The Very Latest Thing

Quirky Quote (and a personal note)

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 01:26:00 +0000

"I do think New Year's resolution can't technically be expected to begin on New Year's Day, don't you? Since, because it's an extension of the New Year's Eve, smokers are already on a smoking roll and cannot be expected to stop abruptly on the stroke of midnight with so much nicotine in the system. Also dieting on New Year's Day isn't a good idea as you can't eat rationally but really need to be free to consume whatever is necessary, moment by moment, in order to ease your hangover. I think it would be much more sensible if resolutions began generally on January the second."

--Helen Fielding

*note: While I don't have to deal with the nicotine and hangover, I always start resolutions on the 2nd. The first is my anniversary, and there's no way I'm not celebrating! Today was our 30th anniversary!

Food for Thought

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 01:11:00 +0000

" The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective."

--G.K. Chesterton

The End of Another Year and Beginning of Another

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Well, here we are at the end of another year. It's been a very full year with a lot happening. We have seen some devastating things in the world, but we've also seen hope. We've seen man's inhumanity to man, and we've seen people reach out and make a difference. And like every year, we've seen personal disappointments and setbacks mixed with happy occasions and moments of great joy.

What lies ahead is anybody's guess. We live in uncertain times, but with a God we can always count on. What will happen to the economy? What will happen politically? What tragedies and cataclysms are ahead? I have no idea. The good news is that I know Someone who knows all of those things, and He's not worried. He tells us to be anxious for nothing. Not the economy, or politics, or global unrest. Nothing. Because He has it all covered.

So, for the year ahead, I wish you and yours, peace, above all things. May you have a year filled with blessing and joy and grace and love. May you be healthy and well provided for. May you and yours have a healthy and productive year ahead. May you have great vision to carry you into the future. Above all, may the peace of God invade your home and your life, regardless of what's happening in the world, the country or your own backyard.

Be blessed and have a very Happy New Year!

Yikes! More Reading Challenges!

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 04:11:00 +0000

Just when I thought I was all done with reading challenges, I found some more. One of the ones I enjoyed last year started up again, and my daughter decided to host two herself.

14. 2013 Why Buy The Cow Reading Challenge (Jan 1 through Dec 31 2013)
Free downloadable ebooks
Coupon Clipper: 12 books

15. Clocks, Cogs and Mechanisms Reading Challenge 2013 (Jan 1 through Dec 31 2013)
Steampunk novels
Brass Gears: 1-3 books

16. What Would Jane Do? Reading Challenge (Jan 1 through Dec 31 2013)
Books written by Jane Austin, derivative works and movies
Jane's Wisdom: 3-5 books and 3-5 movies

I'm not going to say that's all, because as sure as I do, someone will post a fabulous challenge I can't resist! I will just say, that's all for now. :D

Reading Challenges 2013

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 04:27:00 +0000

It's that time of year again! Of course I'm referring to time to sign up for new reading challenges. I promised myself, as I do every year that I wasn't going to go crazy and sign up for a bunch of challenges, but I looked over the new crop and just couldn't help myself. So here are the newest batch:

1. Embarrassment of Riches TBR Reading Challenge 2013 (Jan 1 through Dec 31 2013)
Books you already own
Copper: Read 6 TBR books
2. Library Books Reading Challenge 2013 (Jan 1 through Dec 31 2013)
Books checked out from the library
Board Book: 3 books
3. 2013 Mystery/Crime Reading Challenge (Jan 1 through Dec 31 2013)
Mystery or crime novels or short stories
5 books: Detective
4. New Year's Resolution Reading Challenge (Jan 1 through Jan 31 2013)
Books to help with resolutions (mine is getting organized)
Resolved: 1 book
5. Wishlist Challenge 2013 (Jan 1 through Dec 31 2013)
Books from your online wishlist
12 books (one per month)
6. 2013 Fairy Tales Retold Reading Challenge (Jan 1 through Dec 31 2013)
Young adult or middle grade fairy tale retellings
Cobbler: 1-3 books
7. 2013 Mount TBR Reading Challenge (Jan 1 through Dec 31 2013)
Books from the TBR mountain
Pike's Peak: 12 Books
8. Foodies Read 2013 Challenge (Jan 1 through Dec 31 2013)
Any book, fiction or non-fiction about food, cooking or chefs
Short-Order Cook: 1-3 books
9. Cruisin' Through the Cozies Reading Challenge 2013 (Jan 1 through Dec 31 2013)
Cozy mysteries at defined by cozy-mystery.com
Level 1 Snoop: Read at least 6 books
10. Nerdy Non-fiction Reading Challenge 2013 (Jan 1 through Dec 31 2013)
Any non-fiction books
Geek: 4-6 books in at least 2-3 different categories
11. 2013 Operation Deepen Faith (Jan 1 through Dec 31 2013)
I. Wonderful Words of Life: Read one book of the bible each day for 30 days
II. Going Deep: Study one book for the year
VI. Christian Nonfiction: 4 books
12. Operation Actually Read the Bible (Jan 1 through Dec 31 2013)
Read the bible all the way through--actually a perpetual challenge, but I'm putting it down for this year
13. 2013 Ebook Challenge (Jan 1 through Dec 31 2013)
Any ebook of any length or genre
Floppy disk: 5 ebooks

