Have you ever written a Bible verse on a sticky note and placed it somewhere you will see it daily?  This is exactly the idea behind Scripture Stickies, only the hard part is done for you…just peel and stick!  Scripture Stickies are made with 3M adhesive technology so they stick to most surfaces.  They are removable and retain their stickiness to place in a new location.  We used our set on the refrigerator, the mirror, the wall, the computer screen, even on the dash of my van!

Scripture Stickies are a great tool to improve your Bible verse memory skills and they are great for all ages.  They are available in different translations including NKJV, KJV, NIV, and more!

There are many different themes to choose from, including Follow God, Peace, Give Thanks, Hope, Jesus Loves You, and many more!  They are also available in holiday theme packs, perfect for gifts.  Use them to encourage someone or use them as an evangelism tool.

They also offer party favor packs, perfect for weddings, showers, or meetings.

If there are specific verses you are looking for, you can order a custom pack.

Their Scripture of the Month Club is a great way to stay motivated and encouraged to memorize scripture.

We had the opportunity to use the Kids Study Pack.  My boys had a blast finding places to put their memory verses.  It was so encouraging to see them excited about scripture memory.

I plan to purchase more and place stickies in my husband’s lunch box each day…what a great way to keep him encouraged throughout the day at work!  Where will you stick your Scripture Stickies?

~written by Heidi

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I am a columnist for Choose Now Ministries. I just finished a series on inspiring purity in our teens and I’d like to share a little of that series with you. This part of the series I am going to share was written to parents, like you, who want to help guide their children on the path of purity, whether homeschooled or not.

Using the word PURITY as an acronym, I outlined steps parents could take to accomplish their goals.

Let’s start with P. It’s a privilege we have as parents to offer protection to our teens. Not protection in the way the world means it. I’m not talking about birth control or STD prevention here. I’m talking about the wonderful blessing we have as parents to act as God acts with us.

It says in Psalm 91:4, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

P is for the privilege we have to offer protection.

There are a lot of words that start with U. You might be surprised at how many there are. I spent some time in my thesaurus looking for the perfect word to focus on for the letter U in Purity and was unable to narrow it down to one. So I focused on six U words/concepts. 

Unified – Umbrella – Unending love and support – U-turns — User-friendly – Unlock the potential!

Find out more about the six U’s of inspiring purity.

We can’t stop our teens from going down the wrong path. But we sure can put up road blocks, detour signs, caution lights, and bright beacons to light the correct way. This is a lot of work but not near the work it will be to go back and try to fix things once the damage has been done. It’s our responsibility as parents to inspire purity in our teens.

R is for responsibility. . .to inspire purity. (Read More)

As parents, we must retain sexual integrity (and integrity in general) so we can help our teens live lives full of it.  I is for integrity! Here are three tips for maintaining sexual integrity.

You may not know it but spending time with your teens can change their lives. Your values rub off on them the more you spend quality time together. You influence them to live upright lives. This time enhances your life, too, because you feel connected to them like you did when they were little.

T is for treasuring time with your teens. It is a step to inspiring purity in them.

Whether you know it or not you really and truly are the most important person in your teen’s life aside from God—if you let yourself be. “Y” is for You, Of Course!

You can have an impact on the life of your teens and make a difference in the way they view the world around them and how they view themselves. I want to encourage you to press on toward the goal, like Paul spoke of in Philippians 3:14. It’s hard work but when you embrace your parenting days with everything you’ve got and you parent purposefully, you will plant seeds that will grow and become firmly planted—seeds that are not easily uprooted.

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1209460

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Studies have shown that laughter is healthy, healing.  It may even have benefits similar to a light workout!   And we all know the verse  ”A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.”  (Prov. 17:22)

How can we bring laughter into our homes?

Laugh at yourself– I do this on many occasions, because I am by nature a klutz.  I trip over my own feet, spill things, and knock full glasses off tables regularly.  Laughter helps to diffuse the situation and any tension that might arise with it.

Laugh with your children– What you are in essence doing is teaching them to laugh at themselves.  When they do funny things as mentioned above, have a good laugh with them, but not at them.  Make them feel better by sharing a time something similar happened to you.

Laugh in the good times– that’s easy.  When a prayer is answered and I just didn’t see how it was going to happen, when Dad gets a raise, when we finally book that trip to Disneyworld after years of saving… we laugh.  Not a long, lingering laugh such as when you witness something hilariously funny, just a short, happy laugh, reminding you that God is good.

Laugh in the bad times– when we have had financial trials, when several things around the house are broken and we can’t afford to repair them all, when we are under a tornado warning… my husband and I often resort to light joking about our situation.  In our family, it is ok to make jokes about serious things.  We tread lightly here, cautiously.  This would not work for some families but it has helped ours make light of what would normally be stressful situations.

Make jokes!  Nice ones, clean ones.  Just to let a little laughter into your day.  Read jokes– I love to read “Laughter, the Best Medicine” in Reader’s Digest.

Watch funny tv shows in your leisure time– My all-time favorite is I Love Lucy.  I often insert one of my dvds after a tiring or “down” day.  Who wouldn’t laugh at that?  My family does… even though we’ve seen each episode multiple times!

