I am in Florida visiting my family and having a grand time playing with this sweet nephew:

I tell ya…this is the life!

I will return to blogging next week.  In the meantime, go read Betty’s take on our Holy Housewives book club pick this week and stay tuned for more pictures of my favorite cutie, Trey! I will be back soon =)

There is a thirst for independence in teenagers. 

An unseen force, pulling them away from dependence on their parents and toward a future they don’t see or understand. 

Yet, they respond heartily to the call and pull of that force, while we parents want to fight it with every fiber of our soul.

In a few short days, my husband and I will drop Jared and Matt (14 and 12) in Florida to stay two weeks with my dad and my brothers.  They are going to have a great time!  Adventures with Grandpa Bill, beach with Uncle Ian, amusement park with Uncle Tom..they are going to have fun and create special memories.

And, they are pumped.  Their mama is deflated.

They have never been away from me for this long.  They will fly home alone in two weeks. My feelings are hurt that they are so excited to get away from us {yes, I know that is not completely rational- thankyouverymuch!}

But, when I look at this from a learning standpoint- this is a wonderful opportunity for my boys.  They will be able to exert some independence in a safe environment.  They will create memories with men in their family that mean a lot to them and that they look up to. 

And, I will learn from this too.  I will learn that they will be fine without me there to remind them to brush their teeth, spend time in the Word, say their “please” and “thank-you’s” and more.  I will learn that I will be okay without them under my roof {for a short, predetermined amount of time}.

Boy, this independence stuff is hard! 

If you have a post related to parenting teens/tweens please link it up below:

As someone that lives with autoimmune diseases (multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus), which have been linked to chronic inflammation, I had a lot of questions for the doctor and looked forward to hearing his perspective.  Other common illnesses with a connection to chronic inflammation are diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

I started by thanking Dr. Sears for voicing the theory that the mantra of “eat less, exercise more” does not work for everyone when it comes to weight loss and living a healthier lifestyle.  Instead, Dr. Sears believes that an anti-inflammatory diet is the key to being healthy.

He talked about the cultural attitude that those that are overweight are “morally inferior” when in actuality, in many cases, they are genetically predisposed to carry weight.  Dr. Sears further asserts that “ancient genes” are triggered by the very foods that we are encouraged to eat.

Dr. Sears gave me three steps that everyone can take to reverse the affects of chronic inflammation in their bodies in 30 days.  Yes, three simple steps can reverse a nasty physiological process that can cause serious health issues (SO LISTEN UP).

1. Remove all (omega-6 fatty acids) vegetable oil from your pantry.  Throw them out.  This includes vegetable oil, canola oil, corn oil, margarine, etc.  Substitute olive oil, slivered almonds and guacamole in their place.  (I would add you can substitute applesauce for oil as well, but that is per MultiTasking Mama)
2. Take (omega-3) fish oil every day.  Dr. Sears said our great grandma’s had it right when they recommended a tablespoon a day.  Fish oil has natural anti-inflammatory properties and is an important supplement.
3. Rebalance your diet.  Our diets need to be the correct balance of protein to carbohydrates.  Dr. Sears pointed out that our bodies produce the same insulin response to whole grain carbohydrates as they do refined flours. (I am still sticking with my whole grains but need to work on the balance concept)  When asked how can you know if you have struck the right balance in your diet, Dr. Sears said that if you have no hunger for 4-6 hours after a meal then you have eaten a well balanced meal.

He admits that “it is easier to get people to change religion then to change their diet” but points to the importance of taking what we eat seriously.  Obesity is an epidemic and he attributes this to our love for the “3 P’s- pizza, pasta and pastry”.  We need to educate ourselves on how the food we eat interact with our genes and our hormones.  People need to be on an anti-inflammatory diet for the rest of their lives. 

You can read more about all of this at Dr. Sear’s website and follow him on Twitter. 

I was not compensated for this post.  I was given the opportunity to interview Dr. Sears through the RoleMommy network and was happy to pass the information along to my readers. 

Who would have thought that a rickety roller coaster and a sweltering day at a cheesy quaint amusement park could bridge huge holes of the heart?

