Character Mom

Mini Me - Mom Mondays

2012-03-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

The wonderful and frustrating thing about our children is that they are mini versions of ourselves. If you find yourself "butting heads" with one of your children more than the others, it may be because they are the most like you. From my conflicts and observations of my most spirited and particular child, I have learned things about myself that I had never realized before - good and bad.
My exhortation to you and myself today is to use these realizations as positive learning and growing experiences instead of fuel for irritation or self-loath. Think upon the blessing that similarities create great bonding opportunities whether it is enjoying similar fun activities or working together to become better at common flaws. Also, you can be grateful that you understand their feelings and their perspective on life; therefore, are able to respond to and help them deal with situations better. Lastly, it is self-affirming to see in their endearing personalities, that you do have many positive characteristics that you have passed onto them as well.
P.S. On a funny side note, I found this unique website called 1minime.com, where you can actually send them a photo, and they will make a personalized bobblehead doll from it for about $65.00. I am content with having my daughter be my mini me.

Free Book! and Fun with Scriptures - Fun Friday

2012-03-02T05:00:00.006-08:00

      Pick one of the 'one-another' verses we talked about on Wednesday and take some time this weekend to have fun with your kids and the Scriptures. There are whole books on the idea of teaching your children the Scriptures in fun ways, my favorite one is Hide It in Your Heart by Gloria Gaither and Shirley Dobson. Here are some basic ideas you can run with:
   1. Word Games - Write out Scripture verses and then make a puzzle out of it - crossword puzzle, word find, etc. There are computer programs for all of these online.
   2. Hide and Seek Game - Hide each word of the verse in a different location, making the children repeat the verse every time someone finds a word.
   3. Acting - Have your kids write and act out a play that demonstrates a verse.
   4. Crafts - Illustrating a verse helps them understand it better. Make any kind of framed art, markers on a pillowcase, playdo sculpture, etc. Or you can just write the words to a verse in a decorative way - stencil project, cross-stitch, bubble letters, etc.
   5. Music - make up your own song, find one on itunes, or download a Christian artist. Steve Green and the Hide 'Em in Your Heart series are my favorites.

******Important Announcement! On that note;) Congratulations Julie Wenning! You are the winner of the drawing for the Steve Green CD/DVD combo! Contact me to claim your prize! There will be another drawing this month. All you have to do is comment on my blog anytime in the month of March to be entered in the drawing that will be announced on the first of April!)

    I would love to hear about any of your fun ideas for Hiding God's Word in Your Child's Heart.

Friendtentional- Guest Blogger Kristin Cook

2012-03-01T05:00:00.006-08:00

Diane, Saradee, Whitney, and Kristin

I am so thankful that I have such wonderful friendships at this stage in my life. I can’t imagine going through ‘mommy-hood’ without them. My friends bless my life through shared stories, encouragement, help and prayer. However, in the busyness of life, sometimes those friendships can go unattended. Friendships need maintaining, time and effort, in order to grow. Often with all the social media available, we see posts or recent happenings with friends and feel like we are up to speed with what’s going on in their lives and therefore don’t invest in face-to-face time. I have been challenged this year to be more intentional in building closer relationships. Less Facebook time and more face-to-face time. More scheduling fun, girly lunches and/or hosting girls' nights. More good conversations during playdates and coffee dates after the kids are in bed. Friendships are such a blessing and I want to make sure I’m making an intentional effort to give support and encouragement to my friends!

Do you have any great ideas about how to be more friendtentional (intentional about supporting and encouraging your friends)? We would love to hear about them.

- Kristin Cook owns her own amazing photography business (KristinCookPhotography.com), and is a mother of three young children. She is also a wonderful example of someone who is friendtentional!Thanks for sharing, Kristin.

One-Another Love - Guest Blogger Marcy Schuermann

2012-02-29T10:00:00.001-08:00

My two-year old daughter is a social butterfly in the making. Seeing a friend – whether planned or unexpected – is always the peak of her day. As I watch her begin to navigate the waters of relationships, I praise God for designing his children (big and little!) to live in community and fellowship, and for giving us wonderful Scriptures to guide us in this endeavor.

Our gracious God blesses us through our earthly companions and the lessons they teach or inspire on our journey through this broken world! As I spend time with my daughter thanking God for our friends and the ways He has used our friends to bless us, she learns not only the value of fellowship, but also learns what kind of friend she likes to have and what kind of friend God wants her to BE! Being a good friend goes beyond taking turns with a favorite toy. Good friends are encouraging, supportive, honest, forgiving, servant-hearted, kind – the list goes on and on! The Word is packed with more than 50 “one-another” commands that we can both model for our children and use to encourage and admonish them as they learn to be good friends.

Memorizing and applying some of these verses together is a great way to guide our children in their relationships. If our child persists in complaining about a visiting friend who took a toy or knocked her down, we can remind them of I Peter 4:9, "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." When we meet friends for lunch, we demonstrate I Corinthians 11:33, which instructs us to "wait for each other" before we eat. They learn by example Galatians 5:13, "serve one another in love", when we deliver a meal to a sick friend or a new mom - even though it slows us down a bit when they tag along! Helping our kids exhibit “one-another” friendship can be as simple as picking out fun notecards and helping them write encouraging notes to playmates or schoolmates in the spirit of 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” The possibilities are endless. Life will not neglect to present regular opportunities for us, and our children to love one another!

-- Marcy Schuermann is a stay at home mom to her two girls, Amelia (2 years) and Norah (5 months). She serves in children's ministry at her church, and previously worked as a public relations director for an education nonprofit. She is also a wonderful example of friend who displays one-another love. Thanks Marcy, for sharing!

"Peaches" - Guest Blogger Tana Schuermann

2012-02-28T05:00:00.024-08:00

I consistently remind my 7-year-old son, "Your sister can be your best friend." He often plays well with his 3-year-old sister, but inevitably at some point she starts to drive him crazy arrousing his grouchy, critical, and impatient tone that siblings often use with each other. Proverbs 15: 1 is a favorite verse we use to encourage kindness and patience during these occasions, “A gentle answer turns away anger, but mean words stir up anger.”

One day while watching one of my son's favorite movies - Ice Age, I had a "lightbulb" moment of how I could help my son understand how to apply this verse. The wooly mammoth couple is expecting a baby and their code word for when she is going to have the baby is "peaches." So, I asked my son if he would like to have a super top-secret code word that just we knew about (well until now of course). We talked about peaches and how they are sweet and fuzzy and soft and how kind words to his sister should be just like a peach - sweet, soft and fuzzy like cuddling with a warm blanket or a gentle hug. He thought having a super secret code word just like in his favorite movie was the best idea ever! So at dinner the next night when he started getting on to his little sister, I simply looked his way and said, “Peaches.” No one else even asked what we were talking about, but he gave me a little wink. His tone of voice changed immediately, and I could tell he was weighing his words. At bedtime he said, “I think this code word thing is working great!” What a refreshing response to correction! Instead of feeling discouraged by my continual reminders as usual; he was happy, and encouraged to be included in a special secret club.

