe, please reply with a brief message. Thank you!

Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>

HEART TO HEART NEWSLETTER
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN
Compiled especially for YOU with LOVE by Lois Breneman

9/9/03 EMPTY NEST, WHAT A DAY!, CHILDREN AT PLAY, PEACHES

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~

CONTENTS:

COPING WITH THE EMPTY NEST

THE WAY TIMMY SAW IT

WHAT A DAY! LADIES, CAN YOU RELATE TO THIS?

CHILDREN AT PLAY

ACTIVITIES FOR CLASSICAL MUSIC MONTH

ENJOY THE RIDE: MAKE YOUR COMMUTE TIME COUNT!

MAKING GOOD CHOICES ~ "CHARACTER COUNTS"

A HEALTHY NO-COOK BREAKFAST, SNACK OR DESSERT IDEA
EASY PEACH COBBLER

COPING WITH THE EMPTY NEST
by Eileen Rife (c) 2003 ~ Used with permission

(Excerpt taken from Chuck and Eileen Rife's book, When Mourning Comes, Living Through Loss) To order: http://www.iwanttomakemymarriagework.com
This article was also included in http://www.womentodaymagazine.com/family/emptynest.html

My husband, Chuck, and I stood on our front stoop waving to our oldest daughter as she pulled out of our driveway on her way to Tennessee. With a sly smile, Chuck uttered through clenched teeth, "She doesn't have a clue where she is going." I thought to myself, Neither do we! Rachel was concerned about finding her way to a Christian camp. We were concerned about finding our way through the transition years to the empty nest. Rachel did make her ultimate destination. Sometimes, I wondered if Chuck and I would.

THE REALITY OF PARENTING
As Chuck held the storm door open for me, he joked, "Parenting reminds me of that line in the Jurassic Park movie, 'First comes the oohing and aahing, and then comes the running and the screaming.'" One of the main characters, a scientist, who had previously been to the dinosaur reserve, was explaining the typical reaction of a newcomer to the park. Then, when faced with an actual life-sized dinosaur, reality set in. As new parents, we had experienced our share of "oohs and aahs." No longer "new kids on the block," we now embraced the glaring reality that parenting is just plain hard work and at times, downright scary. Some days, we just wanted to scream--at our kids, at ourselves for handling a situation badly, or simply to release the pain we felt at saying goodbye to our grown children.

PARENTING IS TERMINAL
As I said goodbye to Rachel that day on her way to camp, I realized anew that parenting is terminal. It does eventually come to an end, or at least it should under healthy conditions. I spent the year before Rachel's high school graduation coming to terms with that fact. Grieving her lost childhood and uncertian about my new relationship with her, I snuck behind doors to conceal my tears, scurried off to the bathroom in the middle of dinner to blow my nose, and smothered her with hugs whenever she walked past me.

SAYING GOODBYE DOESN'T MEAN FOREVER
One day, while washing dishes, I burst into tears. Rachel walked into the kitchen and I immediately opened a cabinet door to hide my face. I didn't want to make her transition from home any harder on her than it already was. I started to leave, but as I turned to walk away, Rachel looked me straight in the eyes, took me in her arms and squeezed. That "squeeze" opened the door for a closer relationship, as I no longer tried to shut her out of my pain. We could now walk through the transition together. With broken voice, I stammered, "I know you have to leave. That's good and right. Please bear with me as I deal with saying goodbye. Crying is just part of being a mom." Rachel quietly responded, "I know. And guess what? Saying goodbye doesn't mean forever. I'll be back."

THE WAY TIMMY SAW IT

Contributed by Joyce Cronin, Virginia

Timmy was a little five year old boy whose Mom loved him very much. Being a worrier, she was concerned about his walking to school when he started Kindergarten. She walked with him the first few days, but he came home one day telling her he did not want her walking him to school every day. He wanted to be like "big boys." He protested so loudly that she had to find another way to handle it. She asked her neighbor, Nancy, if she would surreptitiously follow her son to school at a distance, but close enough to keep a watch on him. Nancy said that, since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise so she agreed. The next school day, Nancy and her little girl set out behind Timmy as he walked to school with his friend Ronnie. This went on for a whole week. Timmy's friend noticed that this same lady was following them every day. Finally Ronnie asked Timmy, "Have you noticed that lady following us all week? Do you know her?" Timmy nonchalantly replied, "Yea, I know who she is." Ronnie asked, "Well, who is she?" "That's just Shirley Goodnest an' her little girl Marcy," Timmy said. Ronnie inquired further, "Well, why does she follow us every day like that?" "Well," Timmy explained, "every night Momma makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers cuz she worries about me so much. And in it, the prayer says, 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life.' So, I guess I'll just have to get used to it."