And last but not least...
This isn't really a reading challenge per say, but more a reflection of the ones I signed up for already.
Reading Challenge Addicts
Hi, my name is Terri and I am a reading challenge addict. LOL
In Flight: 13 reading challenges (so far!)

That's it. Or at least, that's it until I run across something else that looks like fun.

Christmas Reading Challenge Update

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 23:17:00 +0000

Just a quick update on the Christmas reading challenge. It's not going as well as I had hoped but it's not too bad either. So far I've read the following:

The Birds' Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggins
The Christmas Mystery: The Story of Three Wise Men by William John Locke
Touching Wonder: Recapturing the Awe of Christmas by John Blase
Too Much Holly, Not Enough Holy by Patricia Wilson

I'm in the process of reading The Purse Driven Christmas by Anita Renfroe

On the Christmas movie front, I've seen the following:

The Holiday
Borrowed Hearts
Christmas in Connecticut
Martin the Cobbler
Shop Around the Corner

We've also watched the following movies, that while not strictly traditional, do take place at Christmas or have large sections that take place at Christmas:

An Affair to Remember (the girls watch this before the older kids and adults watch the next movie)
Sleepless in Seattle (Horsecrazy loves the part where Annie is listening to the radio and Jingle Bells is playing and she's singing "horses, horses, horses, horses".)
Kate & Leopold
Die Hard

In case you're wondering, most the second batch were watched on our Clearplay DVD player. I don't like to have to deal with the foul language and nudity and graphic violence. If you don't like dealing with it either, or get aggravated when a cute movie is spoiled by one or two bad elements that prevent you from letting your kids watch it, this is a great option. For more information, click the (non-sponsored) link above or email me with questions.

Part of the challenge is reading Christmas stories to the kids too, so here's what we've done so far:

Emma's Christmas Wish by Sallyann J. Murphy
The 24 Days Before Christmas by Madeleine L'Engle

We are also in the midst of Advent, so I will have a couple of other books to add when that's over. We are currently reading:

Christmas Stories From the Heart compiled by Alice Gray
Bartholomew's Passage by Arnold Ytreeide

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season. I don't know about you, but in the midst of all the Christmas hustle and bustle, I can't help but think about the upcoming year. This has been a very challenging year on many fronts, but has also carried with it, its share of blessings. What will the year ahead hold? What do I want to do to improve my life. What left behind things do I want to pick back up and what new things do I want to add? What do I need to lay down or change? Hmm.

A Christmas Reading Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 14:42:00 +0000

This wasn't a good year for reading challenges and I blew most of the ones I signed up for. But when I saw this one, I couldn't let the year end on that note. I just discovered the Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2012 over at The Christmas Spirit. It actually started Monday, November 19th, but it runs until January 6, 2013, so there's still plenty of time to get involved. The challenge is all about reading Christmas books. There are add-on's for Christmas movies and Christmas children's books as well. Be sure to check it out! I plan to do at least the Mistletoe level (2-4 books) plus Fa-La-La (movies--lots of them!) and Visions of Sugar Plums (reading Christmas stories to the kids).

While you're there signing up, be sure to take a look around the blog. If you are needing a good, strong dose of Christmas, you can definitely get it here!

