A Lasting Foundation

Family "Thank-You" Book

2011-11-09T12:06:00.000-07:00

The Holidays are fast approaching and it can be hard to helpyour children (or yourself for that matter), keep track of their gifts and whogave them what. When you want toinstill a thankful heart in your child, it is important to start early helpinghim/her write thank you notes for the presents they receive. One way you can do this is to keep afamily thank-you book.

Buy a journal that is sturdy and one that everyone in thefamily will recognize. Keep trackof who gave what gifts to the members in your family. If that individual has sent out a thank you note – they willhave marked a check mark or placed a sticker there. If it is empty, then youknow that your child has not recognized the kindness someone has given to themin the form of a gift.

This is a good way to remind everyone to be thankful forwhat they receive while also helping keep track of the gifts themselves.

A Happy Stomach

2011-09-07T11:33:00.001-06:00

You’re packing your child’s lunch for school again. Do you ever get tired of putting in the same items day after day? But there are only so many options you can put inside of a lunchbox. It’s time for us to get creative! Put a spin on normal, everyday foods and make it a little more fun for our children to eat.

For example, instead of bread on a sandwich, how about using a bagel, flour tortilla, or pita bread instead? Instead of potato chips, put applesauce or cottage cheese inside Tupperware and send a plastic spoon. For smaller children, cheerio, raisin or popcorn necklaces should be fun. You can also use cookie cutters to make shapes in sandwiches, cheese or meat pieces.

Now after school is out – you hear that same question day after day. “Can I have a snack?” I found a great system for our son, which gave him more independence. I labeled a 3 x 5 index card with NAME YOUR SNACK on it. Then I listed a bunch of items for him to choose from. Things like string cheese, 1 bowl of cereal, banana, fruit snacks, etc. I put lighter snacks, heavier snacks, sweet and healthy. I was delighted to find that he was excited about it! I leave it on the fridge and each day, he takes it down and chooses what he wants. He crosses that item off the list and I update choices about once a week. It helps him to feel more grown-up not to ask mom, and frees me of the nagging!

A lot of times the ideas we come up with that our children think are hits, are really very simple. And some, like NAME YOUR SNACK – can even save us time. I encourage you to be creative. It’s fun!

Make It Count

2011-08-03T14:15:00.000-06:00

Who Says Cleaning Has to Be a Chore?

2011-06-29T14:43:00.003-06:00

My house was getting out of control messy. We’ve been really busy lately and have had a lot on our plate. I haven’t had a lot of time to clean lately and my children – well they’re children! They won’t clean most of the time unless you make them!

I don’t know what it was – but I had this idea flash across my brain to just do a “quick” clean-up time with my girls and me. I wanted to try and make it bearable and at least a little bit fun (as fun as you can make cleaning up.) So I came up with the idea to clean-up to our favorite songs. We would blare our music very loudly and each one of us would start cleaning up in a room. No one could be in the same room – we all had to start in a different room of the house. Every time the song changed, we rotated rooms to the right. So if I were cleaning the kitchen and the song ended, I would move to the living room and pick up there until that song was over.

I had originally intended to clean up for only 3 songs. I wanted to get some of the major things done and not make it too prolonged for my girls so that REAL progress would be made. But to be honest? Those 3 songs went by so fast that we added on 3 more songs! We’d each be in a room and it felt like you only had time to pick up a few things before the song was over.

When all was said and done, my house was looking a little less sloppy. It wasn’t completely “overhauled” and perfectly clean, but a good dent had been made. And that was what I had hoped for. And you know what my oldest daughter said when all was said and done? She said, “Was this YOUR idea?” When I confirmed that it was, she told me I should write about it. She thought it was a good idea and it was actually fun. My youngest (the one who hates even the word c-l-e-a-n) agreed! Fun!! Imagine that. I had made picking up fun!

We did have a few rules. No one could claim a room was clean without getting me to check it first. And if they thought everything was picked up then they could instead dust, sweep, or wipe. You could leave the room you were in in order to throw something away or put it away correctly in its proper room.

I definitely think we will do this again. It’s a great way to avoid fighting or “selective” cleaning up. Everyone is involved and has to chip in in ALL areas of the house. No one was in a bad mood when all was said and done and I felt a little better about the status of my house. All it took was a little bit of creativity.

Who says cleaning has to be a chore?

The Gal My Son Dates

2011-06-18T14:33:00.000-06:00

For every mother the time will come when her son (or daughter) begins to date. It can bring up all sorts of emotions and feelings. You can be amused by the new excitement that surfaces in your child and over their preoccupation with this other individual. You can get frustrated because they develop a new kind of “forgetfulness” or seeming uncaring attitude towards things that don’t have to do with this new person in their life.

Whatever and wherever these relationships go, it is important for you to develop a relationship with this new young man or lady. In my case, it was a young lady. I decided that I wanted to get to know her – to invest of myself into her. Yes, it was a risk. She could have refused my intentions or even worse, they could have broken up and then not only would my son be heartbroken, but if I had developed an attachment – I too, would be heartbroken. But I took that risk anyways because I believed it was important.

In this day and age there are many ways to get to know and develop a personal relationship with young adults. You can email, get on myspace and start getting to know them that way, chat with them via an instant messenger system, or do it the old fashioned way and take them out to lunch (WITHOUT your child), or to a movie.

In my case, my stepson ended up marrying the young lady he dated. And the time I spent investing into her beforehand paid off because she knew I cared and wanted to get to know her for her. She is now truly an extension of my family not just in name, but in my heart.

Take the time to get to know the people your children date. Show them you care about them not just because you have to, but because you want to. Develop a relationship with them that is separate from your child so that they feel like they can be a part of your family. Whatever happens, there are never regrets when love is involved.

Take a Look Back

2011-06-09T14:30:00.006-06:00

A great way to get on your child’s level is to watch movies with them. Yes – movies. Most children, from ages very young to teenagers, love movies. And you can use that love for movies to get inside their head a little bit.

If your child loves guitar – get some old Elvis Presley movies to watch with them. Does your daughter like to dance? Find some musicals or older dance movies with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Computer? There are many movies that center around computers, and robotics as the theme of the movie. How about horses? There are so many horse movies out there. Are they very “into” their social world at school? Give some high school themed movies a try.

If you can find older movies that your child may not be familiar with, you will tap into the past allowing it to come alive again and not be forgotten. You will also provide yourselves with a great opportunity to talk. Your child will probably have interesting thoughts about the movies you watch together. Did they think it was dumb – not realistic? Did it inspire them in some way to work harder at what they love? Could they relate to the character in some way that gets them to share their emotions and feelings with you?

Give it a try. Invite your child to a movie date at home with you, some popcorn, and their favorite subject as the center of attention. Watch together and allow the movie to take you into your child’s heart and head for a little while. You’re bound to value any information you can glean that keeps you – or gets you – close to your child as they mature and grow. And the more you understand them, the more they will listen to you as you seek to guide them.

Mexican Juice Bags

2011-05-30T14:28:00.003-06:00

A fun idea for special BBQ get togethers or summer fun with the kids is to make Mexican Juice Bags. We used to do this for our annual Cinco De Mayo get togethers because if you travel to Mexico or Honduras, you will commonly find street vendors selling these.

Ours were a big hit with the kids!

All you need are:

flavored juice in fun different colors
baggies
colorful straws
small rubberbands

Just pour juice into each baggie until about half full. Place the straw inside and then tie the rubberband around the straw and baggie so that it cinches and closes the top of the bag. Place all juice bags into freezer until they are semi-frozen and slushy. Then serve.

Watch the kids as they have fun with their special drinks!:)

Letterboxing

2011-05-18T14:25:00.000-06:00

I read an article several years ago about “Letterboxing.” It’s a family activity that gets your children outdoors enjoying nature – combined with a fun scavenger hunt. I had wanted to try it with our family but didn’t get the chance to until we visited my parents in Oregon one year. We were trying to come up with something to do together and I suggested trying to go on a letterbox walk.

We went to http://www.letterboxing.org and looked under our state and county. Then you just find the area and walk you want to try. We found one not too far away and printed out the letterbox scavenger hunt directions to take with us. We drove to our destination and got out to begin our walk.

We had a total blast. We were led to a path that we didn’t know was there and found numerous points along the way that brought up discussions or cause for laughter. We brought along our camera and took pictures next to beautiful old trees, cool little bridges, and more.

Our walk took a couple of hours until we found the box hidden in its spot. Our biggest mistake was that we forgot to bring our water bottles with us so we were all extremely thirsty by the end of our walk. But we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

I highly recommend “Letterboxing.” It is a great family experience to get everyone outside in nature and it’s free! The kids especially like uncovering the box and signing it or stamping it. And I guarantee that your family will create a great memory together.

Give it a try and discover a whole new fun family activity – just as we did.

A Car Picnic

2011-05-06T14:17:00.000-06:00

There were times as a young mom that I would have very busy days with appointments and errands. I remember one occasion in particular where through no-fault of mine, the last-minute appointment went through the lunch hour. This created a dilemma for me because I would have my two young daughters with me. I didn’t know what else I could do at the time, so I packed a picnic lunch and put it in the car.

I wanted to make eating in the car as fun as possible for the girls so I told them we were having a “car picnic.” Much to my surprise, they were delighted with the idea! It was a huge hit and they had such a blast. We put on kid tunes and I brought a couple of their kid magazines for them to look at after they were through eating.

