{Mosaic Reviews} We Choose Virtues

One of the biggest benefits I find as a homeschool mama is the ability to work on character training as life rolls along at its usual pace.  And, to be completely honest, I'm not just talking about my kids' character development.  I have not "arrived" nor do I expect to any time ever, so my lovies and I work on our character development together.  I always take a step back when I hear my own negative attitudes or words being repeated by my children.  Yikes!  That's eye opening, for sure!

 

As a result, I am always open to new ideas for helping to shape our character.  I, like many others, prefer to call this shaping "heart training." It is very important to me that our character training is linked with God's Word for we learn in the Bible that what comes out of our mouths flows from what is in our hearts (Matthew 15:19, Luke 6:45, Proverbs 4:23 to name a few verses).  I want my life and the lives of my children to honor God above all else so we use God's Word as our guidebook for life. 

 

Recently, I was introduced We Choose Virtues, a character training program designed to be fun, catchy, and simple to use that makes a positive impact in kid's lives.  There are twelve virtues taught that fall under the three main categories: Obey, Be Kind, Be A Helper. 

 

The "Obey" virtues are: Obedient, Attentive, Self-Controlled, and Honest.

 

The "Be Kind" virtues are: Kind, Forgiving, Patient, and Gentle.

 

The "Be A Helper" virtues are: Helpful, Perseverant, Diligent, and Content.

 

 

I received the Virtue Flashcards shown above.  Each virtue has an adorable cartoon kid from VirtueVille and short story associated with that character quality.  These flashcards teach each virtue by using the phrases "I am..." followed by its catchphrase explaining the virtue in simple to understand words.  The flip side of each card also teaches the antonym of each virtue "I am not..." or "I don't..." along with a Bible verse connecting the character quality to God's Word!

 

For example, the "I am Helpful" card has the sweet boy, Hat Matt, on the front of the card.  The catchphrase says, "I find things that need to be done and I do them."  Helpful's antonym is "I am NOT...selfish, lazy, or unwilling to serve and I don't have to be asked."  The Bible verse is Ecclesiastes 4:9, "Two people are better than one.  They can help each other in everything they do." 

 

I really appreciate the way these cards are laid out with several different ways to explain and illustrate each virtue.  With the variety of simple to understand words, it has been easy to teach the virtues to my three year old all the way up to my ten year old.  Coincidentally, four of my children fall exactly into the We Choose Virtues target age range.  Pretty perfect fit!

 

 

One interesting and helpful aspect of We Choose Virtues is the Family Character Assessment.  This assessment allows each family member to grade themselves on a scale of one to ten for each virtue...one being that you really struggle with this virtue, ten being that you have a good handle on this virtue.  I had one of my sons fill this assessment out and it's interesting to see where he placed himself on the scale.  I agree with him on some areas but not on others.  I plan to use this with each of my children and myself, then go over it with them individually.  I am curious to see how my husband would evaluate me on each virtue...  The point of this assessment is to see where each person needs individual attention, training, and goal setting in regard to each virtue.

  

 

 Another aspect of We Choose Virtues that I liked was the list of Memory Verses and Bible Heroes.  We were able to read about a Bible hero that displayed the character qualities we focused on during the review period.  Again, this meets my goal of tying our heart training to the truth from God's Word!

 

My three and six year olds enjoyed the Coloring Pages of each sweet kid from VirtueVille.  My two older boys were not attracted to the cute kids or coloring pages but they certainly benefited from the content we discussed.  I am considering purchasing the Coloring Book in order to have the stories that tell about each adorable kid and help to explain their catchy names - Kind Kettle Gretel, Content Cake Jake, Forgiving Feather Heather, etc.  Because we didn't know the background stories of each VirtueVille kid, we didn't focus on their names, but notice that each kid's name begins with the same letter as their virtue making it easier to remember the virtues you are working on developing. 

 

As an alternative to the coloring book, the Parenting Cards also explain each Virtue Kid's story and character quality along with the basic information from the flashcards as well as helpful tips, what to do after saying "Sorry," and so on...

