How to Help Calm Our Kids’ Back-to-School Anxiety

The start of a new school year is an exciting time for many, but it can also stir up apprehension and anxiety even in the most confident child. Over the years, I have seen firsthand how the fear of the unknown can steal the joy of going back to school. 

While the Word of God is the most powerful tool we have in combating fear and anxiety, we can do a few things to help our kids prepare for their first few days of school. Join me over at Faith Gateway to get six tips to help our kids during the back-to-school season. Take me there...

This Month: Learning what the Bible Says About Unity

This month I am focusing on the topic of Unity with my children.

When I hear the news, my heart breaks over the endless number of things that divide us, such as culture, race, politics, and money. I may not fight on the front lines, or blog thought provoking words like a wise woman I know but I am teaching the next generation, namely my kids, what it means to let go of pride and cultivate compassion for the sake of unity.

During the days of the early church, Paul admonishes believers, both Jew and Gentile, to get along. He tells them to get rid of all hard feelings, anger, and rage; to stop all fighting and lying (Ephesians 4:31). Rather, he encouraged them to aim for restoration, to comfort one another, agree with one another, and live in peace (2 Corinthians 13:11). That’s easier said than done. However, I believe if it wasn't possible, he wouldn't have told us to not have divisions among ourselves, but to be united in the same mind and the same judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:10). We can begin by eliminating pride and place value on others, especially those that are different from us (Romans 12:16).

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The digital download of these cards is available in my Etsy Shop for only $0.99. If you prefer the convenience of receiving these cards professionally printed, trimmed, and delivered to your mailbox, you can purchase card sets HERE.

Harnessing the Power of Peer Reviews for Your Next Family Retreat

My husband works for a company that does peer reviews. In addition to an annual performance review from managers and supervisors, my husband receives an assessment of interpersonal skills from his peers.

Together the two give him a combined perspective of what managers and peers think about his teamwork, communication, and leadership potential. It is intended to create balance among different points of view. Without input from other people, it’s hard to tell if you’re succeeding, or how you can improve. Knowing this is such an incredible tool in the workplace, I wondered if it was something that would be useful in our home.

I was curious about what my children thought of my husband and me as parents. Is there something that they need from us that we are not providing? Not in material things but love, grace, or affection? Each child is wired differently and pocesses a unique personality. They have various love languages, so even though we think we might be loving them well, they may not think so.

I also questioned what they thought about each other. When I am not around, are my kids treating each other well? Does their behavior reflect our family’s mission or values?

I love team building activities and personal development, so the thought of discussing these things made me giddy. Conversations like this don't just happen on their own, so I knew we’d need to set a time and create an environment where our kids felt safe to share. It would require intention and focus from all of us. So I planned a family retreat.

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Are you interested in hosting your own retreat?

We’ve taken the guesswork out planning yours by creating the Family Retreat Packet. It’s guaranteed to save you time!

Our Family Retreat Packet includes:

• Sample Itinerary

• Packing List

• Activity Suggestions

• Discussions Worksheets

• and much more! 

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How I prepared:

>>Designed a family version of a 360 Peer Review

I created packets for each of us that included questions about themselves, our family as whole, and individual members.

>>Booked a hotel

We found a great deal on Groupon for a two-day, two-night hotel stay. It was located only 20 minutes from our home, close to restaurants and shopping, and had a pool.

>>We packed the usual stuff plus:

Discussion sheets

Pens and pencils

A board game

Playing cards

Bathing suits

Picnic blanket

Water bottles and snacks

What we did:

>>Alternate family building discussions with activities and special treats

The first evening we went to dinner, filled out one of the questionnaires and discussed. Then we checked into the hotel, went swimming, and played a board game. In the morning, we filled out another survey and found a local park to share our answers. Eventually, we needed a break, so we played a game and then some talked more. Afterward, we went to Starbucks for Frappuccinos, followed by more swimming, more discussion, dinner, and mini-golf.

We had our fair share of squabbles but for the most part, our time together was wonderful. The kids were excited about our weekend mostly because we were staying in a hotel and there was a pool. Our children also enjoyed having our undivided attention.

