Prayers

We try and end our day with prayer as a family each night but it doesn't always happen. The kids are good about asking us to come to their rooms to say prayers, even on nights when Mommy and Daddy are so tired..we often pray in the car when we see an ambulance or fire truck. Also, before we let Emmaline out of the car we say a prayer for our day at school...I also try to pray aloud when the kids are getting out of hand or upset with one another and that usually quiets them down for a little while anyway.

Georgia says: Thank you for sharing, caring and loving. (I'm pretty sure she learned this from her Lambs of God school)

Hayes says: Thank you for God and Jesus and Mommy and Daddy. Amen. (he usually adds in a sister or dog or grandparent randomly)

Emmaline says: Dear God, thank you for this day. Thank you for Mommy, Daddy, Dixie and Gauge and my brother and sisters. Thank you for God and Jesus and heaven. Please help the people who don't have food or a home.

This is just a little bit of what they say almost every night. They always adlib extra prayers, people, whatever is on their minds but this captures them right now. Emmaline is pretty good about keeping her eyes closed and folding her hands. Hayes can do really well and will close his eyes tightly and put his hands folded close to his mouth. Georgia is usually waving her arms around or playing with her hair or touching someone.
Emmaline will always come and ask us to say prayers if we haven't done it yet. If Hayes is upset (usually cause he wants to sleep with one of the girls) if you say prayers with him it makes him calm down and usually go to sleep without a problem. Georgia likes to get her back scratched and then she will go into a long prayer and then say, "Mommy, your turn."

We finish our prayers with "in Jesus name, Amen" and the kids usually all say this. We ask who wants to start the prayer, Emmaline never wants to, but Hayes and Georgia usually argue over who gets to.

I hope that we are instilling good memories and habits into them and they know how important and easy it is to pray. I pray they know and remember to do it often and as if He's a friend right their next to them. Another thing I love is that when they are pretending, they usually get on their bikes or load up a shopping cart or stroller with their "bibles and work books" and pretend to go to Bible Study. Then usually Georgia will 'teach' everyone out of her book! It's pretty funny and sweet.

We are working right now on securing a date for the new year to get them baptized at our church. It's looking like January 12, 2014.