Who knew that something I threw together would become such a hit and great memory?

We can learn a lot from our children. I had looked at the prospect of eating in the car as a nuisance. My children looked at it as an adventure and they even asked me when we could do it again and have another “car picnic.”

You don’t need to eat out to lunch all of the time when you are out and about. Get a little creative and pack a lunch to eat inside of your vehicle. Sit back and watch as your children teach you how to be flexible in unplanned circumstances, as well as thankful, for a new and different situation.

See the world through their eyes. The eyes of “fun.”

Wedding Basket Shower

2011-04-28T13:30:00.001-06:00

I love unique ideas. If you have a friend who is getting married and don't want to do the normal run-of-the-mill bridal shower, here is a superb idea. Throw your friend a "basket shower." Each guest will bring a basket of goodies that has a theme to go along with it. It will help the new bride get well-stocked on supplies as well as fun items.

Here are a few themes to get you thinking. Be creative and have a blast discovering all the themes ladies come up with!

*Home Organization Basket - notepads, calendar, organizer, folders, clock, phone...

*Honeymoon/Romance Basket - negligee, perfume, lotion, Throw Blanket, hot chocolate or sparkling cider with 2 mugs or glasses, picnic basket....
*Gourmet/Kitchen Basket - pasta, fancy dressings, crystal pitcher, apron, hot pads, ice cream maker....

*Gardening Basket - seeds, flower pot, water can, gardening gloves, garden tools, lawnchairs....

*Mrs. Fix-It Basket - small tool case, scissors, sewing basket, hammer....

*Homemaking Basket - laundry basket, pillows, blankets, dustbuster, air freshener....

*Memory Maker Basket - photo albums, picture frames, guest book, journals....

Homemaking Journals

2011-04-16T13:26:00.001-06:00

I am so excited about this idea of creating a Homemaker's Journal to pass down. I couldn't wait to share it with you!

Homemaking Journals were actually passed down through generations in the "olden days." It is a journal where you record in one place all things related to homemaking. You can pick and choose any of the following to include in your Homemaking Journal or include them all if you wish!

~Recipes (especially beloved family recipes)

~Inspirational poems, quotes, Bible verses or excerpts that inspire your love for family, home and homemaking.

~Tips, tricks, hints and ideas to help your home run smoothly.

~Home Schooling Information

~Health and First Aid Remedies & Tricks

~Ideas and tips for Emergency Preparedness

~List of Birthdates and Anniversaries

~Holiday Traditions

~Kid Stuff - (activities, projects and kid recipes like "goop")

~Gardening - planting info, seasonal planting favorites, tips, tricks

~Seasonal tips - helpful info on what to do before and after each season

~Your daily routines

~Meal planning

~Budget outline

~Trusted numbers of doctors, dentists, builders, etc.

While you put together your Homemaker's Journal, I think you will find it becomes a labor of love. It will be so treasured and cherished when you hand it down and also something that will become a valuable resource.

Whether you give it to your daughters when they move into their first home, your daughter-in-law when she marries your son, or a special niece; this idea is a real winner in creating a homemaking legacy.

Blessing Box

2011-03-31T13:24:00.001-06:00

I saw a great idea in a magazine once that encourages family members to look for ways that they can be a blessing to one another. So many times, it is easy to pick on those we love the most by pointing out the areas where they need to grow. But if you start a blessing box in your home, you might find that it points out and strengthens your family to be generous, helpful, and loving… instead.

Just get a box and place it in a central location in your home. You can find a box that is fancy – such as a painted red metal one, or an elegantly painted one – or you can use a simple shoebox.

Whenever you see a small item that you know would cause another family member to smile – you put it in the box, and attach their name to it. Then, at a previously appointed time (maybe dinner time, or bedtime) – you present that item to them. You can also write down “Acts of blessings or kindnesses” down in the box and read them aloud at this special time. Soon you will find your children inserting their own thoughts and small items into the box to share with other family members. These items don’t have to be something new. Maybe the small item is something you made, or an item that you saw someone else admire. It could even be something you shared a joke about previously.

Sharing “smiles” and “blessings” is a wonderful habit to get into. It teaches everyone to look and listen to when someone else needs some encouragement and love. And you can all learn to expand the box to include special friends and neighbors, as well.

Making Mealtime Fun

2011-03-13T13:18:00.001-06:00

Mealtime is one of those areas of life that can sometimes use some fresh ideas. Face it, we make the same food day in and day out. Our children are more than ready for us to add some zest and fun to the occasion. I think you will find that once you start adding some pizzazz to the family meals, you will like the changes and realize how much you needed that little something extra as well.

Here are some fun and fresh ideas for you to spruce up that boring “dinner” call.

*Have everyone in the family pick out a TV tray and eat in your Family Room while watching a favorite family movie together.

*Eat out on your deck or back porch for a change. Use either a picnic table or set up a card table and enjoy the fresh air.

*Have an indoor picnic. This is one of my daughter’s favorite things to do. Pull out a blanket, get out the paper plates and just add the food! You can make dinner or bring in sub sandwiches from a local sandwich shop.

*Let your children decorate placemats and get a tablecloth that they can color on.

*Switch places at the table for a change. Everyone needs to sit somewhere other than his or her normal seat.

*Get some chopsticks and use them for fun instead of silverware.

*Buy festive napkins, plastic goblets and fancy straws.

*Have backwards night. Eat your dessert first and your main course last.

*Make normal foods fun by adding food coloring or using cookie cutters to make shapes.

*Let your children make the meal!! Even a 3 year old can plop some peanut butter and jelly on bread. Promise to at least take a “thank-you” bite of each item on your plate.

*Serve food on fun dishes instead of your normal plates. Spaghetti can be eaten out of a popcorn or ice cream bowl; veggies can be placed in crystal candy dishes, etc.

*Turn out the lights and use candles. Adds such a relaxing atmosphere and will become a favorite incentive for calming down at the dinner table.

Love Shack

2011-03-02T13:12:00.001-07:00

I wanted to do something special when we were built our home. I wanted to do something that would influence the way we saw our new home; the way we felt inside of its walls; and something that would create a lasting impression on us.

When our home was in the framing stage, I went out and I wrote scripture verses in the door frames of almost every room within our home. They were verses that pertained to each room. For instance in our master closet I wrote, “Clothe yourselves with compassion, gentleness, kindness..;” right above our front door I wrote, “As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord.”

I chose a special verse for each one of my children’s rooms based on their special personalities and characteristics.

I know that when it came time to sheetrock and paint – those verses got covered. But the neat thing is that they did not get removed. They are still there – underneath our walls. Those words are everywhere within our home and that has set the tone for the atmosphere within our house.

If you are building a home, this is a fantastic thing to do together as a family. If your home is already built – you can still set a tone for inside your four walls by making a plaque, writing elegantly in paint or calligraphy on top of your paint, or even typing something out and framing it in a prominent spot.

What you surround yourself with really affects the mood of your home. So choose wisely.

Kid Coupons

2011-02-23T13:11:00.000-07:00

Have you ever given a child a coupon for your time?? Everyone knows how well hand-made coupons from a child go over so well with us as parents. They are special and we love to cash them in for a chore or helpful hand in a project!

I’m thinking I want to put a new twist on the idea. How about giving your children coupons from you as the parent?? My daughter has been going through a “sassy” phase lately and I’m sensing some “mommy” time is needed. Wouldn’t it be fun for her to get a coupon from me in her lunchbox to cash in to me whenever she wanted? It could be for a game, to read a book to her, or how about some space?? She could win the right to not be asked questions and just given some time to “chill” and sort things out if that is what she wishes?

It could be really fun to run with this idea. You could make up coupons for them to cash in to skip a chore, or to leave their bed unmade for a day. We all deserve a break sometimes…even kids.

Tucking Your Child Into Bed

2010-12-29T14:48:00.000-07:00

It doesn't matter how old your children are; tucking them into bed or saying goodnight can be a real bonding time. It is usually a time when the child is relaxed and willing to share or talk about things.

I know on many occasions I have been in a rush to get my children into bed. I just wanted them to lie down so that I could get on with my projects, tasks, or even possibly - get to bed myself. When I do that - those are wasted times for both my children and me.

My heart truly loves taking a few extra minutes with them at bedtime. I often will lie down next to them and cuddle. My 8 year old uses this time to ask me every question under the sun.

"Do you like red or purple better?"

"Why do you like daddy?"

Things that I haven't even really taken the time to think through!

It's a great time to instill morals, values, and most of all to simply love my children. I like to hold them tightly, caress their faces and stroke their hair. For they will be older all too soon, and their bedroom door will be closed to me. I pray that these times I take with them now - will keep that door open to me in the future.

Bedtime can be a really rushed time. It can be a time to usher our children out of our sight. (By the way, I have found my children don't settle down as well when I do this but instead - when I take time with them at night, they feel more secure and readily go off to sleep!)

You can choose to enjoy the bedtime ritual with your children. Even if they are teens, sit on the edge of their bed and talk softly with them for a few minutes. Hug them and let them know you love them.

This is a valuable time of day. Slow down and enjoy it. Take in the moment. It is too easily overlooked.

A Family Gift For Christmas

2010-12-15T14:46:00.000-07:00

As Christmas draws near, many families can struggle with the fact that they aren’t financially equipped to have a “Big” Christmas. Costs add up quickly when you buy multiple gifts for each individual person in your family – and – if you have a large family, well, the costs only get bigger.

