Owner: 1SmartMom URL:http://www.1smartmom.com Join Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 19:32:39 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: 1SmartMom.com - Nurturing women from marriage to motherhood and
everything in between! A place where you can find inspiration, creative ideas for parenting, and encouragement to live your dreams, and be the woman you were created to be. Site statistics:Click here
Keeping the Bathroom Clean 2007-03-27 12:20:37 You may not know this, but I HATE the bathroom, cleaning it that is. I am not sure why, other than it is disgusting, my sister says it is because that was my chore when I was little. Whatever reason I hate it, but I have found some tips to help make the cleaning easier and faster.
While I have read the idea in several places, Flylady calls it the “swish and swipe” method. It is simple really.
Every morning you swish your toilet with the toilet brush, and swipe your counters with a sanitizing wipe. The key is to keep your cleaning products handy, pine-sol and toilet brush by the toilet, wipes under the counter. Doing this every day (ok I do it every other day or so) keeps the counters from getting all the hair, hairspray, and icky build up. It keeps the toilet fresh and ready for even guests. Someone else even said that they use their wipe until it is out, so once they wipe their counter, and they have more wipe left, they may wipe the cabinets a little. They stop when Read more:Clean
Who Are You? 2007-03-28 12:36:37 Have you ever wondered about your personality, why you think so differently from your spouse? Even beyond the man/woman difference. Do you ever wish you could just figure out who you are and embrace it, instead of trying to be what others think you are?
Have you ever wondered what you would be good at, what are your strengths anyway? Before my husband Ben and I started dating, we were friends. He asked me to take this fun personality test. After giving you your personality it details you, to a pin point. He found out what type of wife, and mother I would be, and the strengths and weaknesses of my personality. What I found even more amazing is that it listed the healthy and unhealthy attributes of each personality. In other words, this is what a confident, secure, and whole individual with this personality would be like… and this is what an insecure, wounded, and broken individual person with this personality would be like.
I have found that knowing these things about myself,
Fun Friday! Grease Baby 2007-03-30 18:33:56 If you liked the original Grease movie, then you’ll love…. GREASE BABY!
Read more:Friday
A Mother’s Influence 2007-03-29 13:04:33 My sister and I were talking about a news report she heard about children’s behavior and learning skills being better developed in those that stayed at home with mom between 0 and 5 years versus those that were raised in daycares. Then I received this article, by Koinonia House Online, and found it very interesting. Now, while I do not endorse that every mother must stay at home with their child, or that women should not be allowed to pursue careers or things they are passionate about, I do think these findings support that there is no replacement for a mother. It is a mother who cares to invest the most into their children, and no one can be payed enough to have that. It is not something developed but a God-given thing given to mothers the day they conceive their child. Whether you work outside or inside the home the point is, it is you that will lead, influence, and teach your child the most and no one can change that.
Fifty years ago in America, the majority of mothers sta
God’s Timing 2007-04-02 13:35:04 If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what He reveals, they are most blessed.
Proverbs 29:18 (Message)
We have all heard the song “To everything - turn, turn, turn There is a season - turn, turn, turn And a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to be born, a time to die … A time to plant, a time to reap… A time to kill, a time to heal… A time to laugh, a time to weep” (By The Byrds) And most know they ripped that off from Solomon who said “To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up [that which is] planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;…” (Ecc. 3:1-3)
But how many of us know that in the midst of our prayers not being answered, in the midst of our trials and our pain, we do not care about perfect Read more:Timing
Mind Clutter! 2007-04-03 12:24:59 “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek.” Psalm 27:4 NIV
If you are really serious about developing your spiritual life, begin by assessing what stands in your way. That requires honesty. The first challenge is how to deal with the stress in our lives and the resulting clutter it produces in our minds. Dr. Howard Hendricks gives us 4 sources of mind clutter. Let’s examine them carefully:
(1) Saying yes to far too many things!
Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer once said, “Much of our activity is little more than a cheap anesthetic to deaden the pain of an empty life.” All our “going and doing” fails to address our core of emptiness.
(2) Not stopping to recharge our batteries!
