Season's greetings and many wishes for a blessed and amazing New Year.
Parenting Isn't for Wimps
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Thursday, October 26, 2017
Quick Tips: Pumpkins and Jesus
With Halloween just a few days away, author and speaker Crystal Bowman shares her ideas on talking to children about the holiday.
Crystal is an educator, mother, grandmother, author and speaker. She has written over 75 books for children. Here are some of Crystal's books:
Other quick tips you might enjoy:
Handling Grief
Sister Day
Make a Difference in the Life of a Child
Preparing a Child's Heart for Easter
Showing Kindness Every Day
Fresh Starts
Keeping Your Mind Strong
Quick Tips: Pumpkins and Jesus
Whether or
not you choose to participate in
Halloween, your kids will be aware of the
holiday. Our secular society loves this
holiday because it means big sales for
the
stores. Costumes, candy, and eerie
decorations fly off the shelves in
October.
Is there a way we can tie Jesus
into this
somewhat demonic holiday? Yes! Let’s talk
about pumpkins.
· Take
your kids to pick out their own pumpkins from the grocery store or pumpkin
patch, and bring the pumpkins home.
· Have
a pumpkin carving party with your kids. As you help them scoop out the pulp and
clean the inside, talk about how Jesus cleans us on the inside by forgiving our
sins.
· Once
the pumpkin is cleaned and carved with a happy face, place a candle inside and
light the pumpkin. Just as the pumpkin glows from the light of a candle, our
lives can glow with the light of Jesus.
This
mini-lesson about pumpkins and Jesus is
told in my colorful board book My Happy
Pumpkin by Zonderkidz. No matter how dark
shines.
Crystal is an educator, mother, grandmother, author and speaker. She has written over 75 books for children. Here are some of Crystal's books:
To find out more about Crystal, how she got started writing and to learn more about her books, visit her Facebook page, website or Amazon page
Sister Day
Make a Difference in the Life of a Child
Showing Kindness Every Day
Fresh Starts
Keeping Your Mind Strong
Help for Clutterbugs
Keeping Christmas Simple But Meaningful
Healthy Heart Tips for Football Couch Potatoes
Having a Personal Quiet Time with God
Beating the Winter Blues
Friendships That Cross Boundaries
Five Fresh Starts for Living
Positive Parent Teacher Relationships
How to Make Your Words Matter
Gluten Free Eating
Picture Book Month
The Healing Power of Forgiveness
Keeping Christmas Simple But Meaningful
Healthy Heart Tips for Football Couch Potatoes
Having a Personal Quiet Time with God
Beating the Winter Blues
Friendships That Cross Boundaries
Five Fresh Starts for Living
Positive Parent Teacher Relationships
How to Make Your Words Matter
Gluten Free Eating
Picture Book Month
The Healing Power of Forgiveness
Friday, September 29, 2017
Dad-Daughter Dance
Because Dad is always the best date.
Here are some photos from before the dance.
Here are some photos from before the dance.
Jasmine is 16 and is allowed to wear a little make up for special events. She thankfully has no interest in make up except for special occasions. |
Kayla is 12 and is wearing just a bit of lip gloss. |
Dad with his princesses |
Friday, September 22, 2017
Quick Tips: Backpack Safety
Today's tips are from me and are two days late because I forgot to post them!
Quick Tips: School Back Pack Awareness Day was September 20, and here are some tips about using them safely.
Back
packs are a normal part of school life, but it’s important to use them safely.
- Backpacks should not
exceed more than 15% of the wearer's body weight. That means if your
preteen weighs 100 pounds, the backpack shouldn't weigh more than 15
pounds--unless the backpack is on wheels, not on the user's back.
- The proper way to
wear a backpack is on both shoulders with straps adjusted so it fits
snuggly on the back with the bottom against the curve of the back. Wearing
the pack too low or loose can pull a child backward and cause muscle
strain. A waist strap is a plus, too, as it helps distribute the weight.
- You might want to
check what's in your child's back pack. It's not just books making the
pack so heavy. Lap top computers, ipods, cell phones and other items add
to the weight. Encourage your child to unload items he doesn't need, leave
unneeded books at school and pack the rest so that the weight is evenly
distributed.
Backpacks
are part of school from kindergarten to senior year. Help your child use his
backpack correctly to avoid neck, shoulder and back problems in the future.