Watch Christian comedians– we have our favorites.  Sometimes I will just pop over to YouTube and watch a two-minute segment of one of them.  Ah, that relaxes me and helps me get on with my day.

Play board games with your family– want to have a long laugh session?  Play Balderdash.  I still have the picture I took of my parents, sitting at our kitchen table when I was in college, with red faces and tears running down their faces because what someone had just written as a “definition” in Balderdash was hilarious.  I treasure this memory!

Never laugh at another’s expense– if it does not edify, we don’t do it.

Laughter heals– One of my favorite memories of the terrible, yet beautiful ordeal we had with our daughter’s accident was the 5th day she was in the ICU.  Her youth pastor had flown up to visit us, and brought her a number of homemade cards from the youth group.  All were sweet and caring, with Bible verses and artistic drawings.  Except one.  One young man, known for his precociousness, wrote a funny anecdote.  Having been cooped up in the ICU for too long, I probably thought it was even funnier than it was, and started laughing so hard tears ran down my face.  I took a break and then read his card aloud again, and laughed again.  My daughter soon joined in with me, and as I looked at her precious, bruised face under the oxygen mask, my heart swelled with joy.  My little girl was healing.

Ah, the power of laughter.

 ~ Written by Kim A.

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Monday morning I sat down with my two oldest boys and asked them this question. I told them I didn’t need an answer right away, but I wanted them to take a little time and think about it. I said, “I know you both know what the right answer is, but what is the real answer?”

“What are you living for?”

One of them chimed in with, “I’m just trying to get all my schoolwork done so I can do what I want to do.” I think he wanted me to believe he was living for school. So I said, “And which of those things are you living for? School? Or doing what you want to do?” He answered honestly.

So I reminded them of this week’s Bible verse, Matthew 22:37-39, which says:

‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

I wasn’t trying to make anyone feel guilty or sad. I was just trying to make them think. Our conversation made me think, too.

What am I living for?

Truthfully, many days I am living for that brief moment in the afternoon when the house is quiet and I can sit and enjoy a cup of coffee without interruption. When my six-year-old is on my lap reading aloud to me, I’m thinking, “Hurry up. Stop looking at the pictures. We’re almost done for the day.” Or when my oldest is struggling through his math and it is 3:00 and we’ve been at this for hours, and all I want to do is be DONE, what am I living for? Most of the time I’m living for me.

I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with enjoying a moment of peace and quiet. And I’m certainly not saying there is anything wrong with coffee. But in my own life, I can see how sometimes the desire for “me time” casts a shadow over everything else, causing me to rush through things and miss the opportunities God has put in front of me to love the people around me.

So I’ve been repeating this question throughout the week, to myself and my children. What are we living for right now? God, what would You have us do with this day?

~written by Kendra

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Bet you never thought you would be compared to a funnel or a jar, did you? Well as believers we have the choice to be either one or the other. Both the funnel and the jar were created for a purpose, but it is up to us how we use them.

Jars hold things; water, food, juice, nuts and bolts, medicine–I could go on and on. Funnels on the other hand were not meant to hold anything, they help us to pour a substance from one container to another. You can’t pour something into a funnel and expect it to stay there; it is going to flow out the bottom and if there isn’t a vessel in place to catch it, you will have a mess. Jars on the other hand are great for holding things, but if it isn’t properly sterilized, liquids or food that stay too long will spoil and grow all sorts of terrible stuff.

It’s the same with us; God created us for a purpose, but it is up to us whether we fulfill our purpose or not. Are you being a jar; just letting Him pour and pour into you until you are full. That’s alright for a while, but what happens when God wants to put something new in you? Are you so full of old stuff, that you can’t hold the new?

On the other hand, if you are a funnel, then you are allowing the things God pours into you, to flow out to those around you who are in need. Paul tells us, “we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” (2 Cor. 4:7)  We are a vessel created to be a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. Our purpose is to spread the Word of God and His love to everyone we meet. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ep. 2:10)

When God comforts you, it so that you can comfort the hurting around you. When he blesses you financially, it is so you can be a blessing to those in need. He heals you, whether it is physically, mentally or spiritually, in order for you to tell others what He has done for you and give them hope that He will meet their needs also. Some people will go anywhere, anytime just to hear the Word preached or taught. They take notes and have all kinds of books and CDs, filling themselves with knowledge; but, what good is all that knowledge if it is never shared. Sooner or later it becomes stale and dry. When you are a funnel you don’t have to worry about running out. When God sees you are allowing Him to flow through you, instead of trying to hide Him away, then He will continually pour living water through you and refresh the thirsty world.

So what’ll it be, funnel or jar? Let’s all sing together, “let it FLOW, let it FLOW, let it FLOW.”

~ Written by Beth, “My husband of 46 years and I recently retired from full time ministry and we are looking forward to discovering what God has in store for the next part of our journey.  I am a very proud mother and grandmother and I love to encourage others through the word and my life experiences.  My life verse is Psalm 118:24 – This is the day that the Lord has made; I choose to rejoice and be glad in it.”

