Better than my ipod

What can wash my sins away? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. (repeated 4 times)

As I type this, Jacob is singing this over and over again, I wish I could get to my camera and record it before he stops...I love it!

Family times

It seems that the past month has been filled with business. We all seemed to be running in different directions, so over the past week we have been trying to slow down and make intentional 'family time'. On Tuesday we had family night. We had pizza, wrestling, ice cream and watched a movie with the kids. And today was gorgeous so we ventured out to the apple orchard and after preschool, we went on a mini nature hike. Jake could have stayed out there all day. He was loving making the leave piles and then pumping in them, and throwing sticks in the river. I love fall and I really love my family!

The Importance of Christ-Centered Bedtime Stories

Every night I am home, when it is time for the kids to go to bed, I am the one 'chosen' by them for the job of tucking them in, and the same question is always asked during our bedtime routine, "Daddy, will you tell us a story?"

I love telling the kids stories. Sometimes I fall asleep while I am laying on the floor telling them. I know this happens because I mumble my way through the story, floating in and out of consciousness, before accidentally ending with the word "Amen" instead of "the end." To which Jacob promptly sits up and corrects me. But most of the time I make it through.

There are nights when I will read the kids a book. Occasionally I will read right out of the Bible. Other times I will make up something completely random. These seem to be the favorites and the kids request them by details, such as..."the Space Alien" one, the "Little Mermaid" one, the "Puppy" one. It is funny because I try to retell a made-up story and I can't always get the details right, which really bothers my OCD kids.

Lately, however, I have been rethinking my bedtime story selection. I have really been convicted about the importance of using that time to sear Biblical truth into my kids minds and hearts. So I have been telling Bibles stories and inserting my kids as the people. One night, Jacob is in the role of young Samuel learning to hear God's voice. Another night, Isabelle is the courageous and beautiful Queen Ester rescuing her people. Tonight Jacob and Isabelle were cast as the Good Samaritan in Jesus parable about loving our neighbors.

Bedtime is the perfect time to instill a love of the Bible in the hearts of your kids.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 teaches,
6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

In Proverbs 22:6 the Lord says,
6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

So what stories are you telling yours kids? I would encourage each and every parent, make sure that the stories you tell are filled with the themes and teachings of Jesus. Of course this means that you yourself know the stories of your Bible. If you don't, maybe you and your kids can learn it together.

However you decide to do it, use the precious time with your kids before bed to build their spiritual foundation and their love for Jesus Christ.

Thank you God for God

Thank you God as this day ends, for my family and my friends. Taking time to lay and pray, thank you God for this great day!... And thank you God for helping Nana's back not hurt anymore and for Papa's birthday and for Nana Kris that we could go to her house and for Papa not having to work anymore. Thank you for my brother, my sister, me, and God and mommy and daddy. Thank you that my daddy can be home with me sometimes and for all the animals. Thank you God for God...Amen

~ Jacob Balvin age 3