It's Been a Long, Long Time

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 22:43:00 +0000

It's been a long time since I last posted here, but I've thought of it numerous times. I've been waiting for a good time to start blogging again, and that time never presented itself. I finally decided it's like a lot of things. You have to make time for the important stuff, or it gets crowded out by the urgent. This year has been a tale of the tyranny of the urgent. But it's been an educational year. I'm learning as I go.

Right now, I'm in the midst of something else I really don't, on paper anyway, have time for, NaNoWriM o, It's been a struggle too. Last year, I breezed through with time to spare, finishing just over 50,000 words by November 18th. This year, I didn't even start until the 7th. I got caught up and then fell behind again, but I plan on doing a little writing tonight and getting caught back up.

This had been a year of things taking too long and being too hard. Even Thanksgiving, which I normally pull off with precision, went a bit awry and I ended up staying up all night cooking and it still didn't get finished until almost 2:00 PM. But we all had plenty to eat and everyone was here except the two that attend college out of state.

Anyway, I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are looking forward to a peaceful Christmas. I know I am.

Reading Challenge Update

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:52:00 +0000

Don't worry. I didn't join any more reading challenges, although I will admit I was tempted by a couple of late entries. However, I held fast and stuck with the already overwhelming number I had. Anyway, here's what I've read so far:

The Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family by Mary Ostyn
     This is a terrific book I had languishing on my bedside table waiting for me to get around to finishing it. Now I wish I'd read it a year ago when I bought it. I picked up so many great tips and got a ton of ideas that I will be using in the near future.

The Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
The Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
   This is my first foray into steampunk. These are the first and second books in the Infernal Devices series, a series of supernatural steampunk books aimed at young adults. I'm still trying to decide if I really like this genre, but these stories are very interesting. I can't recommend them for young adults, because there is some profanity and a scene or two of sensuality (the one in the second book made me blush0. You have been warned. Oh, and one last warning: if you get sucked into this series, you should know that according to the website, book three isn't expected until September 2013.

The Disciplined Life by Calvin Miller
     This is one a of multitude of books I have downloaded for free since I got my Kindle several a few years ago. There are many such books available at various times. Check any of the multitude of Kindle blogs for listings of free books on Amazon. Many are free for a limited time, so if you see something that looks interesting, jump on it.
   I really liked this book and will probably re-read it before the year is out. There are lots of nuggets to chew on in this one.

Unfriend Yourself by Kyle Tennant
     Another free e-book. The author issues a challenge to unplug from social media for three days to consider the proper use of it and it's place in your life. Lots of food for thought here as well.

A Thousand Times More by W.S Gray
     Subtitled "A prayer plan to receive all that God wants for you." 'Nuff said.

The Best Gift by Wendy Markham
     I picked this one up last year at a library fundraiser sale. It's a book about a young lady that keeps time-traveling when she least expects it. It was an interesting story. My only real issue with it was that the plot presumes a belief in reincarnation.

That's it for now. Fortunately, some of these crossed over from one challenge to another and counted more than once. I'll post another update when I have another clump of books to report.

Oh, and while I didn't join any more reading challenges, I did get into a challenge with my eldest daughter to make 25 recipes and do 25 projects off of our Pinterest boards before the year is out. Yikes! I'll let you know how that goes.

2012 Reading Challenges

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 06:17:00 +0000

Well, here we are at the beginning of a new year and the old familiar madness has set in. I'm speaking, of course, of the urge to sign up for reading challenges. I am cutting back this year, after last year got so out of hand. I'm attempting to limit myself(!) to the 15 challenges listed below:

1. Foodies Read 2
Short-Order Cook: 1 to 3 books
I'm one of those weird people who loves reading cookbooks and other books about food. This should be fun.

2. Greek Classics Challenge 2012
Sophocles: read 1-4 works
This is a little something to stretch the old brain cells.

3. What Would Jame Do Reading Challenge 2012
A Touch of Pride: Read 1-3 books
I'm not sure what all I'm reading for this one, but I'm pretty sure Mansfield Park is on the list.

4. The 2012 Graham Greene Reading Challenge
Dangling your toes: 1 book
I read The Comedians years ago, and haven't gotten around to reading anything else by this author.

5. Time Travel Reading Challenge 2012
Surprise Trip: 1 to 3 time travel books
I actually bought a time-travel book at the last library sale that I just found again the other day.

