Happy 4th Birthday!

Just a few photos from Sam's birthday evening. 

Happy girls with tummies full of birthday cake! 

My little girl is growing up way too fast!!

our Lenten prayers

So for part of my observation of Lent I am trying to pray more regularly with the girls. And to take those prayers beyond just meal time prayers.
I have this book "A Prayer A Day" and have been using it a lot! I am just in love with some of the prayers that we have been saying and wanted to share them with you all.

"Thank you for flowers,

Thank you for trees, 

Thank you for grasses, 

That toss in the breeze.

Thanks you for vegetables, 

Thank you for spice,

Thank you for everything 

That makes food taste nice. 

Thank you, dear Father, 

For all things that grow

In sunshine and rain, 

And the glowing rainbow".

"Oh God, 

I feel so bad, 

I said some things

I shouldn't have. 

I want to start

Again and say

With all my heart

I'm sorry".

"Dear God, 

Help me to be good

When I have to share my toys.

Help me to be good

When I'm making too much noise. 

Help me to be good

And eat up all my greens. 

Help me to be good

When I'm tempted to be mean. 

Help me to be good

Each and every day. 

Help me to be good 

In every single way".

"Dear Father, thank you for today. 

There were good parts I'd like to remember, 

and bad parts I'd rather forget. Forgive me 

for the things I did wrong and help me to 

be better tomorrow. Thank you for all

the good things and thank you for being

with me in it all". 

 - We sometimes say this one and then recap our day. I say the prayer and then ask Sam and Avery to tell me their good parts of the day and their bad parts of the day. We have had some pretty good talks about those bad parts and how we can make them better. Once we have talked then we say the prayer again.

This one is Sam's favorite -

"Jesus, please be near me

As I lie in bed tonight, 

There's a dark place in the corner

And it's giving me a fright!

Mom says it's just a shadow, 

And shadows are thin air, 

But I can see it grinning, 

And it's sitting in my chair!

Please shine your light, dear Jesus, 

So that I can see

The shadow's really nothing

Now that you are close to me".  

- I am not sure if she really likes the prayer or if she just likes to continue to extend her bedtime routine by asking for me to read this one right before she goes to bed!

How are you observing Lent? Are you involving your kids?