Birthday Bash

We're throwing Michelle's birthday party this weekend. She's three now. I love hosting and planning events, but I do wish more time to plan and prepare. Or at least, I wish the house was a lot less messy.

We're going to do what she loves to do as the theme: it's a TEA PARTY! I hope she's going to like it. There are so many things I want to do, but I must pick a few. Or else, the party is going to look like it's having a identity crisis.








I will be uploading the real pictures soon.

Happy September!

It's been a while!
The month of August was quite busy in my home-
basically we were trying to squeeze in as much fun as
possible before the kids go back to school.
We made many valuable memories together.
I hope they'll remember them.
But for just in case, I think I'll have them make a
memory book about it.
Because sometimes I know my kids get the
"we never do anything fun" viruses :)

Wendy wrote me today about her way of making memories.
Every year, when her kids go off to school on the "first day of school",
she makes them pose and takes a picture.
She started when her daughter was going off to kindergarten,
and she's been doing it since. Today, she started middle school.

What a simple but great idea to make memories :)
Although, I couldn't do it this morning, I'm hoping
to get a snapshot when they come home from their
first day of school.

Have a good day moms!

Fresh Summer Tips: Dryer Sheets - by Wendy T

Did you know that dryer sheets keep the flies and bugs away when you are outside? So rub them on yourself and tie around the picnic table before eating. You can also tie or pin one inside your shirt, your children's clothing or your umbrella at the beach.

Another fresh use for dryer sheets: put them inside your kids' stinky water shoes to absorb odor.

Birthday Gifts!

Today is my baby girl's third birthday! She woke up very excited! "Last night when I went to bed I was two and now in the morning I am THREE!" she exclaimed. As I watched her dance around, and run to wake up Nana and Papa (her grandparents who came for the occasion) I had a hard time believing that three years had passed since she was born.

I still remember the first time I saw her beautiful face, the first time I held her. Even though she has grown into an independent little girl (she would fiercely correct me and say 'big girl') I still think of her as my baby!

God has reminded me again today how much I have to be thankful for and how many blessings he has poured out on us. While my 3 year old was thrilled to open presents this morning, I know she is still one of the best gifts I have ever received. An amazing gift from God. And I will continue to cherish her, teach her and love her through many more birthdays!

Thought for the Day - from 'Nana'

Dear Mothers,

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you" ~Isaiah 54~

What a wonderful thing to know about our Father in heaven. He loves us no matter what and is always there for us.... in the good times and the bad. All we have to do it respond to Him. So when you feel frazzled, uncertain or just overwhelmed by managing your family and home...read this passage again and remember His peace and love will meet you wherever you are!

Tips for the Amusement Park & Big Attractions - by Wendy

Before you head out to the amusement park, check out these quick tips:

• Wear bright colors! Put your children in the same shirt or same color to make it easier to find everyone. (Brightly colored bathing suits and rash guards work for water parks.)
• If you have a stroller, buy one or two balloons to tie onto it, so the rest of your family can spot you easily.
• Have a signal or whistle that everyone knows to respond to.
• Bring walkie talkies to use if you split up (or to communicate when waiting in those long lines).
  
• Create a meeting place in case you get lost or split up. Show everyone where it is before you head off to the rides and discuss what to do if you get lost.
• Bring a small first aid kit (bandaids, antibiotic ointment, tweezers, alcohol swabs, etc...) so you can deal with any minor scrapes or injuries quickly and easily. Don't forget the pepto-bismol, tums or whatever best settles the little tummies in your family.

Traveling to the Bear Country

Are you familiar with the Berenstain Bears? I grew up reading the collection. The books are dedicated to teaching great life values to kids through fun stories and illustrations. Did you know that Mike Berenstain became a Christian in his adult years and now dedicated to write new Berenstain Bears collections to teach Bible stories and Christian values? You can find his new books at Zonderkids (zondervan.com).

Sink or Swim?

