Making Wise Media Choices

A few months ago, I published a post titled 3 Reasons Why I Refuse to Watch Mommy Porn. This post explained why I had no intention of going to see 50 Shades of Grey. The post was widely shared across social media and featured on For Every Mom's website. While I was unable to read all of the comments that come through in response, I was fascinated by the variation of responses that I read. The ones that most caught my attention were the explanations from women who claimed to be Christians - dismissals of concerns over the movie, rationalizations for why they were looking forward to seeing it, rebukes directed toward those who were intolerant of the movie, and that is just the beginning.

I could not help but question: Why doesn't the popularity of this book/movie concern these women? Why do they feel justified in their participation of its promotion? Why are they so enthusiastic about supporting media that is so blatantly opposed to God's definition of life, and love, and living? 

And I quickly came to this conclusion...

...I am convinced that the reason 50 Shades of Grey wasn't all that shocking for many Christian women is because it really isn't all that different from what they were already reading...and watching.

We have become so desensitized by our culture and their cries for tolerance that we have lost our ability to discern wisely; and today, I want to chat about making wise media choices for ourselves - as well as our families.

While I have spoken directly about the 50 Shades Phenomenon, I will tell you that it is not my intention for this post to address any other specific books, theatrical productions, tv series, movies, etc. If your desire is to please God with your entertainment choices, I know that He will speak directly to your heart about your personal decisions. What I would like to do is provide you with a few guidelines that have been helpful to me in navigating what can oftentimes feel like somewhat of a gray area - making wise media choices. 

When I was in high school, I had an English Literature teacher who shared great wisdom regarding this topic. When it comes to showing discernment in this realm, she challenged us to ask this question: "As I read this book, or watch this show, or entertain myself with this movie, do I find myself desiring the characters to make right choices...or wrong ones?" I have never forgotten this!

Girls, have you ever found yourself wanting the main character in a story line to leave her husband "because the guy is such a jerk"....or feel like it would be the natural thing for the main characters to "move to the next level"...even though they just met....even though they're cheating on their spouses...never mind that they're not married...never mind that they may be homosexual.

This is just one example of how we are so easily moved by an intriguing story line, great acting, emotionally-charged music...I would mention one popular romance author that comes to mind for me, but maybe you've already thought of one...or two...that have had this impact on you.

Philippians 4:8: "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."

When we desire something that goes against what is right...we are allowing someone/something other than the Holy Spirit control over our heart and mind. Yes, I realize that following this guideline eliminates much of what is currently considered entertainment; but as a Christ-follower, can you disagree?

You see, grace does not give us the freedom to do whatever want, watch whatever we want, go wherever we want...God's grace gives us the freedom to make the right choices.

As a daughter of the King, I wholeheartedly desire to have the mind of Christ...seeking to please Him with my choices. Is this an area where we all struggle? Of course! But my passion is to honor Him, and I want to share in His attitude...His thoughts...His perspective...wisdom and discernment that comes from Him alone. 

The entertainment industry continues to:

disrespect the father in the home...if a father present

humorize homosexual behavior

promote inappropriate speech

objectify human beings

diminish the impact of premarital sex

negate the value of life in all of its beautiful stages

Will you choose to join me in saying: No, these things are not okay. My family will not laugh at or approve these things. We will stand against them...even if we feel alone in our commitment.

Questions to ask about Media:

1. What is the overall theme(s) that the author/producer is wanting to communicate?

2. In the end, what wins? Good or evil?

3. How is this book/show/movie impacting the way I feel? think? act?

4. Is this form of entertainment causing me to desire something that I know goes against what is right?

This doesn't mean you can only read books that have come from the Christian book store...or watch movies that have been endorsed by Kirk Cameron...but it does mean that you will be limited in your options. You will have less to choose from than someone who does not consider Christ when they make choices about what they allow in to their heart and mind.

Matthew 13:16: "Blessed are those whose eyes have the ability to see."