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Today, I capture photos of my own family in a couple different ways. I, of course, have my favorite DSLR, but I also have my iPhone for those moments that I don’t have my big girl camera with me.  I have managed to wrack up over 1,000 photos on my phone in just the first few months I’ve owned it!  Please tell me I’m not the only one.

Having a simple way to share digital photos with friends and family is so amazing (seriously, it takes only a few seconds to send a photo in a text or email), but what do you do with your photos after you take them?  Do they just sit in your phone ? Do you even think about printing them off? Yes, it is convenient to have your photos so compact and out of the way, but what about your kids and grandkids?  Will they have the fun experience of seeing printed photos, or will they only associate pictures with images on a screen?  There is just something about holding a tangible picture in my hand that takes my breath away.

This is where Groovebook comes in.  I discovered them a couple months ago, and I am so glad I did!  It is so simple to use, and you will have a little  printed book of 100 photos in your hand in no time!

You start by downloading their app to your mobile device, and follow their simple instructions to start uploading photos!  You sign up for a monthly subscription, where you get the book for free, and pay only $2.99 for shipping!  Seriously, it’s true!

I will tell you that these are not professional quality prints by any means, but phone photos aren’t usually professional quality, anyway!  I do love the fact that they print the date and time and sometimes the place that your photos were taken beside the photo.  No more hours of trying to figure out dates and write them on the back of your photos. . .  Also, if you decide you want to pass a few photos out, the pages are perforated for easy removal.

 To make this all even better, I have a coupon to share with you!  Use the coupon code below, and you will receive your first book for free. . .no shipping cost even!

Hop on over here to try it out, and let me know if you love it, too!

P.S.  I was not asked or paid by Groovebook to write this post; I just wanted to share a product that’s been helpful to me!

P. S. S.  I just asked my four year old if he likes having pictures in a book rather than on Mommy’s phone or computer, he replied, “Yes, that’s better.”  There you have it, you really should try it

Your book would make a wonderful Mother’s Day gift!

  ~ Written by Amy @ JerAmy 

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Practical. Biblical. 50 chapters of parenting strategies for all ages of children.

I received a digital preview copy of The Christian Parenting Handbook to help spread the word about this great resource. This post contains affiliate links, please see my disclosure policy.

I’ve been looking forward to The Christian Parenting Handbook since I first heard about it. Remember our sister site, Passionate Purposeful Parenting? Melanie Robbins, owner of Passionate Purposeful Parenting, has a team of authors there. Included are my husband and me. But also – the co-authors of this parenting books – Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, R.N. are fellow writers.

Take a few minutes to watch this introductory video about the handbook, then don’t miss entering the mega giveaway below:

Christian Parenting Handbook Video Trailer from Scott Turansky on Vimeo.

Bonuses For You:

Buy The Christian Parenting Handbook between April 29 and May 5 and get a package of free resources valued at more than $400.00. You can learn more on our website about the 8 items contained in the Bonus Parenting Package. In addition, you can get The Christian Parenting Handbook Companion Guide (This is a workbook with audio clips that will help you apply the material in The Christian Parenting Handbook.) for free if you purchase 5 copies or more of the book. Simply make your purchase from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, BAM (Books A Million), CBD or Parable.

To claim your premium, simply forward your purchase confirmation to Gift@biblicalparenting.org and we will email you your special product code for the $400.00 package. If you purchased 5 or more copies of the book, we’ll send you the PDF version of the Companion Guide as well as the audio package.

Now for the Mega Giveaway!

The giveaway includes the following prizes:

• iPad mini
• $200.00 Amazon gift card
• $100.00 Amazon gift card
• Wii with Sports game included ($199.99)
• # 9 Kodak EasyShare Digital Frame with Music ($89.99)

Enter the rafflebox widget below:

Don’t miss out on your package of $400 in resources, get your Christian Parenting Handbook this week!

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• sweeping
• vacuuming
• dusting
• cleaning toilets, tubs, sinks, baseboards, etc.
• math worksheets, copy work, practice multiplication tables, etc..

• to add some variety
• give a little surprise factor
• for me to get a little extra help with house work
• for them to get in a little practice in on some important educational skills 

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I had let our busy lifestyle become an excuse for me not to cook.  It was affecting my relationship with him, our family time together at the dinner table, and our finances.  I knew it was time to make a change and that is what I did! 

How has my life improved since my cooking habits have changed?

My husband’s Love Language is acts of service and my not cooking was basically telling him that he wasn’t worth my time or effort to cook.  Now that I am cooking more often, I hear more words of affirmation (which is my love language). When our love tanks are full, the whole family wins!

We always sit down and have dinner together as a family but the quality of that time goes down if we are rushed or out at a restaurant.  Since I am cooking, we are forced to eat at an earlier time, which in turn gives us more time at home to talk about our day.

The financial benefits of cooking dinner are pretty amazing!  The average cost for take-out and/or eating out at a fast food restaurant for my family is $30!  When I plan meals and cook at home our average cost is less than $10 per meal!  A huge difference for a family on a tight budget.

