Roo Mag

There is a new on-line magazine/website started by Candace Cameron Bure for women called RooMag.com!



This is a really neat website with topics on fitness, food, decorating, fashion, and being a wife and mother! Check it out!

Today's post was written by Kelly Stamps (from Kelly's Korner) about what to do with all your Christmas cards.

I love finding new, fun websites! What are your favorites?

Time for Moms

I know I've probably said it before but I have a real heart for moms. Being a mom myself for almost 11 years (gulp - am I really that old?!) to 4 kids, I totally understand moms.
 
I know how  
... lonely motherhood can be
... difficult being a mom can be 
... physically exhausting it is 
... heartbreaking it can be
... mind boggling it is

But I also know how
... joyful it is to be a mom
... beautiful it can be
... fulfilling it is
... awe-inspiring it can be
... incredibly fun being a mom can be

I know the ups and downs and all arounds you can feel as a mom. I've ridden that roller coaster for a long time now, so I can definitely relate.

If you ever need someone to talk to or to encourage you or just plain cry with you, I'm here. I want you to know that. 

I also want to let you know about a few great groups for moms that I've heard about or participated in. These provide excellent opportunities to connect with other moms and have a little time for yourself.

The first group is MOMS NURTURING MOMS at Oakwood Church in Hartland.

Looking for a safe place where you can connect with other moms? Moms Nurturing Moms educates, encourages, and equips women for the most important job in all the world: parenting! Moms Nurturing Moms is biblically-based and designed around the concept of more experienced women teaching and encouraging younger women in their relationships.

The morning begins with a Continental-style breakfast followed by large group teaching time. Moms will then enjoy small group discussion to further explore each week’s topic.

When: Thursdays, beginning September 15, 2011 (September – May)
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Contact: Kathi Palmer 262-392-4112 or kapalmer7@gmail.com
Cost: $25.00/semester 1 only | $25.00/semester 2 only | $40/year
Includes registration, workbook, handouts and materials, teaching and childcare.
Childcare: We are delighted to provide childcare [birth – K] for those that are pre-registered.

SEMESTER 1
Grace Based Parenting

We will kick the year off with guest speaker Pam Olsen. Pam has extended experience with Love and Logic and will give us an overview of Love and Logic as well as answer any questions you might have. Pam will also lead us into our first semester DVD curriculum: Grace Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel. Dr. Kimmel, founder of Family Matters ministries, offers a refreshing new look at parenting. Rejecting rigid rules and checklists that don’t work, Dr. Kimmel recommends a parenting style that mirrors God’s love, reflects His forgiveness, and displaces fear as a motivator for behavior. As we embrace the grace God offers, we begin to give it—creating a solid foundation for growing morally strong and spiritually motivated children.

http://www.oakwoodnow.org/ministries/women/moms-nurturing-moms.html


The second group is INSPIRING MOMS OF PRESCHOOLERS at Elmbrook Church.

Our goal is to inspire you to flourish and keep you going in this all-important pursuit called motherhood. We believe that an inspired mom inspires! We start with a shot of hot coffee and uninterrupted conversation. We add an eclectic mix of speakers—experienced moms, parenting experts and helpful professionals. We stir in great discussion that offers the perfect blend of laughter and learning. You don’t even have to worry about child care. Your children (infants to K5) will be engaged in loving, educational, active play (LEAP) in the care of trained teachers for the entire morning. 

GREAT FOR
Moms of preschoolers (infants-K5).

WHEN & WHERE
Begins bi-weekly Tues., Sept. 20, 9:15-11:30 am OR Wed., Sept. 21, 9:15-11:30 am;
Elmbrook Church, Fellowship Hall
REGISTRATION INFO
$40 for the year, payable online or on the first day of class. All materials included with registration.

 
INSPIRING MOMS PLUS
Want to be inspired every week? If you’re already attending Inspiring Moms every other week, join us on the opposite weeks for Inspiring Moms PLUS. Meet with other moms of preschoolers to learn about and discuss Christianity. In this safe environment, no topic or question is off limits. Before class you’ll listen to an audio message to prepare for the class discussion, review great themes of the Bible and journal your thoughts. In class you’ll share your thoughts, ideas and questions. The Bible is God’s story—an epic narrative about His desire for a relationship with you. Explore how the story started, where it’s going, and where you fit in this incredible story.

GREAT FOR
Preschool moms seeking answers to their spiritual questions.

WHEN & WHERE
Bi-weekly beginning Tues., Sept. 27, 9:15-11:30 am OR Wed., Sept. 28, 9:15-11:30 am
Elmbrook Church
REGISTRATION INFO
FREE but must be registered for Inspiring Moms.

