Moms of Faith » Parenting

Fellowship is Vital For All Ages

blessed_mom — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:05:31 +0000

The previous winter storm had me confined to my home for a week, although I had a great time drinking hot chocolate and creating cozy memories with Anya, there was one thing that I dearly missed and that was fellowship with members of the church I attend. Fellowship is an integral part of a Christian’s life. Being able to praise, worship, and share your love of God with your brothers and sisters in Christ is inspiring and comforting. Some of my fondest childhood memories were attending church, especially on Wednesday night bible study, where the kids had their own area to read Bible stories and interact with one another. I got a strong sense of how special fellowship was when I witnessed the love, care, and friendship between members of the congregation. Fellowship isn’t only for adults it is for everyone including children. When you bring your children to church they have the opportunity to experience fellowship with the members of your church and with other children their age.

The reality is your children won’t always be surrounded by those who share the same values, morals, and beliefs. That is why fellowship at a young age is so important. When your children are in the world they are faced with worldly desires and temptations just as we are. The kids they go to school with may or may not have a spiritual background. Christian children can feel left out when they are in school or in peer situations because they are raised differently. This may be difficult for children especially teens who may feel excluded or like the odd ball out. Sunday school and youth groups are a wonderful avenue for youngsters to share their faith, honor God, and create meaningful relationships. They may be less likely to give into peer pressure and temptation when they have the support from friends who do share the same values.

In the Bible a recurring theme is how fellowship played a big role in the life of the disciples and believers of Christ. In chapter two of Acts, we’re told that all the Lord’s followers met together and shared everything they had. They met in the temple, broke bread together in different homes while sharing their food freely and supported one another. In Acts, chapter four when Peter and John returned from the Council, they went back to the people to pray together for courage. The Scriptures say that God greatly blessed his followers and no one went in need of anything. The impact of fellowship was spiritually powerful then and it is equally powerful now.

God gives us a gift when he gives us our clergy and our brothers and sisters. Instill in your children that they are given a gift when they develop relationships in Sunday school and in youth groups that can be long lasting and invaluable. Through fellowship we celebrate God and one another for being believers in Jesus Christ. When I was younger I recognized that church was a second home. It was a place where people felt safe and shared their love for their Savior, something that remained with me into adulthood.

Children who attend church have an awesome opportunity to have a support network and community that nurtures them. When they go to school and are faced with pressure, instead of looking and admiring the kids who are doing the wrong thing, they have access and are exposed to kids who are doing the right things and may even realize those are the really cool kids! It is vital that our children have a community of support, love, and guidance.

Foster the gift of fellowship by encouraging your children to:

Develop friendships that aren’t only nurtured on Sundays
Form bible studies
Organize social outings or if you have younger children be proactive in scheduling play dates
Invite friends from church over for dinner or special occasions
Create a peer support network where they can discuss issues they encounter in school

The disciples were blessed with the instruction of Christ and with being able to fellowship and share this knowledge with their fellow believers in Christ. They knew God wanted them to love one another and to be supportive of each other. They understood the power of prayer, praise, and true authentic friendship. In a world where temptation lurks around every corner, it is crucial for Christians of all ages to have fellowship with one another to share their love, strength, and faith in God.

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Get Your Family Prepared For An Emergency

blessed_mom — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:05:55 +0000

Old man winter refuses to leave my neighborhood! I live in the Maryland/ Washington, DC area which was clobbered with snow (28-30 inches!). The snow accumulation was unbelievable and we are still feeling the effects. Fortunately, my daughter and I were safe and warm. Unfortunately, many people in the area lost their power for days and are still struggling through some very cold nights. The snow storm that pounded the east coast was merciless and many families are still suffering the aftermath. Emergency preparedness is extremely important for your whole family. We can’t change the weather, and emergency situations will happen, however, we can try to prepare for the worst. An emergency kit and plan is essential for every family.

