Mornings… SIGH. I am so not a morning person, I used to be before I had kids. This means I’m not exactly awake in the mornings, not to mention the challenge to get everyone out the door (on time!) to work and school makes for an interesting morning. This means I need to find ways to save time and still serve my kids a healthy breakfast. Freezer waffles are the perfect solution. You can make large batches ahead of time. Then in the morning, grab the desired amount of waffles and place in your toaster or oven. Viola! Breakfast is …
EXCITING NEWS from The M.O.M. Initiative for YOU!
It was in a gas station parking lot when the vision for The M.O.M. Initiative and The Making of a Mom was conceived. As I sat and watched a very pregnant teen girl walk by and light up a cigarette, I reflected on my teen pregnancy and how motherhood was like a messy experiment for me and how my kids ended up being the guinea pigs. And how I thought I was ready but didn’t have a clue. I couldn’t help but wonder if she understood the significance of her newfound roll. Did she understand that everything she now did would affect …
Sleep: It is Worth the Fight
Sleep. It is difficult to do without it. And as moms we often get our first real taste of sleep deprivation as our tiny infant wakes frequently through the night. There are many schools of thought on sleep for infants and young children. Most stem from even deeper seated parenting philosophies. And I don’t want to debate the finer points of sleep training, attachment parenting, or baby wise parenting etc. The bottom line is all kids need sleep. Below is a graphic from the National Sleep Foundation. Sleep is connected to our mood, our overall health (adults who habitually …
Becoming Momma K
I’m already “mom”. Thanks to my daughter and son-in-love, I will be Momma K! The richness of the blessing of a grand son is beyond words in description. Often times words cannot convey what the heart feels. Conversation about how much we want to bless this little guy is regular between my husband and I. With sparkling eyes, the younger aunts and uncles make plans for play time with their nephew. I pray that God will bless me with a rich relationship with our grand son. Becoming Momma K is helping me become mom all over again. I’m seeing …
Tips to De-Clutter and Organize before & after Christmas
I don’t know about your home little mama but when it’s time to put up the Christmas tree, our living room gets rearranged. And the smallest mess seems like mountains of clutter on top of the kids’ indoor adventures from negative temperatures. And if you’re already wondering how to reorganize your home, the loot, and de-clutter with little ones under foot, here are some fun tips for you. Christmas Ornaments You can either save the boxes each ornament comes in, or save space and time with egg cartons. …
Homemade Baby Wipes
But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:9 NLT Fifteen years ago our family started using this effortless recipe to clean everything from sweet bottoms to the top of the bathroom sink. Start using these homemade baby wipes today and save money for years to come! What homemade helpers do you use on a daily basis? We would love to learn from you! In Christ alone, Tara Dovenbarger
Mom’s Winter Emergency Survival Kit
Ice is frosting the view outside our front door and soon, we will be scurrying to and from cities to visit family, friends and maybe even do a little shopping; but are you prepared in case of an emergency Do you what to do if your car slides off the road and do you know what you should carry in your car for you and your kids? It pays to keep your trunk packed with a winter survival kit for you and your kids AND to keep your cell phone with you. Before we get to your packing list, take a …
Loss of a Baby
For the waves of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me; the cords of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, yes, I cried to my God; and from His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for help came into His ears. 2 Samuel 22:2-7 Decaying oak leaves permeated the air as I sat alone hugging my knees close to my chest. A crisp, fall breeze combed through my hair as if trying to untangle my raveled thoughts. A year of bitter trials left its …
Facing the Mother “Hood” Alone
Hello little mamas! We have a special guest today. Catrina Gray signed up to have a mentor from The Mom Initiative and the funny part is we were just beginning to become friends while I was already on the M.O.M. Team. Catrina is a single mom with a heart for God and an eye for beautiful shots of life. Because she is in college and has dyslexia, she shared her story and I wrote her article; as a single mom, she has faced many trials including whether or not her daughter would be “normal.” Motherhood is a challenge for …
In my weakness…
I was a new mom trying to nurse my daughter and she wasn’t latching on. On the verge of tears, I wasn’t helping the situation by getting discouraged. My husband Mike tried to encourage me, while I tried to remember what the nurse told us… It wasn’t supposed to be this complicated, was it? God, please help, I prayed. Pleeease help this to work… How could something so natural be so hard? Worry started to set in and I wondered how things would turn out. What if it doesn’t work? What if I can’t do this? Here I’d been a mom …