HAVE QUESTIONS?
Contact Debi Hovila 262.796.5747

L.E.A.P. LOVING, EDUCATIONAL, ACTIVE, PLAY
You can confidently place your children in a loving, educational and active play environment while you learn. Watch your child grow, too, under the care of trained teachers and assistants. Available during all morning growth groups for women, for infants-K5. You must be registered for a growth group for women for your child to participate.

http://elmbrook.org/adults/growing-strong/women/


The last group is MOM TIME at Fox River Christian Church. 

Mom Time is a ministry dedicated to mothers. It is a place to find friendship and encouragement as we go through the journey of raising children together.

Mom Time is a weekly gathering designed to allow mothers of young children to…
Connect with others in the same season of life
Learn from practical, Biblical teaching
Take a break from their children and be renewed

We meet October-May, Tuesday mornings from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.

If you are a mother of young children, please consider joining us for some “Mom Time.



http://foxriverchristian.org/GetConnected/Adults/Women/MomTime.aspx


If you would like more information on any of these groups, contact me and I can connect you with someone who attends or has attended one of these groups.

Take some time for YOU!

Park and Rec

When my oldest was young, I discovered Park and Rec and it was a lifesaver. Around the time she was 4 turning 5 and kindergarten was still far off, I needed to find something to keep her busy. She was (is) an active girl and bored easily. 



By the end of that winter, I had found out about Park and Rec and the great classes they offer. I signed her up for at least 3 or 4 of them including preschool. She tumbled, she created, she had something else to do besides drive me crazy. 



The classes were perfect for us. They are relatively inexpensive. They are not a big time commitment. There are a variety of different classes to try out for all ages. 

One of the best things we did was sign her up for preschool at Fox Tales Preschool through Park and Rec. The teachers are wonderful.  They love the kids and care about each one. I have sent all of my kids there that are old enough. 



I sent my son to 3 year old preschool. It was one morning a week. He brought his lunch; it was cute. He didn't come home a rocket scientist but it started him on this path to learning. It put him in a situation with new kids and new rules and gave him new experiences that I couldn't give him. It also started the process of testing him for speech therapy. (Which he needs, more than I realized, but that's another post.)

Fox Tales preschool is now one of the sites for the district's 4K program. This means that it is now 3 days a week instead of 2 and it's FREE! After paying to send 2 of my kiddos, that fact makes me smile. :)

I would encourage you, no matter where you live, to look into Park and Rec in your area. You might be surprised at the fun things they offer.  

The Perfect Mom

On Being the Perfect Mom
August 3, 2011
Chosenfamilies.org
 
A little over three years ago, Ben’s seizures started escalating.  “A seizure is a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain that usually affects how a person feels or acts for a short time” (epilepsy.com).  Ben began having seizures monthly, then weekly, eventually ending up where he would experience multiple seizures each day.
Ben spent several years experimenting with new medication, side effects, and an ever increasing battery of hospitalizations and medical tests.  I felt like I was measuring my weeks in doctors’ appointments and lab tests, continually relying on a handful of friends and babysitters to watch my three children.
One day I was talking with a friend whose husband was also struggling with serious illness.  We started discussing all of the ways that we have “cut corners” as moms because our energies are so focused on our husbands.
“If life were different, we would …”
watch less TV.
eat less fast food.
have playdates at our house more often.
supervise our kids’ homework more closely.
have family devotions every day … or at least every week!
The list went on and on as we each talked about what it would look like in our homes if we were the Perfect Moms.  We commiserated and laughed together, sharing an understanding that many women might not otherwise have.
Looking back, I think we missed the point.  The truth is, we are the perfect moms for our children.  We are parenting in the best possible way for the children that God has given us.  Ben’s disability affects our entire family.  The corners we cut and the accommodations we make are not God’s second best for us.  These adjustments actually help our family not only to survive but to thrive.  Eating fast food after a long day of dealing with unexpected seizures or watching TV together because Daddy and Mommy are too tired to play a game … these activities are not necessarily sin, or even second best.  They are what our family needs to do to lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and to run with endurance the race that is set before us.
God has given our children a front row seat to His sanctification process in our lives.  He graciously allows our children to watch us trust Him in the midst of difficulty and pain.   In many ways, our children are learning about God much like Job:  I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you. If our challenges bring us closer to God, then we are truly the perfect moms for our children.
~ Nancy

This post is written by a woman whose husband had a brain injury and lost his short term memory and struggles with seizures. This family deals with a lot! 

After reading her post, though, I realized that all families have struggles and challenges at different levels. We may not all face the same ones but they are there. They may not be obvious to an outside person but it does not mean that we don't struggle with them.  I could definitely relate to  her list of "If life were different" things. 
 