For more school tips, check out my book The Middle School Survival Manual
Also please check out my Website
Other quick tips you might enjoy are:
Make a Difference in the Life of a Child
Showing Kindness Every Day
Fresh Starts
Keeping Your Mind Strong
Help for Clutterbugs
Keeping Christmas Simple But Meaningful
Healthy Heart Tips for Football Couch Potatoes
Having a Personal Quiet Time with God
Beating the Winter Blues
Friendships That Cross Boundaries
Five Fresh Starts for Living
Positive Parent Teacher Relationships
How to Make Your Words Matter
Gluten Free Eating
Picture Book Month
The Healing Power of Forgiveness
Keeping Christmas Simple But Meaningful
Healthy Heart Tips for Football Couch Potatoes
Having a Personal Quiet Time with God
Beating the Winter Blues
Friendships That Cross Boundaries
Five Fresh Starts for Living
Positive Parent Teacher Relationships
How to Make Your Words Matter
Gluten Free Eating
Picture Book Month
The Healing Power of Forgiveness
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Quick Tips: Choosing When to Volunteer
Today speaker, author, licensed parent-family educator Lori Wildenberg shares tips about choosing when to say yes and when to say no to volunteer opportunities.
Quick Tips:
1. Know yourself.
She has spoken in Kansas, Wyoming, Florida, California, Texas, Minnesota, and Colorado and is a member of AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association). The Wildenberg home is nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. A perfect day in Lori’s world is a hike with her Tom (her hubby), five kids (four plus a daughter-in-love), and Murphy– the family labradoodle!
Sister Day
Make a Difference in the Life of a Child
Preparing a Child's Heart for Easter
Showing Kindness Every Day
Fresh Starts
Keeping Your Mind Strong
Quick Tips:
Leaves are falling and the calendar is filling. Volunteer
opportunities invade an already crazy schedule. Be proactive to prevent over
committing.
Know these things before saying yes.
1. Know yourself.
What do you enjoy doing? If you like to bake but don’t like
working with kids then send cookies for a class party rather than volunteer to
help in the classroom.
2. Know your schedule.
Have everything included on your calendar you are able to see
what each day looks like.
3. Know your margin.
Understand how you are wired. If you are an introvert, you
will need to create some space in your day to regroup. If you are an extrovert
you need margin to prevent burnout.
4. Know how to delegate.
5. Know how to redirect.
“I helped out at the
fall festival so I will skip volunteering for the Christmas pageant.” It is
perfectly fine not be involved in every event.
Finally, realize it is OK not to give an answer right away. It
is reasonable to say “Let me think about
this and get back to you.”
I will give you a wise and discerning
heart.
1 Kings 3: 12b
About Lori:
Lori is passionate about helping families build connections that last a lifetime. She meets moms and dads where they are with her warmth, transparency, humor, and straight-forward, faith-filled approach. Lori is a licensed parent-family educator, co-founder of 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting, national speaker, author,and parent consultant.
She’s the lead Mentor Mom over at the Moms Together Facebook Community Page and a mentor mom with The MOM Initiative. Messy Journey: How Grace and Truth Offer the Prodigal a Way Home is her 4th most recently published book. She writes for a number of on-line magazines including: Crosswalk.com, ChristianParenting.org, Life Letter Cafe, and Her View from Home. Her Family Matters column is seen monthly in Reds Rocks Views magazine.
Make a Difference in the Life of a Child
Showing Kindness Every Day
Fresh Starts
Keeping Your Mind Strong
Help for Clutterbugs
Keeping Christmas Simple But Meaningful
Healthy Heart Tips for Football Couch Potatoes
Having a Personal Quiet Time with God
Beating the Winter Blues
Friendships That Cross Boundaries
Five Fresh Starts for Living
Positive Parent Teacher Relationships
How to Make Your Words Matter
Gluten Free Eating
Picture Book Month
The Healing Power of Forgiveness
Keeping Christmas Simple But Meaningful
Healthy Heart Tips for Football Couch Potatoes
Having a Personal Quiet Time with God
Beating the Winter Blues
Friendships That Cross Boundaries
Five Fresh Starts for Living
Positive Parent Teacher Relationships
How to Make Your Words Matter
Gluten Free Eating
Picture Book Month
The Healing Power of Forgiveness
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Quick Tips: Handling Grief
Today is National Grief Day, and author and speaker Janet Perez Eckles shares how she overcame grief.
Preparing a Child's Heart for Easter
Showing Kindness Every Day
Fresh Starts
Keeping Your Mind Strong
Dealing with Grief
Not
my Joe,” I repeated over and over again. My 19-year-old son’s tragic death
shattered my world. I didn’t think my heart could stop bleeding from the
sorrow. And when gloom hovered during my sleepless nights, God’s voice
whispered to my soul. With gentleness, He guided me through the steps to
conquer grief:
·
He said He could hear my sobs and count
my tears because He promised to be close to the broken hearted. (Psalm 34:18).
