Category: Posts by BARBIE POLING

[from the archives] I meandered out into the kitchen to get some late breakfast.  Annie and Lizzy were in the living room dancing. As soon as they saw me, Annie exclaimed, “Mommy Mommy Mommy! Watch us!!” I watched as the girls danced to the beginning of “Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree”, but something was missing. … Continue reading Dancing with Joy

[from the archives] I was in the bathroom brushing my teeth getting ready for bed. Lizzy came in. “I need to get a new band aid for my thumb, Mom.” She showed me a ½ inch long shallow slice down the front of her thumb. “How’d you do that?” “Missy did it to me.” Missy… Continue reading Identifying Cruelty

[from the archives] My husband made a marimba. Several months back we were at a music event in downtown Seattle, and we saw a marimba band. It was very cool! The marimbas looked as though they were made of PVC and 2x4s. We all agreed we should make some someday. The other day Tim decided… Continue reading Marimba Harmony

[from the archives] I’ve been thinking about you.  I’ve been thinking about those who read my blogs. I’ve been writing a great deal about how I specifically talk with my kiddos about the issues of their hearts. It’s occurred to me that some may be thinking, “Great! If I just say things like Barbie says… Continue reading My Note to Moms

[from the archives] In my last couple of blogs, I’ve talked about how I addressed my children’s development of false personality and their sin of using their peers to try and get approval and attention for themselves. I was glad to find my older children able to recognize and stop this sinful relational behavior, but… Continue reading Giving by Being Interested

[from the archives] Here is some more exciting heart-level growth that happened after I took my children out of band and choir, especially in Rachel. As I said in my last blog post, the kids began to play duets and trios together, but they quickly ran out of challenging music for their instruments. We went… Continue reading Purpose Unfolding

[from the archives] As I wrote about in my previous blog post, several years back I began to realize how my children were forming their own version of a twisted false personality. I saw how they were using their peers to build habits of being approved by others in a vain attempt to view themselves… Continue reading Taking and Using Addressed

[from the archives] I recently received an unexpected message from a friend I haven’t seen since high school. He said his message was long overdue. He wanted to apologize for something he remembers saying to me way back then that he felt was unkind. I don’t remember him saying it, but as I sent along… Continue reading Forming False Personality