for Little She

Sparkle, sparkle little girl.

How you brighten up our world.

You remind us of God’s love.

And He’s watching up above.

Sparkle, Sparkle little girl.

How you brighten up our world.

and for little He

Happy, Happy little Boy.

You fill my heart with so much Joy.

You are sent from God above.

You remind us of His love.

Happy, Happy little boy.

You fill my heart with so much Joy.

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Every night around 7 the bed-time routine begins at our house.  We do bath time right after the children finish eating dinner.  My daughter loves to play and pretend in the tub.  My son, likes in and out.  Then it’s jammies, brush hair and teeth, and read a bed-night story.

My daughter picks out her own books, and they are always Bible-themed.  We love reading the stories of An Alice in Bibleland by Alice Joyce Davidson.  The stories are so great, cause they are from the Bible, and the read is all rhymes! YAY!

So back to our bed-time routine.  Then we say prayers.  “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, Lord protect me through the night and keep me safe, till’ morning light.  Amen.”

Then we sing their bed-night songs.

“Sparkle, sparkle little girl.  How you brighten up our world.  You remind us of God’s love.  And He’s watching up above.  Sparkle, Sparkle little girl.  How you brighten up our world.”

“Happy, Happy little Boy.  You fill my heart with so much Joy.  You are sent from God above.  You remind us of His love.  Happy, Happy little boy.  You fill my heart with so much Joy.”

Lastly we say, “Goodnight, sweet dreams,” and I always say. “Mommy will be here when you wake up.”  Finished, done and close the door and now the game begins.  We wait to see if the door will open and if a fuzzy little head will pop out.  A tiny little voice will say all of the following:

“Mom, I don’t want to go to bed.  I’m not tired.  I’m scared.  I want some food.  I need water.  I don’t know where my Lightening McQueen toy is.  Can you read me another story?  Can I cuddle with you in your bed?”

Haha, the joy of parenthood.  The process of bed-time.  It is a division of parenting that is all of it’s own.  It’s a thing.  It can last for at least 2 hours a night.  Let’s say, on average that bedtime routines can last 4 – 5 years per child, that 7,300 hours of our lives putting our two children to bed.  Crazy.

I’m so thankful for the time we spend with our children before they go to bed.  They love their daily routines, they find comfort in the repeat patterns that we have created.  We love singing and praying with them and for them.  It’s a peaceful time after they have fallen to sleep.  I know they are safe and their little bodies are healthy and growing.  Lord, thank you for our health and thank you for how they are growing.

What bed-time routines do you guys use for putting your children to sleep?  Do you do the same thing every night like we do?  Do you have any suggestions on things that have worked for you?  I’d love to hear back from you!

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