Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Here at Saved M.O.M. we would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year. Enjoy this time with your children and loved ones, but never forget the reason for the season! "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6.

We thank God for sending His only begotten son so that we may have everlasting and abundant life. Share this word with your children this season and take a few moments to reflect on the gift we have in Jesus.

We would love to hear your Christmas stories. Feel free to post your comments below this blog entry at www.savedmom.com. Here's to a year filled with wonder!

Mommie Blessings,

Saved M.O.M.

(S. Press)

Faith vs. Fear

“Faith vs. Fear” was the topic of discussion on our October Saved M.O.M. conference call. We decided to discuss this topic for several reasons. The primary reason being that it seems that there are so many times that we, as believers, allow our fear to override our faith. We often choose to allow the naysayers and negative energy around us to overshadow our God given right to faith in all things.

It is vitally important that we make an intentional decision every day of our lives to walk in faith and not fear. It’s so easy for us to get caught up in the constant negativity portrayed by the media and our society, however, we have been blessed with the ability to live our lives in a faith based mode and not in a fear based mode. We simply have to make the choice to choose faith and not fear, life and not death!

In addition, as parents, we have a higher obligation to do so because we have smaller eyes watching our every move. We want to exemplify this practice of walking in faith and not fear to our children as often as possible. Even if your kids are older, they are still influenced by your actions. So let’s display the best example for them of what God intended us to be.

Now don’t misunderstand the text, I know that we all face times in our lives in which we experience fearful situations, for which the outcome looks bleak. However, we can’t always go by what we see, we must live by our faith… “For we live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Therefore, we should choose to make a conscious effort every day to walk by faith and watch what happens!

We would love to hear how you have chosen faith over fear in your life! Post your comments below this blog entry at www.savedmom.com. Our next Prayer Conference Call will be held on Sunday, November, 24^th at 8:45 pm, simply dial 712-432-3066 and enter the call code 656437.

Mommie Blessings,

Saved M.O.M.

(S. Press)

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

As parents we often find ourselves stressing out about every little issue that presents itself, as it relates to our children. It doesn’t matter their age; we always seem to find something to worry about. When will my child walk? Will potty training ever end? Will my child get better grades in school? Is my child having sex or doing drugs? Is my child making good decisions at college? Did my child pick the right spouse? And the list goes on and on.

We must learn to stop stressing and worrying about these things. Not only is doing so unhealthy, but it also contradicts the Word of God. His Word tells us in 1 Peter 5:7, "Give all your worries to Him, because He cares for you." Therefore, we should put our time and energy into teaching our children to put God first in all things. The best way for us to do so is to lead by example. 

I've certainly had many moments of "sweating the small stuff", however I am doing my best to allow God to lead this ship while  I enjoy the ride! It's such a blessing to know that we are comforted by our Father God and He is with us every step of the way. Parenting has never been the easiest job, but it can definitely be the most rewarding. The choice is yours.

Feel free to share ways in which your are teaching or have taught your children long lasting Godly principles. Post your comments below this blog entry at www.savedmom.com. Our next Prayer Conference Call will be held on Sunday, August 25th at 8:45 AM. Simply dial 712-432-3066 and enter the call code 656437.

Mommie Blessings,

Saved M.O.M.

(S. Press)

Doing Things on Your Terms

I recently had a conversation with a new mommy. She told me that she was starting to feel really inadequate as a mother because of some of the choices that she made regarding her parenting practices. I went on to explain to her that what she felt was pretty common for first time mothers. I also added that she should not allow any one else’s opinions or experiences drive her away from doing what she thought would be best for her family.

It seems as though more often than not other mothers feel compelled to offer their parenting advice to new mothers, many times without ever being asked. This is something that I try very hard not to do. I feel that new mothers need a good support system more than anything, not someone judging them and offering them unsolicited advice. I know that there may be many who disagree with me on this, but I am simply stating how I feel. Even when advice is solicited, I always tell new mothers that they will ultimately have to work through each situation and circumstance and do what they feel is best.

When it comes to parenting there really is no blanket way of doing things. Every child is different and every situation is different. As a mother, I feel that it is best to follow your gut instinct, always pray your way through and allow God to steer you in the right direction. 

