One of my absolute, all-time favorite things to do is plan a party. Oh, I get so excited thinking about the details of a party: the theme, the food, the decorations, the party favors, the outfits…..it can all be so wonderful. But, party planning can also bring out the “Crazy Christen” side too: the panic, the frustration, the sharp tongue (anybody with me?). Here are 10 tips I’ve learned about staying “cool” instead of “crazy” while party planning: 1. Remember the reason for the party. When my girls turned one, all I wanted to do was celebrate their lives …
what NOT to say {when you hear good news}
Recently, I shared on my blog that I’m pregnant. My husband and I are expecting our third child to arrive in March. It’s been fun to share the good news with family and friends and it’s been even more humorous to hear some of their responses. We’ve received these lines so far: “Are you sure you are having only one this time?” “Were you planning on this?” “You are going to have your hands full.” “Time for you to get snipped, mister.” Since we already have twins, I expected many of these responses. There is a lot of truth in …
A Key Worth Finding
“Where are my keys?” I ask this question quickly as time escapes the morning. The twins were in their corduroy jumpers filled with patterns of fuchsia, lavender, and apple green. My hair was combed, make-up applied, body dressed for March weather. Juice bottles were fixed, snacks were made. It was five minutes to nine and we had to get out of the door now to make it just in time to our destination. But, where were my keys? “Adeline, Maralee, do you know where Mommy’s keys are?” Grins splash across their faces as they dash into the next room. Following …
when it is time to rest
It seems that our bodies are made to go on strike even when we don’t want them to. We are too busy, too much is going on for our bodies to sit and say “I’m done. I need rest.” But, against our will to keep going, doing, and being, our bodies declare that it is time to stop. Last week, three hundred kids gathered at my church to attend Vacation Bible School. As the coordinator of our Children’s Ministry, I had been working for months, weeks, and countless hours each day on making our VBS the best experience it could …
5 Ways Laughter Protects a Mother’s Heart
As a mom, I have days where the smallest thing blows up to huge proportions ( is that just at my house?). I become wrecked with emotion and feel like my heart just can’t handle anything else. When this happens, Satan attacks my heart as a mom. I feel guilty, overwhelmed, and anxious about the choices I make. I don’t see the joy in motherhood, I just see the hard. I’ve only been a mom for three years but the biggest lesson I’ve learned so far is to let go. If I don’t loosen my grip on life, I’m not going …
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 …
Is More Always Better With Extra-Curricular Activities?
In high school, I was recognized as “Most Involved” in our Who’s Who of the senior class. I was proud of this title because I was indeed, the most involved. I was a varsity cheerleader, captain of the soccer team, SGA senior class secretary, honor student, Interact Club member, and an active member of a dozen more clubs. I never came home right after school; I always had a practice or a meeting. I was a busy girl then and now, as a working mother of twin girls, I am just as busy carting my children to their extra-curricular activities. …
When Prayer Overcomes the World
Yesterday, I walked into my women’s Bible study group with thoughts consisting of my own problems and circumstances. There is a physically-handicapped woman in our group who greeted me with a huge grin and asked me how I was doing today. I lied and told her I was fine, thank you. We sat in our chairs and as our leader began with prayer requests, this precious woman asked if we could say a prayer for the crisis going on in Midland City, Alabama. Just down the road from my house, a school bus driver named Chuck Poland was shot last …
What Peter Rabbit’s Momma Can Teach Us About Parenting
My twin two year old girls love The Tale of Peter Rabbit. I’m sure they can relate to mischievous Peter, who doesn’t listen to his mother and goes to Mr. McGregor’s garden anyway to eat carrots. Our version has the pull tabs and it is almost torn to pieces we’ve read it so much. They love finding Peter’s lost shoes and pulling the gooseberry net up and down trying to release him. They explore the tool shed looking for Peter but only finding a ladybug, butterfly and bubble bee instead. Finally, Peter makes it out of Mr. McGregor’s garden and …
Hula-Hooping Into 2013
Confession: I’m a multi-tasker who is tired of multi-tasking. (photo source: dailyhistory.net) Entering 2013, my eyes have barely focused on the future from the blur of 2012. It was the year of the multi-tasking mamma, aka me (was it for you too?). From planning a two year old tu-tu birthday party, putting our house up for sale, moving to our hometown, and leaving my stay-at-home job for church ministry, my days were filled juggling. To mark the end of our crazy year, my husband and I ventured to the salty air and crashing waves in Florida to clear our heads …