We are working on character building in our house right now, and this is how we have begun. We are adding one leaf every day to our "Family Tree", reading scripture and talking about practical ways that we can apply each leaf's lesson to our lives. I did not want to call them rules, because it is more than that, instead your could call them principle to live by.
There are 18 leaves in all (for now). So, it goes something like this....
In our family:1. We honor and obey God. All of our behavior is measured against this standard. When we disobey our parents, we are disobeying God.Ephesians 6:1-3
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise—"that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."
2. We love, honor and pray for one another. That means we treat each other with gentleness and kindness.Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourself.
Colossians 3:12-14
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another,
forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
3. We Treat each other with respect. It is not respectful to hit another person, no matter how angry we are.Proverbs 29:11
A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
Luke 6:29a
If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.
4. We tell the truth.Colossians 3:9a
Do not lie to one another.
Psalm 34:13
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.
Proverbs 19:9
A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.
5. We consider one another’s interest ahead of our own.Philippians 2:4
Let each of you look not only to his own interest, but also to the interest of others.
I Corinthians 10:24
Let no one seek his own good but the good of his neighbor.
Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself.
6. We speak quietly and respectfully with one another.James 1:29
…let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.
Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
7. We do not hurt one another with unkind words or deeds. That means we use “honey” words, not “lemon” words.Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are a honey comb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupt talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fit for the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
8. When someone needs correction, we correct him or her in love.I Corinthians 16:14
Let all that you do be done in love.
9.When someone is sorry, we forgive them.Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
10. When someone is sad, we comfort them and when someone is happy we rejoice with them.Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.
11.When we have something nice to share, we share it.I Timothy 6:18
They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.
Hebrews 13:16
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
12. When we have work to do, we do it without complaining.Colossians 3:13
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.
Philippians 2:14 &15
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure,
children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.
13. We take care of everything that God has given us. We do not create unnecessary work for others.I Timothy 6:20
Guard what has been entrusted to your care.
14. We are careful to put away what we take out, close what we open and turn off what we turn on.15. When we make a mess, we clean it up.16. When we go out, we act just as if we were in the house. Proverbs 20:11
Even a child makes himself know by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.
Philippians 1:27
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
17. We all work first so that we can all play together later.Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work heartily for the Lord, not for men.
18. Everyone is required to do things around the house because we belong to a family and a family works together. Serving one another is a manifestation of love.P.S. Sorry for the poor photo, hopefully I will be able to get a new camera this summer when we get our "economic stimulus payment" :)
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I cashed in my Amazon points this week for a yogurt maker and an drawing/coloring book for the kids. So far they love the book and I am excited to use my yogurt maker, but the box has definitely been the highlight of the afternoon. Everyone is working together to make a monster costume out of the box. I will have to post a picture of the finished produce later!
I got this recipe for homemade laundry soap from my friend Sarah and had to share it with you all! It is easy to make and very economical plus it does not have all the harsh chemicals in store bought detergents!
Today we had spaghetti for lunch. I know, your are wondering why I am sharing this bit of information.... Well, it seems that Tallulah has another runny nose and somehow in the course of eating her Spaghetti this afternoon, she managed to get a noodle in her nose! Of course I did not realize it until after she woke up crying from a very brief nap. Poor thing. If you or I had a noodle in our nose, it would be a situation easily remedied, but for a 20 month old, not so. I spent most of the afternoon trying to figure out how to get the noodle out. It just kept slipping in and out of her nose and every time I tried to grab it, she would inadvertently sniff it back up! I tried getting her to blow, I tried covering the other nostril and using the bulb syringe, I even tried grabbing it with tweezers, all to no avail, it was just too slippery! 
