An {Accidental} Personality Test...

If you ever needed proof

about how different

my two boys are...

just take a peek

at how they both undertook

a simple arts and crafts activity

in two completely different ways.

Pretty much 

sums up their personalities...

doesn't it?!

I was so struck 

by what I saw,

I decided I better capture it

on video!

We love that they are so different!

love, the rockinryans

Basketball!

We finally made it

to a FHSU Tigers

Basketball game.

The boys were more than

a little

excited!

It was another one of those

"Take my picture Mommy!"

days.

How could I resist?

But, once at the game....

All-seriousness

set in...

no time for smiling

for the camera now!

When we were leaving,

Sean cried and cried, saying over and over

"Tigers...basketball..."

in the most pitiful little voice ever.

The boy is addicted for sure.

love, the rockinryans

thankful still?

Have you been

thankful recently?

Our box

is a constant reminder

to not take life

for granted.

And Thanksgiving

should not only

take place

one day

a year.

"Mommy, I am thankful for you".

My favorite so far!

Love, the rockinryans

Hey, that's funny!

I took the boys swimming

last weekend.

About half way through, 

Trent had to go potty.

So, we went

quickly into the locker room

so he could go.

It was FREEEZING!

When it was time

to get out of the pool to go home,

he turned to me and said,

(from in the pool)

"Mom, I am ready to go.

I will wait here

and you can bring me my clothes."

During that same

swim adventure,

another boy got some

fins out.

Trent asked what they were for.

I explained,

and said

"That is what Daddy wears

when he goes diving.

If you want to dive with Daddy

(which he has talked about numerous times),

you have to be a big boy,

take off that vest,

wear those fins

and go under water."

He sat quiet,

thinking for a minute

then said

"No, I think I will just

stay on the boat with you."

He keeps bringing home

little scraps of paper 

from school.

He is soooo proud of them

he hangs them all 

on the refrigerator.

I didn't really understand

why he liked

these pieces 

of "trash" so much.

Then last week

when dropping him off at school,

his teacher said (giggling)

"What do you think of all these little pieces of paper?

I find them everywhere and know

Trent has been practicing his cutting.

He is so proud of them,

I know not to throw them away!"

So, she helps collect 

and put them in his backpack.

This is Super Man/

Batman/

Santa/

Spiderman

MY hero!

Want to know the difference?

This is Superman....

This is Batman....

I have been hearing a lot of

"Mom, take my picture!"

"Don't worry Mom,

I will get those bad guys!"

We were sitting at lunch 

one day last week when

he says,

"Hey Mom,

I have two holes in me!"

okay.....AHEM

"Where are your holes?"

"One in my nose,

and one

to my tummy,

for my food!"

PHEW....

"That's right, do you know 

what the one in your nose does?"

"Yep,

it makes big BUGGIES!"

Well,

that IS true!

love, the rockinryans

The Power

of prayer.

I recently found 
two new websites
I fell in love with.
One of them is  
minted.
At the end of last year
our small group
had many discussions
on 
the importance
and power
of a strong prayer life.
When praying
over something in your life,
it is essential
to know
the answer
will not suddenly become clear.
And,
more critically knowing
the answer
will not 
necessarily be the one
you are wanting.
Therefore,
we often find ourselves
praying over
the same issues
until He 
answers.
Writing in a journal is a great way
to keep track
of our prayers, 
to see progress,
to watch
how He has moved
our family and faith
over the year.
So, Jake and I began to journal together
and I found 
these special journals
for the boys

from this site.

It is amazing

to see 

how prayer

impacts your life.

Since doing this together

a stronger bond has formed

in our family 

and we have witnessed positive results.

The most recent,

major answer

came with 

Trent and sleeping.

He has NEVER

been a good sleeper.

He wakes often,

has nightmares

and startles easily.

But, a few weeks ago

night terrors

took hold

on top of already poor sleep.

He was waking

around 5 times

during the night.

And he wasn't just waking,

he was screaming

kicking yelling,

hitting.

But, he was not awake

so he could not be comforted.

This was exhausting

for our entire family.

I was asking

everyone with children

for advice,

reading articles

on the Internet,

even called our pediatrician.

Nothing was working.

Then, one night 

while getting ready for bed

I saw his 

smiling face looking up at me

on my nightstand. 

"DUH!"

I grabbed 

his journal

and

my Bible,

found Scripture Verses

on Sleep

and prayed over him.

Guess what....

he did not stir that night.

Or the next

or the next.

