{Hope for the Home} Linky Party: Devotional Resources for Families

Hey everyone! I hope you are all having a fabulous Monday! I must admit that this has been an exhausting week for my family, but a truly wonderful one too. Life Action Revival Ministries has been at our church the past nine days, and although the long nights with little ones can be hard, God is using this time to richly bless my heart and remind me of how very easy it is to slip into a "mommy routine" and lose sight of spending daily time seeking Him.

Life Action has shared a lot of great resources with us this week, and the librarian in me thought that this would be the perfect time to pass them on to you. Enjoy!

Together: Growing Appetites for God by Carrie Ward

This mom knew she needed to get deeper into God's word, and she brought her young children along for the ride! They started reading through the bible together when her oldest was just 4. It took them 5 years the first time, and now they are on their third reading together. I have started reading this book, and it is really encouraging my heart to step out and do something big like this with my children!

The Princess and the Kiss and The Squire and the Scroll

I haven't read these yet, but they are two books (one for girls, one for boys) that are meant to give parents a resource for teaching their children about purity from a young age. They sound like a great resource to me!

 

This may be a book you have already seen: Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver. As a young mom (with more kiddos on the way), it is so easy to let the needs of my family and household replace my time with God. I mean, they need me, right? Laundry is important and they have to eat, right? Well, yes. But really, we have no excuse for allowing those things to take God's place in our hearts! The words on the front of the book say "Finding intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life." I can't wait to read it and see what God does in my heart. I hope you are blessed by it, too!

Do you have any devotional resources for families that you recommend?

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: Amanda writes about family, crafting, and everything in between over at her blog, The McLife. She is a Texas girl by birth living in Mississippi with her husband, Mike, and two sons, Max and Ben. In a past life she was a school librarian, but now she spends her days as a stay-at-home mom and wouldn't have it any other way.

{Hope for the Home} Linky Party: Valentines

Valentine's Day is right around the corner (how did that happen?), and with it comes hearts and candy and racking my brain for what to do for my son's mother's day out class. Like many things in life, though, I am trying to remember to slow down a bit and take every opportunity I can to point my children toward Christ.

At this young age, one of the most important things I can think of is beginning to instill basic biblical truths in my sons, as well as beginning to instill a love and knowledge of scripture. So, as Valentine's Day approaches, I am looking for ways to use it as an opportunity to have a little fun while teaching too. As with all things in life these days, I turned to Pinterest. I may have a problem, but it did not disappoint. I found several crafts and ideas for incorporating a little hope into this Valentine's Day!

Source: catholicicing.com via Nicky on Pinterest

I love this heart wreath. It would be fun to make this together...and so cute to decorate with in the years to come!

Source: fbcdn-photos-a.akamaihd.net via Melissa on Pinterest

I love this Valentine's Day countdown. Each day you tear off has a scripture inside to read together.

Source: reciepes4donuts.blogspot.com via Corrie on Pinterest

I have younger kiddos, but I think these "love" scriptures would be a great memorization activity with older kids!

Source: theeducatorsspinonit.blogspot.com via Sara on Pinterest

So, no, this activity doesn't have a scripture application. But how cute is this?

Do you have any ideas for fun Valentine's Day activities??

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: Amanda writes about family, crafting, and everything in between over at her blog, The McLife. She is a Texas girl by birth living in Mississippi with her husband, Mike, and two sons, Max and Ben. In a past life she was a school librarian, but now she spends her days as a stay-at-home mom and wouldn't have it any other way.

Before You Put Away Those Christmas Decorations...2 easy projects and what to do with your Christmas cards!

I received the sweetest email in my inbox today that I just have to share with you. It was written in response to my JOY: A Year in Review post and the ribbon was made as a result of our 25 Names of Jesus series. It was just the encouragement I needed!

Hi Erin!

I just wanted to send you a note and say I love receiving your emails every day!  Keep up the good work.  I know it can get hard at times but just know you are making a difference in so many peoples' lives!  I also wanted to attach a picture of the "Names of God" ribbon that you inspired me to make!  I bought the ribbon and then used a sharpie to write the names. My favorite is "Living Water" because our family has a ministry called Neverthirst where clean and living water is provided to slum areas in India and Africa through the local church.  I made it after my tree was up so I didn't use it this year but can't wait for it to be wrapped around my tree next year!

