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JULY 2023
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THE PARENTHOOD PERSPECTIVE
3 LESSONS I’VE LEARNED FROM HAVING CHILDREN
Lesson No. 2: Practice what you preach. Whether you’re aware of it or not, your kids are always watching you and pick up on the times you do something different than what you tell them. I’ve learned that, in many ways, children learn a lot through observation, so the best way to pass on values or behaviors you find important is to ensure you’re also practicing them, too. For example, if you tell your child it’s important to clean up their room or read a book every night, you should probably be doing that, too, to show them how important it is. If you don’t, they’ll pick up on that, and push back when it’s their turn. Lesson No. 3: Let your yes be your yes, and your no be your no. Matthew 5:37 says this, and I’ve found it to be an essential tool in discipline. When you tell your kids they can or can’t do something, you must stick with what you said. The truth is that sometimes tough love is the most effective tool, and by allowing your kids to push back and bend the rules, it becomes the standard going forward. Plus, sticking with “no” and “yes” in your household also teaches children how to take responsibility for their actions. They knew something was wrong when they did it; now what? And the thing is, when you lay out the lessons you’ve learned about being a parent, you also realize how often you use these same ideas in other parts of your life, whether at your job or in other relationships. So, if you’re a parent, what lessons have you learned from your children? I’d love to hear them!
Believe it or not, I was quite the handful for my parents when I was a kid. I had a lot of energy and definitely gave my young parents a run for their money. In high school, I wanted my peers to think I was “cool,” sometimes resulting in my acting out for attention. When I got in trouble, my dad would often try to tell me that life is too precious to spend it acting out or worrying about what your teenage peers think. But at 17 or 18 years old, your friends are your world, and learning the lesson that what they think of you really doesn’t matter is easier said than done. As an adult today, I can see this is all true, and it’s something we’ve probably all learned with time. Now, as a parent myself, I can see how parenting truly is a lesson in patience. These realizations came back to me just the other day when my own children had an event at their school where each student got to make their own books, and parents had the opportunity to visit them and listen to them read their writing aloud. The whole event was very sweet, and as a parent, it does push you to reflect on your own life and what you’ve learned from the precious child or children God has given you.
I’d like to share what I’ve learned in my own parenthood journey.
Lesson No. 1: You have to stay focused and pay attention. The very first thing I learned as a parent is you need to be purposeful about the time you spend with your kids. It can be incredibly easy to answer emails from your phone while they’re on the couch next to you or even sit in much-desired silence on a car ride. This may feel like spending time with your child, but to them, it can feel like they have to compete for your attention against whatever else you’re doing. For children, those small moments where your attention is solely on them really lets them know you value them, and it can make a world of difference in their life.
Robert Burns
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Fairfax A TRAGIC LOSS
Recently, a family at our church suffered an unexpected tragedy. Their little girl got very sick and went to the hospital. The doctors were unsure what to do, as they couldn’t determine her illness, and she passed away only a few days later in Jacksonville. She was just 5 years old. Her name was Anna Fairfax Roberts (known as “Fairfax” or “Fair” by many). Fairfax’s passing shocked everyone in our church and our community, and it happened so suddenly that many of us were left reeling at the tragedy of losing such a precious little girl. After hearing this news, we are all incredibly heartbroken and saddened. None of us can imagine what her family is going through. So, in response to this profound loss, those who knew Fairfax have created a GoFundMe page to try and alleviate some of the burden that Fairfax’s family is facing with her hospitalization and death.
Hi newsletter friends, it’s Ella! I’ve been pretty busy lately with school out for the summer and everything, so I’ve spent a lot of time practicing for my future career as an artist! Yep, you heard that right! At school last year, we had to write a book all by ourselves (which I guess makes me an author, too!), and one of the things we wrote about in our books was what we wanted to be when we grow up. So, in my book, I talked all about how I want to be an artist! I’m not sure what kind of artist I want to be yet, but I know I love coloring with markers best. I make all kinds of things like birthday cards, portraits, or pictures of flowers and use markers A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST IN THE MAKING CHICKS DIG IT
to create different shades just by pressing down more or drawing over the same spot multiple times. Sometimes, you can even draw over one color with another to make a really cool shading pattern, too. I also love to give what I draw away as gifts, like the other day; my dad took me on a daddy- daughter date, and I made him a picture using my markers and some of the shading tricks I know. I also brought some question cards so my dad and I could ask each other questions while we were eating! One of the cards my dad got to ask me was, “If you could do one thing, what would it be?” You might think my answer would be to
draw or paint, but it was actually to serve Jesus! The cards were really fun because sometimes we didn’t know what the other person would say, and we would learn new things about each other. But I still have a lot more to learn, and I want to bring more cards and more pictures on our next daddy-daughter date, too! Until then, I’m going to keep working hard on my shading techniques, and maybe I’ll even invent a cool new drawing style to show off. A professional artist always has something special up their sleeve, after all!
2 LANDSCAPE - HARDSCAPE - IRRIGATION - OUTDOOR LIGHTING
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OUR CLIENTS SAY IT BEST! Robert – I just wanted to shoot you a quick note with a sincere THANK YOU for the work that you and your team did on our property. In our eyes, you all went above and beyond our expectations. The dedication of your team by working in the nasty weather and being meticulous as they were was incredible. Thank you again for the great work you and your team did — I will certainly be recommending your group to all of my contacts and will definitely be in touch for future projects.” – Dave Evans
x Roberts Is in Our Prayers
You can scan the QR code on this page to visit the fundraiser, and I encourage you to consider donating or share it with anyone you believe may be interested — it would really help the family.
And above all, please pray for this sweet family and for God’s comfort to be with them in this challenging time.
Robert Burns
“If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” -Ecclesiastes 4:10 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” -Proverbs 27:17 “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” -Ephesians 1:17 HAVE YOU HEARD THE GOOD NEWS?
EASY OUT
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WE MAKE YOUR OUTDOOR AREAS BEAUTIFUL
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The Lessons Only Parenthood Can Teach Help the Family of Fairfax Roberts Chicks Dig It: An Artist in the Making The Good News Hear From Our Clients Take a Break! Sandy Toes, Sunny Skies, and Beach Bliss
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DISCOVER YOUR IDEAL SEASIDE RETREAT
One of the most important decisions anyone will make regarding their vacation is where they stay. This is especially true for summer vacations at the beach. Everyone has a different idea of their ideal vacation, and where you stay can make or break the trip. FIND THE PERFECT BEACH RENTAL
the cost, or is one without quite the view (but less expensive) still acceptable? You’ll also need to examine the surrounding area to ensure it has everything you
need. If you don’t want to drive much once you settle in, choose a rental within walking distance of the
Here are a few things to consider before booking a beach rental for your vacation.
beach, shops, and restaurants.
Size Matters How many people are coming on your trip? Is it just you and your significant other, or are children coming? You will want to pick a rental to fit your family’s needs. If your traveling party is small, a condo or apartment overlooking
The Extras You should consider a couple of other things when booking a beach rental. If you plan to bring your pets, ensure the rental you book is pet-friendly. It’s also worth investigating if the beach itself is dog- friendly, as bringing your furry friend to the beach can make the vacation even more enjoyable.
the beach will likely work. If your family is large or you’re worried about the kids being too loud, consider a single-family beach house instead. Location, Location, Location You probably already know what beach to visit, but choosing a specific unit can be challenging. Is a rental with a grand view of the beach and the ocean worth
Many rentals also provide beach toys, body boards, and more so you don’t
have to spend money buying or renting them at shops. Read through the rental description, and don’t hesitate to ask the owner any questions.
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