This approach to media will seem weird...foreign...dogmatic...close-minded...and intolerant to those who do not share your faith values; but that is no surprise. In the Scriptures, we are told time and time again that...

only spiritually-minded people will understand a call to live differently...
only spiritually-minded people will have a desire to turn from what is considered normal and embrace what is pure...

In order to make wise decisions in any area of our life, our heart must be aligned with the Savior's....this means we are actively involved in a relationship with Him that includes meditating on His word and communicating relationally with Him in prayer. His truth can not effect our choices unless we allow it to do so~

Romans 2:14-15: "Our lives will demonstrate that God has written His Words on our hearts."

Helpful Resources:

Common Sense: If the synopsis or preview includes [insert highly problematic content], then you can pretty must assume that the book/show/movie is not worth giving a chance...no matter how interesting it may seem...no matter how curious you might be...no matter how popular it is at the time.

Good media discernment is about guarding our eyes and hearts before we watch or listen. It's also about grappling with the entertainment we do see or hear. - Focus on the Family

TV/Movie Ratings: These can definitely be a help in weeding out the inappropriate. I wouldn't suggest using these as your only guide, but they can be helpful.

Plugged In: This is a great resource from Focus on the Family! This website provides reviews on all the latest music, videos, movies, tv, and games. If you're unsure about something, do a little research! Educate yourself - especially when it comes to guiding your children through these confusing waters.

Safeguards: I know a lot of families have chosen to password protect their technology, utilize tools such as TV Guardian or Net Nanny, etc. Some families have chosen to keep all televisions, laptops, tablets, phones, etc. out of their kids' bedrooms - promoting family time and accountability. Whatever choices you make in this area, may I encourage you to: Be informed! Be aware! Be engaged! Be unashamedly passionate regarding your ministry as a parent - remembering that we are in a war - battling for the hearts and minds of our children. Do not sit back and allow the enemy to win. It is worth the fight.

As your children grow in their maturity, I would suggest providing them with guided opportunities to practice discernment. Talk to them about what and why...Expose them to the existence of evil and how the Gospel can change lives....Help them understand current events, controversial issues...Guide them - answering any questions they might have along the way. Teach them to ask questions, and give them the freedom to ask the tough questions. 

As you travel down this road with your children, be willing to tell them no - even if it makes them angry...even if they stand out as the weird one among their peers. You are not called to be your child's friend. You are called to be their spiritual guardian, and - especially in today's culture - training them to make appropriate choices about entertainment [while modeling good choices yourself] is a huge piece of that responsibility!

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Homeschooling a Three-Year Old (Homeschool Preschool)

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Black Bean and Corn Quesadillas

You know the drill! You shop the pantry (and the fridge) for items you might have on hand that will make a yummy dinner without breaking the bank! 

These Black Bean and Corn Quesadillas were born out of that exact scenario, and they are delicious!

Drain 1 can of corn and 1 can of black beans. 

Toss together with diced pieces of cheese - mozarella is yummy...smoked gouda is even yummier!

If you have some bacon on hand, crumbling pieces of it into this mixture will take this dinner to a whole new level! 

When I make quesadillas, I use our griddle to make a few at a time - and they are perfect served with chips and salsa! 

Enjoy!

If your family would like a little more spice, check out this version from Kristina Nunez!

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Teaching Your Children to Respect Books

There are few things I have loved more than watching my little ones fall in love with books! 

Fostering a hunger for reading has been a priority from the time my first little fella was in my tummy, and as he has gotten older and another little guy has joined our family, I have been passionate about teaching them to respect books. 

Teaching Your Children to Respect Books

I love reading out loud to my children! They love reading with me, but nothing compares to when Daddy reads with them - That's their favorite! What a great opportunity to model not only strong reading skills but also how to handle books with care.

How to Build a Great Collection of Books for Your Kids

We have been attending library story time since my oldest was in the Baby Story Time program. He has always loved the male librarian that leads this time, and I love that he is interacting with another male who enjoys books - as reading is unfortunately, oftentimes, handled as a "female sport".

My Favorite ABC Books (and not just for pre-schoolers)

Encourage your children to take good care of their books as well as any that they borrow from the library!