WHAT A DAY! LADIES, CAN YOU RELATE TO THIS?

Author Unknown, Contributed by Dianna Bishop from Ohio

Dear God, are You still awake? Have You got a minute or two?
You're pretty good at understanding and I really need to talk to you.
You see, Mommy came to tuck me in, like she does every night.
I was trying to play a trick on her, since she can't see without the light.
I was going to close my eyes and pretend to be asleep.
But when I heard her crying, I didn't dare let out a peep.
She started talking to you, God. Did You hear the things she said?
Could You hear what she was saying as she stood beside my bed?
Why would Mommy be so sad? I wondered just what I had done,

And then I began to remember it all as she named them one by one...

This morning we worked in the garden, but, honest, I really didn't know
That if I picked all those little yellow blooms the tomatoes wouldn't grow!
Charlie and I were trying to be helpers, 'cause I know that's what Mommy needs,
But I don't think she was too happy with us when we pulled up carrots instead of weeds .
Mommy said we should stop for the day. She decided we had helped quite enough.
I sure had worked up an appetite ... I didn't know gardening was so tough!

We had peanut-butter and jelly for lunch and I shared too much, I guess,
But I didn't realize until I was done that Charlie had made such a mess.
Mommy said she needed a nap. She had one of her headaches today.
She told me to keep an eye on my sister and find something quiet to play.
Well, God, do You remember all those curls You gave my little sister Jenny?
We played barber shop ... very quietly ... and now, well, she doesn't have any.
Boy, was Mommy mad at me ... I had to go sit on my bed.
She said never to cut "people's hair" again. I guess I'll practice on Charlie instead.
We sat and watched poor old Albert, I just knew he must be so bored,

Going round and round In the same place all day, Wouldn't You think so, Lord?
I didn't think it would hurt to let him out for a while. I mean, mice need exercise, too.

By the way, have You seen Albert lately? He's been sort of missing since two.

Mommy sent us outside for the rest of the day. She said we needed fresh air.
But when Daddy came home she told him she was trying to get something out of her hair.
We thought Mommy needed cheering up, so we decided to brighten her day.
But, God, did You see the look on her face when we gave her that pretty bouquet?
We had gotten a little bit dirty, so Mommy said to get in the tub

And "Use soap this time," she reminded, "And please don't forget to scrub."
Charlie didn't like the water too much, but I lathered up real good.
I knew Mommy would be so proud of me for cleaning up like I should.
I went downstairs to the table, but during dinner it started to rain...
I'd forgotten to turn off the water, it seems, and I hadn't unplugged the drain!
I decided right then it was just about time to start getting ready for bed,
When Mommy said, "It's sure been a long day," and her face began turning all red.
I lay there listening to Mommy as she told You about our day.
I thought about all of the things I had done and I wondered what I should say.

I was just about to tell her that I'd been awake all along,
And ask her to please forgive me for all of those things I'd done wrong.
When suddenly, I heard her whisper, "God, forgive me for today...
For not being more understanding when those problems came my way...
For not handling situations in the way You wanted me to...

For getting angry and losing my temper, things I know You don't want me to do.
And, God, please give me more patience, help me make it through another day,
I'll do better tomorrow I promise ... In Jesus' name I pray."

Wiping her eyes, she kissed me and knelt here beside my bed.
She stroked my hair for a little while ... "I love you, precious," Mommy said.
She left the room without ever knowing that I'd been awake all the time.
And God, could we make it our little secret? You know, just Yours and mine?
I'm sorry I was so much trouble today, I really didn't mean to be...
Daddy says, "It's tough being a kid sometimes, but I think it's harder on Mommy than me.
Well, goodnight, God. Thanks for listening. It's sure nice to know You're there.
I feel so much better when I talk to You 'cause You always hear my prayer.
And I'll do better tomorrow, I promise ... just You wait and see!
I'll try not to be much trouble again, but, God, please give more patience to Mommy.
Just in case! Amen.

