MommySecrets

25 Rules for Moms with Sons

2012-01-30T05:23:00.000-08:00

I just read a great post from Team Studer titled "25 Rules for Sons". It's lovely, and I think you will enjoy reading it and sharing it!

Discover the Superhero in You! Our Service-Learning Activity Booklet

2012-01-25T18:26:00.000-08:00

I worked with Susan Ragsdale, Cindy Lawrence to develop this service-learning activity book for the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service. Their youth volunteer leaders use the booklets in service-learning workshops that they lead for elementary age children. We’d love for you to use it with your youth, or you can contract with us to develop materials especially for you! Email Ann@TheAssetEdge.net to get your free copy of the activity book!

Book Review: Unhallowed Ground: The Fourth Chronicle of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon

2012-01-23T19:10:00.000-08:00

Mel Starr has just released another book in his Hugh De Singleton series. It is titled Unhallowed Ground: The Fourth Chronicle of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon.

Thomas atte Bridge, a town criminal disliked by everyone in the town, is found hanging from a tree at the beginning of the story. The townspeople all assume he has taken his own life, but Master Hugh believes otherwise. As the bailiff, surgeon, and detective in the small 13th century town of Bampton, England, Master Hugh sets on a complicated journey to discover the truth.

I appreciated the character struggles. I think all readers will identify with the juxtaposition of forgiveness vs. retribution, as well as justice vs. mercy. These are important issues for us all to wrestle with!

I was intrigued by the element of historical fiction. The language and scenery will sweep readers into the 13^th century English village life. I especially enjoyed watching the development of relationships and cultures during a different era of time.

However the overall book lacked luster to me. It moved at a very slow pace and I found myself wanting to skim across the pages.

I haven’t read the other three books in the series, and they have a very good reputation, so I might suggest starting there if you want to explore the life of a surgeon detective from long ago.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Kregel Publications, and was asked to give my unbiased feedback on the book.

Book Review and Giveaway: Pink Tiara Cookies For Three

2012-01-15T18:20:00.000-08:00

I am excited to be a part of The Pink Tiara Blog Tour today! Maria Dismondy has written a charming new book, Pink Tiara Cookies For Three. It’s a lovely picture book that helps young girls explore friendship – beyond having one exclusive best friend.

Having a daughter, teaching in schools, and working in youth organizations, I know first-hand about the challenges girls often have with building, maintaining and expanding friendships. We all know that girls can be just plain mean (though also wonderful!), so it’s nice to have a picture book to share with girls about overcoming relational challenges.

Maria’s book offers a lovely and light-hearted avenue to help caregivers explore respectful and kind friendships that can swim against the tide of the bullying and exclusion that are too often present. The drawings are whimsical, relatable, and inspiring. The text is spot-on - even my five-year daughter could easily understand the emotional struggles and the character choices exhibited in the storyline. She quickly identified the main character as choosing meanness instead of kindness throughout most of the story, and cheered when she decided at the end of the story to be a true friend.

This book would be great for counselors, teachers, and parents of young girls.

Click here to see a cute one-minute youtube video overview of the book that captures snippets of the text along with the beautiful pictures.

Click here to order an autographed copy of the book at Maria’s website.

Learn more about Maria’s expertise and passions at www.mariadismondy.com

Wanna WIN your own copy of the book, along with a tiara cookie cutter from Maria? Post a comment with your favorite book for young girls, and I will select a random winner on Friday, January 20, 2012.

Quick and Easy Dinners: Super Simple Chili

2012-01-09T08:30:00.000-08:00

My sister introduced me to this easy recipe. It's super easy and it's my brother-in-law's favorite chili. It's great to double if you need to feed a crowd, or to freeze for later, or to share a meal with a family in need.

2 pounds ground beef

1 (8 ounce) jar salsa

4 tablespoons chili seasoning mix

1 (15 ounce) can light red kidney beans, drained

1 (15 ounce) can dark red kidney beans, drained

1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes

1 (15 ounce) can corn

1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, saute ground beef until browned. Drain grease, if desired.

2. Add the other ingredients. Mix well, reduce heat to low and simmer for at least an hour.
(you can also do this in the crockpot, if that fits your schedule better)

Book Review - Real Marriage: The Truth About Sex, Friendship and Life Together by Mark & Grace Driscoll

2012-01-02T07:03:00.000-08:00

Mark and Grace Driscoll have just released a book together called Real Marriage: The Truth About Sex, Friendship, and Life Together. It is a refreshing, light-hearted, practical resource for building and maintaining strong marriages. The couple humbly and openly shares pieces of their marital journey so readers can learn from their mistakes and find hope for growing strong marriages.

They focus a lot on the importance of spouses grounding their relationship on a spirit of friendship. They talk about humility and serving your spouse instead of demanding that your spouse meet your needs and desires. They each write a chapter for their gender about being a dynamic husband or wife. They talk a lot about intimacy and sexuality, and how to strengthen that aspect of your marriage. The sex section even includes a chapter titled “What Can We?“ where they explore common questions related to sexuality and respond with answers to these three questions: is it legal for Christians? Is it helpful? Is it enslaving? They close with very practical and enlightening questions to help re-engineer your marriage. The questions are very powerful and primed to help couples start a cycle of change.

It is a great book for couples that are engaged, newly married, or even married for decades. It’s great for pre-marital and marriage counselors, as well as pastors. It would make a great small group study.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Quick and Easy Dinners: Two Part Mexican Meal

2011-12-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

Day One - Burritos

Brown 2lbs ground beef. Drain. Add 1-1.5c salsa.
Cook 2 cups dry rice (white, brown or jasmine) according to package instructions. After steaming, add the juice of 1 lime and a handful of chopped cilantro.
Heat 2 cans black beans (drained). Add a handful of chopped cilantro.
Serve in burritos with Colby jack cheese.

Day Two - Burrito Pie

As your cleaning up dinner from day one, put together a casserole with the leftover ingredients, layering flour tortillas and Colby jack cheese with the beef, rice and beans. Add a can of diced chiles if desired. Heat at 350 for 30 minutes.

Instead of a Gingerbread House, Make a Gingerbread Nativity Scene!

2011-12-12T08:35:00.000-08:00

I love KatherineMarie's idea for making nativity scenes instead of gingerbread houses. What a great way to share Christ in Christmas - and enjoy some yummy fun!! Find directions and more craft ideas here.

Book Review: The Lucado Inspirational Reader

2011-12-06T19:15:00.000-08:00

Max Lucado has a God-given gift for making scripture and Biblical teachings come alive through stories. His words are easy to read, easy to relate to, and easy to remember. His latest book is just as captivating as his many other books. It is titled, The Lucado Inspirational Reader: Hope and Encouragement for Your Everyday Life. He has taken the best of the best from many of his books to compile a categorical collection of stories.

The 400+ pages of stories cover a myriad of topics, including salvation, wealth, busyness, comfort, anger, anxiety, the Bible, the Church, comfort, creation, encouragement, faith and family, God's Love, Miracles, Peace, Second Chances, Spiritual Refreshment & Worship, and more. In addition to the stories, there is an index of topics and sources in the back of the book.

He delivers what he promises – hope. That seems especially appropriate during the hard times many individuals and families are facing during this season. Every week, I encounter a new friend struggling with something life-changing – depression, marital struggles, divorce, alcoholism, bankruptcy, health concerns… Even with a counseling background, I often feel ill-equipped to listen and support them. This book has given me a good shot of Biblical hope to keep in my back pocket to encourage others. Thank you Max!

I would recommend it as a daily reading, as a book to keep on hand for counseling and encouraging others, and as a pastoral/teaching tool. It’s a beautiful 5x7 book with a special place for an inscription, so it would also make a lovely gift for a friend, teacher, pastor, counselor, or even teen.

I received this book from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest and nonbiased review of the contents.

Happy Birthday Daniel!

2011-12-05T08:42:00.000-08:00

I became a mommy ten years ago today, and I have been soooooo blessed by the journey!

I delight in the special moments with my children, but I also PRAISE GOD for the way he has used my kiddos to shape my heart. I'm a different woman today, because of the work he has done in my heart through my precious 3 children.

HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY DANIEL!!

Arts and Crafts: Tractor Footprints

2011-12-01T11:49:00.000-08:00

My 5year old daughter and a friend made crafts for their grandfathers yesterday. Both grandpas are farmers, so they made tractor footprints - or maybe I should say footprint tractors...

We modeled our pictures after the one above. I outlined the girls feet on white paper, then they colored in the lines with green crayons. I traced 2 sizes of medicine dispensers for the wheels and they colored them gold. Then I told the girls to draw a flower shape around the wheels, which they then colored in black. They added lines to make the other parts of the tractor. They were very proud of the final products!!

So maybe we can't buy Grandpa a tractor for Christmas, but we can give him a different kind of tractor!

Can a 4-year old write family rules?

2011-11-08T07:31:00.000-08:00

My friend Kevin and his 4.5 year old daughter Caroline created their own set of family rules.

1. Always tell the truth
2. Do what your parents and people responsible for your care ask
3. Don't talk to strangers, but it's OK to say "hello" to everyone
4. Be nice to Jack
5. Keep practicing at your activities to get better
6. Have fun, try hard and help your teammates
7. No stinky tooties!
8. You get what you get and you don't pitch a fit
9. You need to try new things at least once
10. Always be polite

They numbered them, and memorized them together (they both have amazing memories!). So if they are struggling with a hard day at soccer practice, Kevin can whisper to Caroline, "Think about #6, and she'll remember to try hard, do her best and help her teammates.

