Why gratitude is essential in your life, especially in the hard times - Lindsey Bell and The Mom Inititiave

Why Gratitude is Essential in Your Life

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, many of us are thinking about gratitude. The truth is, though, sometimes, thankfulness can be hard to find…especially during a difficult season of life.  Four years ago, my husband and I experienced our fourth miscarriage 6 days before Thanksgiving. I didn’t even want to go to any family dinners that year, let alone think about things I was grateful for. All I wanted to do that year was wallow in my own sorrow. And, if I’m being completely honest, my feelings didn’t change for quite some time.  I didn’t feel very thankful, so I didn’t want …

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The 3R’s of Making Memories as a Family

When you reach the place where your littles are bigs, you’re grateful for every memory. The good and the bad become part of your cherished family lore. Your one-of-a-kind memories are added to the story you share with generations who passed on your nose, eyebrows, height, and bunions. Bless their hearts. Now that my kiddos are grown up, I realize we were adding stories to our shared history without even knowing it. Making Memories as a family is easier than you might think. Whatever stage you’re in as a mom, being intentional about memory making will enrich the lives of …

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The Stretch Marks No One Told Me About

No one told me about the stretch marks that come after the baby is born.  No one told me about the stretch marks that come after the baby is born… Click To Tweet  Oh, I’d been amply warned of the blemishes that accompany pregnancy. I remember sitting in the waiting room with my firstborn tucked safely inside of me, his tiny form no bigger than a grain of rice. And as I’d flipped through a pregnancy magazine and munched on saltines to keep the morning nausea at bay, a seasoned mom had willingly filled me in on my soon-to-come reality. …

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‘Twas the Tuesday before Thanksgiving

…and all through the house, all the creatures went shopping, except for this mouse. So I sat and I listened to sounds of quiet cheer, and thanked God again for joy soon here. I’m supposed to be cleaning, but before I begin–I wanted to write this thankful note for both kith and kin. Those near and those far, I never forget–each face, through my memory, some I have never met. I stop for a moment and bend my knee, giving thanks for they’ve given so abundantly to me. A smile, a kind word or prayer and a gift–letting the dross …

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Caught on Camera!

    Albums that chronicle my little family’s life fill the study in our home. Recently, I was pouring over those photos to pick just the right ones to include in a family DVD.  Special memories were triggered by the  moments captured by the camera.   Of course the obligatory birthday party pictures happen to be  included in the Kodak collection. Looking over those pictures gave me a warm, happy feeling…until I came across the infamous  four-year-old birthday party. There were at least a dozen pictures of this event. One of the twelve was a moment I had almost  forgotten; a picture …

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10 Ways to Teach Your Kids to Be Thankful During Thanksgiving

I can’t tell you how many times my sweet friend used to say, “Why aren’t my kids thankful?”  Perhaps it’s because THANKFULNESS doesn’t come naturally and children who don’t suffer lack have a hard time understanding the concept of thankfulness.  When our sons were young, we looked for ways to instill a thankful heart and compassion for others. We discovered that when we teach kids to give, they are more aware of the needs of others. And when they are more aware of the needs of others, they are more likely to grasp the concept of thankfulness. Today’s ideas give …

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When You Don’t Feel Thankful

Last November, exactly one week before Thanksgiving, my husband and I experienced our fourth miscarriage. That was after months of fertility testing and thinking that this time was going to be different than the previous three pregnancies. Needless to say, I wasn’t very thankful on Thanksgiving.  All I wanted was to hold the baby that was now out of my reach.  I knew I had a lot to be thankful for, but I couldn’t seem to focus on these things. Instead of focusing on the things God had given me, I focused on what had been taken from me. On …

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How to Enjoy Weekends…

“MOOOOMMMMYYYYYYY!” his voice echoed down the hall. My eyes flew open and quickly snapped shut as the early morning sunlight met my retinas. I rolled over and grabbed my phone. Squinting I barely made out the time. 6:15 AM. I closed my eyes and rolled over…UGH…Doesn’t he know it is Saturday — the one morning a week we can sleep in? “MOOOOOOOMMMMMMYYYYY!” ____________________________ For over ten years now my weekends have not been my own. Little people wake up at hours I never planned on seeing daylight, they need food, and help with diapers or toilets…and when they are no …

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