Happy New Year!  Praying that God will provide the people and resources you need to keep up your fantastic ministry!  

I thought some of you might want to go ahead and make this beautiful ribbon for next year, before you put your Christmas decorations away --- a friend of mine had a great idea for finding Christmas ribbon on clearance to use. And be sure to check out Neverthirst to see how you can get involved in this fantastic ministry!

Also, don't throw away those beautiful Christmas cards that you received this year!

Amanda from The McLife shared a fantastic idea with us last January for our {Hope for the Home} series, that I absolutely love and plan to do again this year. You can read about it here.

Basically, she suggests keeping your cards out all year long, in some sort of container in a visible spot in your home and each day/week/month during the year, pull out one card and pray for that family. Isn't that fabulous? To make it even easier, you can make your cards into a cute, little book!

                                                                     Source: allendesigns.typepad.com via Amanda on Pinterest

I could never bring myself to throw out all of those nice cards we got in the mail after having them out for just a few weeks during the holidays and now I have a use for them the entire year through, until I receive new ones next year!

My plan is to pray for one family each week during the year when we sit down together at the dinner table each night. When I run out of cards, I will start over. I am also going to try to let that family know that we are praying for them! It will be a great way to teach the boys the importance of prayer.

Happy New Year, 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.

{Hope for the Home}: Memorizing Scripture

As parents, one of the most important things we can do is instill the word of God into our children's hearts. We can read scripture with them, sing scripture songs with them...the list goes on and on. I find, though, that sometimes we lose sight of intentionally working with our children to memorize scripture. And what an important thing that is! As our children grow and face the world and all of the situations they will inevitably face, it is so important that the Word of God remains at the forefront of their minds, thoughts, and hearts.

So...today I thought I would just remind you or show you a few ways to make memorizing fun with your kids. These are from all over the place: my experiences as a teacher, trainings I've done, and the Internet (Pinterest, of course!). A lot of these are for older children, but you could modify them or give your little ones lots of help. Bigger brothers and sisters can help, too!

Use a chalkboard or dry erase board. Write out the verse and then as you go erase more and more words until they can say it from memory.

Take turns tossing a ball to each other. Whoever catches the ball has to say the next word in the verse.

Write one word of the scripture on each index card, and then mix them up. Have kids put them in order.

Source: seedsmusicstore.com via Judy on Pinterest

I have talked about these Seeds Family Worship songs before. They are great, and I highly recommend them. Music is a great way to memorize scripture! I know I can't get them out of my head!

Put each word of a verse inside a plastic egg or envelope and hide them around the house. Have your kids hunt them out and then put them in order.

Have everyone in your family sit in a circle. Go in a circle with everyone saying one word of the verse in order. Go faster and faster as you learn it.

Source: apparentlyblogging.awana.org via Jenn on Pinterest

How fun is this one? Have kids stack the verse in order!

Write out the verse and have your kids trace over the verse over and over in different colors. Rainbow verses!

And last but not least...keep working on each verse you learn. You know...use it or lose it!

Go here for more ways to make God apart of your everyday life and home! 

About the Author: Amanda writes about family, crafting, and everything in between over at her blog, The McLife. She is a Texas girl by birth living in Mississippi with her husband, Mike, and two sons, Max and Ben. In a past life she was a school librarian, but now she spends her days as a stay-at-home mom and wouldn't have it any other way.

{Hope for the Home}: Fall Focus on God

When I sat down this week to think about what I wanted to say, I kind of drew a blank. Just being honest here, people! But then, as I looked around at my house freshly decorated for fall, the Lord spoke something to my heart. 

I love fall. Love it. My obsession with pumpkins is no secret, I love the smell of fall in the air, and I definitely love all of the fun activities. The thing is, life can get busy. Real busy. And as I look around my house, I realize that I have made it look "pretty," but I have done nothing to remind my boys (and myself) that this season is a blessing from God and we should be thankful every day for that. I haven't done anything to slow down for a minute and enjoy this season as God's creation. It may seem silly, but I think that purposely creating a space that points to our relationship with God is so important! After all, you focus on what you surround yourself with daily.