I love that they wrote the rules together! I love that there's a simplicity and a silliness with the rules. And I love their quest to be a family of character. You can already see the impact their purposeful choices have had on her character, and she's growing into a beautiful young girl!

What are your family rules? How did you create your rules? How could you engage your children in crafting rules?

Easy & Healthy Breakfast Ideas

2011-11-01T07:21:00.000-07:00

I love the idea of making hot breakfasts, but it's so hard to get things going early on school mornings. This post has some simple and clever ideas for busy mamas:

10 Make-Ahead Breakfasts to Start Your Day Off Right
http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/recipe-roundup/10-makeahead-breakfasts-to-start-your-day-off-right-recipe-roundup-155762

And here is a favorite that my friend Angie makes for her family:

Baked Oatmeal

6 cups oats
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
2 cups milk
1 cup oil
4 eggs

Combine and pour into greased 9 x 13 inch dish. Bake uncovered at 350 for 30 – 35 minutes.

Happy day,

Refuge on Crescent Hill - Book Review

2011-10-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading Refuge on Crescent Hill, by Melanie Dobson. It is a captivating tale of faith, family, service, mystery and suspense.

In regards to faith, characters wrestle with salvation, grace, fear, forgiveness, and mission. The characters are easy to relate to, and the simple messages of faith easily slip into your conscience to influence thinking and actions for good.

The mystery is the search for family jewels, slaves in the Underground Railway, strangers snooping in the mansion, and secret life missions.

Helping others is a theme throughout the book – from police officers helping on and off the clock, to documenting historical records, to preserving history, to helping women in crisis; the book subtly reminds readers of our calling and duty to help others.

It only took me a few days to read it, because I didn’t want to put the book down. It’s an inspirational, thoughtful, and light-hearted read that readers will enjoy! WIth so many real-life situations throughout the book, it would also be a great book for a book club to explore

Natural Cold Remedies

2011-10-17T18:04:00.000-07:00

Living in middle Tennessee's allergy bowl with 3 kids, it seems like someone is nearly always sniffly around our house. And even though I am the daughter of a pharmacist, I still don't like popping pills all the time. So I was blessed to read an article about natural cold remedies on one of my favorite money-saving blogs. I can't vouch for most of the practices, as I've never tried them. But I still thought you might enjoy having an alternate plan for treatment. I'd love to hear your thoughts about natural treatments too!

Here's the full article: Natural Cold Remedies from Faithful Provisions

Do your kids like art? Learn about the Art For the Wounded Warriors Project

2011-10-10T07:07:00.000-07:00

The National Museum of the Marine Corps is sponsoring the collection of children´s art which will be distributed to hospitals throughout the world by the Wounded Warrior Regiment. They need your help to send good wishes to brave military men and women who have been injured helping to defend our country.

Directions: Use an 8½ x 11 sheet of paper to create a message and a picture for a service member. You may draw, color, or paint your picture. Be sure to put your name, hometown, and grade level on the back of your artwork! All artwork should be sent in a flat, rigid envelope and postmarked by December 10, 2011.

Entries should be mailed to:

The National Museum of the Marine Corps
Attn : Teacher in Residence
18900 Jefferson Davis Highway
Triangle, VA 22172-1938.

Find more info at http://www.usmcmuseum.com/WW_art_flyer_2011.pdf

Making Memories Through the Seasons

2011-10-06T16:26:00.000-07:00

Living in Tennessee, I love watching the coming and going of the distinct seasons. The changes offer so many opportunity to explore and admire God's creation.

But it's easy to get caught up in the craziness of life and totally skip over the season's beauty. I like the practical ideas for enjoying the seasons that Lindsey shares in the following blog posts. See which activities your family (or even classroom!) might enjoy:

Simple Seasonal Family Traditions from Passionate Homemaking

Book Review: Noah's Ark Storybook and Wall Clings

2011-10-03T08:17:00.000-07:00

My 6 year old son and I just read and completed The Story of Noah’s Ark: Storybook and Wall Clings written by Lori C. Froeb and illustrated by Luana Rinaldo. It was wonderful! The text is written at a 1^st-2^nd grade level, so early readers can read many of the words. It captures the full Bible story and it’s lessons in a manner that children can easily understand.

The illustrations are delightful – the big chunky animals have animated expressions, and almost seem to invite you to play along with them! The playful tigers, swinging monkeys, cheerful bumblebees, spotted puppies, hungry piglets and flitting butterflies are sure to capture your child’s imagination!

The book comes with two pages of wall clings which stick to clean walls, but peel right off, so they can retell the story. My son actually wanted to split his pictures between his bedroom and the playroom, and there were still plenty of stickers for both rooms!

Research says that we learn from reading/listening, but we learn much more when an element of play, discovery or re-teaching is added to the reading. This storybook with wall clings does just that – it invites children to continue discovering the Bible story long after the last pages are read.

This is a great gift for young children (ages 0-7). Infants could enjoy the bright pictures in their nursery, toddlers will enjoy naming the diverse animals, and older children will enjoy ‘playing school’ while telling the story to their friends. I would recommend the book for families, for homeschoolers, for Christian educators, and for Sunday Schools. I hope they’ll publish more Bible stories with wall clings – I’d love to give them as gifts for years to come!

Book Review: "The Busy Life of Ernestine Buckmeister"

2011-09-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

I just had the delight of reading The Busy Life of Ernestine Buckmeister by Linda Ravin Lodding, and illustrated by Suzanne Beaky. It’s a beautiful picture book with bright, bold illustrations and clever text. It addresses the issue of over commitment in a head-on fashion, but it’s comical tone makes for a great character-building book. I giggled aloud when I read the character’s names to my 5-year old daughter – Clay Lumpkin teaches a sculpting class, Pearl Stitchem teaches knitting, and my favorite was thte karate instructor Grand Master Hi Ya.

Like so many parents I know, Ernestine Buckmeister’s parents have her best interests in mind when they fill her calendar full of fun, engaging and active after school fun – helping her live life to the fullest. But Ernestine’s one silent wish is to just stay home to play. She longs to jump on the trampoline, giddy-up like a cowboy and bounce a ball. The only problem is that her schedule allows no time for such frolicking.

One day Ernestine bucks the calendar, to pursue her own day of fun. She and her nanny have the best day ever, wandering through the park imagining shapes in the clouds, building forts and making daisy crowns. When her parents finally catch up with her, Ernestine respectfully and bravely admits her desire to slow down and have time to be a kid without following the calendar. She helps the whole family discover how to make every moment count by discovering life without regimenting every minute of life.

This book is packed full of character lessons around goal-setting, communication, integrity, social skills, time management, planning, decision-making, and family relationships. It’s a great tool for teachers, counselors, librarians and parents.

Your child might also enjoy some of the activities that Lodding has developed to accompany the story:
Ernestine coloring page
Help Ernestine Get to the Park Maze
Ernestine Word Search

Preview the entire book here.

Learn more about the book, illustrator and author here.

Buy the book here.

Enjoy reading, and I hope you are able to take time to ponder how YOU can live life to the fullest.

Blessings,

12 Efficiency Tips in the Kitchen - repost from Passionate Homemaking

2011-09-21T19:21:00.000-07:00

I've been following Lindsey's blog for several years now. She has so many good tips for Christian moms!! Check out one of her recent posts titled: 12 Efficiency Tips in the Kitchen. And read more at

Passionate Homemaking.com.

Healthy Snacks!

2011-09-14T19:13:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for healthy snacks for you and your kiddos?

Check out this post written by Michele of Frugal Granola:

Simple Snacks for Busy Mamas

And you'll find more ideas in the comment section of her post!

Happy munching,

Christian Fiction - Karen Kingsbury's series on the Baxter Family

2011-09-07T06:09:00.000-07:00

I love to read, and I'm always on the hunt for good books - books that are entertaining, but also books that fill my mind with good things.

Karen Kingsbury has written a great christian fiction series about the Baxter family. The stories revolve around the Christian Kids Theater. Each book has lessons regarding faith, family, character, community... If you're looking for quality christian fiction, check these out:
Redemption series - The first series featuring the Baxter family.
Redemption, 2002
Remember, 2003
Return, 2003
Rejoice, 2004
Reunion, 2004
Firstborn series - the second series featuring the Baxter family.
Fame, 2005
Forgiven, 2005
Found, 2006
Family, 2006
Forever, 2007
Sunrise series
The third series featuring the Baxter family.
Sunrise, 2007
Summer, 2007
Someday, 2008
Sunset, 2008

What Are You Praying for Your Child’s New School Year? (repost from faithful provisions)

2011-09-01T19:09:00.000-07:00

Kelly at Faithfulprovisions.com just shared a guest post by Rebecca Ingram Powell at Mom Seriously. I was inspired and encouraged when I read her thoughts about praying for our children and our schools. I hope you'll like the article too!

What Are You Praying for Your Child’s New School Year?

Wanna Host a Dinner Party? Puzzled about Having Kids in the Mix?

2011-08-26T19:17:00.000-07:00

We love opening our home to friends and family, but sometimes it's tricky to entertain with kids in the mix! Check out this post for some practical ideas for hosting with kiddos around:

Tips for Hosting a Dinner Party (with Kids in the Mix) from Simple Mom

Across the Wide River - Book Review

2011-08-26T08:50:00.000-07:00

Stephanie Reed's novel, Across the Wide River, is based on the true story of the Rankin family living along the Ohio River in the 1820s during the heightening tensions between slave owners and abolitionists. It’s the story of a young boy’s journey to free slaves by helping them on the Underground Railway. It gives readers a really good feel for the emotional, economical, spiritual and political debate around slavery. It is a powerful story of faith and courage, as the Rankin family sacrifices to do what is right and challenge others to do what’s right. It is a story of adventure and risk, as youth and adults navigate hostile communities and the Underground Railroad. It’s a tale of self-discovery and growing confidence, as young Lowry overcomes the insecurities brought on by his peers to seek his own place in the world. It’s a story of family and community. It’s a story of finding ways to fight injustice – finding a way to help others – whether you are 9 or 89 years old.