God.

Who would have thought that the day would be full of smiles and fun, rather than anxiety and angst?

God.

Who would have thought that racing go-karts together (see daddy way there in the back, ha!) would be freeing in so many ways?

God.

Who knew that this mama’s heart would behold {all} her children reunited on this side of heaven?

God.

Saturday was a very special day for our family.  It was the first time we had all been together, the five of us, in the same place at the same time in THREE years!

God gave me a gift that I had given up on a long time ago. 

And I have been unwrapping it ever since!

{If you haven’t been here long and this post confuses you, you can read some of the back story here and here.}

Seriously? 

We are the meal planners, bottle washers, outfit coordinators, Mt. Saint Laundry climbers, boo boo kissers and teachers. 

Add that to the taxi driver, vacuum operator, hygiene enforcer, social calendar keeper and dust bunny catcher section of the resume.

We are the sibling police, home decorators, brownie bakers (at the last minute because our child forgot to tell us they signed us up for 3 batches), home maintenance supervisors and more.

On top of all that, we need to be lovers extraordinaire, the bed time story reader, healer of broken hearts and bruised friendship fixer.

Don’t forget the need to be the hostess with the mostess, the loser of baby weight, toilet bowl scrubber and toy cleaner upper.

Somehow, we also expect ourselves to be the spiritual thermometer, the memory keeper, the vacation planner and the beauty sleeper. 

How do we do this everyday?  What charges a mama’s batteries?

•  One slobbery kiss from a sweet baby
• A picture, colored inside the lines, just for mommy
• A “please” or “thank you” spoken in public without prompting
• Your lap being the treasured sitting place of a special little one
• Watching chubby legs take their first steps
• The moment your child can read the story to you but still wants Mommy to read it
• Walking out the door with a child wearing stripes and polka dots with their snow boots in the middle of July
• Observing big brother *finally* share a toy with little sister
• Everyone at the dinner table eating the same thing and liking it
• 20 minutes to take a quiet shower because all the kids fell asleep at nap time
• Sleeping breath on your neck as you carry in the child that fell asleep in the car
• Little arms wrapped around your leg, feeling safest when protected by you
• The occasional hug or half grin from a grumpy teenager

All the little things energize me to not only stay the course while my children are young, but to enjoy each moment.  They grow so fast! 

I am energized by watching them grow and develop.  I am energized by catching glimpses of the men they will become. And, I am energized by the memories of the babies they once were.

We do “it” all because we love them.  And, we love them because they own pieces of our hearts. 

 To all the Energizer mama’s out there- charge on!

This post was written as part of the Energizer BlogHer ‘10 contest, sponsored by Energizer and @kailani.  I have had the pleasure of working with Energizer for conducting product reviews and giveaways in the past and would be honored to represent their brand at BlogHer.

Are you enjoying the perspectives on this book?  I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!  And, if you like what you read here, please subscribe to receive new posts in your inbox or reader!

Chapter four of Passionate Housewives, Desperate for God is entitled Weary Women.  Lord knows, I have felt weary many times as a wife, mother and Christian woman.  Here are my thoughts on this chapter: 

• The authors first tackle the subject of quiet time.  While I agree with this statement “..to beat ourselves up over our failure to create a worship time that resembles someone else’s isn’t necessary and can sometimes be detrimental”, most of what they said on this topic I disagreed with.  While I do not think it is necessary to be legalistic about “quiet time” (whatever that looks like for you is between you and God).  I was concerned that the authors dismissed the importance of spending time with God EVERY day.  I do remember and can certainly sympathize with mama’s of little ones (the times of 5, 2 and 1 year old boys are still alive and well in my mind, trust me!).  The enemy would love for us to feel so overwhelmed by our day to day routine that we would think it is okay to neglect the most important relationship in our lives- our relationship with Jesus Christ.  Spending time in His Word and humbling ourselves before Him in prayer is a necessity to getting through those times of parenting that leave us exhausted and irritable.  How can your focus be on Him if you aren’t spending time with Him?  One of my favorite verses about this is Psalm 5:3.  Please don’t misunderstand and think that I am saying quiet time can only take place in the morning- I am just pointing to the importance of making time with God a priority in our lives! (Visit one of my new favorite sites, Scripture Dig, for more ideas and resources on this topic)
• I liked the suggestion on page 52 to “copy chapters of Scripture” to have when you have time to sit and read (even if it is in the bathroom, ha!)  I have done this for several years.  I bought a photo album that could fit in my purse at the dollar store and wrote favorite Bible verses on index cards.  I have read those verses in traffic, waiting in line at the grocery store, doctor’s appointments and have even had my children read them aloud when arguing or bickering erupted in the back seat of the car.  I think this is a practical way to keep God’s Word close and on our minds frequently throughout our busy days.

