Grace Is a Gift We Can Give Ourselves

By Guest: Jill Savage When child number one threw a fit in the grocery store one day, screaming at the top of her lungs in this very public place, I was so embarrassed. I’d witnessed a scene like that before I had children, and I swore my kids would never do that. Since becoming a mom, I’ve found myself in all kinds of situations I never thought I’d be in.  When the kids didn’t sleep much, I found myself beyond weary. When they didn’t potty train as quickly as other kids their age, I was discouraged. When they grew older …

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Does Your Child’s Free Time Turn into Screen Time?

By Guest: Arlene Pellicane Picture this:  the kids are done with school for the day – homework included.  They have some free time.  What happens next in the real world of your home?  If you are like many other families today, your child will start playing video games, engage with a computer screen, or watch television.  According to a Kaiser Family Foundation national survey, 8-18 year olds devote an average of 7 hours and 38 minutes to using some form of entertainment media every day.  And because they spend much of that time multitasking with more than one screen open at …

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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 …

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Sweet Mom, You Are Stronger than You Think!

I remember looking in the mirror after a mommy meltdown moment and thinking, “You’re never going to get this right!” Motherhood. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart and kids don’t come with instruction manuals. But we try to do it well. We join parenting classes, read parenting books, try to tuck ourselves under the wing of a mother who looks like she’s got it all together, and we pray that somehow, as the years pass by, our kids will turn out okay. For me, it seems like there’s a constant battle between being the mom I’d always hoped …

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Gratefulness and Teaching Character

“YUMMM OOOOO EEEEEE UMMMM!” my three kids intoned while rocking side-de-to-side. “YUUUUMMMMM OOOOOOO EEEEEEE UMMMMMM…” It is the song of the porcupine. A song of gratefulness and I smiled… We have been using Character First as part of our homeschooling. It is a fun and easy way to discuss character traits with your kids. This curriculum is not Biblically based, but you can easily add Biblical principles in as you read fun stories, discuss a historical person with the trait, play games, and do fun crafts that help your children understand and develop important character traits.  My kids remember the porcupine periodically …

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3 Ways to Become Organized and Save Money Today

By Erin Bishop Summer vacation is over at my house and I’m guessing yours, too. This means earlier bedtimes, homework, school lunches, soccer and lots of time in the car shuttling kids back and forth. It can get pretty exhausting. My kids (fourth and tenth grade) go to different schools at different times, and though I am a stay at home wife and mother, I do work at home running my ministry, so my days are fairly busy. For me, organization and routine is key. Having meals planned in advance, keeping quick school lunch items and after school snacks on …

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How Are You Celebrating National Grandparents Day?

Did you even know there’s a National Grandparents Day? I’ve been a Grammie for almost fifteen years and we’ve never acknowledged this special day in our family. When I told my daughter it was on September 8th this year, she laughed. I said: No, seriously there is a Grandparents Day. Her response: You aren’t expecting a gift are you? LOL! Have you been planning a celebration for your grandparents or your children’s grandparents? Admittedly, Grandparents Day certainly doesn’t get the recognition of Mothers Day or Fathers Day, but for those of us who are grandparents, we know what a blessing it …

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Don’t Give Up In the Middle of the Marriage Tunnel

Have you ever heard anyone say that marriage isn’t easy? I’ve heard it too, but if you’re like me, you let it roll off your back.  It wasn’t that I didn’t believe it. It’s just that I didn’t relate to it. What wasn’t my current reality didn’t seem real. But you don’t have to be married for any length of time to discover that marriage really isn’t easy. Maybe you’re there now! Marriage is hard and it not only takes a lot of work, it takes a lot dying to self, a lot of patience, a lot of understanding, a …

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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 …

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Pain Blocker

As a mom, when my kids mess up, it pains me especially when my child experiences pain as a result of those mistakes. My emotions want to take over at times like these. Anger wants them to feel the full force of their choices, while sympathy wants to step in and take away all the consequences. Either way, my emotions try to become the driving force behind what happens next, which rarely ever turns out good! Before we have make decisions, we should look to Jesus and see how He handled difficult situations when He was on earth. Jesus didn’t …

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