1000 Gifts, The People Edition
671. Little Guy's feeding therapist, who emails me with answers to my questions, encouragement, and ideas
672. the two moms from his school with whom I pray each week
673. a former colleague whom I hadn't communicated with in a decade, yet with whom I had a very encouraging correspondence this week
674. small group members praying for LG's teachers
675. the moms at play group, from whom I learn so much about parenting littles
676. our pastor who warned us that he will step on toes in his sermon series on I Timothy
677. furnace repairman who restored our heat last week (albeit by replacing the thermostat)
678. family from our church who is spending a year serving on the mission field with their children (including teenagers)
679. librarians who help LG & LM have good experiences in the library!
680. relatives who still write newsy letters (via email)
Monday, April 23, 2018
Thursday, April 19, 2018
Finally
It was a Wednesday. In 2007. In a multi-purpose room in suburban Tokyo metro area. A dozen or so missionaries were eating packed lunches at a folding table. A co-worker visiting from the USA told us of a new children's Bible story book. By Sally Lloyd-Jones.
I immediately ordered a copy from Amazon for my nieces. His recommendation was unreservedly strong!
All my friends raved (and rave) about it. I gave more copies as gifts.
Eventually a committee on which I served helped get it translated into Japanese.
As a newly married woman, I used it to supplement a primary Sunday School class I taught.
Little Guy received a copy as a baby gift. I was so happy!
We have read over 1000 unique books to him ... but not the Jesus Storybook Bible.
I purchased a set of Jesus Storybook Bible DVDs ... but he hasn't watched them.
I have the Jesus Storybook Bible on Audible to listen to on our long commutes ... but he hasn't liked it when I've played it.
That all changed one night this week, when he was picking out his 3 books to be read before bedtime. For the "one about Jesus," he said, "We have a new one! We have this in Sunday School!" [The copy on our shelf was not new at all ... he just saw it for the first time because he recognized it from Sunday School!]
And so we are finally reading The Jesus Storybook Bible in our home.
I immediately ordered a copy from Amazon for my nieces. His recommendation was unreservedly strong!
All my friends raved (and rave) about it. I gave more copies as gifts.
Eventually a committee on which I served helped get it translated into Japanese.
As a newly married woman, I used it to supplement a primary Sunday School class I taught.
Little Guy received a copy as a baby gift. I was so happy!
We have read over 1000 unique books to him ... but not the Jesus Storybook Bible.
I purchased a set of Jesus Storybook Bible DVDs ... but he hasn't watched them.
I have the Jesus Storybook Bible on Audible to listen to on our long commutes ... but he hasn't liked it when I've played it.
That all changed one night this week, when he was picking out his 3 books to be read before bedtime. For the "one about Jesus," he said, "We have a new one! We have this in Sunday School!" [The copy on our shelf was not new at all ... he just saw it for the first time because he recognized it from Sunday School!]
And so we are finally reading The Jesus Storybook Bible in our home.
Experience Book (or Social Story)
Starting School:
Before Little Guy started school last year, a friend loaned me the book she made for her little guy before he started school.
The book consisted of a series of photographs she took of her son on the day they visited the school: kissing mom good-bye at drop-off, walking in the front door, getting on the elevator, hanging up his backpack, saying the pledge, etc, all the way through to waiting on the bench in the lobby until his mom pulled up for pickup at the end of the day.
The photos were in an old-school 24-photo vinyl photo album with no captions.
Little Guy and I toured the school and staged similar photos, I got them printed, and put them in an album, and we read it over and over and over again. "Little Guy goes to School," we call it, and he still likes to read it! For a 3 1/2 year old who had been with mom almost 24/7, he made an amazing transition to all-day school 3 days/ week, in part due to our book (and prayer!!).
Eye doctor & dentist:
I have purchased (from Teachers Pay Teachers) experience books for the eye doctor and dentist, which I had printed on cardstock at Office Depot. After I laminate them, I'll have OD bind them.
Sports:
While I didn't make a social story for swim lessons, I found some good ones that can be read online. I'm kicking myself (pun intended) that I didn't make one for soccer lessons.
Current problem:
Earlier this week, when Little Miss successfully pulled out one of Little Guy's hearing aids (after weeks of attempting), I emailed his team at school for tips. Surely LG isn't the first HA-user to have a younger sibling wanting to pull one out?!? Part of the issue is that LG never moves away when she goes for the grab. So, I also wanted to work on advocacy skills with him (something his school is very good at doing).
Immediately, one member of his team emailed back suggesting that the school make two experience books: one from LM's perspective to help her, and one from LG's perspective to help him!