It’s an educational and inspirational read, and I hope it will inspire readers to explore injustices in their own communities and find a way to make a difference. Stephanie Reed is a great story-teller, and I look forward to reading more of her books. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, as well as students who want to explore American history. It would also be a great story for families of 3-9^th grade children to read together, then discuss topics of faith, courage and service.

Explore more about Stephanie’s books:

· Across the Wide River

· www.Stephanielreed.com

Learn more about serving others:

· If you know children that want to find opportunities to help solve social problems, check out www.kidscareclubs.com.

· If you know youth groups that want to serve together to make a difference in their communities, check out my book, Ready to Go Service Projects.

· If you know adults that want to serve, contact your local volunteer center or visit www.volunteermatch.org.

How Media Impacts Marriage, Family and Life

2011-08-21T19:08:00.000-07:00

Courtney at womenlivingwell.org has been hosting a series on media, faith, and family. She started today's post with this quote from Tim Challies, the author of The Next Story: Life and Faith After the Digital Explosion:

“Our lives have become saturated with sounds and images flashing in front of our eyes, blaring into our ears…At work we spend forty hours staring at computer screens. at home we watch television or visit our favorite websites. Between work and home we check our route on the GPS and dash off a few text messages. Even at church we watch our pastors on screens before returning home to watch sermons on the Internet. Life is mediated by the screen.” p.89

Check out her posts below:

Media and Our Walk with God
Media and Our Marriages

Media and Our Parenting – Part 1

Media and Our Parenting – Part 2

Media and Our Homemaking

Media and Our Friendships

Media and Our Health

Never the Bride - Book Review

2011-08-04T16:07:00.001-07:00

Rene Gutteridge and Cheryl McKay joined creative efforts to write Never the Bride. Jessie Shore is a hopelessly romantic 35 year old single woman bent on finding a husband to meet her grand expectations. When God comes in flesh to meet her, he begins to slowly change her life focus and her dreams. Pieces of the novel are somewhat reminiscent of William P. Young's novel, The Shack.

It has good message for women readers – married or not: “Quit trying to control your life, and trust God to handle the details. He loves you enough to take care of you and he has a bigger plan in mind.”

I enjoyed Jessie’s business idea of helping men to craft a dreamy wedding proposal for their soon-to-be-fiancé. She had some very clever, creative and romantic ideas.

It’s very easy to relate to the characters’ joys and sorrows and fears, ranging from rebellion, to longing, to unhealthy relationships, to opening a business together… You’re sure to have experienced similar situations with yourself or with a friend!

Honestly I didn’t *love* reading the book, though it was a good book. Perhaps that’s because I read it over the course of several road trips. I usually get so absorbed in a book that I hate to put it down, but I didn’t have trouble setting this one aside to turn the lights off at night.

Wanna check it out? Read the first chapter here.

Cheryl McKay was the screenwriter for the award-winning film The Ultimate Gift. She also wrote an episode of Gigi: God’s Little Princess, and Taylor’s Wall, a drama about high-school violence.

Rene Gutteridge is a critically acclaimed comedy writer and novelist. She is the author of fifteen novels including the Boo series, My Life as a Doormat, the Occupational Hazards series, and the novelization of the motion picture The Ultimate Gift.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review, and they asked me to share my honest opinions.

Repost: The Joy of Prayer Walks

2011-07-07T05:48:00.000-07:00

I love Lindsey's post titled Basking in Beauty – the Joy of Prayer Walks from Passionate Homemaking.
She's right about the importance of mom's getting away to exercise and pray! And she's smart about the way she has creatively solved the challenge of finding a time to do both things at once.

Book Review: "Billy Graham in Quotes"

2011-07-04T07:29:00.000-07:00

I received a lovely book this week - Billy Graham in Quotes by Franklin Graham and Donna Lee Toney. It is chocked full of wisdom and truth – 388 pages of quotes and 43 additional pages of tiny-print footnotes. It is a treasury of Biblical knowledge covering 100+ topics. Doctrinal topics include heaven/hell, sin/holiness, Bible, life/death, Satan/God, prayer, creation… Practical living topics include finding God’s will, happiness, forgiveness, time encouragement, marriage, parenting, money, suffering, patience… And there are many topics related to habits/choices: addiction. Evangelism, speech, service… The quotes are very much in line with Scripture, and each topic includes at least one scripture verse as well.

It’s honestly too much information to read cover to cover during long reading sessions, but it’s a great book to have on hand! I would recommend it as a reference book for speakers and pastors. It has many practical resources for counseling – either for professional counselors, or just friends encouraging one another. It’s full of wisdom for parents to use with their children. And it’s a great book to leave sitting around the house whenever you have time to read a couple of pages.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher, in exchange for sharing my honest opinions with you.

Book Review: "Indelible" by Kristen Heitzmann

2011-06-28T18:39:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading Kristen Heitzmann’s newest novel, Indelible. I enjoyed the reading adventure!

It is the mountain town tale of Trevor MacDaniel, an adventurer and rescuer. Other main characters include a brilliant sculptor, Natalie; a blind painter, Fleur, and several family members. Each is challenged to overcome a challenge, and must lean on others to regain strength. The tales are woven together by a lost adversary who has the entire community on edge with his cruel ways.

I was captured by the weaving of Heitzmann’s stories. I completely enjoyed the art and the adventure. I was inspired by the way the characters sought to overcome tragedy by pursuing hope. I was encouraged by the way friends joined together to support one another through hardships and trials. I appreciated the way each of the main characters used his/her unique skills and talents to contribute to the community. Readers are sure to identify with at least one of the characters, and receive a subtle invitation to change paradigms and actions based on the characters’ growth.

Heitzmann goes back on forth between the light and dark characters, choosing traditional narrative for the good guys and more of an archaic prose to represent the bad guy’s thoughts.

If you enjoy small town mysteries mixed with culture and romance (clean romance!), you will enjoy this book. I’ll be watching for future books from Heitzmann.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to give a positive review; they just wanted me to share honest feedback.

10 Minutes Together: Points for Life

2011-06-27T14:53:00.000-07:00

Between full-time jobs and running a household, sometimes the best we can do as parents is to squeeze in ten minutes of quality time with our kids! These quick-and-easy “Ten Minutes Together” lessons are designed to help parents and kids on-the-go make the most of their busy lives together.

10 Minutes Together: Points for Life: A budgeting and planning game that will get kids excited about their future!

(This is an activity that Susan Ragsdale and Ann Saylor wrote for ParentFurther.org. They have a zillion tools and ideas for parents, so take time to visit their site!)

10 Minutes Together: Tracking Your Savings Goals

2011-06-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Life Lessons for Busy Parents

(This is an activity that Susan Ragsdale and Ann Saylor wrote for ParentFurther.org. They have a zillion tools and ideas for parents, so take time to visit their site!)

Historical Fiction Review: How Huge the Night

2011-06-20T04:38:00.000-07:00

How Huge the Night is a historical fiction novel that gives readers a glimpse into daily life in southern France as the Nazi's were coming into power. Written by Heather Munn and Lydia Munn, this book captures the tale of young boys facing the realities of war, and realizing that their actions can make a difference in the lives of people around them.

The story offers timely opportunities to explore values as characters face fear, deception, racism, gender discrimination, poverty and inequality. Readers will identify with their struggles with bullying, revenge, isolation, helping others, earning respect, gaining responsibility and developing friendships. There are powerful contemplations about faith, as characters vocalize and wrestle with questions, such as, "Is God real?", "Does God really care about me?", "How does God expect me to love my enemies?", "Where is hope in a dark world?", and "Is life worth living?".

The story is a great reminder that we all have unique skills and resources to help others - whether that is paying a train fare for a desolate child, guiding a boy to visit his sick sister, or sharing food with a hungry neighbor. Every ordinary person has the potential to be a hero, if only we keep our eyes open to the happenings around us.

The text is slow-moving at times, but the characters are well-developed and the lessons learned are well worth the time reading. I would especially recommend this book for home school students, Christian schools, and readers who want an inside view of life during World War II.

Disclaimer: The publisher sent me a copy of this book in exchange for providing my honest review of the product. I was not required to give positive feedback, but was asked for my honest opinions.

Book Review: "A Reluctant Queen: The Story of Esther"

2011-06-19T19:59:00.000-07:00

I totally enjoyed reading A Reluctant Queen: The Story of Esther, by Joan Wolf. It is not the straight-up Bible story you might expect to hear, because Wolf has taken liberties to weave it into a fictional tale. But if you looking for an opportunity to get into the mind and heart of Queen Esther, you will very much enjoy Wolf’s rendition of this classic tale. She did a great job capturing the Persian culture, complete with the traditions, home life, rituals, religions, gender roles, aristocracy and racial tensions. I feel like I have a more complete understanding of Esther’s story after reading this novel. It is enlightening in regards to the huge sacrifice Esther made to enter the king’s competition, the ever-present struggle between following culture or following God, and the courageous counter-culture choices Esther made to save the Jewish people. And as always, Esther’s story reminds me that we have been designed, fashioned and created for “such a time as this”, but it’s our choice to stand up and follow the calling God places before us. I love reading Christian fiction like this book because I find more reminder’s of God’s truth entering my mind and heart throughout the day, as I ponder on the text. I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did!