What Would I Do Different:

>>Keep discussions to 30/45 minutes

I was overly optimistic about my children’s attention span. The kids were thrilled to fill out the questionnaires but lost focus ¾ of the way through our discussions. I knew well enough to break up talking together with activities. However, the pace of our discussions mattered too. Instead of each family member discussing what they thought about each other in depth, we instituted a lightning round. I read a question, and we took turns quickly answering them, occasionally citing examples to explain.

>>Research restaurants and activities in the area

Thanks to technology and phone apps we managed to find local restaurants in the area we liked but selecting them beforehand would have saved time. We found a park to hang out in, play ball, and talk, but not until after driving around for a while. Also, planning an excursion such as biking, hiking, canoeing, or geocaching would have been fun and enabled us to cross something off our summer bucket list.

>>Create a schedule and stick to it

As I mentioned above, I loosely knew what I wanted to do, but that wasn’t enough. Designating pockets of time for both discussions and activities would have helped me see just how much time we needed for the retreat. As a family of five, we had a lot to talk about. We got off to a late start that first day, and it prevented us from finishing everything we wanted to do.

Next Steps

>>Organize the data

I expected most of the feedback we heard. We saw consistent ways in which everyone wanted our family to improve: bickering less and not being late all the time. (Yikes!) The kids seem to love the same things: spending time with us and each other (Yeah!). We were also surprised by what they wanted from us, “Push me to learn and manage my time better.” “Be more strict [to help me meet my goals].” and “Tell me to practice more.”

Hubby and I plan to review the assessments and organize it in a way that will be useful and not forgotten. Once we find the common threads in the responses, we will develop a plan for where improvement is needed and continue to sow into the areas where we are doing well.  

>>Follow-up

In six months we plan to have one-on-one “dates” with our each of our kids to check in and see how things are going? Are we still struggling as a family to get along, to be on time? Are mommy and daddy stepping up in the areas they’d like us to? How are they doing developing the character traits we discussed?

>>Save the date for the 2017 Family Retreat

This was a positive experience for all of us. We had a ton of fun together, but most importantly each of us was given a voice to express what often goes unsaid. Our family did not radically change overnight, but we are making little changer over time. The key to this family retreat having a lasting impact on our family is continuing these conversations through the year and follow up.

I’d love to hear if you have family retreats or if you have discovered another way to guide your family towards its mission and vision.

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For more on the topics listen to…

Carl and I sat down to talk about our family retreat on The Family Culture Project. We discussed:

• What a Family Retreat is and why we are so excited about this topic

• The benefits of having these retreats

• How you can plan a retreat of your own

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You Don’t Have to Be a Grown-up to Make a Difference

The Bible tells us that we are to serve others with the gifts we are given. Service to others is one of the primary ways we demonstrate God’s love. It also shows gratitude for the gifts, talents, and resources we have been given. Plus, it prevents entitlement from creeping into our lives. I am over at FaithGateway talking about working with our little ones to help make a difference in the world. Join me there... 

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In January I mentioned a book series from award-winning Christian recording artist Natalie Grant. It was created with her twin daughters and their little sister. The first book in the series is London Art Chase. It was followed by A Dolphin Wish and now the recently released Miracle in Music City.

In this latest book the three sisters – Mia, Maddie, and LuLu learn that they aren’t too young to make a difference by getting involved in their mom’s annual benefit and auction. A missing guitar, new friendships, and a desire to help others take the sisters on an unexpected journey. After my daughter read this book she gained a better understanding of the needs many people have. She also grew in confidence that, despite being young, she can serve others; specifically those God puts on her heart. More on this fabulous book for tweens over at FaithGateway too!

Building Skills and Creativity in Your Child

The desire to create, build, and restore is not unique to our family. Throughout the Bible, and even today, God invites His people to co-labor with Him in restoration, both physical and spiritual. My kids may not be rebuilding physical walls but, like Nehemiah, they are learning to plan, persevere, and collaborate as they create their virtual worlds. More on this over at Faith Gateway, join me there... 

Are your kids virtual builders like mine?

If they are, the Minecrafters Bible from Zonderkidz is bound to pique their interest. You can read  more about it in the post.