Yesterday my baby girl (okay she turns three in a couple weeks) went to her first swim lesson!! Like any parent, I was a bit nervous about how she would do. We know she LOVES the water, at least in our kiddie pool she is fearless, but wondered what she would do in a large pool with a swim instructor she had never met and......without mommy. Yes you heard me, I sent my baby off to her first swimming lesson and did not accompany her.

All of my colleagues in motherhood can probably understand how this feels; sending your baby off into the big world without you. The fact that it was only a few minutes away and she was going with my trusted neighbor and friend, who also happens to be the mother of one of her best friends, did not matter. We share a yard so the girls love each other and are very used to listening to each others' mothers, but I was still worried. She was going to experience such a big, 'first' without me.

I prepared her as much as I could. Told her what to expect, each step that would occur in the class and of course reminded her several times to listen to the teacher. I reassured her that she would have fun, would do well and would be fine. But in reality I was reassuring myself. My true fear was that she would get scared or something would happen and I would not be there. That she would need me and I would be absent. Parents are not allowed into the pool area anyway...but I wanted it to be me sitting with the other parents, straining to look through the window and follow her progress.

The time for the lesson approached and my daughter was so excited that she went outside to wait for her friend to walk across the yard. She had her bathing suit on and her towel in her hand. When my neighbor came out to drop her younger son off with me, my sweet girl did not even pause to say good bye to me. She ran off with her pal towards their car saying, "Wait for me!" Without even a glance over her shoulder or a wave to mom, she was off!

She returned safe, happy, wet and with one swim lesson under her belt. She had a good time, was able to follow instructions fairly well and cannot wait to go back tomorrow! My baby not only survived without me, but thrived. And I am not sure how that makes me feel. I am glad, but am also mourning the true end of her 'baby' days! Remembering that God has given her to me as a precious gift just for a time, I smile, then hang her towel and suit to dry so that they will be ready when she ventures out again tomorrow!

Create Summer Fun Shirts - by Wendy T.

Early in the summer, before your guests arrive for a visit or you start traveling, create bright shirts for all of the children (and adults too) to wear. You can either have a great time tie dying or buy brightly colored shirts and permanent markers to draw on them. Wear them to parks, beaches, and anywhere else you travel. The shirts make it very easy to find each other. Another idea is to have everyone sign each shirt, or list the places you go during the on the back of the shirts.

Fun way to remember the great things you did!

Parenting Survival Guide- Time Out

For most of us mothers at one point, find the need to address the disciplinary issues with our children. For me personally, it's more like many times a day (increased number of kids = increased number of actions). If we love our kids, we must discipline them out of love and not out of anger (although some situations can be quite tempting). Do you ever feel like you're not executing the disciplinary actions (teaching; not punishment) right?

According to the Parenting Survival Guide written by Dr. Todd Cartmell, one of the parenting tools we can use is called the Time Out. When used correctly, it's an effective discipline tool for children between the ages of two to twelve. Its effectiveness depends on coupling the negative behavior with the immediate removal of all sources of positive reinforcement for a set period of time. Here's how to effectively perform a time out:

1. Start out with a warning: Give only one warning saying " If you do _____ again, you will get a time out." The key is to stick with one warning and not breaking your own promise.

2. Pick a consistent Time Out location that's safe, boring, and easy for you to monitor. This means, their bedroom is a big no no. Administer the Time Out in a calm and matter-of-fact manner and not out of anger.

3. The length of Time Out should be by how old they are: If you have a two year old, then it'll be for two minutes, etc. But for older kids, in case of the inappropriate time out behavior (such as tantrums, arguing, talking back, etc), you may add one minute to the given time out minutes.

4. Do not talk to them during the time out.

5. When the time out is done, you go to them and explain calmly why you have put them in a time out. " I put you in time out because _____."