Disclaimer: The publisher sent me a copy of this book in exchange for providing my honest review of the product. I was not required to give positive feedback, but was asked for my honest opinions.

10 Minutes Together: Taste Test

2011-06-09T14:48:00.001-07:00

Between full-time jobs and running a household, sometimes the best we can do as parents is to squeeze in ten minutes of quality time with our kids! These quick-and-easy “Ten Minutes Together” lessons are designed to help parents and kids on-the-go make the most of their busy lives together.

10 Minutes Together: Taste Test : A quick lesson in money management, value shopping, and nutrition!

(This is an activity that Susan Ragsdale and Ann Saylor wrote for ParentFurther.org. They have a zillion tools and ideas for parents, so take time to visit their site!)

Encouragement for parents

2011-05-25T03:38:00.000-07:00

"A father's instruction and a mother's teaching are a graceful garland for your child's head and pendants for his neck." (paraphrased from Proverbs 1:8-9)

Be diligent in your parenting. Pray for your child. Love your child. Hug your child. Teach your child. Model good behavior for your child. Encourage your child.

You are weaving a graceful garland to crown your child's head.
You are part of a lovely necklace which will adorn your child's neck.
God is using you to help your child grow to be more like him each day.
The path will sometimes seem overwhelming and dark, but be faithful to your calling.
Endure the road before you, and you will, in time, see God's glorious work revealed.

Blessings,

32 Things to Make Using A Cardboard Box

2011-05-23T05:50:00.000-07:00

If your kids like to be creative, then you will love this blog post titled, "32 Things to Make Using A Cardboard Box" It's full of brightly colored pictures, and it's sure to stimulate your imagination. Though you might be careful showing your children, 'til you are ready to drive to a store to request leftover boxes. I'm sure they'll want to go get boxes and start creating immediately!

Book Review: The Skin Map by Stephen Lawhead

2011-05-18T06:31:00.000-07:00

Stephen Lawhead’s latest book is The Skin Map. It’s an adventure through time to find a lost roadmap that would be devastating in the hands of wrongdoers. It’s a bit of history, a bit of fantasy, a bit of coming of age, a bit entrepreneurial, and a bit of suspense. Reading it feels a bit like watching an Indiana Jones movie.

I’ve never read a Lawhead book, so I didn’t know what to expect. Neither was I captivated by the title. But when I read the description on the back of the book, I was hooked. I love historical fiction, adventure, and mysteries. I was not disappointed when I started reading the text. It’s an easy and entertaining read. I didn’t want to put it down, yet I didn’t want it to end.

Different chapters reveal diverse pieces of the story, so you never know if you’ll open the chapter to be in Prague, London, or Asia. And you never know if you’ll be in the 21^st century or all the way back to the 17^th century.

Readers will learn about customs, dress, foods, and adventuring. Readers will be inspired to imagine time travel, suddenly emerging in another time period, meeting long-lost ancestors, dining in a Royal Court, and starting a new business.

The book leaves you at a cliffhanger, so I’m sure you’ll be waiting to read the sequel in the fall.

If you like science fiction, mystery, and adventure, you will like this book!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Pipecleaner fun

2011-05-16T08:18:00.000-07:00

I went to a craft & fabric garage sale this weekend and found some really fun craft supplies for the summer. My 4-year old and I snuck into the stash this morning to do some pipecleaner crafts. My kids love playing with pipecleaners - they are a relatively cheap manipulative for creativity and imaginative play. This morning we made:

tulips - bend the middle of a red pipecleaner into the shape of 2 capital "M"s, then connect the ends of the pipecleaner to make the bottom of the flower. Attach a green pipecleaner for the stem.
bumblebee - weave a yellow and black pipecleaner together, then roll it onto a pencil to make a tightly curled bundle. then bend a black pipecleaner in half and stick it through the pencil hole to make the antlers & stinger.
snack mix - we filled a bowl with lots of different pipecleaners rolled into curly q's
inchworms - green pipecleaners rolled on the pencil to stretch out as desired
butterflies - bend one pipecleaner in half for the abdomen, then shape the wings to attach on either side of the butterfly.
bunny ears - pink pipecleaners attached to a brown headband.

I should've taken pictures, but she wrapped them in leftover wrapping paper too quickly!

As I type, my daughter is busy being a hairdresser, fixing my hair for the day. Can't wait to see what it looks like!

Blessings,

Linky Love for Moms

2011-04-15T05:22:00.000-07:00

I've been saving up these links to share with you. Some are about cooking, motherhood, birthday parties, and hospitality - a huge variety. I hope you'll enjoy!!

Motherhood is a Huge Time Zapper! Women Living Well Blog Balancing Your Busy Life: Delegation & Family Team Work

from

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from

The Best (and Most Overlooked) Way to Prepare Our Home for Guests

from Passionate Homemaking

Kids Cooking Party Games

from Kids Cooking Activities Blog

Make your own kids homemade pizza party.

from Kids Cooking Activities Blog

Poor Man’s Date Night: Linguine With White Clam Sauce

from The Motherload

Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

from Women Living Well Blog

Praise Junkies Beware

from Not Just Cute

The BEST Homemade Hot Cocoa Recipe Ever

from Women Living Well Blog

Book Review: "Time with God for Fathers"

2011-04-04T16:39:00.000-07:00

Time with God for Fathers, by Jack Countryman, is a beautiful gift book and an inspirational devotional/prayer book for fathers and soon-to-be-fathers. It is full of powerful scriptures with a personal application written for each one. The topics, chosen especially for fathers, include wisdom, courage, fear, love, gratitude, discipline, strength, forgiveness, worry, integrity, character, and legacy. I also like the appendix, which includes several great reference lists, including scriptures about God listening to our prayers, God’s promises for fathers, God’s blessings for fathers, fatherly responsibilities, and scriptural examples of dynamic fathers. This would be a good gift book for new Christians or seasoned believers.

I was given a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson, but I'm not obligated to give a positive review. It is my privilege, however, to give this gift book a great review!

Kids Birthday Parties with Favorite PBS Characters

2011-04-01T11:37:00.000-07:00

I just found a really cool site with ideas for kids birthday parties. The PBS parent site shares ideas for decorations, activities, food, and favors for many favorite PBS characters. Check them out:

Arthur Birthday Party

Boohbah Birthday Party

Cat in the Hat Birthday Party

Clifford Birthday Party

Curious George Birthday Party

Cyberchase Birthday Party

Dragon Tales Birthday Party

Super Why! Birthday Party

Teletubbies Birthday Party

2011-03-23T09:30:00.000-07:00

"Be intentional as you raise your children. Treat them like a garden - planting, watering and weeding."
Sally Clarkson

Creative Ideas Magazine - Free!

2011-03-17T05:34:00.000-07:00

Lowes' Creative Ideas Magazine is full of fun and beautiful home decorating ideas! It's a free subscription, or you can view their online content here.

2011-03-12T13:28:00.000-08:00

We had 6 kiddos in the house this morning, all bustling with energy. One of the 6 year olds came bounding up to me, saying "It's sunny outside, let's have a scavenger hunt!". So I created a list for them, and they headed outside armed with binoculars and a pencil to check off items found. I thought I'd share it with you, in case you wanted some ideas for creating your own simple scavenger hunt!

something to scoop with
something with bark
something that grows
something that sinks
something soft
something sticky
something hard
something that smells good
something animals eat
something that is loud
something red

My 4-year old came in a little while later, wanting to do her own scavenger hunt. So I drew simple pictures of a leaf, a shovel, a flower, a rock and a bucket. I wrote the words beside the pictures and we talked about what each picture represented. Then off she went on her little hunt.

Such fun!

If I Had My Child to Raise Over Again, by Diane Loomans

2011-03-05T06:51:00.000-08:00

"If I had my child to raise over again, I'd fingerpaint more and point the finger less. I'd do less correcting and more connecting. I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes. I would care to know less and know to care more. I'd take more hikes and fly more kites. I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play. I'd run through more fields and gaze at more stars. I'd do more hugging and less tugging. I would be firm less often, and affirm much more. I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later. I'd teach less about the love of power, and more about the power of love."

Great Gear for Pretend Play

2011-02-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

Education.com just posted a cool article titled Great Gear for Pretend Play. It's full of ideas for household objects that promote pretend play. They are divided into three areas: cooking time, mail call, and dress to impress. My kiddos will love these ideas!

It reminded me of our family trip to the Customs House Museum a few weeks ago. They have so many great interactive exhibits for kids, but my children's favorite was the grocery store. A brightly painted room with grocery carts, cash registers, shelves/bins/baskets with food, and a kitchen area. My kids played in there for 45 minutes, and have been asking to go back!

Book Review: “Couples Who Pray” by Squire Rushnell and Louise DuArt

2011-02-16T18:37:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading “Couples Who Pray” by Squire Rushnell and Louise DuArt. I was excited to read the book, but I’m not a big fan. It does have many helpful suggestions for building a strong marriage, including many exhortations to pray together. I particularly enjoyed reading the statistics regarding marriages that are grounded in prayer, and how much prayer impacts marriages. Overall, however, the book felt a bit contrived. If you want an inside look at strong celebrity marriages you’ll enjoy this book, but to me, it just felt like name-dropping. I also struggled with the emphasis of praying for my benefit vs. praying for God’s glory – the motivation just felt twisted.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Memorizing Scripture - Fighter Verses from John Piper's Desiring God

2011-02-14T07:52:00.000-08:00

If your family wants to practice memorizing scripture, check out these new Fighter Verses

from Desiring God.

