Showing posts with label moms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label moms. Show all posts

Saturday, May 18, 2013

What I'm Reading - The Artist's Daughter





My Thoughts

When I read someone else's story I am always
looking for myself within their words on a page.
The more I read Alexandra's words, I found 
myself identifying with so much of her story.

When she shares the struggle of having an absent father, I know that place.
When she shares the struggle of marriage and motherhood, I know that place.
When she shares the struggle of making new friends, I know that place.

She paints a picture with her words of places 
that I know and she speaks to my heart.

I love her transparency throughout her writing as she shares her fears, doubts, and loneliness. But even more than that she speaks grace into these places. The hard places. The places we rarely share with others. She writes about her battle to figure out who she is in all of it only to find her identity in Him. She doesn't try to tie each part of her story up with a pretty bow, but shows how God works in everything. 
Because sometimes those hard places stay hard. But God is there.

I love this book.
Really love it.
It is for daughters, wives, mothers, sisters, and friends.

You can purchase this book here:

About the Book

When Alexandra Kuykendall became a mother it was the beginning of a soul-searching journey that took her into her past and made her question everything she'd experienced--and a lot of what she hadn't. The only daughter of a single, world-traveling mother and an absent artist father, Alexandra shares her unique quest to answer universal questions: Am I lovable? Am I loved? Am I loving? 

In short, moving episodes, Alexandra transports readers into a life that included a childhood in Europe, a spiritual conversion marked more by questions than answers, a courtship in the midst of a call to be with troubled teens, marriage and motherhood--and always, always, the question of identity. Through her personal journey, women will discover their own path to understanding the shape of their lives and a deeper sense of God's intimate presence within it.

About the Author

Alexandra Kuykendall is on staff at MOPS International (Mothers of Preschoolers) where she encourages mothers of young children to keep growing as they take on their new mothering identity. She is a regular contributor and consulting editor to MomSense magazine, Connections magazine, and the MOPS blog. A frequent speaker for MOPS, Alexandra has been featured on Good Morning America. As the mother of four young children, she continues to refine her mothering identity. She lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband, Derek, and their daughters.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Desperate - A MUST READ for Mommas


Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson have written a book
One to speak to our momma hearts. 
I recommend this book for every momma and not just the ones expecting
or ones with tinies, but mommas in every stage of parenting.

You can read my Desperate Momma story here.


The Kindle version of Desperate is on sale today only for $3.99
and you can get it here. Seriously, go now.


If you've been thinking of starting a book study of Desperate, this week would be a fantastic time to get the books. If you buy five *paperback* copies of Desperate this week (through Friday) you can get the Desperate DVD for FREE! Go HERE (or your favorite store) to get the books! Then just take a picture or scan your receipt and send it to: desperatebook@thomasnelson.com


To celebrate the release of the Desperate DVD, Sarah and Sally are giving away a $100 GC to a maid service, a Yankee candle (winner's choice), a "breathe" custom necklace, 5 books, and a DVD. You can enter at sarahmae.com or itakejoy.com.

 

Friends...believe me when I tell you that this book is simply a gift from these two incredible women. It is a gift you can receive and one to give away as well. Buy one for yourself and get another for your friend. Buy one for every momma in your church or a momma you might encounter through your day.

Blessings,

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Deny Yourself by Lisa Chan - Review & Giveaway


Then Jesus said to his disciples, 
"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves
and take up their cross and follow me."
Matthew 16:24

In Lisa Chan's second video in the True Beauty: Finding Your Identity in Jesus series, she shared about the struggle to fight against our nature and deny ourselves to follow Christ. He asks us to lay down our lives to be His disciples. What does that look like in a world that is so self indulgent? How do we live out what Christ has called us to in the midst of a loud world?


Along with Lisa's teaching, Irene shares her story about her broken marriage. She had come to a place where she was considering divorce after many years of hurt, when her husband asked for her forgiveness. Irene admits that she struggled in this.

Jesus then spoke to her heart saying,

"Irene, I stretched out my arms like this and I took my last breath for you, but also for your husband. You want me to forgive you, but you're not willing to forgive."

This truth changed everything for her. This is just the beginning of Irene's story and how God is working in her marriage. I so loved hearing her heart.

