Monthly Archives: May 2009
Hearts at Home University
A while back I told you about Hearts at Home. I haven’t forgotten my promise to tell you more about the wonderful resources they offer for parents.
Motherhood is a valid profession.
That conviction inspired Jill Savage and a group of women to plan the first Hearts at Home conference 16 years ago. Today these conferences are a place where moms can go to find the encouragement and education they need to do this mothering thing right! Or at least with the best support and education they can find.
The problem is not everyone can attend a Hearts at Home conference (myself included). That’s why they created Hearts at Home University. This new resource is designed to encourage and equip us in our journey as parents. Live web casts, affordably priced at $15 each, allow you and me to tap into continuing education as a mom on a regular basis right from the comfort of our own computers.
The topics that will be covered over the Spring and Summer Semester include:
- “Is There Really Sex after Kids” with Jill Savage
- “She’s Gonna Blow” with Julie Barnhill
- “Redefining Romance” with Mark and Jill Savage
- “Keeping Your Ducks in a Relative Row” with Karen Ehman
I don’t know about you, but they all sound relevant to me! For information on dates and times, or to register go here.
Sugar Bomb!
Buy this book today! Why?
FIRST: You’ll love it. It’s fun, sassy, totally relevant and encouraging. It’s a great book! I’m posting a full review here at In the Dailies on Monday, but I’ll give you a quick snippet now. In other words, here’s the back cover:
PJ Sugar knows three things for sure:
- After traveling the country for ten years hoping to shake free from the trail of disaster that’s become her life, she needs a fresh start.
- The last person she wants to see when she heads home for her sister’s wedding is Boone—her former flame and the reason she left town.
- Her best friend’s husband absolutely did not commit the first murder Kellogg, Minnesota, has seen in more than a decade.
What PJ doesn’t know is that when she starts digging for evidence, she’ll uncover much more than she bargained for—a deadly conspiracy, a knack for investigation, and maybe, just maybe, that fresh start she’s been longing for.
Now, I said the book was “relevant.” You may be wondering from that description how in the world this story could affect your life. If you’ve ever felt trouble follows you, or if you’ve ever wanted to be a different person than you are or a different person that who you think everyone believes you to be, then you need this book. If you’ve ever convinced yourself that a new place or a new job or a new outfit are all you need to turn over that new leaf, this book is for you. If you’ve ever doubted God’s redemptive power, the truth of being a “new creation,” read this book. You won’t regret it. Come back on Monday; I’ll explain more.
SECOND: Anyone who buys this book TODAY (May 15th) and then hops over to the author’s website will be entered in a drawing for a FREE Sugar Spa Basket. Who wouldn’t want that? You can purchase Nothing But Trouble from Amazon.com or Christianbook.com (via these links).
Did you get it? Did you hop over to the author’s site and tell her where you bought it?
Oh, I forgot. There’s MORE!
See the nifty button at the top of my sidebar? If you grab that and put it on your blog today, you’ll also be entered to win a $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com.
As for the super cool spa basket, you can earn extra entries by purchasing more than one copy of the book (10 extra entries for each extra book you purchase) or by finding the book on the shelves of your local retailer (1 extra entry for each place you find it; 5 extra entries if you take a picture of yourself in the bookstore holding Nothing But Trouble).
What else?
Oh, right! The Sugar Party lasts all month with a fun blog tour then concluding on June 19th with an all-day online Sugar Book Club Party. Susan (the author) will be giving away prizes, answering questions, hosting a live chat, and generally getting herself into some “Trouble”.
A Big Bottle of Sunshine
After nine consecutive days of rain, Monday brought the sun back. Tuesday provided a taste of summer, a gorgeous day with no agenda. I think I’m still there. I skipped “Mama Loves” this week, but simply because I’ve been living it. Sleeping late and cuddling with bundles of giggles. Surrendering to a field of sweet-smelling grass; lying there with a book while the kids run and play with friends. Taking nature walks and attempting to skip rocks across the pond.