6. Fairy Tales Retold Challenge
3 books - Peasant
One of my daughters is a huge fan of fairy tale retellings. She has recommended some to me for this challenge.

7. All the Books of Pern Challenge 2012
Green– The original trilogy (or any 3)
I plan to read at least the original trilogy and if I have time, the Harper Hall trilogy. I was saddened my Anne McCaffrey's passing in November because I have many happy memories of reading her books in my younger years.

8. Clocks, Cogs and Mechanisms Challenge 2012
Brass Gears: Read 1-3 steampunk books
This is a new area for me. I'm usually a mystery buff, so steampunk is a little out of my usual purview. I'm looking forward to the challenge!

9. The 2012 Medieval Reading Challenge
Inferno – at least 4 books
More brain stretching going on here. The books have to be from 4 different genres and have to be written during the middle ages. Should be interesting.

10. The 2012 “Books I started but didn’t finish” Reading Challenge
4 books
1. The Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family
2. Bringing Up Geeks
3. Courageous for Women
4. Loving Our Kids on Purpose
These are all books I started last year and for one reason or another, never got around to finishing.

11. 2012 Operation Deepen Faith
II. Going Deep - I plan to read the book of James in 12 different translations as well as read 6 additional books written about the book of James (bible studies, commentaries, etc. In addition, I will be reading various study notes and additional resources on the book of James.
IV.Christian Nonfiction
10 books (in addition to the ones mentioned in the entry above)
I love this challenge. I have been meaning to take some time out and really study the book of James because it's my favorite.

12. Mount TBR Reading Challenge
Pike's Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s
My TBR piles are definitely in mountain range territory. I'll be posting my list of books I plan to read in a couple of days, if I can narrow down which ones I'm going to focus on. :D

13. Why Buy the Cow? Reading Challenge 2012
at least twelve (12) legally obtained FREE e-books
My Kindle is filling up fast with free books. I think I've purchased one book so far for it, but have managed to accumulate over a thousand books. I'd like to see how big a dent I can make in the mostly unread portion of them.

14. Wishlist Challenge 2012
12 books from your current wishlist
True confession time here. I have 56 Amazon wishlists. Hey, but only 48 of them are actually book lists. Sigh. Let's just say it's not going to be too much of a challenge to find 12 books to read off my wishlists.

15. 2012 Support Your Local Library Challenge
Level 1 - Read 12 library books
I'm a big fan of libraries and mine constantly amazes me with what pops up there. I'm signing up for the minimum level, but I suspect the final total will be much higher.

Well, that's the extent of the madness for this year. Um, that is unless someone does a Christmas reading challenge again or a Lenten one or a summer one or...

Home Educating Family Publishing

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 14:22:00 +0000

Home Educating Family Publishing

Click the link above to enter to win a homeschool t-shirt!

Home Educating Family Publishing

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 14:12:00 +0000

Be sure to check out the terrific giveaway of the Well-Planned Day planner going on now! Home Educating Family Publishing

Food for Thought

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Fri, 27 May 2011 12:45:00 +0000

"I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing."

--Agatha Christie

Quirky Quote of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Wed, 25 May 2011 12:17:00 +0000

The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.

--Dorothy Parker

Update on Two Week Purge

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Mon, 23 May 2011 05:51:00 +0000

I'm halfway into my two week extreme decluttering venture. I wish I could say the work is at least half done, but alas, that's not the case. However, I still have a whole week to work, so here is the plan. Monday morning is going to be dedicated to a thorough cleaning of the kitchen. Tuesday, I plan to finish the hall. We're having crazy weather right now, so I may have to work the porch cleaning in around that. I still need to deal with the den and my room, but that will come later this week (I hope!).

We have hauled some stuff to storage and two loads to Goodwill so far. Tomorrow, I expect to add to that. We did a major weeding-out off the girls' clothes and tomorrow we are tackling all the boys' clothes. I'll keep you posted as other progress happens!

Food for Thought

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Fri, 20 May 2011 12:43:00 +0000

Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities crept in. Forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you should begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Quirky Quote of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Wed, 18 May 2011 12:17:00 +0000

No diet will remove all the fat from your body because the brain is entirely fat. Without a brain, you might look good, but all you could do is run for public office.