Keeping Track of Library Books

From the beginning, teach them how to correctly hold a book, how to turn its pages, how to carefully close it, and how to appropriately put it away where it goes. We try to discourage them from standing on books, throwing books down in the floor, etc.

In our main living area, books are stored in a special book basket - If I feel like the basket is getting too full, I put some of the books away in a closet - rotating them by season, whether or not my littles are getting bored with them, etc.

These few things have made all the difference when it comes to teaching my little ones to respect books.

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5 Things Every Busy Mom Needs

At the start of this homeschool pre-school year, my oldest began memorizing Psalm 23. It didn't take him long to commit it to memory, and we have continued to recite the passage often - It has been amazing to see him memorizing God's word, but it has also been neat to see how God has used pieces of that Psalm (a passage I have known since I was a child) to encourage me right where I am today! Over the past few months, my favorite section of the passage has been: He restores my soul or as my three-year old says: He retores my soul.

As a busy mom, I have to be intentional about allowing the Shepherd to retore my soul. Am I spending time in His Word? Am I finding times to be quiet before Him? Am I getting enough rest? Am I being intentional about seeking out opportunities for community?

Specifically as a mom, the following five things have been key in my soul being consistently restored:

1. A Faith Community - I believe that one of the ways we are restored is through community - community with like-minded Christ followers...community with those who have walked in our shoes...community with other moms. Are you growing and serving in a gospel-centered church? Does your church offer small groups? Bible studies? A Moms group? Don't be afraid to jump right in to those things! These opportunities have played such an incredible role in my marriage and my service as a mom.

Fellow moms, while there are days when it may be tempting to hide away at home with your littles and walk through your situation alone, please know that Satan wants to attack you in your isolation. He wants to march right in to your heart and mind and tell you that You are the only mom who gets angry with her children. You are doing a less than stellar job at this wife thing. You would be better off letting someone else take care of your kids during the week. And on and on and on and on his accusations come. But please remember that the Savior does not speak this kind of condemnation over you - He speaks with gentleness and patience, and oftentimes, we hear His voice through the encouragement of those in our community.

Do you have a community? While this may look a little different for each one of us, it is crucial to our overall mom health.

2. Healthy Friendships - Seek out friendships with credible people in all stages of life - those who may be younger, those who may be walking through the same waters, as well as those who have been there, done that. The truth is that you are probably going to have to be the one to make the initial effort. Depending on your personality, your past experience with friendships, etc. this can be a difficult one, but just remember that we were never meant to walk alone. We are were never attended to live in an isolated environment. Not only does God want us to be real and authentic with Him, He desires that we have real and authentic relationships with other people.

Nobody's Cuter than You

3. Alone Time - While I am a very social person that craves interaction with others, I have also learned how very important alone time is for me. On many days, this comes in the form of simply being able to shower alone while hubby tackles the kids - but if I fail to take moments for myself, I regret it. I immediately see where it negatively impacts my family, and I am reminded that I absolutely must be intentional about alone time in order to continue serving others well.

The Fringe Hours

4. Yummy [and mostly healthy] Food - Let's be honest! I love sitting and chatting over a cup of a coffee or a good meal! On Thursdays, my mom's group time includes hot coffee and yummy snacks - There are some Thursday mornings when I can not wait to get there - simply because I know that I will not only be fed spiritually, but physically as well! Why do we take food to families walking through hardship? Because we know that food can feed the soul! In addition to my love for Thursday mornings, I also enjoy going out to dinner with a friend. Sometimes we ask our hubbies to watch the kids...sometimes we wait until after our kids' bedtime (if we can stay awake past 7:30pm)...either way, we schedule an evening and meet up for dinner and good conversation. Friends, an evening like this can carry me through my week like nothing else! *Disclaimer: Carefully choose positive, encouraging friends with whom you share mutual respect - This will make all the difference as to whether or not your time away from home is a worthwhile experience. 

