Category Archives: Parenting

May12

When Mother’s Day just isn’t all it is “supposed” to be…

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When Mother’s Day just isn’t all it is “supposed” to be…

Society has set up Mother’s Day to have certain expectations attached to it. Unfortunately for many, including myself, it isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.  The well meaning “Happy Mother’s Day” wishes from people at church or brunch don’t necessarily know the sadness or disappointment in our hearts today.

I lost my mom to cancer when I was just 18 years old. As much as I have to be thankful for on this day…6 beautiful children and a wonderful husband, a great step-mother and super mother-in-law…The day is still tainted with sadness.

I know I am not the only one who has a hard time pretending that Mother’s Day is a perfect, happy day.

You may be one of the many women who have experienced loss. Your loss might be from a miscarriage, or the death of your mother. It could be from an abortion you later regretted and the what if’s attached to it. Maybe the depths of infertility have left you empty handed or you have a mother who really wasn’t the type of mother you’d like to celebrate. Or it could be that you don’t feel like you are living up to your own expectations of being a great mom.

I just want you all to know there are others of us who feel the same way you do today. Those of us who are thankful for what we do have, but still have a roller coaster of emotions that go with Mother’s Day. Please know I don’t have any easy answers…there aren’t any. However, I will be praying for you today and ask that you would do the same for me.

P.S. I’m not writing this post to be a downer today but to be an encouragement to those who struggle with this day, you are not alone.

Apr22

What is the most important thing you can do with your kids this summer? I have an idea…

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What is the most important thing you can do with your kids this summer? I have an idea…

Bible Bee logo

Now, more than ever, I sense the urgency to get as much Scripture into our kids and ourselves as possible.  The world is becoming more and more hostile to Christians and it is important as believers to know God’s word.  And more importantly to know it CORRECTLY and to be able to DEFEND it.  Too often I am finding Scripture misquoted or taken out of context.

We have the kids memorizing Scripture and doing devotions during the school year with a program they are in called Truth Trackers.  But they have the summer off from that program.  We also take school pretty lightly during the summer and just focus on Math, lots of reading, and a little writing.  This leaves us a lot more free time.  What better activity could we spend our free time on than Bible Study and Bible Memorization as a family?  I think you would be hard pressed to find anything better! This summer my family has signed up to participate in the Bible Bee.  We are super excited about it!

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The program officially starts June 1st, however registration has already begun!  I would like to challenge you and your family to get onto the Bible Bee website and see if there are any hosts in your area!  Then I challenge you to sign your family up.  Here’s a really quick overview of what it entails….

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At the end of the summer there is a competition to help motivate your kids to study well this summer….

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I strongly urge you to consider what you have your kids do this summer…how are they going to spend their time off from school?  Is it going to be spent watching TV and playing with friends?  What will you be able to tell your friends your family did at the end of the summer?  Will it have an eternal impact?

I know that for my family we will be able to tell you that we participated in the 2013 Bible Bee where we made new friends, strengthened the bonds within our family and most importantly made an eternal impact in our lives by studying God’s Word and memorizing it together.

Joshua 24:15

Apr19

WORDology:Free Scripture Memory CD Download for kids!

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WORDology:Free Scripture Memory CD Download for kids!

My sister forwarded this info about this really cool Scripture memory CD that is free to download!  We are really enjoying listening to the music. So I wanted to pass the information on to you…What a cool resource to add to your arsenal of Bible Memory techniques and tools!

Here’s a quick blurb about it from the website:

This project started as a hobby five or six years ago when I started writing simple Bible songs, inspired by my morning quiet times. One day, moved by Mark 9:37, we decided to try to recording these songs. Many unexpected twists and turns later, we have our first album. Our prayer is that parents will find these songs helpful for their children to become familiar with some important Bible verses. It was recorded simply, using acoustic instruments and an old laptop with GarageBand. My wife Lisa sings lead, along with Kaela, Lizzy, Zoe, Maria, Kallie, Rosey, Ellie, Audrey, Cora. I sing some backgrounds, along with playing the instruments. The project was mixed excellently by Dan Dybing. Artwork created by Zoe B.

Just click the here to download WORDology and start listening today!

Follow WORDology on Facebook!

Apr18

“No more perfect meals”–A change at our house

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“No more perfect meals”–A change at our house

My husband texted me yesterday about a new product he wanted to try out.  He looked at it at Bed Bath and Beyond yesterday and came home without it. However, this morning he woke me up and told me he was running out to go to the store to get it!

I bet you’re wondering what it is?

Enter the NutriBullet…

NutriBullet

We’ve have by no means eaten even close to perfectly at our house.  However, we think this might be a step closer to getting a little bit better at breakfast.  At least we will be eating more fruits and vegetables…a step in the right direction.

NutriBullet

I think that we can all say that we can improve what we are doing in the realm of eating.  I think it is important not to get down on ourselves but to make baby steps towards better eating.  Maybe that means just trying to eat more meals at home rather than the drive-thru between your kids activities?  Maybe it means not having a second soda during the day?  Maybe it means trying to plan to eat a vegetable at every meal?

I don’t know what it is at your house but for us right now it is trying to eat more fruits and vegetables and less processed food and we think this might just be a great way to do it.  (We will give you an update in a month or two and let you know how it is going and if we still love the NutriBullet.)

What can you do to eat a little bit better this week?

This post is a link up to Hearts at Home Third Thursday Blog Hop.  Check out what others are saying about “No More Perfect Meals”.

Hearts at Home Blog Hop

Feb14

He’s already a month old

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He’s already a month old

Wow! Where has time gone? He turned a month old on Tuesday the 12th! He weighs 11lbs (he as 7 lbs 8 oz when we left he hospital) and grew an inch since he was born! I call him our “Chunky Monkey”.

He has been such a great baby.  He doesn’t wake up too much in the middle of the night.  Now when I say that I want you to know that I expect him to wake up every 2-3 hours because babies need to do that to eat!  I am not a Babywise parent and I don’t think he should be sleeping through the night.  He wakes up usually around 3 or 3:30 and again around 6 or so.  I am thrilled with that.  He nurses and goes right back to sleep.

I am loving our one on one time in the morning.  He tends to wake up before everyone else around 7:30.  The rest of the day someone is always asking to hold him but no one is up at 7:30 so I get him all to myself…he is so bright eyed. I am not a morning person but being up with him is just great!

I was so concerned about how he was going to fit into our family and was worried that I would be stressed out trying to handle it all.  I am so thankful that it hasn’t been the case.  I really can’t imagine life without him being in our family.  This really has been one of the smoothest transitions of adding a baby for our family.  With my last one almost 4 years ago I was an emotional wreck for months after the birth and I was so afraid that I would be like that again!

I don’t know how to explain this without it sounding weird but “everything just feels right”.  I feel like I am in a better state emotionally than I have been in a long time. Everyone just loves Lincoln.  The little girls really haven’t shown jealousy towards him.  I am more laid back with things and I think that has helped as well.  Most importantly, it has been the prayers and support of friends and family that have made this adjustment so great.

So that is a little bit of an update for you…a couple days past his month birthday.  See…I really am just a tad bit more laid back…it’s late and I am not stressed in the least! : )