CHILDREN AT PLAY

By Lois Breneman

Heart to Heart Newsletter, [email protected]

There are so many activities that can be done with your children and grandchildren to help them learn and grow physically, mentally and spiritually. Let me hear your ideas and I'll do a follow-up article with more children's activities with names of Heart to Heart ladies. Be sure your state or country are represented, okay?

Scripture Songs and other Good Music ~ As your children play, fill their minds with good things by way of music. They learn so fast at this young age, so take advantage of it.

Read Books ~ It goes without saying that reading books to your children should be at the top of this list, but I'll add it anyway, to be sure it isn't overlooked.

Mixing Colors ~ You may find you have a budding artist after this activity! Make playdoh

(recipe below, but omit food coloring). The playdoh will be white. Divide up into four sections and color three sections red, yellow and blue, using food coloring, by kneading in the colors. Leave one white. Then mix the colors, observing how two different colors make a new one!

blue with yellow to make green
red with blue to make purple
yellow with red to make orange
blue with green to make teal
each color with white to make it lighter - pink, peach, lilac, aqua, etc!
Now have your child find the crayons in his box that match the colors he made!
Thank God for the beautiful colors He made for us to enjoy!

Playdoh ~ This Playdoh is better than the Playdoh in the store, as well as lots of fun to make!
1 cup flour
1 cup water
1 Tbsp. oil
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp. cream of tartar
food coloring
Blend in blender. Cook about 5 minutes in a Teflon pan sprayed with Pam. Let cool. Wrap well in plastic wrap and it will last a long time. If it dries a bit, just add a few drops of water and work into the dough. This does not need refrigerated. It is fun to make blue, yellow and pink ~ then mix colors to make orange, purple and green. Another method of adding color as well as fragrance such as coconut or peppermint, would be to add Kool Aid, rather than food coloring and fragrance.

Beanbags ~ Sew up some round beanbags, leaving an opening. Turn right side out. Let the children fill with dried beans or rice, using a spoon. Hand sew shut with a double thread. Toss back and forth to each other.

Ring Toss ~ Using beanbags and a hoola hoop, toss the beanbags into the circle. You can also make a circle with a ribbon. Do not leave a ribbon, rope or cord with young children unattended, however, as it is can be a hazard if it gets around somebody's neck.

Jump Over the River ~ Lay out two ropes on the floor, parallel to each other. Put them close together at first. Have the children jump over the river! Move them farther and farther apart and see who keeps his feet dry the longest! To add more adventure, you could put a stuffed animal into the river, pretending he is just waiting to grab a foot. Only do this if it's not too scary for the children. You be the judge.

Dump Truck Alphabet Game ~ Using toy letters of the alphabet, ask your child to drive to the "Alphabet Store" to buy you an "A," then drive back home. Your girls may want to use a baby buggy to shop!

Scrap Paper ~ Call and ask business offices for stacks of scrap paper that they would normally throw out. Let your children draw, color and paint using that paper. Your local newspaper may also have rolls of unused newsprint that they will give to you. The long rolls are great to spread out at the edge of the driveway (with your children's knees in the cool grass) and let them paint with water colors or poster paints.

Marching Band ~ Using pots and pans, have a marching band. Wrap the teeth of a comb with wax paper and you have a kazoo to hum out your own tunes.

Tent ~ Make a tent by draping a blanket over a card table.

Playhouse ~ Using a huge box, cut out windows and a door for endless fun! Decorate with magic markers.

Train ~ Line up boxes or chairs to make a train. Paint the caboose red, if using boxes.

Airplane Control Panel ~ Save all kinds of colorful and shiny lids. Using a cardboard box, glue on lids of all colors to make an airplane control panel. Shampoo lids flip open - use those too. Kids love to open and close them. Some cosmetic lids are shiny and will be fun to use too. Hot glue should work well to fasten the lids to the box (not a job for little hands)! Since some lids are small and could be swallowed, however, be sure not to leave a child under three years of age unattended. If there are tiny tots in the house, make sure that small lids that may become unglued are not left on the floor to be swallowed.