Tips to prepare for an unexpected emergency

Don’t Go Hungry
If you know hazardous weather is coming most likely you are at the store waiting in a long line of irate and nervous people. Skip the grocery store and prepare ahead of time. Sure you still may need to pick up bread and milk, but think about food you can store for a long time without refrigeration in case you lose your electric. Get a stash of the following:

Peanut butter
Crackers
Fruit juice boxes
Bottled water is a must! Buy a separate supply of water to keep in the pantry or basement that will last for a few days for the entire family.
Protein bars
Nuts

If you have a baby always have an extra supply of baby food. Also keep a manual can opener and an insulated cooler on hand. If you have pets keep an extra bag of food available for them, after all they get hungry too! Make sure your food supply will last for 4-5 days. I know that may seem long, but our storm kept us indoors for a whole week!

Stay Warm
If you live in an area where winter storms are the norm than you know how quickly the power can go out. Have a supply of blankets and warm clothing ready. Have at least two blankets for each family member. Keep your windows and doors well insulated, if the heat goes out you need all the warmth you can get, don’t let extra cold air in.

Don’t Be Left In The Dark
When the electricity goes out there isn’t a whole lot we can do, but wait until it is restored. But we can be prepared by having the following:

Flashlights with extra batteries
Battery operated radio to get updates on the situation
Candles or flameless candles which may be safer if you have small children
A portable generator can be useful, but always use it outdoors away from doors and windows to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

First Aid Kits
The last thing you need in an emergency is another emergency! First Aid-Kits are a necessity in all homes. Here are a few essentials for your kit:

Latex or vinyl gloves
Sterile dressings
Antibiotic or burn ointment
Adhesive Bandages
Tape
Scissors
Aspirin
Thermometer
Gauze pads

Try to find a waterproof box to put the supplies in and keep it accessible for the whole family. Build your kit according to the needs of your family.

Emergency Plan
Every family should have an emergency plan. Make sure your family has an emergency exit route out of the home in case of a fire or other emergency. Practice at least twice a year to ensure that everyone knows what to do and where to meet. Keep emergency number in a visible area, own a fire extinguisher, and always check the batteries in the fire alarms in your house. Make sure each family member knows where the emergency kits, blankets, and supplies are located. Also check out the many websites on emergency preparedness for some great ideas.

Keeping our families safe is a big priority for all moms. External circumstances often can’t be controlled but we can control how we handle an unforeseen emergency. Make the best out of a bad situation, stay calm, and get in some family bonding time if you can and always pray! Surviving the blizzard of 2010 turned out not to be so bad, there was plenty of hot chocolate, movies, cookies, cupcakes, painting, reading, snuggling, and fun memories. Most importantly we were together and safe!

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Incorporate Bible Study Into Your Family’s Daily Life

blessed_mom — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:00:27 +0000

This past Thursday evening I attended Bible study. I discovered attending bible study in mid week recharges me spiritually and I thoroughly enjoy having fellowship with my Christian brothers and sisters. In class there was a young man in his twenties, when he spoke I felt immediately that he grew up in a family that taught him Christian principals. Later, it was confirmed when he said he was raised in a Christian home. It struck me how important it is to raise children with the Word of God. It lays a foundation that reaches past their formative years and into adulthood. I thought about my own four year old daughter and how much she retains after we read the Bible. Having Bible study on Sunday simply isn’t enough if we hope to instill a reverence for Christ in our children’s hearts.

Ways to incorporate Bible study in our Children’s Lives:

A Scheduled Family Bible Study

Kids have countless activities they are involved in and as parents we are involved simply through shuttling them around. We are also busy with household, financial, and career obligations. Are we so busy that we neglect to spend time on the most important activity of all, which is learning the word of God? Clear your calendar and make it mandatory to gather as a family for Bible study at home. Take one hour a week after dinner or whenever the whole family has time and commit to Bible study. Make it an important appointment every week.