6. Ask them to apologize to you for the negative behavior.

7. When this is done, you shower them with hug, kiss, and say "I love you".

I was surprised to see how this worked like magic on my almost three year old. It seemed like nothing seemed to get through during her 'terrible two' years, but from the beginning, this Time Out format worked very well. The key is to be consistent with the order. It creates stability for them.

**If you're out and need to administer Time Out but can't find a place, give them a Time Out ticket, and execute it the moment you get home.

Thought for the Day - from 'Nana'

Dear Ones,

"The [woman] of integrity walks securely, but [she] who takes crooked paths will be found out." Proverbs 10:9

And "An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips." Proverbs 24:26.

The pretty straightforward conclusion is that honesty is the way to go! Think about this especially when speaking to your children, and remember that our children learn from our example. Let them see you walking in integrity, and choosing to be honest even in the small things!

'Book' Some Family Time - by Wendy T

Summer is in full swing and we hope you are all making the most of it with your families! Here is our tip for this week:

Sometimes in the busyness of the summer season, you don’t have a set time to read together. Go to the library and pick out some great, fun books on tape. Always keep one in the car, so as you travel around you are all enjoying a book together. It also gives you something new and exciting to talk about with your kids. For long trips, you can listen to the entire book.

Enjoy your summer!

Thought for the Day - from 'Nana'

Jesus said, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand." ~John 10: 27 -29~

Just like we know our children, the Lord knows us, better than any earthly parent. As we walk with our Lord, we are safer than being anywhere else; safer than being with anyone else. Walk with Him.....today and everyday!

Looking Up

Lately I have been feeling overwhelmed. Our family is in major transition. There are so many things that I need to do, but for some reason I am not motivated to do them. Decisions to make and challenges to face daily, yet I feel like just hiding away and not facing anything. It is as if I let the weight of the world bury me before even trying to fight back.

Today I was reminded of 1 John 4:4 which says, "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world!" What an amazing thing it is to know, even while we are in the battle, that it has already been won for us. We all need to remember this, and I know I will be reading this passage over again soon.

Right now I am feeding the kids lunch and trying to clean the bathrooms too (ok, and blog) while they eat. But I also need to clean many other rooms in my house as well as sort toys, clothes and just general 'stuff' into boxes to giveaway, throw away, store away or pack away. Lots of pre-work before we get to the actually job of packing up the house to move. I also have several calls to make, friends I should connect with, details to review for a wedding I am coordinating, reading and prayer time that is overdue, dinner to plan....and as you know the list goes on and on.

As moms, we always have things to do; the list can be never ending. But my challenge is to remember to keep my eyes focused on Him, and on the big picture that He is in control of. Sometimes I get bogged down in the many details I need to attend to at the moment, and lose sight of the fact that I am looking at just a tiny, immediate glimpse of what God is unfolding in my life. And the view from my perspective can be confusing and even scary. If I rely on my own sight and try to conquer all the obstacles in my world I feel lost, defeated and attacked. But if I look up, to Him, I will find help. I will find strength, peace, rest and wisdom.

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber
~Psalm 121: 1-3~

Playground Jumping Day - by Wendy T

Need something to occupy your active children for the day. Well try a 'Playground Jumping Day!' It's a fun day that doesn’t cost any money.

Make a list of the playgrounds in your town or area. You can just include the school playgrounds or the town playgrounds, or both. Bring a timer. Tell the children that they have a certain amount of time to play at each playground (10, 20, 30 minutes, you decide). Go to each one on the list.

Then end with a picnic lunch or go for Italian ices or ice cream and talk about which playgrounds were best and why. If you have older children, make a sheet that they can rate each playground. Then discuss the results at the end. (Ex: only a few still have see saws, not many have swings, which has the best monkey bars, which had shade, which one had the highest slide, which was the best overall, etc.)

So head to the playgrounds and have fun!!