 

We Choose Virtues is jammed packed with valuable character training for kids of all ages.  The materials are visually appealing, strong in Biblically based content, and easy to implement in whatever way works for your family.  As an added bonus, you can purchase a kit that contains the essential elements or pick and choose the most valuable items to meet your family's needs!

 

Please visit We Choose Virtues for more information about the people behind the company and all their great products.  If you decide to make a purchase for your family, please take advantage of these discounts codes!  Any purchase you make can receive 15% off by entering VIRTUE15 at checkout.  If you decide to purchase the Homeschool Kit during the month of April, you can receive a 20% discount by entering HOME20 at checkout!

 

You can also find We Choose Virtues on Facebook and Pinterest!

 



Teamwork

There is no denying the fact that I need some assistance in getting various jobs completed around our house.  With six family members home essentially all day long every day, our house is bound to get messy. Well, I've recruited the cutest helpers I could find!

 

 

Sadie and Isaac often team up with certain chores.  On this particular day, I overheard a sweet conversation between the two of them...

 

"Sadie, you are good at cleaning the mirror!"

 

"Thanks, Isaac!  You are doing a great job like me!"

"Sadie, we are doing a good job building each other up like Mama said."

 

"Yes, we are.  We are best buddies and are nice to each other..."

 



 

Having found ourselves recently with a lot frustrated, critical words coming from our mouths, I have been challenging the kids and myself with this Scripture...

 

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen...Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you."  Ephesians 4:29,32

 

How encouraging to hear this conversation and know that God is changing our hearts for His Glory!

Luke, My Boy

Do you ever have those days when you just want to brag on your kids?!  I sure do.  Today was one of them. 

 

We had the craziest of crazy days today, in the car for more hours than at home, running all over the place for a variety of reasons.  Each of the children deserve a reward for good behavior and long suffering from being strapped in for so long. 

 

One of our first stops was to the dentist for the four bigger children's bi-yearly cleanings.  The boys are pros and love going to the dentist.  Sadie has only visited one time and that did not go so well.  The hygienist and dentist were so good with her, but she just wasn't having anything to do with it. 

 

 

I assumed that today's visit would end with the same result given the torrent of tears before we even left the house this morning. 

 

While Luke was having his teeth cleaned, Sadie sat in the room with him watching and talking up a storm with our hygienist.  As soon as it was Sadie's turn, she got all shy and teary-eyed.  The hygienist was so gentle and patient with her when she was refusing to sit or even come over near her.  I suggested that maybe Sadie would like to sit on Luke's lap and have her teeth cleaned because I was holding a snoozing baby boy.

 

Luke has this sweet way of saying, "Sure" and getting right on Sadie's level to talk with her, big brave brother to little nervous sister.  He convinced her to sit on his lap and squish him like a pancake so the hygienist could count her teeth.  Sadie eventually opened her mouth for a quick cleaning in the safety of her brother's arms.  I just wish I had my camera to capture how securely he was holding her and speaking encouraging words to her.  Our dentist was just in awe of how well he cared for and loved Sadie. 

 

He makes me so proud.

 

 

Luke, my compassionate boy, the one who loves little kids and babies and kitties.  Luke, my gentle boy, who instinctively knows how to comfort little ones.  Luke, my man child, so mature in some ways, yet a still a little boy.  Luke, my sensitive heart boy, you empathize with others and do your best to encourage.  Luke, your compassion is a gift from the Lord.  I pray that you will use it for His glory as you grow into a man.

 

And just for a more rounded picture...Luke, my loud boy, who has some crazy dance moves and loves to sing worship songs heard on the radio.  Luke, my athletic boy, who is not afraid of a good rough and tumble game.  Luke, my big, strong boy, whose feet almost fit perfectly in my shoes... 

 

Someone freeze time.