Relate Conversation to Bible Stories

Communication is an important vehicle to intimacy in a family. Although we may not be privy to every detail in our children’s life as they grow older it is vital to keep the lines of communication open and honest. When we have discussions with our children and they share issues they may be having at school or with friends, think carefully about how you respond. Try to incorporate lessons from the Bible. Give them reference to God in these conversations. They can read the scriptures, but when we relate them to their life they discover true meaning in God’s Word and they see how the Lord works.

Prayer is Meaningful All Day

It is common for kids to pray before a meal and bedtime, but are we instilling in them the concept of pray without ceasing? Make it a habit to say a prayer together in the morning before you send them off to school. Talk to them about praying throughout the day. Let them know that God is available 24/7 and he wants them to turn to him in all circumstances. My daughter and I make it a habit to thank God for the day and to pray before I send her into the classroom, it starts our day off on the right foot with God.

Journaling

Gift your children a journal for their prayers and their conversation with God. Encourage them to keep a spiritual journal. This is a wonderful way for them to develop an intimate relationship with God. It encourages them to think about their spiritual life and it gives them a chance to look back at how God continually blesses them. If you have younger children who can’t write, buy a large notepad and have them draw pictures, or ask them what they are thankful for and record it for them. It is never too early to create ways for children to think about the Lord.

Dinner Blessings

Dinner time is a superb time to give thanks not only for food, but to reflect on what each family member is grateful for that day. After the prayer and during dinner incorporate the gift of gratefulness in the conversation. Ask everyone t o say at least one thing they were grateful for that God did for them. This reminds us of our blessing and God’s goodness.

Bible Study with Friends

If your church doesn’t have a youth group, encourage your children to start one. Sometimes being a child in a Christian family can be isolating and they may feel like the odd ball in school. When your kids are in school, they are faced with peer pressure and issues that are difficult to deal with. Not everyone has the same values and moral beliefs. Kids need support groups too! If your church has children of the same age it can be a great idea to get the kids together every other week to discuss the peer pressure they face as Christians and how they can overcame it through the Word of God. The interaction between peers is important, sure we want our kids to come to us, but if they are able to share their experiences with other Christian peers it is a powerful way to support and encourage one another to stay on God’s path.

There are so many creative and fun ways to motivate our children to hear the Word of God. Love for the Word comes from reading the Bible, knowing God, church and fellowship, and in our own home. Be proactive in your child’s spiritual education and give them every opportunity available to develop an intimate relationship with God that endure beyond their years at home.

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Mother/Daughter Frugal Spa Day…at Home!

Faith_Mom — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:05:52 +0000

A great way for a Mom to connect with her daughter is to have a beauty day. It’s fun, girly and filled with opportunity for memories! This is a great idea for ANY age!

Tips to Create a frugal spa day at home

Plan a date. If you have boys in the house, send them out for the day with Dad.
Place scented candles around your house to create a relaxing ambiance.
Homemade Facials. Here are a few recipes…

Mix together 2 tablespoons of ground oatmeal, 2 tablespoons plain yogurt, and 5 drops liquid honey in a bowl. Apply to your face and allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes. Finish off by rinsing with warm water followed by a moisturizer.

With the following ingredients (oatmeal, warm water, yogurt, honey, and one egg white), make a thin mud type mixture and apply it thinly to your face. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes, or until you feel a tightening, then rinse with warm water.

This decadent chocolate mask is actually an excellent moisturizer. I found this one at spaindex.com. Mix following ingredients until smooth; 1/3 cup cocoa, 3 tblsp. heavy cream, 2 tsp. cottage cheese, 1 cup of honey, 3 tsp. oatmeal powder. Relax for ten 10 minutes, then wash off with warm water.

Watch a chick flick while waiting for your facials to absorb.

Give each other a manicure and pedicure. Put on some of your daughter’s favorite music while doing mani/pedis. Yes, HER favorites.
Ask her how her day was. Try and learn more about her.
Share some spiritual insights without seeming preachy.