Lisa relates some personal stories of moments that God asks her to surrender and how hard that was for her. She goes on to state that moving into that place of surrender actually brings joy and contentment. 

We live in a world that shouts "Do more. Be more. Have more." This is in opposition to God's way of things. We have to ask ourselves in we believe what He said when He asks us to deny ourselves.

Don't forget we're living for something bigger, 
so stop looking at things through your own lens.
- Lisa Chan

I loved this teaching and I believe it is something that
other women will be challenged and encouraged by as well.

My friends at David C. Cook have graciously offered to give away
a copy of Deny Yourself to one blessed Saved Sister reader.
You can enter to win below.




Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

BYOU Magazine - Review & Giveaway



There are just so many reasons that I love this magazine for girls. 
The name alone - Be Your Own You - is fantastic encouragement for girls today.
BYOU Magazine speaks to the hearts of girls ages 8 and older by building self esteem through stories, advice, games, crafts, and so much more. What I love about this magazine is that it isn't just about the celebrity role models. This magazine also shares stories of real girls making a difference in their every day lives.



I especially love the features that are included in every issue. One is the "What is means to me to be your own you" feature which asks girls what that means to them and gives them an opportunity to share a little bit about themselves. I also like the "Ask Cassie" feature written by Cassandra Perkins, a Teen Anti-Bullying Advocate. This is a section where she answers questions from girls about bullying, safety, and other topics. BYOU Magazine is fantastic encouragement for girls today and a wonderful resource for moms.

My friends at BYOU Magazine have graciously offered to give away
a one-year subscription to BYOU to one blessed Saved Sister reader.
You can enter to win below.




You can visit their website here:
BYOU Magazine - Website

You can connect with them on Facebook here:
BYOU Magazine - Facebook
and follow them on Twitter here:
BYOU Magazine - Twitter
and on Pinterest here:
BYOU Magazine - Pinterest


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.


Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Mommas are my tribe...my people.


When Holley asked us to share the "why" behind our God-sized dream, I thought I would share about my experience gathering mommas and loving on them. 
Then I realized it really all comes down to one thing.

Mommas touch something deep inside my heart.
I know them. I see them. I am them.
Mommas are my tribe...my people.
Stay at home or work outside the home.
Single or married.
Tinies or teens.
Expecting or empty nesters.
Potty training or teaching to drive.
Mommas in all stages of the journey.
They are my people.

I long to reach out to each one in every and any way possible to say,
"Me too. You are not alone."

Sometimes that means gathering around a table leading a Bible study.
Sometimes that means sitting across the table over coffee.
Sometimes that means reaching through the screen and touching a heart.

All of it comes down to this dream of gathering mommas. 
The mommas who hide behind the busy and get lost in the laundry. 
The mommas who feel alone and long for community.
To grab hold of a hand and say,
"Me too."
That's my why.


God-Sized Dreams

My friend Holley Gerth invited me to join a group of dreamers that she affectionately calls her God Sized Dream Team. What a blessing to be part of this group. 
We will be gathering each week on Tuesdays at Holley's to encourage each other to dream those God sized dreams.

Won't you join us?
What is your God-sized dream?

Holley had written a love letter to dreamers. Her book You're Made for a God-Sized Dream is full of words of encouragement and will speak to your heart.

Blessings,

Saturday, March 30, 2013

What I'm Reading - Lead Your Family Like Jesus





My Thoughts

What I love about Lead Your Family Like Jesus is that it isn't another "how to" book that you can use to check things off of a list to be a better parent. Instead it is a book that invites you to learn more about Jesus and implement those lessons in your home with a servant heart like His. Each author writes from their experience as parents and all they have learned along the way.


I especially loved the chapter in which Tricia Goyer shared about her experience of getting overwhelmed by her every day schedule. She and her husband sat down to look at everything she was doing and came up with a plan. She assigned each activity with a number from 1 to 4. 1 being those things that she had to do. 2 being things that she should do. 3 being things that she enjoyed doing and helped her. 4 being things she was afraid to say no to or things she did to look good to others. She ended up cutting out all the 4s and even some of the 3s. Doing so enabled her to refocus and evaluate her heart in all she was doing.