This Month: Learning what the Bible Says about Pride

This month I am focusing on the topic of Pride with my children.

Pride is one of those pesky things that we must all guard against, young and old. It can show itself bold and brass but also subtly. Knowing what the Bible says about it helps us protect our hearts from it.

Fools rely on their pride and are not open to advice. (Proverbs 12:15) However, those who are humble gain great wisdom and understanding. (Proverbs 11:2) When we are humble and patient with one another, bearing with them in love, it creates peace and unity. (Ephesians 4:2-3) A sign of humility is placing value on others rather than seeking to glorify ourselves. (Philippians 2:3-4)

The digital download of these cards are available in my Etsy Shop for only $0.99. 

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• The digital download of these cards is available in my Etsy Shop for only $0.99. If you prefer the convenience of receiving these cards professionally printed, trimmed, and delivered to your mailbox, you can purchase card sets HERE.

Road Trip through America - Top 5 Reasons to Road Trip

My family loves a good road trip. Every summer we pack up the RV and head out on a multi-state vacation this includes sight seeing, amusement parks, museums, and trying new local foods at great restaurants. No matter how long or short the trip, it’s always fun-filled and educational.

I am over at Faith Gateway sharing the top 5 reasons road tripping might be a great vacation for you. If a road trip isn’t possible this year you can still take a tour of America right in your own backyard with the resource I mention. Click here to read more... 

Encouraging Your Teen To Grow in their Faith

It took years for me to learn that getting to know God isn’t hard or boring at all and spending time with Him doesn’t look the same for everyone. There is no one-way to do it. In fact, the way I spend time with God looks different in every season of my life.

When talking to my daughter about getting to know God, I ask her to consider how she became so close with her BBFs. Then I explained to her that it’s not very different from getting to know God.

Join me over at More to Be as I talk about how to encourage your teen to grow their faith.

An Alternative to the Summer Bucket List

I absolutely adore summer bucket lists. In fact, I've created a whole Pinterest board dedicated to my favorite ones. Each summer I download a bunch of lists, pick a few items that appeal to me from each, and combined them to create my own.

Our family has been moderately successful at checking things off the list. In the past, we start off strong and fade as August approaches. Then I spend the week before school starts cramming in as many things as I can.

Like most goals without a plan, very little gets accomplished. So I do my best to schedule movie nights, beach days, and museum trips before the summer begins.

Our summer bucket list is only meant to serve as a reminder to be intentional about the ways we spend time together. 

If I get to the end of the summer and I haven’t checked off enough things off the list I’m disappointed. However, I am too hard on myself because regardless, we still had a great summer.

This year we’re trying something new. Instead of a summer bucket list, filled individual things we want to do, we created a list of summer project list. The key to making these ideas stick is getting the kids involved. They came up with the ideas and together we brainstormed to determine what each would look like.

Intentional living isn't just for grownups

Ice Cream Sundays

Instead of the typical Make Homemade Ice Cream, we have designated Sundays as Ice Cream Sundays.  Each week, one child will choose a recipe, make a list of ingredients, freeze the ice cream maker core, and prepare the recipe on Sunday afternoon. My daughter will share the recipes we have chosen on her blog.

Why I love this: It teaches responsibility as they follow through on a task, from beginning to end. It allows them to serve their family. I am anticipating we’ll be inviting friends over to help us eat some of the ice cream, so they’ll be able to practice hospitality as well.

Summer Backyard Movie Series

Another common bucket list each summer is Movie Night. Building on this idea, we created a Summer Movie Series. We have chosen three dates and three movies. My kids helped me make a flyer that can be sent to friends letting them know, if weather permits, they are welcome to join us to watch a movie in our backyard. We’ll provide popcorn, drinks, and glow sticks. All they need to do is show up with a blanket or lawn chair.

Why I love this: Text and emails are the easy ways to get the word out about an event. Instead, we are using our creativity and design skills to create a flyer that we can give to friends. Sometimes we say we are going to do something but never get around to it. Inviting people over with designated dates provides accountability.