5. Exercise - Let me get something out in the open here - I am not a runner. I have no interest in running. I have no personal goals regarding running. In fact, I have told my neighbors that if they see me running, they need to call the police...because something is wrong. However, I love taking walks! It is amazing how a walk around the neighborhood can restore my soul! There have been many mornings that haven't started out too great around here...but after throwing my kids in their wagon and going for a walk, a bad day is changed to a good one. While we were walking, I love to sing to my kids (The neighbors are probably starting to wonder about me.)...or pray quietly to myself...It just depends on my frame of my mind and how I am feeling that day. If exercise is not a part of your routine, try to fit a little movement in wherever you can - something you will enjoy (even if it's running!). Exercise is such a great way to blow off steam, set the reset button, and start again fresh.

If you're like me, you see so much of yourself in your children, and while I am committed to soul restoration for myself, I do not want to neglect my kiddos in the process. As I have sought out opportunities for me as their mom, I have tried to be prayerful and strategic in making sure they are also provided with beneficial experiences and encouraging environments. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I attend a mom's group while my children are in classes of their own - not simply being babysat but learning and growing in a structured environment. These programs have provided a faith-based pre-school environment for my littles, and I have been so thankful for this piece of the puzzle. This allows me to be able to save the babysitters for #3 (alone time).

Do you have go-to ideas for soul restoration?

Making Time for God's Word

Peeps Treats for Easter

Whether you love 'em or hate 'em, you can't deny that Peeps are adorable and the perfect addition to your Spring Celebration! 

Check out these great ideas for how to make your Easter treats extra colorful this year! 

Layered Peeps

Peeps Smores

Peeps Cake

Peeps Pops

Peeps for my Peeps Printable

Peeps on a Stick

Peeps Cupcakes

Peeps Pudding Cups

And as an extra little added bonus today, check out this free game:

Don't Eat the Peep!

5 Things Bloggers Don't Have to Do

There are so many great posts out there providing bloggers with advice for things that they must do in order to be successful, and I will say that I have found many of them to be very helpful as I have navigated through the technicalities that are simply a part of the blogging world. 

However, in just over three years of blogging, I have discovered that there are five things bloggers don't have to do, and if you are a fellow blogger, I hope you will find them encouraging as you continue on in your endeavors. 

1. Bloggers do not have to spend a lot of money. For most services, there are free options available. If you are willing to take the time to do a little research...tackle a few techie things yourself...and get creative, you will be amazed at what you are able to do for free or at least without breaking the piggy bank. 

2. Bloggers do not have to post everyday. Rarely is there a need to apologize for a lack or posts...or too many posts. Your blog is your online space, which means you are free to post [or not post] whenever you like. 

3. Bloggers do not need to change to keep up with other bloggers. Your readers are loyal to you because you are you. Attempting to keep up with others in your online community will exhaust you and confuse your readers. 

4. Bloggers do not need to try to be someone they're not. Be you! There is freedom in telling your story...from your perspective...in a way that will speak to your readers. Embrace why you began blogging in the first place. Don't be afraid to learn and grow along the way, but always stay true to who you are and the reasons why you believe your story matters! I promise you, your story DOES matter, and no one can share it like you can. 

5. Bloggers do not need to be perfect. Your readers will love reading your success stories, but they will also appreciate learning from your struggles. Don't be afraid to be real and vulnerable - When you share the good, the bad, and the ugly, you will be amazed at the authentic connections you will begin to make. 

Each blogger will have individual goals for their on-line space. With that being said, I realize that there will be varying opinions on the tips I have shared in today's post. You may find yourself with a different purpose beyond your blog, but to read the reasons why I write, check out:

Why I Blog

If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy reading the following posts:

My Collection of Blogging Tips

To My Fellow Mommy Bloggers

Paper Bucket Art Box

One of our kitchen cabinets has been designated "The Art Cabinet"! It houses fingerpaints, Playdoh, markers/crayons/colored pencils, scissors & glue, all of our art supplies. Why? Because at this stage with little ones, doing these kinds of activities at our kitchen table seems to be the easiest thing. 

While many of these supplies are kept out of reach, some of them have been made easily accessible to little hands. 