I also loved that Tricia shared how she prays for her children. 
She prays for their:

Head - that they will always lift their heads to look to the Lord and that they will allow God to life their heads when they are hurt or discouraged,
Shoulders - so they will learn to let God carry their burdens,
Knees - that they will get on their knees before God regularly, and
Toes - that a community of believers will surround them and keep them on their toes.

Love these messages from Tricia Goyer!





Enter Today - 3/25- 4/16!
LEAD YOUR FAMILY LIKE JESUS BY KEN BLANCHARD, PHIL HODGES & TRICIA 
GOYER IPAD GIVEAWAY


About the Book

Does your family need a five-star general at the helm? A psychologist? A referee? Ken Blanchard, best-selling co-author of The One Minute Manager and Lead Like Jesus, points to a better role model: the Son of God. Joined by veteran parents and authors Phil Hodges and Tricia Goyer, renowned business mentor Blanchard shows how every family member benefits when parents take the reins as servant-leaders. Moms and dads will see themselves in a whole new light—as life-changers who get their example, strength, and joy from following Jesus at home. This user-friendly book’s practical principles and personal stories mark the path to a truly Christ-centered family, where integrity, love, grace, self-sacrifice, and forgiveness make all the difference.

You can purchase this book here:

About the Author

Tricia Goyer is the award winning author of over thirty books including Beside Still Waters, Remembering You, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences and is the host of Living Inspired. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife. 
Learn more about Tricia at her website: http://triciagoyer.com.




Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Take Care of You



Today I am joining Lisa-Jo and friends for Five Minute Friday.
This is where we come together writing for 5 minutes without editing or overthinking.
I love this community.

Check out what everyone's is sharing on the word REST here.

Five Minute Friday


My dear sweet momma-friend...
can I speak something to your heart today?

It's ok to rest.

You have loved on and taken care of everyone in your life so well all week long.

You've gotten everyone off to school.
You've done lessons with your babes at home.
You've made beds, done laundry, shopped for groceries, cleaned house, made meals, helped with homework, taxied to dance class and ball practice, supervised bath time, read a bedtime story, and so much more each and every day this week.

It's more than ok to rest. You need to rest.
You need that time to recharge.

Momma...
one of the most important things you can do 
for your family is to take care of you.

So friend...
Take some time today for you.
Make a cup of something hot and frothy or cold and sweet.
Curl up on the couch and read a book.
Paint your nails.
Call a sister-friend.
Have a nap.
Sit outside on the porch and swing awhile.

You deserve it.
You need it.
Love on yourself a bit today, momma.

Blessings,

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Blog at Home Mom: Balancing Blogging & Motherhood



My friend Christin from Joyful Mothering has written an incredible book called Blog At Home Mom in which she shares about balancing motherhood and blogging. She offers great advice on setting priorities and time management and also shares about keeping Christ at the center and glorifying God in every area. 

This is my favorite quote from the book:


She wrote the book to speak to the hearts of writing moms, but also to help fund her traveling expenses to Ghana to pick up her adoptive daughters. 
You can read more about her adoption story here.

You can purchase Christin's book here:

Blessings,

Thursday, January 31, 2013

If Momma Ain't Happy



As a wife and mom, I am the thermostat of our home. I am responsible for setting the emotional temperature of our family. My mood will set the tone each day and my husband and children will respond accordingly.

That is a huge responsibility and I have to be ever conscious of my mood and how it effects my family.  Life can be challenging and negative emotions can be stirred up during those times. Emotions aren't wrong, but letting them control me is.

Feelings don't just happen; they are always preceded by a thought.
- Judy Rossi

Our thoughts are so important in shaping our emotions. What we hear in our heads travels to our hearts. We have a choice to let the negative thoughts take root and create negative feelings or replace those thoughts with the truth. His truth.

In 2 Corinthians 10:5, we are told to "take every thought captive" which means that we have control over our thoughts. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that this is possible. For once we become children of God, we have the Holy Spirit inside of us and letting the Spirit control our minds leads to life and peace (Romans 8:6).

In Romans 12:1-2, God commands us to offer our bodies as a "living and holy sacrifice" as an act of worship, which includes our minds. We are to yield and devote everything to Him - from our thoughts to our actions. He goes on to say that we are to let Him transform us into new people by changing the way we think. We need to be molded daily by His truth and not the lies that we often hear in our heads.