Geocaching

Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunt using a GPS device. You navigate to a specific set of coordinates to find the geocache (container) hidden at a specific location. There are millions of hidden containers scattered throughout more than 185 countries, waiting to be found—you’ll be surprised to find out there are some near you right now. Common Summer Bucket List items, such as picnics, biking, and treasure hunt, can all be combined in this activity.

The Geocaching App By Groundspeak Inc. shows you the locations of caches and the paid membership has additional features such as advanced search tools and offline use.

We decided to get the upgrade. In order to get our money's worth, we are planning at least 3 excursions to local parks. Each of my kiddos will choose one location. They also decided to hide our own geocache for others to find.

Why I love this: The kids work together to find the geocaches so it promotes teamwork. Since the kids will be responsible for picking the locations and dates, it will require research and decision making.

These three projects alone be enough to keep us busy in between camps and lazy days at the pool. We will still have a mini-bucket list which will includes visit a museum, visit a sculpture garden, go to the beach, go to an outdoor concert, sleep in a tent, play croquet, play tennis, volunteer in the community. However, we will be more focused on following through on our projects than on out list.

On Stewarding your Child's Funny Bone

“Each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” — 1 Peter 4:10

As parents and caregivers, it is our job to teach our children how to steward their gifts well. Even when kids are young, we can ask them if they are you using what they’ve been given for the benefit of others, to make the world a better place? Or are they just using those talents to benefit themselves?

Our family has a clown, my son. He enjoys makings others laugh at home and especially at school, and God has gifted him with a sense of humor. I am over at Faith Gateway today talking about Parenting a funny kid plus resources to help. Join me there... 

Apps I Love

I love technology AND my smartphone. I especially love apps that allow me to connect with friends, increase productivity, and keep track of details. The apps below are the ones I use the most. They are pretty basic but useful. 

For Communicating

Facebook Groups app is an easy way to stay connected with the groups you are a part of without being distracted by your personal Facebook feed. I’d hop on for just a few minutes and next thing I’d know an hour has passed. I was tempted to give up FB all together but didn’t want to leave the life giving communities I am a part of. This is a wonderful solution to that.  

When I have a too much to say for a text and too lazy to write and email I use Voxer.  It's a messaging app with live voice, text, photo and location sharing. It's kind of like a walking talkie but way cooler. It’s improved communication with my family and made it easy to collaborate with team members at Circles of Faith.

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For Convenience

We live just miles outside New York City and visit often. The BestParking app is a life saver. It picks up your location and tell you where you can find FREE and metered street parking. It also shows you where the nearest parking garage and the cost to park there, and including Coupons, discounts, and reservations. It's easy to find the best parking near our destination. 

I don’t drink coffee but occasionally I go to Starbucks for tea, to meet with friends or a space to write. Not only can you pay for your purchases with the app but you could avoid the line and order ahead of time. Once I found that out I downloaded it immediately. Now before I leave my driveway, I place my order and what I want is waiting for when I get there. 

When our family takes road at trips we love to stop at restaurants featured on the Food Network Show Diners, Drive-in, and Dives. The Diners, Drive-ins and Dives Locator by MapMuse makes it easy to add these locations to our itinerary. It also finds you on the map and shows you featured restaurants nearby.

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For Keeping Track 

Period Tracker The name of this app is self-explanatory. I keep track of my  current and future period dates with this app’s calendar. For those using natural methods of birth control, ovulation and fertile days, your moods, symptoms, weight and temperature. The graphic on the landing screen changes to indicate your monthly fertility window.

Goodreads This is the place where I can find book recommendations, keep track of what I want to read, and rate and review what I have read. Because it functions like social media, I can also find out what my friends people I follow are reading.  You can follow me on Goodreads HERE.

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For Calculating

Fractions Plus As an interior designer this one comes in handy. I have also found it useful when helping my kiddos with my middle school math homework. Even though I hadn’t completely forgotten how to add, subtract, multiple, and divide fractions, this app helps me to check my work along the way and find mistakes in multi-step problems. 

Photo Math This one was recommended by my daughter's 6th grade math teacher. It allows you to use the camera on your mobile device to scan, read and solve mathematical problems. Great for checking homework. 