Small Trampoline ~ Let the kids take turns jumping with supervision - to use up some of their energy!

Exercise time ~ Jumping Jacks, Touch the Toes, Reach for the Sky!

Rub Your Tummy ~ Have your children try rubbing their tummy, while tapping the top of their head at the same time.

In and Out ~ Lay out blocks or objects at 3 or 4 foot intervals (outdoors works best). Have your children run or walk to the left, then to the right - in and out.

Preposition Commands ~ Ask your young child to follow simple commands, which include words such as, "in, out, on, off, over, under, beside, through, below, above, between, around."

Action Commands ~ Ask your young child to follow simple action commands, which include words such as, "walk, run, jump, fly, climb, skip, hop, wobble, limp, smile, cry, laugh, look up, turn around, clap your hands, sit down, stand up, fall down, jump up, lie down, go to sleep!"

Blocks ~ Build a tower, house, a road. Creativity will expand the possibilities!

A City in Your Driveway ~ Draw roads in your driveway with chalk. Add a church, school, fire station, etc. Then drive tricycles and Big Wheels on the roads.

Matchbox Play ~ Using a yard or so of fabric, draw roads and a town with permanent markers for your children to drive the cars around. This can also be drawn on a piece of wood.

Paint the House ~ Paint the outside of the house with water, using large paint brushes.

Squirt or Spray Bottles ~ Squirt or spray each other with water in bottles - outside, of course!

Press Flowers ~ Pick flowers and press between two paper towels and place a few heavy books on top for several days or until they dry. Help your child make a greeting card to send to Grandma!

ACTIVITIES FOR CLASSICAL MUSIC MONTH
By Deborah Shelton ~ Used with permission

September is Classical Music Month. What? You didn't already have that marked on your calendar? All kidding aside, here are a few ideas to help you and your family celebrate this obscure holiday.

* Anytime Music ~ Incorporate classical music into your family's daily routine. Classical music is very calming for bath time. It's soothing for nap time. And there is no better music
for clean-up time than Flight of the Bumblebee.

* Outdoor Melodies ~ Attend free outdoor musicals and symphonies in the park. If these aren't offered in your area, create your own by bringing a radio tuned to the classical station, along to a family picnic.

* Water Orchestra ~ Make your own music by conducting a water orchestra. Fill drinking glasses with varied amounts of water, and add a drop or two of different food coloring for effect. Gently tap each glass with a metal spoon. Each makes a different sound!

* Classical Biographies ~ Visit your local library, or surf the Internet, to learn more about the masters of classical music. Create a poster board collage with photocopies of sheet music and pictures of the composers that you studied, along with other pictures that relate to their lives and music.

* Fish Lullabies ~ If you have a pet fish in a small bowl, or hundreds of fish in a large aquarium, involve them in your Classical Music Month celebration. Turn up the volume to the classical music station and watch the fish swim to the music. If you have a large aquarium with a light, turn off the other lights in the room and focus on the music and the dancing
fish.
__________________________
Deborah Shelton is a mother, freelance writer, and author of the brand new book, "The Five Minute Parent: Fun & Fast Activities for You and Your Little Ones." Visit Deborah's website for more family-friendly ideas: http://www.fiveminuteparent.com Read reviews of The Five Minute Parent at

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1886298130/thefiveminute-20

ENJOY THE RIDE: MAKE YOUR COMMUTE TIME COUNT!
By Colleen Langenfeld, Copyright (c) 2003, Used with permission

Are you a commuting parent? Do you know what that is? Not just a parent who commutes, but a mom or a dad who must commute WITH their little one each day.  If this is your daily routine, are you making the most of it?  Lower your frustration level and enhance your relationship with your precious child by taking some simple steps to ensure your daily commute time with your child is the best it can be.

For example, if your child is preschool or elementary age:
* Fix up several different sets of traveling toys and rotate them. Expect each set to be interesting for about two days in a row; then put that set away for awhile. Upgrade your sets every 6 months or as necessary to keep the interest level high for your child.  Need ideas? Try these:
- Book/puzzle set.
- Magnetic toys set.
- Dress up stuff (hats work great while buckled up and make for a silly game of 'Who Am I?'.
- Beads and strings.
- Handheld video games.
- Traveling art board.
- Puppets, hand and finger variety.
- Plastic dinosaurs, action figures, toy animals, etc.