{Project 365} Day 20: Dedicated to the Lord

Today was a very special day in Silas' life.  Our family stood before our church body committing to raise Silas to know and love the Lord.  Such a huge responsibility!  We are so thankful for the support of family and friends that stand with us in our desire to honor God with our lives and the children entrusted to our care. 

 

 

{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

{Project365} Day 15: Many Hands Make Light Work

Many hands make light work and that's a good thing...

 

 

...because many bodies make lots of laundry.

 

{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

Dear Heabenly Fader

 

We have always been so thankful for steadiness of Mike's work situation especially given the fact that I stay at home with our children.  At times, though, Mike finds his work load to be quite busy and stressful.  Knowing that he was struggling with his many responsibilities, a "heavy work load," I encouraged our children to pray for Daddy whenever they thought about him. 

 

Sadie piped right up and started praying, "Dear Heabenly Fader, Please help my daddy wif his heabiest work. He is strong. Help him to do sings he likes. I hope he sleeps all night. I lub you, Dear Heabenly Fader. Amen."

 



 

Every daddy needs a princess at home praying for him, don't you think?!

Sadie's First Prayers

Like many families, we pray at mealtimes, when we get boo-boos, during times of correction and training, before we head out in the car, and so on.

Our boys like to say the meal times prayers. It's almost like a race for who can say, "I'll pray!" first. We've often asked Sadie if she'd like to pray. Every time she just grins and shakes her head no.

Tonight, as we do every night, Sadie and I were upstairs in my room reading, snuggling, singing songs, and enjoying lots of giggles. Just before I was ready to take her to bed, I said, "Let's pray and give one last hug before bedtime."

Sadie replied, "Okay!" Then immediately closed her eyes, covered them with her hands, and said, "Dear Jesus, Thank you for my food. Thank you for my family. Thank you for my toys. Amen."

She was so sincere. Yet, it was so unexpected, I could barely contain my giggles and delight over her willingness to pray out loud. So confident and sure. I hugged her and told her what a nice prayer that was and how wonderful it is that we can talk to Jesus all the time if we want to.

Then she looked at me and said, "Your turn to pray." Of course...so I prayed very simply as she did. When I finished, she encouraged me, "Nice prayer, Mama!"

We prayed about six more times going back and forth. The only difference was that each time she would repeat something I said. My heart just about melted when she prayed specifically for her friends without my prompting...Miss Nell (her Christian Education teacher) and Austin (a boy in her class). Then we added a few more friends from church...Miss Libby (our dear friend), Caleb (or as Sadie says, "Ca-love") and Baby Nick.

This "simple" thing reminds me how much impact we have on our children's hearts right from birth when they are not even capable of understanding our faith or a relationship with Jesus. Sadie has learned this from our family, from her loving CE teacher, and from other believers in our circle of friends. It is normal and natural for her.

I pray that Mike and I will continue to speak words of LIFE and TRUTH, from GOD, into the hearts of our children. And in turn, that our children will have softened hearts ready to receive and respond to God and live a life for HIS GLORY and HONOR.

Dat's My 'Lijey

A growing relationship between Elijah ('Lijey) and Sadie.

Snuggling. Reading. Carrying. Wrestling.

Pack pack rides (piggy back and back pack mixed together...).

Declaring favorites (though that changes in an instant...depending on who has candy for Sadie!)

Our days are sprinkled with love and care...

I'll keep saying it until the day I die...homeschooling affords our children the opportunity to form close bonds....closer than if the children were out of my arms reach for most of their waking hours. My heart is filled to the brim and overflowing to see how much they care for each other and enjoy each other's friendship.

I pray we never see the day when we all are going a thousand miles an hour down a million different roads where friends, activities or responsibilities receive more facetime than family. Those times are upon us, however, we are determined to choose the fewest and best of directions to pursue.

And in doing so, preserve this...family...the most worthy of pursuits.

