Me: [rushing into the bedroom] Matt, we have a serious problem! Did you know Parker doesn’t think the bible is true?
Matt: What are you talking about?
Me: I was reading devotions with Parker and at the end he said, That’s not true, B. When I asked him what he meant he said that Jesus and miracles and coming back from the dead wasn’t true. He said that it’s like Santa and the Toothfairy?! They aren’t real.
Ryen: [Hiding behind closet door] WHAT?! The Tooth Fairy isn’t REAL?!
Me: Oh, Ryry I didn’t know you were there! Well, uh—you see… well, I… why don’t you go play with Parker?
This comedy happens in the Olthoff house on a daily basis. Before the sun sets, I’m mentally making a list of how I pail in comparison to real moms. You know real moms! They’re the ones who plan out their kids outfits for the week, pack lunches with organic juice boxes and crust-free sandwiches the night before school, and make cookies on a whim.
I—on the other hand—stumble as if walking in a darkened room to stay organized. And if I’m being completely honest with you, I’m not as domestic as I thought. Matt forbids me from doing laundry [because of one wee accident with his soccer jerseys and one of my red towels… who knew?] and after my dish washing prowess failed me last month, I’m officially banned from dishes as well.
But let’s get one thing straight: God has given me two kids to rear and raise up who though biologically I didn’t create, I have the luxury of pouring into their lives. We play games instead of doing chores, I make them eat fancy food even when they complain they’d rather eat Kraft Mac-n-Cheese, and more often than I’d like to admit, I rally the two baby Olthoffs to side with me when Matt tries to make us doing boring things like, oh I don’t know, take showers or something totally unnecessary.
Above anything else, I take their spiritual development very seriously. We pray together when they don’t want to, I’ll sit in Sunday school with them if they need emotional support, and I speak life over their lives even in situations I cannot control. When prayer is annoying, when truth hurts, when God is perceived as nothing more than the Easter Bunny, I mother and shepherd Ryen and Parker as if I spawned these two children in my womb.
After chatting with Parker about the sovereign, almighty power of God from a theological understanding for an 8 year-old, I promised to take my stepson to Israel. Yes, people, I’m taking my little skeptic to ISRAEL. I told him that we would do an investigation of the life of Christ to apologetically believe in the risen Christ. I don’t mess around, y’all. For his 16th birthday we will visit the empty tomb of Christ, walk the Via de la Rosa, and celebrate at the Wailing Wall because God is alive and real.
Parker: Papa, B said we are going to Israel when I’m sixteen!
Ryen: [from behind her door] I want to go too!
Matt: B, what are you getting us into?
Me: SALVATION! That’s what we’re getting into to!
I’m kind of like a parent. I’m kind of like a mom. But I’m wholly committed and qualified to be the maternal spiritual steward for Parker and Ryen Olthoff. This journey is one I don’t take lightly and will seek wisdom from those who have gone before me… not just for my stepchildren, but for the next generation.
Suggestions welcomed. 😉
Love,
The Tooth Fairy
Luv this Tooth Fairy! Salvation presents are the BEST!
I love your perspective! And you are a FANTASTIC mom:)
From another mom who is trying to accomplish the same with her kids every day!
Thanks for your words of wisdom!
Kim
They are so unbelievably lucky to have you in their lives! I come from a divorced household and was not as lucky as there were. You are doing a wonderful job with them! I pray they understand just how lucky they really are!
I actually had the opportunity to go to Israel last year and it is still changing my life to this day! It really brings the Bible to life and I’m sure they will get more out of it than you ever imagined!!!
The other day driving Noah said he didn’t want to go pray at the pole. I came home in a panic telling sal he is already denying his faith. It was because he was in public school and I think we should home school. Sal thought I was crazy and said honey, talk with him pray and let Jesus do His work. The next morning at the pole we gathered the three of us hand and hand and I asked him if he wanted to pray. He said yes and prayed. Oh ye of little faith. I realize that I’m so scared of him not living a life pleasing to Jesus, or fear of his salvation that I find myself freaking out over little episodes like this. I’m reminded that he needs to create his own testimony, as long as I we are teaching truth , praying for them I have to let Jesus do the work. It’s tough to trust in that sometimes but I find hope in remembering the work that was done in my life to know God is the same in my sons lives. 🙂 oh and by the way I’m also banned from laundry, whatever its so overrated anyways!