Parenting advice often suggests letting siblings work things out on their own. Yet a wise friend of mine with five grown boys insists that this principal only applies after training has occured, because unkind words can cause lasting wounds. By working with my son on how to speak kindly to his sister, even in moments of frustration, I’m hoping to cultivate a friendship between the two of them that goes beyond the obligatory sibling love and lasts a lifetime.

- Tana Schuermann is a former teacher, current stay-at-home mother of three, and has a multitude of ministries. Most of all she is one of the peachiest girls I know. Thanks for sharing Tana!

Do you have any great suggestions for sibling rivalry or impatience? E-mail Sarah or comment to share your great ideas with all of us.

Moms of Monkeys?- Mom Mondays

2012-02-27T05:00:00.015-08:00

Nephew George, Kyah, Niece Hope

Hello Character Moms! You know, if you desire to teach your kids Christian character, then you are a Character Mom just like me. We all get distracted and overwhelmed by life, so we don't do as good of a job at teaching our kids as we would like. None the less, we are still Character Moms. Did you know just the very fact that you desire to teach your children new skills separates us from the monkeys? While watching a documentary called "Monkey Genius" I was encouraged by an interesting fact about our own little monkeys (our kids) that separates them from real monkeys. Two simple experiments proved the point that monkeys are not good at following suggestions from their teachers. One was simply two cups, and the teacher would point to the cup which had the ball under it. The other experiment was a puzzle box that contained a piece of candy. The experiments showed that monkeys are very capable of mimicking and figuring things out on their own, but they were not good at following suggestions. The young children on the other hand, were not only very in-tune with the desires and directions of their teachers, but they actually enjoyed learning - especially from their primary care givers.

God made your children especially for you. Don't be discouraged if you feel like you are living in a zoo sometimes. I am here to encourage you that you are the best teacher and Character Mom for your little monkey who is very eager to soak up direction from you. Also, we do not have to do this challenging task alone, and figure things out on our own like a bunch of monkeys. Christ is our strength and He has also given us people and tools we can look to for support.

This week, I am going to introduce you to new Character Moms each day who are not only some of my best friends and my support system, but who also have great teaching ideas to share with you and your little monkeys. I would love to feature you as a Character Mom, too. Please e-mail me anytime with your great training ideas or insight.

Eros Your Man - Fun Fridays

2012-02-24T05:00:00.002-08:00

Eros is the wonderful romantic feelings of overwhelmingly unselfish adoration when you are "in love" with another. Can you remember back that far when you and your hubby felt this way about each other? We all remember how great that was, but now realize that the feelings of overwhelming unselfish adoration do not last forever without constant work and the strength of our Lord and Savior. C.S. Lewis believes that God uses Eros to teach us what love for our neighbor will look like if it is done correctly and in His strength. With Christ's help, we can easily toss personal happiness aside and think of others first - "loving our neighbor as ourselves."

Does your relationship with your husband give your children a correct picture of how they should love others? I love my husband now more than I ever have, but the way I treat him does not always display this. He is my rock, my support, my best friend. He is the only one who can correct me and make me laugh at the same time. (Yet he is also the one I am the sassiest and the grumpiest with unfortunately.) We are obviously not always all "lovey dovey", but thankfully we do still have "that spark" because we rely on Christ's strength and continually work on our relationship.
Praise God for blessing you with the husband that you have. I am so very blessed to have a relationship with My Man Micah that combines all of the four loves into one! You have all heard, "There is nothing you can do that is better for your children than to love your husband." Love your husband with Eros this weekend! (Please don't report back to me this time about your great ideas about how you are going to accomplish this:))

Loving the Unlovable - Thoughtful Thursday

2012-02-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

       Agape love is simply selfless unconditional love. As moms, it comes natural for most of us to love our children; However, I recently became convicted that it does not come natural for me to act lovingly toward my children when my kids are acting unlovable.
       In preparation for church last Sunday, one of my girls (as usual) had a meltdown. I in turn, lost my temper (as usual), and said these horrible words, "I do not like being with you when you act this way, so we are not going to spend special time together after church like we were planning."  I was spitefully punishing her with the withdrawal of my love and approval. Thankfully, God does not treat us this way. Christ overwhelms us with His love and blessings in the midst of our sin, and encourages us to do the same for others. He welcomes back the prodigal son with open arms. Romans reads, "...while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Christ's unconditional love for us while we are unlovable moves us to grateful worship, obedience of our Savior, and inspiration to do the same.
         Loving the unlovable is not an easy task, but I don't want my child to think that my love for them is based on their performance. Do you want your child's behavior to change because they are trying to gain your approval, or because their heart wants to follow Christ? We must ask God for His strength, direction, and a changed heart to consistently love our children with Agape love.
        Make a special effort to do something extra special for your child today regardless or even in spite of how they behave today. You may be pleasantly surprised at how quickly a stubborn and hardened heart can be melted by unconditional love and acceptance.

Common & Close Friends - Welcoming Wednesdays

2012-02-22T05:00:00.000-08:00

My Bosom Friend Sarah (& family)

           Do you remember the moment that you found a new friend because you had something in common.  It usually sounds something like, "What? You too? I also like _______. I thought I was the only one!" I remember that first conversation that I had with my soon-to-be best college friend when we realized that we were both named Sarah Elizabeth. (We didn't know at the time that the name Sarah Elizabeth is one of the most common girl name combos of all times. Now I even have a sister-in-law with my same exact name - Sarah Elizabeth Holmes!) What we soon found out was that we had many more things in common as well - tastes in clothes, goals, core beliefs, love of dancing, etc. etc.. We are still true "bosom friends."
          One of the best things that we had in common was our group of friends. See friendship love is unlike romantic love. It is not supposed to be jealous. It should welcome other friends to share in the friendship because they only deepen and add more - not take away. C.S. Lewis explains this better than I can. He says, "In each of my friends there is something that only some other friend can fully bring out. By myself I am not large enough to call the whole man into activity; I want other lights other than my own to show all his facets." As silly girls, we are often tempted to be jealous about just about everything. Don't leave out others thinking you are helping your really close friendships grow stronger. When we welcome others into our circle of friends, we are deepening our current relationships, showing God's love to others, as well as being an example and an encouragement for our children to do the same.
          Including others is an extremely important lesson for our children (especially girls) to learn. Do you have any ideas about how we can become better at this ourselves or teach our children in this area? I would love to hear what any of my friends say. You see we are friends since we have this common interest in seeing our families grow in Christian character.