A song by Milkshake has been stuck on a loop inside my head. Yes, children’s music, but it’s fun and perfect for days like this.
“I’ve got a big bottle of sunshine.
Mix it up with a bowl full of daydreams.
Pour it into a suitcase full of laughter that I’ve found.
You won’t find me sitting around.
There’s only so much time in the day
And I don’t have a minute to waste.”
Sometimes the best way to spend the day is by “wasting” it in the sun with those you love.
Mothers of the Bible Speak to Mothers of Today
Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway! If you missed it, stay tuned. I’m compiling a stack of books to giveaway sometime next month.
This weekend I asked what mother from the Bible you would like to meet or know more about. I loved reading all your answers. If any of you want books dealing specifically with your woman of interest, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’d be happy to share titles! I’ve found some excellent books that target individual women like the Marys (the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene and Mary and Martha), Esther, Ruth and Naomi. I can direct you toward nonfiction and/or novelized accounts. Just let me know. In the meantime, Jen had a question I want to answer. She asked if there were any books about mothers of the Bible. The answer: YES!
Kathi Macias just released a new book: Mothers of the Bible Speak to Mothers of Today. In it she combines her personal, conversational style with thoroughly researched information to provide stunning portraits of biblical moms. The best part, though, is the emphasis on what these women can teach us today. Each chapter concludes with a “Something to Think About” section of questions and space to journal, as well as a prayer. Readers also enjoy quotes about motherhood from a wide spectrum of people, historical and contemporary, famous and not.
“Who’s included?” That’s always my first question when I see one of these survey-type books. I love studying women of the Bible; it’s one of my greatest passions, naturally I want to know which women are covered and which are not. Rather than just listing names or chapters, the author actually includes a descriptive paragraph with each listing on the Contents page. I think it’s fabulous. Right off the bat, from the very first pages, she makes the stories of these ancient women relevant to us centuries - even millenia later. I can’t share all of this with you, but I can give you an example.
Rizpah: Grief-Stricken yet Faithful — Can there be anything more painful to a parent than the death of a child? In addition to the agony, losing a child to death seems to be out of the natural order. Yet, from the beginning, mothers have endured this tragedy, which can result in additional problems: divorce, financial difficulties, and even a loss of faith in God. Yet God sees and cares.
In addition to this chapter you’ll find:
- Eve: Without a Role Model
- Sarah: Mother of Nations
- Rebekah: Playing Favorites
- Rachel and Leah: Competing Through Their Children
- Jochobed: The Greatest Sacrifice
- Hannah: Woman of Prayer, Gratitude and Integrity
- Bathsheba: Redemption and Restoration
- The Widow of Zarephath: Generous to the End
- Elizabeth: A Willing Sacrifice
- The Canaanite Woman: Persevering in Prayer
- Salome: Catching the Eternal Vision
- Eunice and Lois: Passing the Torch
- The Proverbs 31 Woman: A Woman for All Seasons
- Mary: In a Class by Herself
Thoughout these chapters we learn about women who have faced infertility, adultery, death or exile of children, death of husbands, public ridicule and scorn and even the little things we all face on a daily basis: wanting our kids to love God, to be their best, to be better than the rest; personal feelings of insecurity or ignorance; isolation. These women were under-appreciated and overworked, just like us.
It’s a fantastic book! Order it from Amazon.com or visit the author’s website for more details.
And the winners are …
According to random.org, the winners of our Mothers’ Day Giveaway are …
# 4: Carpoolqueen
# 8: Michelle O’Brien
# 10: Michelle Rosborough
Congratulations, ladies! Email me (tanyasue @ gmail.com) with your mailing addresses and I’ll get your prizes on their way. Thanks, again, to Zondervan for providing the books! If you didn’t win, be sure to check the giveaway post for direct links to where you can purchase these great books.
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend celebrating your children and your mothers, remembering that God is the One who puts us together in families. He’s so good, isn’t He?
Mothers’ Day GIVEAWAY!!