The point is to spend quality time with your daughter and build a strong bond. Start young and you will stay connected even through the coming years of puberty. If you are getting a late start, no worries…it is NEVER too late to love your daughter and get to know who she is!

Enjoy your girls, Moms!

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Teaching Your Children Through Your Shortcomings

blessed_mom — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:05:49 +0000

Last year, I wrote an article about instilling Christ –like behavior in children. Parents are responsible for instilling morals, values, and manners in our children and as Christian parents we have the awesome duty of teaching them Biblical principles and how to be Christ like. Whether you have a toddler, an adolescent, or a teenager they are observing and imitating our attitudes and behavior. It is imperative that we are conscious of our own actions. We can teach them the commandments, attend church and Sunday school, while reading the bible to them nightly, but if we aren’t exhibiting behavior that reflects a true Christian lifestyle it won’t be effective.

I’m a single mother so I am the handy woman of the house. If there is a toy or piece of furniture that needs assembled I am the gal to do it. Actually, this has been an enlightening experience for me. I have discovered how capable I am. It has boosted my confidence in esteem in a way I would have never guessed. On the flip side of the enlightening experience is the frustration I sometimes encounter doing it all alone. For the most part I can’t complain because God is always fulfilling my needs, he is my true partner. But, like every road we travel I have hit some potholes!

A month ago I bought a small shelving unit for my basement to store excess canned goods. It seemed simple enough to assemble, but was I wrong! It started one evening on my bedroom floor, parts of the shelves separated neatly, tools ready(after all I was a seasoned assembler), and Anya closely watching my every move. When it came time to snap the poles and shelves in place, I couldn’t do it. They wouldn’t snap and kept falling apart. I was getting angrier by the minute. I was frustrated and it was showing. Finally, after two hours and no progress I was ready to throw the whole thing in the trash. When the pole fell on my toe that was it! I was literally yelling at the shelf. I know it was immature and not such a bright idea especially since Anya was in the room. I put the shelving unit in the closet and decided for my emotional health to leave it alone.

About two weeks later, Anya was in her room playing with her Strawberry Shortcake House, a darling toy with parts that can be challenging for a little one to manipulate. All of a sudden I heard a thud when I looked in the room she had thrown the Strawberry parts, knocked down the house, and was yelling at the toy. I was horrified because I was immediately brought back to that dreadful day when I failed to put the shelves together. I made an impact and not a good one. It was time for mommy to fess up that she behaved badly. I sat her down and asked her if she remembered the incident with the shelves and she did. I explained that how I acted was not a good way to behave. I told her that God wants us to be patient, and wants us to take care of the things he blesses us with. I also told her that my yelling didn’t change or accomplish anything. The only thing yelling did was made me feel angry, and God doesn’t want us to feel that way. I said the only way to accomplish anything was to have patience and keep trying.

After a long talk and explanation of why she shouldn’t behave as I did, my daughter taught me a lesson. She said, “Mommy do you think you can help me?” I paused as I realized that although I was able to sustain my household, juggle multiple responsibilities, work, and take care of my daughter sometimes I needed help. I needed to push pride aside and ask for help when I needed it. Who said I had to do everything? No one, but me. We sat on the floor of her bedroom as a team and we arranged the furniture in Strawberry’s house together. That day I reflected on my behavior and my own shortcomings as a child of Christ and my Christian responsibilities as a parent.

Sometimes the most effective way we can teach our children is through our own faults. But, we have to be humble enough to admit our mistakes and our struggles to them and ourselves. Our children should know that life is not perfect, we’re all sinners, and we all make mistakes, but more importantly we should teach them that through honesty and the true desire to strive to live in accordance to God’s will we can do better.

