Party and Gifts

In case you haven't heard yet, there is a party going on! Be sure to head to the new home of My Quiet Corner to be a part of the open house and gift giving taking place all week. You don't want to miss it!

My New Corner

Well, today is it. The day we have all been eagerly waiting for. The countdown has ended.

Come on over and see what the excitement has been about.

Stay Tuned

Walking

The little guy is now walking.

Last week he started toddling.

This week he can't be stopped.

And we thought we were running before...

A Chance to Win

Have you heard of this event? I just bought my ticket this last week to attend. I am so excited!!

When I saw this chance to win a ticket, I wanted to let all of my bloggy friends know as well. Wouldn't it be fun to "attend" together?!

Go here to enter to win. But hurry, the contest ends at 9 p.m. EST tonight. (Sunday) That only leaves a few hours.

Hurry on over!!! Go on! I'd love for one of you to win!! :-)

My Mother's Day

What I received for Mother's Day this year:

In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms by Dr. Laura Schlessinger

Guess my family figured since I was committing to 18 more years of it with our new little guy, it would be a good source of affirmation and encouragement. And it has....

The next two are also with the idea in mind that adding a baby to our lives has changed our schedule demanding many things to require less time...

Pillsbury Fast & Healthy Cookbook: Delicious family meals in 30 minutes or less by Pillsbury

Busy People's Super Simple 30-Minute Menus: 137 Complete Meals Timed for Success by Dawn HallThis one not only provides complete meals in 30 minutes or less, it also tells what to do at each minute in that time. For instance, if rice is called for in the recipe, it will tell you at what time to start it.

I plan to begin using this one with my children. What an excellent way for them to learn how to prepare a complete meal in 30 minutes or less with each dish being ready at the same time!

Daring and Dangerous

Today We Are That Family is hosting a "Mom I'm Bored" summer edition of works for me Wednesday.

I picked up these books about one week ago. Although we still have 7 days of school left, I have already found my children buried in them and sharing tidbits of information with me.

The start of summer is looking good. If you are hesitant, like I was, and don't want to spend the money up front (or can't), check out your local library. That's where I found ours!

Yes, even with a few days of school left, summer is off to a great start! Watch out world. We are starting our summer daring and dangerous!





The Daring Book for Girls








The Dangerous Book for Boys







Be sure to head on over to We Are That Family for other great summer ideas.

of a Praying Mother

I admit it. I have sometimes found it difficult to pray for my children. Not difficult because I don't want to. Difficult because it seemed that my prayers became redundant. It felt that I was reciting the same wrote lines day after day.

You may remember when I started asking my children each morning, "How can I pray for you today?". That is still our routine. The last two sentences they hear as they get out of the car to go to school are "I love you" and "I'll be praying for you today".

The practice of asking my morning question has helped to develop my prayers for them. However, on the days they didn't have something out of the ordinary happening, it seemed to be the same redundant words.

Then, I added something to my routine. It has deeply enriched my prayers for them. I have even started a journal for each of them so they will be able to someday look back and be able to see exactly what I was praying for them.

When I first started I had a new focus each day. Somehow that made it seem like I was glossing over the potential depth of what it was that I was praying for them. I have since changed to a new focus every week.

So, what is the focus of my prayers? I am praying Scripture for and over my children. Each week I choose a new Scripture and pray it every day. I choose one for each child each week and write it out in the journal I have for them.

I have found that by the end of the week, not only have I prayed it, it has somehow become quite personalized for that child. I also have the idea of the verse memorized after a week of saying it each morning and thinking of the truth of it specific to my child throughout the day.

Each morning as I gather the items for my quiet time, I get their Scripture prayer journals as well. I open to the personalized Scripture that week and start my day off with focused thoughts and prayers for them.

It never ceases to amaze me how often events in their life seem almost orchestrated to fit so perfectly into the verse I have selected to pray for them that week. Coincidence?... I think not.