10 Things on the Tenth

Today is 10 Things on the Tenth - Since Mother's Day was yesterday and I have wanted to share these things with my daughter Jodi and my daughters-in-law Laura, Felice and Gracanne. I am giving 10 things you need to know to be a better mother. 1. Take care of yourself because your family needs you to be healthy and stress free. 2. Spend some time away from the kids having fun. You will have more fun with them. 3. When your babies are teenagers it won't matter if everything in your house was clean. 4. Get in the floor and play with your kids. As I look back I didn't spend much time on the floor with mine. I was busy working, cleaning, doing laundry and making sure everything was done. 5. Pick your battles. There will be lot's of BIG things they will get in trouble for so don't make the little things so big. 6. Your child/children are not perfect and will make mistakes. Remember that!!!! Help them to see when they are wrong!!! 7. Don't try to be there friend. They are going to dislike you often. Just remember you are helping to grow them into a productive adult that will love the Lord. 8. Support the things they like to do not the things you would like for them to do. Not every child wants to play ball or dance. 9. Tell them EVERYDAY that you love them and always will no matter what. 10. Show them the Love of God always. Encourage them to love the Lord with all their hearts by example. Happy Parenting!!!

Special Mother

On this Mother's Day eve I want to share with you about a very special Mother. She is the other mother in my children's life. Her name is Michelle Cheney. She is a wonderful Christian mother who has shared the roll of mother with me for many years. It has not always been easy, in the early years I didn't think anyone could take care of my kids the way I could and they sure didn't need a mother because they already had one. She was young and didn't have children of her own so how could she think she could care for mine. As the years passed God worked through us both to fulfill his purpose in the kids lives. She has given her life to love and care for our family. I say our family because when you share children you will always be family, not the traditional family but family none the less. I am often encouraged by her faith and the way that she shares it. My prayer today is the our kids will always love her and honor her as their mother. She may not have birthed them but she has had to endure lots of pain through the years. So my salute today is to Michelle Cheney the best other Mother I know. I am honored to share this job with her. Happy Mother's Day!