Our Valentine's Day...

Little A asked me the day before Valentine's Day why I didn't have any decorations up. Ha!

I guess since I had the house decorated for fall, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas and even a little bit for winter, he expected something for Valentine's Day too!

I figured I better get to it, so I made the above banner out of construction paper and yarn. He was impressed that I actually made it myself, instead of buying a custom-made fabric one this time!

I also made some cute little hearts out of construction paper and felt stick-on hearts (that I bought at Hobby Lobby last year to make baseball valentines and still had left over).

I attached them to yarn and hung them from the boys' bedroom door frames. They thought it was so cool waking up to this surprise on Valentine's morning!

Big A sent these to me a day early, because he knew that I would not be home during the day on Valentine's Day. What a sweet surprise!

The boys also enjoyed waking up to some Valentine's Day treats, which mostly came from the dollar bins at Target!

Little A enjoyed giving his teacher this little gift, also from the dollar bins!

Both boys chose to wear their new sweaters (which I got at the Children's Place outlet for only $6.99 apiece!) to school that day, so I of course had to get a picture. So handsome!

The boys helped me decorate some cute little Valentine cupcakes. Toppers and wrappers were also from the dollar bins! Can you tell I love Target and their dollar bins? ;)

I made little molten lava cakes for Big A and I. They are basically chocolate cupcakes with a hershey kiss baked into the middle, topped with chocolate sauce and strawberries. Yum!

To top it off, Big A took me out for dinner and to do a little shopping...kid free! :)

I hope you had a wonderful Valentine's day with loved ones, celebrating not only your love for one another but God's overwhelming love for you as well!

About the Author: Erin Vick Franklin is the founder and director of Worthy of the Prize. Erin has a BBA in Marketing and Management from TCU and a Masters of Christian Education in Church Recreation from Southwestern Seminary. She is a published, award-winning author and poet. Purchase her book Worthy of the Prize Sports Camps: A Church's Guide to Implementing an Effective, Community-Reaching Christian Sports Camp to be used as an outreach tool for your church or mission organization. Erin is the wife of A, a Worship Pastor, and a work-at-home-momma to 2 crazy little boys, a and e.

Free February Scripture Printable: Love Never Fails

As you know, I have decided that as part of my goal to reach the nations for Christ this year (reach being my 2013 word), I will provide a free scripture printable for you every month this year...because it all starts in the home, reaching our families for Christ.

Here is my February print. Simply click image to download. Go here to download my January print, which is entitled "Hope for a New Year."

What a great reminder, during this month of love, that God's love never fails. This very truth is found all throughout His word and here it is again, woven into one of my favorite passages of scripture. Even when we are up against trials and tribulations, instead of being overwhelmed by this world, we can count on Him to overwhelm us with His love, His compassion, His faithfulness. Every. Single. Day.

For more love printables, including "your love never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out on me" go here.

Happy February, friends!

About the Author: Erin Vick Franklin is the founder and director of Worthy of the Prize. Erin has a BBA in Marketing and Management from TCU and a Masters of Christian Education in Church Recreation from Southwestern Seminary. She is a published, award-winning author and poet. Purchase her book Worthy of the Prize Sports Camps: A Church's Guide to Implementing an Effective, Community-Reaching Christian Sports Camp to be used as an outreach tool for your church or mission organization. Erin is the wife of A, a Worship Pastor, and a work-at-home-momma to 2 crazy little boys, a and e.

{DIY Valentine Bubbles}: Teaching Your Children to Spread Love

My friend Cat over at Cap Creations posted these adorable valentine bubbles along with the tutorial showing you how to make them a few days ago, and I just think they are fabulous! Don't you love them? How fun!

As you know, I am always looking for new acitivities to do with my boys, to teach them about God, particularly around the holidays, in order to keep the focus on the true reason for the season. I think these not only make a cute Valentine's day activity and gift, but are also a great way to demonstrate to your children (a visual if you will) how we are to spread God's love to the world!

That being said, simply go here for the complete tutorial for making the valentine bubbles. After making them with your children, read to them the following passage of scripture.

³⁴ Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. ³⁵ One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Discuss the fact that because God loves us so much and gave everything for us (even His own Son), He desires that we love Him with everything we have. Once we are filled with His love, we will be able to pour out His love on others.

(Blow the bubbles)

Point out the fact that when we blow the bubble wand, the little heart bubbles spread everywhere, landing on whatever is near. In the same way, the love of God within us overflows onto those around us, which is why it is very important for us to always use kind words and actions, taking every opportunity to share God's love with everyone we come in contact with.

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45)

What about you? Do you have any ideas for sharing God's love this Valentine's Day? 

About the Author: Erin Vick Franklin is the founder and director of Worthy of the Prize. Erin has a BBA in Marketing and Management from TCU and a Masters of Christian Education in Church Recreation from Southwestern Seminary. She is a published, award-winning author and poet. Purchase her book Worthy of the Prize Sports Camps: A Church's Guide to Implementing an Effective, Community-Reaching Christian Sports Camp to be used as an outreach tool for your church or mission organization. Erin is the wife of A, a Worship Pastor, and a work-at-home-momma to 2 crazy little boys, a and e.