Summer Tips: Beach Safety by Wendy T

Follow these important tips to keep your kids safe at the beach:

• Have children wear bright color bathing suits, rash guards and shirts so that you can see them easily. Have all you children wear the same color if possible. Make sure that their bathing suit is not the color or the pool or bay or ocean. Bright colors can save their life if they are drowning or being tossed in the waves. (stay away from light blue or teal in the pool, or Navy or black or dark colors in the ocean or bay)
• Discuss a meeting place or procedure if they get lost or separated.
  
• Have a whistle or specific signal that your children know they need to respond to.
  

Thought for the Day - from 'Nana'

"Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." ~ Ephesians 4:32


Remember that we are forgiven, when we ask, for anything and everything! So it is very important that we forgive others for their transgressions against us.

Get your Beach Bag Ready!

It's summer time and before you hit the beach you have to gather up all the kids' suits, towels, toys, lotions, snacks, drinks, camera and about a dozen other things you need. It can take a while to get it all together and loaded into your car, not to mention the fact that once you arrive at the beach, you might realize that there are items forgot to bring!

So just what do you need to put in your beach bags? And how do you make sure you don't leave any essential at home?

Simple Solution: Make a list and pack your beach bags ahead of time. Get your bags packed and keep them packed so they are ready to go when you are!!

**To make this task even easier we have a complete list for you, which included some items you might not even know you needed (thanks Wendy T.!) So if you would like to view the complete Beach Bag list, check it out in the post below.**

Complete Beach Bag List

Parent Survival Guide

This week, for some reason, I've been running into moms struggling with disciplining their children. So I thought, every friday, starting next week, we'll be posting topics on discipline. I hope we can give you simple tools to help in this area.

Thought for the Day - from 'Nana'

"God sets Himself against the proud, but He shows favor to the humble. So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God and God will draw close to you." ~ James 4:6b-8a.

It is about remembering that God is the Creator of the Universe and is so much bigger than we are; that it is amazing He loves us, listens to us and gets involved with us.

Humbling ourselves is knowing this and going before Him with a heart that is full of this knowledge; being confident of the fact that He is the one who will listen, help and give us what we really need. Because we don't really know - all the time - what we need. Give Him your heart, tell Him all that is on your heart. Draw close to Him and he will draw close to you!

Create a "Summer Fun Wish List" - by Wendy

The start of summer is the perfect time to create a Summer Fun Wish List with your family! Get a poster board or just a piece of paper, and list all of the things you want to do, the places you want to go to, the games you want to learn to play. Create them as a checklist and use this as you plan your summer calendar. Also, print out or create a summer calendar and fill in the days that you know are already scheduled so that you can see your entire summer schedule on one page. Here are a few ideas for your family wish list…

Plans for Summer
___Splish Splash (local water park)
___Adventureland (local amusement park)
___A day at the Ocean
___Train ride to NYC
___Aquarium
___A walk in the Rain
___Fly Kites
___Make tie dye shirts
___Pick Fruit
___Go on a scavenger/treasure hunt


Games to Learn
___ Go Fish

___SPIT

___Rummikub

___Scrabble/Scrabble Slam

___Kings in the Corners

___Bananagrams

___Concentration

Create any list you want, dream a little, have fun. Maybe learn 1 new game each week, at the end of the summer, you will have learned 8-10 new games to pass on to friends. For more ideas to put on your Summer Fun list, hit the library.

Check out what your Local Library has to offer:Libraries are a great resource for summer activities and ideas for fun new things to learn. Many offer free summer programs and discounted or free passes to local educational attractions/museums.

The Museum Pass Program: (Long Island moms should take advantage of this!) Call your local library and ask them about this program. There are passes available at the library, which you can put on hold. You can have them for 2 days at a time. Reserve them way ahead of time if you know that you are going. The passes allow you free admission to many of the museums on Long Island and in the city. (American Museum of Natural History, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Clark Botanical Gardens, Whaling Museum, Garvies Point, LI Children’s Museum, Met. Museum of Art, Old Westbury Gardens, and more.) Check out list at Library.