I thank God that I witnessed her behavior and was able to turn it into a learning experience for her and me. The long term consequences of my actions could have been disastrous to her growth as a Christian. Christ-like behavior takes discipline and obedience and the walk isn’t always easy but it is rewarding if we stay on course. If we fall we get back up and keep persevering. After playing we said a prayer and asked God to give us the gift of patience. I told Anya that whenever she is having trouble with something to pray. If I see her getting upset, I stop what we’re doing and say a prayer with her. I want to instill in her that anger doesn’t resolve issues only your dependence on God does. God knows we are far from perfect, but he knows the desires of our heart and if that is in line with God than you are on the right track. The shelf is still in the closet, but it is a reminder that I am not alone, I am not wonder woman, but I am a child of Christ who needs him and others in my life to guide and teach me so I can be an example for my daughter.

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Creating Family New Year Resolutions

blessed_mom — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:38:16 +0000

Hopefully everyone had a wonderful and safe New Years! This year I rang in 2010 with my whole family, a true blessing since we live in different states. My parents and brother were able to come for Christmas and I went to their house to spend the week after Christmas. It was wonderful to visit family and friends and truly celebrate the season with those I love. It was with bitter sweet sadness that I returned home, but the memories will last far beyond the holiday.

While home, I was quickly reminded of the importance of family togetherness to the well being of our soul. This time of the year resolutions are made to diet, save money, or stop bad habits which are all well intentioned resolutions. I decided to make some resolutions that pertain to my family. Strong families have direction, goals, and aspirations that they share together. For 2010 why not gather the family together and make some resolutions that you wish to accomplish as a family unit? The resolutions don’t have to be on a grand scale, they should be simple and attainable.

Ideas for family resolutions for the New Year

Spend More Time Together

Quality family time is underrated. Children crave attention and time from their parents, and we crave the same from them. Unfortunately, life often gets in the way and family time gets neglected. Make a resolution to spend more time together. The first step is to be realistic, we are all busy and even our kids are busy so it is important to look at everyone’s schedule and choose at least one day a week for family night. If you find that you can’t fit at least one or two days of family time in, it is time to shift your priorities around. Time is the best gift you can give one another as a family.

Share a New Hobby Together

You are never too young or too old to learn. Sharing a new hobby together is a great way to spend time with one another while having fun and trying something new. Collaborate on a list of hobbies that everyone would like to try and then choose a month for each hobby. You might want to try something new each month or every other month. Get creative with your list! Some examples are studying a new language together, quilting, rollerblading, or gardening. If one hobby holds more interest to you than to your husband split up the hobbies. For example, you and your son may want to learn rollerblading and your husband and your daughter may take on gardening, then make the next month a hobby the whole family wants to participate in.

Spiritual Goals

The family that prays together stays together. One of our goals as Christian parents should be strengthening our family spiritually. Making spiritual goals not only strengthens your family bond, but also strengthens their walk as Christians. Make it a resolution to have family bible study once a week, keep a blessings journal, or volunteer more at church. Try creating a family prayer time, when the entire family prays and worships God together. In today’s world it is so important that we instill in our children biblical principles and values. This is a resolution that can’t afford to be broken if we want to stay faithful followers of Christ.

Home Improvements

Some of the most precious moments are those created in the comfort of your own home. Kids love to decorate and be part of creating the place called home. Schedule a family meeting and discuss improvements that everyone would like to implement in the house. It doesn’t have to be a $50,000 kitchen renovation, it can be as simple as redesigning the family room. Pick a room and give it a new design that suits the needs of each family member. Try moving the furniture around, painting the walls, adding art, anything that is simple, cheap, and requires the involvement of whole family will work.

Fitness Goals

Fitness goals are probably one of the most common New Year resolutions of all times. Unfortunately, within about four weeks they are usually forgotten. However, everyone desires a healthy family and one of the best ways to attain a fitness goal is to partner up with someone. This year make a pact with your family to eat healthy, exercise, and stay fit. Teach your children to worship their temple by giving it the fuel it needs. Make a resolution to walk at least twice a week after dinner, take a bike ride, join a dance class, pick healthy recipes, or sign up for a marathon! There are so many fun ways to stay healthy and do it as a family!