Okay, so I’ve had this blog for almost three years and have sponsored 98% of the giveaways within the past three months. Here’s another one for you.
I’m so excited! Zondervan sent me some fabulous books to give away to YOU for Mothers’ Day! You don’t have to be a mom to win, but you do need to know one. Here’s what they sent me.
Eight Little Faces: A Mom’s Journey is a scrapbook of sorts from Kate Gosselin of TLC’s Jon & Kate + 8. Formatted kind of like the front of a refrigerator, the book contains pictures of their family’s journey, special notes from Kate about what they’ve learned and Bible verses to emphasize the point or reiterate the blessings. It’s adorable and perfect for fans of the show.
The Best is Yet to Come by Fran Fernandez simply looks like a delicious read. From the back cover: “This encouraging guide offers sixty devotionals for women who are ready to dedicate themselves to developing a more intimate relationship with God, and who can then bring the joy of that relationship into her world in new and wonderful ways.”
Spilt Milk by Linda Vujnov is another devotional for women, but this one is specifically for moms. Endorsed by Rick Warren, this book features short chapters filled with humor and inspiration. It’s the breath of fresh air and community moms need.
I’ve not read any of these! The books just arrived yesterday. If they’d come earlier I definitely would have indulged myself before having to give them away. As it is, I may have to order one or two. Three of you will be very lucky mamas.
HOW TO ENTER:
Simply leave a comment on this post answering this question: Which mother from the Bible you’d like to meet or know more about? That’s it. I’ll choose winners on Sunday, one for each book. If you have a preference of which book you’d like to win, let me know that too. I’ll try to accomodate, if I can.
Increase your chances of winning by posting about this giveaway on you own blog, Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to leave an extra comment letting me know where you posted.
Good luck!
Making Work at Home Work
I’ve shared my struggles to balance work and family, specifically parenting, with you in several posts. I know many of you struggle with the same. Whether it be a direct sales business, supporting a husband’s business, writing or freelance design, if you’re a mom at home, finding that sweet spot where everything seems to click (without guilt or missed deadlines!) can be a challenge, to say the least. And if you do find that sweet spot, maintaining it and your sanity can be a whole new trial.
I am so happy to tell you about a new book. Mary Byers, author of The Mother Load: How to Meet Your Own Needs While Caring for Your Family and How to Say No . . . And Live to Tell about It, juggles both a freelance corporate writing and speaking business with her responsibilities as a wife and mother of two school-aged children. She does it successfully and has just released a new book sharing how she does it.
Making Work at Home Work is not a “how to start a home-based business” book. You can find a ton of those already. No, this is a much needed follow-up for those who have already started their businesses and need some direction in how to keep it going. As the title says, it helps those seeking to successfully grow a business and a family under one roof. It’s not about starting, but about maintaining. It’s not just about your business either. That is included, of course, but it’s also about your family: your husband, your children and yourself. It’s about having all of that and your sanity, too.
Here are some of the discussions within the book that I found most helpful.
- Understanding the difference between a SAHM and a WAHM is more than one letter
- Determining why you’re working and how much is enough
- The Parental Pact *A vital chapter!*
- Setting limits, boundaries, goals and regular work hours
- Creative child care options and determining when and if you need them
- How to distinguish and handle both kinds of guilt: good guilt and that comes from the Enemy
- What, when and how can you subcontract in order to raise revenue
The book also contains chapters on taxes, retirement, supper swaps, vacations, faith and sanity. Readers enjoy profiles of real moms running real businesses and how they do it. It’s a fantastic book, one I wish I’d had years ago with my first work-at-home ventures. You can purchase the book HERE (a wonderful gift for working moms, friends and sisters!) or you can enter to win a FREE copy on Mary’s site.
Mary’s Contest:
Win a copy of Making Work at Home Work (or another one of Mary’s books–your choice) AND a $25 Amazon gift certificate (for some WAHM essentials – Day Planner, bubble bath, funky file-folders, toddler DVDs)!