If you can think “outside of the box” when it comes to your family and Christmas, the opportunities and ideas that present themselves to you can help ease the worries and stress that unnecessarily are placed upon your shoulders.

One idea that might really work is to have a family gift this Christmas. Instead of getting one another a bunch of individual gifts, decide on one larger family gift that will be a present to everyone. I know of a family one year who got a new flat screen television as their Christmas gift. That was their Christmas. It was a gift they all could use and appreciate but under normal circumstances wouldn’t have been able to get on top of all the other Christmas purchases. You could buy something else for your home or maybe purchase an outing that you would all enjoy such as concert tickets or a small road trip.

If you are going to do the family gift idea, you can still fill stockings to help round out your Christmas. So many inexpensive things can be found at dollar stores or even the “Dollar Spot” at Target. If you walk through a department store you can often find nice clearance items such as candles, stationary, notebooks, and t-shirts. Men always enjoy their favorite treats and small packages of “handy man” necessities are welcomed stocking stuffers.

In addition to cutting costs by purchasing one gift for your whole family, it also encourages family unity reminding everyone that “it’s not about me” but it’s about “us.” We are in this life together!

If you really feel strongly about getting something for your children, maybe just one small purchase per child would suffice. But if you go this route, try to keep the item to $10 or less. Certain Barbie Dolls, Pet Shop animals, movies, shirts, jewelry, beauty supplies, and so much more can be found in and under this price range.

I think if you try doing the “Family Gift” thing just one Christmas, you will be surprised at how well it works out for your family. There will be less stress from trying to run all over town buying multiple gifts, more time available to enjoy the holiday season, and hopefully less Christmas debt incurred. Christmas can truly be a day of enjoying and celebrating one another and the meaning of the season – instead of simply celebrating and focusing on “stuff.”

Ornament Sharing

2010-12-04T14:42:00.000-07:00

Many, many families have the holiday tradition of giving their children a new ornament each year to hang on the tree. In our family, we even write our names and the year on it to remember whose is whose.

But I’ve heard of a fun “twist” to the idea of ornament sharing that I think is really neat. Instead of purchasing a new ornament, what you do is select one of your own Christmas ornaments that already hangs on your tree and send it to another relative requesting that they do the same for you. You can alternate relatives each year so that you eventually have a special ornament hanging on your tree from each one of your loved ones’ homes or you could draw names each year so that it varies from year to year as to whose ornament you receive.

The neat thing about sharing ornaments in this manner is that you are not spending anything extra to buy a new one, but sharing something from your heart with each other that will have special significance. You don’t have to send your most favorite and treasured one…. but you can still select one that you can part with that would represent something about you or your home to the other person.

This is a special way to share love with each other over the holiday season. Give it a try and see how much fun it can be as well as poignant.

Pass It On

2010-11-24T14:41:00.002-07:00

One of the simplest heritages and traditions you can leave for your children is the passing down of trades or skills. You will instill something worthwhile in your child as they will feel pride in knowing how to accomplish something as well as be able to use it to possibly be generous and charitable to others.

There are many skills and trades that you can pass down. Let the following list guide you as you think about what part of you that you can share with your children.

*Baking/Cooking (family recipes)

*Beading and crafting

*Woodworking

*Gardening and caring for plants

*Scrapbooking

*Writing

*Sewing

*Working on cars (auto mechanics)

*Health and wellness (fitness, nutrition)

*Antiques

*Sports

*Painting/Drawing/Sketching

*Electronics – video editing, etc.

*Photography

*Music

*Family History

*The art of decorating

*Organization skills

*Faith

Life On Tape

2010-11-13T14:31:00.003-07:00

I think everyone’s life should be on video tape. You see, when you’re on video tape you either a) act nicer because you know your actions are being recorded, or b) are shown how you truly look and act.

We’ve been watching a lot of home movies lately. Originally, my husband was editing a lot of our home movies and putting them to music on DVD. So he’d only take the best scenes or edit out things. But then life happened and like we all do on projects, he got behind. So he purchased a family gift for us this year where he has been loading all of our old video onto a hardrive which then can be shown with this box converting thing on our TV. (Don’t ask me how it all works – I just know it DOES!)

The things is – all of our home videos are unedited now. Yep. Unedited. Some may get boring in parts but the thing I’ve noticed the most? The way we act and sound. So many times we’d say, “Well, we can edit that part out” thinking that no one would hear it. And sometimes, yes, a bad attitude would get on tape. Even mine.

It can be very humbling to see or hear yourself act or say something that isn’t kind or a little gruff. Of course we never want anyone to see us act that way! But the thing is, we’re the ones who did it. So we should own up to it.

Watching myself is teaching me how I may appear to others. And if I don’t want anyone to see or hear me in a certain manner, then I shouldn’t act or say those things!

Life is life. We’re not going to be perfect all of the time. But the very least we can do is to be decent. At times we may need to be gracious, or forgiving – maybe laugh at something instead of getting angry.

Just because we don’t see every moment of our life rerecorded on tape doesn’t mean God can’t. It’s good to remember that.

Family Directory

2010-11-02T16:05:00.004-06:00

Keeping in touch with family members is an important part in establishing a family legacy. Sometimes that can be difficult when family members start moving to different areas and the genealogy branches start spreading out.

For the person who likes to keep track of everyone and stay in touch; a Family Directory might be just the thing you want to put together. You would start with the top of the genealogy tree; your grandparents, if they are still living.

Copy a couple of photos - maybe from years gone by and a more recent one of today so people can recognize and correlate faces and names together. Then list their birthdays, anniversary, address, phone number and any other information you feel is relevant. Continue to do this for cousins, aunts, uncles, children, and grandchildren and so on until you have everyone compiled into the Directory.

What fun it will be to track everyone down and get pictures to insert into the book! I think it would be even more fun to hand one of these out to everyone in the family (you could gather a few dollars for expenses if necessary) - a reunion would be just the occasion to deliver these special books.

It might take awhile to finish, but worth the effort to have all of your relatives at your fingertips.

Annual Pumpkin Carving

2010-10-18T16:02:00.000-06:00

I have a friend who came up with a wonderful family tradition to do each year before Halloween. Her family gets together to carve pumpkins.

This may sound like a simple idea – and in theory, it is. That’s what makes it so terrific. Some of the best traditions are relatively easy to do.

Carving pumpkins is something that we usually have our children do. As they grow up, the tradition can get lost or forgotten. But it’s still a great and fun thing to do – especially with those you love. And if you are looking for a way to gather your family together, this is a great way to do it.

You can either purchase pumpkins in various sizes and have your family members choose which pumpkins they want to carve when they arrive at your house… or you can choose to have everyone bring their own pumpkin with them. Have a couple tables or work surfaces set aside to work on and then simply invite friends or family members over.

While people are carving their pumpkins, it’s a great opportunity to catch some videos and pictures of the laughter and chatter that abound during everyone’s “work mode.” Also, try to refrain from “correcting” some of the kids’ pumpkins. Part of the fun is to let them design their pumpkin just as they see it – even if it’s not exactly perfect.

When people finish, you can take a break and grab warm cocoa or spiced cider inside together. But be sure to all go back outside together once it gets dark to unveil everyone’s pumpkins all lit up!

Carving pumpkins together can be such a fun family ritual and tradition. Don’t go it alone – but do it together with those you love.

A Simple Way to Enjoy Each Other's Company

2010-10-09T16:00:00.000-06:00

My family stumbled on a way to spend some quiet bonding minutes with each other in the form of puzzles.

My husband is a great thinker – as is my youngest daughter. One day he was doing a logic puzzle and she joined him. Together, they discovered that they not only loved this activity, but that it was something special that they could do “Just together.”

I don’t particularly like logic puzzles. But I do like word searches. My oldest daughter has a couple of word search books and so we have started doing them together in the last half hour before her bedtime on many occasions. It’s neat because there often isn’t a lot of time to start another activity, but this is something that fits in that time frame and that we can share together. Sometimes we end up talking, other times we just listen to music while we work our brains, and still other times we just lay side by side working on the puzzles. But the neat thing is… we’re together and we’re bonding over something.

Now I’m starting to try crossword puzzles as well and my husband will help me figure out the tough ones at bedtime. And I keep a sudoku book in the car for when we travel.

Puzzle books.

We never went out looking for a hobby like puzzles. We simply stumbled across it and it’s started to become a fun little side-activity for our family. Different puzzles that fit our different strengths and personalities. Bonding time. Time to use the minds that God gave us. Time to slow down, debrief, and just be together.

It’s really been fun and a great discovery and it reminds me that it’s often the simple things that hold us close to each other and create some of the most tender memories.

We’re creating a tradition. I hope someday that my kids will look back and say, “Mom remember when we used to lay on the bed and work on that puzzle together?” I hope that it will be something we can do well into adulthood.

I plan on buying more puzzle books and keeping them around so we always have one on hand because I’m so thankful for this one little thing that can simply pull a couple of us together and allow us to spend time in one another’s company. A time and moment that doesn’t have to be a deep discussion, a huge laugh-fest, or an intense time – just a moment spent enjoying one another’s company. And for that, I’m so grateful.