Scrambly Egg Maker in Training

She loves helping me! I love to have her help! I've found that including Sadie in breakfast making is a good substitute for her need to be held for a LONG time every morning! I've also found that eggs are a great breakfast food for my always hungry boys...cheap, filling, full of protein. 36 eggs about every two weeks. Imagine when they're teenagers...phew!

Baked Oatmeal

I've been practicing thankfulness inspired by reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I am teaching, training, and practicing the art of being thankful for gifts within my own heart - the good, the bad, the big, and the small. It's all about looking at life differently with God vision, His perspective. I've starting numbering my gifts in a journal. It's amazing to look back over the past week seeing my life differently...it's refreshing and encouraging me to continue on this path of thankfulness.

I realize that while this is a life and heart change I want for myself, I want my children to experience change, too. How much angst and discontentment could be saved in their lives if they can learn these lessons early in life?! I want to live this thankfulness out loud, in front of my children's observant eyes and ears so it is natural for them to imitate. This morning afforded the perfect opportunity to tell them about how mama is practicing thankfulness.

It all began with baked oatmeal.

And complaints.

Rather than getting frustrated at the children telling them to "change their ungrateful attitudes, get eating, or there will be trouble" which is my natural response...ugh...I, only by God's grace, was able to see past the complaints, not get upset, and begin explaining how I am trying to see situations with thankfulness now. I told them how usually feel about doing laundry and dishes, making meals, picking up around the house - annoyed, frustrated, irritated, never feeling like a job is completed, etc.

But now because of how God is changing my heart and because I am learning the importance of seeing God's gifts in everything I am choosing to find ways to thank God instead of complaining or choosing a bad attitude.

While I'm folding laundry, I thank God for the scent of dryer sheets, feeling the warmth on my hands on a cold day, Elijah when I fold his sweatshirt, Luke when I fold his pants, Isaac when I fold his jammies, Sadie when I fold her dress, Daddy when I fold his tee shirts, a high efficiency washer and dryer to wash and dry more laundry at once, less water used per load saving money on water bills, the fact that I don't have to hand wash each piece, Shout and Oxiclean to take out stains, my favorite thrifted shirt...

While I'm doing the dishes, I thank God for a husband who does A LOT of dishes for me, lemony scented bubbles, warm water, a dishwasher, paper & plastic at times, lotion after washing to heal dry hands...

While I'm making meals, I thank God for the opportunity to serve my family is such a tangible way, hands capable of preparing and serving, healthy fruits and veggies, money to purchase foods whenever we want, always having enough & more than enough, take-out, grocery stores that carry more than I could ever need, safety regulations for safe food, an oven instead of a campfire or fireplace, healthy children who can eat anything, no allergies, milk and lots of it, recipes, premade & frozen & packaged things, food preservation inventions, baking sweets, sharing sweets with neighbors and friends...

While I'm picking up around the house, I thank God for a comfy house that is lived in every day & all day, a home that well-used and not a museum, a home that is busy and bustling with life and children instead of being empty as we go our separate ways, the blessing of being able to stay at home with my children, Legos that encourage creative building, dollies receiving love from a budding mommy-girl, storage bins, organization - a place for everything and everything in its place, enough space, blankets to snuggle under and for building forts, carpeting for cold toes, tile for easy clean up, pretty paint colors on the walls, a vacuum cleaner, Windex and 409, Swiffer and Shark, indoor plumbing, washable paint on bathroom walls, plungers, books scattered from siblings reading to each other...

And the list goes on...

The boys seemed to understand what I was saying, so I suggested that instead of complaining about baked oatmeal we should find things about it to be thankful for...

It was a stretch, dead-silent at first.

I named off the ingredients: oatmeal, baking powder, maple syrup, cinnamon, brown sugar, eggs, and milk.

Eli spoke up first, "I'm thankful for milk!" (He is the milk lover around here...so much so that we used to call him "the milkman" all the time.)

Luke reluctantly offered, "I'm thankful for maple syrup and cinnamon."

I said, "I'm thankful that it is like cake...a little sweet and very moist."