{Hope for the Home} Linky Party: Love One Another Family Focus

Last year I decided to add a little extra 'umph' to our fam's Valentine's Day celebration. I wanted the day to be about our love for one another and not just about candy, presents and flowers... even tho those things are pretty fun to get and give!!! So, I set out and 'puked' Valentine's decor all over the house and set up a themed table in our kitchen that would get us all thinking about what we truly meant by saying... I love you!! (See past post here). This year I wanted to keep the tradition going and add to it!! About 3 months ago I signed up for a monthly mailer from Jones Design Company that sends out printables, note cards, and scripture cards that are themed for each month!! I have loved the materials so far and they have really helped me to add that extra bit of meaning I was looking for to our family's holiday traditions. Here is what I am going with this year....

Team Lewis' theme for Vday 2013: Love is...

I want our boys and my hubs/I to really see what Love is in our lives. It's easy to think and rely on the fact that Love is a given, but sometimes Love can be taken for granted, not shown enough, or basically be put aside out of selfish tendencies! I am so excited to see how this theme will go over with our boys... I am sure we will learn a lot, laugh and realize some of our definitions of what 'Love is' are vastly different at Casa de Lewis!!!

This week our kitchen table scripture card reads this...

John 13:34

Love One Another...

Such a simple command... No? Ha.... You would think??? Sometimes when I read this verse I can picture God throwing his hands up saying... 'Come on people... It's not that HARD!!!' :))) For me, this verse hasn't always been prevalent in my actions nor in my heart. I would put myself first, think selfishly of my wants before anyone else's and I definitely didn't think it was necessary to Love at all times. It's simple though... Loving is easy when you chose to do just that, LOVE! Love through the ups, the downs, the times when all you want to do is walk away. Be Love, show Love, and give Love first before you give anything else... especially before you give your opinion!!! Ha... try that for a day or so, before you judge or speculate or throw your own opinion out there... simply just give love and acceptance!! I bet you will cut the negativity in half by mid day!!! I am not perfect at this, Lord knows I still struggle at loving, but isn't that what it's all about? Trying each day to love more, to give more of yourself so that the world that surrounds you is a better more loving place??? Give it a go.... We are!!! 

From our Team to Yours... Love One Another.

Always - Abbey

Go here for more ways to make God apart of your everyday life and home, and be sure to link up your own ideas below!

About the Author: Abbey Lewis started her blog A Moments Peace just one year ago as an outlet to be creative, and to have a place for her boys to look back and see the real her! It has been that, times 100!! Abbey lives in Texas with her husband and two sons. She loves her family, her faith, her friends and she tries to put a positive spin on any thing that God has in store for her! Feel free to stroll through her blog, Sonic drink in hand, because she believes every thing is better when you have a Sonic drink!

Free Chalkboard LOVE Printables

So yesterday I came across this fabulous tutorial showing you how to make your own chalkboard printables, complete with a free 8x10 chalkboard background...and now I am addicted to making chalkboard printables! :)

I thought it would be fun to make some love printables for you, just in time for Valentine's Day. Enjoy!

Simply click on image to download. And please let us know if you do!

As we prepare our homes and hearts for the love month, let us remember that "we love because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19)

About the Author: Erin Vick Franklin is the founder and director of Worthy of the Prize. Erin has a BBA in Marketing and Management from TCU and a Masters of Christian Education in Church Recreation from Southwestern Seminary. She is a published, award-winning author and poet. Purchase her book Worthy of the Prize Sports Camps: A Church's Guide to Implementing an Effective, Community-Reaching Christian Sports Camp to be used as an outreach tool for your church or mission organization. Erin is the wife of A, a Worship Pastor, and a work-at-home-momma to 2 crazy little boys, a and e.

{Hope for the Home}: Making LOVE Come Alive

She had nothing. Nothing but a life filled with sin. Nothing but an alabaster jar filled with perfume.

 

Jesus was having dinner in the home of Simon, the Pharisee. Surrounded by the religious leaders of the day when she showed up. Uninvited. And obviously unwanted.

Right there at the dinner table, she washed Jesus' feet with her tears and poured out her expensive perfume onto his feet. A repentant sinner, anointing him with the only valuable thing she owned.

Seeing what she had done, Simon said, "if this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is -- that she is a sinner."

To which Jesus replied, "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he cancelled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

"I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."

"You have judged correctly...Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven-- for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

What is it that you value? What have you been holding onto, keeping for yourself, putting above your relationship with God?

This woman loved Jesus so much, she gave everything she had. What a beautiful testimony of faith.

Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. {1 John 4:7-10}

Family Activity for the Week...

Gather together and have each family member tell one thing that they are going to do this week to show love to Jesus and others. One of the best ways to show love is to put another person before yourself. Sacrifice something for them in the same way that Christ made the ultimate sacrifice for us on the cross. Give up something for them.

Leave me some comments to let me know what you did and how it went. I will be praying for you!

Don't forget to hang your Love fruit on your Fruit of the Spirit tree and display it in your home as a visual reminder for your family this week, as you focus on love in your home. Go here to download the printables that go with our Making the Fruit of the Spirit Come Alive in Your Home series if you missed our introductory post last week. And go here  for Cat's tutorial on how to make your fruit printables into glass pebble magnets, so that you can hang your tree on the refrigerator.

Happy Monday, friends! Invite your friends to join us next week as we talk about JOY! :)

About the Author: Erin Vick Franklin is the founder and director of Worthy of the Prize. Erin has a BBA in Marketing and Management from TCU and a Masters of Christian Education in Church Recreation from Southwestern Seminary. She is a published, award-winning author and poet. Purchase her book Worthy of the Prize Sports Camps: A Church's Guide to Implementing an Effective, Community-Reaching Christian Sports Camp to be used as an outreach tool for your church or mission organization. Erin is the wife of A, a Worship Pastor, and a work-at-home-momma to 2 crazy little boys, a and e.