My "Magic" Purse - Teaching Tuesdays

2012-02-21T08:30:00.000-08:00

       C.S. Lewis explains storge love (one of the four loves we reviewed yesterday) as "affection, especially of parents to offspring, but also of offspring to parents." This type of love is the humblest of loves, because it is so comfortable, familiar and often assumed that a mother will naturally show love to her children by meeting their basic needs, and the child in turn will love their mothers by seeking her to have their needs met. The problem is that if we do our jobs right our children will eventually stop needing us as much. Since it is natural for moms to need to be needed, it is often hard to find the right balance between meeting our kids needs and letting them learn resourcefulness on their own.
        I like to carry a gigantic "magic" purse stuffed full of snacks, games, markers, and anything that I would ever need to meet the immediate needs (and usually wants) of my children should we encounter any kind of problem. However, by swooping in and rescuing my kids, I am neglecting to let them learn to "make do", practice positive problem solving, and figure out solutions with limited resources. I have to remind myself that my job as a mom is not to always be there to rescue them, but to teach them skills- like resourcefulness - that they need to survive and succeed on their own in the real world. I am not going to stop carrying my great purse. I just need to work on giving my kids opportunities to creatively solve their own problems before I whip out my swiss army knife and duct tape to fix their gameboy just so I can have the reward of their bright eyed, "Thanks Mom!"
       For practical ideas (family traditions, crafts, activities, and stories) about how to teach resourcefulness to your child, see April's edition of my "Character Corner" Column for Metro Family Magazine. You can read it on my website (TheCharacterMom.com) before it is even published!

Do our children not love us anymore when they stop needing us? Of course not, but as moms this is sometimes how we feel. I would love to hear about how you keep your need to be needed in check.

The Four Loves - Mom Mondays

2012-02-20T06:56:00.000-08:00

C.S. Lewis' The Four Loves is a book that is just perfect for reading and teaching to our children at this time of year. This week, I am going to dedicate a day to focus on each of the four loves. Here is a brief overview:

Storge - Affection - natural love that you have for family
                                and familiar people or things.

Phileo - Friendship - companions that have something in common

Eros - Romantic - feelings that you have when you are "in love"

Agape - Charity - the unconditional love that God has for us,
                             and that we can show toward others
                            as a result for and from our love for God
       Love is the basis for all the other character qualities and for our theology. I would love to hear any of your ideas about how to grow and teach love in your family. Which one of these four loves are you the best or the worst at? Ask God to help you know how to grow and to teach in these four areas this week.

"...You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.... You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no greater commandment greater than these." - Mark 12: 30,31

My Wrestling Name is "Big Mama" - Fun Friday

2012-02-17T07:12:00.000-08:00

"Big Mama" tires easily and worries a little bit about her little "Diamond of Doom" getting hurt when "Big Daddy" throws her onto the couch like a sack of potatoes. However, only fond memories and bonding have occured as a result of wrestlemania at our house - no injuries. My girls looooooooove this special time with their dad, so I was glad when I learned from TheArtofManliness.com last week that actual scientific research shows surprising benefits of roughousing. In Brett McKay's blog, he explains these benefits: develops resilience, social and emotional intelligence, morality, physical fitness, joyfulness, bonding, and even likableness.To get the real details instead of just the Cliff Notes version, read The Art of Roughousing by Anthony Debenedet and Larry Cohen. Have fun this weekend wrestling with your kids, and know that although every once in awhile their heads will hit together like coconuts, overall this activity is very good for their brain developement.

I LOVE to KISS - Thoughtful Thursday

2012-02-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

This Valentine's week we have talked about candlelight dinners, flowers, and sweets. Today we are going to talk about kissing. KISS - Keep It Simple Silly (We have to say silly instead of studid at our house:)). The most important and basic thing we can do for our family every day, not just at Valentine's, is to be loving. Read the passage to the left. Are you showing love to your kids? Are you a loving spouse? Are you a loving person in general? Seek God's strength and guidance today for special ways you can show love to all those around you. Maybe let the lady who rings up your groceries pick out a drink or snack, secretly slip an encouraging note and a Sonic gift card into your friends diaper bag, sit down and read a good book with your kids, and then plant a big fat KISS on your honey when he gets home from work.

Slow Down for Sweets - Wise Wednesday

2012-02-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

   Valentine's Day would not be complete without all the sweet treats. Through her book, One Thousand Gifts, Ann Voskamp has been teaching me about how to cultivate a grateful heart. She suggests slowing down to focus on God's goodness in all things. I hope these quotes below from her book will inspire you to action (well a slowing down of all the action).

"Haste makes waste."
"Hurry makes us hurt."
"Life is dessert -- too brief to hurry....When did I stop thinking life was dessert?...
"It takes a full twenty minutes after your stomach is full for your brain to register satiation. How long does it take your soul to realize that your life is full? The slower the living, the greater the sense of fullness and satisfaction. The body and soul can synchronize."
"Wherever you are, be all there." - Elizabeth Elliot
" Being in a hurry. Getting to the next thing without fully entering the thing in front of me. I cannot think of a single advantage I've ever gained from being in a hurry. But a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of rushing...Through all that haste I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away." - Mark Buchanan

         Take time to show your sweet kid how much you love them by slowing down and really enjoying a sweet treat with them today. Share with them how very grateful to God you are for all the little things in life - like sweet treats, but also for the big, giant things in your life like your sweet kid.
        What are some ways we can slow down or stop hurrying? How do you make your kids feel loved and important?

Dependable Dads (and Moms) - Teaching Tuesday

2012-02-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

    Teach your kids about dependability & unconditional love. For a girl, anxiety naturally accompanies Valentine's Day whether she has a significant other or not. She worries, "Is anyone going to remember me on this day to make me feel loved and valued?" Growing up, my father was more dependable than anyone I knew. My Valentine's anxieties were calmed with the knowledge that I was going to receive flowers from someone no matter what. I knew I was special to someone - my Dad.
     I don't know how boys feel on Valentine's Day, but I do know that they probably wouldn't mind counting on getting a nice note and some chocolate from their mom.
     You know your kids best. What would say, "You are an amazing kid, and I love you no matter what" to your child? I would love to hear about your ideas to make your kids feel special on this special day.

