Hearts at home Blog Contributor | Recognize and Remember

Posts Tagged ‘Hearts at home Blog Contributor’

Family Valentine’s Day Tradition

Posted in Family, tagged Family, family fun, family traditions, Family Valentine's Day Traditions, guest blogger, Hearts at Home Blog, Hearts at home Blog Contributor, Valentine's Day, valentine's days ideas on February 13, 2010| 1 Comment »

On the Hearts at Home blog this weekend, you can read what the Joseph family Valentine’s Day Tradition has always been…

This is the first year Bill and I will celebrate Valentine’s Day alone since 1984 – we are now empty nesters. But there are several favorite Valentine’s Traditions that we will still enjoy this year.

On Valentine’s Day when our daughters were young, I would make red heart invitations inviting …. to read the rest, visit… http://www.hearts-at-home.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1434:a-family-valentine-tradition&catid=49:general-posts&Itemid=142

Read Full Post »

A New Start

Posted in Family, Grace, MOPS Mentor, Mothering, tagged Christian family, expectations, Faith, Grace, Hearts at Home Blog, Hearts at home Blog Contributor, legacy, MOPS Devotions, MOPS Mentor, Mothering, New Year's Resolution, slow down on January 6, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Today I had the honor of being published on the Hearts at Home blog and sharing the same message with my terrific MOPS Steering Team. As always, when God provides a message, it is usually more for me than for those who it is shared with.

Starting Over Again

alt

At the start of the new year, I like to lead devotions at our MOPS/Moms Meetings with this verse…

“The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.” Proverbs 14:1

I used this verse to encourage the Moms to start over again this new year. To start over again by:

Slowing Down: Ask yourself what is really important. Is stressing yourself and your children out by being so busy running here? Is having your children involved in all kinds of activities (sports, church, dance, etc…) really building into your children the values you desire to build. Could slowing down and not being so involved help build a stronger family and faith legacy. It takes time to raise children, time to read books, time to stop and pick up rocks, time to listen to children tell you their stories. It takes time to teach your children about your faith. Slow down and give your family less stress.
Lower Your Expectations: Here it is again, that whole expectation thing. For some reason, we always believe that our lives, our homes, our marriages, our children should look a certain way (and usually it has to do with some unobtainable marketing image that has been presented to us). We all have things in our lives that are not great and no matter how perfect someone else’s life appears – they too are dealing with something. Please allow your kids to be kids, your husband to just be a man, and your home to not be a showcase by lowering your expectations.
Deal With The Things That Are Bugging You: Every time I speak about The Angry Mother, I tell the Moms (and myself) that when I am upset (or angry or withdrawn) — it is typically when I am not dealing with something going on in my life and I take it out on others. Earlier this week, I was frustrated with Bill over our trash and with an Internet Photo Company over unanswered emails (now I am sure they never want to hear from me again) – but what I was really dealing with was my frustration over my health issues. Thankfully, Bill chose not to engage with me in a conflict and later that day I realized my “issues” and apologized to him (now I just need to call the Internet company back ).
Offer Grace To Others And Yourself: How we all need this gift of grace everyday. Offering grace to someone who is not doing exactly what you want (and this includes yourself) is such a gift. Instead of being frustrated with your husband or kids — how about offering the gift of grace. How thankful I am that God offered grace to me and may I offer this gift to those I love most every day.
”By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established: through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” Proverbs 24:3-4

And there is the word treasure again: treasures that you can actually fill your home with. The treasure of a grace filled home. Once again, at the beginning of this New Year, start over again and build your home with time, love and grace – treasures that you actually can leave as a legacy. I am praying for you …

Read Full Post »

A Christmas Eve Tradition – Mocha Punch

Posted in Family, tagged Christmas, Christmas Eve Tradition, Christmas traditions, Hearts at Home Blog, Hearts at home Blog Contributor, Mocha Punch on December 18, 2009| Leave a Comment »

On Christmas Eve, we enjoy hosting friends and family in our home. Our family, our neighbors, and friends come to enjoy a Christmas buffet, a silly gift exchange and time together. As traditional part of this evening that is always enjoyed is Mocha Punch served in my Grandmother’s punch bowl.

Mocha Punch is a Christmas Eve Tradition at our home. It is always served in my Grandmother’s Punch Bowl and is a favorite year after year.

6 cups water
1/2 cup instant chocolate drink mix
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup instant coffee granules
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream
1/2 gallon chocolate ice cream
1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped
Chocolate curls, optional

Directions

In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Remove from the heat. Add drink mix, sugar and coffee; stir until dissolved. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
About 30 minutes before serving, pour mixture into a large punch bowl. Add ice cream by scoopfuls; stir until partially melted.
Garnish with dollops of whipped cream and chocolate curls if desired. Yield: 20-25 servings (about 5 quarts).

Just a reminder that to be sure to use decaffeinated coffee if you are serving this in the evening. One year I did not and no one got much sleep on Christmas Eve (our girls remember that as the night Audrianna kept them up all night long).

Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

In Honor of Our MOPS Group

Posted in Christian Speaker, MOPS Mentor, tagged Beaver County PA MOPS, Hearts at Home, Hearts at Home Blog, Hearts at home Blog Contributor, Hearts at Home workshop leader, Hearts at Home Workshops, MOPS, MOPS Mentor, Pumpkin Bars Recipe on October 23, 2009| 1 Comment »

Today at the Hearts at Home Blog, I posted a recipe to honor our MOPS group (Chippewa Evangelical Free MOPS). This recipe made its first appearance 5 years ago when Jan (the Hospitality Coordinator) served it and it became a favorite of our group. Please visit the Hearts at Home blog for this recipes along with tips, articles and more on Mothering — http://www.hearts-at-home.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1333:recipe-pumpkin-bars&catid=131:recipes&Itemid=144

“MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers. MOPS International exists to meet the needs of every mom – urban, suburban and rural moms, stay-at-home and working moms, teen, single and married moms – moms with different lifestyles who all share a similar desire to be the very best moms they can be! MOPS recognizes that the years from infancy through kindergarten are foundational in a mother-child relationship and are filled with unique needs.”

“Hearts at Home is a Christ-centered organization that encourages, educates, and equips women in the profession of motherhood.”

The next Hearts at Home North Central Regional Conference is coming soon – November 6-7 at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, MN. I will be leading two workshops on Recognize, Record and Remember and The Joys of Mentoring. Make Plans to Attend Now, workshops are filling up fast ….. http://www.hearts-at-home.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=629&Itemid=179