Take a Look Back

2010-09-29T12:07:00.000-06:00

As our kids grow older, it seems like sometimes we strive to find ways to connect with them. Their peers grow to be more influential and important in their lives. They have their interests and hobbies – which take a great deal of their time, thoughts, and money. So how does a parent “connect?”

A great way to get on your child’s level is to watch movies with them. Yes – movies. Most children, from ages very young to teenagers, love movies. And you can use that love for movies to get inside their head a little bit.

If your child loves guitar – get some old Elvis Presley movies to watch with them. Does your daughter like to dance? Find some musicals or older dance movies with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Computer? There are many movies that center around computers, and robotics as the theme of the movie. How about horses? There are so many horse movies out there. Are they very “into” their social world at school? Give some high school themed movies a try.

If you can find older movies that your child may not be familiar with, you will tap into the past allowing it to come alive again and not be forgotten. You will also provide yourselves with a great opportunity to talk. Your child will probably have interesting thoughts about the movies you watch together. Did they think it was dumb – not realistic? Did it inspire them in some way to work harder at what they love? Could they relate to the character in some way that gets them to share their emotions and feelings with you?

Give it a try. Invite your child to a movie date at home with you, some popcorn, and their favorite subject as the center of attention. Watch together and allow the movie to take you into your child’s heart and head for a little while. You’re bound to value any information you can glean that keeps you – or gets you – close to your child as they mature and grow. And the more you understand them, the more they will listen to you as you seek to guide them.

Little Learners

2010-09-18T12:05:00.000-06:00

Preschool age is a fun-filled adventure that our children take us on with them. They are so full of life and ready to take on the world. They are also very sensitive little ones who don’t always understand why they can’t help us, or why they can’t master a task that they are trying really hard at.

That is where the creativity on our part comes in. For instance, when they are trying really hard to put their shoes on, it can be frustrating! You can help it be more fun and less stressful for them by using a marker. Put smiley faces on the inside sole of each shoe. Tell your child that when the faces are smiling at each other, that’s when their shoes are on the right feet! And when they want to help you around the house, you can get an old white sock. Draw a face on it and have them put it over their hand as a puppet. The puppet goes around the house and eats dust! How cute is that? It’s fun for them and helps them feel like they’re helping you.

There are two more ideas I’d like to mention for our tender, small ones. When you need to leave them whether it’s with a babysitter or at preschool, it can be hard on them. Put lipstick on and kiss the back of their little hands. Tell them that your kisses will be with them all day long! That can bring a smile to any little tearful face.

And as we all know, little bumps and bruises can be very traumatic for our children. Find a lotion bottle and decorate it with fun stickers and designs. Then label it “Hurt Cream”. It can sure make the heart feel better.

Enjoy this time with your wee ones and the tenderness of it all. It will leave you as quickly as it came.

Receipt Box

2010-09-07T12:04:00.000-06:00

As my children grow up and start making their own purchases, I find myself sharing little tips for them to help them get more organized. One of those tips is to save their receipts. You never know when that new shirt will rip 10 days after you bought it or you will discover something has a chip in it. Keeping a receipt is important so that when you go to return or exchange that item, the store won’t hassle you on it.

Receipts can get to be very messy. After all, anything made of paper can be hard to keep track of and can get to be an overwhelming pile. Receipts are so small that if you stash them in places, they can easily get lost.

I have a small cedar box that I keep my receipts in. I got it from a furniture store as a gift when I graduated from high school. It’s perfect to keep receipts in because it looks very nice from the outside and keeps all the “mess” on the inside!

In addition to keeping my receipts in my cedar box, I write on them. I can get lost when I’m going through mounds of “Target” receipts trying to decipher the abbreviations of what I purchased. Was this the green sweater or was this? Even if I have an estimated price in my head it can be tough at times to remember what is what. So I write on the back of the receipts who the item was for, and what it was with a small description. Then when I go through my receipt box every once in awhile, it also helps me quickly know what receipts to throw away and what ones to keep. After all, I’m not going to want to keep a receipt for a pair of shoes that I bought 6 months ago and have worn many times since then. But I will want to keep a receipt for a larger purchase item such as a television or a camera.

Saving receipts has kept me from being stressed out many a time when a purchased item needed to be returned for whatever reason. If you aren’t in the habit of keeping your receipts, you might want to start. Also, find a nice box, empty drawer, or some other “home” for them so that you can keep them all in one spot – never having to rummage around to find one. Make sure you go through them regularly (every few months or twice a year) and start to see this little technique work to make your shopping (and spending) life a little smoother.

Hobbies and Collections

2010-08-24T11:59:00.000-06:00

A very important piece of a child’s life is hobbies and collections. These are something that will become a very tender part of their memories someday and they are vital in helping children learn about themselves and discover who and what their interests and passions are.

If you take a minute to think back to your own childhood I think you will fondly recall your special rock collection and the hours you spent searching for just the right new addition to it. You might have had beloved paper dolls, stickers, or perhaps various items dedicated to Donny Osmond, Rick Springfield, or Tom Selleck!

Children discover their dreams through hobbies and it is an area of their life that they can control for the most part. Never belittle or criticize a child’s area of interest. For the most part, many of their hobbies and collections will be phases in their lives. Sometimes, though, these interests may turn into lifelong passions, which will help your child define who they are.

Encourage them to explore many different areas until they find something to do that they really love and enjoy. It’s possible for you to even find an area or activity that you can share with your child; such as beading, basketball, music, gardening, puzzles, or chess.

Foster a love for life in your child and help them get excited over their hobbies. Everyone needs something of their own that they can turn to; to unwind and reflect. Don’t deprive your child of theirs.

Door Bouquets

2010-08-14T11:57:00.001-06:00

Do you love flowers? Would you like to enjoy the fragrance of your garden indoors? I have found a fun and elegant way to display dried flowers inside my home. They are called "Door Bouquets" and are very quaint and pretty.

All you do is gather flowers that you have already dried, leaves, herbs, grasses, etc and tie them together with a classy ribbon or string. Then tie the other end of the ribbon or string to your doorknob and let the little bundle hang from your door! Make sure you include different varieties and colors and enjoy the countrified look that is added to your home as these door bouquets adorn your inside doorways and mirrors.

Remember, Door Bouquets can be hung in alot of fun places within your home like mirrors, closet doors and bed posts - not just from your doorknobs! To keep the fragrance, add new bouquets every so often. So gather those flowers from your garden now, and enjoy!

Take Home Memories

2010-06-19T14:28:00.000-06:00

Most families go on at least one vacation or short-term trip during the summer time. Souvenirs can really add up but most people like to “savor” the memory of their trips in some form or another.

If your family finds themselves at the beach this summer; you can bring home a piece of it by scooping up some of the sand and inserting it into a tiny bottle with a cork lid. You can also put a few of your favorite shells on top to complete your little beach scene. My husband and I did this when we went to Jamaica for our honeymoon. I will probably never return there and love to look at the sand and shells that we collected together.

Even if your family doesn’t find itself on a beach somewhere this summer, you can still bottle up some favorite memories from your adventure. You can put leaves from trees, rocks, bottle caps, ticket stubs and more inside a pretty glass jar to create your own masterpiece of memory.

If your family uses the same kind of bottles or jars on each vacation, you can even line them all up and label them with the date and location. What a fun conversation piece and special memento for your whole family.

Car Trips

2010-06-03T14:15:00.000-06:00

Summer is the time for lots of car trips. Whether these trips end up being short or long – every parent can use a few ideas to keep the kiddos occupied in such a small space. Some of these ideas are old….but we need to be reminded that they can still be fun and are oftentimes new ideas to our little ones. Other ideas may be something you had not thought of before. Either way – keep this list on hand the next time you all decide to pile in the car for that road trip!

*ABC Game ~ Everyone keeps an eye out for road signs and works their way through the alphabet as they spy each letter. You have to announce when you find your letter and everyone has to use a different sign. The first one to get all the way through the alphabet first – wins.

*I’m Goin’ On a Trip ~ This is one of my girls’ favorite games. We play different variations – you can go camping, go to Disneyland, or whatever! Each person takes turns thinking of an item they want to bring that starts with a letter of the alphabet. As the game progresses through the alphabet, you have to remember more and more items. You can make it hard or funny!

*Tally cars/vehicles ~ This used to keep me occupied for quite awhile and it also got me looking out the car windows as a kid. Just get a piece of paper and write down all the different color cars you can see. You can also add police cars, campers, motorhomes, buses, etc. Then you just put a tally mark each time you see one under that particular category. Fun to see what kind of cars there are a lot of!

*Laptop/Movie ~ This is a great thing to have if your children are getting antsy on a long trip. Just bring out a laptop with a children’s movie for them to watch.

*Pack Surprises ~ I always like to bring out a “car surprise” on long trips. Maybe it’s a new book, a special doll, a small toy they can manipulate and play with. Whatever it is – it will bring a fresh twist to the ride.

*Car Bag ~ Let your children pack a special car bag with items they would like to have for the journey.

*Puppet Shows ~ If you have finger puppets or even small beanie babies – the person in the front seat can do a puppet show over the seat back. This can be hilarious and a great distraction!

*Snacks/Drinks ~ An all-important thing to remember!

*Favorite Songs/Music ~ If your children have headphones, let them bring the along. Otherwise, give up your favorite tunes every once in awhile to load a kid CD into the player. Watch as the mood in your car relaxes and changes!