--George Bernard Shaw

Anyone Up For A Challenge?

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Sat, 14 May 2011 01:45:00 +0000

This is a crazy time for us right now. The school year is winding down and summer is on the way. I have three kids getting ready for summer camp and another two getting ready for summer internships. Throw in a birthday or two and it's a bit crazy.

Adding to the level of chaos, is the house. My normally too-small, too-crowded house is filled to the brim right now, since I started cleaning out my mom's storerooms. I have hauled home more than I've had time to process, so stuff is stacked in every spare space. By "spare space", I mean down the front hall, in the corners of the den, large amounts of the library, a piece of my bedroom and most of my front porch.

I can't deal with the chaos anymore, and I have fourteen(!) books to review next month, so it's time to do something radical. I'm planning a two-week purge. I'm talking extreme decluttering. This is what I'm planning to accomplish:

•front porch completely cleaned off
•front hall completely cleared out
•all boxes and containers removed from hall
•access to library restored and space cleared to move around
•I have some food items that need to be put in canisters and put away
•clean out and remove dead freezer
•lay out some simple menus for next month when I'm going to be reading like crazy
•work on the kitchen, which is looking a bit ragged at the moment.
•get my clothes weeded out and everything I'm keeping put away.

Whew! That's a lot for two weeks, isn't it? Prayers and well wishes are certainly welcome.

Since misery loves company, if any of you have stuff you need or want to accomplish in the next two weeks, whether a little or a lot, feel free to join in. Leave a comment and let me know what you're planning to do before summer gets into full swing.

Unite for Life Webcast

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Sat, 14 May 2011 01:00:00 +0000

Food for Thought

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Fri, 13 May 2011 12:41:00 +0000

” When home ties are loosened, when men and woman cease to regard a worthy family life, with all its duties and all its responsibilities lived up, as the best life worth living, then evil days for the nation are at hand.”

--Theodore Roosevelt

Pearl Girls Giveaway Winner

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Thu, 12 May 2011 04:06:00 +0000

Thank you all so much for following along with the Pearl Girls™ Mother of Pearl Mother's Day blog series. I pray you laughed, cried and were touched by the translucent stories of real life written by new moms, stepmoms, grandmoms, adoptive moms, and moms without moms. Iridescent reality. And how poignant that the translucent nacre which coats the sand stuck inside an oyster’s shell is called Mother of Pearl. Mothers surround children with their love and with God’s love so they can grow in grace. I hope you'll join us this December for the third annual 12 Pearls of Christmas series.

AND ... thanks too, to all of you who entered to win the beautiful hand crafted pearl necklace. I'm thrilled to announce that the winner is ...

Jennifer (heavensent1)!

Jennifer, please email amy@pearlgirls.info with your mailing address.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. The purpose of Pearl Girls is to connect women so that together, we can make a difference in the world. All proceeds of the Pearl Girls book go in full to two charities: Wings (women in need growing stronger) to help fund a safe house in the Chicago suburbs and to Hands of Hope to help build wells for schoolchildren in Uganda. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls™ products to help support Pearl Girls.

Please stop by the Pearl Girls blog and connect with us there.

Quirky Quote of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Wed, 11 May 2011 12:16:00 +0000

Never go to your high school reunion pregnant or they will think that is all you have done since you graduated.

--Erma Bombeck

Pearl Girls Mother of Pearl Mother's Day Series: Each Life is Unique by Lucinda Secrest McDowell

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Sun, 08 May 2011 12:54:00 +0000

Each Life is Unique by Lucinda Secrest McDowell

“God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. II Peter 1.3 (NIV)

Moms, God wants you to know that He has given you everything you need for life --- your unique life. He does not plan to give you what you might need to live the life of your best friend, or your neighbor, or even your favorite mother-model. No, God has called you to the life that He planned. I suspect that for most of us, it didn’t turn out to be the life we thought it might be… so long ago when we were young and dreaming of ‘growing up.’

On Mother’s Day I often recall my own dreams to one day be a mother. I grew up playing with dolls and looking to my own Mama as a model for that particular role in life. However, by the time I reached my thirties I was still not a mother! God did, however, have a plan. It just wasn’t what I imagined.

