13 Points for Parents

Point #1
Don't keep records of wrongdoings over your children or remind them of their failures and mistakes. Gird them up to make better choices.

Point #2
Don't put your barriers and fears on them.

Point #3
Respect and honor your spouse in front of your kids. When this is not done in the home, it drives a wedge and brings division in the family.

Point #4
Live a balanced life. Don't sacrifice your children for your work and dreams. Include them or they will despise what you do and why you are doing it. They will do everything to go in the opposite direction just to make a point. Don't neglect them verbally, mentally, or spiritually.

Point #5
You need to ask your kids for forgiveness when you screw up.

Point #6
Keep proper order. The kids do not come before your spouse. The order is God, spouse, kids, work, etc.

Point #7
Don't let your kids divide you and your spouse.

Point #8
Don't overload your kids with presents or you will spoil them rotten.

Point #9
Respect, honor and love them unconditionally. Encourage them. It pulls the best out of them.

Point #10
Contend in prayer for your kids and their spouses' future and salvation.

Point #11
You need to persist because it's worth it.

Point #12
Speak life into their potential. Correct the behavior NOT the person.

Point #13
Teach them how to deal with disappointments! Life sometimes sucks. Some things don't go our way. Trials are a part of our grooming and preparation.

Point #14 (BONUS)
Don't overload them with pressures to be performance based and performance-accepted children. There's got to be grace at home.

This is an exerpt from Dani Johnson's book, Grooming the Next Generation for Success. She is a Christian author and mother of five. If you enjoy these points, I recommend checking out her book at the library or ordering her book online.

Breastfeeding Tips

There are NUMEROUS factors that contribute to having an easy and successful breastfeeding experience... one of which is MILK SUPPLY. Even if your baby latches well and is doing his/her part.. NO MILK = NO BREASTFEEDING. Below are some tips that may be helpful for those of you who are currently breastfeeding or will be soon!

TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL BREASTFEEDING
by Sally Fallon (Nourishing Traditions)

- The Right diet is the kety to having a good supply of nourishing milk. Should contain high levels of healthy animal fats. When you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is no time to diet!

-Avoid trans fatty acids. Trans fats lower the overall fat content of mother's milk, depriving the baby of important nutrients and reducing the chances of successful breastfeeding.

-Try to arrange to have good help for the first hour weeks after the baby is born so that you will have adequate rest. Husband, grandparents, relatives, friends, housekeepers or even a professional baby nurse should be on hand so that the nursing mother can concentrate on getting optimal nourishment and plenty of sleep.

-Fermented foods and beverages, and porridges of soaked grains are said to increase milk supply.

-Consume plenty of liquids in the form of whole milk (preferably raw), stock or soup based on stock, and lacto-fermented beverages.

-If in spite of these measures, your milk supply is inadequate, don't feel guilty. You have done the best you could!!

*If interested, Sally Fallon has recipes for homemade formula in her cookbook.

Orphans in Haiti

This topic is dear to my heart because I know several people who are currently going through the adoption process. One couple in particular is adopting a boy from Haiti and now unable to bring him home. It is agonizing for any parent to watch their child suffer.. but it's another thing if your child is in a country going through such devastation and you can't do much about it.. Please be in prayer for the orphans in Haiti.. as well as for these families who are already assigned their child... and awaiting for them to come home.

You can watch a clip of Diane Sawyer with the orphans in Haiti here.

The Main Thing

It's easy to ask ourselves as mothers if we are doing the best things for our children. We can easily get caught up with confusion and worry. But take heart; the only thing we need to ask ourselves is how is our walk with the Lord.
Do we have an attitude of praise and thanksgiving? Do we invest time in prayer and in reading His Word? God says, do not be afraid. Walk with Him, and He will teach our children.

13And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.

17 . . . This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Isaiah 54:13-14,17b

Mommy Planner

My mother-in-law found this wonderful planner for me and I wanted to share it with all of you busy Mamas.. It's especially great for those of you who have school-aged children because it is a 17 month engagement planner (Aug 2009-Dec 2010).

Not only is this a pretty looking planner.. it is SUPER functional! I particularly like the tear-off grocery list and weekly menu planning section. There's also a "To-Do" section where I jot down notes and prayers.

Mom's Home Plan-It 2010

Softcover Engagement Calendar

You can purchase this lovely planner here.

Work of God

Questions often asked (or should I say, complaints often spoken):

Why do I have to go through this?
Why is God having me experience this?
What have I done to deserve this?


Pastor Steve Mays simply put it this way:

"So that people can see the work of God in your heart"

(so that your children can witness the work of God in your life!)

Bringing In The New Year

Inspiring thoughts for the new year...

Smile and be bold!

"For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me,” says the LORD.’”
Jeremiah 39:18 (New King James Version)

Keep your husband and children in mind when making decisions.

A noble wife is the crown of her husband, but the wife who acts shamefully is like rottenness in his bones.
Proverbs 12:4

You will be tested. Learn to forget the wounds of the past. Be determined to remember the deep love God has for you. And have the mind of Christ Jesus who taught us,

. . . whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Philippians 4:8

Happy New Year!

Toddler Calender

Cold and rainy days forces you to be creative with indoor activities. I am so grateful to my dear friend who got this Toddler Calender for me (and my kids). Every page in this booklet is filled with fun activities to do in and around your house using mostly household items... and they are divided into months so the activities are planned around seasons and holidays.

What I mostly love about this book is that it makes you think out of the box and helps you to use simple objects that preoccupy the little ones for a while. Such as... matching bottles with lids, sifting and transferring rice, and my daughter's favorite has been "dish-washing" her toy plates and utensils in tupperware containers while I wash the "real" dishes... Not only are all of these activities easy enough for your little tots.. they will learn color, shapes, texture, vocabulary, and even household chores!

So.. if you're done buying toys, refuse to let your kids watch any more TV, and/or running out of things for your kids to do... Look into this book! It has definitely helped me on days when we've been "stuck" at home with not much to do!!

A Confident Woman

(From Joyce Meyer's "The Confident Woman - Start Today Living Boldly and Without Fear")

A Confident Woman...

Takes action.
Takes initiative.
She is aggressive and not passive.

She doesn't talk about the problem. She does something about the problem.
She's not a problem. She fixes the problem.

A confident woman never just complains about a situation.
She searches for a solution.

She doesn't wait for someone to do something about the problem.
She does something about the problem.

Simple Resolutions

Smile More.

Pray More.

Complain Less.