They have a list of great power-packed scriptures to memorize, and you can also buy pre-made products to save prep time!

Chicken Tortilla Soup for Dinner

2011-02-10T07:42:00.000-08:00

We totally enjoyed dinner & leftovers from a new crockpot soup that I tried this weekend. The recipe is slightly modified from the fix it & forget it cookbook

4 chicken breast halves (frozen or thawed)

2 cans black beans, undrained

2 cans Mexican tomatoes

1c salsa (mild, medium or hot, depending on your preference)

4oz can chopped green chilies

14oz can tomato sauce

1 pack ranch dressing mix

Toppings: Tortilla chips, Grated cheddar cheese, sour cream

Combine all ingredients except chips & cheese in large slow cooker. Cover. Cook on low 8 hours. Just before serving, take out chicken breasts & slice/shred them into bite-sized pieces. Stir into soup. Serve with chips & cheese.

Serves 6-8 people.

Homemade Blizzards

2011-02-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

Our family likes to make smoothies and frosties, but we've never made Homemade Blizzards. I know my kids will totally love making them, so I thought I would share FunMom's recipe with you too. What a great addition to family night, or a yummy celebration! Enjoy!!

Jesus Storybook Bible - WOW!

2011-02-01T07:14:00.000-08:00

A sweet family friend gave my son the Jesus Storybook Bible Deluxe Edition for his 6th birthday. We have been LOVING it this week. The pictures are engaging and the storytelling on the CD is fabulous. Every story leads back to the point of God's great love for his children, and how Jesus came to rescue us from evil and deliver us back to forever friendship with him. We can't wait to get back into the car to listen to it!

Marriage Challenge

2011-01-26T07:55:00.000-08:00

With Valentine's Day only a few weeks away, here's a great marriage buildling activity. Check out Courtney's 25 Day Praise Plan - Marriage Challenge at the Women Living Well Blog. You will be inspired to love your sweetheart and practice showing him how much you care about him.

Dads and Daughters - Free Copy of the Book by James Dobson

2011-01-25T05:51:00.000-08:00

Get a free copy of James Dobson's new book, Dads and Daughters Thanks to Faithful Provisions for the heads up!

Sibling Rivalry - a repost from Generation Cedar

2011-01-24T05:52:00.000-08:00

We all desire (or should!) to help our children tie heart strings with each other. ”Sibling rivalry” is so common in our day that many parents just accept it. I suggest to you that though sibling strife is common, and some would say normal, it should not be accepted in a Christian home as such.

It is possible and appropriate that siblings should share some of the tenderest, sweetest and most protective relationships of all. But unless we, as parents, understand this and are willing to do the hard work to cultivate it, we can expect nothing less than what comes naturally.

Read the rest of her practical post on Generation Cedar's website.

Be Firm Without Being Harsh - Parenting Tip from BiblicalParenting.org

2011-01-19T05:17:00.000-08:00

Some parents believe that the only way to be firm is to be harsh. Firmness says that a boundary is secure and won't be crossed without a consequence. Harshness uses angry words and increased volume to make children believe that parents mean what they say. Some parents have assumed that firmness and harshness must go together. One mom said, "The thought of separating the two is like listening to a foreign language—it sounds nice but doesn't make any sense."
How do you make the change? Two things will help you remove harshness from your interaction with your children: Dialogue less and show less emotion. In an attempt to build relationship, some parents spend too much time dialoguing about instructions. They try to defend their words, persuade their children to do what they're told, or logically explain the value of obeying. This is often counterproductive. Parents then resort to anger to end the discussion, complicating matters further.

"But," one mom said, "I thought talking and showing emotion are signs of a healthy family, leading to closeness in family life." And that is true when they are used in the right way. Unfortunately, when added to the instruction process, these two ingredients confuse children and don't give them the clear boundaries they need. These are two good things, just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Firmness requires action, not anger. Having a toolbox of consequences is important to help move children along in life. It's not optional. Some parents use anger as their consequence. These parents need more tools that will help their children make lasting changes.

If you find yourself being harsh, take time to reevaluate your response. More action, less yelling can go a long way to bring about significant change.
What are some ways you've been able to remove harshness from your parenting? Click here to tell us about it.

This tip comes from the book, Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes In You and Your Kids, by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN. In chapter 6 you'll find more honor-based parenting skills.

Sign up for this free parenting newsletter at www.biblicalparenting.org.

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Following this concept has been HUGE in our household. Following the advice of friends, we read Michael Pearl's book, To Train Up A Child. Like Turansky & Miller, they focus on the parent staying calm, quiet, and very focused on first time obedience. And if you don't follow through, you get consequences. They also focus a lot on training children to do the right thing, so they are absolutely sure about the actions you expect from them. It's a great read for a small group focused on parenting!

Good Toys for Young Children

2011-01-13T06:02:00.000-08:00

I really like NAEYC's list about Good Toys for Young Children. It doesn't name specific toys that children ages 0-6 should have. Instead, it describes the types of toys children of various ages enjoy. It's a great platform for assessing your toy chest and thinking out-of-the-box about other household objects that could be the perfect toys for your children.

Love Languages - How They Impact Marriages

2011-01-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

Our marriage has greatly benefitted from the simply study of Love Languages by Gary Chapman. His work talks about the primary way that we like to give and receive love. I would recommend reading his book or exploring his website, but here is a simple reflection tool to ponder which of the 5 love languages is your primary language. (The italicized words are copied from Chapman's website)

Words of Affirmation
Actions don’t always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, “I love you,” are important—hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward. Insults can leave you shattered and are not easily forgotten.

§ Likes praise, encouragement, and compliments

§ Dislikes hurtful words and deceit

Quality Time

In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there—with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby—makes your significant other feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful.

§ Dislikes distractions or attempting to multitask while listening

Receiving Gifts

Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. A missed birthday, anniversary, or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous—so would the absence of everyday gestures.

§ Dislikes thoughtless actions and forgotten moments will hurt this person.

Acts of Service

Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: “Let me do that for you.” Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter.

§ Dislikes irresponsibility and laziness

Physical Touch

This language isn’t all about the bedroom. A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder, or face—they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, care, and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial, while neglect or abuse can be unforgivable and destructive.

§ Dislikes isolation and inaccessibility

After you consider your primary language, consider how it impacts your marriage relationship.

How do you and your spouse express your love for one another?

Are you communicating in ways that your spouse really hears?

What can you learn from this to strengthen your marriage?

Likes hugs, holding hands, kisses and physical intimacy Likes helpfulness - doing the laundry or getting a cup of coffee or running errands Likes to give and receive gifts – whether it’s a flower or a gift certificate or an extravagant gift Likes to give and receive undivided attention in conversation and activities

SHMILY - Love Your Spouse Well

2010-12-31T04:58:00.000-08:00

My grandparents were married for over half a century and played their own special game from the time they had met each other. The goal of their game was to write the word “shmily” in a surprise place for the other to find.
They took turns leaving “shmily” around the house and as soon as one of them discovered it, it was their turn to hide it once more. They dragged “shmily” with their fingers through the sugar and flour containers, to await whoever was preparing the next meal.
They smeared it in the dew on the windows overlooking the patio (where my grandma always fed us warm, homemade pudding with blue food coloring).
“Shmily” was written in the steam left on the mirror after a hot shower, where it would reappear bath after bath. At one point, my grandmother even unrolled an entire roll of toilet paper, to leave “shmily” on the very last sheet.
There was no end to the places “shmily” would pop up. Little notes with “shmily” scribbled hurriedly were found on dashboards and car seats, or taped to steering wheels. The notes were stuffed inside shoes and left under pillows.
“Shmily” was written in the dust upon the mantel and traced in the ashes of the fireplace. This mysterious word was as much a part of my grandparents’ house as the furniture.
It took me a long time before I was able to fully appreciate my grandparents’ game. Skepticism has kept me from believing in true love, one that is pure and enduring. However, I never doubted my grandparents’ relationship.
They had love down pat. It was more than their flirtatious little games; it was a way of life. Their relationship was based on a devotion and passionate affection, which not everyone is lucky to experience.
Grandma and Grandpa held hands every chance they could. They stole kisses, as they bumped into each other in their tiny kitchen. They finished each other’s sentences and shared the daily crossword puzzle and word jumble.
My grandma whispered to me about how cute my grandpa was, how handsome and old he had grown to be. She claimed that she really knew “how to pick ‘em.”
Before every meal they bowed their heads and gave thanks, marveling at their blessings: a wonderful family, good fortune and each other.
But, there was a dark cloud in my grandparents’ lives: my grandmother had breast cancer. The disease had first appeared ten years earlier.
As always, Grandpa was with her every step of the way. He comforted her in their yellow room, painted that way so that she could always be surrounded by sunshine, even when she was too sick to go outside.
Now the cancer was again attacking her body. With the help of a cane and my grandfather’s steady hand, they went to church every Sunday morning. But, my grandmother grew steadily weaker until, finally, she could not leave the house anymore.
For a while, Grandpa would go to church alone, praying to God to watch over his wife. Then one day, what we all dreaded finally happened. Grandma was gone.
“Shmily.” It was scrawled in yellow on the pink ribbons of my grandmother’s funeral bouquet. As the crowd thinned and the last mourners turned to leave, my aunts, uncles, cousins and other family members came forward and gathered around Grandma one last time.
Grandpa stepped up to my grandmother’s casket and (taking a shaky breath) he began to sing to her. Through his tears and grief, the song came (a deep and throaty lullaby).
Shaking with my own sorrow, I will never forget that moment. I knew that, although I couldn’t begin to fathom the depth of their love, I had been privileged to witness its unmatched beauty.
“S-h-m-i-l-y: See How Much I Love You…”
Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa, for letting me see.