*Breaks ~ On really long trips – give everyone a break once in awhile. Stop to go to the restroom or just to get out and stretch. This can ease tensions considerably.

*Name That Tune ~ My children like to play this game. You hum a tune and everyone else has to guess what song you are humming!

Come up with your own ideas and watch them become tradition for future car adventures.

Photo Memories

2010-05-17T14:12:00.000-06:00

Photographs are one of the most important ways we can savor the memories of our lifetimes. They capture so much meaning and are always cherished. A lot of families enjoy sharing photos when they get together for celebrations, reunions or just a meal together. Take advantage of these ideas to spend some heartfelt moments reminiscing, laughing, crying and loving together with your family.

*For an anniversary or special celebration, take one of your favorite photos of the guest of honor - have it blown up and frame it. It is a stunning display of love.

*Have a slide show. Remember slides?? Most of us now have video cameras and watch our videos. But you can still enjoy the slides of yesteryear by digging them out or putting them on videotape set to music.

*Put together a photo collage. Get a big piece of cardboard and find many photos that represent your special occasion or get together. Arrange them haphazardly, overlapping and even add fun quotes. Display in a prominent spot so everyone can enjoy the pictures.

*Scatter pictures of family members or the guest of honor on a table. Cover the tables with see-through plastic tablecloths to protect the photographs.

*Have a photo swap!! Everyone brings their extra, miscellaneous or reject photos and you can swap them with other family members. You'd be surprised who wants that photo of you with cake in your face!

Rockin Fridays

2010-05-01T14:05:00.001-06:00

I love music. Music has such a way of allowing memories to be ingrained forever in our hearts. It also is such a great way to express our moods – you know, loud, heavy rock for our angry days – pop music for our bubbly days, and praise music for our reflective days?

One day I was taking my kids to school and we had one of our favorite CD’s playing in the car. My girls are very fond of music as well, and I wanted to just blare the music and enjoy it with them. So I yelled – “It’s ROCKIN FRIDAY!!” and I turned up the CD very, very loudly. They LOVED it!! They got excited and we all started singing at the top of our lungs. (Yes – we are probably that weird car that was next to you at the stoplight!)

Well – the next week, my girls prompted me – “Mom? Where’s our Rockin Friday?” And so began our tradition. They never let me forget a Friday and started pumping me for music as soon as we’d get into the car on Friday mornings. It has become a fun, and special tradition for us. It also showed me that even car times could become special family moments and memories. They can bond parents to children in special ways because of the confined space.

Most of us take our children to school on a regular basis – or at least pick them up. If your children ride the bus, I’m sure they are involved in some activity where you take them on a regular basis. Create special car traditions that get everyone excited about being together and allow you to share joy as a family in the process. I think you will discover – as I did – that something so simple, can develop into something so special.

Family Night

2010-03-27T12:54:00.000-06:00

There is no simpler tradition in the home than implementing a weekly or monthly “Family Night.” This will be by far, one of the traditions your children will remember most consistently because of the bonding that occurs within your family unit.

You can create your “Family Night” to be one of zany games and fun laughter, or one of heartfelt sharing and listening. Either way, this night is to be sacred to your family. Don’t let outside activities or functions encroach upon this time together and request that all family members participate…even teens!

What should you do on your “Family Night?” That’s up to you! If you are choosing the “Fun- Laughter” approach ~ you might want to start with popping popcorn or making a dinner together in the kitchen. You can play games such as “Twister”, “Guesstures” or other family favorites that get you laughing with one another. Maybe you want to watch Home Videos and reminisce or watch a Comedy together. But never make fun of one another – remember that this is supposed to be a growing and bonding experience; not an isolating one.

If you choose to have a more heartfelt evening together as a family, you might opt for other ideas such as roasting one another and mentioning something you like or love about that person. You could work on scrapbooks together or pour over baby or photo albums from the past.

There are many, many ideas that can make your “Family Night” unique to your home and lifestyle. Whatever you choose use this time to get to know one another more intimately and encourage each other in their goals and dreams for their life.

Keep 'Em Occupied

2010-02-19T15:03:00.002-07:00

I went to a program for my daughter recently. I was sitting in the bleachers behind this gate thingy. We chose that spot specifically so that no one would sit in front of us. Well, a man sat down to the side of the gate (I think it’s used to close the bleachers) and he had two little boys with him. They were loud and they started climbing up and down the gate in front of me.

Now, I don’t mind kids. But I get really, REALLY irritated when parents don’t control their kids. Especially when they let them roam in front of other people. To me, that’s just plain rude.

This man tried to grab his kids and sit them down NUMEROUS times. It was obvious that he had no control over them. They would squirm, cry, and run right back to climbing the gate in front of me the first chance they got.

I was there to see my daughter get recognized. I wanted to hear what was being said. Let’s just put it this way; I completely missed the first speaker until this man finally (in utter despair and exasperation) grabbed both of his kids and left the gym area. It was like a peaceful calm entered and I could finally pay attention to the ceremony at hand!

Parents – you need to have some courtesy when bringing young children along to public events. Whether it’s a basketball game, a Christmas program, ceremony, whatever…. Other people are there to see their kids. I can’t tell you how many special moments have been ruined because of inconsiderate people!

Now, I’m not void of compassion. I had two little girls too. I raised my stepson and had to attend many of his events with two little ones in tow. It’s hard. I know that. But I also know that it can be done.

It is not the child’s fault that they cannot sit still for an hour or two. They shouldn’t be expected to! But they CAN be quiet. What I used to do was bring a small backpack with us whenever we attended an event. It had several quiet activities inside of it – coloring book and crayons, or pencil and notebook, small snack, water bottle, a little book, and a few small toys or stuffed animals. This would do the trick almost every time! It kept my little ones occupied, fairly quiet, allowed me to watch and give my attention to my stepson’s programs, and it also kept my little ones from disturbing other people. Even if you don’t have a little backpack, a pencil and a small notebook can usually fit inside of a purse or you can bring along one matchbook car, favorite blanket or stuffed friend and just have your child carry it with them.

We need to work with our children and not expect them to act like little adults in situations that they are simply too immature to understand. I do think we should explain to them ahead of time what expectations we have of them in the way of behavior though. No child should think it’s okay to trod upon someone else’s space but to give respect to another individual. Teach them to whisper, sit fairly still and to obey. But at the same time, bring something to keep their attention and interest for a little while knowing that they can’t hold still as long as an adult can.

While you may think your children are darling, not every stranger would agree. So keep them occupied so that everyone else can hear and enjoy the performance, program or ceremony at hand…. Even you.

Tapping Into Creativity

2010-01-22T16:14:00.003-07:00

I didn’t start learning to really be creative until I was an adult. I feel like such a novice at it most of the time…but love exploring and tapping into new and different creative sides of me that I didn’t realize I had!

I really want to encourage my children to be creative as well because it will open up so many doors for them. I strive to find ways to let them be creative and the more I do; the more they continue to seek that creative side of themselves on their own!

Here are just a few ways that you can encourage and help your children learn to be creative:

*Keep a craft drawer or cupboard for them. Fill it with scrap paper, glue, scissors, glitter, felt, stickers, fabric, and more.

*Give them journals or notebooks. Encourage them to write stories, thoughts, sketch, etc.

*Have play dough, legos, etch-a-sketch, magna doodle and other toys that encourage them to create something from their imagination.

*Let your kiddos make puppets out of bags or old socks.

*Play games together that reinforce creativity…like charades, pictionary, scrabble, or Cranium.

*Sit down and draw together just for fun. Have everyone take turns telling everybody what he or she will draw and then have fun seeing each individual’s interpretation of how to draw the specified object.

*Invite your children to create their own “thank-you” cards or birthday invites.

*Save extra cardboard from boxes, inserts in calendars, etc and allow your children to paint on them.

*Purchase craft projects to work on – beads for beading, crochet, needlepoint, scrap booking, wood projects, etc and let them keep their own mini project center.

*Invite them to bake or cook with you in the kitchen. Let them create their own recipes on occasion.

*Go on nature walks and gather pebbles, sticks, leaves, pinecones, pussy willows and more to do projects with.

*Sidewalk chalk!

*Music instruments – try to have at least some in your home – maracas, keyboards, harmonicas, microphones, recorders, and bongos.

Have fun relishing in the joy that creativity will bring – not just for your kids – but for your whole family.

Name Your Home

2009-12-26T16:57:00.002-07:00

There are so many fun ideas and traditions you can implement as a family to
create memories. Some are everyday rituals that you do together to grow and
develop close bonds. Others are zany, fun, and create laughter. Then there are
those things you do to create meaning into your lives. Naming your home fits
under that category.

Your family might move a lot of times over your children's lifetimes. Maybe you
will only live in one home. Whether you move over the course of time or stay in
one place, naming your family home will make wherever you are a very special
place with a special mood, atmosphere, ambiance and flair that belongs just to
your family and creates a special identity that creates a special bond for everyone in the family.

Our family has dubbed our home " Casa Sanchez" which in Spanish means 'home of
Sanchez'. It fits us and adds to our desire of drawing upon my husband's
Mexican ancestry. My sister and her family like to call their residence “Hudson
Farm." They have quite a few pets and live in the country so that name fit the
mood they felt within their family. There are so many fun and different ways
you can choose to name your home. You can choose to take that one special name with
you wherever you go or name each place as you discover it and experience the different tone of your new home.

