by Brenda Flowers | Mar 5, 2019 | Parents/Grandparents
This year I am learning the importance of resting while waiting for some circumstances to change.
As parents and grandparents we will have times in our lives when we don’t understand what we are going through. It is in those difficult times when we need time to be still and rest in knowing that God cares for us and at the right time we will get the answers to our questions.
How do you feel when your children or grandchildren come to you and ask you a question? I know for me it makes me feel happy to know they trust me to give them an honest answer. Our heavenly Father loves for us to come to Him with questions too.
This year my Christian’s Writer’s Group is writing on the topic of rest. Due to certain circumstances, I have not yet written on this topic, but I am practicing living it out. In preparation to write I have been brainstorming and doing research on people in the Bible who had to rest in the waiting.
In the process of doing this research God has spoken to me about the importance of being still and knowing that He wants what’s best for me and those who come to Him.
Read more here.
by Brenda Flowers | May 18, 2018 | Parents/Grandparents
As a child I loved to sing or say rhyming poems, especially with actions. When I was in kindergarten, I recall being one of the three little kittens acting out the nursery rhyme, “The Three Little Kittens”. I still remember many of the songs or rhymes I learned when I was very young.
Multi sensory activities are valuable for your children. Rather than just having your child sing along or play along with a video, personally get involved with your children: singing songs, reciting poems, or rhythmically sharing rhymes with actions. Enjoy this sweet time of laughter and closeness. Your child will remember your presence.
When I taught Sunday School, the children loved singing: “This Little Light of Mine”, “Father Abraham Had Many Sons”, “I’ve Got the Joy Down in My Heart”, “Rise and Shine and Give God the Glory”, and “Deep and Wide”. (If you aren’t familiar with the words of these songs, they can be found on-line.)
It’s amazing how much truth can be taught through the joyful sharing of songs.
I hope you will comment about some of your favorite children’s rhymes and songs. Let’s encourage each other to invest in quality experiences with our children and grandchildren.
by Brenda Flowers | Jan 27, 2017 | Parents/Grandparents
Parents and Grandparents,
We have an important job. Each day we serve as ambassadors to our children.
Whom do we represent?
In 2017, I want to be a plenipotentiary for Jesus Christ, representing Him well in front of the lives of my children and grandchildren.
by Brenda Flowers | Sep 29, 2016 | Parents/Grandparents
Fall season is a beautiful season in Tennessee. I feel so blessed to live in a state where I get to see the change of seasons.
Taken in Pigeon Forge, TN.
When the leaves of the deciduous trees change colors, the nature scenes in all parts of the state and nearby states are glorious!
Fall, with the arrival of more comfortable temperatures, is the perfect time to get outside with the children in your lives.
Here are some ideas for activities you can do with your children:
1. Go on walk or fall hike in a nearby park.
Take a bag or let your child wear a backpack so that he or she may collect special treasures (ie. acorns or other nuts, colorful leaves, small rocks/fossils). Along the way, tell stories sharing your childhood memories about making fall discoveries or collections.
My husband, Eric, and grandsons on a fall hike at Owl Creek Park, Brentwood, TN.
2. If you and your child collect leaves, you can preserve them by putting the leaves between wax paper and ironing over the wax paper.
Your child will probably enjoy watching you do this and then helping to cut around the leaves. If you have a lot of these “preserved leaves” they could be used to decorate a dining table for Thanksgiving. Or they could be used to play a sorting game, sorting by shape or color. Older children may enjoy making a scrapbook, mounting and labeling their leaves.
3. Researching with your child why the leaves change color is also a fun activity to do together.
Before researching on-line or at the library, ask your child to predict why the leaves change. You may want to record his or her response. When your child is older, you could listen to his/her response or watch the video together to create happy memories as you laugh together about the prediction.
4. Raking together is great exercise and every child I have ever known loves to jump in a big pile of leaves.
Be sure to take photos of your child in the pile. You may want to do this each year to put in a time-line type frame, showing the growth of your child and his leaf piles.
Picture was taken at the 39th Annual Harvest Days Celebration at Cannonsburgh Village in Murfreesboro, TN. This year’s celebration is on Saturday, October 22nd, 2016.
Learn more here: http://murfreesborotn.gov/parks
5. Look for the free parent magazines often located in stands at local grocery stores or libraries.
You can also find these magazines on-line. In these magazines, you can usually find a listing of free or low-cost events. For example, in the October 2016 Williamson County, TN Parent magazine, there is a chronological list of October things to do beginning on page 31 and ending on page 87. There is even a fall fun pull out guide! Your child might like to look at the magazine with you to plan some special fall outings. Show him/her how to put these events on a calendar.
6. Post a comment together on this blog or on the children’s blog.
I look forward to hearing about your fall adventures.
by Brenda Flowers | Aug 25, 2016 | Parents/Grandparents
I was going down memory lane today recalling a special time when my son and daughter were very young. My husband’s parents had been visiting and we had decided to tour the Hermitage near Nashville.
While waiting outside for our turn to tour the famous home, we searched for a way to keep our young ones entertained. It wasn’t long before we turned to our son’s favorite game of Hide and Seek, using the nearby majestic trees as hiding places.
Why this memory stands out was the way our young daughter “hid”.
I can still see in my mind’s eye, her little hands covering her eyes as she leaned against the trunk of a big tree nearby. She was standing in plain view announcing, “Come find me.” She thought by hiding her eyes, she was fully hidden. Of course, we played along, “Where’s Catherine? I don’t see her, Memaw, do you see her?” Even big brother, David, played along. Young Catherine’s precious little giggles brought our whole family such joy!
Fast forward in time.
One of our oldest grandson’s favorite games is Hide and Seek. We have played various versions of this game over his five years of life. When he was three, he loved to hide with me and have his granddaddy look for us. It was funny how even though I tried to show him how to be quiet and to get behind a piece of furniture or in a good hiding spot, he was determined not to go too long without being found.
Tavis’ eyes would widen with anticipation when his granddaddy came close to us.
Pretending not to see us, granddaddy would look in all the nearby hiding places as Tavis laughed with delight. Then Tavis would jump up or out and joyfully announce, “Here I am.”
I loved watching the expressions of both my husband and grandson as Eric acted surprised and Tavis grinned happily, jumping quickly in his granddaddy’s warm embrace. Treasured memories.
I’d love to hear about times you’ve played the game, Hide and Seek.
Let’s keep creating memories as we have fun playing with our children and grandchildren.
I’ve written another article on hiding and seeking for the Christian Writers Circle. Read it here.
by Brenda Flowers | Jul 22, 2016 | Parents/Grandparents
When I was young, we were taught patriotic songs in school such as “America the Beautiful” and ” God Bless America”
As my husband and I traveled this summer across the United States, I realized how blessed we are to live in America.
Let’s continue to teach our children these songs and the values our nation was built upon. 