*Before you go to any park or place of fun, google it to see if there are any coupons or discounts available.*

--by Wendy Trunz

Thought for the Day - from 'Nana'

Precious Ones,

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us,,,they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love." ~ Romans 5:3-5

Life can really get tough at times, but Our Lord is always there. Cry out to Him when you need to! He will answer. What might seem like a huge obstacle, is often just a step you need to climb to continue on the road. And remember those he has place in your life who you can talk to and pray with as well.

Summer Tips: Water Painting

Need an easy way to keep your little ones busy and cooled off it the summer, without having to drag out the kiddie pool or the sprinkler? Then let them 'water paint.' Paint with water, that is.

Give them some clean paintbrushes and a bucket of water then set them loose outside. Let them paint the house, the cars, the sidewalk and each other if they want too. When it dries they can paint it all again.

Don't forget to slather them with sunscreen first and give them some water to drink too!

Thought for the Day - from 'Nana'

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything, Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand." ~ Phil. 4:6-7

This is true not only because God's word is true, but because He will, with your asking, be with you in all times: emotionally, physically, and spiritually......holding you up though anything and everything.

So even if you woke up one day to find that you had lost your money, your job, your home, your security, your reputation or your loved one. You have never lost Him. And God's peace is always there for you.

the ABC's of Character - Building: I is for Industrious

“But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” ~ Galatians 6:4

No one wants to raise lazy human beings. We parents want to help our kids learn how to be productive people: disciplined, skilled, and, eventually, self-sufficient …in other words, industrious.

Too often, though, our parental strategy for developing good work habits in our kids can be summed up in one word -- nagging! Instead, I think we need to base our instruction on the understanding of work’s purpose and value found in Genesis 3:19, where God says to Adam: “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground.” With this pronouncement, God establishes work and gives three key principles about it.

• Work is hard. It’s no picnic. Effort is required.
• Work is rewarding. This is how we take care of ourselves and get our basic needs met.
• Work is practical. Work is a tool to stay alive. It’s not a path to fulfillment, though. That comes from God alone.

A kid-sized version of this message might be:

• Lots of times, you need to do hard stuff you may not want to do;
• But if you try, you can do it, and get good things from it;
• And this is how you grow up and have a good life.

Here are some ways to give good work-skills coaching to your kids at every age level, based on the principles above. I’ve road-tested the following ideas on my own two kids. Feel free to customize them to fit your own family’s routines.

General approach: The aim of good parenting is to encourage children’s spunk without discouraging their spirits. So --

• Chores should be realistic and age-appropriate. Parents should show how a task is done and set clear expectations.
• Rewards should be well-suited to each child, and appropriately motivational: not too minimal, not too much.
• Rewards should be given for good job performance -- not for “nice tries.”

The early years: Praise, pride, and prizes. Earning their parents’ proud attention is usually adequate “pay” for preschoolers. Progress charts are effective for setting goals and recognizing achievement. Starting at around age 3, I gave stickers for age-appropriate tasks such as dressing oneself, putting toys away, or being a good bathroom user. Small accomplishments earned small rewards, such as an extra bedtime story of their choosing. Bigger accomplishments got more fanfare: we might go to the store so they could pick out a prize.

Grade school: the allure of cash. Growing up in our house, my kids’ basic needs were met, and a small allowance was given, but any extra cash had to come from odd jobs. Grade school was also the time when my kids each tried their hand at a lemonade stand and learned about entrepreneurship. Since I believe that learning is the true work of childhood, I also put a dollar value on report card A’s to reward good study habits. (B’s and C’s were not marketable!)

Hire-able junior-highers. By this age, I paid my kids for any responsibility that I would normally pay others for, such as washing the car, trimming the bushes or babysitting a younger sibling. This is the age when fairness becomes a big issue, so I was always a fair boss: I quoted my rates in advance, set clear standards, and paid out promptly upon job completion. (But I kept the wallet shut if the work was not satisfactory.)