Now, our afternoon telephone conversations sound like this…

These are some of my favorite websites that motivate me and give me ideas to cook each week…

Dinner Share:  This is a Facebook group that I created to help motivate others to cook dinner for their families.  We post what we are having for dinner each night and occasionally share recipes.  It is an open group, so feel free to join us!

Hodgepodge: This is a fabulous blog with many frugal cooking tips and recipes!  My favorite is Tricia’s Ultimate List of Easy Slow Cooker Recipes.

The $5 Dinner Mom: I love this blog for frugal recipes that will feed my whole family for under $5.

Southern Plate:  This is a great site for delicious southern style recipes.

I would love to hear some of your ideas and/or resources that motivate you to cook for your family!

~written by Heidi

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Stop Reacting to Robots: A Path to Mindful Work

David Shaw building Stanford into a perennial power with unconventional recruiting mandate – Yahoo! Sports

Underwear, Discernment, and Truly Bright Young Things 

Bill Gates’ $100 million database to track students

BBC News – Children should be allowed to get bored, expert says

Three views on elder’s “faithful” children | the Cripplegate

How NOT to argue like an idiot • ToddRhoades.com | ToddRhoades.com

Regent University – Writing Center – Resources

Which cable news network is the most partisan?

9 Things You Should Know About Duck Dynasty – The Gospel Coalition

Educational Apps

littlesanctuary~ Kim

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10 Things My Mother Taught Me

1.  Have consideration for others… siblings, store clerks, those next to you on the bus, the garbage collector… Everyone is one of God’s created beings and as such deserves respect.  No exceptions.

2.  Keep a clean house.  Keep it, as my mother’s mother said, “Clean enough to be healthy, and dirty enough to be happy.”  We got to make messes… but we were required to clean them up.  She wasn’t uptight about housework, but had a weekly routine of dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning the bathrooms.  That, combined with putting things in their place, made our home clean yet comfortable.

3.  Get dinner on the table.  She was great at that!  Dinners were simple, but regular.  Every night at 6:00, we could expect a well-rounded meal.

4.  Practice forgiveness.  My mom is a great example of one who does not hold grudges.

5.  Don’t worry; be happy.  I’m sure my mom could have written that song.  Her life has had several major challenges which got her down.  But she always bounces back with her sunny outlook.

6.  Cherish happy memories.  Her parents both passed away at relatively early ages.  But her special memories live on, and she shares them regularly so I can know and delight in my grandparents, too.

7.  Make holidays special, even when you don’t have much money.  It doesn’t take much money to dye pancake batter green for St. Patrick’s Day or bake heart-shaped sugar cookies for Valentine’s Day.  It does take effort, and my mom put hers into remembering even the “little” holidays to make our childhood sweet and special.

8.  Laugh at yourself.  My mom does this regularly, and has us laughing at her funny stories!  “A merry heart does good, like medicine.”  (Proverbs 17:22)  At 72, my mom is still pretty healthy… and she laughs and is merry often.

9.  Love thy neighbor as thyself.  When I was five, a very young, “hippy” couple moved in across the street from us.  Other more established neighbors may have turned up their noses, but my mom marched right over and introduced herself, taking this young wife under her wing as an older woman mentoring a younger.  Their friendship continued, and one day, several years later, this friend was the one to love us with two full bags of groceries delivered to our door at a time when finances were exceptionally tight.

10. Judge not.  She doesn’t judge others or hold them to an impossibly high standard.  My mom just enjoys people for who they are, which is why she is loved so much by her children and grandchildren.

Happy Birthday, Mom!  I love you!

~Written by Kim, The Daisy Muse

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One piece of chocolate cake, one ice cream cone, one pickle, one slice of Swiss cheese, one slice of salami, one lollipop, one piece of cherry pie, one sausage, one cupcake, and one slice of watermelon.

And I’m sure you know just where to find that sneaky little mouse on each page of Goodnight Moon.

Goodnight stars. Goodnight air. Goodnight noises everywhere.

I just treasure those books, don’t you?

Here are a few that we love just as much that are maybe not as well known.

A very boy-friendly book, Little Blue Truck, was just introduced to us a couple years ago when a friend gave it to us as a gift for our fourth child. This book has everything. A lovable little truck, a barnyard full of animal sounds, and a lesson on being kind even to those who aren’t very kind to you.

Everybody heard that “Beep! Beep! Beep!” The cow came running with the pig and the sheep.

I am a Bunny, with the beautiful illustrations by Richard Scarry, may be familiar to some of you. I had never read it until a few years ago when I ordered it as a Christmas present for one of our littles. When my husband saw it, he said the Golden Book version was one of his favorite books as a child. The simple story follows a little bunny named Nicholas through his adventures in all four seasons.

I am a bunny. My name is Nicholas. I live in a hollow tree.

Chugga Chugga Choo Choo, by Kevin Lewis has been the hands-down favorite of all my boys. The rhythmic choo-chooing of that little train and the incredible illustrations in this book bring us back to this one time and time again. And it never fails, every time we read it, someone decides they need to build a train track that goes all around the house and under the furniture.

Sleepy-sleepy choo-choo, till tomorrow, whoooooo whooooooo!