Dates with Dad and Mom - Mom Mondays

2012-02-13T05:00:00.000-08:00

Moms and Dads, Valentine's Day is not just for your spouse. Go out of your way to make your kids feel loved this Valentine's Day! Make a candlelight dinner with all the fancy red decorations at home or take them out on a fancy date. Fancy - meaning anything that is not fastfood. My husband (shown here with my daughter, Summer, on their way to the Daddy Daughter Dance) does an amazing job of scheduling one on one time with all of our girls regularly - not an easy task. Our girls will grow up knowing that they are unconditionaly loved by their Daddy, so they won't have to seek approval and acceptance from some other guy in their life. I have to admit I get a bit jealous sharing my husband's quality time with all three of them, but I know the sacrifice is well worth it.

You is Smart, Pretty, & Important - Fun Fridays

2012-02-10T05:00:00.000-08:00

    This weekend your fun assignment is to fill your child with super great thoughts about themselves by speaking encouraging words to them. Your child's mind is a storage box into which people and events are putting ideas about who they are and what they will become. How impressionable and very easily convinced they are. They are listening when we say things like, "They are better at spelling than they are at math." or, "They can't get along with their brother." Ask yourself, "What have I been making my kid think about themselves lately?" Unfortunately, I have to admit that one of my daughters probably thinks she is a "whiny-pants", because that is what I told her (even though I know it is "not nice to call names".)
      Words of encouragement do not have to be deep or profound. It could be as simple as, "Your mama loves you" or, "I'm so proud of you." Direct them to what you want them to become. For example, "You are learning to love Jesus more and more" or, "You are so very kind," or "I am so glad that you seem to be enjoying school more lately." To be inspired, watch the kind nanny in the movie "The Help" who continually reassures the little girl who is neglected by her mother with the words, "You is smart. You is pretty. You is important." Wouldn't you like it if someone told you that?
      Tell me about ways you encourage your kids, or ways you like to be encouraged.

THINK Before You Speak - Thoughtful Thursdays

2012-02-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

Wouldn't all our relationships be so much better if we all thought before we spoke, texted, or e-mailed?
Put this up on your fridge for you kids, and for you.

Before you Speak
THINK
T- is it true?
H- is it helpful?
I- is it inspiring?
N- is it necessary?
K- is it kind?

"Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." - Philippians 4:8

Bad Hair Day? - Wacky Wednesday

2012-02-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

       Yesterday we talked about TEA - how our Thoughts, Emotions, and Actions are all intermingled. So the questions is now, "How do we take control of our TEA- even on a bad hair day?" I know this sounds silly, but we all have bad days, and there really has been scientific research about how your hair can affect your life. Well, the most effective method of self-control - even on your worst days -is to seek God's help to replace negative thoughts and emotions with God's truth and positive focus. However, this does not have to be as difficult as it sounds. It can be as simple as Acting like we have right thoughts and emotions - in other words obeying God even when we don't feel like it. Talk to your kids about your struggles they need to know that we all have to obey even when we don't feel like it.
     Example #1:   If I am feeling a little down, my natural inclination is to feed my sorrow or take a nap. Instead, I can embrace God's joy and do something funny. Wigs are perfect for Acting (see photos.)
     Example #2: Sometimes people seem to rub me the wrong way. If I invest myself in that person, by doing something nice for them, my heart and mind is softened toward them. I maybe could don my spy wig and deliver them an anonymous gift card to the salon.
     Example #3: I feel a "headache" coming on at bedtime... I will let you imagine what happens next here. You can include the wig or not in this scenario:).

     You get the idea. Right Actions lead to better emotions and better thoughts. How do you take control of your TEA? Is there a specific thought pattern or emotion that you continually deal with? What do you not feel like doing on a regular basis? Do you have any funny wig stories for me?

TEA Time - Teaching Tuesdays

2012-02-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

       Girls love tea parties! Boys enjoy them as well if they are accompanied by yummy snacks. Take advantage of your kids love of snacks and of spending time with you. Plan a simple tea time to teach a short lesson about the importance of thoughts. As an added bonus you even get to teach about three letters - TEA. T stands for thinking. Thinking comes first, because it affects everything else. Your thoughts lead to E for Emotions. For example, if you continually think about or focus on all the bad things in your life, you will feel sad. The last letter A stands for actions. The way that you feel will then make you want to act certain ways. For example, If you feel sad, you may want to cry, withdraw, take a nap, etc.. Thoughts > Emotions > Actions. They are all intermingled.
        For fun, you can label three sugar packets T,E, and A and add part of each packet to your tea to help you explain this concept to your kids. For older kids, you can substitute the "T" sugar packet with salt to show how your thoughts can affect everything else.
         What thoughts, emotions, or actions have you or your kids been struggling with? I would love to see pictures of your tea party. Check in tomorrow to see how to take control of your TEA.

You are What you Think - Mom Mondays

2012-02-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

       Have you seen the commercials where the mom says, "You are what you eat," while the soccer ball goes right through the hole in the doughnut shaped kid? Well, Proverbs 23:7 tells us, "For as he thinks within himself, so he is," or in other words, "You are what you think."  Our society is extremely conscious about what types of food they put into their bodies, but they tend to be lax on what types of
things we think about or put into our minds. Think about why it would be important to guard what goes into your mind and the impact your thoughts could have on the rest of your life.
       What kind of thoughts are you having on this Monday? You have a choice to focus on all the things you are dreading this week, or you could think about all the blessings in your life and the things you are looking forward to. For some reason, I am thinking I would really like a doughnut. What could this type of thinking lead to?

       "We are not what we think we are, but WHAT WE THINK -WE ARE! Our heart secrets are the mold for our character and the index of our worth." - Keswick Calendar

Mandy's Lesson 6 - We are all a work in progress.

2012-02-03T05:00:00.000-08:00

      Mandy does not look anything like this picture right now, but I am praying that I will get to see this bright and smiling face again soon. This picture makes me think about how God has a picture in His head of the woman that He wants me to grow into. I am making very slow progress (just like Mandy) most of the time, but at least I am striving to move forward. It is hard to be patient, especially in times of uncertainty. However, I am thankful for God's patience with me, and I know He won't stop helping me or Mandy grow until He has reached His finished product. We are all works of art in progress, in the hands of a loving and wonderful artist.
      Although Mandy will always be my #1 role model and I will continue to learn from her and this situation, after today I am going to return to my regular blogging. Mandy loves that I desire to encourage and equip other moms, and she really does not like to be the center of attention.  However, if you want to keep up with her progress, see the caring bridge website: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mandywhite. Thank you for your continued prayers for our family.
       Is God molding you in a certain area? What has He been teaching you lately? What do you think we can learn from Mandy's life and this situation?