I thought this was a great post for any mom no matter what she is dealing with. We all get caught up in the way we think a "perfect mom" should be (I know I do) and don't realize that we are the perfect mom for our children. God planned it that way. I would not be the right mom for your children and I'm sure you would not be the right mom for mine.
 
Be the best mom YOU can be. That's all God is asking of us.

********************************************


 "The purpose of ChosenFamilies.org is for families living with hidden disabilities to be fully incorporated into the body of Christ. Our mission is to provide resources, connections and encouragement to families with hidden disabilities and to educate and provide resources to religious leaders as they minister to families with these needs.  ChosenFamilies.org is a community where people can exchange creative ideas to meet the challenges of living and prospering within a family with special needs.  We will endeavor to inform, educate, inspire, motivate, and encourage families and churches in this vitally important mission."

Shannon Royce explains,

"As a mom of a child who has been diagnosed with a hidden disability, I know the challenges our families face. These hidden disabilities — Anxiety, Asperger, ADHD, Autism, Bipolar disorder, Depression, Learning disabilities, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Tourette syndrome, and others — are neurological disorders that affect every area of a child’s and a family’s life."

Make it stop ...

This summer vacation I have heard more than my share of whining and I just can't take anymore. But what to do about it?

I found this resource on the iMOM website. I'm hoping this will help me in my quest to end the whines.

Whining: 10 Ways to Get Your Kids to Stop Whining


1. Ignore them

The vast majority of parents polled on this subject all say that ignoring a whining child is a great technique. This tends to come easier for women than it does for men. However, ignoring a whining child will eventually teach them that it gets them nowhere. As one mom said, "They stop when they see it's not working."

2. Leave the room

When your child begins to whine, simply leave the room. A parent explained, "I walk away from my 8-year-old to another part of the house.  He eventually comes around to see if I will throw the baseball or whatever. I explain I'd love to if he loses the attitude!"  Excellent advice.

3. Remove the cause

When it happens that your child is whining about a particular item, simply remove access to that item.  For example: Your children are whining about a toy they both want. After giving them time to work it out themselves, and it gets to that point, take the toy and put it away.

4. Name it

A father notes, "I tell them I don't understand whinese. They know they won't get very far with me, so they check themselves."  Using humor in this situation not only lightens the tension, it helps to bond with your kids.

5. Time Out

In cases of young children, the Time Out works for many different issues. This includes whining. An experienced babysitter stated, "Get down to their eye level and explain that you can see they are frustrated.  Instruct them to go somewhere quiet and think about why they are upset. In about five minutes, they will come back changed for the better."

6. Watch your tone

Men tend to have very low tolerance for whining.  It is a natural instinct to want to use intimidation to squash it usually by raising your voice to a high volume.  However, this can lower your child's self-esteem, as well as make them fear you. Instead, try using a firm and strong voice, but in a calm manner.

7. Change the Subject

A parent notes, "With my 3 year-old, changing the subject has an 85% success rate. When he whines, I will ask him a completely random question he can answer. Then we just move on from there."  Redirecting the attention of young children is always a great technique for many different situations. They are always eager to share their opinions!

8. The Whiny Jar

If your child receives an allowance, this is an outstanding technique. Whenever your child begins to whine, give them a warning. If it continues, they lose a portion of their allowance, and it goes into The Whiny Jar.  When enough money builds up, have them earn back the lost cash with extra chores.

9. You are the role model

Whining is not exclusive to children. We all whine from time to time, and it does not go unnoticed by your kids. Be sure when you are around them to think about the things you say and how they are said. Your kids are learning how to behave from you. Everything starts at the top, so be a good role model, and you will see the results in your children.

10. Make sure your kids get enough sleep

The number one reason a child usually becomes whiny is a lack of proper rest. As one doctor puts it, "Parents usually underestimate the amount of sleep their children require to function at their best. Sleep deprivation puts children's brains in a stress mode that creates a constant state of irritability."   Make sure your child gets a good night's sleep and it will help in every aspect of their life.

How Can You Love Your Children Today?

Raising children is hard work and a lot of it! Sometimes I get so caught up with the work of parenting that I forget to actually enjoy my children or take time to give them what they need most - my attention.

I came across this on the iMOM website and thought it was a good reminder for those times when i'm preoccupied with "doing for" my children. I need to take time to "care for" them, as well.

*Leave the dishes in the sink and tuck them in bed.
*Turn your computer off and look at your children.
*Turn your phone off and listen to your children.
*Stop what you're doing and go sit by your children.
*Walk across the room and hug your children.
*Kiss them at the door when they get home.
*Never leave an argument without saying "I love you."
*When they ask you to play with them, say "yes," instead of "in a little while."
*Try to understand them; see the world through their eyes.
*Don't let a day go by without giving them a kind word.

