Teaching that we're here to serve

Around here we believe in our boys working and working hard.

Three out of our four boys have jobs that put a little jingle in their pocket.

Tucker,14, cuts grass and weed eats.He takes care of all of our animals on the

farm, orders chickens, and is in charge of the feed for the rest of the animals.

Alot rests on his ability to be responsible.We taught him these things and

we expect him to be a working asset to our family.

When he does things for our farm he does not get paid. We have the

mind set that if you live here you do your part.He has a side job of

mowing grass and yard work in which he gets paid. This week he has been

bartering with family friends.Our friend Brock Ray (who has a hunting

radio show and hunting DVDs) is having a Videography school in which

men from all across the nation come and learn from the best how

to have their own video business.It's 5 days of intense learning and Tucker

is doing yard work for Brock in exchange for the classes.

He is being taught lighting, how to video weddings and anything outdoors.

They teach him how to start a business from the ground up.

This is huge for a 14 year old guy.The Lord has given Tucker a unique love for cameras

and electronics. We stress the importance of Tucker having

a job that will allow him to be at home with his family as much as possible and have him learning things that he can pass down to his children.

So this is an opportunity that the Lord has given Tucker

to put him on a path of providing for his family.

Cooper is eight.We expect Cooper to work hard and he does.

He helped his dad cement fence post just this

past weekend.He loves getting dirty and he loves working

along side his dad.His brother is teaching him about the farm

and the jobs that will be passed down to him.

He has a small rabbit manure business in which

he sells buckets of manure for 5 dollars.

(In case you didn't know, rabbit manure is incredible

for your garden.)

Cullen is five.

He has a small money making job of gathering eggs for his grandmother and walking them 1/2 mile to her house. Cullen is in the early part of his training but he is learning from his brothers

that this is just a way of life.

Every Friday Scott takes a different child to work with him for half of a day.He starts with the oldest and works his way down to the youngest.They have to carry bags for him and learn to talk to the customers. This is not always very convenient for Scott but he is determined to have the kids with him as much as possible. Teaching them any chance he gets that Men have to work.They have to be about the business of taking care of their families.

We say this to them over and over and over.

One of my favorite things to ask Cullen

is "Cullen, why are you here?"

I'm here to serve mom!

It's our job as parents to equip them with the tools to do this job well.We are all here to serve.
My boys need to be taught that, Lord willing, they will have a wife one day and children

who will need them to provide for them.

The boys aren't the only ones who

have an extra job.

Taylor, our (almost!)17 year old, works

for her dad two days a week by

calling his customers and taking orders

over the phone. She is learning

to bless her father by honoring him as she

talks to his customers.

We are teaching her that someday she will

honor her husband and work for him..

We as parents have to be diligent in finding ways

for our children to learn to work and work with

the attitude of service.

The things we are doing with our children

were not set in our lap, we sought these things out

intentionally and made sacrifices to make them happen.

This is not always an easy road.

We are constantly training our children

in attitude and disciplining them when needed.

Our children have to see us work hard

and be about our work with a good attitude.

They will not learn to serve well if

we are not serving well..(ask me how I know this)