Sunday Inspiration

Happy Sunday friends! I hope you are having a wonderful afternoon. I am hanging out with Scott and Jackson today but I thought I would take a few minutes to write a Sunday Inspiration blog post.  It's just a time when I can look back and concentrate on the miracles, challenges, and happenings that God has put into my life. Hope you enjoy. ♥

Scott and I have a beautiful family. We have healthy loving kids who are doing their best to figure out who they are along with trying to navigate through all the paths this life gives all of us. However the younger kids are giving us a run for our money this year. Thanks to this wonderful internet, they have been subjected to things they should never have to see. I think as parents is our job to stay ahead of technology to protect them. But what happens when they are around other children at school, sleep overs, and even at home sometimes when other parents don't do the same? Well let me tell you that is something we have been running into here lately and it's caused us some trouble in our family with our kids. We had our family trip down south that was stressful enough on its own, only to come home and have to deal with internet issues on the other kids.

I won't say that it's life altering or anything but happened to kids being kids? Why is everything starting so fast for them now? I guess it's all the access to the internet and just the changing times. This is really uncharted waters for us. We have a 25 year old who married with her family. My oldest son lives with his grandparents and is pretty immature but still older and then we have two 12 year old boys and a 13 year old daughter. The oldest two are past this point but we are still running as fast as we can to stay ahead of the little kids. Then we think we are ahead of the game only to realize that the kids at school who's parents are not monitoring showing other kids. It amazes me how much fast children destroy everything we are doing. I have felt pretty defeated here lately but I have been praying more for grace, understanding, and patience. Sadly, we are not the only influences in our kids lives. But during these times, I realize that I am not going to stop doing my part in protecting our children.

It's hard for me to accept that we are finally at the point where the outside influences are coming into their lives. We have controlled the tv, internet and phones for a while now..and we have even controlled their friends to a big degree but we are coming to the point where we can only hope our influence is the best and most constant. Our hope is that God's influence trumps all. From our prayers to theirs, we want them to take the path that God has laid out for each of them. I know that will bring trials and tribulations along the way but in the end, I hope they are happy healthy kind people. That's my hope for all of our kids. I have come to think that the influences that I don't like will come and go through their entire lives. If they keep their faith strong, they will be able to just kinda pass through those times moving on to something better. It's been a challenge with all the kids here lately. I have been reading a new parenting book which I will come back and discuss at another time. I have a wonderful support system who I call upon in good times as well as bad to give me their fresh insight into whatever situation is going on. I can't even begin to tell you how important they are in my life and the kids lives too. It takes a village and I need all their support. 

Life is a bunch of challenges and parenting is the hardest job on the planet. Each day there is something new happening or changing. And as scary as it is, I have to just go with the flow and keep an open heart with a lot of forgiveness to get through it all. We have to let the kids be themselves and grow up but in the right time. Just because some of their friends are doing things/seeing things or saying things does not mean our children will follow suit. We will remain strong in our faith and convictions and let God lead the way. 

Thanks for stopping by. I hope your Sunday is going well. I am hanging out with Scott and Jackson and have a food haul coming up in a bit! Stay tuned.