Isaac grinned, "I'm fankful dat I actuawee do like it a little bit." (SCORE!)

We continued to talk about baked oatmeal like it was our absolute favorite edible creation which lead to being thankful for other things like a hot breakfast on a snowy morning, bites of fresh pear for every bite of oatmeal, milk to wash it all down, plates and silverware for eating politely, small servings of baked oatmeal, not too many leftovers for tomorrow's breakfast, Sadie digging in with both hands and chewing like a wild animal making us laugh really hard, sitting together at the table for breakfast, not needing to eat quickly because we had to get out of the house this morning, pouts transformed to smiles, agreeing that it wouldn't be awful to have it again, a promise that next time we could sprinkle a few mini chocolate chips on top, finally eating enough to be finished and have mama be satisfied...

Oh, this thankfulness journey and numbering our gifts is catching and spreading! I'm so excited to see what God will do in our lives!!!

Dedication Sunday

What a cowgirl looks like in the afternoon after she's done gone and got herself dedicated to the Lord. She's got the "bang" sound down, too! Oh my!

So proud after getting her hair pretty on all by herself!

Sadie LOVES looking at herself in the mirror

REALLY likes looking at herself!

Here she is in her new skirt made by mama! It was seriously cute on her! (I already have fabric picked out for her next skirt once I have my doll sewing done for this month!!!)

Must give brother, buddy, and pardner in dedication a good tickle before church! How-DY!

making the loop around the first floor...giddy up, horsey!

It was a great day spent with both sets of grandparents. We were so thankful the weather was clear and their schedules were free to join us in dedicating our children to the Lord and ourselves to raising them to know, honor, and love Him.

Skirty Skirt - First Attempt

My first attempt at making a skirt for Sadie was quick, easy, and successful! I put this together based on a few skirt tutorials I read through on the internet, but made it my own using the things that were the easiest to do with the cutest finished product.

When we found out we were having a daughter, I purchased fabric to make her a quilt. I had about a yard of the main fabric left over and knew it would be the perfect skirt material.

Sadie and Isaac will be dedicated at our church tomorrow. A dedication is a public proclamation that we, as parents, covenant with God that we will do our best to raise our children to know, love, and honor him. When a child reaches an age where they understand the significance of a relationship with God and choose to follow Him, then we discuss the subject of baptism. We make this dedication covenant with the support of our family members and church family. Guess who's going to wear her new skirt tomorrow for the dedication??? (I'll post pictures of her in it after tomorrow since she's wearing a shirt that completely clashes right now!)

This is the back with ties to make a bow.

Up close of the bow. Cute!

The front

Oh my! Now I might have to switch my focus from doll making to skirt making. But only for Sadie. Ha, ha!

I might be serious. (grin)

I Will Choose A Good Attitude

The new strategy for my sweet, yet often sighing, grumpy face-making boy when mama says something he doesn't like...which is seeming like all. the. time.

Might have to employ this strategy on myself at times, too!

"A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit." Proverbs 15:13

Christmas Sewing - Hidden In My Heart Dolls

With the great success of my new doll business, it only made sense to make a few dolls to give away to my nieces this Christmas. The first one here though is my sweet Sadie Kathryn's doll...finished in the late afternoon today after a frantic scramble to locate any extra stuffing stashed in the house!

ain't she cute - just like my Sadie Katie?!

I'm really enjoying making "professional" dresses...they are so cute!!! My mother-in-law passed a stack of doll clothing patterns my way and they have been so invaluable!!!

reversible cloth diaper - fleece and cotton - soon available for purchase along with dolls!

precious dress...LOVE that fabric!!!

Sadie Kathryn's Scripture tag - each doll I make comes with a personalized tag with a Scripture or blessing dictated by the gift giver.

hair pretties - soon available for purchase along with your doll!

My niece Allison's Scripture tag - she's bundle of 6 month old cuteness!!!

Allison's doll

Interested in more information about Hidden In My Heart Dolls? See my etsy shop or my facebook business page...