Mandy's Lesson 5 - Mom sets the Mood

2012-02-02T05:08:00.000-08:00

       When people are sick or dying everyone always talks about how amazing they are like they could do no wrong. Well Mandy is not perfect, but it is actually hard to find anything negative to say about her (and I am ashamed to say that I usually have no problem at all thinking of negative things to say about people). All I could come up with for Mandy is that she is sometimes a little cranky in the morning time. So I am going to talk about mom moods today.
        We have quite a bit of moods in my house because there are four girls and only one boy. I had not realized until yesterday that my girls were really feeling the emotional strain that I am currently going through. They expressed feeling down, worried, and overwhelmed. So I realized that my girls were mirroring my moods. Not only do I need to do a better job of reassuring them and not neglect my family as add Mandy's family to my list of things to do, but I also need to trust God more in this situation so that I am not so worried and overwhelmed. He will not give me more than I can handle and He is holding Mandy's family in his hands.
      However, more than anything, that if my children are starting to really feel this crisis that we are in, then I can't imagine what Mandy's kids are feeling. Although they seem to be doing all right and they have a huge support system, nothing can replace having a mom to set the mood in the house. Please pray for Mandy's sweet children by name - Hannah, Matthew, Michaela, Hali, Hope, Hudson, and Moriah (the two youngest are missing from this picture). They miss their Mom, who is a joyful servant most of the day.
     What kind of mood are you setting in your house? What are some ways that you have learned to trust God more to control your emotions?

Mandy's Lesson 4 - Take the High Road

2012-02-01T05:04:00.000-08:00

Sleeping Baby Moriah (1month) and my daughter Summer (6)

       Exactly a week ago, Mandy was still her normal self (It is weird to think about that). She had about 100 things that needed to be taken care of before her surgery the next day, but her top priority was working out all the details necessary - talking to the Lactation consultants, doctors, pumping, researching drugs, etc. etc., - to make sure that baby Moriah would get all the breast milk that she needed. I supplemented formula with all three of my girls, and they all turned out beautifully. However, Mandy firmly believes that nursing is best for her baby, so she was not going to take the easy road. Unlike me, Mandy is willing to be inconvenienced for the best of others. Mandy is faithful to complete what she has started, to follow through with what she has promised. There are times that it is acceptable and expected and even best for everyone to change your original plans, but I am inspired by Mandy to stay on the high road more often (even when it gets a bit bumpy) instead of turning around and taking the easy road like I normally do.
       Thank you for your prayers. Mandy is doing much better and on the long road to recovery.
        Have you taken the wrong road lately? How did you know it was time to turn around?

Mandy's Lesson 3 - "Uptown Problems"

2012-01-31T05:00:00.000-08:00

      I can't remember exactly what I was worrying or complaining about today when my husband tried to bring me back to reality by telling me that I was having an "uptown problem". He then had to explain to me that an "uptown problem" is referring to something that is really not a very big deal, but is viewed as a problem by someone whose perspective is out of wack. For example, if you were really upset that your seat warmer in your new Lexus did not warm your bum to just the right temperature - that would be an "uptown problem." What I have been learning this past week with my sister, Mandy, being in ICU, is that most of things that upset me daily are "uptown problems", and that I need to seek Christ to give me an eternal perspective for daily life.
      "Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to stop being so self-centered and focused on small daily issues that I miss the lives of those around me that need to be shown your love and your light right now in this dark world."
        Do you have any "uptown problems" that you want to confess? What helps you keep your eternal perspective?

Mandy's lesson 2 - Enjoy the Daily Grind!

2012-01-30T05:00:00.001-08:00

Mandy and family (minus 1 month old Moriah)

My sister, Mandy, continues to teach me things even when she is in a coma. She had a rough weekend and so did we. Her brain became so swollen after her brain tumor removal on Thursday, that they had to go back in and remove her skull cap and put her in an induced coma for 48 hours. Normally, on Mondays, I feel a little down because my husband has to return to work, and I have to return to the "daily grind". This is not a good attitude, but one that I have to combat with the power of Scripture and positive perspective every week. Life as a stay-at-home mom is very busy, very important, and can be very fun, but most people would not describe it as exciting. Hopefully, the next time I am craving more excitement in my life, I will remember this time in my life when I am just praying that Mandy and the rest of our family will be able return to the "daily grind."
What are the things in your "daily grind" that may bother you when facing them daily, but you would really miss if you never got to experience them again? For example - my friend Elaine has a son who used to spill his milk everyday:).

Pillar Sister, live like there is no tomorrow!

2012-01-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

Today I just want to thank God for my oldest sister Mandy who honestly is one of the best and most amazing moms that I know. I like to think of her as my "Pillar Sister". Psalm 144: 12 says, "May our daughters be like corner pillars cut from the structure of a palace"- strong and beautiful. She is my inspiration, because on days when I think I don't know how I am going to be able to do everything, I look at her and know it is possible. Just yesterday a surgeon successfully removed a tumor from behind her left eye. Praise God! Through this whole ordeal, she continued to be the pillar of strength that she always is because of her constant reliance on Christ. Calmly and methodically she made arrangements for her 7 children - 5 of which she homeschools, and her one-month old baby girl whom she continues to nurse during her hospital stay in ICU! Let her life encourage you that you can be a "Pillar Sister". God can help you through anything big or small and help you love your husband and children like there is no tomorrow- everyday!

Do you have a "Pillar Sister" (in the faith or in the actual family)? We would all love to hear about her.

Where did all the Bibles go? - Thoughtful Thursdays

2012-01-26T05:00:00.000-08:00

     On Tuesday of this week, we talked about the importance of using the actual Scriptures instead of just biblical principles to guide and direct our children. It has never been easier to do this, since now we have wonderful technology that provides us with the ability to fit the entire Bible - complete with numerous translations and a concordance - in a device that fits in the palm of our hands. However, with amazing technology comes responsibility. I don't want my children to forget (or never learn) what a real Bible looks like, or confuse the truth of the Bible with all the other information that you can find on my phone. If you are not continually a student of the Bible, someone could easily trick you or your children simply by saying, "The Bible says....".  Do you know which of these things are really in the Bible?
1. "God helps those who help themselves.
2. The Book of Hezekiah
3. "Cleanliness is Next to Godliness"
4. Angels married people on earth.
5. A Bohemoth that some say might be describing a dinosaur or even the Lock Ness Monster."God helps those who help themselves."
        You can use your handheld devices to search for these, but don't do this in church while pretending to follow along while the pastor reads from God's word.

Time is Running Out! -Wise Wednesdays

2012-01-25T05:00:00.000-08:00

(Shop Amazon.com for this great book.)