Jamberry has to be one of the most entertaining read-alouds we own. It starts off with a simple berry-picking adventure and turns into a nonsensical, dream-like berry fantasy land.

Moonberry, Starberry, Cloudberry sky. Boomberry, Zoomberry, Rockets shoot by!

Another berry-related favorite is The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood. Just what is Little Mouse going to do when he finds out that a big, hungry Bear is after his red ripe strawberry?

The big, hungry Bear can smell a red, ripe strawberry a mile away… especially one that has just been picked.

And speaking of bears, have you read Bear Snores On? In the dead of winter, a bear is slumbering away in his den and some woodland critters decide to sneak in and have a snack and keep warm. But what happens when the bear wakes up?

In a cave in the woods, a slumbering bear sleeps through the party in his very own lair.

So what about you? What are your favorite preschool read-alouds?

~written by Kendra

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Some days, we’re rockin’ and a’rollin’ like we’ve got super powers and other days we’re hiding in the bathroom hoping no one remembers that there’s supposed to be a wife or mommy in the house. Too often, we try to do it all or at least act like we think we can and inadvertently we get things around the home out of balance. We become of the boss of everything and everyone and then no one wants to help us when we need them.

One relationship that often gets out of whack nearly as easy as your back—and becomes twisted like your neck when there’s a crick in it—is the relationship you have with your husband. When you spend all day bossing (I mean, directing) kids around, it’s kind of easy to do the same thing to your husband when he comes home at the end of the day. It’s sometimes second nature to tell him to pick up his socks or to put his dishes in the sink, just like we’d tell our children. Then when we all of a sudden feel like mommy to not only the kids but to our husbands, as well, we start to blame him and wonder where in the world our manly man we married all those years ago went. We wonder why he won’t step up and be a man.

Just like when your immunity is low and you’re exposed to toxins and viruses and bacteria, forgetting the God-ordained order of your household will cause serious illness in your family and maybe even in the future generations. The best cure for this “disease” and the way to have a happy home is to remember that while we cannot change our pasts, we can direct the future and make a difference. We can make sure our households reflect the Biblical model.

How can you show your husband that he’s “the man” and not your child? How can you make sure you’re not showing your kids (and others) that you’re your husband’s mommy and not his wife?

Respect your husband. Keep your words and attitudes toward him and about him kind, gentle, and loving. Avoid speaking in harsh tones and being condescending to him.

Encourage your husband. Proverbs 16:24 says: “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Tell him how thankful you are that he works hard to provide for your family. Make special time with him without the kids. He wants to feel like a “grown-up” with you. Although words of affirmation from co-workers and bosses mean a lot to a man, those encouraging words spoken by his wife are priceless to him.

Be his helpmeet. Sometimes we do things for our husbands because we think we can do them better than they can. And then we complain because we have to do everything ourselves. Be a helpmeet without doing everything for him. He is a man, after all. He is quite capable of doing things.

Stop complaining. If you complain that you have no help around the house or complain about how he does things, it makes him want to help you less. If he doesn’t know how to do what you need him to do but he desires to help you, then show him how. Tell him how thankful you are when he helps you with the kids and around the house.

Kids will do things halfway so you won’t ask them to do them again. Is your husband doing things halfway? Maybe he’s trying to get out of helping. Maybe he feels like you’ll go behind him and redo it. Let him fold the towels his own way. Believe it or not, there really isn’t a right way to do it. Let him see that his way is okay too and that you appreciate his efforts. Make sure he knows how valuable his help is to you.

Children naturally want to rebel against what mommy tells them to do. They want to play first and do chores or schoolwork last. If you treat your husband like your child he will not want to help you. He will not want to be with you. He will find something to do elsewhere. He won’t feel like a knight in shining armor or superman.

A word of caution: Check your motives before you lavish your husband with words of affirmation and make sure that you are not showing him false respect and pouring empty words out on him just so he will do things for you. Philippians 2:3-4 says: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.Remember a marriage and a family is a team.

As the mother of a girl, I want to exemplify what a Biblical woman is like and I want to show her how she should treat her husband. As the mother of a boy, I need to show him how he should want to be treated. I do not want my daughter to take charge of her husband like she will her children. I do not want my son to buckle underneath the badgering of a strong-willed woman. I want him to be respected in his household by his wife and his children. I want my daughter to be blessed with a man who knows he’s the one who provides for and protects her.

As helpmeets and wives we help our husbands tremendously when we don’t treat them as children. When they know they have a wife who loves them, respects them, honors them, and desires their leadership in their lives, men exemplify God’s original design for them.

Photos: Wedding photo and couple hugging photo courtesy of http://www.kaylajohnsonphotography.com

Milkmaid: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1380931 

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It is the beginning of a brand new day; a crisp, sunny morning and I have no idea what this day will hold, but I do know the one who holds ME.  My Life Verse is Psalm 118:24, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”  The Message Bible says it this way: “This is the very day God acted–let’s celebrate and be festive.”  I know some people do their devotions in the morning, some like to pray and read the word at night; everyone is different, but my best time has always been as soon as I wake up and I always finish my prayers claiming that verse.  It is a reminder to me of the choices I need to make each day. 