High school: first “outside-the-family” employment. If my high-schoolers were getting good grades and generally being dependable, they could count on Mom for most of the cost of something worthy, such as a youth group retreat. But for go-to-the-mall money, I steered them to neighborhood job opportunities, such as baby-sitting or snow-shoveling.

College: Self-sufficiency and summer jobs. By their senior year, my high-schoolers had summer jobs and were responsible for all their own clothes-buying. In college, they were expected to buy books and supplies (and Starbucks lattes and concert tickets) out of their own paychecks.

Post-graduate: My son, who is pursuing his graduate degree in Germany, knows that now Mom’s only good for cash at Christmas and birthdays. I won’t fund his dreams for him… but he knows that, if things go bad, he can take advantage of my escape clause: an airline ticket back home, and free room and board until he gets settled back in America.

As our children’s career coaches, we parents can help them see work as part of a balanced life that puts God at the center. Let’s show our kids that, to get the best results out of life, they first have to put some consistent effort into life. Let’s reward our children’s efforts with praise, treats, and celebrations – and also with cold cash when appropriate – and teach them how to embrace work, not avoid it.

If we are industrious about helping them become industrious, we’ll reap the rewards later, when our productive progeny are successfully making a living, out on their own.

Summer Tip: Rainy Day Play

Summer is not always sunny. We seem to get our share of rainy days too. Don't let the rain keep you inside. Get out, get wet and get silly! (Unless it is thundering and lightening, then of course you have to be creative inside.)

Try out these great tips for playing outside on a warm, wet and day:

*Put on boots and a raincoat and go puddle jumping. Search for the biggest puddle, the smallest puddle and count how many puddles you can find to splash in!

*If it is warm enough, or the rain has stopped, trade the boots and raincoat for water shoes and an old bathing suit. Bring out your beach toys or bath toys. Boats that float, rubber ducks, colanders/strainers or just ordinary cups turn rain or mud puddles into tons of fun.

*Go on a rainy day scavenger hunt. Make an simple list of things they might find on a wet day and let them explore your yard or neighborhood to find them. (example: a worm, a puddle with rocks in it, a mud puddle, a wet leaf on the ground, an umbrella, a wet flower, something red with raindrops on it, etc...)

So next time it is rainy, get ready to get outside and get wet!! And let us know your favorite way to play in the rain.

SURPRISE!

I am still trying to settle back into 'normal' life after our two week whirlwind vacation!

The first half of our time was spent at my husband's parents. Relaxing, visiting, seeing a few sites
and getting together with our many friends in the area. Then one night..... SURPRISE!! My husband threw me a surprise birthday party. Many of my friends came and I was thrilled to be so wonderfully surprised, especially since I do NOT normally enjoy being surprised. I like to know what is coming.

We planned to spend the rest of our time at a lovely resort in the Poconos with my parents, brothers, sister-in-law and nieces. We spent the first few days there enjoying the on-site golf, games, carnival, kiddie pools and each other. Then...SURPRISE again!!!

My 14 month old son landed an all expenses paid 4 night, 4 day getaway. The trip also included all meals & drinks, and a personal assistant to attend to any need 24 hrs a day for the duration of the stay. The only hitch in this wonderful package..... the destination was the pediatric unit of the local hospital. This was NOT a good surprise, this was the reason I do not like surprises.

Suddenly my world was all about surprise; things happening all of the sudden, complete unpredictability and having no idea what was to come. What was causing my baby's breathing trouble? How long would be be in the hospital? Would they be able to help him? Why wasn't he getting better? Would the new drugs and treatment help? Would my husband and daughter have to go back home, to NY without us? What was I supposed to do to help? Will this be a chronic problem for him?