Intentional Moms

2010-12-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

I've been collecting several blog posts about mom's being intentional about the way they raise children and rest. Here are several from my favorite mommy bloggers...

Being a Mom and Wife is Enough: A Word for the Burned Out Superwoman

from Generation Cedar

Are You Distracted and Distant or Making Your Home a Haven? from Women Living Well Blog

Redefining Simple Living: Choose Your Priorities from Simple Mom

Developing a Family Mission Statement from Passionate Homemaking

Creative Lunch Ideas

2010-12-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

This is a little collection of 12 Low Fuss Ideas for a Fun Lunch at home from Having Fun at Home. My kids would love these, and most of them take so little time!

Raising Kids With A Heart for the World

2010-11-20T00:02:00.000-08:00

Lindsay from Passionate Homemaking continually inspires me. I really like this article she wrote on Raising Kids With A Heart for the World. It's full of creative, simple, yet intentional ways to help our children learn, respect and love other cultures.

A Letter to My Children About Marriage

2010-11-15T08:30:00.000-08:00

Check out this encouraging and inspiring letter from Generation Cedar:

A Letter to My Children About Marriage

Car Care Checklist from AAA

2010-11-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

Getting ready to travel for Thanksgiving or Christmas? You might appreciate AAA's Car Care Checklist to Prepare for Upcoming Winter Driving.

Family Fitness

2010-11-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

Keeping our family active is very important to us. It's important for health & wellness, of course. But it's also good for managing energy levels and stress. It builds family unity. And it helps us take care of these bodies God has given us. So we love to be outside with the kids - walking, biking, playing soccer, playing catch... Looking for ways you can be active together? Here are 3 simple ideas from Simple Mom about family fitness.

2010-11-10T23:56:00.000-08:00

Shopping on Amazon this year? You probably already know that most purchases over $25 ship free, but did you know that there is a free online service that will help you find items to fill the difference between your purchase amount and the $25 shipping minimum? Whether you need 25 cents or $5, this site will list a plethora of items to choose from. Then you won't go way over-budget on your purchase!

Great Group Games for Kids - One Day Sale!

2010-10-20T05:13:00.001-07:00

Buy a personalized copy of Great Group Games for Kids on Thursday October 21, 2010, and get FREE SHIPPING! Click the button below to buy a book for $16.95. We'll sign it with a personal inscription and mail it on Friday. This makes a great gift for teachers, youth workers, pastors, camp staff, Sunday School leaders, Homeroom parents, or anyone who works with groups of children!

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Are you looking for ways to energize your group with engaging activities? Do you want to build connections between play and the development of positive values, friendships, and personal identity? Susan Ragsdale and Ann Saylor, authors of the bestselling Great Group Games, present an abundance of creative activities especially for elementary-age participants—-proving that learning through play is both rewarding and fun!

Incorporating the approach of Search Institute’s Developmental Assets® framework, each game is designed to help young people practice life-affirming skills and consider important concepts, including:

Teamwork and cooperation
Creative problem-solving
Friendly social interaction
Integrity and responsibility
Communication and support
A positive self-image
Diversity appreciation
Expressing personal values

Ragsdale and Saylor give you everything you need to start playing: time requirements for each game, lists of any necessary supplies, suggestions for group sizes, notes about safety, and thought-provoking discussion questions that help kids make their own connections. Great Group Games for Kids is an excellent resource for inspiring and empowering youth through the joy of play. Click here to see more about the book.

Nun's Twenty Third Psalm

2010-09-14T10:34:00.000-07:00

I first stumbled upon this poem a decade ago. When I'm in the busy seasons of life, I like to ponder these thoughts because the message balances my soul, and gives me a spirit of tranquility that transcends to the core of my being. I definitely still struggle, but I know where I want my heart to be...

The Lord is my pace-setter, I shall not rush.
He makes me stop and rest for quiet intervals,
He provides me with images of stillness, which restore my serenity.
He leads me in ways of efficiency through calmness of mind.
And His guidance is peace.
Even though I have a great many things to accomplish each day,
I will not fret, for His presence is here.
His timelessness, his all-importance will keep me in the balance.
He prepares refreshment and renewal in the midst of my activity
By anointing my mind with His oils of tranquillity.
My cup of joyous energy overflows.
Surely harmony and effectiveness shall be the fruit of my hours, for
I shall walk in the place of my Lord and dwell in His House forever.

written by the nuns at All Saints Convent in Maryland

Prayer for My Child's Independence by M.W. Edelman

2010-09-07T10:13:00.000-07:00

Lord help me not to do for my children what they can do for themselves
Help me not to give them what they can earn for themselves
Help me not to tell them what they can look up for themselves.
Help me to help my children stand on their own two feet and to grow into responsible, disciplined adults.

by Marion Wright Edelman

So what does that mean practically?

Letting them fail sometimes, then supporting them as they get back up
Giving them chores and responsibilities according to their developmental levels
Taking extra time when teaching, in order to ASK questions instead of GIVING answers
Turning their questions around, to ask, "What do YOU think?"
Having high expectations for their behavior
Believing that they are able to accomplish what they set out to do.

What does her prayer mean for you and your children?

Strong-Willed Kids - Reprint from Biblical Parenting

2010-08-31T08:30:00.000-07:00

I feel like the authors of this article were writing directly to me, in regards to my eldest son...

Children who make decisions with intensity tend to be labeled “strong-willed.” At the end of the day, their parents feel as if they’ve been engaged in hand-to-hand combat—and that the child often wins at the parent’s expense! Most parents consider a strong will a negative personality trait because it often creates resistance and frustration in family life. Yet, in reality, it’s the strong-willed kids who are often better equipped to succeed, be creative, and face adversity.

Children with strong wills have the potential to become the next generation of leaders. They have their own ideas and plans. They know what they want. They’re persistent, confident, passionate, and determined to succeed at whatever they choose to do.

Leaders have an agenda, look for ways to incorporate others into their plans, and have a high need for control in life. Balanced with graciousness, leaders become a treasure because they make things happen, create organization out of chaos, and motivate people to action.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to raise a leader. These kids tend to have their own ways of doing things and like to tell other people (including their parents) what to do. A strong will keeps a child moving in a certain direction in spite of obstacles. Often these children need bigger barriers or tighter limits to teach them that those boundaries are firm.

Don’t be discouraged by the effort it takes to teach a strong-willed child which limits not to push. The strong-willed child accomplishes things in life, because the roadblocks that might hold others back are no match for this kid’s determination. Your job is to help him know the difference between obstacles to overcome and limits to live within.

A strong will can be an asset… as long as the heart is in the right place.

Have you developed some tools to teach boundaries to a strong-willed child in your family while still enjoying the child's determination? Click here to tell us about it.

This parenting tip is from the book, Parenting is Heart Work by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.

When God Wants an Important Thing Done in this World

2010-08-25T10:11:00.000-07:00

“When God wants an important thing done in this world or a wrong righted, He goes about it in a very singular way. He doesn’t release thunderbolts or stir up earthquakes. God simply has a tiny baby born, perhaps of a very humble home, perhaps of a very humble mother. And God puts the idea or purpose into the mother’s heart. And she puts it in the baby’s mind, and then – God waits. The great events of this world are not battles and elections and earthquakes and thunderbolts. The great events are babies, for each child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged with humanity, but is still expecting goodwill to become incarnate in each human life.”

Edmond McDonald

This quote is a great reminder to me when I'm in the middle of struggles with the personalities and passions of my children. God designed them just the way they are!

Yes, they have sin natures, and it's my job to humbly point them towards God's ways as I shape their character.

But sometimes I get frustrated just because they're different than me, and they get in my way. Whether they're being too messy, or their collection of lego planes has overtaken an entire room, or they play the drums at the volume of thunder. God has plans for those unique personalities and passions, and I need to let them experiment and grow. And I can't wait to see how God uses these kiddos in our family. It will be fun to watch!

Unplugging to Rest

2010-08-19T07:51:00.001-07:00

These reflections on the importance of Sabbath rest are from my brother-in-law. I thought you might also appreciate them:

Dear Church Family,

I am currently on our family summer vacation at the beach, and I am wondering why I sometimes struggle to really enjoy vacation and unplug. Working without stopping has become our hallmark as Americans. We are among the most “productive” workers in the world. We don’t leave our post. We just work.

For others, the constant drive is social networking. We stay connected at all hours. I think that sometimes it is fear that fuels our “connectedness.” Maybe we think we’re more valuable as people and workers because we don’t unplug. Everyone can count on us to be there. If we weren’t there, everything would most certainly fall apart, or so we think. I believe our “productivity” costs us a lot in terms of our health, our lives, our families and our worship. From my viewpoint, we are a people who desperately need periods of time to unplug.

Genesis tells us that God rested on the seventh day. God didn’t need rest—we need rest. He provided an example for us. For many of us, taking time off takes faith. We need to trust that the company will go on without us. We will remain valued. People’s needs will be met. Others will answer the call. At the core, it is faith that God is sufficient and can take care of all of my needs.