My own unique life would find me becoming a mother through the adoption of my first three children who were ages 9, 7 and 4; and then much later giving birth to our fourth child. Of course I was shocked when God revealed this to me, but I was ecstatic as well. It’s as though I could hear Him saying, “Well, you’re not getting any younger so I’m just going to just give you a jump start with three at one time!”

A huge blessing! A huge adjustment! A joy and a struggle. Change is often like that, isn’t it? We finally get what we want then we have to deal with it. May I just offer a bit of advice if you just got a great answer to prayer, but perhaps not in the way or form you imagined? Just receive it. Embrace it. And be willing to move forward into a new paradigm for your life. So what if you’re not like all the other mothers you know? So what if you’re not like your own mother? So what if your family unit is different? I guarantee God has a plan.

Not only did he want me to embrace my own story, but He called me as a mother to do perhaps one of the most important tasks of all --- to nurture my children to live their own unique lives. Not for me to try and squeeze them into what I hoped and dreamed they would be. Not for me to try and live my life through them. But to recognize how God made them, gifted them, and called them to their own special place.

All of my 4 kids are different from one another. Let’s take sports, for instance: I have one child who wins gold medals in international tennis competition, one who is a born equestrian, another who competes nationally in obstacle course shooting matches, and yet another who manages to dance onstage in 3 inch heels, do cartwheels and splits while singing at the same time. Now, honestly, I do none of these things. And yet they do.

I don’t remember placing my order with God for these things. But I do remember when that tennis player turned 9 years old and I enrolled him in Special Olympics for the first time and how it changed his life… and ours. I remember getting a counselor job at an exclusive summer camp so that my daughter could take English riding classes. I remember being a Cub Scout leader (even though I knew nothing about boys) so that son could one day become an Eagle scout and pursue his love of the great outdoors. And yes, I remember enrolling my preschooler in dance lessons. Later when all the little girls were scared to go on stage for the recital, she exclaimed that she had endured a whole year of lessons just so she could go on stage.

Don’t compare yourself to someone else. And don’t live vicariously through your favorite reality show star. Live your own story. And Moms, raise your kids to embrace the unique life God has for them.
Remember, He has given us everything we need for life!

Lucinda Secrest McDowell, a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Seminary, is the author of 10 books including “Role of a Lifetime,” “Amazed by Grace,” “Spa for the Soul” and the new Bible Study “Fit and Healthy Summer.” She is an international conference speaker and enjoys being a Pearl Girl from “Sunnyside” – her home in a New England village. Visit Cindy at www.EncouragingWords.net

Pearl Girls Mother of Pearl Mother's Day Series: What is a Grandmother? by Suzanne Woods Fisher

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Sat, 07 May 2011 12:53:00 +0000

Welcome to Pearl Girls™ Mother of Pearl Mother's Day blog series. The series is week long celebration of moms and mothering. Each day will feature a new post by some of today's best writer's (Tricia Goyer, Megan Alexander, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Beth Engelman, Holley Gerth, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, and more). I hope you'll join us each day for another unique perspective on Mother's Day.

AND ... do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful hand crafted pearl necklace. To enter, just {CLICK THIS LINK} and fill out the short form. Contest runs 5/1-5/8 and the winner will on 5/11. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls™ products (all GREAT Mother's Day gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

And to all you MOMS out there! Happy Mother's Day!

What is a Grandmother? by Suzanne Woods Fisher

“A grandmother is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend.”
Amish proverb

I arrived late in the night in Rhode Island, anxious to meet my two-day-old grandson, Blake, after a full day of flying. My daughter and son-in-law had just returned home from the hospital and felt like they had been in a train wreck. There was stuff everywhere. Already, the needs of this little eight-pound bundle of joy were enormous: an all-terrain stroller, plenty of diapers, onesies, spit-up rags, an assortment of pacifiers to try out until he found the ideal one.

And he was perfect.

I know, I know. “Every mother crow thinks her own little crow is the blackest.” But this little dark eyed, dark haired boy really was perfect.

I spent the next seven days (and nights) getting to know this little guy. His schedule (he had none), his hunger cries (very similar to his every other cry). His pirate look--one eye open, one eye squeezed shut, as if he was still surprised by all that had taken place to him in a week’s time.