I have knelt over him every night

praying for restful slumber

for his mind to clear

for watchful eyes

so he can feel safe.

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)

Last week

a friend wrote

a beautiful devotional

about 

the power of being

a praying mom.

I thought it was a great

coincidence

so thought I would also share

her writings with you.

Moms of Prayer "Can you imagine an army of desperate moms praying for the lives of their children that their children would live out the destiny that God had for them?" Fern Nichols (Founder of “Moms in Prayer”) Being a mom is hard.  We have this innate need to protect our children.  When they hurt we hurt.  When they cry we cry.  We even hurt before they hurt, by worrying about them getting hurt.  This need to protect, as well as the immense emotional burden for our children, is actually God given.  He uses this unrest to push us to rally behind our kids.  We don’t do this by worrying but rather by funneling this energy into praying.   Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue has the power of life and death.”   As parents, we have the power to speak life or death to our children and over our children. When we choose to speak the Word of God over our children, we are choosing to speak life over them. This burden does not go away as our children grow up but rather grows to include grandchildren and great grandchildren.  This burden can also be taken on in the form of foster moms, stepmoms, and mother in-laws.  And some wonderful committed women take this burden on for children who simply need someone to pray for them as a mother would.  Has this burden ever seemed too big to bear alone?  We weren’t meant to do this by ourselves.  "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2 (NIV) Have you ever prayed with another person and felt a strong release of fear, anxiety, worry, or anger?  As you prayed together you felt lifted up, strengthened, and comforted.  You may have noticed that your problems seemed smaller as you were reminded of how big your God is.  Coming together in prayer is such an important aspect of our faith.  "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:20 (NIV) This is especially true for mothers.  Some of you may already be doing this with other moms.  Perhaps with sisters, friends, your small group, or even with your own mothers.  But I know that there are many women who have a heart burden for their children and who need an opportunity to come together with other moms to pray for their children.  For 8 months I have been a part of a “Moms in Prayer” group at Celebration Community Church and it has been an amazing experience for not only my children but me as well.  Moms in Prayer is an international organization that brings moms together in small groups to pray for their children and schools.  I was first introduced to “Mom’s in Prayer” by a friend 3 years ago and immediately felt drawn to join a group and start praying for my children.  But I, like many moms, let my busy life as well as my fear of something new, take over and I made excuses.  After more than a year I attended a regional meeting and was moved again as I experienced for myself what it was like to have other moms pray for my children.  But this time the push was not to join an existing group but rather to start one right here at Celebration.  Although my prayer life is constant throughout the day, it is usually short and sweet as my attention span can’t seem to stay focused very long.  This group gives me an hour a week of intense and focused prayer with other moms.  Moms in Prayer is structured but does not feel restrictive.  It helps you focus on the attributes and promises of God, pray scripture over your children, and pray in one accord for the specific needs of each other’s children.  There are so many benefits to this group I can’t name them all, but I can tell you it has been a great way to share my faith with my teenage son as I ask him what he wants me to pray about for him as well as the ability to share afterward how the other moms prayed for him.  I also was able to see months of praying in one accord for my daughter’s fear of bedtime answered.  I came home after group one night to find my husband had figured out a way to solve the problem.  Of course I let him in on the secret that God figured it out for him.  I also feel more peace about the school’s safety by bringing it to God in prayer. The gift of praying for another mom’s children is amazing, and until you experience it, you cannot imagine how it also feels to have other moms fervently pray for your children.  I invite any who feel God pulling on their heart right now to contact me and learn more.  You don’t have to be “good at praying” in front of others; it is so much easier than you think.  Don’t let fear stand in your way. "I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." Matthew 18:19 (NIV)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j73DR50DuXE&list=UUmiZ_ZdUxwtS_bM2wZ1zkWQ&index=5 Erin Flax

love,

the rockinryans

winter fun

I am always looking for 

ways to tease teach

my kids

in fun ways.

So, one afternoon

I made a taste-testing/smell testing game.

So trusting.....

Bahahaha!!!!

He didn't mind the apple juice...

But the lemon juice.....

Glad he is a 

good sport!

When I read

about this activity,

the blogger

said her boys played

for 2 hours.

Yeah right,

I couldn't see that happening,

I would be happy

with 30 minutes.

But guess what....

forget all the expensive,

well thought-out

Christmas gifts...

Water + dish soap + food coloring + straw =

2 hours of boy fun!

And a clean floor!!

Who wudda thought?!

love, the rockinryans