Once you name your home you can use it on invitations when inviting people over,
put it on your mailbox, make a special plaque or choose to have it engraved in a
special rock that sits outside your front door.

Enjoy the legacy you create as your family and friends refer to your home by its
chosen name and you weave the cords of love for all who enter!

Holiday Touches of Love

2009-12-04T13:41:00.001-07:00

There are so many opportunities to give of ourselves around Christmastime. You can give gifts to children who need them, donate food to shelters or churches, and even volunteer your time.But in our quest to give; let us not forget to give to our own families. Children already receive so much attention over the Holidays. But, how about your spouse? Does he get forgotten or rushed past too quickly amidst the entire buzz?

Here are a few simple ways to add some special touches to the Christmas Season for your husband:

~ Find a Christmas movie that he recalls from his childhood. Buy it, and snuggle together under a warm blanket as you watch it together.

~ Make a tree ornament for him that symbolizes your love. Let him hang it on the tree.

~ Dance to one of the slower Holiday tunes.

~ Make some hot chocolate for him to drink as he hangs up the Christmas lights outside.

~ Utilize candles to add the atmosphere of peace and warmth each evening as your man comes home from work.

~ Hang Christmas lights around your bedposts or near the ceiling of your bedroom for a magical and romantic Holiday glow.

~ Make one of his favorite Holiday treats.

All it takes are a few small efforts to re-connect with your husband. Each romantic and thoughtful moment will draw you closer to one another and fill the Season with more love than you thought possible.

You've Been Thanked

2009-11-23T12:02:00.000-07:00

Type or write out the words “You’ve Been Thanked” in huge letters in the middle of a piece of paper. Then draw or put a picture that represents Thanksgiving on it (something like a turkey, cornucopia, pumpkins, fall leaves, pilgrims, etc).

Put together a little bag of fun surprises or treats…. Maybe a bag of candy corn, a Thanksgiving coloring book for the kids, and a small Thanksgiving decorating item to place around the house. Give them something small and simple to show your appreciation.

Then attach a little note to the bag that tells them they are being thanked for being a great (neighbor, pastor, friend,) person and that you just wanted them to feel special and have a great Thanksgiving.

Keep one copy of the sign and put it on your door so people know you’ve receiving a bag (if you started this you don’t want to have to put together two bags) and tell the recipient that they have to thank someone else and “pass it on.”

You ring the doorbell and leave before they see who thanked them.

This is a great way to pass on a sense of appreciation in your children and in others.

A Gripe Box

2009-11-03T14:32:00.003-07:00

I read about the idea of starting a Gripe Box once and loved the idea. As the mom of kids who sometimes bicker and complain, this can be a wonderful tool to diffuse anger. This can help everyone involved sort things out in a calm, rational manner.

Get a box or a jar - whatever you prefer and decorate it. Put it somewhere where you can see it on a daily basis - in your kitchen is a great spot. Then as you have gripes, you go in and write them down on a small piece of paper or an index card and put them in the box.

At the end of every month, you can empty the box or jar out and take a look at everyone's gripes. You will all be surprised at how irrelevant most of them are at a later date. Some of them you might want to discuss and talk about, finding a solution or coming up with a plan for your children of how to handle the problem later on.

You can teach each other how to problem - solve and how to work together as a team to talk out your gripes. Watch it even turn into a fun thing.

Secret Piece of Trash

2009-10-15T12:39:00.000-06:00

Both of my children had a wonderful first grade teacher. To motivate the students to pick up garbage and trash at the end of a school day, she would have them play a game called “secret piece of trash.” She would choose one child to secretly select one piece of trash around the room. Then when everything was all cleaned up, they would tell her which student threw away that particular trash item. The winning student got a small piece of candy.

I adapted this game and use it in my home sometimes. When toys and things seem to be getting a little out of control – I go through my whole house and write down some “secret items.” Granted, they are not trash, they are toys. I tell my girls to pick up and that we are playing “secret item” and they go and clean up. Depending on how messy things are, I will select anywhere from 3 to 15 things. Maybe it’s a hat that didn’t get put away, shoes left in the kitchen, or just some toys lying about.

When my girls come to me and tell me they are done picking up – I walk through the house. I ask which girl picked up my secret items. Whoever it was, gets a small piece of candy. I am not big on candy rewards, so I use very small candy – like an m&m per item, a lemonhead, sweet tart, etc. If the particular item I wrote down did not get picked up – no one gets a piece of candy but they still have to put it away. And sometimes, one girl will get more than the other. I don’t compensate for this. It’s just the way it gets played out. They need to learn that life’s not fair and you earn what you get.

This method has worked really well for me. I do not do it all of the time. I want my children to pick up because they care about their toys and belongings, because they choose to obey me, and because they are learning to be responsible. But every once in awhile, when I feel they need a nudge and the job can be overwhelming – I use the “secret piece of trash” game to help them along.

Happy Birthdays

2009-09-22T15:57:00.003-06:00

Your child’s birthday is coming up again. It gets harder and harder to come up with new and fresh ideas.

Here are a variety of fun, low-cost, and unique ideas that hopefully can put the fun back into your birthday party planning.

*Have a football party for boys. Let them watch the game together with pizza, chips and pop. Just like the adults!

*Have the kids decorate the cake for a change. Have them come up with the them and let them have fun in the kitchen together while they do it.

*For older girls – have them decorate old jeans. They can put on school colors and draw mascots and wear them all to the basketball game together.

*Have a backyard campout. You can either do it in sleeping bags on the back lawn under the stars or in tents. (You may want to have parental supervision all night long if the kids are younger).

*Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes – Pour cake mix into a cone and bake for 30 min.

A hand party for younger children. Have a tablecloth decorated with handprints. Use finger foods and have goodie bags with playdough and finger puppets.

*Girls will love having a Beauty Parlor Party. Get a few moms to help out and have stations. They can get their fingernails and toenails painted, their hair curled or French braided, simple makeup or glitter applied and a dash of purfume. They can even drink sparkling cider out of plastic goblets while they wait their turns!

Make sure to take pictures…….

An Adventure Journal

2009-08-17T10:35:00.002-06:00

There is a great idea over at REI of an adventure journal for kids. Designed for ages 5-12 this journal is printable in PDF form and is something focused on encouraging outdoor activities.

The child just records their outdoor hikes, bikes, and other fun activities. It's a great idea. Check it out here!

Your Legacy

2009-08-02T16:38:00.003-06:00

Have you thought of what ways you can leave a record of your life?

There are many ways you can tangibly pass on your thoughts, views and
insight.Journaling is one way. You can leave notes and comments in books you've read, your Bible, hymnals and even cookbooks. You can make notations of verses you liked, recipes you used at Thanksgiving or special get-togethers along with the date.A wonderful thing to leave as an ancestor is also letters.If you draw, paint or sketch you can leave your artwork. In this day and age, videotapes are perfect ways to capture your style, character and mannerisms.All of these ideas will be so cherished by those who loved you. Take the time to record your journey in life today! Someone special to you will treasure it, tomorrow.

The Family Information Center

2009-07-06T10:38:00.000-06:00

Our family has a white binder that we call, “THE BOOK.” Our binder is by our main phone area and holds all of our important papers, phone numbers, and information.

It is a wonderful asset to me, because it keeps me organized as well as well-informed on any and all school or activity-related information. If it’s a weekly note from one of my children’s teachers; I simply pull it out of its clear page protector and insert the new weekly letter. This way I always keep current information on hand.

You can keep a master notebook as well. Include:

*Neighbor’s phone numbers
*Notes from school teachers
*All relevent doctor numbers and information
*Activity or School Volunteer calendars
*School Handbooks
*Email Addresses
*Phone Numbers of your children’s friends in addition to their parents names
*Carry-out menus
*Church Directories
*Team Schedules
and more.

Any time someone in our family needs certain information and we say, “it’s in THE BOOK” – everyone knows exactly what book we are talking about.

It’s a simply way to keep us all on target and informed.

Love Language

2009-06-28T10:34:00.001-06:00

One of the great things about having a child is how they change the way we see the world. From the time our precious ones were tots – they started seeing things and naming things in a way that we had never thought of before! Each family ends up discovering its own hidden “love language” as a way to bond, and hold onto special moments.

For my family, our love language consists of words that our children said when they were young such as:

Excitement point ~ exclamation point

Lub you ~ I love you

La Luna ~ The moon

Gicky ~ Icky

I wanna wonder ~ I want to know

Have a good “snuggle sleep” ~ Sleep comfortably

Our love language also consists of words or expressions that just became ways we would connect or communicate to one another using familiar jargons –

*B-B-B-buuurn! ~ when someone puts someone else in their place

*That’s not love! ~ when someone does or says something unkind

And of course we have secret ways of expressing our love for one another, nicknames, and terms of endearment for each other.

Does your family have its own love language?

It’s amazing how daily uses of expressions and terms can become so special to every family member.

Hold on to those delightful ways of sharing the heart.

Hand and Foot Luvins

2009-06-22T14:00:00.001-06:00

Sometimes when I am driving in the car, it can be hard to reach out to my children when they are upset or when I feel like they need a hug or my personal attention in some way. Well, years ago, my husband and I decided not to let the car stop us from giving attention at a moment and time when we felt it was needed. So, we started giving our girls hand and foot “luvins.”