There are three ways to win:
- Leave a comment on Mary’s post. CLICK HERE to do that.
- Sign up for Mary’s quarterly newsletter where she offer tips and advice about all facets of a women’s life: WAHM, mothering, women’s issues. More info here!
- Join the Work at Home Blog Ring. More info here.
Good luck! And if you don’t win, be sure to order a copy of this book anyway.
I only saw one downside, and it’s minimal. The beginning chapters seemed redundant, not to other sources, but to themselves. Speakers tend to reiterate their point frequently throughout their speeches. Writers don’t need to do that because readers can simply turn back a page or a chapter and re-read what they missed. At conferences or lectures, though, listeners can’t turn back time. They need to hear the point over and over to get it. The beginning couple chapters were like that. The author repeated herself frequently to make sure we got the point. By the fourth chapter (forty pages in) this stopped.
Even with this one stylistic irritation, I HIGHLY recommend this book! It is filled with valuable information and insights founded on experience. I feel relieved just knowing I have this resource to guide me, a faith-based success story and “you can do it to” encouragement.
Don’t forget to visit the author’s site to enter the contest!
National Day of Prayer
Just a reminder: tomorrow (Thursday) is the National Day of Prayer. Please set aside time beyond your usual routine to pray for our nation, our President, our leaders, our communities, our neighbors and our families. Pray for our schools, our influence, our futures and our priorities. There is much to pray for. I often feel helpless, as if all that I could do would never be enough to make any difference. But prayer works. Prayer makes a difference. Please join me in lifting up our nation before God and seeking His mercy, His grace, His wisdom and His guidance. Only He can heal us.
Mama Loves: Reflective Clones
Every Tuesday I post a “Mama Loves” based on Philippians 4:8-9. The Message paraphrases those verses like this:
“I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.”
Focusing on the positive, as this verse urges us to do, doesn’t mean life is rosy. It doesn’t mean our lives are void of negative things or that we’re so surrounded by wonderful things that we can’t help but rejoice. No. The writer would not exhort readers to think positively if they were already doing it. He would not spend so much time encouraging them in this direction if it were easy. He challenges us to focus on the best even when faced with the worst. Sometimes, as I often write about on this blog, these true, noble, authentic thoughts are sobering. Sometimes these positive thoughts smack us in the face like a splash of icy water.
Mama loves reflective clones.
This weekend I lost my cool with Ellie. I love that girl more than anything, but sometimes she drives me crazy! A precocious know-it-all, she never runs out of energy and never stops talking. She always has a “better” idea, constantly corrects those around her (whether necessary or not), and is completely undisciplined when it comes to jobs she doesn’t thoroughly enjoy. She won’t give up until she gets her way. She’s melodramatic. She acts dumb in an attempt to charm people and shy when I know she’s not. She allows fear to paralyze her.
She’s my clone.
As I lay in bed still fuming over the day’s interactions, I thanked God for showing me me. How often do I argue with God when I know He’s right? How many times have I tried to remind Him of things I know He could never forget? I pout when I don’t get my way. I think I know everything and verbally prove otherwise on a regular basis. I’m lazy, selfish, bossy, arrogantly persistent and blow things way out of proportion. And yet in spite of all this, or maybe because of all this, God loves me. He loves me unconditionally the same way I love Ellie. She may drive me crazy, but I love her so much it hurts. She’s mine and I am His.
I thank God for His love for me, but I also thank Him for my reflective clone. Without her how would I see the dangers of my annoying characteristics? How would I recognize my flaws and move toward correcting them in both her and me? Without God giving me someone just like me, how would I be sanctified? Oh, there are ways, I’m sure, but this was a pretty creative solution. Annoying – yes. But wonderfully creative. And effective. I love it.
Romans 5:1-8
Yesterday we celebrated communion during our worship service. The pastor extolled on these verses. They are packed with powerful, amazing truth. Meditate on these words today.
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:1-8 (NIV)
