S Club Mama

Our family has had the Seeds Family Worship collection for several years now but I really have started to utilize them with memory verses for my children and myself this school year. I pick a verse that either goes with a catechism we're learning (God is Creator from "The Character of God" CD was great when we were learning about God creating the world in Genesis!) or a verse that we really need to have purpose for in our lives (Be Joyful Always from "Seeds of Purpose" CD has been helpful to us memorizing 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 in learning to give thanks in all circumstances rather than complain). image via Seeds Family Worship website I was really excited to hear about the new Seeds Family Worship CD, "The Word of God." The kids and I have listened to it a few times already. The music and singing sounds more grown-up than the other CDs. I really have enjoyed the first song, 'The Word of God' (Hebrews 4:12) and the third, 'Impress Th

I'll be honest. I don't read my kids a lot of non-fiction books for one simple reason - they are boring! This includes books on cars or plants or animals or biographies. Our ratio is probably 20:1, the one being the non-fiction we read. Not that I don't like information. I really do, but fiction books provide a LOT of information, just in a more fun way. So I was leery of this biography on Paul: "Get to Know Apostle Paul." I also know my kids needed to hear more about the lives of people they read about in the Bible (or we read to them from the Bible about). picture via BookLook My kids are not so keen on chapter books, no matter how many times I explain you don't read a chapter book in one sitting (unless you're their mama). But we have both been pleasantly surprised by this "Get to Know Apostle Paul." It's taken us awhile to get through because we only read 1/2 - 1 chapter a night (we average 3 books at night so sometimes we read bits

10 years we've been together. Through a wedding, child rearing, job gains and losses, moves to and fro, pounds gained and lost, several pairs of running shoes, house buying, many vehicles, beards and haircuts. I love you more today than I did when we wed. I pray I love you more tomorrow than today. Thanks, Lord, for my amazing husband! I hear the best is yet to come, yet I can't imagine anything better than today. Happy dating anniversary - 10 years.

I saw "Fireproof" with Kirk Cameron and saw how "The Love Dare" reignited his marriage. I've heard several stories of the like that I've believed in enough to buy the book for my parents. So I had high expectations for "The Love Dare for Parents" thinking it would give me really firm ideas of how to really connect with my kids. image via Icon Media If you have a rocky relationship with your kids, your slightly older kids (elementary age and up), this is a book for you. I'm not saying there isn't value in this book if you have a good relationship with your children. I did get some great ideas for how to further connect with my kids, such as teaching them manners in reference to Romans 12:10 which says, "Give preference to one another in honor." Day 30 is "Love takes time" which focuses on turning off the media and screens to spend time with one another in reference to Ephesians 5:15-16: "Be careful how you wa

Please don't let the title of Jim Gaffigan's book, "Dad is Fat," offend you or turn you off. You learn that his son wrote this . I'm lucky my kids have drawn such nice stick-figures of me so far. image via Random House Anyway, I ordered this book because I really, really needed a laugh. This book delivered! I was laughing from the Foreword all the way to the Additional Acknowledgements. Really. Gaffigan was just dead on in his perspective of parenthood (and how single friends react to it) and marriage. For example: "Having five children has really made me appreciate the more important things in life. Particularly the sublime state of being alone. Of course, now I'm never alone. I have five kids who I love with all my heart. Even the one that gave me the title of this book." I am experiencing being alone with my kids in school but when they're home it's exactly like that - I can't even use the bathroom alone! Someone is always c

While my family loves Veggie Tales, I will admit that I prefer the episodes featuring Bible stories (Phil Vischer era). However, I do believe even the newer episodes offer good moral lessons which can provide good foundation for children when they are taught alongside Biblical principals and ways of life. With that in mind, I wanted to share about the new Veggie Tale production: Beauty and the Beet starring Kellie Pickler. -Randi   Available  Oct. 14  on DVD and Digital Download, the Newest VeggieTales  Production Features 10 Original Songs, Also Offered on a Brand-New Companion CD GLENDALE, Calif.  (Sept. 11, 2014) - Take the timeless and enchanting story of "Beauty and the Beast," toss with the unique flavors of  VeggieTales  and blend in the sweet voice of country music superstar Kellie Pickler - and the result is  BEAUTY AND THE BEET , a brand-new  VeggieTales  musical that premieres Oct. 14 exclusively on DVD and digital download. Pickler   ( American Idol

