To my (little) surprise

Recently I had a little surprise- something simple yet something I want to remember.

Sunday was Valentine's Day but my husband was out of town at a conference. We had already celebrated. He planned with my oldest daughter to surprise me Friday evening prior to Valentine's day and they truly did surprise me only letting me know 30 minutes before hand that we were going out. My oldest daughter was going to take care of everything on the homefront. It was a wonderful time with my Valentine, my sweetheart for life!

Anyway, then on Valentine's day we (my five children and I) came home from church and I did feel a little down because we usually spend Sundays together as a family. I didn't think it showed though to me children as I was busy preparing our lesson plans for the upcoming week, etc. It was getting close to suppertime and I asked my oldest daughter if she would wash some potatoes and prepare them to microwave for baked potatoes. Then I was busy again and time slipped away from me. When I rushed out to the kitchen to prepare supper for my children, I found this at the table (all prepared by my creative oldest daughter) who also had the potatoes cooked with toppings all pulled together and a vegetable cooking too.

To those out there that have low expectations of teenagers, I beg to differ. If you don't value them or expect much from them, then they won't feel encouraged to do much!

As my children grow up and get closer to adulthood, I have mixed emotions. I don't look forward to the time when they leave home as I feel blessed to have them in our home. I do however, feel happy when I see that all the lessons, devotions, prayers, etc pay off into them doing things on their own that our thoughtful of others and creative.

Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.
—Proverbs 22:6

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one's youth.
Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
Psalm 127:3-5