Be Green Together

Our environment has taken a beaten and it is up to us to take care of it. This year make an effort to conserve more, use recyclable bags, and make a conscious effort to keep our world healthy. Work together as a family to learn more about how to keep our earth clean and what you can to contribute. Organize a neighborhood cleanup, don’t drive as much, and find ways to be green. This is a great lesson for your children that can make a positive impact in the future.

The New Year is a time to look forward and get excited about the year ahead. It is great to have individual resolutions, but making resolutions as a family is a wonderful way to create stronger bonds and work as a team toward a common goal. Family time is quality time whether you’re painting a wall or sitting around the dinner table. The point is to cherish one another and to learn and grow together while involving God every step of the way. Make 2010 the year that your family keeps their resolutions!

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Celebrating Christ at Christmas

blessed_mom — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:05:46 +0000

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you he is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

Children love the Christmas season and for good reason. It is the time of year when people have a little more joy and of course there are the toys, Christmas tree, cookies, and if they are lucky they get to roll around in the snow. The stores are bustling with frantic shoppers trying to find the perfect gift and houses on every corner are lit. Yes, the Christmas season is a great time of the year for old and young to enjoy. However, are we teaching our children the real reason that we celebrate Christmas? Do they realize the special meaning behind the celebration? Christmas means more to Christians than opening gifts and baking cookies, it is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our savior who came to earth to die for our sins. I love sitting around the tree and having a cup of cocoa with my daughter and I find immense joy in watching her little face light up at all the gifts under the tree, but it is more important that she understands why we celebrate Christmas.

I read an interesting article by one of my favorite bloggers about consumerism and Christmas. In the article she states that is our job as a parent and a Christian to instill in our children the true meaning of Christmas and I agree wholeheartedly. We need to spend more time reflecting on Christ during this special time of the year and teaching our children that gifts are not the center of the Christmas holiday. I am not saying that we can’t do the decorating, baking, and gift giving, but more so this year let us focus on Jesus.

There are many ways in which we can get our children’s attention on Christ instead of the new Barbie or Nintendo game.

Here are a few ideas to bring Jesus back into Christmas:

Giving Thanks to Christ
My daughter and I have a ritual in the morning. We always start our morning by thanking God for the day. It is a wonderful way for your day to begin with gratefulness. It also reminds us that the day is a gift to be thankful for. I suggest during the Christmas season at dinner after the prayer, asking everyone why they are thankful that Jesus Christ was born. This is a way to reflect on Christ’s love and God’s gift to us.

Read the Story of the Birth of Jesus Christ
All children love to be read Christmas stories, such as, “The Night Before Christmas,” and I love them too, but make sure you incorporate reading the story about the birth of Jesus Christ. After you read it talk about the admirable characteristics of Mary, Joseph, and the wise men. Some godly characteristics to discuss are the faith and obedience that Mary and Joseph had in God. Discuss how important these characteristics are in their own life. Talk about how that special night was so important to Christians and how the baby Jesus would be our Savior.

Build A Nativity Scene
Nativity scenes are a great way for children to have fun while learning about the birth of Jesus Christ. Gather the family around, make some cocoa, put on some spiritual Christmas carols and build your nativity scene. Reflect with your children on how that night must have been when our Savior was born.

Adopt a Servant’s Heart
Jesus Christ was a servant. He had fellowship with his people and served them with kindness and love. What better way to honor Christ then to adopt his characteristics? This year get your children involved in serving. Whether it is at a shelter, church, or preparing cookies for a nursing home teach them about having a servant’s heart. While they are serving remind them of how Christ served others with a giving heart.