This uncertainty and worry was overwhelming during my first night in the hospital. Sitting by myself next to my baby's crib, I watched his every breath, listened to each wheeze. In the semi-dark stillness, with monitors beeping and the never ending lull of hospital staff going about their business, I prayed. I prayed that God would heal my little one. I prayed that He would bring wisdom to the doctors, to the nurses and to us. I prayed for protection and peace for my child. I prayed for comfort for myself, my husband and my family.

And then.... SURPRISE yet again. I felt peace wash over me. It was as if I heard God say.... "This is NOT a surprise to me." I was no longer plagued by the unknown. It may have all been uncertain to me at the moment, but I knew it was certain to Him. Trusting in the one who is the most loving Father, the most devoted parent and the most powerful God brought me peace. It allowed me to stay calm, to stay focused, to make good choices and to even enjoy happy moments with my little guy during his long hospital stay.

I will admit that seeing him hooked up to the monitors, the IV and the oxygen often made me remember the terror in his face and his pleading scream in the ER when he was held down so that medical staff could administer the many treatments he needed. Over and over we forcible held him still for IV's, blood draws, breathing treatments, X-rays. I sang quietly to him, held his head and finally he gave in. He stopped fighting, stopped crying and stared up at me pitifully with his big baby blues. His long wet eyelashes blinking slowly....then finally closing.

It broke my heart to see him in pain and know he could not understand that we were doing all this to help him. That we were doing it out of our love for him. It still brings tears to my eyes to remember that. But now they are tears of joy. Joy that he recovered and is home with his family. Joy over the fact that I have been blessed with such a precious child and am now aware of his allergies/asthma and have been given the means necessary to treat it. And remembering how heartbreaking it was to see my baby in pain, even though it was necessary, reminds me that sometimes our heavenly Father needs to give us 'emergency treatment' when we are struggling and we may not like or understand it. But it is because He loves us.

Our vacation was full of surprises. Some good and some bad, but none out of the control or the hands of God. This is a lesson I will take with me as I continue to encounter all the surprises that occur throughout my life.

Thought for the Day - from 'Nana'

Dear Ones,

"Those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

~ Isaiah 40:31 ~

It is best not to run ahead of what God wants us to do or say. Waiting in Him will strengthen us and prepare us to soar!

I <3 Target!

I love Target. If you're a frequent Target shopper like me, I know a blog that's dedicated to finding deals and coupons just for Target. Check out http://attentiontargetshoppers.blogspot.com .

Missing Sock?

Things to Do With That Sock That Escapes the Dryer Monster

It's the eternal question: Why is it that every single time you throw in a load of laundry, a sock loses its mate? You practically have to staple the darn things together to keep the pairs intact. Here are fun and practical things to do with the one that got away.

Stuff a sock with mini-pom-poms and let your young kid go to town yanking them out.

Sew bells onto an unmatched pair to make Jingle Fingers and Jangle Toes.

Use one to hide valuables (or chocolate!) in your sock drawer.

Make them into bean bags for a bean bag toss.

Use one as a case to keep glasses from getting scratched.

Create sock puppets.

Make an ice pack more tolerable by wrapping a lone sock around it.

Put one on your kid's hand to discourage thumb sucking.

Use one to make a soothing oatmeal bath.

Make a Mateless Monster toy.

Use them as rags to polish silverware and jewelry.

Frame one and give it as a sentimental gift.

Use single socks in lieu of packing paper or bubble wrap to protect fragile items, like glasses, when you're moving.

Use them as sachets for closets and drawers.

Make homemade heating pads out of them.

Put one on the end of a broom handle to dust hard-to-reach places, like under the fridge.

Use it as a storage bag for your kid's small toys, like marbles or jacks. (So you don't step on them every time you enter his room!)

*article from parents connect

Got ideas for Father's Day?

