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Small Deeds Count 2007-02-26 21:21:03
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” Zechariah 4:10 NLT
What seems small to you might be huge to someone else. Ask Bohn Fawkes. During World War 2 he piloted a B-17. On one mission he sustained flak from Nazi anti aircraft guns. even though his gas tanks were hit the plane did not explode, and Fawkes was able to land it. On the morning following the raid Fawkes asked his crew chief for the German shell, to keep as a souvenir of his good fortune. The chief explained that not just one, but eleven shells had been found in the gas tank, none of which had exploded. Technicians opened the shells, and found them void of explosive charge. They were clean and harmless, and with one exception, empty. The exception contained a carefully rolled piece of paper. On it a message had been scrawled in the Czech language: “this is all we can do for now.” A courageous assembly line worker was disarming bombs and scribbled that n Read more:Small
Fun Friday! 2007-02-23 12:21:36
Maxine is my smart alleck alter ego.
You know the things you would never say, but wish sometimes you had the guts.
Well, I am off to a girls “crop ’til you drop” weekend, hope yours is as relaxing and fun as mine!
Read more:Friday
Thankful Thursday - Perspective! 2007-02-22 12:45:58 A friend sent this to me, and I thought it appropriate for ThankfulThursday
, life is about perspective, and knowing there is always something to be grateful for. Whether we have alot or nothing at all. Sometimes less truly is more.
One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.
On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?” “It was great, Dad.” “Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked.
“Oh yeah,” said the son. “So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father.
The son answered: “I saw that we have one dog and they had four.
We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.
We have imported lanterns in our garden and Read more:Perspective
Be An "Oprah" 2007-02-21 12:25:22 We look to our boyfriends/spouses/family/friends to tell us how great we are but this truth is as follows:
“You are the first example of how the world is supposed to love you and you have to give them the best example ever. You expect someone to show you your greatness when instead you’re supposed to show up understanding your greatness and allow them to celebrate it with you.” Lisa Nichols
I watched Oprah
one day and the lady on it said that she had fulfilled her lifelong dream to be on Oprah and Oprah gave her this look and then put her hand on her leg and said, "Dream Bigger". I think it's great that folks want to be ON Oprah (the list of friends is long), but I want to be an “Oprah”, meaning someone who has lived 100% of their greatest self and effected lives in the process.
A friend of mine was told that she had the mantle of Kathryn Kulman last week and I said, "why not carry your own mantle?"
I don't think everyone is called to a larg
Let The Kids Cook Tonight! 2007-02-20 12:49:52 I have been taking a class on healthy cooking/eating and we made “pizzas” with tortillas. I tried it with my girls, and they loved it. It is so simple, and delicious, and great even for finicky eaters because everyone can make their pizza their way. Anna, only 2 years old, was even able to participate. This is a great way to take the stress out of cooking dinner, because everyone participates, and has a great time!
Here is what you do:
Whole Grain/Wheat Tortillas
Olive Oil
(All ingredients are optional)
Shredded Cheeses (Cheddar, Mozzarella, and I like Feta Cheese)
Sautee onions
Marinara Sauce
Sliced Tomatoes
Basil/Oregano
Turkey Pepperoni
Mushrooms
…And anything else you would want on a pizza!
Have everything prepared and in easy, serving dishes for the kids to serve themselves. With a basting brush, coat each side of the tortilla with olive oil.
Add the desired ingredients, and cook in oven @ 350 or 400 for about 10 minutes (or until tortilla is crispy)
This is a Read more:Tonight
Why Do I Blog? 2007-02-19 13:17:54 Aurelia has tagged me with the question “Why do I blog?”
1-Well, I have had a desire to help other moms. We all struggle with the same things on some level, identity for ourselves, perspective in life, finding the balance of what we can and can’t do in all things (God, marriage, children, work,etc.),and finding our confidence as a parent (in loving them and disciplining them).
2- I am a mom of 2 beautiful girls, and a wife to a WONDERFUL husband (Can you tell he cleaned the kitchen last night, left me with this Kerri, Tracy, and Red the Barber Why do you blog?
In other news…
Yesterday was my daughter Anna’s birthday, she turned 2! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY! I will post birthday pictures soon!
Fun Friday! 2007-02-16 13:01:15
From: The Parent’s Handbook
Have a great weekend!
