As my kids grow bigger, I’m learning to let them make their own choices. Even when I disagree. Like last Saturday, for example, at the grocery store. “Mom, can we get a watermelon? Please? Please? I love watermelon!” My seven-year-old spied a crate of enormous melons in the center of the produce aisle. She clasped her hands in front of her chest and pleaded. “Sure, we can get a watermelon,” I nodded. “If you promise me you’re going to eat it.” “I will, I will! Can I pick one?” “Uhhhh . . . okay.” Now, you need to understand—I’m really …
Sounds Asleep with Sleep Machines?
Most moms have had a moment (or ten or 1,000) when they declared, “I’d give anything for good night’s sleep!” New parents once had to pace the floor, drive the neighborhood, or prop up fans, but that all changed with the invention of sound machines. When parents find themselves battling colicky characteristics, they’re even more desperate to find relief! Babies come home now to sound machines in stuffed animals, clipped on furniture, poised on night stands, or generated by iPhone apps. Are there potential dangers in consistent use of a white noise producer? What should expectant parents consider before they …
Let It Go!
Oh how that song from Frozen both inspires and challenges me. You know the song, chances are your kids sing it just about every day, as a matter of fact, some of you are probably singing to it right now in your heads. I actually adore the song, but truth be told it also strikes a very tender nerve for me when I first heard it. You see, my One Word 365 for 2014 (you can find out more here) is “Release”. I prayed over this word and knew that only God would pick this word for me because …
You’re a gardener, mom.
AND THE WINNER OF YESTERDAYS TICKET GIVEAWAY IS A BIG SURPRISE! WE HAVE A SPONSOR WHO HAS SPONSORED EACH OF YOU TO WIN ONE TICKET AND THE WINNER OF THE TWO TICKETS IS SUE WALTERS. Sue Walters, Maria, Tanyia Rowan, and Cheryl Stovall… YOU ALL WILL RECEIVE AN EMAIL WITH YOUR TICKET IN YOUR INBOX BY MONDAY! CONGRATULATIONS and a BIG THANK YOU TO OUR GRACIOUS SPONSORS! For Mother’s Day a few year’s ago, my son gave me a hand-painted ceramic pot with a fabric flower inside of it: It was the perfect gift for me because …
Does Holiness Really Matter?
Today, I’m super excited to introduce you to my sweet friend, Kathy Howard! Kathy is an author of many books and her love for Jesus and for ministry is inspiring! I wanted to take a few minutes to share with you about her newest book, Embraced by Holiness because, as moms and as ministry leaders, the need for holiness is huge! Little eyes are watching mommas…and if you’re a ministry leader, lots of eyes are watching you…they want to see how you act and react – so holiness needs to permeate every area of our lives. Two years ago, “Fifty Shades …
Brown Like Mom. Cream Like Dad.
“What color will you raise your children?” is a question that I’ve heard before. I didn’t know that there was such a thing as raising children a certain color. I didn’t know that there was such a thing as raising children a certain color. Click To Tweet With that question, I knew full well that they were wondering how much of each culture we’ll embrace and teach to our children. I’m brown. My husband is cream…or in more common terms, I’m black. He’s white. My upbringing wasn’t about skin color. It was about love, respect, honor and serving God. My …
What Makes Mom Proud?
One of my favorite television shows is “Chopped.” It’s a live competition where 4 contestants are given baskets of mystery ingredients to put together “an unforgettable meal” as each course is critiqued by 3 judges. Each round someone is chopped from moving on to make the next plate of food. Almost every single episode, at least one of the chefs mentions (often with a break in their voice & a tear in their eye) that one of the reasons they are competing is to make their mom or dad proud. The chef’s win would somehow validate their choices and prove …
how to talk to your teen girl so she will listen
She longed to be a princess. And in my eyes, she was. As a little girl, my daughter spent countless hours playing dress up and imagining she was Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine or one of the other magical characters from storybooks. It was a time that holds so many sweet memories. Fast forward about six years. Suddenly my “princess” is acting more like a pill. And I’m totally caught off guard by the transformation. Overnight, it seemed like “Mommy, what do you think?” was abruptly replaced with, “I know, Mom! You’ve told me this stuff, like, 1,000 times already! Do I really …
Being A Fully Present Woman
Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and you are interacting and yet not fully present? You catch yourself nodding and even saying something in response every now and then. It’s generally more like an ‘uh huh’ instead of a real response. You are smiling and pretending to be engaged, but the whole time you are actually somewhere else. We’ve all done it, we make the grocery list, text our kids, husband or friends, maybe even check in on Facebook…all the while in the presence of someone right in front of us. It might be the kids, our …
Motherhood — True Evolution
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 I believe in evolution. No, I’m not talking about the evolution of our galaxy and planet earth. I’m a creation girl all the way. To me, true, undefiled evolution is parenting at its finest. It’s incredible how my mom-skills have changed over the past twenty-two years. Today I barely resemble the mom I was my first day on the job in 1991. Whenever my college-girl comes home to visit, she wants to watch old home …