I felt surprised, too. How could my baby possibly have had a baby? How could I be a grandmother? I had just turned fifty-one. Shockingly young! How could a kid like me give up playing tennis three times a week to settle into knitting and crocheting and Friday night bingo? And shouldn’t I alter my appearance to fit this new label? Give up my jeans? Switch over to below knee-length calico dresses, thick black socks, practical shoes, gray hair pinned in a topknot. Think…Aunt Bee on Mayberry R.F.D.

As soon as people knew my daughter was expecting, I was bombarded with advice from my well meaning friends—even those who weren’t yet grandparents. “The best way to avoid getting on the nerves of your daughter and son-in-law is to not say anything. Ever.” Or “You’d better pick your nickname or you’ll be stuck with something hideous, like MooMoo Cow.”

What should I be called? Granny? No…reminded me of The Beverly Hillbillies. Grandma? No…sounded like The Waltons. Grammy? No…it was already taken by the in-laws.

But no one really explained what it meant to be a grandmother. I didn’t know myself, not until I held baby Blake in my arms. In that moment, I realized that he was one of mine. He belongs to me. He will be on my mind and in my prayers, every day, for the rest of my life. There’s a bond between us that can’t be broken. He has altered my life forevermore.

I had become a grandmother.

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, and The Search, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, W. D. Benedict, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Benedict eventually became publisher of Christianity Today magazine. Suzanne is the host of a radio show called Amish Wisdom and her work has appeared in many magazines. She lives in California. www.suzannewoodsfisher.com

Pearl Girls Mother of Pearl Mother's Day Series: When Mother's Day is Difficult by Holley Gerth

noreply@blogger.com (thecoolmom) — Fri, 06 May 2011 12:51:00 +0000

When Mother's Day is Difficult by Holley Gerth

I have a confession (anyone surprised?). I have mixed feelings about Mother’s Day.

On one hand, I love celebrating all the women who have made a difference in my life (thanks, Mom!).

On the other hand, a long journey of infertility has left my heart with some tender places.

On May 8th, we’ll celebrate Mother’s Day once again. For many, it’s a time of appreciation and joy. For others, it can be one of the most difficult days of the year. This is often true for women facing infertility, families who have recently experienced the loss of a mother, and many other painful situations.

At one point in my life it seemed as if I couldn’t take another step. In addition to infertility, I was facing several other losses. I felt as if I were in a dark cave. But then I sensed the Lord gently and lovingly speak to my heart, “You may be in a cave, but you still have a choice. You can sit in despair or you can diamond-mine your difficulties.” I decided I was not leaving that time in my life empty-handed. I was taking every hidden blessing I could find. Of course, I still had difficult days. But choosing hope made a difference.

As a reminder, I now wear two rings. The one on the fourth finger of my left hand represents my commitment to my husband. The one on the fourth finger of my right hand is a simple silver band inscribed with the word “hope” and it represents the commitment I have made to God and myself to hold onto hope no matter what happens.

The story of an inspiring woman named Terrie also reminds me to hold onto hope. She endured the loss of four pregnancies and waited seventeen years before adopting a little girl. She told me, “I think one of the most important parts of this journey is learning to trust God. I don’t mean the flippant kind of trust. It’s easy for people to say, ‘You just need to trust God.’ It’s much harder when you’re in the middle of all this pain. But he is trustworthy. Through it all, God has given us an amazing story. I wouldn’t have chosen this road, but he has been with us. I can look back and truly say every step was worth it.”

I don’t know how my journey will end and you probably don’t know how yours will either. I also don’t know how many of you will be silently grieving your losses as we sit in church together on May 8th. But I do know that God sees each one of us. He knows how many hairs are on our heads and how many cares our in our hearts. Whatever you’re going through this Mother’s Day, you’re not facing it alone. As King David, a man who experienced many losses in his life, expressed in Psalm 34:18 NIV, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” May God surround you with love, fill you with hope, and give you strength for each moment—especially this Mother’s Day.

Excerpted from When Mother’s Day is Difficult.

Holley Gerth is an award-winning writer for DaySpring, a cofounder of the popular web site (in)courage, and licensed counselor. Holley loves chocolate, coffee, Jesus and connecting with the hearts of women through words. Her next book, a devotional titled God's Heart for You: Embracing Your True Worth as a Woman (Harvest House) will release this July. You can find Holley online through her blog Heart to Heart with Holley.