Under God's economy, nothing really changes until our minds do. Transformation is the fruit of a changed outlook. First our minds are renewed, and then we are transformed, and then everything is different, even if it stays the same.
- Mark Buchanan "The Rest of God"

He tells us in His Word exactly what we should be
thinking of instead of those negative thoughts.

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. 
Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:8

In God's Word, there is a truth for every lie the enemy tries to get us to believe.

Feeling alone?
Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Matthew 28:20

Feeling tired?
Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
    They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
    They will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Feeling defeated?
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13

Only God's truth will renew our minds and change our behavior. 
The lies keep us bound and His truth sets us free.


What negative thoughts are you struggling with today?

How can I pray for you today?

Blessings,

Friday, January 25, 2013

What I'm Reading - Trophy Child




My Thoughts

Trophy Child is a book that challenges parents to examine our hearts behind how we parent. It isn't a detailed list on how to be a better parent or how to have a better child. Instead the author invites us to look at our motivations. He shares about his own experiences parenting and includes a "gut check" for each of us at the end of each chapter.

The five primary motives of parents who display their children are:
  • We obsess over achievement and competition
  • We create environments where our kids can succeed rather than preparing them for environments they cannot control
  • We accelerate childhood milestones and delay adulthood milestones
  • We take too much credit and too much blame for the way our kids turn out
  • We connect with our children more frequently and for longer periods of time


There are several types of trophy parents.
The Vanity Parent 
The Perfection Parent
The Competitive Parent
The Return of Investment Parent
The Gifted Parent
The Companion Parent
The Rescue Parent

As I read more about vanity parenting I realized that there are times I fall into this category. I have had those moments when I was more concerned that how my children behaved and the choices they made reflected on me as their mother.

My favorite chapter in the book is Kids Who Follow Jesus. The author reminds us of God's love language - Jesus. When we love Jesus and observe all that He taught, we show the Father love.

Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. 
 The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.
Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. 
 My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
John 14:21, 23

In this chapter the author talks about connecting our children to God through them getting to know Jesus. Part of that connection means knowing and abiding in the Word. In order for them to know God, they must know what He says.

I was challenged by this book and encouraged by it as well.

Here is an introduction to Trophy Child:


You can purchase the book here:

About the Book

Do you cringe when your kids fight in public because it makes you look bad? Do you find yourself helping too much with homework because you want the teacher to be impressed? Do you secretly take credit for your child’s dance recital, soccer win, or spelling bee crown? You might be in danger of vanity parenting.

Vanity parenting happens when our culture’s obsession with performance leads us to form expectations for our kids based on the world’s standards, not on the Bible. As a result, our children try to meet our emotional needs instead of growing into the calling God has for them.

Trophy Child will help you create a home where your children find success in following their heavenly Father’s leading for them—and you know the joy of seeing your children embrace their full potential as children of God.

About the Author

Pastor Ted Cunningham founded Woodland Hills Family Church in Branson, Missouri, where he lives with his wife and two children. A graduate of Liberty University and Dallas Theological Seminary, he is the author of Young and in Love and has coauthored several books with Dr. Gary Smalley, including The Language of Sex and Great Parents, Lousy Lovers.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Around the Tables Again




Today I am joining Lisa-Jo and friends for Five Minute Friday.
This is where we come together writing for 5 minutes without editing or overthinking.
I love this community.

Check out what everyone's is sharing on the word AGAIN here.

Five Minute Friday


We are gathered around the tables again. 
This group of women. This group of mommas.
My friends. My sisters.
We bow our heads in prayer together.
Inviting Him into this space we share. 
We open our Bibles and read aloud the Word.
Seeking Him.
Wanting to know more of Him.
Together.
We talk of things that are usually held inside.
And know that we aren't alone.
We are sharing the deepest parts of our hearts.
And know that we are loved.
Around the tables again.
We end our time together bowing once again in prayer.
For each other. For our families.
Bringing to Him all things.
We hesitate to leave this place.
A sacred place.
On the way home, I weep.
Thanking Him for the gift of you all.
Thanking Him.
For our time around the tables again.

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.
I always pray for you, and I make my requests
with a heart full of joy.
Philippians 1:3-4 

Blessings,


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