We dutifully pull out our day-planner and fill in the spaces between activities. But let’s not fool ourselves; avoiding overlapping activities isn’t planning. As a result we’re a stressed-out, short-tempered, horn-blowing crowd, commuting between poorl
Writing Challenge 2007-04-04 15:34:03 I would like to invite you to share your stories. If you have an inspirational story of something God has brought you through, or a beautiful parenting moment, or maybe a parenting struggle you have had to face, we want to hear about it! If you would like to share your story we would love to hear it. (It won’t take that long, and it doesn’t even have to be too long … you can see about the length of our posts.)
You can send it to Angel@1smartmom.com and we will post one each week. Again, I know every mom has a story, and we all want to hear them. If you have your own blog, be sure to include your site link!
I look forward to hearing from all of you!!
Read more:Challenge
The First to Tell the Greatest News! 2007-04-06 14:05:56 …The women deep in wonder and full of joy, lost no time in leaving the tomb. They ran to tell his disciples. Then Jesus met them, stopping them in their tracks. “Good morning!” he said. They fell to their knees, embraced his feet and worshiped him. Jesus said ” You’re holding on to me for dear life! Don’t be frightened like that. Go tell my brothers that they are to go to Galilee and that I’ll meet them there”
(Matthew 28:8-10 Message)
This Sunday Christians all over will be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. As I mentioned yesterday, my husband and I are reading all the gospels accounts of the week of Passion to His resurrection. We have even read it in Emily’s children’s bible, so that she and Anna are able to participate.
While the versions, and even the 4 Gospels themselves, vary in their accounts of the details there are constants that do not change. Obviously they all agree on the fact that the tomb is empty, a Read more:First
, Greatest
Mary, the MOTHER of Jesus 2007-04-05 15:52:23 Easter Sunday is fast approaching, and now we are in the week of Passover. As a part of remembering this week, my husband and I have been reading the different accounts of the crucifixion and resurrection in each of the four Gospels. It is easy to become bored when reading a story you have read a hundred times before, but each time I read even the same story in the Bible, I find something new, and this is what makes the Bible come alive to me!
As we get older and enter into new stages of our life, we begin to see things from a different perspective. As a child we see the mother-child relationship from the child’s perspective, looking up to her mother. When we grow older and have our own children, there is a whole new understanding of that love and bond.
Because of that new understanding I have read the account of Jesus
’ crucifixion from a completely different perspective, that of a mother. I have seen Mel Gibson’s “Passion” and if you have not, I think eve
Increased Faith 2007-04-10 13:13:07
BY: Stephanie Derolus
She found herself saying to God “my faith is little.” But then it was stated to her “take it one day at a time, days will become weeks, weeks will turn into months, and months into years.” As I replay back these words and view her struggle, it was her faith that God was growing. As the days did in fact become weeks and as weeks flowed into months and months evolved into years, her faith increased powerfully and passionately with each step that she took. God’s grace empowered her to press on towards her goal. She did not lose sight of her prize but was more “desperate” to finish. With each obstacle that she faced she endured. With each challenge that she encountered she persevered. And through it all she conquered and was victorious. The enemy wants us to lose hope and faith. But then the Holy Spirit empowers us to press through. I am reminded of this in Paul writings, and then I am encouraged more.
I really want to s Read more:Faith
Fruit Smoothies 2007-04-12 13:10:18 Oh the simplest summer recipe ever! It will keep you cool, and you won’t even break a sweat making them or cleaning it up!
You will need:
- 8 oz of O.J.
- Any frozen mixed fruits
- Blender
Directions:
Pour OJ into the blender.
Add fruit, A little higher than the juice, and blend (I have a little button on mine called “Frappe” works great!)
Pour and enjoy!
Thoughts:
~No need for ice, because the fruit is frozen.
~If you use more tart berries you may want to throw in a little spoonful of splenda or sugar to help break the tartness,
Or I have bought OJ/Pineapple Blend. It adds the extra sweetness
~Using tropical fruit will be very sweet!
~Make sure the ingredients on the fruit and the juice does not have added sugar or syrups, it is not necessary!
~This is a fantastic and fun way to get fruits in your kids, and you!
~It is a fabulous snack or part of a lunch or breakfast, like with a PB&J it adds a little more nutrition to the meal. I have even had the Read more:Fruit
Back to The Grass Roots of It All! 2007-04-11 13:40:05
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or
forfeit his very self?