Read more:Friday
Adoption…Connections: An Important Part of the Journey 2007-02-15 11:47:18 Many of you that join us here at 1smartmom may have made the decision to grow your family by adopting or know someone who is on the journey. This month we will talk about some of the "in and outs" of private domestic adoption. In a previous post I mentioned that our 2 private domestic adoptions happened unusually quick. One took place within 60 days. The other in 4 months. This is not the norm.
Most private domestic adoptions take at least one year from paperwork to baby. A good agency or private adoption attorney should tell you that it will be 12 to 18 months. In our adoption experiences we were told this by the agency we began application with and by our attorneys that assisted us with our adoptions. Sometimes it can take longer. This depends on how much criteria you stipulate for your birth mom and potential child.
We had little criteria just a huge desire to have children. Which I believe was a key to getting both our boys so quickly
Agencies are great for 1st time par Read more:Adoption
, Journey
Yep It's Valentine's 2007-02-14 12:43:02 A quick quiz: St. Valentine
was:
a) a priest in the Roman Empire who helped persecuted Christians during the reign of Claudius II, was thrown in jail and later beheaded on Feb. 14.
b) a Catholic bishop of Terni who was beheaded, also during the reign of Claudius II.
c) someone who secretly married couples when marriage was forbidden, or suffered in Africa, or wrote letters to his jailer’s daughter, and was probably beheaded.
d) all, or some of the above.
If you guessed d), give yourself a box of chocolates.While all the facts are not in on St. Valentine,This man truly showed his love, he gave it away freely.
For some of you Valentine’s is dreaded, just knowing your husbands are going to screw it up! For some, you can not wait to see what he came up with this year. For others, maybe because of money, or maybe because you are just not feeling the love, some wish it would just pass on by. I have been all of these. Mostly worried he was going to screw it
The Writings of an Emotional Woman! 2007-02-13 14:25:34 “The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.”
“In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
(Psalms 25:17-18; Psalms 118:5-6 NIV)
As I was growing up, my dad, although he was expressive with his love and did cry at joyous or extremely sad moments, was always on my mom about needing to control her emotions. I saw the outburst and out of control anger in response to whatever she felt. My dad’s answer was that she should tell herself how to feel, sort of a “fake it ’til you make it” theology.
I have been told that I am just like my mom; this angered me. While I love my mom, and know I have gained her strengths and her great qualities, when that was used it was not to highlight her, or my, greatest qualities. I have struggled with this from the time I was youn Read more:Writings
, Emotional
Saying You Are Sorry 2007-02-28 13:30:40 I am not a perfect mother. I am not a perfect wife, and I am not a perfect woman. Big shock?! Yeah well, let me just go ahead and put it out there.
Have you ever had one of those days where you are great with the kids, seem to stay on top of the house work, your five year old cleans her room without being asked, dinner is on the table promptly at 5 pm, as hubby walks in the door. You have had a shower today, so you are looking great, and he notices. The children are well behaved little angels at the dinner table, tucking themselves into bed so you can relax this evening with your bubble bath (yep you get two baths) and candles and favorite magazine while your husband cleans the kitchen from dinner, because he is the world’s greatest husband…
Once, one time I had a day like that, maybe not even that good, but as close as it ever will be. Since every day can not go as smoothly as this one described, there are more days than not that our voices are raised more than they sho
Bratz Dolls Harmful? 2007-02-27 13:30:36 Sexualised images in the media are psychologically damaging young girls and corrupting childhood, according to a group of psychologists.
The report says that virtually all media forms are promoting inappropriate images of products such as toys and clothing that are harmful to girls’ self image and healthy development.
It specifically criticises Bratz
dolls, which come dressed in miniskirts and fishnet stockings and outsell Barbie dolls in Britain by two to one. Asda has been condemned for marketing black lacy underwear to nine-year-olds.
The American Psychological Association’s (APA) report says that marketing companies take advantage of youngsters’ desire for affection and the need to conform, leading to eating disorders, low self-esteem and depression. Academics believe that the influence and attitudes of parents, siblings, and friends can also add to the pressures of sexualisation.
Eileen Zurbriggen, the APA’s chairman, said: “The consequences of the sexualisation of girls Read more:Dolls
Fun Friday: How to Stay Married… 2007-03-02 13:19:08 My Dad sent me this one, and I thought it pretty cute! Don’t take it too seriously, unless you really do know how to crochet!
A man and woman had been married for more than 60 years. They had shared everything. They had talked about everything. They had kept no secrets from each other except that the little old woman had a shoe box in the top of her closet that she had cautioned her husband never to open or ask her about.