The Positive Impacts of Long Distance Dating

My husband and I lived in different states when we met. While it was tough not to see each other as frequently as we would have liked, there were many advantages to dating long distance. One of them was how every step of our relationship was intentional. I am over at More to Be talking about it. I would love for you to join me there... 

This Month: Learning what the Bible Says about Patience

This month I am focusing on the topic of Patience with my children.

There has been a bit of bickering around here lately. I think it is because we have been cooped up in our house during a longer than expected renovation and a chilly spring. We could all use a reminder to be patient with one another. 

Because the Holy Spirit is on the inside of us we can walk in love, which is patient and kind (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). When we have patience we'll have great understanding, unlike the quick-tempered man who shows just how foolish he is (Proverbs 14:29). It’s easy to give up being patient, being kind, and doing what is right, but we should persevere. Eventually, we'll see the good results (Galatians 6:9). We don’t have to go it alone and trust in our own ability to be patient and endure, God’s power is made available for us to help (Colossians 1:11).  

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The digital download of these cards is available in my Etsy Shop for only $0.99. If you prefer the convenience of receiving these cards professionally printed, trimmed, and delivered to your mailbox, you can purchase card sets HERE.

How Life Coaching Helped Me and My Blog

I bet you’ve noticed some changes around here. Back in April of 2015 I shared on the blog my identity crisis.  I wasn’t sure exactly what I was doing online, I was busy there but not really focused.

My attention was everywhere. As the managing editor at Circles of Faith I was curating content, editing copy, and planning events for our readers. I was occasionally writing around the web, and regularly at Faith Gateway. Plus I was working part time as an interior designer.

At the time, I labeled myself a Jack-of-All-Trades. I was discouraged because I wanted to do something, anything great, instead of being known as the person that could do many different things. Graphic design, writing, editing, interior design, organizing, Need something? I’d just learn how to do it? No money to spend on an expert? I’d figure it out.

I desperately wanted to know my ONE THING. 

After attending the Allume conference the previous October I realized that what I started blogging about, Lessons I’ve Learned from my Little Ones, was no longer what I was writing about. Instead, I was posting about various topics such as:

• Grace

• Kids & Money

• Teaching Kids About Prayer

I thought the answer was to find a branding specialist, someone who could look at everything I was doing and tell me who I was. I wanted a quick fix. I searched the Internet but didn’t find what I was looking for.  Then Elise, my partner at COF, told me about Carey Bailey.

A life coach? It wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, however, I loved the idea of someone coming alongside me to help me achieve my goals.

So, as a birthday present to myself, I invested in a package of life coaching sessions.  It is one of the best decisions I ever made.

Over the last year and a half we have:

• Talked about and outlined my values.

• Examined whether or not my calendar and the choices I made reflected those values.

• Uncovered the lies I believed about my abilities and myself.

• Discovered patterns in my life that prevented me from achieving my goals.

• Put together a plan to launch my Etsy shop.

Eventually, I:

• Let go of things that I thought gave me value and embraced my value in Christ.

• Slowed down enough to discover what really brings me to life.

• Incorporated Sabbath into my week.

AND

• Recognized the things I wrote about and did weren’t random at all.

The process allowed me to realize that what I was doing pointed to one thing – finding creative ways to live intentionally.

I also unearthed a desire to empower others to creatively live a life of intention. 

I believe creativity comes out differently in each of us. I love to write, design, and organize. My husband creates order at work through calculations on spreadsheets. My kids… well, their list seems never ending.

Living in the Sweet Spot has always been about discovering the sweet spot of God’s success for my life. In the beginning, I shared simple faith lessons I that I learned on journey. Over time, I began to include the creative and practical ways I lived that out. I will continue to do the same, but in a way that is more useful to you the reader.

I look forward to what the future holds on my little piece of the Internet. I hope you will come along on the journey as I create blog posts, newsletters, and products that will encourage and inspire you to creatively live a life of intention.

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Giving Your Child A Cell Phone

My 12-year-old daughter got her first smart phone a few weeks ago. It was a big deal around here because she’s been asking for one for years.

In our neighborhood, most kids get a phone in third grade, that’s because it’s the year when they are let out after school without parents and caregivers present. We don’t have busses, so many children either walk home or meet their grown-ups at a designated pick up location.