Sometimes we are tempted to simply distract and entertain our very young children, thinking that we are simply supposed to love on them and help them survive until they can understand deeper concepts and really start learning. A Mother's Heart: A Look at Values, Vision, and Character for Christian Mothers by Jean Fleming not only reminds me that training in the early years are crucial to the developement of our child's worldview, but also gives insight and info about ways we can impress important biblical qualities in our little bundles of wet cement.
"A mother's presence throughout infancy and the entire preschool stage is important because more learning takes place in the child's first five years than in any comparable period of life. Experts agree that as much as eighty-five percent of a child's character is developed by age five, and the way a child is raised in the early years accounts for at least twenty points of his IQ." - Jean Fleming

I almost hyperventilated when I read this statement for the first time. Thank goodness Christ is here to give us strength and guidance in this tremendous task of training children. Time is running out to train your child while their cement is still wet. Seize every moment. I would love to hear any input you have about ways to seize every moment, or about how critical the "little years" are.

Free Tool for Teaching Scripture - Teaching Tuesday

2012-01-24T05:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I promised you some kind of incentive for being faithful in your Scripture reading and teaching, so I am giving away a DVD/CD set of my favorite Steve Green album - "Hide 'em in Your Heart". This amazing set is simple Scripture set to wonderful music. One of the easiest ways to teach Scripture is through music. All you have to do to enter to win is logon and leave a comment on this blog before the end of January. I would love to hear your great ideas about ways you teach your children Scripture.

How are you doing on your resolutions? - Mom Mondays

2012-01-23T08:07:00.000-08:00

Almost every year, I resolve to read my Bible through this year. Well, I am only a few days behind right now, but only because I did quite a bit of catch-up reading this morning. This is the beginning of a couple of weeks where I am going to focus my blogging on the importance of being faithful in reading and teaching the Bible in our homes. I became convicted of this while reading Teach Them Diligently, How to Use the Scriptures in Child Training by Lou Priolo. I realized that I often teach my children Biblical principles, but I rarely teach them directly from Scriptures. In order to teach them the Bible, I need to be a better student of them myself. I usually work better with incentives, so tomorrow, I am going to tell you about a little incentive that I am going to offer for faithful Bible reading and teaching.
P.S. Shop Amazon.com to buy Teach them Diligently

OKC Metrofamily fun - Fun Fridays

2012-01-20T05:00:00.000-08:00

I would be remiss if I did not tell you about one of the very best sources for fun event ideas for your family. Metrofamily Magazine is the best at making sure you know what events are available in our area - especially the free or discounted ones. You can go to MetrofamilyMagazine.com anytime to check their detailed calendar, but I would highly recommend subscribing to get their Weekend Picks e-mailed to you every Thursday, or click here to view this weeks Top 10. I am continually surprised at the interesting events that go on right here in our community.
While you are at their site, you might as well leave a comment about how much you like January's "Character Corner" article about developing determination in your family. I am so excited to be writing a monthly column for one of my favorite magazines! See Character Corner: Developing Determination

Tired? Play Hospital - Thoughtful Thursday

2012-01-19T05:00:00.000-08:00

I was just sitting here thinking about how tired I am, knowing that many of you feel the same, and wondering how we could teach our kids without using much energy. The idea that came to me was to play hospital. This is a wonderful game that allows you to lay down and even close your eyes for long periods of time, while your "doctor" or "nurse" learns about caring for others. Before you lay down, get the doctor kit out, or just some bandaids, wash clothes, medicine (smarties or colored water in a small container),etc. Make sure you compliment them on how caring and thoughtful they are. Let them know, "You are a great nurse because you are so gentle, loving, resourceful, etc." If you play your cards right, you can even get them to serve you dinner (warmed up soup) on the couch while you watch TV.
We would all love to hear any great teaching ideas that you had that don't require much effort.

Critical School Decisions! - Wise Wednesdays

2012-01-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

          Dr. James Dobson is so full of wisdom about child training. I wanted to share with you this bit of crucial information to those of you with young children- especially those of you who are making choices about kindergarten. When Dobson was asked, "When is the most critical period in the spiritual training of young children?" He responded with,
          "I believe the fifth year of a child's life is the most critical. Up to that time, he believes in God because his parents tell him it is the thing to do. At about five or six years of age he comes to a fork in the road... At that point, he may "buy it" and put his feet down onto a more solid foundation - or he may start to doubt it, laying the basis for rejection..."
           Surround those kiddos with people who love Jesus. My kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Hale made Jesus real to me, and then my mom explained the details. Pray over those school decisions. God has directed us to put both my girls are in public school for now, but I thank Jesus for my Christian school teacher Mrs. Hale.

Cleaning Police - Teaching Tuesdays

2012-01-17T18:34:00.000-08:00

If there really were police that had the authority to fine or arrest me according to how clean my house was, I would be in serious trouble. I am scared enough of my husband who randomly confiscates things that are left-out too long. This does keep my girls in check most of the time, but I need to find a way to get them more involved in tidying up and keeping our home more orderly. Next time we are cleaning up, I am going to add some fun by letting them pretend that they are the cleaning police. I think if I give them the power to collect fines, confiscate items, and dole out prescribed punishments for people who do not do their chores or clean up after themselves, this may get them more involved in the process. If it works temporarily, I will experiment with this long term - giving them a designated room to patrol for a week. I will let you know how it goes.

If you have any great ideas about getting children to practice orderliness, I am all ears.

You are Good Enough & Smart Enough - Mom Mondays

2012-01-16T17:00:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, I used to watch Saturday Night Live during my college days. Now I am too exhausted to stay up that late. After church yesterday, I felt like Stuart Smalley from SNL (played by actor Al Frankin). He was an insecure nerdy looking guy who made himself feel better by self-talk. He would say, "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!"
When I compare myself to other "Super Saints", I leave church feeling inadequate and small. That is not how God wants us to feel when we leave church. Satan loves to make us girls feel insecure in order to distract us or to deture us from ministering to others. So if you are feeling a little insecure or unsure that God has big plans for you, let's do some self-talk together. Repeat after me."I am good enough because I am a daughter of The King. I am smart enough because God has gifted me with numerous talents and abilities. And people do like me, but what is really important is that God has placed specific people in my life for me to shine God's love to. Father, help me shine for you today!"

Terrible or Terrific Twos - You Choose (Fun Friday)

2012-01-13T05:00:00.000-08:00

My 3rd child, Kyah, and her cousin Hudson are both almost 2 and 1/2, so yes, I know that two year olds say "no" often, throw fits, whine, make giant messes, destroy things, don't have much self-control or patience, etc. etc.. However, I also know that two year olds can also be the sweetest, cuddliest, most joyful, most adorable, easily entertained, hilarious, and undeniable cuter than just about any age. The list of their good qualities goes on and on.