For all of these years, he had never thought about the box, but one day the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would not recover. In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man took down the shoe box and took it to his wife’s bedside. She agreed that it was time that he should know what was in the box.
When he opened it, he found two crocheted dolls and a stack of money
totaling $95,000. He asked her about the contents.
“When we were to be married,” she said, “my grandmother told me the secret of a happy ma Read more:Friday
, hellip
Bubble Baths 2007-03-01 12:19:43 Need something to do with cooped up kids? Kerri suggests a bubble bath … a great idea that is usually forgotten. We use it at the end of the day. Our girls get in together, and will typically give us at least 30 minutes to catch up on everything they have pulled out. If we add the bubbles we may be good for another 15 minutes, at least ’til the water gets cold. We know what a good bubble bath does for us, but a bubble bath for our kids benefits us all.
Kerri and Hsien-Hsien Lei at Play library details toys, and great ideas to do with children. They are just “Two mommies chatting about kids’ toys, games, books, and just fun stuff to do.” So check them out and see what you can find! Read more:Bubble
, Baths
Discipline Check Up 2007-03-05 13:23:58 This will be helpful, especially if you are having struggles in discipline, or difficult behaviors.
1) Are expectations clearly communicated?
Have a sit down and clearly tell your children what you expect of them. If you went to a job and the boss gave you no direction and then yelled at you because you had not gotten something finished, wouldn’t you feel confused?
2) List 4 primary expectations for your household.
(Example: NO hitting, pushing, or biting!) Write out the “House Rules” and place it where it can be seen. Discuss and decided on the rules with your spouse before sitting down with the kids.
3) Do you have clear consequences for misbehavior?
It is good that you and the children know what the consequence is for each behavior, it dissolves irrational consequences in anger or frustration.
4) List the consequence that corresponds to the expectation.
Possibly involve your children in this. Ask them what they think should happen if they lie to mom Read more:Discipline
, Check
Don’t Worry, Be Happy! 2007-03-06 13:29:17
So do not worry saying ‘What shall we eat or what shell we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly father knows that you need them. But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:31-34
This scripture has become so imperative for me to live by in the last year. When my husband stepped away from his very secure University job to pursue something different, I was a little nervous. When within just a month that opportunity proved not the right path, I became frightened. But I knew one thing, going back to his “secure” job was not his heart, nor was it going to be his happiness. As a wife, no matter how much it worried me, I could not ask him to do that. (After all in all of our financial struggles he has never asked me t Read more:Happy
Emily’s Favorite Sound! 2007-03-07 12:29:47 Ben and I have used a parenting method from the time Emily
was born called “Growing Kids God’s Way” or “Baby Wise.” While we have not read all the material we have found the infant and toddler information very helpful. One of the philosophies this program supports is that the nucleus of the family is around the parents. We were a family before you got here, and you are a beautiful addition to this family. However mommy and daddy need to have their time, thus keeping the family and child happier long term. They, as well as I with my own children, have seen that children need to see their parents interacting with each other in a conversational, relational way. If they see us doing more than co-existing then they are secure in the family’s existence.
I know what you are thinking, they can not process all of that. While this may be true you would be amazed at what showing your spouse a little affection in front of your child can do for their attitude. O Read more:Favorite
, Sound
Woman Sues Doctor for Child-Rearing Cost After Failed Abortion 2007-03-08 13:32:13 Yesterday I received an email from “the mom blogs” wanting my thoughts on the following news:
Woman Sues Doctor
for Child-Rearing Costs After Failed Abortion
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
BOSTON — A woman who had an abortion but still gave birth has filed a lawsuit against two doctors and a family planning organization seeking the costs of raising her child.
The complaint was filed by Jennifer Raper, 45, last week in Suffolk Superior Court and still must be screened by a special panel before it can proceed to trial.
Raper claimed in the suit that she found out she was pregnant in March 2004 and decided to have an abortion for financial reasons, The Boston Globe reported in its Wednesday editions.
Dr. Allison Bryant, a physician working for Planned Parenthood at the time, performed the procedure on April 9, 2004, but it "was not done properly, causing the plaintiff to remain pregnant," according to the complaint.
Raper then went to see Dr. Benjamin Eleonu at Boston Medical
Endurance. 2007-03-12 11:28:09 “The testing of your faith produces endurance.”