It makes sense for parents to provide this added measure of safety for their kids. However I just couldn’t get on board with my 8-year-old walking around with what I was sure would amount to an expensive toy that allowed them to make unlimited phones calls, participate in group chats, and access the internet.

When considering whether or not to give our daughter a cell phone my husband and I considered 3 things.

Need

I asked my daughter why she wanted a phone. Her answer:

• To change her pick-up location.
• To ask for a last minute play date.
•  In case of an emergency

I wasn’t convinced there was a real need knowing there are many ways for our daughter to contact us after school if she needed to because:

• The library is conveniently located across the street from school and allows children to call their parents.
• My daughter has an iPod. With a Wi-Fi connection, either at their school or the library, she can easily text me.
•  95% of her friends have phones who are more then willing to let her make a call.

Money

Even though our budget allowed for this additional expense, I really didn’t want to spend more money for another phone or data plan. After hearing from other parents about lost phones and cracked screens, I wasn’t willing to trust my elementary aged child to take care of something so fragile.

Values

Most importantly, giving our child a $500 phone, with no strings attached, did not line up with our financial family mission statement or our core values. My husband and I have noticed that often, the things you don’t earn, sacrifice, or save for are taken for granted. With children, it can lead to sense of entitlement, which we were trying to avoid.

So we said NO to a phone.

Earlier this year, three-quarters of the way through 7th grade, my daughter started lobbying for a phone again. My old reasons for saying no were still valid but I realized I had become proud of the fact that I was the last parent to “give in”. I recognized my stance was no longer about our family’s values and budget but about my pride. So I reconsidered.

After a bit of discussion, my husband and I came up with a plan.  

Our daughter could have a phone but she would need to:

•  Pay for it. Luckily, the cost of the phone is spread out over a 1-year period in the monthly bill.
•  Pay for the data. This is actually a small cost because it is an add-on to an existing account.
• Give us three months of payments up front. Much like a security deposit, it ensures that if she is unable to pay it one month, it will not go unpaid.
• If she missed more than two monthly payments she would have give the phone back.

Giving our daughter a phone did not line up with our financial family mission statement or our core values. Allowing her to have a phone under these specific conditions did.

After thinking about it my girl decided she was willing to use her savings to get started and then find ways to generate a consistent income (babysitting and additional chores) to keep the phone. I was thrilled she agreed because it will allow her to practice stewardship and financial responsibility while she is young.

The reasons and circumstances for allowing a child to have a phone will vary for each family. Parents might:

•  Consider it a household expense and give it no strings attached.
• Give them a phone but limit calls to family only.
• Gift them a phone (birthday, Christmas, etc.) and have them pay the cellular and data charges.
• Split the bill each month.
• Require chores in exchange for a phone plus cover monthly charges.

When you measure your choice against your values and financial goals you can’t go wrong.

This Month: Learning What the Bible Says About Grace

This month I am focusing on the topic of GRACE with my children.

Because of grace, my kids are able to live in and embrace the righteousness that they’ve already received because of their faith in Christ.

God’s grace has saved them. It doesn’t come from anything they do. But it is God’s gift. (Ephesians 2:8) And because of it, they can they approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so they can receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) How sweet is that?  

Not only that, God’s grace equips and empowers them with all that they need, in abundance, for every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8) Even in their weakness, His grace is sufficient, In fact in their weakness, God’s power is free to operate. (2 Corinthians 12:9) It makes up for their lack and allows them to use the gifts and talents they have been given, coupled with God’s resources, to serve and impact others for good.  

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The digital download of these cards is available in my Etsy Shop for only $0.99. If you prefer the convenience of receiving these cards professionally printed, trimmed, and delivered to your mailbox, you can purchase card sets HERE.

On Motherhood and Expectations

Have you ever tried to live up to an expectation of motherhood you weren't meant to meet? I have, it's not fun!

As a young mom, I was constantly on edge. I lacked the kindness and compassion I knew was important in building healthy relationships with my children. I was easily angered and then I’d beat myself up for losing my temper. I set high expectations for myself, yet continually failed to meet them. I woke up each morning hoping this would be the day that things would fall into place and I would get this mothering thing right.