Though this stage in life can definitely be difficult and time demanding. I think it is one of the most delightful, and I am trying to soak Kyah up as much as I can. When I am exhausted and bewildered after a meltdown at the store, I am tempted to think, "I can't wait until these "Terrible Twos" are over. Instead, I need to remind myself that I am "Gonna Miss This"! (I have trouble listening to that song by Trace Adkins without crying. See it on You Tube.) I try to think of the multitude of positive things about Kyah and the stage in life that she is in right now-the Terrific Twos. It is all about positive perspective and contentment. I need to be more like my amazing two-year-old who is so gifted at living joyfully in the moment.
Go have fun living in the moment with your child - whatever age they are today! I would love to hear ways that you joyfully live in the moment with your kids.

Can you Force Kids to be Grateful?

2012-01-12T05:00:00.000-08:00

        If you have not written thank you notes for Christmas yet, it is never too late to show gratefulness (although I think Emily Post says try to do it within two weeks). I know getting kids to write thank you notes is no easy task, so last weekend, I employed my husband's help. First, I got out all the paints, stencils, and paper - to add the fun factor. Then I took captive all the things my kids had received for Christmas. My husband broke the news that they could not have their gifts back AT ALL if they had not written a thank you note for it without complaining before bedtime. He is a hardcore genius! This method worked much better than my idea of just keeping their presents until a note was written eventually. I admit that I was worried I would end up with some barely used Christmas presents in my possession. However, once they started painting, the initial shock and crankiness wore off quickly and they actually had a fun night of creativily showing their true gratefulness.
       So to answer the title question: No, you cannot force kids to be grateful in their heart, but you can require them to show gratefulness. The beauty in this above example, and that I experience often personally, is that my heart is sometimes reluctant to have the right attitude. However, when my right actions and right thoughts lead the way, my heart attitude usually follows.
       Do you have any good ideas that you would like to share about teaching your kids gratefulness?

Mighty Mom - Wise Wednesday

2012-01-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

"Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." - I John 4:4
     Do you want to make a big impact on your kids and on the world just like I was talking about yesterday? One of the most important and mountain moving things you can do is PRAY! You can accomplish more in ten minutes on your knees than you can all day running on your own strength.
    One man's life is a great example of the power of prayer. John Knox was a 16th century reformer who was arrested in Scotland for boldy preaching the truth of the Scriptures. While he was chained to the oars of a ship, he grew not only in physical strength but also in the strength of fervant prayer. So much so, that the Queen of Scotland is quoted as saying, "I fear the prayers of John Knox more than all the assembled armies of Europe."

You are doing GREAT THINGS! - Teaching Tuesday

2012-01-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

Since we were young, we have had high hopes of growing up to do GREAT THINGS!
Let me encourage you. You are doing them now! Let the sound of those sweet little feet running into your room in the morning remind you that your children are ready and eager to soak up whatever it is that you are going to teach them today. Don't let others deceive you into thinking there are bigger and better things to do with your time. Raising your children to be more Christ-like is one of the biggest impacts you can have on this world and on eternity.

Moms Don't Get Sick Days - Mom Monday

2012-01-08T17:00:00.000-08:00

I am writing this to you today as my head is pounding, my throat is on fire, and my whole body aches; so I am going to make this short. Sometimes as moms it is easy to focus on the negative, especially when you are not feeling well. It is true. Moms generally don't get sick days, but I just wanted to write you and myself an encouraging note to remind us that God is faithful and will not give us more than we can handle. For instance, I am blessed that I am at the end of this three day sickness, and my wonderful husband watched the kids, made a few meals, and even changed one dirty diaper so I was able to get some rest this weekend. I have much to be grateful for. This weekend I was reminded of my faithful God, faithful husband, kind children, and my general health. A three day sickness is very minor compared to what some others are facing.

Listen to Your Juggling Coach

2012-01-06T12:19:00.000-08:00

(Day 6 continuation on Faithful Follow Through)
Step 5: Have more Faith in Christ
     As a mom, I am always juggling. I don't know why I tend to be such a control freak about the things I am juggling - keeping them all to myself. Especially, since I tend to drop things often and tire easily. I need to replace my prideful faith in myself (thinking that I know everything and that my way is the best and only way) with a humble faith in the best juggler of all time - Christ. He is my caring coach who helps me build strength and guides me to know which items to hand off to my partner, or to set spinning somewhere else. He will even daily hold up my tired arms, spot me whenever necessary, and take care of all the things I drop. Juggling is just like basketball or any other sport, in that if you want to work on your technique - follow through, hang time, etc.- you should always listen to your coach. To faithfuly follow through this year, I am going to need to have more faith in Christ my Coach. He really knows what He is talking about.
       If you get a minute this weekend, I would love to hear about the areas in which our Coach has been giving you tips and techniques.

Jolie, My #1 Commitment Today - Fun Friday

2012-01-05T11:24:00.000-08:00

(Day 5 continuation on Faithful Follow Through)

Step 4 to faithfully following through:

Commit to less Commitments.

         Today is the perfect day to talk about this, because today is my daughter Jolie's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOLIE! You are so full of joy, singing, creativity, fun, and love! We are going to have so much fun celebrating you today!
         When I over commit to things, I miss out on the really good things in life that are going on with Jolie and the rest of my family. My kids can't halt their growing while I get everything checked off my to do list. My husband and God are both amazingly patient, but their lives continue to pass on, while I am distracted and neglectful. There are ministry opportunities all around me that I am oblivious to when I am overwhelmed and overscheduled.
          One of the easiest ways to keep my priorities in order and follow through with what I commit to, is by making fewer and wiser commitments. I generally over-commit, and it is usually for all the wrong reasons like guilt, keeping up appearances, poor planning, pride, selfishness, lacking the courage to just say "no", etc. I need to seek God's direction, and use self-control, the next time I am thinking about adding something else to my calendar that needs to stay free for all the fun birthday party planning, laundry, fort making, diaper changing, church activities, storytimes, dinners, date nights, cleaning, talking time, games, and all the other fun random needs of all the people that I touch daily.
         Join with me in committing to: committing less. I would love to hear your ideas on this topic.

A Great Gift for Fellow Moms- Thoughtful Thursdays

2012-01-04T12:36:00.000-08:00

(Day 4 continuation on Faithful Follow Through)
       Yesterday you heard about my favorite parenting book about first-time obedience "Don't Make Me Count to Three!" by Ginger Plowman. To accompany this book, Plowman made one of the best parenting tools I have found.
        If you are looking for a practical, thoughtful, and economical gift for a fellow mom, THIS IS IT! This tool is made in somewhat of a calendar format so you can hang it on your fridge for easy reference.   Wise Words for Moms helps you train your children to replace their bad behaviors with positive attitudes and actions using a Scriptural format similar to a mini topical concordance.
       Stock your gift closet with this must-have resource for only $4.00 from Plowman's website http://www.gingerplowman.com/ or Shop Amazon.com.