(Luke 9:25 NIV)
Lately my five year old, Emily, has been caught up in the show I grew up on, “Little House on The Prairie”. Since we have tivo, and it comes on like 5 times a day on “Hallmark”, she gets to watch it whenever she fancies. (A lot more wholesome than Disney channel, I must say) Why the new interest? Because we have been watching Hallmark’s series, directed coincidentally by Michael Landon Jr., Love Comes Softly. (Based on the Janette Oak series) They are also about Prairie days with even more emphasis than “Little House” of God and His perfect provision. There are five total movies thus far, and more to come. I am not sure how many books there are, but I am planning on checking them out.
In watching these shows it has brought a renewed thought as to what is important. In one movie the m
Simple Truths! 2007-04-13 13:06:14 My husband gets these inspirational videos in his email, that just brings tears to my eyes. Watch this “Gift Of Inspiration” and remember that we can all make a difference if we believe that we can!
Happy Friday!
P.S. Here is one of my inspirations! I just had to share!
Read more:Simple
Tuna Tacos 2007-04-17 13:30:48 Ingredients:
1 can Tuna
1/2 jar Salsa
Mexican Cheese
Whole Wheat Tortillas
Directions:
Heat Non-stick grill. Mix can of Tuna with Salsa. Dip Tortilla in water to soften. Place on grill and heat on both sides.
Place Tuna and salsa in tortilla. Sprinkle Cheese over Tuna Mixture. Fold Tortilla and heat until cheese is melted.
This is a new recipe I have tried with my family, and we all loved it! Even my two year old ate it up! Here’s a tip for the kids:
After preparing it use a pizza cutter to cut it into triangles starting at the fold. It makes it easy for little fingers to pick up. Read more:Tacos
Emily’s Love! 2007-04-16 13:23:16 Pet clean up tip: Swiping a used fabric softener sheet over furniture is very effective for picking up pet hair.
The real reason for today’s post: After Friday’s picture of Anna I had to “balance” it out, by Emily
’s request (Demand), with a picture of Emily. This is her new cat Mittens. You can not know her delight in this cat unless you first know that for 5 years I adamantly said “NO CATS” , and that she and her daddy are cat lovers, and I am not! My advice today is to never say never! So here she is with the love of her life (for now, and hopefully for a long time!)
Thankful Thursday! 2007-04-19 11:30:30 I am thankful that God always provides, and on time! My Grandmother Nancy died last Friday. She has been sick for a long time. We knew it was coming and that we would have to travel to SC for her funeral. My husband and I were concerned about having the finances to travel. My sister had said “You had better put away a few hundred dollars for when Grandma dies”. I was like “What few hundred dollars?” So, on Friday when I received the news that my Grandmother had passed, we knew we really didn’t have anything to travel on. I packed our bags, and prepared to leave, not knowing how we were going to. As I talked on the phone with a friend of mine, I went to check the mail. There was a $900 dollar check that we were not expecting. On time, the day my grandmother passed! We were able to pay bills before we left, and have traveling money!
I am thankful that God provides, on time, every time!
Read more:Thankful
, Thursday
Gaudy Garb… 2007-04-18 09:30:48 Today I would like to feature an online business, and friend of mine, Marie Davis.
Marie, (Gaudy Garb), has made several things for my girls, and they are beautiful every time! While she is still adding content to her site, she has lots to offer. From clothes to curtains, and everything in between, she also offers monogramming, diaper bags and more, and always adds a personal touch. Her bibs and burp cloths and baby blankets make beautiful baby gifts (try saying THAT three times fast!!). The best part is she is extremely reasonably priced; you will not find this quality and price in any boutique.
She is a fabulous, creative person, and supporting her business is an honor &hellip
; so check out Gaudy Garb today!
A Marathon Adoption of Epic Proportions…Standing in the Middle of the Hope 2007-04-20 09:38:42 Last month I began sharing with you the beginning of my journey through international adoption. I will continue that thread this month. Maybe I'll finish, Maybe I won't, we shall see together. Let me begin this portion by saying again, this is not an article of what to do or not to do in an international adoption. It is simply my adoption journey.
God put this child in my life for a purpose. My Mitchell Feri's life is destined to be linked to mine forever. Remember this as you read about my MarathonAdoption
of Epic Proportions
.