When Joshua was getting ready to lead the children of Israel into the promised land he made a very important statement; “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)  Each person had to decide for themselves whether they were going to follow Almighty God or the false god’s of the nations they were going in to conquer. Joshua didn’t want there to be any question who he was serving, so he made his decision clear to all the people.  Do those around you know what your decision is?

In order to be saved you must make the choice to receive Jesus as your Savior; a one time, life altering decision; but each and every day you are faced with choices in your relationship with Him.  When I am closing my prayer time I say it this way, “This is the day that the Lord has made for me, and I CHOOSE to rejoice and be glad in it.” By making that statement, I am setting the tone for my entire day.  I can begin the day with worry or by remembering that God is in control of whatever comes into my life, and everything that happens has been filtered through his love.  Yesterday is past, I can’t do anything about it; tomorrow is not even promised, so why spend time worrying.  God has created THIS DAY, so it is my decision to make the most of it.

Each and everyday you can make a choice to…

• LOVE–He loved you and gave Jesus to die in your place, so love Him and others.
• TRUST–Jesus promised never to leave you or forsake you.
• OBEY–His will is to give you hope and a future.
• FOLLOW–He will lead you every step of the way.
• REJOICE–God chose you!
• GIVE THANKS–For all the wonderful blessings you have received.

Our lives are made up of CHOICES: life or death; worry or trust; love or hate; joy or sorrow; forgiveness or bitterness. Each day we are given a chance to start over, we receive a fresh start. THIS IS A BRAND NEW DAY, will you rejoice and be glad in it? The CHOICE is yours.

~written by Beth

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Today I’m sharing five apps for heavenly habits:

1. GloBible App – read Hodgepodgedad’s GloBible review at The Curriculum Choice. Available for Mac, PC, iPad and iPhone.
2. Bible Gateway – available for iPhone, iPad, android, Kindle Fire.
3. You Version – for use on many platforms.
4. One Thousand Gifts – iPhone/iPad and android “How do you find everyday, amazing grace in the midst of deadlines, debt, drama, and daily duties?” Count gifts wherever you are.
5. Instagram – well, this isn’t touted as a heavenly app but it can certainly be used for His glory! Capture all the blessings God has given you! A few of our authors are on instagram. Starting with the Jesus Team. We also have Hodgepodgemom, Amy Law, and Little Sanctuary.

**Bonus! 5 Totally Awesome Bible Apps for Kids

How do you use technology in a heavenly way? Or what is your favorite Bible app?

~ Written by Tricia

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Raising godly sons in a godless culture | Christian News on Christian…

Do Christian Parents Have a Fundamental Right to Homeschool? – The Gospel Coalition Blog

WORLD | Where ‘little lies’ lead | Joel Belz | 

My Train Wreck Conversion | Christianity Today

America’s Baby Bust – WSJ.com

Book recommendation…for the pastor’s children | Practical Shepherding

Do the demons know you? – Ray Ortlund

How to Become Pope – YouTube

Letters from an Iranian Prison

Kim-littlesanctuary

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(Disclaimer: I have not personally read many of these books. I usually find books for my kids on Christianbook.com by reading reviews and descriptions. If you are very particular about what your child reads, please preview them yourself.)

The Mice of the Westing Wind Series by Tim Davis. We stumbled onto these books when an excerpt of the first book was included in our reading curriculum a few years back (3rd grade, I think). My oldest son read the excerpt and then was disappointed that we couldn’t read the rest of the story. So, I was delighted to find out that not only could we buy the whole book, but there are four others in the series as well. Recommended for ages 6 and up.

And speaking of mice, I’ve already mentioned how much our family loves the Redwall books by Brian Jacques. If you haven’t read those yet, definitely check them out. There are dozens of books in the series. Recommended for ages 10 and up.

The Door Within Trilogy by Wayne Thomas Batson. I gave these books to my 10-year-old for Christmas this year and he and his older brother devoured them. They both claim they are “the best books ever!” They have raved about them so much, that I now have a shopping cart full of other Wayne Thomas Batson books. Recommended for ages 10 and up.

The Kingdom Series by Chuck Black. Another allegorical action series that is fantastic for boys. Recommended for ages 8 and up.

And a couple classics:

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I was so surprised to discover that my boys love these books. There is just enough action to keep them interested. We read the whole series last year and we’ve been watching the show via Netflix for a while. It is so nice that my children are enjoying these stories as much as I did when I was their age.

Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery. If I was surprised that my boys liked Little House on the Prairie, I was absolutely floored that they liked this one. I didn’t even know we had it. My oldest found it in a pile of old books and told me how great it was. I had to admit to him that I had actually never read it. This Christmas, I found that old, yellowed copy of Anne of Green Gables wrapped under the tree as a gift for me from my sweet son. I read it and am now dying to know what happens to that unpredictable Anne-girl! Don’t tell me. I’m ordering the rest of the series soon

So, what are some of your kids’ favorite books? We’re always on the lookout for new ones!

 ~written by Kendra

Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett: Your Passport to Learning Adventures!

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What is included in our Happy Mom Basket?

