It happens every year—the dreaded Christmas family photo and letter. This is when my perfectionist tendencies rage and my family becomes afraid as does their guardian angels and the mailman. And if you check out this family photo, we look like the Shaw Mafia. No—really, there are comments flying all over Facebook, text messages and phone calls. This is me and my cousins, aunts and uncles. While most family photos are full of vibrant colors, clean shaven men in church clothes –not so with my family. We tend to have an everyday look so to speak… But you and I don’t want …
When a Mom Inspires Her Daughter Book Give-Away
Last year, my friend Cindi McMenamin sent out a Facebook call for mothers and daughters willing to fill out a survey for her upcoming book. Annemarie, then 21, and I both thought it sounded like fun, so we volunteered. Answering Cindi’s questions gave me opportunity to thoughtfully reflect on my relationships with my mother and my daughter. And as Annemarie and I compared notes after returning our surveys, we were each in for some surprises and valuable insights about the other. With Cindi’s permission, I’m listing the questions she asked in her survey below. Some of them lend themselves …
The Unbusy Be of Christmas
It has taken me many years, but I can honestly say that I’ve been set free from being overly stressed at Christmas. Well, as far as the busyness of Christmas is concerned anyway. Certain stresses in life go on no matter what the season. I was asked awhile back what traditions I can’t live without at Christmas and what insights I’d learned each holiday along the way. Don’t cringe like she did when I tell you that I’m not a big traditions person. It’s a long story, I’m just not. But I do enjoy dwelling on the reason for the …
5 B’s to a Great Day…buzzz
Have you heard the buzz? There are 5 Bees that can help you bee the mom you want to be! BEE STILL (are you kidding?) Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Psalm 4:4 Bee still! That’s a B that we often miss. We’re so busy we’re never still. And if we are, it’s when we fall into bed at night and drop off to sleep. However, every word in the Bible has a point and if we miss it, it hurts us. In this B, we’re told to be still and think …
Save the Date for the 2014 M.O.M. Conference ~ Better Together
We are SO EXCITED to share with you that the 2014 M.O.M. Conference ~ BETTER TOGETHER is scheduled for July 31st – August 2nd, in Jacksonville, Florida at Trinity Baptist Church! IT’S COMING! A fun, encouraging, challenging and inspiring conference for MOMS, MENTORS and MINISTRY LEADERS where you can find solid biblical teaching, enjoying connecting with and laughing with old and new friends, and leave empowered to fulfill your God-given calling and with the confidence of knowing you don’t have to take your mom journey alone. As we work hard to make all the information available for you on our website, we wanted …
On becoming a mentor…
Sometimes, the thought of becoming a mentor can be scary (believe me, I know). But it doesn’t have to be. Take a minute and listen to my story, and hopefully be encouraged… If you can’t see the video in your reader, please click… Genny Heikka – On Becoming a Mentor from Genny Heikka on Vimeo. IF YOU’D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN BEGIN A M.O.M. MENTOR GROUP IN YOUR AREA, PLEASE CLICK THIS LINK. You never know the impact you can make, just by saying yes… QUESTION: WHO IS MENTORING YOU? WHO ARE YOU MENTORING? WHAT …
Simple Mentoring – You Can Do It!
Do you have that “older woman” who touches your life deeply, without much fan fare or notice to the rest of the world? I remember her well; her name was Connie. She was the “older women” in our women’s group at the small church I attended in West Virginia over a dozen years ago. Older meant she was in her late 40’s, while the rest of us were in our 20’s and 30’s. Older meant that she had teen children, while we had babies and toddlers. Older meant that because she wasn’t in constant “mom motion” she was able to …
3 Smart Moves to Start Your Day
Smart Move 1: Get on Your Knees with Your Bible Open Before You. Not only will this smart move keep you limber, it will also open your mind to an outside help and source: God. Bow before Him. Acknowledge to your Heavenly Father, “I love You and want to live for You today.” Pray, “Fill me with Your Spirit and mind.” Place your little one on the floor beside you. It will teach them the smart move of starting their day in prayer before God. Smart Move 2: Turn on Christian Music. You’re making a wise choice when you …
Are you an Angela? Can you mentor?
Written by Heather Riggleman, Author of Mama Needs A Time Out Several years ago, a girl wandered into an old downtown theater. She had been beaten down in life by poor choices and circumstances. Her young daughter and husband were threads holding her together and even then, it wasn’t enough to keep her from trying it end all again. But something had happened a few weeks before; in an emergency room as she was strapped to a hospital bed where she heard the voice of God. Since then she had been searching to encounter him again. The front had been converted …
Emotions, Hormones, and Sin
Ever since my children were small I’ve noticed that it can be easy to make excuses for sinful behavior. When they are two we call it “the terrible two’s“. Many behaviors are excused because it is said that they “are normal for that age“. When they turn 13 “their bodies are changing!”. When they are 16 “it’s hormonal” or “they are teenagers“. When they are college age “they are just immature…it’s ‘normal’ to act that way ‘at their age“! What I find interesting is that it doesn’t stop there. Women blame sinful behavior on hormones. When we’re pregnant, “it’s hormones“. …