When I saw the phrase "standing in the hope" as sign off of a friend's e-mail it spoke to me in a very real way. I said "That is me. That is where I have been for the past 4 years" It is where I live today. My journey during this adoption has been one with peaks of hope and valleys so low that I am not sure I can express in writing the pain that my heart has felt. This month I'll attempt to share some about just Standing
in the Hope Read more:hellip
, Marathon Adoption
, Epic Proportions
The Power of Our Words… 2007-04-24 09:17:01 Have you ever found yourself telling your spouse or someone about something your child did that day and finding that they begin repeating the behavior even while you are discussing it? For example I tell my husband how cute it is that if I say we are going to music class Anna begins saying the teachers name over and over, as I am telling him this she begins saying “La-La, La-La” (Mrs. Lauren, or Mrs. La-La as we call her) and giggling. We then smile and laugh at her.
Now, that is cute right? Have you ever been on the phone with a spouse and said “She is driving me nuts” or “You would not believe what he did today?”. O.k., well if you won’t admit it I will. I am guilty. I have done this. I am stuck in the car and one or the other girls is driving me crazy, I am on the phone with my husband or sister and vent away. (Anna loves to put her hands on Emily, and hear Emily say “Mommy Anna is touching me”, Anna proceeding to cackle laug Read more:Words
, hellip
The Confident Woman 2007-04-23 09:22:49 My goal this year has been to read one non-fiction book a month. Last week I began reading Joyce Meyers’ book “The Confident
Woman“. It is a must read for every woman! For those who are considered “aggressive” and “strong” women, it will bring freedom to what God has called you to. For the shy, timid, women it will give you the courage to break out of your shell.
She addresses the mistreatment of women over the centuries and today, as well as the twisting and improper representation of what began as a pure and good thing (the women’s rights movement).
She deals with the issue of women in ministry. While you can imagine the thoughts that this dynamic minister might have on this subject, she can back it up scripture after scripture. This particular part excited me because I wrote about this here, on April 6th, and then read it in her book last week!
Mary Magdalene and some other women were the first to visit the tomb on Resurrection Sund
Dream Boards 2007-04-27 13:48:28 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”(Heb. 11:1, NIV).
Recently my husband and I had someone tell us that we needed to do a “Dream
board”. What is a Dream Board? Well, apparently it is commonly known by successful people. It is simply a poster board with images, or words, of ideas, things, or accomplishments you want to see in your life. It is a way to visualize the things you are believing for helping to increase your faith.
The message translation says that faith is “our handle on what we can’t see…By an act of faith Abel brought a better sacrifice to God than Cain. It was what he believed, not what he brought, that made the difference.”
A dream board is simply a way to help you keep the images of things you are believing for before you. If you can imagine it and believe it, you can have it. I have heard stories of people who put their dream board away, but years later found it again,
When Science and Religion Agree! 2007-04-26 09:32:05 God delights in concealing things; scientists delight in discovering things.
Proverbs 25:2 The Message
I was sent this article yesterday. It never ceases to amaze me that while science seeks to disprove a creator, they continuously confirm His existence…
…The kids whose parents regularly attended religious services—especially when both parents did so frequently—and talked with their kids about religion were rated by both parents and teachers as having better self-control, social skills and approaches to learning than kids with non-religious parents.
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that children in religious homes hear things like …
Give yourselves to disciplined instruction; open your ears to tested knowledge… Listen with respect to the father who raised you and when your mother grows old, don’t neglect her. Proverbs 23:12;22 Children do what your parents tell you. This is only right. Ephesians 6:1
And parents read things like&helli Read more:Science
, Religion
Graham Cracker Ice Cream Sandwiches 2007-04-25 09:47:29 Ingredients:
Plain or chocolate GrahamCracker
s
Cool Whip
Directions:
Break Crackers in half put Cool Whip on the cracker and make a sandwich.
Put in freezer until Cool whip is frozen.
Note: Especially the Chocolate crackers make them taste like ice cream sandwiches. Get the light cool whip and they are about 50 calories, and a great low sugar treat. My girls love them! Read more:Cream
, Sandwiches
How Powerful Are Our Thoughts? 2007-05-01 09:03:58 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV)
Last week I briefly talked about the power of our words with our children. I have been taught all my life to be careful with my words. However, recently I have heard over and over again of the power of our thoughts.
