I've read this post from Ann a few times and am challenged every read-through.  So what are the things that I want to aim our arrows at....  ways to encourage them to discover their own passions and talents and encourage them to persevere, to sweat long and hard to practice all they can to develop excellence in these gifts?  How can I encourage them to develop those gifts til they come into the freedom of being able to express all the beauty and winning and glory that those gifts were meant for in them?

Isaiah is an artist.  We've seen his passion for drawing wax and wane and when he's not practicing much, his art defeintly shows it.  Same for piano.  We heard a little friend of his play for us recently.  She's taken piano lessons for about 8 months longer than him and she plays amazingly well.  She practices all the time... she loves to practice.  It shows... and I want to find those loves for each of our kids and I want to encourage them towards a few loves that need to be on their lists no matter what.

- The Word:  singing it, memorizing it, knowing the stories, holding fast...
- Listening:  Hearing me when I talk to them, Reading aloud, various genres of literature, current events, biographies
- Prayer:  oh the width and the depth and the beauty of this invitation, this seeking journey
- Music & Art Appreciation:
-and more that I'm too space headed to articulate now...  we leave for the states in a day and half!