12 Days of Praying for our Children...

Hi Friends :)  Over the past 3 months I have led a group of ladies in praying for our children.  I was prompted by God to do this several months ago when our church was looking for Group Leaders.  When the Pastor of Connecting Ministries put the call out there all these exciting ideas ran through my head...oh I could lead a photography group...or a scrapbooking group...or how about a group of ladies to get together and work on Project Life???  Yes those were all of my initial thoughts...that this was going to be soooo fun and I would get more time doing some of the things I loooove to do.  WRONG.  In the next few days I heard about getting some moms together to pray for our children....do something with eternal value....be intentional about your faith and prayer life and share it.  I have definitely learned my lesson about not listening to God the first time he speaks to me, so I listened and I met with 3 or 4 or 5 ladies once a month to lift up our children and share as Moms.  Was the group a success?  I don't know...if it was based on number of ppl who came out then probably not.  But I don't think that is how God looks at it.  I think He was smiling down on a few ladies who carved time out of one Thursday evening a month to lift up, share and encourage our children and each other.  The results of the group, only He knows for sure.  But for me it opened my eyes to the need to pray for our children often.

My Mother-in-law Barb passed on a list that I am going to share with you over the next 12 days.  What better way to celebrate the season as we prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of His Son Jesus!

Pray for Your Children

1.  That they will know Christ early in life.  

Psalm 63:1
You, God, are my God, 
   earnestly I seek you; 
I thirst for you, 
   my whole being longs for you, 
in a dry and parched land 
   where there is no water.

Lord Jesus I lift up Aidan to you as the oldest child you have blessed us with Father.  Thank you for the 12 years of life you have given him thus far and Lord I pray that his relationship with you becomes more and more real everyday.  That your light shine through Aidan Lord, that your word become a lamp to his feet and a light to his path and that his whole being longs for only You - the divine Creator of the world.  Thank you Jesus!  AMEN

Heavenly Father I praise you for Addison, Asher and Abigail.  Thank you for blessing our family with each of their little personalities, abilities and gifts.  Each of them holds a special place in our family unit and Lord I lift them up to you now that, in their young ages, they may have a desire and yearning for only You.  That they sing your praises to the most high heavenly Father with all their hearts and beings.  That You are made real to them and they each experience your divine love and mercy each and every day of their life Lord.  Thank you Jesus.  AMEN

Our Favorite Cookie...

I am a self-proclaimed cookie monster!  I have the worst self-control when cookies are around.  It is not uncommon for me to sit down and eat 6 at a time...yes you read right....6.  I have been asked a few times for this recipe so I thought  I would share it so you can indulge with me...

Smartie Monster Cookies

1 cup margarine

1 + 1/4 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 cups crunchie peanut butter

4 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cup honey

1 - 12 oz. pkg chocolate chips

1 - 12 oz. pkg of Smarties (approx. 5 boxes)

6 beaten eggs

11-12 cups Robin Hood quick-oats

Cream margarine with white and brown sugars.  Add eggs, honey, vanilla and peanut butter. Mix well.  Add remaining ingredients.  Mix and drop by spoonful onto greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 11 minutes.  Recipe makes about 10 dozen cookies (so can cut recipe in half...or throw a bunch in the freezer.  They are delicious frozen and ready for company who unexpectedly stop in....if there is any left).  ENJOY!!

Our Treaters...

 Our little Fairy girl checking herself out in the mirror.  Yah, the ribbons in her hair only lasted about 10 minutes....and her wings are no longer recognizable they are so bent and the nylon snagged.  But...that is a fairy who has fun...

 Abigail thought the jack-o-lantern was pretty funny!  She often went and looked at it getting up real close and checking it out.  Dad and the little ones carved it on Sunday.  Addison helped with the one face, and Asher helped with the face on the back of the pumpkin.  I have a pretty creative husband let me tell you...

 Aidan was dressed up as some sort of zombie guy.  I think he actually had more fun spraying the fake blood on his shirt and shopping for his mask then he actually did wearing it.  This is the only photo he would let me take of him :(  He went out "when it was dark" with the boys in the neighbourhood to collect some treats and "scare some kids" as he told us.

 Addison the happy Police Officer!  All the little "accessories" that came with this costume really appealed to our 5 year old boy.  Even before Halloween the billy club and flashlight were misplaced and the handcuffs broke...but they definitely got played with!  As you might be able to see....I wouldn't let him removed the police badge (plastic tie still in place) as I knew that would might get misplaced too....boys oh boys....

 Asher our Astronaut!  This costume is sooo him.  He loves airplanes and rocket ships.  He loved wearing this "helmet" too and even when complaining of being so hot at his playschool class Halloween party, he would not take it off.  I love the Canada flags that adorned this costume.

 Let the treating begin....hitting up our next door neighbours first.

And...this is what the next 2 hours looked like.  Pillow cases in tow, kids running door to door.  Abigail trying to keep up with her bigger brothers.  Mom capturing the moments and dad running after the kids.  Aidan skateboarding around with us in our Close.  Then a quick drive over to Grandpa and Papa Pallisters for treats and a supper stop at McDonalds.  Back home to treat around the other side of the Close and a quick visit and treats from Grandma and Papa Giesbrecht.  Aidan and his friends hanging out next door on the road trying to get kids walking by to guess who was fake and who was real....us putting our candy bowl out on the steps so the little guys could settle and go to bed as they were so excited to give out candy.

  At bedtime Asher asked "how many more sleeps til next Halloween??"  Only 365 more sleeps son...that's all!