One of the things that I always have available for them is what we call their "Paper Bucket". 

The Paper Bucket is full of all kinds of random things that my little ones enjoy using for "free art". There are no rules. They are free to cut and glue and cut and glue and cut and glue...creating anything they like - using the items in their Paper Bucket. 

For my oldest, I hand him age-appropriate scissors and a glue stick and he goes to town with the goodies in this bucket.

I have included some of the random things that can been found in their art box at any given time: 

Calendar Pages

A Variety of Magazines

These cats resulted in lots of fun....see how this works?

Blank Scrap Paper, Tissue Paper, All Different Kinds of Paper

The Sunday Comics 

Grocery Store Ads are perfect for this as well!

Construction Paper

Sheets of Foam

Coloring Books

Activity Booklets

Notebook Paper

Graph Paper

Pretty Much Anything

Other items I include as I come across them:

stickers

advertisements

other various pieces of junk mail

paper plates

bubble wrap

pieces of cardboard

The inside of our box is typically a mess...but it is a contained mess. With one big bucket to house everything, it makes for easy clean-up for little hands. Every so often, I go through and rid out anything that has clearly been used as much as it can possibly be used.

I try to keep things simple. I don't include glitter, pipe cleaners, pony beads, googly eyes, or other type of art supply - the goal with this activity is to stick with [mostly] paper - requiring kiddos to use their imagination as much as possible.

**Classroom Teachers: When I was teaching in the elementary classroom, this worked great as an independent as well as peer-to-peer learning center.**

For more hands-on ideas for the classroom (or homeschool environment), check out:

Out-of-the-Box Spelling and Vocabulary Practice Activities

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Baked Spaghetti

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Life Around Here this Weekend

Previous Posts:

Our Pregnancy Announcement:

A Diary of How I've Been Feeling - Part 1

A Diary of How I've Been Feeling - Part 2

A Diary of How I've Been Feeling - Part 3
A Diary of How I've Been Feeling - Part 4

Happy Monday, friends!

I hope you had a great weekend! Our weekend included a Saturday lunch trip to Sam's Club - an outing I strategically timed so that my family could eat their weight in samples instead of my having to make lunch for them at home. It's a glorious, glorious thing that Sam's offers this service. All we have to do in return is walk the entire store - with a three-year old, a one-year old, and a two-ton shopping cart in tow.

Our weekend also included two rounds of grilling out.

When the weather is nice, you will find us out on the patio...with our grill...and some form of red meat. It is beautiful thing. David and I have discussed many times that our grilling habits are greatly effected by the weather. It can't be too cold...or too hot outside....or we're simply going to stay inside. I use this same rationale to determine whether or not I am going to exercise outdoors...or at all.

I am loving this second trimester. I am feeling so much better - still napping, still battling some yuckies at night, but definitely feeling more energetic, and more and more excited about this new little one that is going to be joining our family! I am finally far enough along that my belly looks more like a baby bump rather than a spare tire. Yesterday, my belly was grabbed...and as the grabber exclaimed, "Is that a baby?!" I wanted so badly to respond with "Uh....no." ....just to see the look on their face! Wouldn't that have been funny? Ah, sometimes I live with such regret.

One of the best things as of late is that I have been able to tolerate the smell and taste of coffee...I'm not back to loving the smell and drinking two cups a day...yet....but I'm getting there. On Saturday (after our glamorous lunch at Sam's Club), we decided to head through a Starbuck's drive-thru...and this was how things sounded at the drive-thru speaker:

David: "Yes, we'd like a tall, half-caff, non-fat caramel latte, no whip cream and a Venti dark roast - no cream."

Caleb [Screaming from the backseat]: "Daaaaadddddy, you forgot to order the coffee!"

You would think that by now, this child would recognize our Starbucks order...but maybe he was thrown off by my ordering half-caff...

Our oldest is pretty excited about having another baby brother or sister! He hasn't decided whether it's a boy or a girl...he changes his mind often. His questions about the baby are my favorite, and we have been having lots of funny conversations! For example:

Me: "Mrs. Noelle has a baby in her belly, too!"

