As the proud daughter of a U.S. Marine, my love of our country is part of my genetic makeup. Yep, that’s me over there. Dad thought it made perfect sense to stuff my little self into his helmet. His patriotism rubbed off. Play the national anthem and I sing at the top of my lungs, see a mother with a “My son is a Marine/Soldier/Sailor ” bumper sticker on her car or a person out and about in uniform and I walk up and thank them. Yeah, I’m that lady. My husband is the same way. Just last week I …
A picky eater story (and how one woman’s comment made a difference)
When my kids were seven and nine, I was worried about their picky eating and came up with a plan to help them try new foods: every week, they were responsible for going through our recipe books, picking out one meal each that they thought sounded good, then being the head cook for that meal during the week. The plan meant setting aside time to help them read through cookbooks. And it meant longer trips to the store. (And a messier kitchen on the nights they cooked!) But it also meant finding some dinners that they really liked. And that they probably wouldn’t have tried so cheerfully …
Mother’s Day and Leukemia
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia hit the Mayer family full force on September 26th, 2012. Daniel, the youngest of four boys and only four years old, is in the battle for his life. Submerged under the unrelenting vice of suffering, how does a mom walk this road with her family? Here are some answers from his sweet momma Kelly: How did Leukemia impact your Mother’s Day? Leukemia really affected Mother’s Day this year but in a fairly roundabout way. I guess “strain” is the best way to say it. Leukemia puts a big “strain” on everything and everyone. Relationships within our family …
How a Wiggles Movie Changed My Life
“Please, Mom? Pleeeease?” My daughter pleaded as she climbed into her car seat. Since buying our first minivan, I’d come to appreciate all its amenities but one—the built-in DVD player. That thing was a source of constant battle. Every time we boarded the van, my children asked to watch a movie. And every time I replied, no. Because good parents don’t let their children watch television in the car. My Perfect Parent Handbook has lots of rules like that. Good parents don’t buy sugary cereal. Good parents don’t let their children wear pajamas to the playground. Good parents have a …
How NOT to Be a Meddlesome Mom + Monday M.O.M. Link-Up!
Hi. My name is Cheri, and I’m a Meddlesome Mom. I hate admitting this. I spent my first eighteen years of motherhood looking down my nose at smother mothers and telling myself Thank goodness I’m not one of them! Proverbs 2:11 says, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Let’s just say that once my children headed off for college, that wisdom starting coming, all right! I discovered, much to my chagrin, that they were both lacking dozens of basic life skills. I’d prided myself in being a supportive mom, one who took an active interest …
Going out on a limb
One of the biggest fears I have as a woman is not leaving the legacy God intended. I’m afraid of being the same person at 85 that I am at 31. This includes all aspects of my life, blogging, motherhood, character growth, and being a wife. Who doesn’t want to stand before God and not hear the words, “Well done.”? Who doesn’t want to became more like Jesus and less like a selfish 2-year-old? (Oh wait–maybe I’m the only 31 year old out there that has 2 year old moments?). Just this week, I put myself out on a limb …
Playdough
Out of playdough? No problem! Here is an easy, fun recipe the kids can help with! Make sure to keep this one handy! 1-cup salt, 2-cups flour, 2-cups water, 1/4-cup vegetable oil, 1-tablespoon cream of tartar Place ingredients in pan, add your favorite food coloring, stir over low heat until dough is not sticky, looks and feels like playdough. Enjoy playing with your kids! Isaiah 64:8 But now, O Lord, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter; and all of us are the work of your hand. Enjoy your weekend! Tara Dovenbarger, …
Are You a YES Mom or a NO Mom? 6 Tips to Help You Find Out
When my sons were young, I caught myself doing it over and over again. Saying NO without really thinking about what they were asking. NO just seemed to slip from my lips before I thought it through. I knew I needed to listen, think and then respond, but I just kept saying NO. I had become a NO Mom. Giving a knee-jerk NO to whatever they asked for was definitely not on the “Good Mom” list and I knew it was time to carefully consider my comebacks to their questions. It’s not that NO is always a bad thing. It’s …
5 Ways Twins Can Change Your Life
Some people call me a superhero, doubly blessed. Others say I have my hands full, double trouble. Hi, my name is Christen, and I’m a mother of twins. Before I had children, I had heard rumors that motherhood was the most challenging and rewarding job on the face of the planet. I was the newlywed that thought I could handle the challenge of being a mom; that it couldn’t be that hard. I had illusions that the reward part of motherhood would be more often than the challenge and my children would be well behaved, athletic, musically-talented, smart, and successful …
GIVE AWAY ~ Adventures In Odyssey’s New Book
You know we love to bless you sweet moms with giveaways and to share great resources with you….and today we get the opportunity to do both! Tyndale House has offered to provide 3 books for today’s giveaway and I want to share a little about the latest book in the Adventure In Odyssey’s series, Imagination Station, entitled, The Hunt for the Devil’s Dragon. I’ve always loved the resources from Adventures in Odyssey and I especially appreciate the variety of character lessons intentionally threaded through the fabric of each book. Their new book is no different. Character lessons: Honesty, Courage, Taking …