Song of the Meadowlark ebook by Sherri Wilson Johnson – When trusting others only leads to pain and rejection, and loving ends only in loss, what will it take to restore hope again? Plunge into this South Georgia pure romance with a twist of mystery.  (Download a full description pdf here)  http://sherriwilsonjohnson.com

Southern Hodgepodge cookbook bundle (3 eCookbooks): Sunday Savings, Slow Cooker Batch Cooking and Southern Celebrations. To make it easy to feed your family!

$15 Amazon gift card

Starbucks Sumatra coffee 2.5 oz pack

Mary Kay hand cream… Fits into your purse for soft, smooth hands anytime!

 Exclusive Inspiration Case in black floral brushstrokes from thirty-one gifts. (Without personalization).

To encourage you – our favorite verses for Happy Moms!

• Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ~ Amy
• “ONE THING” have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple. Psalm 27:4 ~ Angie
• Psalm 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. ~ Beth
• Phil 4:12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ~ Heidi
• Psalm 31:19 How great is your goodness which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. ~ Kendra
• 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. ~ Kerri
• Matt. 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. ~ Kim A.
• Isaiah 30:18  Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion ~ Kim W.
• Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18  ~ Tricia

Special discount code for Habits for a Happy Home readers!

Use discount code HabitsHappyHome for $1 off the Southern Hodgepodge cookbook bundle – making the cost just $3.99 for all three cookbooks! Code good through 4/30/2013.

Now for the basket giveaway!

One reader will win the contents of the basket pictured above. (Basket not included). Amazon gift card, Mary Kay hand cream, Starbuck’s coffee and 31 bag will be mailed to the winner. All ebooks will be delivered via email to the winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We appreciate you, dear readers!

Be sure to click over and enter to win each of the baskets above from iHomeschool Network bloggers!

(1) Mad Scientist Basket from Milk and Cookies
(2)†”See the Light” Easter Art Basket from Classic Housewife
(3)†Tea Time Basket from See Jamie Blog
(4)†Butterfly Basket from Spell Outloud
(5)†Family Movie Night Basket from Jennifer A. Janes

(6) Pamper the Homeschool Mom Basket from Granola Mom 4 God
(7) Freezer Cooking Basket from Motherhood on a Dime
(8) Hodgepodge Basket from Hodgepodge
(9) Healthy Living and Fitness Basket from Forever, For Always, No Matter What
(10) Making Writing Fun Basket from This Reading Mama

(11) Coffee: Fuel for Homeschooling Moms Basket from Homeschoolin’ Mama
(12) Mom’s Quiet Time Basket from Upside Down Homeschooling
(13) Missionary Basket from Our Journey Westward
(14) Happy Mom Basket from Habits for a Happy Home
(15) Crafty Goodness Basket from Mamas Learning Corner

(16) Rejuvenate the Mom Basket from Spoonful of Imagination
(17) Beginner’s Math Manipulatives Basket from Meet Penny
(18) Welcome Spring: Gardening Basket from Abundant Life
(19) Healthy Living Basket from The Encouraging Home
(20) Mom’s Pampering Basket from Teaching Mama

(21) Kid’s Gardening Basket from Momma Hopper
(22) The Gift of Parenting Basket from Teachers of Good Things
(23) Preschool Crafts Basket from It’s Gravy, Baby!
(24) All the Extras – Electives and Enrichment Basket from Curriculum Choice
(25) Homeschool Mom Basket Case Basket from Classic Housewife

Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett: Your Passport to Learning Adventures!

Get Slow Cooker Batch Cooking as a gift from Habits for a Happy Home today.

So one day I remembered the jar I used to keep out on the counter full of what we called fruit tickets. The fruit ticket was a strip of card stock that I had printed a row of different kinds of fruit.  These tickets represented variety that represented the Fruit of the Spirit.

Gal. 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

I can not remember where in the world I got the idea or how in the world I came up with the idea of the Fruit of the Spirit jar. The idea though is to be an ‘intentional’ parent. One of the ways I am intentional is to put the jar in a place I am sure to see it, so I will be reminded to actually follow through with my plan. Not every time but sometimes when they bear fruit I will hand them a fruit ticket.

For example: offering forgiveness, using self-control when they choice not to hit their brother because they were really mad, obeying with a good attitude, helping without being asked, etc.. When I give them the ticket I will explain to them why they are getting it, maybe even what specific fruit they were showing. I make sure to thank them for their choice in bearing some fruit. Not every time but every so often, I also remind them that when they choose to bear fruit it is not by their power but it is by the grace of GOD  through the power of the Holy Spirit that they can bear fruit.

Every couple of weeks I will collect the tickets. Each ticket is worth so many points, and I add these to the points they earn on their ”My Job Chart“. The point system doesn’t need to be included for this to work. I just do it so at a later date there is another opportunity for me to be intentional and to ”bless’ them for bearing some fruit!!

In case you wondered, my boys were very happy to see this jar back and to receive their first fruit ticket in a long time!! In a later post I will talk about the two other jars I have sitting in my kitchen window above the sink.

~Written by Angie

Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett: Your Passport to Learning Adventures!

Get Slow Cooker Batch Cooking as a gift from Habits for a Happy Home today.