I am a focused person. Not really. Wouldn't that be lovely? But all too often I feel like Hammie on Over the Hedge who is distracted by a million things at a moment. And yet... I'm called to be focused. I'm called to be focused on the One who sustains me. I cannot do this life myself. I've tried. I try daily and I fail. It's not that I'm an awful person but I'm a sinner. Fallen. And yet... I have this Savior who sustains me. Who picks me up each time I fall and fail. Not only picks me up but brushes me off like a wonderful, loving Father. And yet... I push away and put my focus elsewhere (often upon myself). I forget daily that my Sustainer Father loves me unconditionally and makes my heart beat, the breath move in and out. And yet... I am always taken back by my Sustainer Father. He calls me back to Himself, pulls me close to His side, whispers sweet everythings to me through His Word and the quiet that often does not come. Today, I will remain

"The Desire" by Dan Walsh & Gary Smalley isn't a book I'd normally read. I don't read a lot of fiction, but something drew me to this particular book. I'm very glad it did because I couldn't put it down. The premise of the book is that Allan and Michele have been trying to have a baby for over a year and it's been really hard on them emotionally. Michele wants to further researching infertility treatments while Allan doesn't even realize how big of a problem this is and chooses to focus his time (and funds) on mission trips in Africa. image via Amazon The plot of this book intertwines other plots from the Restoration series by Walsh and Smalley. The good news is that you needn't read the other books to read this book; it stands on its own well enough. I hadn't read the other books either, but I'd really like to sometime. This book is not just about Michele and Allan but about a girl named Christina who is pregnant out of w

I love this man who teaches our boys important things that I never could,  like changing the oil and how to treat their wives.  I love these boys who never complain when we want to watch Husker football... probably because they get to do fun things like watch movies and play Mario Kart Wii. I love these little boys who are learning to help when needed, like when we cleaned out closets over Labor Day weekend. Isn't he hilarious carrying that big ol' load? I love these little boys who got muddier than this picture shows while their daddy was playing soccer. It kept them entertained for an hour, so whatever! I love this little family and our little life together. Thank you, Lord!!

"In vain you rise early      and stay up late, toiling for food to eat --     for he grants sleep to those he loves." -Psalm 127:2 I read these words as I was laying in bed late, going over something important I needed to go over. So I'm flipping through "What Your Heart Needs for the Hard Days" by Holley Gerth because I thought I could work in some of the verses she used in these devotionals.  image via Amazon And God calls out to my heart. My weary, overbooked heart. I heard Him telling me that my list could wait and I needed to give myself grace for the day-to-day stuff that just can't all get checked off my to-do list. There are so many hours in the day and I am just one person, so there's only so much I can do. The rest will have to wait and I need to be okay with that waiting. I love hearing God talk to me and I was so thankful He spoke to me using Gerth's devotional. It's been a treasured little book for the...week

Ashley Judd seems to be favoring family films these days: Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale 2, and The Identical which opens today, September 5, nationwide. I had the great honor to screen this movie (yes, before it opens!) from home. image via christiancinema.com The premise is that during the Depression, twin brothers are separated by a great sacrifice. One is raised by their biological parents and the other by a pastor and his wife. The son raised by his biological parents, Drexel Hemsley, rises to the top of rock and rock fame! The other, Ryan Wade, struggles to keep peace between himself and his father and still love music like his brother sings (although he doesn't know it's his brother). I really like the concept of The Identical. How two people biologically related but separated at a young age can still be so alike. It begs the question of nature vs. nurture - where you see Drexel drinking and the pastor's kid (PK) not wanting to touch alcohol but where they both s

 I didn't take many pictures at our church's family camp the weekend before Labor Day, but I was just hanging out with my family - church and biological. It was really fun and convicting. The sermons/talks were over Luke 14:25-33 : Squirt using Moose as a footstool - oh brothers! The Cost of Being a Disciple 25  A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them,   26  “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.   27  And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. 28  “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?   29  Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you.   3

My family and I just watched "Dolphin Tale" for our family movie night last week in anticipation of "Dolphin Tale 2" coming to theaters September 12. I am also a blog ambassador for the movie, so I got sent a huge pile of awesome stuff to help promote the show. My kids have been doing their part by wearing their Hope + Winter shirts (seriously, it's all they want to wear), hat, sunglasses, reading the book, drying with the towel. I love the tote - it's huge and great for church. I have been well taken care of just for saying "hey go watch this movie." Really, though, go watch this movie. The first one was awesome! Such a cute tale, my kids enjoyed it (and it wasn't a cartoon - amen?!), full of wonderful actors (Ashley Judd, Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick, Jr.). So pick up a copy of "Dolphin Tale" AND get a ticket to go see "Dolphin Tale 2" September 12. they are so cute in this hat! Disclaimer: I received all o