Awards Day

This week I had the privilege of attending 5 award ceremonies for my grandchildren. I clapped the hardest and loudest when their names were announced as they walked across the stage to receive their awards. Each one of them deserved every award they were given, at least in my eyes.

I wondered if they had Awards Day when I was in elementary school. I don’t remember, but then that was a long time ago. My daughters really couldn’t remember if they had Awards Day either when they were that young.

Awards Day – a time set aside by all involved to gather and honor a child for doing something extraordinary. (My definition)

Let me tell you what I saw at Awards Day. Children that were excited to hear their names called and walk across the stage, receive a pin, certificate, and ribbon with a medallion and hug their teacher and principle. Parents scampering about to take numerous pictures of their prince or princes. Cute songs being sung and slide show presentations of the years activities. The shortest ceremony was 1 ½ hours and the longest was 2 ½ hours. The average was 20 children per class and nearly all had 6 classes. We clapped for each and every one of those precious children. 

Along with the angelic children were the teachers and principles that seemed to think they were on a live TV talent show. The jokes, the tears in the last goodbyes, and one principle even sang for the audience.

Not taking into consideration the fact that elementary schools don’t have seats in their auditoriums, you just sit on the floor that was built in amphitheater style.

Precious, just downright precious.

So now I have blisters on my hands from clapping for all these angels but my rear is now 2 inches wider from sitting on a hard floor for all those hours. My back aches and I will never get some of those songs out of my head.

This brings me to think about the awards I have gotten in the past. I have some ribbons for 2nd place in the Alaska State Fair for my jams and jellies and one for canned stuffed cabbage leaves. The woman that took first place stuffed her cabbage leaves with moose, I used plain ground beef. Show off! Some awards for working for 5 years at the same company and a few others along my career. Most of them are in a box somewhere in the attic.

Awards, accolades and trophies – oh my! The things we put our energy into to win that prize at the end. 

Speaking of the end. What is your reward going to be in the end? The end of your life here on earth. Are you going to be buried with those awards, accolades and trophies? Then what?

How about putting some effort into the end of our eternal life. How hard are we working towards that goal? Do I study my Bible so I can know all that God wants me to know about Him and His Son? Am I doing anything extraordinary to reach the goal of living eternity in Heaven?

I have nothing against awards even if they are kind of meaningless. I loved every moment of each of the ceremonies I attended. However, it did make me think about the real reward in life.

How about you?

Oh Those Children

by Lillian Humphries

Have you ever been somewhere with your toddler or teenager and they have misbehaved? Of course you have, if you have children, then it has happened to you or it will. Those precious little people that you have birthed from your loins can turn into possessed demons in a blink of an eye. It always seems to happen at the most inopportune time, in church, in the grocery store or any public place. They seem to have a 6th sense of when the most embarrassing moments in life will take place.

My girls used to do that to me. I remember one time really well. We were in a line to check
out of a store, I can’t remember what store but none the less, that is where we were. Evidently I wouldn’t buy something for one of them that they wanted so she was really unhappy. Out of that little sweet daughter of mine (can’t remember which one) came the words “you love her more than you love me”. Well what do you say to that? I fixed her tail; I told her she was right, I did love her sister more than her. It stopped her in her tracks. Of course I think the cashier almost picked up the phone and called 911 for child abuse. Later I had a talk with her and explained that was not true. Now it has become a joke with the three of us and we do it for fun.

Whether it is acting up, not using good manners or giving out the family secrets in Bible class, children act up.

I’m sure you know where I am going with this, you are God’s child. Do you think you ever
embarrass God? Ouch. Yup, think about it.

Titus 2:5 tells women that they are to act “so that the word of God will not be dishonored.”

1Corinthians 10:31, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Our actions should always be glorifying God. Does that me we go around singing and dancing to God 24/7? Of course not. But our lives should be to the glory of God. As you go through your daily routine of diapers, dishes, laundry, car pools and work your actions should show that you are one of God’s children.

What your child does is a reflection on you as a parent. What you do is a reflection upon God.

Are you brave enough?

by Lillian Humphries


Let’s just start by saying I know some of you will disagree with me and that’s OK. I will love you anyway. J Remember this is my blog and it has my opinions in it.

Are you brave enough to stand up for what is right for your family? Life is hard and every day we face a myriad of decisions that must be made. We make them for ourselves, our family, our work, or husband/wife. What to wear, what to eat, what needs to be 
cleaned, who goes where and at what time and the list goes on. When was the last time you woke up and said “What should I do today”? Or “What would I like to do today”? I am sure it has been a long time since that happened, maybe even back to when you were a child.

When did we start letting society tell us what to do? Can we not think for ourselves? We
are so bombarded with information and choices in this day and age that it leaves our head spinning. Where are the days of getting up each day and doing your job and coming home to spend time with family and friends and considering that a full day and enough?

Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

God tells us to be still. When will we listen to Him? I understand we all think we are doing the best we can. I challenge you to really think about that issue.

List the top 5 priorities that you believe should be in life. Now list the top 5 things that really take up most of your time. Are they the same? Good for you if they are. I would venture to say that we can delete a few things from our lists of activities and still have a wonderful complete life.

All things can be pleasurable and fun and teach us things along the way. But what is the trade off? Organized sports are a great activity for children to be in. It teaches them team work and how to share, take turns and work with others. It is wonderful exercise and runs off excessive energy. It is also very entertaining. How about dance, gymnastics, karate, cycling, volleyball, basketball, golf or swimming, etc. They are all good activities, nothing wrong with them. But what quality of life are these things bringing to your life? If you are like most families I know you are spending a lot of time running to and from activities, spending more money then you need to on uniforms, costumes and equipment. Everything is rushed in life, hurry up and eat so we can get to school, hurry up eat so we can get to church, hurry up brush your teeth so we can get to bed, hurry up so we can . . . . . . (you fill in the blank).

Wait – it doesn’t have to be like that. Just because everyone else is doing it doesn’t mean we all have to do it. If it doesn’t fit your family dynamics and you find out that life is harder than you want it to be – just stop. Oh wait – doesn’t that mean my child will not be accepted into the well-adjusted people in life. No – how about this – your child understands God’s plan for his/her life, your child understand that their job is to go to school, study and learn. Your child understands what family is and that life is not going from event to event. Your child understands what it takes to run a home and how to treat other family members, how to help your neighbors, how to take care of their elderly family members. Your child will know how to budget money with what they have and not go out and get another job to pay for all the things they want or think they “need”.

 If you had a child with special needs you would build your life around that child’s needs. Parents, each of your children are a special needs child. They need you to love them and teach them the basics first and foremost. They need to understand what home and family values are. You want to teach them team work, teach them how to be a member of your family team. Each is an MVP (most valuable player). They do not need to be on a field, stage or other environment to learn their worth.

Parents I beg you to stand up for your families and get off the merry-go-round before it’s too late. Don’t teach your child that life is a series of parties/events, teach them life is about doing your best, loving God, your family and country

Share with me how your feel about the crazy life we are trying to live now. Do you agree or disagree? Let me know.