Help for Those Who Have Had a Miscarriage

Recently I received the nicest email from Jennifer Saake, who has authored the book Hannah's Hope: Seeking God's Heart in the Midst of Infertility, Miscarriage and Adoption Loss (Nav Press, May 2005). Jenni has a wonderful site for parents who have experienced the loss of a child.

I have had one miscarriage, and although my one in no way touches the numerous and painful losses others have had, it does give me a sense of the loss others have felt. It's a tough road; may you find encouragement and hope through Jesus.

Nurturing Moms, ResourcesKendraAugust 5, 2006Comment

More Christmas Planning

Christmas isn't about us. It's about a concentrated time to focus on the birth of our Savior. I was raised in a Christian home where my parents told us straight out that Santa was a myth. Christmas Eve candlelight services were de rigeur, and Christmas Day had us focused on the right thing. Still, I was a greedy little girl who thought mostly of the gifts. Just being honest!

We have done different things over the years to help our children see the unselfishness in Christmas, and to understand that it is ALL about Jesus our Lord.

There are several great Christmastime devotionals for the family that we have enjoyed over the years. Jotham's Journey, Bartholomew's Passage, and Handel's Messiah Family Advent Reader.

We've done shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, sponsored a child through Bridge of Hope, and sung at a local retirement community.

Lisa has "given" each of her children their own Compassion International child in their stockings- she was able to choose children with the same birthdays as her own, and now they have the privilege of writing to and praying for their little brother or sister in Christ around the world.

What do you do at Christmastime to emphasize the true meaning of Christmas?

Life with Preschoolers, ResourcesKendraJuly 31, 2006Comment

Christmas Planning, Again

A couple of you mentioned the stress that sending Christmas cards brings. Because of it, ten years ago we decided to send an annual 4th of July letter instead. I cannot tell you what a blessing this has been to me!

People always respond positively- seems they enjoy getting a "Christmas" letter mid-year.

These two are being raised like cousins. Maybe we'll embarrass them and put this on next year's card...

If choosing another holiday or time of year doesn't appeal to you, then by all means start to think about your cards now. Get them ordered if that's what you like to do, or design them and start cranking them out. At the very least, start addressing and stamping the envelopes! If you did ten a night, you'd have them finished in no time flat, and probably before summer's end. Then write personal notes in November and pop them in the mail December 1st!

Some places to order from or glean ideas:

Exposures

Paper Style

Family Fun Christmas Card Ideas

Martha Stewart Christmas Card Ideas

Home Organization, Life with Preschoolers, ResourcesKendraJuly 28, 2006Comment

Christmas Planning

THANK YOU all so much for the birthday wishes! We had a great day together and I kept feeding myself a steady diet of protein to keep the all-day sickness at bay. Now, on to Christmas...

First of all, you need a battle plan. Now is the time to make lists! Open up an Excel document and start a master gift list, even if you don't have any ideas. At least list the names of the recipients and then your brain will be ready to chew on their gift ideas for the next few months.

And have you discovered Organized Christmas yet? You can download all sorts of forms for free. Yippee! Pop on over there and then share with us what you found to be most useful. And speaking of battle plans, they have a Grand Plan organized for you!

Home Organization, Life with Preschoolers, ResourcesKendraJuly 27, 2006Comment

Clean n Flip

Recently I purchased Times Tales for my 11-year-old,who was having trouble learning his upper times tables. He's a kinesthetic guy who has a hard time committing anything to memory. Well, WOW. He learned them in less than an hour. Really.

So I am perusing one of the publisher's blogs, and I happen upon another nifty product that just screamed "Preschoolers and Peace" to me: the Clean n Flip Laundry Basket Cleaning for Kids! Let us know how it works for you.

Home Organization, Resources, Training Little OnesKendraJuly 21, 2006Comment

Morning Sickness Revisited

I know it's iffy to post on a day when the morning sickness isn't knocking me out, but I *believe* I have had some success by keeping my stomach full of protein and by using Shonda Parker's Morning Soothe. That little tincture has taken the edge off.

I am also taking Super Mom and Tummy Tune-Up, but it's hard to tell whether they're helping or not. Yesterday was a bad day, today is better.

I was head-down in the shower trying to keep from throwing up last night when my 5-year-old walked by and said, "What are you doing?" (Side note: we have no door on our bathroom. Six kids and no bathroom door. What were the previous owners thinking???)

I said, "Trying to keep from throwing up."

"Oh", she replied. "Well, if you throw up in there, make sure you clean it up. And next time, run to the toilet as fast as you can."

That funny five-year-old

Life with a New Baby, Nurturing Moms, ResourcesKendraJuly 18, 2006Comment

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