When I stop and unplug, I find myself enjoying God and my family more. I am more thankful for the little things that He provides, things that I have been too busy to notice. God knows that we need to slow down and experience life. God gave us five senses to enjoy Him and what He has created for us. When I stop long enough to take it all in, I have a deeper gratitude for all of those things. I thank God and worship Him.

Hunter Murray
Elder

Child Training Resources

2010-08-10T19:47:00.000-07:00

If you're struggling with first-time obedience, respect, and happy hearts in your home, I have a book that might encourage you. Michael & Debi Pearl's book, To Train Up a Child, is a classic when it comes to child training.

If you're looking for an easy way to get smiley children, this is the wrong book for you. But if you want to truly mold the hearts of your children, and you're willing to put in the required time and attention to train them, this will be a book you will reread time and time again.

They also have a good collection of free articles on their website, on topics such as:

•Attitudes
•Bed Wetting
•Challenging Authority
•Emotional Control
•Self Control
•Sibling Rivalry / Fighting
•Whining

I'd love to hear about your favorite parenting resources too, so please share!

Sibling Conflict: A Great Opportunity (repost from Biblical Parenting)

2010-08-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

"When the bickering gets too bad I just go in my room and shut the door!" one mom said in exasperation. The fact is that many parents believe the solution to arguing and bickering is to allow children to "fight it out."

That's one solution parents commonly use when their children start fighting. Other parents separate the children and try to keep them apart in order to maintain peace. They imitate a referee at a boxing match, breaking up the conflict and sending the fighters to their opposite corners. Unfortunately, continually separating children doesn't solve the problem. In fact, the children often come back again to fight some more.

We believe both of these solutions are inadequate because they lack the depth needed to bring about lasting change. When parents only separate the offenders or walk away, they miss valuable opportunities to help their children grow.

Conflict with brothers and sisters is a child's first class in relationship school. Your home is the classroom, you are the teacher, and honor is the curriculum. Each conflict situation becomes an opportunity for teaching children how to get along.

When two children are fighting, call one out of the room and talk about how to deal with the conflict. Teach children how to confront, ignore, negotiate, compromise, talk about problems, and be peacemakers. Then send the child back into the situation to try again. If necessary, call the second child out and give helpful suggestions before trying again. Whatever you do, don't try to discipline them together. Kids have an amazing way of deflecting discipline when they are together.

Be listening to your children's interaction and continue to coach them in relationships. You may call the same child out of an activity five or ten times in an hour to continue to point out the change that needs to take place. Help children know what right actions are appropriate, and as long as they are willing to try to do the right thing, send them back into the situation to try again.

Use sibling conflict to teach about healthy relationships. It takes a lot of work but you’ll be preparing your children to deal with the difficult relationships they’ll encounter for the rest of their lives.

This parenting tip comes from the book, Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes In You and Your Kids by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.

Find more great tips like this at www.biblicalparenting.org.

Success on the Grill! Jared's Rib Rub

2010-08-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

My brother-in-law shared a great rub recipe with us a few years ago. Now we mix it in batches to keep on hand for ribs and chicken. The recipe makes enough for 6 racks of ribs.

Jared’s Rub
1/2c brown sugar
1/2c white sugar
.5 c paprika
2.5T pepper
2.5T salt
1.5T chili powder
2T garlic powder
1.5T onion powder
Mix together. Rub over the meat. Grill. Add BBQ sauce at the end of grilling.

Food Presentation Using A Trifle Bowl

2010-07-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

The presentation of food can add so much to a meal! Look at these clever ideas for using a trifle bowl from faithfulprovisions.

Loving Them Big in Small Ways

2010-07-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

I got teary-eyed reading Generation Cedar's simple idea that says "I love you" so loudly to your children. What small thing can you do today to tell your child that you love him?

Pray for Your Husband Daily

2010-07-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

I love this challenge from Courtney to pray for our husbands daily. Check out the simple list she has compiled that reminds us to pray. And while you're on her blog, take some time to look through her other inspirting posts.

You are an Investor - pt5

2010-07-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

INVEST: to surround (a place) with military forces or works so as to prevent approach or escape; besiege. (dictionary.com)

How are you investing your family? Your heart? Your home? Your marriage?
Do you guard these important things with prayer?
Do you live steadfastly for truth?
Are you letting your guard down in any of these areas?
Are you truly living in the armor of God?

You are an Investor - pt4

2010-07-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

INVEST: to infuse or belong to, as a quality or characteristic: Goodness invests his every action. (dictionary.com)

What invests your actions? What do people see when they look at your life?
What invests your speech? What do people hear when they listen to you?
What invests your heart? Are you filling your heart with godly things, so that HE overflows from your heart?
What invests your priorities? What do your choices and priorities say about what’s important to you?

You are an Investor - pt3

2010-07-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

INVEST: to furnish with power, authority, rank, etc.: The Constitution invests the president with the power of veto. (dictionary.com)

Invest your children with confidence to stand their ground, to say yes and no when the time is right.
Invest your children to know the Bible and live by the truth therein.
Invest your children to use their gifts and talents to help others.
Invest your children to humbly lead younger children in your home.
Invest your husband to lead you and your family according to God’s word.
Invest your friends to know your heart, so they can hold you accountable.

You are an Investor - pt2

2010-07-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

INVEST: to use, give, or devote (time, talent, etc.), as for a purpose or to achieve something: He invested a lot of time in helping children. (dictionary.com)

How do you invest your time?
How do you invest your talents?
How do you invest your possessions?
How do you invest your home?
How do you invest your car?

You are an Investor

2010-07-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

INVEST: to put (money) to use, by purchase or expenditure, in something offering potential profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation in value. (dictionary.com)

How are you investing your money? Are you spending frivolously or carefully? If you need a little help in this area, try reading blogs from other homemakers, such as faithfulprovisions.com or frugalhacks.com.

Are you letting your money work for you or are you just socking extra cash away under the mattress? Learn more from a trusted financial planner (we love ours!) or read some of the richdadpoordad.com resources.

To whom are you giving financial resources? Back of your passions with financial gifts to your church and your favorite nonprofit groups.

Resources for Parents - Parentfurther.com

2010-06-30T05:46:00.000-07:00

There's a new parenting website in town - parentfurther.com. They cover a range of subjects, from nutrition to sports to money to resolving conflicts to family fun to siblings to cell phones to bullying - and everything in between. They divide their information into age levels, so caregivers can easily access ideas for children ages 0-18. If you have a parenting question that's stirring in your heart/mind, this is a great place to explore possible solutions.

Happy exploring!

Pool Days at Home

2010-06-23T05:47:00.000-07:00

Gramma bought the kids an inflatable pool from Target this week, so we put it up on our patio. Here are some things you might consider if you get an inflatable pool:

Borrow an air compressor to pump it up. (Thanks to our neighbor for inflating the pool with his mega air compressor!)
If it's blazing hot like it has been here this week, create a little shade by putting up a pop-up tent canopy over the pool. (Thanks to our other neighbor who helped me assemble the tent!)
Put a protective surface under the pool to keep the plastic from getting holes - a tarp or landscaping fabric are sufficient, but I love Gramma's idea of using those large interlocking foam puzzles (they look like this) under the pool
Old yogurt containers (washed of course) make great buckets for dumping water on each other.
Set up a sprinkler or water guns beside the pool for an extra splash while playing.
Put a towel on the floor inside the door nearest the pool, so your floors don't get wet.
If the pool is large enough, your kids will love it if YOU get wet too!

HAVE FUN!

Sharing God's Love through Everyday Living

2010-05-01T11:54:00.000-07:00

I love this post on witnessing from http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/.

Teen asks: "How can I effectively witness to my non-Christian peers, especially when they have such alien worldviews and anti-Christian attitudes?"

Michael Pearl answers:

There are two ways to witness. The first is the most direct and is similar to what a street evangelist would do. You get right to the point, challenging them to repent toward God and believe the gospel. You expect most of them to reject your message but you keep fishing, knowing that out of the hundreds there may be one who will be prepared by the Holy Spirit to believe your message. This is not normally the approach you take with coworkers, fellow students, next door neighbors, or family members. If you have the time, the most effective method of reaching someone for Christ is to:

1. Treat everyone you meet as if they are Christian brothers and sisters who are dear to you. In short, love them as they have never been loved.

2. Be continually joyful. Everyone is attracted to joy and no one will fault you for it. They will want what you have.

3. Be successful. Be the best at whatever you do. Everyone admires success and sincere effort. They will respect you for it.

4. Be helpful. Infuse something good into the lives of everyone you meet. Make them feel better about themselves in a clean and pure way.

5. Be generous. When others see you giving, they will recognize God in it.

6. Be gracious and cheerful in your righteousness. Don’t be prudish and standoffish in your convictions. When you decline to participate in sin, don’t do so in a way that says “I am better that you, and you are a dog.”

7. Be open. People are scared of the unknown. Let people get to know you and see that you don’t bite and you don’t have any secrets.

8. Don’t do religious things to be seen of men. Let your righteousness be purity of heart and intention.

9. Speak of God and Jesus occasionally when it is spontaneously true. For instance, you might say, “Isn’t it a beautiful day God has made?” or “God has blessed me with good health.” On occasion you might say something like, “If it were not for Jesus Christ, I would be on my way to hell.”

10. Follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in knowing who is ready to receive the message. In time someone will open up to you and ask a question like, “Why are you always happy?” or “Why don’t you XXXX?” Answer then honestly, telling them of your commitment to Christ and of your conversion. When the moment seems right tell them the gospel story in detail. Win just one person and it is all worth it.