Are you familiar with the motivational posters? At Big Huge Lab, you can create your own motivational poster and upload your own picture on it. I thought it would be good for Father's Day, if you're fishing for a perfect gift!
Check it out and see if you can come up with a great motivation for your hubby, dad, or anyone you think might appreciate it :)

Tasting the Fruit of Forgiveness

...Jesus said, "the one who is forgiven much loves much; the one who is forgiven little, loves little". Luke 7 :47

Dear Sisters in Christ,

I have been forgiven many times in my life for offending others - for thinking of my own needs before others' - for speaking before thinking - for not applying the principle of listening well and loving much. Can you relate?

With all this forgiveness has come gratefulness on my part - for people who could have walked away, but instead have abided with me, for salvation that continues to show me grace and mercy daily, and a life which will ultimately lead to heaven. How about you? Has there been at least one person who has forgiven you so that it made an impact on your life? Psalm 23:6 tells us that 'goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life - and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever'.
If you have been forgiven and have tasted this goodness - especially from God, you become grateful for each good moment. This verse from Psalms does not say that every moment will be without challenges, but that God's goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life.
There will still be hurdles to cross, disagreements with family and friends, illness, death, prodigal children, unemployment, and foreclosures in the Christian's life, but our God is bigger than all of our problems. He forgives; He binds up the broken hearted and when we open our mouths, the bible tells us He will fill them up.
Now it is up to you to also forgive others so they can love much as well. When your little or not so little child disobeys, embarasses, or disrespects you, I encourage you to forgive them in Jesus' name. When your spouse does not anticipate your needs, leaves a mess for you to clean up, or forgets to do what you asked him to do the first time or the 50th time, will you forgive him and love him in spite of these moments?
I am finding that for me to truly forgive, I must stop talking - out loud and in my head. I also find that when I am sleep deprived, I am less likely to choose selfless agape love, and unless I begin and end each day with prayer, I will ramble and complain and see each situation from a worldy selfish point of view. Look at the verse at the top of the page. He who is forgiven much, loves much and he who is forgiven little, loves little. Let's live our lives as forgiven women who then can forgive others and love the way God calls us to live. Next time, STOP, THINK, PRAY, and LISTEN. You will bless and you will be blessed.
Enjoy this beautiful time of year.
Love, Carolina

The List

Time sure flies.
I think each day passes by even faster when life gets busy. Don't you think?
As a busy wife and mother, I can barely keep track of how time passes me by. It's been almost three months since baby M was born. This train called "life" has been charging at its full force, I almost forgot to even breathe.
When life gets too fast, I feel the need for some time to recharge myself. There are few very simple things that provide such energy with little time. To remind myself, I decided to name my list- the list of things that bring a jolt in my soul :) What are some things that gets you going?

10. Listening to my favorite Ella Fitzgerald CD
9. Taking a walk outside and taking pictures of God's wonderful creation-nature
8. Baking
7. Journaling
6. Crafting
5. Having coffee with friends
4. Rocking in the glider with the baby
3. Singing in the shower-I know it sounds silly, but they're my two favorite things (being a music major, I love to sing but can never find the time to sit in front of my piano, so this will do for now :P )
2. Sitting on the couch with my hubby and read together (even if it's for few minutes)
1. Spending time with my first love- He gives me the real boost as I dive myself in the Word.

Hot Summer Tip: From Sandy to Sweet

So listen up, here is the hot tip for your trips to the beach this summer: Don't forget the baby powder.

Going to the beach....TONS OF FUN! Cleaning up afterward to head home.... NOT do much fun. Getting hot, wet, sandy kids clean enough to get into the car (without bring the beach with them) can be tough. I hate trying to clean sand from the floor of the car and their carseats. But when I try to brush the sand off those wiggling, damp bodies it can be so irritating to their skin. What's a smart mom supposed to do??

The answer is baby powder. Sprinkle baby powder on those little bodies and the sand will easy wipe right off! Then you can load your sand free (and sweet smelling) kids into the car without the mess.

So next time you pack your beach bag, don't forget to throw in the baby powder (no matter how old your babies are).

Enjoy your summer.