I keep my eyes on the road always – as safety is crucial to me. But I reach one arm behind my seat. In the summer months (or on long car trips) usually my hand will find a sweet little foot. And I just rub that foot with my fingers and thumb. A simple gesture of my love. I do it with their hands as well and it gives them the moment of “touch” that they so desperately needed.

Sometimes now, I reach a hand behind my seat and I just let it hang in the air. Instinctively, the child that it was intended for will see it and put their hand in mine. It is such a great way to connect when you are in the car. I have no intentions of giving it up.

Quotation Book

2009-05-29T10:39:00.000-06:00

I started a quotation book right after high school when I was living on my ownin Las Vegas, Nevada. I just found so many sayings that I liked, that I started entering them in a small notebook. Soon I started adding poems as well. Little did I know that someday this book would be so useful to me as I wrote for you each month in Emphasis On Moms!

You can start your own quotation book and have it hold meaning for you personally. You can put quotations that reflect how you feel as a mother or awife. You can enter sayings that reflect your vision for life or your dreams for yourself. As your book becomes full, you can draw upon it as a resource for your family. If your children are having a tough day at school, go to your quotation book and find an appropriate quote that will encourage them. Write iton fancy paper or put it on the back of a photograph. Place it on their bulletinboard, pillow or somewhere that will surprise them and lift up their spirits.You can pass down your quotation book to your children when they leave the nestor perhaps, start a fresh one for them. Begin the pages of their quotation bookwith some of your very favorite sayings and watch it become a special resource for your loved ones as well.

Words are everywhere and they have such power to inspire. If you don't savoryour favorite encouraging words today, you may never be able to track them down again.

A Shadow Box of Memories

2009-05-19T16:30:00.000-06:00

Everyone is familiar with shadow boxes. They are used to preserve items from the past or present that are special.

My husband had the great idea to create a shadow box of memories from one of our family vacations to Disneyland. He told me this ahead of time so that I could try to keep items and bring them home with us. It was great fun to save things such as Mickey napkins, buttons, cups, ticket stubs, hats for the kids and so on.

When we arrived home and got our pictures developed; we took some of our favorites and added them to our pile. My husband then started creating our shadow box.
It looks wonderful and is a wonderful way to remember a special family trip we took together.

You can create your own shadow box easily enough. Just remember to save more items than you think you will need. It is much easier to pare down memorabilia than have empty space on hand that you need to fill!

Whatever your idea is for creating a shadow box; whether it is a family vacation such as ours was, baby memorabilia, family photos of the past, a sports hobby, or something else – enjoy the process as well as the end product.

Incentive Cards

2009-05-08T08:02:00.002-06:00

I am always on the lookout for fun, creative ideas that are easy to implement in my home. Every child is different and if I use one idea with one child, it may not work on the other one who has a different personality.

When my daughter was four, she went through a phase where she was very difficult to motivate. She loved to have fun and had such a sweet personality…but when it came time to clean-up or do a chore, she was just plain whiney and stubborn!

I was going through some papers and found an idea I’d saved from several years prior. I liked it a lot and pursued it as a way for motivating my sweet yet stubborn little one. I wanted to share it with you in case you also have been striving fro that “fresh” idea!

It is called “Incentive Cards.” You can make cards on a 3 x 5 index card or you can use your computer to make cute graphics on paper and cut to a smaller size. You can also use markers, scrapbook supplies, stickers, etc.

On each individual card write a specific task, chore, job, or character quality that specifically applies to your child. Things like:

*following directions without whining
*chew with mouth closed
*sharing
*not sassing or talking back to mom or dad
*keeping room clean
*helping out without being asked
*Patience
*not arguing with a sibling

Those are just a few of the hundreds of ideas you could use.

Each time the child accomplishes what it says on the card, you punch a hole in the card. This continues until the card is full of hole punches all around the outside of the card. When the card is full, your child can choose a reward from a
special “Rewards” Jar. They could be small toys or note cards you make for things like a free movie, book, Popsicle, etc.

If you are like me and you don’t always like giving material rewards (or maybe you can’t afford them), you could use alternative ideas. Maybe you could let your child stay up ½ hour later after bedtime, use a “special person” plate at mealtime, have a slumber party in your bedroom or living room instead of sleeping in their own bed; or even let them spray mom and dad with the hose!

Whatever you decide on, let the payoff encourage the effort it took them to work on bettering their character and manners. It will be a huge payoff for you as well when you see the positive changes in the mood of your home.

High Lows

2009-04-28T15:51:00.001-06:00

There’s a movie called “The Story About Us” where they share their high and low points of the day together. I thought this was a fabulous idea so I transferred this game to our own home.

My children fell in love with the idea of sharing “highs” and “lows” right away. We started out sharing our “high-lows” at the dinner table. Some evenings I would even forget and my daughter would remind me! When our children had friends over, they shared their “highs” and “lows” with us also! It was fun and sometimes a real eye opener into what “made” or “did not make” someone’s day.

I decided to start doing our “high-lows” on the way home from school. It clued me in to my children’s day and helped start conversation on many occasions. Our carpool kids even did it with us!

I personally love this tradition of sharing the good and bad things of our day. It is a great way to bond with each other, communicate and share as well as learn to be sensitive to one another.

Give it a try and see if you don’t agree.

Laugh Books

2009-04-15T15:24:00.001-06:00

Kids are always saying the neatest things. They say something that really touches your heart or things that are so sweet and innocent that you have a hard time hiding your laughter at the inaccuracies in their thoughts and statements.

I was sharing with some family members something funny my daughter Kayla Shaye had told me once. Kayla and I were sitting in the car waiting for preschool to start and I had asked her what kind of animal she wanted to be. When Kayla told me she wanted to be an elephant because they had a trunk; I mentioned to her that I wanted to be an eagle because I thought it would be neat to fly. Kayla thought that was really cool and said that she wanted to fly as well. So you could see the light bulb go off as a thought dawned across her face and she looked at me with great excitement and said, “I’ll be Dumbo!”

It was so precious.

Moments like that are ones I want to savor and share with others. When I shared this sweet moment with my family members, my aunt told me of what some ladies in her church do when they come across tender times such as this. They keep what they call “Laugh Books.”

A Laugh Book is a journal that you keep for each of your children. You record the funny things they say or do and write down the date or age in which the child said it. It is a neat way to keep track of the special memories for you as a mom, but also fun for the children as well because you can read the stories back to them and the details won’t get lost or changed over time.

We all love to swap stories about our children. A Laugh Book is just the way to do it!

Learning About Family

2009-03-30T11:18:00.001-06:00

I started a very simple game for my daughters last summer to help them learn more about their extended family members.The game is similar to “I Spy” or “I’m thinking of an animal…” except it is about family members and their interests, life experiences, or qualities.

The game works like this. I say, “I’m thinking of a family member…and this person loves to go bowling.” Or, “I’m thinking of a family member, and this person used to own a car wash.” Then my girls proceed to guess family members names until they discover the right one.

This is fun for my children because they are learning things about relatives that fascinate, impress, and excite them. They are also learning things that have more to do with the character and personality of our family members. They can discover common interests and can feel internally closer to members who don’t live nearby or those that they can’t see quite as often.

It’s a great way to pass the time in the car or while you are waiting for appointments too.Try it out and allow your children to truly discover the full dynamics of the family they are a part of.

Alternative Dining

2009-03-19T13:22:00.001-06:00

OK ladies! Let’s spruce up our mealtime! Our children are always ready for us to add some fun to normal, everyday events. When we do, most of us find that we were ready to be spiced up as well!

Routine is important for security and stability. But face it – sometimes it can just get downright boring.

Here are some fun and fresh ideas to add a little pizzazz to your family’s mealtime.

*Have a picnic on the floor. Pull out a blanket, get out the paper plates and add the food!

*Eat out on your deck or back porch. Use either a picnic table, or set up a card table and enjoy the fresh air.

*Put a spin on eating outdoors by setting up a tent and lantern. Eat after it gets dark inside the tent. FUN!

*Have festive napkins, glasses or fancy straws.

*Allow your family to use chopsticks only instead of silverware.

*Make a rule that no utensils can be used at all! Only hands. Have finger foods, drink soup out of the bowl, etc.

*Have everyone grab a TV tray and pick out a family movie to watch while eating dinner.

*Switch places at the table. Everyone needs to sit somewhere other than their normal seat.

*Make normal foods fun. Add green food coloring to water, stick a Hershey’s kiss inside of spaghetti, etc.

Serve dessert FIRST for a change!

Growth Wall

2009-03-13T11:12:00.000-06:00

Most families enjoy charting their child's growth on a chart attached to the wall. It is fun for both parents and children to see the progress and growth.

You can put a fun spin on that idea....make a growth wall for everyone in your family. Put it either in the garage or somewhere where you don't mind marking up the wall. Keep track of everyone's growth -- grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles, cousins etc. and do it for both sides of your family.

Children love to see progress and it will also be fun for them tocompare their height with that of a beloved family member. Have fun with it too. Use different color markers or stickers to mark places on the wall and enjoy it for many many years.

God Stops

2009-03-04T16:09:00.002-07:00

A mom can spend quite a bit of time in the car with her kids. And I believe that “car time” can become “bonding time” if you utilize it correctly.

My girls and I rotate a variety of activities, conversations, and games while in the car - that are special and unique just to us.