Focus on the Father and He will help you get through those days of diapers and sippy cups, just like He now helps me get through the days of cell phones and curfews.

Be sure to check in with Betty to see her thoughts on this book as well.

Do you struggle to find time with God each day?

Thankfully, my kids have grown up in an era when the Bible is translated into words they can understand.  Couple that with the creative folks at Tyndale Publishing and you have the Hands-On Bible- an interactive Bible that my youngest son, Matt, has been enjoying since it arrived in the mail earlier this week.

Here are some things I am impressed with:

• The graphics are “cool” and engaging.  They draw my son in to want to read more and learn more about the stories they depict.
• There is a feature called “Bible Hero Biographies” that really pique a boy’s interest by making the people in the Bible stories relatable and interesting.  Every boy loves a good hero!
• There are “hands on Bible experiences” throughout the Bible that my son has been enjoying.  He has already completed several in just the few days he has had this Bible. (I will share my favorite at the end of this post).  Science experiments, crafts, snack ideas, journaling…true hands-on learning is encouraged in this Bible.

I also like the NLT (New Living Translation) for kids this age.  Matt understands what he reads in a way other translations have not provided him, which is great!  I also appreciate the effort the publishers put into the bonus interactive website, My Hands on Bible, that provides parents with additional resources and ideas (devotions, music and more) for making the Bible interesting and relevant to our kids.

Before I tell you about the contest going on over at the Hands on Bible site (think pizza, Bibles and family fun), I wanted to share one of the activities Matt recently completed from his Hands on Bible.

In the Hands on Bible, it was being explained that Psalm 119 is written as an acrostic poem, except in the Hebrew alphabet.  Then the activity was for kids to make an acrostic poem of their own, using their first name and words that describe God. Here is Matthew’s (spelling errors included =)

M- Maker

A- All-Knowing

T- Tollerent

T- True

H- Holy

E- Extrordinary

W- Willing

Isn’t that awesome?  The Word coming alive to our kids? Nothing better!

So, head on over to their website and check out this awesome Bible and an opportunity to win big!  I will be heading over to purchase one for my six year old nephew!

I was provided a complimentary copy of the Hands On Bible for review.  All opinions are mine (and my child’s) and were not influenced by anyone else.  Thank you to the MOB Society for facilitating this review!

My kids enjoy church {right now}.  They are active in their youth group and enjoy serving alongside their youth pastor in different ministry opportunities.  They {sometimes} enjoy serving alongside their dad and I.  So, why am I worried about their relationship with God?

• Statistics show that more than 50% of kids their age {13-17} attend church on a regular basis.  BUT, that number drops to less than 35% between 18-29.
• There are so many competing interests for my kids time and energy.  I want God to remain the PRIMARY voice that they hear and discern as they go through life.
• Departure from church often times means that the kids are “taking a break” from their faith all together.  I have been there and done that- YIKES!

What can I do to encourage my kids {particularly my seventeen year old} to keep faith a priority as societal temptations, distractions and ambition compete for their attention?