Don’t think in terms of impacting the entire school. Just one needy soul is enough. And when you have one convert, it becomes much easier to impress others with Christ.

Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten?

2010-04-25T09:30:00.000-07:00

Walk into the home of a preschooler, or onto a playground filled with 4-5 year olds, and you're destined to hear moms talk about whether or not their child is ready for kindergarten. I just stumbled on a bucketload of resources for those moms!! (Okay, I'm one too - I have a 5yr old headed to kindergarten in the fall). Check out this list of practical resources from education.com.

Here are some of the articles that you will find there:
Transitioning to Kindergarten
Teachers' Ratings of Important Qualities for Kindergarten Readiness
Child Development Tracker: Literacy From Age 4 to 5
Young Children's Emotional Development and School Readiness
80 Skills That Help Ease the Transition to Kindergarten
Redshirting: What's It All About?

Grandmother Review of "Building Character from the Start: 201 Activities to foster creativity, literacy, and play in K-3"

2010-04-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

Lynette from Texas just posted a review of our newest book. She writes from the perspective a grandmother, so it was fun to read her review:

"Building Character from the Start: 201 Activities to foster creativity, literacy, and play in K-3" has so many games and lessons that I can use with any of the kiddos. What an asset for home daycare providers as well as home-school moms! There are many tools to help foster creativity, literacy and play. We played Animal Charades and did Workout Rolls. It was fun to hear the answers that popped out of the kiddos mouths when they were guessing what animals we pretended to be. I would never have thought aardvark. Oh, I could not do many of the workout rolls with my bum knee. But the kiddos showed me how well they could bend, twist, roll and shout too! There is also a CD-rom that is both Windows and Apple capable.

Want to Declutter?

2010-04-15T16:00:00.000-07:00

Then you'll enjoy this article from SimpleMom: 19 Tips for Making Your Home Paperless. It's easy to scan, but it's full of tips, resources and reminders.

Billy Graham's Prayer For Our Nation

2010-04-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to

seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those

who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost

our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.. We have exploited the

poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it

welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot

abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline

our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power

and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and

called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and

pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the

time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin

and Set us free. Amen!'

Saylor Family Code

2010-04-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

Our family has just adopted a family code, that we are striving to follow. I like the idea, because it paints a clear picture of the family we want to have and the kind of character we strive to follow. I'm able to use the phrases to encourage positive behaviors and correct negative behaviors.

I wrote it, then asked my DH to give feedback, then shared it with the children to ensure their understanding. Now it's posted on the bathroom mirror next to the kitchen and living room, so we each see it throughout the day when we're brushing teeth and washing hands.

Feel free to adapt the code, if you want to write your own family mantra. I'd love to see what your write!

Love God

Love others

Do the right thing

Keep a cheerful heart

Speak words of love

Use hands to love others

Honor and obey parents and other adults

Be responsible with your things

Respect others and their things

Find ways to help and encourage others

Forgive others and seek forgiveness

Give thanks to God and others

A real Easter Bunny

2010-04-05T07:26:00.000-07:00

I'm going to save this for next year's Easter traditions:

A real Easter Bunny
is white as snow becuase Jesus takes all sin away (Isaiah 1:18).
is gentle, kind-hearted and forgiving (Eph 4:32).
has big ears that are quick to listen (james 1:19).
has big eyes to look carefully and choose what is good (1 Thess 5:21).
has no voice for complaining or arguing (Phil 2:13).

Thanks to Tracy Spurlock for sharing this idea!

Group Activities for Preschool Children

2010-04-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

If you know you're going to be hanging out with a group of preschool children, it's always good to have a few extra activities 'up your sleeve'! My friend Jennifer and I just worked together to create this list of circle-time activities to post in our church preschool rooms. Feel free to copy it, if you need to use it! And we'd love to hear YOUR favorite group activities for preschool children!

Simon Says

Duck Duck Goose
Ring Around the Rosy
Red Light Green Light
Mother May I?
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Red Rover
My God is so BIG
Infantry Song
B-I-N-G-O
Jesus Loves Me
Jesus Loves the Little Children
Hot Potato
Freeze Dance
Old McDonald
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Jack and Jill
Mary had a little lamb
Four Corners
If You’re Happy and You know it.
Follow the Leader

Happy Playtime!

When Children React with Anger

2010-03-30T12:05:00.000-07:00

I like this article I just read from http://www.biblicalparenting.org/. My eldest son's sin tendencies are often related to anger, so it was encouraging to read the practical ideas they shared.

The child who doesn't like an instruction or limitation may reveal frustration outwardly, sometimes in a small way and other times with downright revenge. One mom said, "I can tell when my thirteen-year-old son is frustrated and upset. He becomes more abrupt in his actions and words. His roughness sends a message that says, 'I'm not happy with you.'"

It's important to remember two rules of engagement when confronted by a child's anger. First, don't be afraid of your child's emotions. Sometimes children use outbursts as a form of self-protection to prevent parents from challenging them. View the display of emotion as a smoke screen and look past it to the heart of the issue. You may not confront in the heat of emotion but don't let your child's anger prevent you from correcting him or her. Parents too often see the emotion as a personal attack and react to it, losing any real benefit that could come from the interaction. That brings us to…

Rule of engagement #2: Don't' use your own anger to overpower your child's anger. Proverbs 15:1 says, "A gentle answer turns away anger." When you begin to lose it, take a break. Come back later and work on it some more.

"I've been thinking about the way you responded to me earlier when I asked you to do your homework. I'd like to share an observation that might be helpful for you. It seems that you believe you ought to be able to wait and do your homework just before bed or in the morning before you go to school. Is that what you're saying? One of the values I'm trying to teach you is that self-discipline often means we work first and play later. That's one of the reasons I require you to do your homework early every day. I'm trying to teach you an important value. I know that you may not agree with me, but I want you to know why I'm asking you to do homework before dinner."

Allowing emotions to settle first can bring opportunities for dialogue later, instead of turning the present issue into a battleground. Realize that kids will go away thinking about what you've said, even if their initial response looks as if they haven't heard you. This is especially true for teenagers. Prepare what you're going to say and choose your timing carefully without getting caught up in the emotion of the moment.

This parenting tip is reprinted from the free online newsletter at http://www.biblicalparenting.org/. The excerpt comes from the book Good and Angry, Exchanging Frustration for Character In You and Your Kids by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN,BSN.

Wanna Be Less Frazzled?

2010-03-27T06:17:00.000-07:00

I just read Mandi's blog post, titled Traits of a Frazzle-Free Mom at Our Busy Family Life. She offers several simple keys to keeping this crazy job called 'mom' a little more under control - and full of peace! I definitely think she's onto something!

Simple Art to tell the REAL meaning of Easter - part 2

2010-03-26T08:28:00.000-07:00

Get two pieces of construction paper. Draw a big cross on each one.

On the first picture, let your child draw a stick figure on the cross to represent Jesus. Talk about how Jesus lived a sinless life, then died on the cross to pay for our sins. Across the top of the page, write "Jesus died for our sins."

On the second picture, let your child draw (or color) a heart on the cross to symbolize God's great love for us. Write "Jesus is Alive" across the top of the paper.

Talk about how Jesus is alive and he wants to live in our hearts. When we invite him to live in our hearts & ask him to forgive our sins, he will give us clean hearts that can be friends with Jesus.

Hang the pictures up to remind your family about the real meaning of Easter - and God's great love for us.

Easter Traditions

2010-03-25T08:36:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my favorite places to find Easter traditions for families:

From the Simple Wife - picture books, family seder supper and resurrection egg hunt

From Passionate Homemaking - a whole set of resources for families - from recipes to homeschooling curriculum to Holy week.

From Harvest Ministry - a list of ways to minister to others during Easter week.

A list of Easter ideas from School@Home

Kelly's post on Frugal Resurrection Eggs (be sure to follow the link she mentions in the 1st paragraph for easy-to-make eggs and the scriptures woven into a kid's Easter story)

Simple Art to tell the REAL meaning of Easter

2010-03-23T08:15:00.000-07:00

I spent the morning doing arts & crafts with my 3 and 5yr old. We were cutting/pasting Easter bunnies and eggs. Then we drew pictures about the real meaning of Easter - it's such an easy way to tell the gospel story!

You can use these easy pictures to tell the story, or add in your own pictures to go into deeper detail.

Write the word God
draw 2 stick people to represent Adam & Eve
a red heart represents clean hearts
a tree for the garden
a snake
an apple
a black heart to represent sin
baby Jesus in a manger
a cross
write Jesus is Alive
a star to represent heaven
then I drew stick figures of each child with a red heart, representing Jesus' desire to live in their hearts.

(**Don't worry about your art skills - your kids will love your stick figures and your attempts at drawing. It's the gospel story that matters!)

2010-03-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

My mom just made her own hand cream, following a friend's recipe. It is very moisturizing! My DH and I are really enjoying it, and my MIL is planning to make a batch soon.

All products are generic brand from Dollar General, but I'm sure you can also use other generic brands.

2 jars vitamin E cream
1 large bottle baby lotion (use the white unscented bottle unless you want to smell like a baby)
1 small 3.75 oz jar of petroleum jelly

Mix with hand mixer until smooth. Store hand cream in the vitamin E jar (or gladware or recycled jars). Enjoy!

Cooking for Large Groups

2010-03-20T16:00:00.000-07:00

I was intrigued by Meredith's blog posts titled Feed A Crowd For Less at Frugal Hacks. I rarely cook for more than 10 people, but I'm looking forward to checking out her tips, resources, and books during my next large group cooking adventure!