I have always believed that I might think bad things but as long as I didn’t speak them it was alright. This is the best place to exercise control. James compares our tongues (our words) to a bit in a horse’s mouth. The bit in the horse’s mouth controls his whole body, telling him where to go, directing his path. Such a mighty, powerful animal is controlled by the direction of such a s
Bring on the Sparkle! 2007-04-30 22:45:53 Although I’m a firm believer that organizing and cleaning are two different things, I’m also a believer that cleaning helps any organizing project sparkle. In fact, one of the steps in the simplify 101 organizing process is to clean the space being organized. If you’re like me, though, cleaning isn’t the fun stuff. Bring me a binder or a bin and you’ve got yourself a deal. A broom and a dust pan? Now that’s another story.
If you find yourself with a whole lotta’ dust and whole *little* enthusiasm for cleaning (like an organizer you know) read on! We’ll get you motivated to clean, clean, clean in no time! Here’s how.
Focus on the results. Like with any good organizing project, if you’re having trouble getting started, focus on the end result. Think about how good it will feel when you’ve got that cleaning project under your belt. Really dwell on that sense of accomplishment. It works! And here’s how I know.
This past weekend, Jay and I embarked on a cleaning pro Read more:Sparkle
Fun Friday…Your Day is NOT that bad! 2007-05-04 13:41:54 Today I want to make you laugh, and remind you that whatever your children are putting you through, Your day is NOT that bad.
A boss wondered why one of his most valued employees had not phoned in sick one day. Having an urgent problem with one of the main computers, he dialed the employee’s home phone number and was greeted with a child’s whisper. ” Hello ? ”
“Is your daddy home?” he asked.
” Yes,” whispered the small voice.
“May I talk with him?”
The child whispered, ” No .”
Surprised and wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, “Is your Mommy there?” ” Yes .”
“May I talk with her?” Again the small voice whispered, ” No .”
Hoping there was somebody with whom he could leave a message, the boss asked, “Is anybody else there?”
” Yes ,” whispered the child, ” a policeman & Read more:Friday
, hellip
Breakfast Rolls 2007-05-03 13:27:04 Crescent Rolls
(Pillsbury is my favorite)
Scrambled Eggs
Cheese
Sausage (Optional)
Scramble eggs, and cook sausage separately
Open Crescent rolls and stretch them out a little
Add Egg, Cheese, and sausage
Roll the crescent rolls over the sausage, eggs, and cheese, closing on all sides.
Cook according to Crescent rolls directions Read more:Breakfast
It’s All In Your Head 2007-05-02 13:47:56 This movie, Facing The Giants, is about giving God all you can and where we can not go God carries us.
We have to break our mindsets of how much we can do, and know that with God ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!
No matter what you are going through today, we must Keep Going, and Don’t Quit!
Facing the Giants
Hollywood Holiness? 2007-05-09 12:26:42 I just thought this was interesting, making our world seem a little more hopeful than most believe…
I believe God is doing something in Hollywood
that mainstream media does not bother to tell us about. Famous actors
and actresses are seeking out truth and not only finding it but their lives and movies are changing accordingly. Even the unsaved in Hollywood are finding that there is a market for clean, moral films with positive messages. While we may hear about Kate and Tom and their conflicts about Christian Scientology, they do not mention much about the following examples.
Mel Gibson, while flawed as we all are, took a huge step to proclaim his faith. And no man could close the doors that God has opened. But even before Mel Gibson, God was doing something, moving on the hearts of those He had gifted with and blessed with so much.
Many have heard of Kirk Cameron’s message “Way Of The Master”, and his campaign to give Christians the confidence to witness to o Read more:Holiness
We Make It Complicated; He Makes It Simple 2007-05-08 09:43:32 If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get His help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it … But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God - the free life!- even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action. James 1:5-6; 25 Message (Emphasis added)
How many of us sometimes feel that no matter how many parenting books, or Supernanny shows we watch, or smart mommy blogs we read ( ) we still have days where we ask ourselves “what the heck am I doing?” Yes, even those of us who write the smart mommy blogs.
Life seems to be so complicated because sometimes there are no right or wrong answers to parenting, or how God allows circumstances to play out in our lives. And there are some things I cannot answer. My five year old can trip me up with some of lif Read more:Simple
Recommend Site To A Friend