1. Trust God.  When the prodigal son left, the father did not chase him down and beg him not to go. He trusted and hoped that he would return.  As our kids grow up, we have to relinquish {more and more} control and increase our faith and trust that God has got their outcome in His hands.
2. Lead by example.  Our kids need to see consistency from their parents and the adults they respect in their lives.  Even if my kids one day make the choice not to go to church, it will remain an expectation when they are living in our house {and a strong encouragement when they are visiting}. 
3. Tell my story.  So often, we are nervous to tell our kids that we messed up in our past.  As my kids get older, I see that God can use the mistakes of my past as a real life illustration to show the dangers of wandering away from God {and His awesome, redemptive power}.
4. Love, love and more love.  No matter the choices my children make I must love them anyway.  This reality has been tested in my life already with our oldest son and I can tell you that love is a universal language.  It gets through when nothing else can.  {and that includes the language of tough love when necessary}.

Do you worry about your child’s faith as they grow and leave home? 

As always, please link up your teen/tween related posts below:

Not over anything major or even specific.

But an unsettled, on-my-way-to-where-I’m-supposed-to-be type of place.

Yet, I don’t even know where I’m supposed to be.

I think I do.  My hubby and I disagree about the route to take.

And, I ask.  How long, God?  How long before you give me the answers to these {important to me} questions.  A glance at the road map, perhaps?  A hint at the mode of transportation you want us to use?  A sliver of the plan you have in mind?

And, God asks.  How long, Melissa?  How long before you humble yourself before me? {Exodus 10:3} How long before you surrender to whatever it is that lies ahead?  How long before you stop needing to know the answers and are content to trust me…how long?

I hold the key to my own captivity. 

He stands at the door and knocks.  I’m the one that wants the itinerary before opening the door. 

Today, I am opening the door anyway.  Resting in the promise of Nahum 1:7

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.  He cares for those who trust in Him.

Help me trust, God.  Help me delight in the wait.  Help me delight in the not knowing.  Help me delight in You.

That is what happened to me last week.  It is a humbling experience and not a coincidence that I am reading this book right now!

So, my thoughts on chapter three (with a fresh perspective from working through some trust issues with God):

• One of the questions posed in this chapter is what do you say when someone asks what you do?  Do you feel tempted to say “I’m just a stay at home mom”, etc?  That just word is dangerous.  Raising our kids is a sacred calling.  When I worked outside of the home, I never qualified my position as “just a marketing director”.  So, why do we do that when we have made the decision to make homemaker our full time vocation?  Stasi Eldredge, an author that I love, points out that anytime we say “just” about ourselves, we are diminishing the value of God’s creation.  Let’s not diminish the value of what we do by feeling the need to justify our decision to stay home with our children!
• While I agreed with this chapter, I found the example of the “professional” stay at home mom condescending and judgemental {something I really wish the authors of this book strived to stay away from}. 
• That being said, the authors make valid points.  I was not taught home to keep a home or cook.  When I became a wife at the age of eighteen, my husband had to teach me how to make macaroni and cheese out of a box.  I never have learned to sew and the things I know about housekeeping and parenting I have learned in adulthood. Is that way it should be?  No.
• Now, later on in the chapter, the authors take things too far for me again by suggesting that a church sponsored mother’s day out is, in so many words, insulting to mothers and their babies.  I beg to disagree.  Not all of us as women have made it to the point of being able to handle motherhood on our own when motherhood comes into our lives.  Those times without my children allowed me to recharge and be a better mom when I picked them back up.  I do not think mothers should be guilted into believing that leaving your child in a church nursery is inadequate parenting.
• I also agree with the authors that our families are our PRIMARY ministry as women and moms.  However, I completely disagree that our contribution ends there.  This is a very individual decision based on the call God places on a woman’s heart and her relationship with Him.  Out of the overflow of my relationship with Christ and my desire to tell His story, I accept speaking engagements that take me away from home and devote a certain amount of time each day to writing.  These things are not done at the detriment of my family (if I am in line with the Spirit) and are part of the ministry of my life.  I won’t apologize for or doubt the validity of that call.  It is between me and God (and my husband).

As we venture to chapter four, I just encourage you to read this book with a prayerful and open mind.  Also, don’t forget to check out Betty’s thoughts on this week’s reading as well.

Now, on to how God put me in my place.  Have you ever been praying for God to remove the speck from your husband’s eye and instead he points out the telephone pole sticking out of your own? Yeah, that is where I am at this week….