How to Help Children (and Adults) Say "Thank You"

Or How to Help You be Thankful too!

It's the worst part of winter right now. The days are still short, still to cold to play outside every day, and there is no Christmas to be excited about. We are living in dreary dark days and needing graciousness for one another.

I don't think most of us enjoy haranguing our sons and  daughters to say "thank you." Repetition, groans, eye rolls, and not genuine thankfulness all go with making kids say "thank you."

But I noticed something early on with my firstborn is that I didn't have to prompt him very much to say "thank you" if I was consistently using it like I should. I also noticed when I stop, look a child in the eye and give them an unexpected encouraging word, they encourage each other in the same way.

Give Thanks (even when you are grumpy)

I bought this banner for $5 at Target a few weeks ago. Not that it matters, I just didn't want you to think I am super crafty, I didn't make it.

And I didn't even put the banner up to show how thankful I am; because most of the time I'm not. I put the banner up in my dining room to

Nighttime Blessing for my Daughter

My daughter turned 9 months old yesterday. Our third child, our first girl. We love her, her big brothers love her and we think she is the cutest thing ever. And she is! But I want her to know she is so much more than that.