“God, how do I change? I need Your direction!” I was surprised at what He showed me. 

I learned motherhood looks different for all of us and there is no one way to do it. Join me at FaithGateway to read about how I got unstuck and found freedom in the mother God created me to be. 

Wrestling, Fear, and Faith - An Experience with the Read it Pray it Card

I'm so excited to share with you an experience we had with fear and he conquered it with the Word of God and the Read it Pray it Cards. I created these cards for my children and me to memorize scripture and pray bedtime prayers, but we are using them for more than that.

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My son loves sports! He has played every sport our town rec club has to offer. This year he narrowed it down to his favorites: soccer, wrestling, and baseball.

My son wrestles in the winter. Last year he practiced with the program, but never actually competed. This year he made the varsity team because they needed lightweights to wrestle with the big boys. He was so excited when the season started but soon became discouraged. His teammates and coaches were great. However, he was getting his butt kicked at matches. Match after match my son fought back the tears as the ref raised the hand of the winner

I am not a newbie to wrestling; I worked with it for ten years. I know it is not for the faint of heart. It's one on one competition, you and your opponent. There's no team to back you up or make up for your mistakes or lack of skill. To see my son struggle emotionally was hard.

I spoke to his coach; we decided that it would be a good idea for my little man to wrestles some JV matches so he could get some wins under his belt. It was a brilliant idea. Unfortunately, even after a few victories, he started to lose his nerve.

Then it happened. At a local tournament, my little man refused to wrestle. He became nasty and rude and said he wanted to go home. I didn't understand what was going on at first; he is winning matches, why was he so upset? Once we got in the car, the tears started to flow. He was scared to lose, worried he was going to cry in front of everyone if he did. FEAR

I asked him, “Where does fear come from, God?”

“No mommy.”

God didn’t give us a spirit that makes us weak and fearful. He gave us a spirit that gives us power and love. It helps us control ourselves . 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIrV)

I got fired up! I told him he didn’t have to put up with fear. Yes, it was going to come, but he had to decide what to do with it when it did. Was he going to let it keep him from doing what he loves?

I reminded him the best way to tackle fear was to know the Word of God and speak it when he feels scared.

Immediately he remembered his scriptures cards. The provided him easy access to exactly what God says about fear. When we got home he found his cards, took out the four on fear, and read the verses and prayed the prayers. Then he surprised me. He grabbed a piece of paper and wrote each of the prayers out as one big prayer, and inserted the word wrestling where it fit.

I knew that that's what these prayers are for but I was beyond thrilled to see my 8-year old put them into action.

Every night that week he prayed the Word of God. The following weekend he wrestled two matches without hesitation. He even brought the prayers to the tournament just in case he needed to take some time to himself to pray.

The rest of the season still had its bumps. They were times he didn’t want to wrestle but he never walked away from an event without competing like he did earlier in the season.

There will be many others times when he will come up against a situation that he will not be able to face in his strength or wisdom. I am so grateful that he has experienced applying the Word of God to his circumstance.

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Want to get a set of the Read it Pray it cards?

Check out my Etsy shop HERE. It includes digital downloads as well as professionally printed cards.

My Sabbath Experiment

A few weeks back I finally decided to take a Sabbath.

I have attempted this many times. Every once in a while, I get it right. But most weekends come and go without rest. I have many excuses.

They include:

“I didn’t get everything done that I needed to this week.”

“I can’t possibly just do nothing; there is so much that that I could be doing instead.”

“I feel guilty just doing nothing.”

I’ve tried Saturdays. It’s the only day I don’t have to rise with the sun. Sometimes I just lie in bed and read, or catch up with my husband while the kids are still sleeping. Once I am up though, I kick into high gear. My husband is home, and I subconsciously hope he will help me with unfinished projects around the house. This drive to get my house in order on Saturdays is likely a holdover from my childhood. Growing up, it was the day of the week we did chores, even Dad stayed close to home to tend the yard and do repairs.