One of these activities is what I call “God Stops.” I found that my girls could easily immerse themselves in books, or other activities inside of the car and forget to look outside the windows. So we started searching for “God Stops.”

A God Stop is something you see that either reminds you of the Lord, or shows you that God is behind it. It can be anything from a hot air balloon that can fly in the sky, seeing someone doing an “act of kindness” for someone else, a church sign, a bird’s nest, or the sun rays coming through the clouds.

It really gets my girls looking out the car windows and seeing the world in a different way. They are looking for God in the world we live in – a world that can so often overlook His daily presence in our lives.

Give it a try with your kids and see what kind of “God Stops” they come up with. Learn, grow, and be inspired together as you are reminded that God is always with us.

Blast To The Past

2009-02-25T10:13:00.002-07:00

When we leave our children a heritage, a lot of that comes from our own childhood; our memories, our experiences, our view of life. If we share that with our children it will not only help them understand who we are a little bit better, but it will give them roots to stand on. It will provide a background of where they came from, whom and why they are the way they are, and who their relatives were.

So, how can you do this? You can take your children to places of meaning for you. Take them to where you were born in the hospital, your childhood home, school, church, and hangouts. If you live in the same area still, your children may not realize that those buildings hold such special memories for you. Share with them and talk to them about how the area used to look and feel. If you don’t live in the same area where you grew up, make a vacation out of the experience. Take photographs (or if you are really unable to visit where you grew up – find someone to send you some photographs or newspaper clippings.)

You might find that your children enjoy learning and seeing what makes you tick. You will grow very nostalgic with the experience yourself and be glad you revisited your past.

Even if you didn’t have the happiest of childhoods, it is still important to recognize what influenced your life and share both the good and the bad with your children.

Our children will be stronger, more secure, and more bonded to us by learning from the past.

Don’t put it off.

Valentines Indoor Picnic

2009-02-14T11:51:00.003-07:00

Are you looking for a fun Valentine’s Day tradition that you can do together with your whole family? I believe that Valentine’s Day is mainly to express and show your love for your significant other…but as a parent, I also feel strongly about showing some love to my children on this special day. I like to make the day a little bit special for them, as well!

One year I reflected on a Valentine’s Day growing up when my mom had had a special indoor picnic for us. It really stood out and so I decided to try this idea out on my own family. I laid out a blanket, put some special napkins out, fancy glasses, and prepared to have an indoor picnic for dinner.

It was a hit! My children loved it and continue to love to do this. It’s a fun way to eat dinner as a family, yet in a different way than you are used to. I can prepare something easy such as sandwiches with a pasta salad and bring out chocolate or special Valentine’s cookies for dessert. Add a few special embellishments like Valentines Day napkins, special glasses and maybe a few décor pieces – and you’ve created a warm yet casual dinner. Add a little soft music in the background and it makes for a special time together.

This has become a neat tradition for our family. My children are now adding to it with their own homemade cards or placemats professing their love for each member of our family. It’s these moments together, that I hold closely to my heart.

Dream Log

2009-02-06T14:22:00.001-07:00

One of the best things you can do for yourself is to keep a “goals and dreams” log. In your dream log, you keep a list of what you’d like to see, accomplish, and how you’d like to grow as a person. These thoughts can be big things like, “I want to visit Mexico and scuba dive,” or smaller things like, “Get the hall closet cleaned out and organized.”

As you work towards these goals and dreams you will find your confidence and self-esteem grow as you realize how fulfilling your life is. It is a wonderful feeling to cross completed dreams off of your list!

You may find that as the years go by, your goals and dreams change as well and that’s okay! Changing goals or ambitions are simply another sign of growth in your life. Embrace the changes and fulfilled desires in your life and watch your frame of mind turn more positive as you feed it the realization of positive results in your life.

Encourage your children to keep their own dream logs as they grow up. Having goals, dreams, and aspirations is an important part of growing up and learning who they are, what they want, and how they feel about life. And it will be a great way for you to get "clued in" to what's going on inside your child's heart and head.

Scrapbooking Box

2009-01-28T10:55:00.001-07:00

Scrapbooking is a very popular hobby these days. It is also a great way to nurture creativity, a sense of family, thankfulness, and imagination in children. It also helps them feel like they are a part of what interests you and can keep them busy while you make headway on your own scrapbooking endeavors!

I discovered all of this after my sister gave my daughter a scrapbook box as a gift. It was a fantastic idea and a wonderful discovery for my children as they dug through the box each time they were to create a thank-you card, or when they wanted to create a special book, note, or message to a loved one.

We keep the box full of stickers, tape, glue sticks, colored papers, leftover photographs, craft remnants, hole punches, and more. The scrapbook box really has become a valued staple in our home. It is fun to see my girls’ bend their heads diligently over their work as they craft and create something unique.

I would suggest giving a scrapbook box away as gifts to your child’s friends, and even possibly to a friend of your own who has not begun to undertake the adventure of scrapbooking yet. I think you will find it is a valued resource to have and one that you might find yourself digging into yourself!

The Power of Notes

2009-01-16T10:33:00.002-07:00

I am a strong believer in the power of encouragement. I have experienced what it can do first-hand.

When I was growing up my mom used to leave me notes quite often. They would offer love on a tough day, or just reaffirm my potential and validation as a special person. And I caught on to the power of notes.

I started leaving notes when I was in high school. I would leave an "I Love You" note for my dad on a note pad he kept in his truck. Except I would make it a game. I would write several pages back from the front so it would take him awhile to find it and come as a surprise to him. It was so fun to see how long it would take before he found it!

Right after high school I moved to another state. So one day right before I was scheduled to leave, I hid about one hundred notes around the house. I hid them in spots where my family would find them right away and also in spots that would take them awhile. I knew my leaving would be tough on them so I wanted to add some cheer and smiles to their day. I hid notes in coat pockets, can of nails, bathroom drawers and more.

Now, I'm the mom. And I can offer the power of encouragement through notes to my own husband and children. I can watch a smile form on their face even though they've had a tough day. I can share special quotes, poems, give advice or just say "I love you."

The best thing about notes is that there is no cost involved! It's free. Any budget can handle that.

Get creative when you leave notes. You can leave them:

*on pillows
*on a bulletin board
*on a napkin in a sack lunch
*in a pajamas drawer
*in a shoe
*in a book they are reading
*on a car window
*inside a CD or movie case

The ideas are endless. If you want to inspire and support your family; leaving notes is one of the easiest options to use. They may come low on cost, but the result is big on self-esteem.

The Special Plate

2009-01-02T16:25:00.000-07:00

I have always wanted one of those red plates that is designated for special occasions. Perhaps you’ve seen them. They sometimes come with markers that you can sign the back of them with. But the plates are supposed to be used by someone on a special day like a birthday.

Well, around Valentine’s Day I saw some darling red heart shaped plates at Target one day. The idea of using the heart shaped plate, as my families’ own “special plate” ignited within me and I purchased one. When I brought it home, my girls were all over it.
”Mom – what’s this plate for?”

“I want to use that plate, mom!”

I explained to them that the plate would only be brought out once in awhile to celebrate the specialness of somebody at mealtime. Now, my idea was not to do the “norm” birthday celebration, although I’m sure the plate will be used for that, as well. No, my idea was to encourage my family in character of the heart instead. (After all, it IS a heart plate!)

So, whenever someone in my family does something unselfishly, they show compassion for someone else, they do something out of the goodness of their heart without being told, they don’t complain or hold their temper, etc – the heart plate will be brought out for them to use at mealtime.

I’m hoping that it will re-instill the values that I want to grow within my family as well as Godly characteristics. It can be tough to hold on to the ideals that God wants us to have when we live in a world that is so focused on doing what feels right at the time. But demonstrating a Godly heart is sometimes very hard to do and I want to help motivate my children to do that and encourage those kinds of traits, thinking, and actions in their lives until they become second nature to them.

I pray that this plate will be just one way to reinforce Biblical teaching in my home. It’s already off to a good start and maybe in time, my family will encourage ME and bring the plate out for me once in awhile too. But whatever happens, I hope that this will become a special tradition for us that strengthens the kind of people we want to be.

Character Gifts

2008-12-22T15:49:00.001-07:00

Last year I did something for my family on Christmas Eve that I had never done before. I had gotten inspired from a sermon at church about creating memory markers in our children’s lives. And since Christmas was approaching, I decided to put my inspiration to work.

I found a Christmas ornament for each member of my family as well as for my parents who were visiting. Each ornament represented a character quality that I saw in each of them. For example, I found an angel ornament for my daughter Kamica because I chose “joy” as her character quality. I got an old antique spoon for my husband because he has a “servant’s heart.”
I also wrote each one of them a small note telling them why I chose the character quality that I did for them…why I saw that special quality in them. I also selected a verse out of the Bible that talked about that quality.

I thought it would be a very special moment for all of them – to know how someone else saw them. And let me tell you, I was the one who couldn’t get through the presentations without crying!!

This is something that I plan on doing every 3-5 years. As my children grow and change, different character qualities will be their strengths. I can’t think of a more valuable gift than to let them know how someone else sees them and to show them they are valued for whom they are on the inside.

Everyone cares about how others see him or her; and whether or not they matter. “Character” gifts are priceless because they strike at the core of the individual receiving them. I guarantee that if you undertake this precious, precious idea, everyone will leave better for it and you will truly impact your loved one’s hearts.