* Is your child old enough to read? Purchase a question/answer or trivia-type handheld game
appropriate to the age of your child and reserve one commute per week to exploring the questions. Excellent conversation starter plus you will bask in the glory of being the 'expert' for your child. (Really enjoy this; it won't last forever!)

* If your child is preteen/teen, go to the library and check out current-event magazines. Again, a great conversation starter plus an excellent way to pass on your family's values and beliefs.

* Plan your family's weekly menus and grocery lists during one commute.

* Get some audiotapes to listen to together.

* One commute can even be song or music time. Search the library or Internet to gather
age-appropriate songs you can learn and enjoy together. Pass on your love of music to your child and listen with him or her to what's 'popular' these days. Again, a tremendous opportunity to share your values with your child.

Got teens?
* Ask the question, 'if you could do anything...'. Then listen.
* Ask the question, 'what's bugging you the most these days?' Then REALLY listen.

You get the picture.  Carve out a little quality time from a daily grind and watch your relationship with your child blossom. Plus, when the two of you do arrive home, you'll probably both be ready to spend some time alone or with other family members.  The key? No matter what your schedule, make every moment together count.
____________________________________
Colleen Langenfeld delivers deals, tips and creative resources to working moms who want the most out of their homes, families and careers at http://www.paintedgold.com . Sign up for our free newsletter and get an online Creativity Toolkit as our gift to you!

MAKING GOOD CHOICES ~ "CHARACTER COUNTS"
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts. http://www.charactercounts.org

        In Florida, two young men, eager to win the admiration of fraternity brothers, removed a stop sign and brought it back as a trophy. In Tennessee, a couple of teenagers were at a party in a high rise apartment and one dared the other to slide down the trash shoot in the hall. In Colorado, an Air Force Academy cadet with a promising future played strip poker with a female classmate and, ignoring her protests, forced her to have sex.
        The Florida boys were convicted of manslaughter after a fatal accident occurred at the intersection without the stop sign. The Tennessee boy who slid down the trash shoot was killed by an automatic trash compactor and his friend is left with guilt and grief. The cadet's military career was destroyed and he may face criminal charges.
        What makes these stories all the more tragic is that we're not talking about bad kids; we're talking about funda-mentally decent kids who made really bad choices. That's the recurring nightmare of caring parents. Children seriously damaging themselves physically or emotionally by unwise decisions--engaging in reckless conduct to impress friends, endangering themselves through drugs, alcohol or imprudent sex, or getting involved with irresponsible, manipulative, cruel or selfish people.
        Sure, we want our kids to be successful, good-looking and clever, but it's much more important that they make good choices. This requires more than cultivated instinct. It requires an ability and willingness to act rationally rather than impulsively and to evaluate situations and anticipate potential consequences.

A HEALTHY NO-COOK BREAKFAST, SNACK OR DESSERT IDEA

Recipe from Grandview Bed and Breakfast in Reedville, Virginia

This is a real treat and so pretty too! Like a "breakfast dessert!" ~ Lois

Use pretty parfait glasses for breakfast.

Make layers of all three ingredients. Repeat once more.

Vanilla yogurt or any flavor would work great to give variation

A mixture of All Bran and grape nuts

Fruit - fresh or canned

Top: Fresh blueberries or strawberries on the top for extra color and maybe mint leaves.

A Few Examples:

Banana-Mango yogurt with bananas and/or mangoes

Peach yogurt with peaches

Strawberry yogurt with strawberries

Blueberry yogurt with blueberries

Strawberry-Banana yogurt with strawberries and/or bananas

EASY PEACH COBBLER
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cornstarch
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
2 cups sliced peaches
1/2 cup biscuit mix
1/4 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. lemon juice

MIX first 5 ingredients. Pour into greased casserole. Mix remaining ingredients; Spread over peaches. Bake at 350°F for 40 minutes.

May God bless each of you as you serve the Lord in serving your families!

Remember to take good care of yourselves too!

Your "Heart to Heart" friend,

Lois

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