I totally sat on the sofa this morning… writing in my prayer journal when all of a sudden I realized… “Dang it! I totally forgot to set the kids clothes out for the week! Man, I did so good last week!” Yep, I did fantastic last week… had all their outfits hung together Sunday evening, got all their lunches packed with healthy food that they actually like AND the house was clean. Not so much today… I did, however, get both of their bible journals done with them, helped the girl with some additional work on her bible study that she does with her friends, got a run in with the boy, prayed together as a family and both of them to school on time! I’m calling it a success for both of us today! Our treasures are in Heaven… not our kids’ closets!
BB, you’re doing a phenomenal job! You are doing the most important thing us Moms can do for our kids…exposing them to Jesus! It is a huge, humbling, scary and exciting task and you have been chosen & entrusted to rear God’s most precious creations back to His glorious self!
Keep doing what your doing.
Love your passion for raising those precious kids that way! My mom used to always be nervous to tell us about Santa and the Easter bunny because she thought when we found out they weren’t real, we would think Jesus wasn’t real either. Obviously a somewhat valid concern and something to think about when I have kids. Those kids are blessed to have someone in their life that cares about their hearts as much as you do!
xo
Sara
You ARE a mom to those kids because you love them and care for and about their emotional, spiritual and physical health. These children are so blessed to have you in their lives! Keep on keepin’ on! Jesus will guide you on this path 🙂 Praying for you and the rest of the Othoffs.
awwww! i always love reading your posts! you’re so sweet and real! i know you’re doing a great job with those kids! keep it up, girl! you’re awesome! 🙂
B. First of all, you ARE a mom! When you made a commitment to love their daddy, you also made a commitment to love them just like a bio mom loves her kids. You may not have given birth but that is no biggy!! 🙂 (I’ve given birth to 2. I can say this. I also have a step-mom.) My mom is my mom. My step-mom is my mom. I am a lucky lady. I have 2 moms. Your kids are lucky kids. They have 2 moms!
And don’t worry about the ‘real mom’ stuff. A lot of ‘real moms’ don’t do that. They just want you to think that they do ;). I read your blog and I am very happy that I am. You showed me today that I need to be VERY serious about the salvation issue in my own home. I have a 6 year old and a 1 year old. You’ll teach me how to teach them about Jesus. -Smile!
And thank you! Your blog is great!
PS – I’m gunna aim to take my kids to ISRAEL when they turn 16 too now. 🙂
-Kristy from Mississippi
Israel won’t know what hit it when the Olthoff’s arrive! 😉
As always you brought a smile to my face. As a Mom of two boys or should I say Men now, (26, 22) I can relate. (By the way they are single and good looking and are Christian. Just saying)
I can remember when they were younger and one of them was about seven he asked, “Mom, what is the hardest job you’ve ever done?” I’m not sure my answer was what he expected. Without hesitation I answered, “Being a Parent.”
He asked, “Why?” I’m sure thinking that he was an angel sent from Heaven and he was.
I told him because I’m responsible for teaching you right from wrong, and making sure you turn out to be someone that loves God, loves people, and that leaves the world a better place for having been a part of it.
His response…..”Oh” and he skipped away. But, I knew that the job of being his Mom was intrusted to me for a reason. Often, I have felt like a miserable failure until I look at two young men who stand taller than me.
While we may not agree on everything, we do have one common thread that has always remained a part of our family. We believe there is a God and He is faithful. As I told both of them the other night. They are now old enough to build their own relationships with their Heavenly Father and I knew they would make the right decisions.
Do you best, and leave the rest to them. Questions are natural. But, having you as a Mom I’m sure makes them know that God loves them and has awesome things in store for them. Just keep the conversations going and the freedom to ask why and God will speak to places that we never could. You are awesome and loved more than you know.
oh my word they are adorable. and you are truly blessed!
YAY!! I love it! My eldest is 8, and she has been raised from before birth to love God and believe in Jesus. She is already a mighty little child of Christ. My middle children, we given to me singing Nikki Menaje and Rianna word for word!! Now, I see that their “Jesus seed” is growing. It may be a little baby sprout right now, but boy oh boy do I see a difference in them. They now can sing along to Praise and Worship songs, and are learning to read the Veggie Tale books on their own (kinder & 1st grader). I can’t stop what happens in their other home, but I can make my home the modle of a Christian family. Thank you for such an encouraging post!!