Caleb: "Do all mommies have babies in their bellies?"

Me: "Not all of them - just some of them."

Caleb: "........Does Great Grandma have a baby in her belly?"

(Great Grandma is 90+ years old.)

Pre-schoolers...I just love hearing what they're going to say next...unless they're throwing a tantrum over their dinner...or screaming for me to come help them find their favorite teddy bear...at 4:30am. 

How to Actually Enjoy Facebook

Social Media...

I absolutely love staying connected through social media! Instagram is my favorite with Facebook running a close second~ However, for many, this type of thing can be a point of great struggle.

Have your interactions on social media ever lead to you feeling inferior, inadequate, irritated, frustrated, angry?

Have you ever struggled with guilt over how much time you spend on your accounts?

Have you ever felt like - instead of a fun hobby - it has taken over many areas of your life?

Have you ever wanted to delete all of your accounts and live as if you are cast member on "Little House on the Prairie"? 

I have worked hard to keep social media fun for me, and here are a few things I do to make this possible - specifically with Facebook.

1. If someone in my feed is repeatedly posting extremely inappropriate comments, photos, etc. I unfriend them. End of story.

2. If someone is simply irritating - You know the ones....the insecure bodybuilders, the overly crunchy mamas, the selfie-obsessed college students, the lovers of drama... I hide them by simply selecting unfollow next to their name. I mean, c'mon...there is probably a reason I never stayed connected with this person in real life. With a click of a button, I don't have to see their silly stuff any longer. I want my news feed to include things that I care about...pictures I actually want to see...updates that are important to me. If you are finding yourself frustrated with what is in your feed, take control over it. You have the power to determine what you see. *You can also click unlike/unfollow on pages that you have previously liked - pages that are no longer of interest to you - or pages you simply liked initially just to be nice.

3. If someone is notorious for sending game invites, unwanted party invites, etc. I go in to my settings and block them from sending invites my way. I will also block specific game invites -  just in case someone else is getting excited about playing that game, too. You may be in to the games, but that's not something I want to spend my time doing.

4. If a negative or controversial status is posted, I hide it...This way, I don't have to see all of the follow-up comments...where experts are giving their opinions.

5. If an argument has broken out between friends, I do not participate. In fact, I typically hide those kind of conversations as well.

6. I do not use the Facebook Messenger App~ I have a number of reasons for not using it - so if someone messages me through Facebook, it is probably going to take a few days for me to get back with them.

We all have people on our friend list that do social media a little differently than we do - For those situations, the "hide" button and the "block" button are my favorites! 

Now for a few simple technology guidelines that I live by: 

1. Adjust the volume on or turn off social media notifications. This allows me to check my phone when I can and respond when I am able.

2. Take Family Time seriously! Phones, tablets, etc. do  not join us for mealtimes. No exceptions. They are not welcome on family walks, trips to the parks, etc. If they come along (in case of emergency), they stay tucked away in a zippered pocket in the stroller. When we're at the pool, phones stay in the pool bag...unless I need to snap a picture, of course.

3. Disconnect from the Internet - If I'm needing to be especially productive or if I need to really disconnect, I will turn the Internet access off on my phone. I love the feeling of being truly alone...even if it's just for a few minutes.

So when it comes to Facebook, it's not something I have to take a break from...or fast from for Lent...or any such thing...because I enjoy it. How am I able to enjoy it? Because I am intentional about taking control over what it looks like for me.

You may follow some of the same guidelines...You may have some others that are important to you...You may have found that deleting all of your accounts was the best thing for you and your family...You may simply not enjoy using social media~

No matter where you stand with your efforts to be intentional, be prepared! Establishing boundaries in this area will frustrate some your friends and family, but make no apologies. I promise you will reap many, many benefits from setting a few healthy perimeters in this area.

For more on how we approach Screen-Time at our House, check out:

Screen-Free Times at Our House


For more encouragement in setting technology boundaries for you family, check out:
Hands-Free Mama (Available on Amazon)!