1 Corinthians 1:3 (NAS)
Everywhere I turn around these days this word, endurance, seems to be screaming at me. And in just about every area of my life I would like to scream back at it. My devotional said “God won’t permit more pressure than we can handle” and then I read Paul said “People are watching us as we stay at our post … immersed in tears yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many, having nothing, having it all.” 1 Cor. 6: 1-10. Then I hear a song, “Having faith in the long run is easier said than done; It’s hard to live out in the light of day … Despite all your tendencies, God sees it differently; Your struggle’s a time to grow …”
Throughout several areas in my life right now it seems that victory, or breakthrough, is right around the corner, yet so far away. But isn’t this what endurance is about?
Read more:Endurance
Share the Burden of House Cleaning. 2007-03-14 11:31:35 A few months ago a friend of mine mentioned that she and another friend of her’s swapped house cleaning. I thought this was such a marvelous idea I suggested it to my sister. She thought it was great too, so we set a day. We have been doing it for a few months now, and love it. It really feels like a maid coming to your home every other week, giving your house a once over. The key is to find someone that likes (or doesn’t mind) doing what you do not like to do.
Here is how it works for us:
The first week on Tuesday, I go to Jo Anna’s home, the next week she comes to mine. She hates vacuuming, I do not mind. So at both houses I do all of the vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping.I hate doing bathrooms, she doesn’t mind. So at both houses she does the bathrooms at both houses.
It works great! We do not have to do the tasks we hate the most. This makes it much more bearable, and your home is easier to maintain during the 2 week period.
So, Go find you a cleaning p Read more:Share
, Burden
, House
, Cleaning
Busy Mama’s Can Be Healthy! 2007-03-13 11:47:16 As many of you know I have been taking a healthy cooking class. I have been learning so much about what the ingredients I read on packages really are.( I am going to share some of them here soon). I have always been amazed at how many parents do not understand the importance of feeding their children fruits and vegetables. And no, french fries though a potato, does not count. We can give our children supplements and that is good, but science is discovering how fresh fruits and vegetables are the best way to get these vitamins and minerals in you. Why? Because if you break down the vitamins and minerals in a head of broccoli you will find that the minerals help the vitamins be better absorbed, and vice-versa. God has the perfect balance in these natural products to work just right together in your body to create the optimal health benefits. If you eat whole wheat (nothing enriched) breads, the fiber in it not only helps our digestive system better, but it also causes the protein in th
Journey’s With Kelly… A Marathon Adoption of Epic Proportions 2007-03-15 11:51:00 Since I began this adoption series on 1smartmom, I have mentioned a few times that we have been in a lengthy international adoption process. I have chosen this month to begin to tell you this story. 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 second son's life is destined to be linked to mine forever. Remember this as you read about my MarathonAdoption
of Epic Proportions.
Our adoption journey to bring our #2 son into our lives began in the Fall of 2002. We had recently relocated across the country to be closer to extended family. We were settled and ready to begin the adoption process again. I had begun to ask the Lord to bring another little boy into our home that was around 2 or 3 years old.
We felt that the age of our older son would fit nicely with a 2 year gap. I wanted Zach to have a playmate for life.
A usual practice in our life is to "sow†Read more:Journey
, hellip
Fun Friday: Should A Guy Pay? 2007-03-16 12:28:16 Two of my very best friends are single. One lives in Washington, D.C. yet is originally from the south. While she believes in southern hospitality and all that goes along with it, the guys in D.C. do not, and apparently neither do the women who constantly think she should go out with a guy after he made her split the check. He would pay for a client he is wooing, right?
Plus, as those of us who are married know, once you are married even when he “gets the bill” it is no longer the same. You no longer think, “awwwe he spent that much on me for dinner, how sweet”. Now you think “Do you know how many diapers I could have bought for that, or shoes!”
My husband and I were friends before we dated. When I went home for Christmas I went out with another guy friend. He took me out and payed for my dinner and movie. When I came back my sister, in her attempts to make Ben move, told everyone I went on a date with a very cute guy. (Who was cute, but I digres Read more:Friday
Never Pray For Patience 2007-03-19 18:49:26 In my life I have heard it said many times “Do not pray for patience. You know how God gives you patience right? All hell breaks loose in your life. Every line you get in will be long, and every one will begin to get under your skin. So do not pray for patience.”
So I never have, but I have asked for maturity so I suppose I inadvertently asked for it, since patience is part of maturity. I found this past weekend, in discussing life with a small group of friends, Patience seems to be the what God is working in us all. Patience causes the ability to endure which, as I said last Monday, is definitely the theme of my life right now. Interestingly enough my devotional Saturday was on patience, and then Saturday night was when everyone agreed that was what God was doing in their life. So I thought I would share Saturdays devotional here.
“Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be (mature)…wanting nothing.” James 1:4
Just because it hasn’t h
Emma’s Thoughts 2007-03-21 12:21:27 The following is a letter my husband’s aunt Emma, and dear friend, sent to her family and friends in 2005. She was killed in a tragic car accident not even 2 months later. Reflecting on this letter was so bitter sweet, and full of the hope and encouragement that Emma would have said to us had she been standing there herself. As spring has arrived, it has caused me to remember her, and this letter. Today I honor her memory and legacy she left us.
These words are as powerful and true today as they were then. I pray that this will spark hope in those who need it, and reflection for others. God Bless you .
March 28, 2005
To My Dear Friends,
Easter is a time of year when a newness of life is “springing up” all around us. Nature seeming to flaunt its ability to come back from the dead to life with glorious displays of color. Hope seems to be renewed all around. The grip of winter is slipping but winter does not give up without a tremendous fight. The severe weather we ar
What Surprises You Most About Being A Mom? 2007-03-20 11:47:48 “What surprises you most about being a mom?”
Myself.
My temper and impatience
How tired I feel.
How much I love my child.
That while I love my children, some days I don’t like them.
How being a mom brings out the worst and best in me.
How many times a nose needs to be wiped.
How much more I understand God’s love for me.
How wonderful it is to be called “Mommy”
(Answers from “What Every Mom Needs”)
The Mom Blog has asked us this question this week. And I thought it would be fun to respond.
I think what has surprised me most is how much they really follow our example. We have all heard the kid who repeats things their mommy says (and it always seems to be the embarrassing things), but I can not seem to get over how much comes out of Emily that I have inadvertently put in her. For example, the one thing I have always struggled with since Emily was born is my weight. Not long after she was born, I started Weight Watchers and went back and f
Popeye’s 2007-03-22 12:02:57 Here is a great breakfast idea!
Whole Wheat bread lightly spread with butter on each side.
Cut a whole in the center
Place the bread in a nonstick pan
Crack an egg in the hole of the bread. (Best if you do not break the yolk, but you can if you prefer)
Lift the 4 corners of the bread to allow the egg to seep underneath.
As the egg begins to cook, flip it to the other side once.
Benefits: It is quick and easy, taste great, and with whole wheat bread you get fiber, protein, and every benefit of an egg in one quick breakfast. With the butter LIGHTLY spread it is a very healthy breakfast. (I use the calorie free Butter spray)
Tips:
Spray the pan with pam and/or use a non-stick pan.
Be sure to lift the corners, it helps everything cook evenly.
Cook on Medium.
Fun Friday…American Idol 2007-03-23 12:04:32 Today I would like to ask the question everyone has to be asking. How in the world did Sanjaya make it to the top ten?! Someone said they heard that Howard Stern was trying to prove the power of his audience, so he told his listening audience to vote for the worst one, which is Sanjaya. He wants him to win to show everyone how much influence and power he really has. Are you kidding me? Is this for real?
I loved Sundance, and could not believe he did not make it to the final 12. I thought it was a fluke and Sanjaya would be gone soon, but he hasn’t left yet. And did you see the little girl crying the whole show? O.K. she is going to be mortified in about 2 or 3 years, and for the rest of her life. I just hope she does not have a brother who will love to use it over her.
Seriously with Sanjaya, is it Howard Stern, is it the teeny bopper vote, what? If it is Howard Stern I think that is such an awful thing for him to do, because he is hurting someone else’s chance every ti Read more:Friday
, hellip
, American
, American Idol
Fitness and Self Esteem in Kids 2007-03-26 13:35:21 I know that whether you are a parent or not, if you watch television, listen to a radio, or read a magazine, you are very aware of the obesity epidemic in this country. What is shocking is the amount of children that are overweight. I did not begin struggling with my weight until my teenage years. I was not really into any special activities such as sports, or dance, but I was very active outside. My mom would make us go in the yard and play. Only having 3 channels on the television helped too. One friend of mine, who had struggled and has now found freedom from her weight, said she remembers having tummy aches all the time when she was little and no one could figure out why. Looking back now she says it was because she was eating herself sick even as a little girl, and her mother had no clue.
Our preschool stresses healthy eating, which I love. Only healthy snacks, only water to drink, etc. Yet they have a party for any little thing and there are sweets and junk food at every
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