First Time Obedience - Wise Wednesdays

2012-01-03T12:08:00.000-08:00

(Day 3 continuation on Faithful Follow Through)

Step 3: Require First-time Obedience Requiring first-time obedience from my kids, is the only way my kids will learn that I mean what I say. I am going to hand this topic over to a woman much wiser and more disciplined than myself. Ginger Plowman is the author of my very favorite books on parenting because it weaves together the biblical truth of focusing on a child's heart with practical steps to apply these truths.

Ginger Plowman teaches her children that first time obedience means, "All the way, right away, and with a happy heart." This is brilliant because it not only focuses on the action, but the attitude behind the action. Plowman references Ephesians 6:1-3, Colossians 3:20, Proverbs 13:18,24, and more as she tells her children, "When you disobey me you are disobeying God and it will not go well with you. I love you too much to allow you to disobey. "Don't Make Me Count to Three" Should be required reading for all Christian Moms.

Don't miss tomorrow when I tell you about her practical tool to carry out these principles entitled Wise Words for Moms. In the meantime, I would love to hear any great ideas you have for requiring first time obedience from your children.

No More Excuses - Teaching Tuesdays

2012-01-02T13:41:00.000-08:00

(Day 2 continuation on Faithful Follow Through)

Step 2 to Faithful Follow Through: No more Making Excuses.

There is a reason why my children obey my husband right away, and obey me sporadically. They know he means what he says when he asks them to do one task, and he will stand there and respond to their immediate obedience or disobedience with praise or punishment - no excuses. I on the other hand am always making excuses for everything - their behavior and my lack of discipline. "They would have obeyed right away if they weren't so hungry, tired, etc." "It is okay that I ate three brownies, because I am going to exercise tomorrow." "Well, I know that I told the kids they couldn't watch anymore TV if there room wasn't clean, but then my mom dropped by and needed to talk about something important, and I needed to distract them with something just for a few moments." The problem with this logic, is there is alway some kind of "extenuating circumstance" in all of life. Do I really want to teach my kids to make excuses for themselves or their misbehavior?
When we make excuses, our commands become empty threats, and we teach our kids that mom does not really mean what she says. Instead, I should be focusing on reinforcing first time obedience. Don't miss tomorrows wise words about first-time obedience from one of my favorite authors.

Faithful Follow Through - Mom Mondays

2012-01-01T16:24:00.000-08:00

          Happy New Year, Moms! I am really great at coming up with New Year's resolutions and even making great plans to achieve these goals. However, I am not great at following through with these plans. This year I resolve to be more resolute - not just in my resolutions, but in all I say and do! In other words, I am going to work on faithfully following through.
          Just like in basketball where you have to learn and follow several steps in order to make a goal (eyes on the goal, elbow in, follow through, etc.) our daily goals are no different. There are a few things I will have to work at in order to accomplish being better at my goal of being more faithful.
           Step 1: Stop talking so much. The easiest way to mean what I say and only say what I mean is to stop talking so much. As a typical woman, this is no easy task, but I am going to work on thinking more before I speak. This may mean, I have to pause for a moment before I respond to others, or this may even mean not answering the telephone every time it rings. Better yet, I will just turn my phone off every once in awhile, since I am sure that the sound of a telephone ringing triggers some kind of temporary crazy response in my children's brains.
          Come back tomorrow for step two (about no excuses), and in the meantime, I would love to hear about your New Year's Resolutions.

Reviews - What moms are saying about Sarah Holmes and WILD IDEAS

2011-12-29T10:24:00.000-08:00

"This is a fabulous resource in teaching your children character qualities! It is full of great ideas, valuable truths and tons of activites that are doable (even for those of us who are not super creative!)" -BethanyG

"Sarah does a fantastic job of gathering hours of information and resources on different characters. She has it organized in an easy to read format too. It is so wonderful to have everything in one place with so many ideas and options." -Kristin95

"Great ideas for practical ways to teach your children about the Bible and Biblical character." -T Zeleskey

"Highly recommended! I have told so many moms about this and am excited when God provides other opportunities for me to share about this amazing newsletter." -J Wenning

"Lots of great suggestions... takes the work out of planning and preparing ideas for moms and enables us to just actually do the fun activities with our children!" -Jessica O.

"Researching and compiling a list of things to do is the launching point for spending quality time with your kids. Most moms can't make it past that first step. Wildflowers intiates the process for me and enables me to spend my time actually doing the activities, not just planning them." -H Ramsey

"There are so many ways to teach the character qualities. Sarah gives you everything you need to teach your child each quality. This summer we (a group of close mom friends) are leading a character camp with our boys called Mighty Warrior Camp. We all picked a character to teach by using Sarah's Wild Ideas as our lesson plan."-Kristin S

"It's a great resource for teaching your children if you are just starting out on the journey of teaching character development to your children." -Bethany M.

"I give this newsletter as a gift to new moms. It is perfect for new moms because it gives them a vision of preparing for their children's character development. There are many, many books on the market for children's physical development, but not very many resources for their character development." -Ann R.

"I have recommended it other moms! This is a great resource that appears in my in box monthly to remind, encourage and equip me to think about and teach character to my kids." -JJKKCC

"This news letter is full of fabulous information to provide your children with fun and interesting character training! Sarah does a fabulous job and our chilren LOVE to go through the books together!"-A Isaacs

Services - To Encourage and Equip Moms

2011-12-28T11:22:00.000-08:00

My desire is to encourage and equip moms to help their families grow in character:

1. Encourage - I am here to lighten and brighten your load as a busy mom. We only have a short time to instill in our children Christ-like character; however, our daily lives seem to overwhelm us and keep us in survival mode. I hope to offer you practical insight as well as fun and simple ideas to cut through the clutter and train your children so you can thrive, not just survive - making Biblical principles become alive and real in your family. If you enjoy this blog, then share it with friends. I can even come to your women's event for a time of character-filled fellowship and practical teaching tips.

2. Equip - I try to bring you fun and simple ideas and resources to encourage you and/or train your children daily. Every month I focus on a new character quality, and how to teach that quality specifically. I will post a few of these ideas on this blog every month, or you can subscribe to my very thorough e-newsletter called "Wild" Ideas for only $1.00 a month. I include family tradition ideas, fun activities, and stories. It is truly one of the best things you can spend a dollar on. See my website for more info and reviews. http://growingcharacter.com/