The important thing is to establish a sense of tradition that makes Jesus Christ the focus of Christmas. It is our responsibility to give our children the real story of why we celebrate. Children are bombarded with consumerism, but we have control of how each one of us celebrates the Christmas holiday. I want my daughter to have fun and watch Frosty but I also want her to know that God gave us a gift when Mary gave birth to baby Jesus in the manger. Start a tradition that honors Jesus, celebrate the month giving praise and thanks while reflecting on the true meaning of this blessed holiday. Teach your children that the joy of Christmas is about celebrating the life of Christ.

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Tuesdays Mommy Tip: Gifts Under the Tree Should NOT Be the Focus

Faith_Mom — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:05:54 +0000

Do you have a great tip for Moms? They can be about anything (family friendly, of course) that pertains to a Mom’s life, including; beauty, kitchen, health, parenting, and so much more! Click Here to find out how YOU can join Moms of Faith’s Tuesday’s Mommy Tips!

NOTE: PLEASE read the rules. We have a few who are not posting to the ACTUAL TIP post on their blog. I need you to post your link to the actual TIP POST…NOT the main page of your site. THANK YOU!!

OK, on to this week’s Mommy tip…

Gifts Under the Tree Should NOT Be the Focus

Unfortunately, this time of year has turned into an over commercialized bunch of ridiculousness. Christmas is about celebrating the birth of a Savior that came to save the world from hell. THAT is the reality of Christmas! Not Santa. Not presents. Not parties. Not a new iPhone. Not stuff.

Sad Fact:

Did you know that it would cost LESS money to provide clean drinking water to every person on the planet then what the United States alone spends on Christmas??? Yeah, pretty darn sick, huh?

I seriously doubt that Jesus, who came here and lived a common life as a carpenter’s son, would want this kind of mess happening on His birthday…think about His reaction to the selling, lot casting and other bologna that was going on in His Fathers house…hmmm…He was ticked enough to toss some stone tables around. (Read it for yourself…it’s in the New Testament)

Maybe…just maybe, we should focus on WHO we are celebrating instead of what we are getting or even giving our kids. We need to teach them what this “holiday” is really about. Love. The Love of CHRIST! It is our JOB to train them up to be followers of Christ and to learn how to give and receive His love…NOT to shop til they drop!

A few things to consider…

Cut back drastically on gift giving…unless it is to the needy.
Volunteer.
Make Jesus the focus…not shopping and gifts.
DO what you think Jesus would do…I highly doubt it would be waiting in line at 2 in the morning to get a deal on a new dell…

Think about it…

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Tuesdays Mommy Tip: Consistency in Discipline

Faith_Mom — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:55:27 +0000

OK, on to this week’s Mommy tip…

Consistency in Discipline

Being consistent is a vital ingredient when teaching children to be disciplined and well rounded future adults. You cannot be wishy washy with the discipline of your children. Whether you are a spanker, time out or a combination of both styles of parenting, consistency is the most important factor…bar none.

If you tell a child no 15 times about the same thing…you are not being consistent.

If you tell a child this is your “last warning,” you are not being consistent.

A child should know immediately that they are doing wrong. If it is a first offense on a particular subject, sure a warning is good. However, once they know, discipline must follow the wrong action. Consistent discipline.

Example:

The rule is no running in the house.

Why is the rule in place? It can be unsafe and things can get broken. We need to explain whys to our children…not just because we said so. They are people and deserve to understand why they can or cannot do things.

Wrong Way to Handle Issue: Repeat warnings and child being told; “this is your last warning.” Sporadic discipline. Sometimes the child gets in trouble but mostly just yelled at. This teaches the child nothing. All they really learn is they have a better shot of getting away with the rule breaking than suffering any consequences for it.

