I’m excited to let all you moms with little ones who can’t blow their noses know that I’ve found the perfect product to help your kiddos breath when they have runny noses.  Thanks to a dear friend who introduced us to NoseFrida, also known as the “Snotsucker.”   In our family, we prefer the term snotsucker.  What is a NoseFrida anyway?  It just doesn’t ring with our goofy bunch.  The Snotsucker!  Now, that’s a name that sticks!

So, what exactly is it?  It’s an expensive and simple little device ($16.99 at our local Whole Foods Store) that helps you suck (not beat) the snot out of your kid.  You simply put the tip of the tube at your child’s nostril, and you use your mouth to suck the snot out.  Yes, it truly sounds gross and it is gross.  BUT!  It works wonders and my child doesn’t cry when I aspirate her.  No, your child’s snot won’t end up in your mouth.  There’s a little foam filter that prevents you from inhaling your child’s snot.

When we had our first baby, the hospital sent us home with a bulb syringe.  Being new parents we had no idea what a bulb syringe does except to squirt water for fun.  When our child got his first cold and had constant runny nose, we discovered the wonders of the bulb syringe.  Soon enough we discovered a downside.  Whenever we bust out the bulb syringe, the baby cried like there’s no tomorrow.  The more he cried, the more worked up he got, and the more snot he got.  That was a bad cycle.  Well, with the Snotsucker our child doesn’t freak out anymore.  I can just suck the snot out while she stands.  I no longer have to manhandle the child to get her to cooperate.  Whooo hooo. . . Yes, the Snotsucker!  We love it.

If you want to know more, here are the FAQs.

This past weekend I had the chance to listen to Josh McDowell talk about “The Seven A’s of Relational Parenting” at a homeschool conference.  One of the seven A’s was “Appreciation: a sense of significance.”  He explained that as parents we need to catch the kids doing things RIGHT and express appreciation.  For example: “Thank you for taking the trash out.  I appreciate that.”  Such example is simple, yet I find myself not doing it as often as I’d like.

When the children are young, one of our goals is to teach them obedience.  It’s easy to expect obedience and forget to tell them that we appreciate their effort.  While training them to be obedient, we focus so much on corrections that we don’t express words of appreciation.  Their world is full of what they shouldn’t do or what they didn’t do right and how they may do better.  I’m not suggesting that we put discipline and corrective actions aside, rather, I’m compelled to put more emphasis on what they do right and tell them how much we appreciate them.

I believe that if we continue in the path of not expressing words of appreciation, we will get in the habit of NOT appreciating them at all.  And what’s more, they will increasingly find no joy in doing the things that please us.  To remedy this, we should start NOW so we develop a good habit rather than a bad one.  Now, go find a kid and tell him how much you appreciate him!

This past weekend our entire family went to a homeschooling conference where I attended workshops while Daddy and the kids hung out at the hotel pool.  One of the highlights of the conference was the chance to meet Jim Weiss, our favorite storyteller.  We listened to many of his stories that I expected him to have a booming voice when I talked to him in person.  Instead, he has a soft and gentle voice.  He was very kind and even remembered my oldest child’s name!  I was impressed.

I highly recommend his stories and you can order CDs at his website Greathall Productions.

We just had to take a picture with him, and here’s the proof that we met him:

One of our children consistently has a dejected spirit every morning, without fail.  It isn’t easy to deal with this persistent attitude first thing in the morning.  When this happened again this morning, I took the time to talk to her.  Proverbs 17:22 came to mind, which says, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”

She knows this particular verse very well.  In fact, she even knows how to sing it.  Thanks to Steve Green’s Hide Em In Your Heart CD.  I sang the “Joyful Heart” song which is based on Proverbs 17:22 to her this morning and carefully explained that a broken spirit, which she has EVERY morning, dries up the bones.  I proceeded to show her where her bones are by pressing down on her arms and legs.  Bones are everywhere in the body, including the face.  If we continue to have a broken spirit, the bones inside will dry up or die.  That’s a lot of dead bones!  However, the Bible says, if we have a joyful spirit, it’s like a good medicine.  Whenever we get sick, like getting a cold, we can take medicine which will make us feel better.  Likewise, a joyful spirit will make us better.  I asked her whether she wants to have the good medicine or dead bones.  It was quite obvious at this point that the right and wise answer is a joyful spirit.  After this discussion, she was able to gather her broken spirit and turn it to a joyful spirit.

I’m very grateful for Steve Green’s song, especially this particular verse.  How appropriate! The Scriptures, even set to music, are very appropriate and useful in teaching our children.  Thank God for his provision!

Once again we participated in Barnes & Noble Summer Reading.  We’re really excited that our five-year-old can now read and participate along with his big brother.  Here is the dynamic duo of readers, proudly holding up their rewards!  Hooray for free books!