From Frazzled to Fun

I've given up canceling out my own prayers for my child.

What do I mean?

Well, let's consider something that I really wanted to see change in for my child.

For example, my child was making selfish choices and always seemed to put herself above others.

When I was in a quiet reflective moment I prayed that the Lord will help her to learn to put others first and be more considerate of others.

Later in the day, when bringing in a pizza for the family and a few friends I said to my husband,  "Oh boy, here we go again...she's going to push to the front and rush to get the biggest piece as soon as we come through the door, just like she always does."

Wait a second.

Back up.

I had to ask myself, Do I believe the Bible is true?

Because I know it says this: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever...

A mom's retreat, friends made so dear

Many touching moments that brought a tear

We really chilled 

Our cups were filled

And connected with beautiful peers.

With a new perspective hope appears

And a moment to breathe, we see God is near

So take a peek

At something you might seek

To add to your *calendar for next year.

*Feb. 23-24, 2024

A young woman from my daughter's high school found out she was pregnant a few months ago. We tried to help, offering to throw her a baby shower and encouraging her. Unfortunately, the pressures became too great and she terminated the pregnancy with an abortion.

If only she had been given more support, I know the situation could have been different.

Do you have a hurting young woman in your life?

Do you have a friend who has a daughter in crisis?

Are you a young woman who is struggling with a life-altering issue?

Mercy Multiplied, a faith-based organization founded by Nancy Alcorn offers help and hope for young women in crisis...free of charge.

Mercy’s Residential Program helps young women ages 13-32 break free from life-controlling issues and situations, including: 

• anxiety
• depression
• sexual abuse
• eating disorders
• self-harm
• addictions
• unplanned pregnancy
• sex trafficking

Where are the residential locations?

• ...

History

The idea of Christingles came from a Moravian Church in Germany in 1747 when minister John de Watteville gave children at the service a lighted candle with a red ribbon around it. He explained that this represented Jesus being the light of the world and the final prayer of that first service was "Lord Jesus, kindle a flame in these children’s hearts, that theirs like Thine become".

Moravian missionaries brought the tradition to the Church of England in the late 1700's and the Christingle was later made more popular in the UK by John Pensom in 1948 at Lincoln Cathedral.

The tradition is often observed either the Sunday before Christmas or on Christmas Eve.

Over the years the symbolism of the Christingle grew into what's known as a Christingle today. What does it represent?

• The orange represents earth.
• The candle gives light to the darkness, just as the love of God and Jesus himself does. (The foil is only there to catch waxy drips from the...

As you consider buying books for your child this Christmas, a book by historically-wholesome American Girl reminds us of the importance of vetting content.

The 96-page book, “A Smart Girl’s Guide: Body Image: How to love yourself, live life to the fullest, and celebrate all kinds of bodies” is written for girls aged 8-13 and promotes, among other things:

• getting "medicine" (puberty blockers) from doctors in order to "have more time to think about your gender identity"
• children contacting LGBT organizations if their parents are not supportive of exploring gender identity

“The way you show your gender to the world through clothes and behaviors is your gender expression,” the book reads, as reported by The Daily Mail. “Your gender expression can be feminine, masculine, or somewhere in between – and it might change! Maybe you’ll experiment with bright dresses and long, feminine hairstyles. Or you might try baggy...

 Nearly a quarter of a million messages were sent to the CDC board about the vote to adopt the covid shot to the recommended schedule of childhood immunizations.

On Thursday, however, the CDC voted to add the covid-19 shot.

The impact of this decision is that every child in order to comply would be required to get this shot in order to enroll in a daycare, school, or play athletics.

Three of the concerns about this:

1. This does not allow a parent to make what they believe to be the best choice for their child.

2. There are still so many unknowns about the effects of the shot and good science in support of them is lacking.
 
3. Shot makers have been granted a blanket immunity from lawsuits stemming from adverse effects.

States often DO follow CDC guidelines, but are not required to.

 So let's make sure our states do NOT accept this.

Please pray with me:

Father, I pray that NOT ONE state would adopt this recommendation. Protect our children and pour out your wisdom on all...

Have you heard about Walt Disney Company's latest anti-family move? Just this last year...

• They posed strong opposition to a Flordia bill that would empower parents
• They vowed to incorporate more LGBT characters and storylines into children's media
• Now the FXX Network, controlled by Disney, is premiering the animated series "Little Demon" (showing on FX and Hulu).

According to pluggedin.com and other online reviewers, the first episode, titled "First Blood", included:

• satanic imagery
• full frontal nudity
• sex talk, including references to bestiality
• animated blood and gore
• pentagrams
• dismembered bodies and melting human flesh
• satanic rituals
• witchcraft portrayed as good
• graphic violence, such as beheaded chickens
• urination on corpses
• extreme profanity
• teens drinking and vaping
• glorified murder

(All this in just the first episode....)

Yet, instead of terrifying, Satan is depicted as an average, middle-aged man with a "Mr. Rogers" look (sweater included!) And Hell isn't...

The battle between darkness and light is fierce these days, and it's out for our children.

In what many would have thought would have been a safe places -- first Disney, and now a major toy company -- they are promoting their perverted agendas to try and twist our children's minds.

End of May 2022, Mattel released a new Barbie doll, fashioned after actor Laverne Cox. "#TRANS IS BEAUTIFUL" is the new Barbie hashtag.

Trans actor Laverne Cox said the new Barbie doll in his image can be " a celebration of transness, and also a space for [children] to dream, understand and be reminded that trans is beautiful," he said. "That there's hope and possibility for them to be themselves."

In a statement shared with PEOPLE Magazine, Lisa McKnight, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Barbie and Dolls at Mattel, said the brand "couldn't be more excited" to partner with Laverne Cox on the transgender doll. 

(I wonder if this excitement would wane if we shared this with...

Are you concerned about the "woke" messages trying to hit your kids from every side, including elementary schools'  ABCs of socialist activism — teaching kids terms such as “W is for woke,” “S is for social justice,” and “A is for activist”?

It's up to us as parents to be intentional to help our kids understand freedom and liberty is an important party of society.

I recently heard about a book series, the Tuttle Twins, that was written by a dad who teaches the ideas of a free society through fun stories.

Maybe this would be a great tool for your family?

One parent review said, "Tuttle Twins is a breath of fresh air amidst a one sided educational system that trains kids to be good employees rather than good citizens."

I even read reviews that said the parents learned a few things alongside their kids as they read through this series.

Check out the Tuttle Twins children's book series here.

On another...