Correct Way: One warning and explanation as to why rule is in place. After initial warning, consistent discipline when rule is broken…the first time. If time out is your method, they must be consistently placed IN time out EVERY time they break the rule. In time, they will learn they do not like the consequence of the action and move on to challenge you in some other area! LOL

This concept is for young and old. Teenagers need more creativity in the discipline. However, taking away cell phones and electronics motivates them to obey. However, if you build a solid foundation of consistent discipline, when teendom comes, you will have less issues…at least I did!

Be Consistent…NO matter what!

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Spend Quality Christmas Time With Your Family

blessed_mom — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:05:23 +0000

The day after Thanksgiving I woke up full of excitement and it wasn’t because of all the Black Friday sales. The Christmas season has officially kicked off! I am probably just as excited as my daughter to drag out the decorations and fill every inch of our home with Christmas cheer. Kids love the holiday with all of the fun activities, gifts, and treats. Christmas is a wonderful time to create family traditions and make long lasting memories for everyone to enjoy. There are a number of activities you can do to make the holiday memorable.

Ideas for Spending Quality Time with Family this Christmas

Yearly Christmas Scrapbook

Scrapbooking is a fun way to record memories of your family’s Christmas each year. Buy an inexpensive photo album or scrapbook and get the whole family together to decorate the cover. Over the Christmas holiday collect the pictures of family and friends, snowball fights, school pageants, and tree decorating and arrange them in the scrapbook with captions capturing the moment. If you attend any performances collect the stubs and thrown them in there too. A great day to complete the scrapbook is on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day so that you can reflect upon all the fun of the season.

Bake Cookies and Pastries

No matter how young or old we are there is nothing better than the smell of warm cookies baking in the oven. Get your aprons on and let the baking begin. If you have extended family in close proximity invite them over and begin a baking tradition. Bake an extra batch of cookies and give them to the neighbors or give your children’s classmates a treat and bake enough for their class.

Watch the Classics

I know Christmas has arrived when I take out Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. The oldies will always be the best classics to cozy up on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate and your family to watch Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and It’s a Wonderful Life. I suggest buying some movies that are about the birth of Jesus Christ. Movies about the day our Savior is born should become classics just as much as Frosty is in our homes.

Gift of Giving

Christmas is truly a time of reflection on the life of Jesus Christ. It is a wonderful time to encourage the gift of giving in your children. With so many people suffering because of the economic climate, now is a good time to as any to give to those in need. If you are able, adopt a family for Christmas and provide gifts and food for them for the holiday. If your wallet doesn’t allow it then just contribute a toy to the many charitable organizations that are collecting gifts for children. Have your children choose the toys for the kids, or visit a nursing home and sing some carols or give an elderly person a gift.

Secret Santa is a fun way to get your family involved in the spirit of giving. Choose a family and leave a present at their door in the evening, send a little note saying that it is from the secret Santa. It can be a small token of appreciation for a friend, neighbor, or person in need. Teaching our children to have a servant’s heart is one of the best Christmas gifts we can give them.

Take a Stroll Around the Neighborhood

Quality time together can be as simple as taking a walk after dinner with the family around the neighborhood. During this time of year the lights on the homes and the decorations are beautiful. If it is too cold outside jump in the car and bring a thermos of hot chocolate and a batch of cookies and ride around town enjoying the sights.

Attend Christmas Events

Check the local events in your area for fun filled family activities. In my area almost every weekend there is a performance or a kid’s holiday activity happening. If you don’t live too far from a major city, like I do in Washington, DC take the time to enjoy all of the events taking place. Sleigh rides, cutting down the tree, ice skating, the Nutcracker, and watching light up night together are great ways to have fun and spend quality time together.

The Christmas season is a wonderful time of year to celebrate the life of Christ and make lasting memories with our family. Teaching our children that Christmas is not about gifts, but about togetherness and the reflection of the birth of Christ teaches them the true meaning of Christmas. It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of shopping for the presents and decorations, but it is important to not allow the superficial things to take away from quality time we spend with family and friends. Most importantly spend time in church, in fellowship, and in prayer with your children so that your family honors our Father and his Son.

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