Stephanie Shott, Author at The Mom Initiative

Becoming Like Those You Love

Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.” It’s funny how when you love someone your interests can change to match the one you care about. Getting to know others in an intimate way is exciting and eye opening. You learn to experience the things they enjoy, eat the foods they like, and develop passions that they hold dear. This happens with human companions, but it also happens even more with the Lord! I have loved having children for many reasons. But one thing I never expected was to be challenged …

25 Ways to Keep Christ in Christmas & Teach Your Children to Do the Same

Do you want your family to enjoy the true meaning of Christmas but need some ideas on how you can focus on Christ this Christmas? Family holiday traditions are an important part of our lives but during this most wonderful time of the year, it’s so easy to get caught up in the busyness of it all that we forget to leave precious imprints of this special time together on their hearts. 25 creative and fun ways to keep Christ in Christmas for the whole family Click To Tweet Below are 25 creative and fun ways to keep Christ in …

Mommy Confessions: when I realized I didn’t like my child

Don’t get me wrong; I LOVE my children. I am so very blessed to be able to have them, and I truly believe all children are a blessing and cause us to be better people. Guys, I am agonizing over this! I know it shouldn’t be said out loud, but I’m going to because I know I’m not alone. So, my husband has recently returned from an extended work trip that took him out of town. During said trip, one of my children began to act out. I mean, completely lost it! He would not respond to punishment, rewards, nada. …

Why We All Need Some Margin in the Madness This Christmas

When our fourth child arrived at Christmastime nearly a decade ago, no one was more excited to welcome a 7-pound miracle into our family than our firstborn, Lukas. Though he loved his little sisters, 8-year-old Lukas had long yearned for a brother. He’d wished for one each year when he extinguished his birthday candles with a breathy blast, and he’d plead every night when he closed the day in prayer. “Dear Jesus, can I PLEASE have a brother?” After years of waiting and wishing, pleading and petitioning, God finally answered his prayer with a brown-haired bundle of joy just a week before …

Lessons Learned from My Stillborn Son

The sharp cold air chipped away at my numb frame as my feet cut through the deep fallen leaves. My stillborn son’s funeral finished just hours before and left painful silence in its wake. Nagging emptiness grew into an urgent unexplainable need to return to the dark cemetery. So here I sat, ankle deep in decaying leaves rubbing his tiny fresh grave-the only thing left of him to touch. No one warned me how much the death of my baby would hurt. The depth and weight of physical pain it brought was frightening. The priceless lessons learned, though, have deepened my love and knowledge of the Lord. “I have learned to …

Merry Mom Madness

THE RUSH IS ON! By the time this post appears, moms around the world have stood in long lines to pay for groceries to celebrate Thanksgiving, battled crowds for Black Friday sales and begun the race to get it all done by Christmas. As I have grown older I see the value of planning ahead, keeping it simple and doing things at my own pace – financially, physically and emotionally. I no longer succumb to the hectic demand of the season. Ask yourself WHO? Who says you must go to EVERY party you are invited to? Who says you should …

The 5 Do’s and Don’ts for Black Friday

I LOVE Black Friday. Kind of weird for a woman who really hates to shop, I know. I used to hate it! Absolutely hate it! But one day it occurred to me that 99% of the Black Friday shoppers were people who were willing to get up at wee hours to get a gift for someone they loved. I realize The MOM Initiative is a ministry to moms and this is where I’m supposed to give you all those wise warnings about NOT getting caught up in all the hullabaloo and materialistic madness that begins when the Black Friday …

Happy Thanksgiving

We at TMI are so thankful to God for all that He does through this ministry to touch MOMs and their families in the USA and all over the world. We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with blessings. A prayer of Thanksgiving: Dear Father God, We are so thankful to you for your love, goodness, kindness, mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Help us to remember You more in thanksgiving, not just today, but every single day. We are so thankful for the salvation you have given to us when you gave your son up for our sins. We love …

When Giving Thanks Hurts

Sometimes life burns. Kids wander, husbands don’t understand, political climate at work is tenuous at best, there are test results that may change the course of your life forever. The unknown future looms large and dark and uncertain. Fear and worry feed on the dark things rolling around in your head. Everything feels hot and heavy and dark. How do we give thanks in the midst of the fire? We look for moments of beauty in the fire and through the fire. We train our eyes to acknowledge the mess and admit we don’t have all the answers, and we …

3 Fun Things to Do with Your Kids This Thanksgiving

It’s the week of Thanksgiving, which means your kids are officially out of school or in their final days before Thanksgiving break. If your family is like mine, you are so ready for some time off from school so you can eat delicious food, catch up with family and friends, and begin your Christmas shopping (and decorating!). While it is easy to fill this week with lots of activities, the thing that I cherish most about Thanksgiving is it can be a time to rest. My favorite part of Thanksgiving is taking a nap after lunch on Thanksgiving Day!!! While …

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