·
When family and friends couldn’t provide
what I needed, God’s help would be constant, reliable and ever-present. (Psalm
46:1)
·
When I longed to have those days back
when my son was alive, God reminded me not to look at yesterday, but to gaze ahead
because He was making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland of my
pain.(Isaiah 43:18)
·
When I was too weak to keep going and I
needed protection from my own negative emotions, He promised to be my shield
and strength. (Psalm 28:7)
Sorrow then turned to gratitude for my Savior
who saved me from the gloom of grief and turned it into His abundant grace
instead.
Janet, originally from Bolivia, is an author, International speaker, radio host and personal success coach. She lost her sight at age 31 and suffered the loss of her youngest son who was murdered. Yet Janet's messages are filled with hope. You can connect with Janet on her website or hear some of her story HERE.
Janet has authored four books:
You also might want to check out these other quick tips:
Sister Day
Make a Difference in the Life of a Child
Sister Day
Make a Difference in the Life of a Child
Showing Kindness Every Day
Fresh Starts
Keeping Your Mind Strong
Help for Clutterbugs
Keeping Christmas Simple But Meaningful
Healthy Heart Tips for Football Couch Potatoes
Having a Personal Quiet Time with God
Beating the Winter Blues
Friendships That Cross Boundaries
Five Fresh Starts for Living
Positive Parent Teacher Relationships
How to Make Your Words Matter
Gluten Free Eating
Picture Book Month
The Healing Power of Forgiveness
Keeping Christmas Simple But Meaningful
Healthy Heart Tips for Football Couch Potatoes
Having a Personal Quiet Time with God
Beating the Winter Blues
Friendships That Cross Boundaries
Five Fresh Starts for Living
Positive Parent Teacher Relationships
How to Make Your Words Matter
Gluten Free Eating
Picture Book Month
The Healing Power of Forgiveness
Sunday, August 6, 2017
Quick Tips: Sister Day
Today is Sister Day, and Author Jeanette Hanscome shares tips not only for today but every day.
You also might want to check out these other quick tips:
Preparing a Child's Heart for Easter
Showing Kindness Every Day
Fresh Starts
Keeping Your Mind Strong
Quick Tips: Sister Day
My two younger sisters and I have a bond
that friends envy. Here are
three of our
secrets:
· Be sweet
to each other. When I moved back home after my husband left, my
sisters welcomed me, listened without prying, and loved my son. Three years
later, when I published a book, they were my biggest fans.
Sisters grow closer when they share difficulties and successes.
· Play
together. My sister Sherry and I are visually impaired—we can’t drive or see
colors; Kristy sees perfectly. Shopping together doubles as fun sister time.
Kristy is our designated fashion consultant.
Plan sister time. It can be as simple as hanging out a park while the
kids play, or setting up Facetime for long distance.
· Don’t
overuse “family helps each other.” I am “the aunt who bakes,” but
Sherry still asks before assuming I can help her daughter make a cake. We’re
family, but we’re also busy grown women.
It’s easy to take advantage of family. Know when to ask for help and
when to give your sister a break.
If you’re thinking, I don’t have
a good relationship with my sister,
remember that girlfriends can also be
like sisters. The same secrets
apply!
Jeanette Hanscome is an author, writing teacher, and speaker from the San Francisco Bay Area. Her newest book, Suddenly Single Mom: 52 Messages of Hope, Grace, and Promise, published by Worthy Inspired, is her first devotional for women after many years of writing for teen girls and tweens.
You can connect with Jeanette on her Facebook page.
Here are two of her books:
Showing Kindness Every Day
Fresh Starts
Keeping Your Mind Strong
Help for Clutterbugs
Keeping Christmas Simple But Meaningful
Healthy Heart Tips for Football Couch Potatoes
Having a Personal Quiet Time with God
Beating the Winter Blues
Friendships That Cross Boundaries
Five Fresh Starts for Living
Positive Parent Teacher Relationships
How to Make Your Words Matter
Gluten Free Eating
Picture Book Month
The Healing Power of Forgiveness
Keeping Christmas Simple But Meaningful
Healthy Heart Tips for Football Couch Potatoes
Having a Personal Quiet Time with God
Beating the Winter Blues
Friendships That Cross Boundaries
Five Fresh Starts for Living
Positive Parent Teacher Relationships
How to Make Your Words Matter
Gluten Free Eating
Picture Book Month
The Healing Power of Forgiveness
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)