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Making Time for God's Word (When You're a Mom)

As a mom, it can be difficult to carve out time to spend meditating on God's word, but if you are like me, you have learned how very crucial it is to being able to serve your family the way God intended. 

Over the past few years, I have tried to be intentional about finding ways to naturally build this in to our family's routine.

Here are a few ideas that have worked well for me and maybe you'll find a tip that will encourage you in your faith walk! 

1. "Jesus Calling": Yes, I love Sarah Young's "Jesus Calling" book, but this "Jesus Calling" daily flip calendar (that sits right next to my bathroom sink) is perfect for me! As I'm brushing my teeth...or drying my hair...or moisturizing my face (a habit I should have started earlier in life), I am able to read the devotional and Scripture for each day! If you are familiar with this devotional, you may agree that on most days, the words from "Jesus Calling" seem to pinpoint an exact area where you need to be challenged or encouraged! I would highly recommend Sarah Young's materials! Her resources for kids are equally wonderful! She has a Kid's Devotional but also a Bible Storybook~

2. Participate in local Bible studies! This has provided excellent accountability for me when it comes to remaining in God's word on a regular basis. Depending on your schedule, this can be somewhat difficult, but hopefully you have a few options in your area. Does your church offer anything like this? In the mornings? In the evenings? Is there a local chapter of Community Bible Study or Bible Study Fellowship near you? In adding these types of things to our weekly routine, I have tried to be very strategic in choosing programs that offer faith-centered classes - and not just babysitting - for my little ones. 

3. Gather to grow together as a family! When our oldest was teeny tiny, we got in the habit of doing this, and I am so glad that we did! If this is an area where your family has struggled (as we all know how crazy life can be - especially with little ones!), it is never too late to start! Here are a few ideas that have worked for us: 

Breakfast & The Bible 

In our kitchen, we have a basket of Bibles for little ones. During breakfast, I will read a story from one of these - This usually kicks off the start of our homeschool preschool activities for the day.

Prayer before Meals 

At our house, mealtime is sacred...for many reasons, and in those times together [and beyond] we try to encourage real, authentic prayer and not simply memorized recitations.

Scripture Music 

While there are so many incredible resources out there, my absolute favorite is Steve Green's Hide 'em In Your Heart Collection. We play this music in the car...in our children's rooms as they are falling asleep...streaming over the television while our kids are playing in the family room...and it is amazing how much Scripture our little ones have memorized without even realizing it! 

Bedtime Bible Reading 

What started as an advent activity, reading through the Jesus Storybook Bible has now become a regular bedtime practice. As a family, we gather together before bed and read from this Bible or Sarah Young's "Jesus Calling Bible Storybook". It is probably one of my favorite times in our day.

We pray that these simple routines will impact the hearts of our children forever! We are passionate about immersing them in truth, but it has been incredible to see God work in our hearts as well. As we are guiding our little ones in learning how to meditate on God's Word, we are being renewed as well. The Word of God is powerful - It can penetrate the heart of a three-year old all while also impacting the hearts of us as parents.

 Five Weird Things We Want for Our Children

5 Things Every Busy Mom Needs

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Chicken Pasta Alfredo

When it comes to easy meal prep, I love to use chicken tenderloins! I usually cook a batch of them in my slow cooker one day and then compile meals with them the next day. 

Here's one of my favorite meals:

Chicken Pasta Alfredo

If you know ahead of time that you're going to throw this dish together, put your chicken in the Crock-pot and let it cook a few hours. 

Prepare your pasta...

Unwrap the jarred sauce that you bought at Sam's Club...

Toss the sauce in with the noodles....add a can of peas (drained)...and toss in some pepper (to taste).

Toss everything to coat....bake and eat that night (350 degrees for 30-40 minutes)....or freeze for a future meal. 

This one is super yummy and super easy! 

*Sweet Little Ones recently pinned a version of this meal where you use asparagus instead of peas - AND you add bacon! We tried it right away, and it was delicious! 

This meal is one of a few that I featured in My Tips for Low-Stress Freezer Meal Prep

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