She gave me a list of photos to take (the two of them playing happily side by side, LM reaching for a HA & LG frowning, LG giving her a toy to play with and LG smiling, etc.) and asked what language I want LG to use in that instance.
I can't wait to read them each their experience book!!
Have you ever used social stories?
Resources for you:
If you scroll down on this page, this blogger has suggestions about social stories. (There are several examples on her blog, too.)
Before Little Guy started school last year, a friend loaned me the book she made for her little guy before he started school.
The book consisted of a series of photographs she took of her son on the day they visited the school: kissing mom good-bye at drop-off, walking in the front door, getting on the elevator, hanging up his backpack, saying the pledge, etc, all the way through to waiting on the bench in the lobby until his mom pulled up for pickup at the end of the day.
The photos were in an old-school 24-photo vinyl photo album with no captions.
Little Guy and I toured the school and staged similar photos, I got them printed, and put them in an album, and we read it over and over and over again. "Little Guy goes to School," we call it, and he still likes to read it! For a 3 1/2 year old who had been with mom almost 24/7, he made an amazing transition to all-day school 3 days/ week, in part due to our book (and prayer!!).
Eye doctor & dentist:
I have purchased (from Teachers Pay Teachers) experience books for the eye doctor and dentist, which I had printed on cardstock at Office Depot. After I laminate them, I'll have OD bind them.
Sports:
While I didn't make a social story for swim lessons, I found some good ones that can be read online. I'm kicking myself (pun intended) that I didn't make one for soccer lessons.
Current problem:
Earlier this week, when Little Miss successfully pulled out one of Little Guy's hearing aids (after weeks of attempting), I emailed his team at school for tips. Surely LG isn't the first HA-user to have a younger sibling wanting to pull one out?!? Part of the issue is that LG never moves away when she goes for the grab. So, I also wanted to work on advocacy skills with him (something his school is very good at doing).
Immediately, one member of his team emailed back suggesting that the school make two experience books: one from LM's perspective to help her, and one from LG's perspective to help him!
She gave me a list of photos to take (the two of them playing happily side by side, LM reaching for a HA & LG frowning, LG giving her a toy to play with and LG smiling, etc.) and asked what language I want LG to use in that instance.
I can't wait to read them each their experience book!!
Have you ever used social stories?
Resources for you:
If you scroll down on this page, this blogger has suggestions about social stories. (There are several examples on her blog, too.)
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
Some days
Some days you put one child in the play yard while the other has free reign, so you can clean in another room, and have the knowledge that no one is getting hurt.
Some days you turn on a Daniel Tiger episode on your computer, and let the 4 year old watch it.
Some days the 1 year old (who "will never see a screen til she's 3 years old") watch it, too, while standing in the play yard and looking over his lap.
Some days you let him (ahem, them) watch two episodes in a row.
Some days you go and sit ... alone (!) ... in the room you just cleaned and enjoy the peace and quiet (oh, and the Daniel Tiger episode in the next room).
Some days you turn on a Daniel Tiger episode on your computer, and let the 4 year old watch it.
Some days the 1 year old (who "will never see a screen til she's 3 years old") watch it, too, while standing in the play yard and looking over his lap.
Some days you let him (ahem, them) watch two episodes in a row.
Some days you go and sit ... alone (!) ... in the room you just cleaned and enjoy the peace and quiet (oh, and the Daniel Tiger episode in the next room).
Monday, April 16, 2018
Sunday Lunch
Need a nice meal that's ready to eat when you walk in the door from church?
This is my go-to.
Sweet & Saucy Chicken (or a family pack of 4# of boneless, skinless, chicken thighs and an 18 oz bottle of barbecue sauce) in the slow cooker
Rice in the rice cooker on timed cook
Slaw - a bag of broccoli slaw mixed with half a jar of Marzetti's poppyseed dressing in the morning; tossed with honey roasted peanuts & dried cranberries just before serving. (Alternatively, here's a cheaper homemade recipe.)
Corn - frozen, heated in the microwave while setting the table.
It's even better if you have rolls. Walmart subbed my bag of frozen Sister Shubert's heat & serve dinner rolls for another brand last week. I didn't realize until I was ready to put them in the oven for 5-10 minutes that the other brand requires hours and hours to thaw first. Oh, well. :)
This is my go-to.
Sweet & Saucy Chicken (or a family pack of 4# of boneless, skinless, chicken thighs and an 18 oz bottle of barbecue sauce) in the slow cooker
Rice in the rice cooker on timed cook
Slaw - a bag of broccoli slaw mixed with half a jar of Marzetti's poppyseed dressing in the morning; tossed with honey roasted peanuts & dried cranberries just before serving. (Alternatively, here's a cheaper homemade recipe.)
