Author: Linsey Driskill

Hi! I've been married more than 15 years, have triplets, and love encouraging families in following Jesus and his words: to love God and love others. I love spontaneity, simplicity, and authenticity. You can find me on Facebook and Instagram Page @BeautifulHeartedParenting and at LinseyDriskill.com.

Laughter & Would You Rather Questions

Linsey Driskill

Isn’t laughter the best!? When we get the giggles going, usually the chaos stills. One of our very favorite ways to do this is asking “Would You Rather” questions.

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30 Ridiculous Would You Rather Questions for Kids

Would You Rather…

  1. Swim in ice cream or donuts?
  2. Never brush your teeth again or never take a bath again?
  3. Would you rather have stinky feet or stinky hands?
  4. Have to crawl everywhere or walk upside down everywhere?
  5. Have a cupcake-making machine in your room or a donut-making machine?
  6. Not wash your hands or hair for a month?
  7. Eat a chocolate covered cricket or a peanut-butter worm?
  8. Hiccup or burp all the time?
  9. Be able to walk on the ceiling or sideways on the wall?
  10. Have 5 noses or 5 eyes?
  11. Have green hands or green feet?
  12. Be smaller than an ant or bigger than a tree?
  13. Hop on one foot or spin everywhere you go?
  14. Have feet on your head or on your knees?
  15. Have Olaf or Snoopy for a pet?
  16. Live in a tree hole or underground prairie dog tunnel?
  17. Have noodles for hair or broccoli?
  18. Be a whale or dinosaur?
  19. Have an elephant’s trunk or a giraffe’s neck?
  20. Be a bird or dolphin?
  21. Be a chameleon so you can change colors, or be a cheetah so you can run as fast as a car?
  22. Live on a cloud or in the bottom of the sea?
  23. Stand barefoot in a bowl of smooshy bananas or slimy mushrooms?
  24. Have your tongue or your hands stuck in a bottle?
  25. Only be able to yell or whisper?
  26. Go to the beach or mountains?
  27. Be sprayed with a snail’s gooey liquid or a spider’s web?
  28. Be able to walk on water or on the top of trees?
  29. Sleep with a helmet on or with your shoes on?
  30. Ride on a Cloud or a Rainbow?

 

God’s Full Grace

Linsey Driskill
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So many moments I feel like I’ve been anything but “beautiful hearted” with my kids. Can you relate? I strive for calmness, but many times, I do the opposite. I couldn’t do motherhood without God’s grace. I need it. Every day.
Whether our kids are fighting or not listening, it can be easy to lose our cool (my kids’ signature pouty faces are in the pictures!). I love Psalm 130:7 because it has Jesus’ grace written all over it: “… put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is FULL redemption.”
I don’t think “beautiful hearted” means getting it right every time, but rather to humbly ask for forgiveness from our children when we need to, not giving up, and continuing to seek Jesus. Do we show our kids humility by asking for forgiveness when we need to? Do we model what FULL redemption looks like by accepting His grace when we mess up? Or do we sulk in guilt and anxiety?
I pray Jesus would lead all of us to have calm and loving hearts with our kids, but that when we fall short, we could bask in his grace by moving forward in joy. Jesus, thank you that you offer us FULL redemption when we ask. Help us to fix our hope on you so our kids can experience more of you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

The Greatest Love: Sacrifice

Linsey Driskill

We are forever grateful for all of the men and women who have given their lives so we can experience freedom. Thank you for showing us what sacrifice really means. And, to family and friends who have lost loved ones, thank you for the sacrifice you have also given. You show us the meaning of Jesus’ words in John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” We will always remember you, and when we fly the flag, we celebrate you.

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Will Our Kids Be Easily Swayed or Be Confident?

Linsey Driskill

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by Linsey Driskill

“How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God.” Jesus (John 5:44)

We all know our children will interact with all kinds of people: some wonderful, some harsh. I pray my daughters and son are confident so they know how to stand strong and not give into peer pressure. I want to equip them the best I can. Jesus always spoke truth to people and didn’t worry about man’s approval. He loved the outcasts, overturned tables in the temple, stayed focus on God’s will regardless of the harshness around him, and never wavered in his faith, confidence and purpose. In Luke 9:5, He said, “If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet…” Jesus simply didn’t care what others thought of Him. He was the greatest example of being humble, yet confident.

What will our kids do when others try to sway or intimidate them? Will they be brave and confident? Will they have boundaries?

~ Esther stood up to Hamaan, and saved the Jewish people;

~ Naomi urged Ruth to leave, but Ruth had the confidence to stay. From that one choice, Ruth married Boaz and Jesus came from their lineage;

~ David did not turn away from a bully intimidating him- he confidently proclaimed that he came in the Name of the Lord and overtook him;

~ Deborah defeated the evil Sisera because she chose not to run away from a scary, unknown situation, but to bravely trust God;

~ The crippled woman staggered to the front of the synagogue while Jesus preached, ignoring the critics and traditions… she was healed by Jesus;

~ Jesus’ disciples chose to follow Him, and they became bearers of the greatest Truth ever told.

~ And what about Mary being pregnant with Jesus when she was only engaged? Mary was fearful at first, but chose not to cave into the opinions of others. And, through Mary, our Savior Jesus came into the world.

Along with Mary being afraid, I assume the others had a similar fear, but they made a choice to trust God and be brave. Being brave doesn’t mean we won’t be afraid- it means walking forward in faith. Do we want fear or bravery to drive our kids’ choices? Do we want them to have courage to stand out from the crowd and to follow Jesus? If so, let’s instill the truth in our kids that our confidence comes from God, not others. Our kids will learn that their worth is not dictated by others’ opinions, but on the immense love Jesus has for each of them. A great verse to impress on the hearts of our kiddos: “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.” Jeremiah 17:7

 

Are We Raising Brave or Fearful Kids?

Linsey Driskill

by Linsey Driskill

I once heard a story about a mom who went to the mall with her friends. All her friends’ kids were eating cheerios in their strollers just as they were told, while her daughter suddenly ripped off all her clothes and jumped into the mall fountains! At the time, she was horrified, but that same spirited child ended up becoming a missionary. A strong and passionate spirit is a beautiful thing. Yes, we want to instill respect, but God also uses the spunk and spirited parts of our kids’ personalities in great ways- let’s not quench that so they can explore, dream, discover, and become confident in the difference makers God has called each of them to be!

What creates a fearful child? Sissy Goff and Dave Thomas (counselors and authors) say fearful parents raise fearful kids. What do we convey to our kids? Do we allow them to explore and learn for themselves (within healthy limits), or are we constantly saying ‘be careful’ and protecting their every move, not giving them the freedom to discover and learn on their own? This spoke to me because I have to restrain myself from constantly saying ‘Be careful’, and ‘Don’t do that’. When I withhold these words, it is such a freeing feeling. These counselors said that CONFIDENCE grows in a child when they learn that they are ABLE. Let’s (including myself!) release our kids from an overprotective nature, and give them opportunities to learn that they are able, so they can be confident.

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