Grades 9-12

1. Teach college-preparatory courses. Use curriculum designed for the high school level. At this point, you may need to separate older students if you usually teach unit studies involving the whole group. Their material should be meatier and require more study and testing, papers, and projects. Most colleges require a number of years of English and math, two years of foreign language study (the same language both years), and science and history. Electives are also usually required, and at the very least an asset on your child’s transcript.

2. Keep a record of your child’s grades for each subject each year. This will later be the child’s transcript. There are many sample transcripts on the internet that you can pattern yours after. The college my daughter applied to had its own sample on the website. I made mine exactly like theirs and just typed in my daughter’s classes and grades. You can also find a G.P.A. (grade-point average) calculator on the internet. It is important to know your child’s G.P.A., as this affects academic scholarships. The higher the G.P.A., combined with SAT or ACT score, the more scholarship money the college will offer. If your child’s grade are not top-notch, don’t despair… colleges are looking for average students with other abilities as well.

3. Along with the record of grades, I also keep a portfolio of my student’s work. It’s simple: a three-ring binder is divided into sections—one section for each class. After a math test, the student places the graded test into the math section. English papers are put into the English section, and so on. I do not save everything… mostly just tests, quizzes, and papers, and maybe a few pages of daily work. The rest goes into the trash at the end of the school year (but that’s for another post on avoiding clutter).

At the end of the year, the portfolio is finished, except for two tasks:

• I have each child design a cover for the year, including pictures of them throughout, and
• I print a copy of their grades (their “report card”) and put that into the binder as well.

I have never had to show this to a potential college, but we have these to look back over in future years, and they are available just in case.

4. Look for scholarships, as early as ninth grade. Colleges usually offer their own internal scholarships, but there are many more. Websites such as Fastweb customize your scholarship search for you after you fill out a questionnaire. They email scholarship matches, which prevents much wasted time. You can also do a Google search for “scholarships for _____________ “ and fill in the blank with whatever makes you unique. I kid you not, there is actually a scholarship for people who speak Klingon!  Also check your local paper. Businesses often provide scholarships for students in the community, and more are becoming open to homeschooled students. Some scholarships require that you give household income, some do not. Apply to as many as you can, but avoid the ones you know you would most likely not win. Also, never apply to scholarships that require money up front. This is usually a scam. Who handles the scholarships? In our house, I find them, and my highschoolers apply.

Grades 11-12

5. Have your child take the SAT or ACT test. I recommend once during the junior year, and once or twice more during the senior year (unless the first score is phenomenal!). Have the scores sent to any college he is interested in (you can send scores to up to four colleges for free). This, combined with the G.P.A., is important in getting into college and getting scholarships both inside and outside the college. I’d have them take one of each, then take the one they scored higher on a second or even third time. Prep classes for these tests can be beneficial as well. These classes are usually geared toward how to take the test rather than a review of the information on the test.

• Collegeboard.com has all the information on the SAT
• actstudent.org has the information for the ACT

6. Have your child choose colleges he’s interested in, and apply to the ones he is really serious about. Check out the college’s website. A visit to campus helps, if that is possible. Talking with current students and alumni is extremely beneficial.

Questions to ask:

• Does this college fit your student?
• Will he feel comfortable there?
• If he will be living away from home, do you feel comfortable with the environment?
• What is the teaching philosophy?

Everyone has their own opinion about choosing a college, but realize that most young people form their life-long friendships and philosophies during college. After homeschooling them with a certain worldview for 12 years, are you comfortable with a philosophy that is diametrically opposed to that? A good school in my opinion will present a number of ideas and opinions but hold to the same worldview my student has been brought up with. Our children made their own decisions, but we guided them toward colleges in this realm. We also made sure the college was accredited, which could be necessary in the future for a graduate to be considered for certain jobs.

7. The FAFSA…. Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This must be filled out each calendar year of college beginning Jan. 1 of the student’s senior year of high school. It’s a good idea for the person who does the taxes in your family to be the one who fills out the FAFSA. My husband does one right after the other (taxes first). Submit the FAFSA to the schools you are applying to as early as possible.  We do this for our kids, as they do not handle the family finances, but it’s a good idea to get them involved, at least let them see what you’re doing.

8. Once you’ve received an “award letter” (telling your student how much money he will be awarded in federal aid, scholarships, and student loans), make a decision. Ultimately, our daughter had her heart set on a certain school since age 16, and chose it. Your student may have a more difficult time choosing. This is where the most important aspect comes in … prayer!

9. Apply for special programs – honors, musical ensembles, athletic clubs. Many of these offer extra scholarship money, reducing the student and parent load. Some schools also allow students to register for classes and apply for on-campus jobs online, ahead of time.

10. It’s a good idea to make sure your student has a personal computer before sending him off to college. Sure, the school will have a computer lab, but a PC is almost a must these days. We made our daughter’s her graduation present.

~Written by Kim, The Daisy Muse
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Do you have any questions or concerns about getting your child into college?  If you’ve already been through this, what tips do you have for the rest of us?

Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett: Your Passport to Learning Adventures!

Get Slow Cooker Batch Cooking as a gift from Habits for a Happy Home today.