Corn - frozen, heated in the microwave while setting the table.
It's even better if you have rolls. Walmart subbed my bag of frozen Sister Shubert's heat & serve dinner rolls for another brand last week. I didn't realize until I was ready to put them in the oven for 5-10 minutes that the other brand requires hours and hours to thaw first. Oh, well. :)
15 months
Little Miss, you're 15 months old now!
You say "Daddy!" All. The. Time! If you are on the far side of the living room, and hear the door from the garage to the house open, you make a beeline, saying, "Daddy! Daddy!" Or, if you're running errands with me for 4 hours, you say, "Daddy!" all the time.
You are very happy to ride in your red Chicco carseat ... for hours a day.
You love to hug and kiss your dolls and stuffed animals.
You sleep about 12 hours at night and 1 1/2 - 3 hours at naptime. You go to bed happy and wake up happy; both times babbling away saying who knows what.
You are not a fan of table food (except for shredded cheese and graham crackers).
You drink 16 ounces of whole milk daily and some water. You are still not a fan of sippy cups, so mostly drink out of a bottle with a spout-like training nipple. And sometimes from a 360* cup with handles.
You have a lot of hair ... and it's wavy (and yes, it is naturally curly, dear stranger who asked me!) ... and you do not like hair clips or bows.
You put *everything* into your mouth. (A friend says it's because you never took a paci.)
You love to visit Grandma.
You have just moved into 18 month clothes
You can climb stairs pretty quickly, but I only let you when I'm right behind you to catch you if you turn around. :-O
You like to carry small toys around and pretend they are a phone, and say "Hi!"
You sign your version of "All done," with a vocalized, "Aah..." and surprised me by coming home from nursery signing "more." (They did tell me you chowed down on cheerios at snack time. Ha!)
The common word people use to describe you is "chill."
Last month you graduated from baby nursery to toddler nursery, and all the grandmas in baby nursery are so sad. :(
You are strong, rough and tumble (thanks to Little Guy!), "chill," happy, delightful, cuddly, affectionate, and did I mention happy?
We love you, Little Miss!
You say "Daddy!" All. The. Time! If you are on the far side of the living room, and hear the door from the garage to the house open, you make a beeline, saying, "Daddy! Daddy!" Or, if you're running errands with me for 4 hours, you say, "Daddy!" all the time.
You are very happy to ride in your red Chicco carseat ... for hours a day.
You love to hug and kiss your dolls and stuffed animals.
You sleep about 12 hours at night and 1 1/2 - 3 hours at naptime. You go to bed happy and wake up happy; both times babbling away saying who knows what.
You are not a fan of table food (except for shredded cheese and graham crackers).
You drink 16 ounces of whole milk daily and some water. You are still not a fan of sippy cups, so mostly drink out of a bottle with a spout-like training nipple. And sometimes from a 360* cup with handles.
You have a lot of hair ... and it's wavy (and yes, it is naturally curly, dear stranger who asked me!) ... and you do not like hair clips or bows.
You put *everything* into your mouth. (A friend says it's because you never took a paci.)
You love to visit Grandma.
You have just moved into 18 month clothes
You can climb stairs pretty quickly, but I only let you when I'm right behind you to catch you if you turn around. :-O
You like to carry small toys around and pretend they are a phone, and say "Hi!"
You sign your version of "All done," with a vocalized, "Aah..." and surprised me by coming home from nursery signing "more." (They did tell me you chowed down on cheerios at snack time. Ha!)
The common word people use to describe you is "chill."
Last month you graduated from baby nursery to toddler nursery, and all the grandmas in baby nursery are so sad. :(
You are strong, rough and tumble (thanks to Little Guy!), "chill," happy, delightful, cuddly, affectionate, and did I mention happy?
We love you, Little Miss!
Friday, April 13, 2018
Apps
I never thought I'd be talking about apps, but here I am.
Four recent ones I've been using:
FEMA (get weather alerts for several locations)
Paul Tripp (lots of his material)
Voice Memos (recording sounds for LG's speech therapist & audiologist)
Lifeway Kids (songs that LG learns in Sunday School)
Do you have any apps to recommend?
Four recent ones I've been using:
FEMA (get weather alerts for several locations)
Paul Tripp (lots of his material)
Voice Memos (recording sounds for LG's speech therapist & audiologist)
Lifeway Kids (songs that LG learns in Sunday School)
Do you have any apps to recommend?
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