Sunday is the day Christians traditionally observe Sabbath. However, it’s the day I naturally rev up for the week ahead. When we come home from church, I hold a family business meeting, reviews schedules, put car pools in place, and plan meals for the week. I still need to feed my family and clean up after messes.

I’ve heard people in ministry take Monday off. The thought of that makes me break out in a cold sweat. Monday is my high-stress day; brought on by my need to make a big dent in the to-do list I generated the day before.

I know what the Bible says about the subject, and I have read a few books great books on the topic, but taking a Sabbath wasn’t coming naturally to me. Then I heard a fantastic podcast from Megan Tietz and Kelly Gordon that dove deep into the importance of observing Sabbath and broke down just how simple it could be.

I was inspired to try again. Observing a Sabbath day would take intention. Years of experience showed me rest just doesn’t happen.

Just as there are peak work times for maximum productivity or creativity, I think there are, at least for me, days that lend themselves to “getting stuff done.” The reciprocal must also be is true. Certain days lend themselves to REAL REST. I just had to find which one was mine. Over and over again I tried to make the wrong days work. UNTIL I discovered it. FRIDAY.

I took cues from the natural rhythms of my life to choose a day of rest.

Typically, Friday is the day of the week I slow down. Magically, the things on my to-do list seem less urgent. I let myself sit down with my kids and watch a TV show. I call my husband and few times throughout the afternoon to see when he is coming home and drop hints about going out to eat.

Once I made the decision to set aside that first Friday, the way I thought about my week changed. I was more efficient throughout the week because I knew that I had one less day to get everything done. On Wednesday and Thursday, I even stayed up a bit late to take care of simple, but looming tasks, so that Friday would be in the clear. I made lasagna the day before, so I didn’t have to prepare a meal that evening.

In the past, I dreaded taking a day off. Now, I was looking forward to it.

In episode 39 of the Sorta Awesome podcast, Seeking Rest, Finding Delight, Kelly suggests doing the things you WANT to do, not doing the things you HAVE to do on your Sabbath. I am letting that be my guide.

Here’s’ what I did:

• I slept in a bit later than usual knowing I had plenty of time to do my devotional after I dropped my kids off at school.
• I took my time reading and praying. The house was quiet, and I didn’t worry about time.
• I went to Target and Costco. Technically it was an errand. However, it became something I wanted to do because I could leisurely walk up and down the aisles. There was no rush to get home or move onto the next thing.
• I practiced my handwriting. I have wanted to do for a long time but just never have. As a design major, we were encouraged to practice our lettering for presentations and construction plans. As a work from home, carpooling, volunteering mom, it seemed frivolous. But not on my Sabbath!
• I read through magazines with a hot cup of tea… in the middle of the day!
• I created a wine tasting game and quiz for a family birthday party we were hosting that weekend. Complete with tags, twine, and matching fonts.
• I left my house early and parked in the spot I pick my kids up from school. I pushed back my seat, soaked up the sun, and scrolled through Instagram.
• I snuggled on the couch with my kids as we watched three episodes of a series we’re binge-watching together.

My first Sabbath was a success!! I felt alive and refreshed. I also didn’t feel guilty about doing the things that I wanted to do.

For so long I convinced myself that I didn’t have time to take a day off or to pursue what gives me pure enjoyment. Instead, I avoided doing things and convinced myself that that was rest. Deep down I knew that letting myself off the hook for not getting something done was a poor substitute for rest, yet I often defaulted to it.

Instead, this time around, I acknowledged God and His divine wisdom in setting aside a day of rest. I intentionally chose a day that worked best for me. I engaged in activities that I get to do, not have to do. I relished the space that the day provided.

My Sabbath Experiment is far from over. Surprisingly, the following weeks didn’t go as well as the first day. I found that old habits still need to be broken and that I have a lot to learn about myself and what I actually enjoy.

I am looking forward to sharing with you what happened and what how I am overcoming doing life the “old” way.

What Does the Bible Say About Laughter?

I love a good laugh, don't you? God knew what He was doing when we created laughter. I am so thankful that when God, in His wisdom, created us, He created laughter too! Humor and joy are mentioned many times throughout Scripture. I am over at FaithGateway talking about... What Does the Bible Say About Laughter? Join me there..