So...what's a girl to do? Turn to Pinterest of course. Ha! As I started looking, I realize that there are lots of simple ways to add daily reminders, and a touch of beauty, to our home this season. Check it out!

Source: tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com via Mary on Pinterest

This thankful garland is beautiful and a great way to focus daily on our many blessings!

Source: Uploaded by user via Dominée on Pinterest

I think this hand print wreath is so cute...and a great way to remind young ones to count their blessings!

Source: oopseydaisyblog.com via Melissa on Pinterest

A fall advent activity. I love it...and it's a great way to slow down and count your blessings as a family.

Source: silverboxcreative.com via Andrea on Pinterest

These are pretty self explanatory, and I think they are so pretty!

Happy Fall, friends!

Go here for more ways to make God apart of your everyday life and home!

About the Author: Amanda writes about family, crafting, and everything in between over at her blog, The McLife. She is a Texas girl by birth living in Mississippi with her husband, Mike, and two sons, Max and Ben. In a past life she was a school librarian, but now she spends her days as a stay-at-home mom and wouldn't have it any other way.

Organize your Tailgate

Source: prairiehive.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Hi, ya'll. I'm Amanda, and I have a confession to make. I am pretty obsessed with fall. The cooler(ish) weather, the pumpkins, the salted caramel mochas. Be still my heart.

But...there is one thing I forgot. One thing that unequivocally means fall is in the air to thousands of fans everywhere: college football season! And really, what would game day be without the pregame tailgate party?  I have to admit that I have now lived in SEC country for 3 years, and I still have not been to a tailgate here. I've heard they are like nothing else, and I hope to experience it someday!

I am an organizer and planner by nature, so when I think of tailgating I naturally start thinking about how to "dress up" the party with products that will make the day more organized, more functional, and well...cuter! Here are a few items I think would make life a lot easier for tailgaters. Now, as an independent consultant with Thirty-One, I naturally think we offer some pretty awesome items to organize a party. I've mixed some of them in below along with other awesome products. Enjoy!

The Food and Drinks

What's the most important thing at a tailgate? (Well...besides the people of course). Food and drinks! And when you are outside, you want to make sure you are keeping the food fresh and the drinks cool. Here are a few options I ran across.

Thermal totes can be a great option. They keep food and drinks cold, and they are easy to transport. Plus...they can be personalized to show your team spirit!  All of these thermal totes are from Thirty-One.

Source: weddingshop.theknot.com via Kristy on Pinterest

A cooler and a chair in one? Perfect for a tailgate!

Source: desden.com via desden on Pinterest

How fun is this?? A fight song cooler!

Source: mewanty.net via Kerry on Pinterest

Okay...maybe not. But you would be the talk of the tailgate!

 Make sure you grab a tote, like this Thirty-One large utility tote, to organize your other food!

The Other Goods

Here are a few other things I thought would be fun for organizing and making your tailgate the cutest party on the block!

Source: projectnursery.com via Stacey Wynne on Pinterest

Wrap napkins around utensils ahead of time to keep them together. Use your team's colors to add a pop of color!

Source: amazon.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

I love these pop-up disposable trash cans. I have used them at parties before, and they are cute, functional, and a snap to clean up. No more trying to keep a regular trash bag standing...only to end up covered in food.

Source: coghlans.com via Debra on Pinterest

So these aren't super cute, but they are one of those things you may not think about until it's too late. If you have tablecloths outside, you are going to need something like this!

What about you? Do you have any fun ideas for "dressing up a tailgate" or any other fabulous fall ideas that you would like to share? Leave a comment!

Go here for more ways to make your game day parties a hit and check out my independent Thirty-One website here.

Happy tailgating!

About the Author: Amanda writes about family, crafting, and everything in between over at her blog, The McLife. She is a Texas girl by birth living in Mississippi with her husband, Mike, and two sons, Max and Ben. In a past life she was a school librarian, but now she spends her days as a stay-at-home mom and wouldn't have it any other way.