-iMOM.com

7 Ways to Make Your House Smell Like Cinnamon Rolls

If you signed up with iMOM for Operation Summer 2011, you've probably been receiving daily emails as well. I received this email today and thought it was a good one to share. For more information and resources, I'll put the link at the bottom. 


What if every time your family walked into your house, they smelled cinnamon rolls baking! Obviously, that would keep you pretty busy in the kitchen, and pack a few pounds on everybody.  But consider this: what if your words and attitude left an aroma in your home? 

A house filled with tension, and mean or harsh words, would smell like rotten eggs. One filled with lifelessness and neutral words would smell like tea brewing.  But the house filled with love, and kind and encouraging words, would smell like cinnamon rolls baking. If you think about it that way, you can better picture how the tone we set, and what we say lingers in our home. 

Don’t you want that for your house, so that when your husband and children walk in they’re happy to be home?   We can help you make that happen, figuratively and literally!   Here are 7 ways to make your house smell like cinnamon rolls in a figurative sense, and a delicious recipe for simple cinnamon rolls you can not only smell, but eat too!

1. Fill it with love.  You can’t really taste or smell love, but you know when it’s there.  Tell your children you love them every chance you get.  Let them see you and your husband exchanging words of love and affection.  Let every action you take and every word you say first go through the filter of love.  That doesn’t mean we never say a harsh word or discipline our children; it does mean we let love be our motivator, even in those situations.

2. Fill it with kindness.  Kindness is love’s companion.  Look for ways to show kindness to your children, beyond the million or so things you do for them each day!  Praise them when you see them being kind.  Expect them to be kind to their siblings and have a zero-tolerance policy for unkindness.

3. Fill it with patience.  An impatient outburst is one of the fastest ways to go from the sweet smell of cinnamon rolls to the stinky smell of rotten eggs.  Remember that as the day gets longer, our patience usually gets shorter.  So prepare yourself to dig deep at dinner time and bed time when you want to snap at your kids and husband, and find a little bit more patience.

4. Fill it with fun.  A fun house is often a joyful house.  Try to break out of your mundane routines and inject fun into your day.  Play games together.  Tell jokes. Look for opportunities to laugh.

5. Fill it with forgiveness.  There is sweetness in forgiveness given freely.  Everybody makes mistakes.  When those mistakes are unforgiven; bitterness and shame fill the air.

6. Fill it with encouragement.  Encouragement gives our children the boost they need to take on new challenges and conquer them.  Encouragement makes our home a place where our children and husband can refuel to face the world.

7. Fill it with the smell of real cinnamon rolls baking!  Not much can compare to the aroma of freshly baking cinnamon rolls, bread, or a delicious dinner.  Here’s a super easy cinnamon roll recipe to fill your home with smells that will go straight to the stomach and the heart. 

Simple Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients

1 loaf frozen white bread dough, thawed in refrigerator
Flour, for dusting surface
1/4 stick of butter, softened (butter the pans)

Filling
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 stick butter, softened

Icing (optional)
1 stick butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup light cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to form a 16 by 7-inch rectangle.

In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.

Spread a stick of  softened butter over dough.

Evenly sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture. Press mixture with palm.

Roll up dough as for a jelly roll.

Cut roll into 14 slices and then set aside in a warm place and allow dough to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Divide rolls among 2 buttered round baking pans.

Bake for 15 minutes or until golden on top.

This is where I usually stop, because we aren’t big frosting people. Continue on if you want to add the frosting.

While the rolls are baking, combine the icing ingredients with an electric mixer until fluffy.

Frost the warm rolls with the icing. Serve warm.

http://imom.com/mom-life/encouragement/7-ways-to-make-your-house-smell-like-cinnamon-rolls/

iMom Operation Summer 2011

Today is the last day of school for my girls. Boy, this year went fast. I am SO looking forward to summer vacation: living room campouts, long days by the pool, the potential to sleep in once in a while ... As excited as I am by the lack of scheduled activities, I'm also scared to death over the lack of scheduled activities. You know what I'm talking about.
So I was very interested to hear of a website called iMom and their Operation Summer 2011.

"Operation Summer is a free 8-week plan that gives you lots of ideas each week. Once you sign-up, we'll deliver the week's mission to your email inbox every Sunday. It is iMOM's plan to help you with your summer plan!"

Awesome, right? Who couldn't use some help thinking up ideas to keep the kiddos from boredom.
I just came upon this website so I'm not totally familiar with it yet but it looks like a great resource for moms with kids of all ages.
Check it out! You can sign up for Operation Summer 2011 while you are there. The link to the website is on the sidebar to the left. Let me know what you think.

Happy Summer Vacation!!