I would love to hear your stories about other mothers giving you unsolicited advice that they could have just kept! Feel free to post your comments below this blog entry at www.savedmom.com. Also, our next Saved M.O.M. Prayer Conference Call will be held on Sunday, May26th at 8:45 am. Simply dial 712-432-3066 then enter call code 656437.

Mommie Blessings,

Saved M.O.M.

(S. Press)

Remembering The Past

Less than 2 weeks ago Black History Month came to a close and Women’s History Month started. With this in mind, I want to take a few moments to discuss the importance of teaching our children about the past. It’s so unfortunate, that in many instances, the only exposure to black history or women’s history that our children will receive is during school. However, I feel that as parents, it is incumbent upon us to teach our children about the history of days gone by. Knowing about our history and where we have come from, helps to shape us into wholesome and well-rounded individuals.

 

With the use of the internet, there are so many information sources that we can tap into as we teach our children about history. There are also ways to make this experience fun and exciting (i.e. take them to a museum exhibit or a play that focuses on the subject matter, have a puppet show including portrayals of historical figures, etc…). During the months devoted to specific areas in history there are great educational opportunities that are beneficial to us and our children.

 

These are a few great websites to visit during your quest more information about Women’s History Month: http://www.nwhp.org/ , http://thegrio.com/2013/03/01/womens-history-month-on-the-importance-of-black-womens-history/ , http://womenshistorymonth.gov/. Why not take a few hours this month to visit some museums and exhibits in your city to expose your kids to something they haven’t experienced before?  We would love for you to share your stories with us by commenting below this post at www.savedmom.com. Thanks for your continued support!

 

Mommie Blessings,

Saved M.O.M.
(S. Press)

Earn Your Keep

At a recent MOPS meeting, I had a conversation with a group of mothers about teaching our little ones how to clean up around the house. Most of them were pleasantly surprised when they found out that my toddler makes his bed, helps with the laundry, helps unload the dishwasher (no knives and forks of course) and cleans his play room!

I explained to them that I definitely have an A-type personality and my children have helped me clean around the house since they started walking. This is abnormal for many, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I believe that it is imperative that we start teaching our children the importance of cleanliness and organization at a very early age. Not only does doing so teach them a sense of responsibility, but it also teaches them an essential life skill that will help them in many other areas and aspects of their lives in the future.

I know that most of us have heard the saying, “cleanliness is next to Godliness” a time or two. We know that God likes order and we want to be in right standing with Him. It’s not always easy to maintain cleanliness and order with little ones running around. However, we should take the time to teach them the importance of this principle and show them how to do age appropriate cleaning tasks.

I know that some of you may not agree with my practices, but I know that what I am teaching my children is having a positive impact on them in many ways. I would love for you to share your tips on how you motivate your little helpers, as it relates to cleaning and staying organized by commenting below this post at www.savedmom.com. Thanks for your continued support of Saved M.O.M.!

Mommie Blessings,

Saved M.O.M.

(S. Press)

Fragile: Handle With Care

I am so thankful that in the past few years I have been blessed with some truly amazing friends! For so long I wanted to have friends that were true, dependable, non-judging and loyal! Now don’t get me wrong, I have had a few long standing friendships in which this was the case, but not many. So many times I felt that I resided on the giving end and never on the receiving end in many previous so called friendships.

I can say that each experience, weather good or bad made me grow wiser and stronger. I can also say that sometimes I wasn’t equipped with the necessary tools to know how to handle each relationship with care. Unfortunately, my mother had the same experiences in her friendships and couldn’t offer much advice, which left me ill equipped in certain situations.

For this reason and many others, I feel that we should do our best to teach our children how to cultivation healthy friendships and relationships, most importantly through leading by example. Even if we haven’t had the best track record in relationships, we are directly connected with one who has, non-other than Jesus Christ. We can seek Him and Gods word on the appropriate ways to help our children in this area. Friendships and relationships are special and fragile and should always be handled with care.

Seek God on the best advice to give your children and always handle your friendships with care. Doing so allows for an opportunity for your kids to see this principle in action. Kids are very aware of their environment, even if it doesn’t seem as such. Be careful as to what you say and do in front of them. I am not saying that you shouldn’t be yourself around your children, but try to make sure that you are right in all of your relationships so that they have a great example to follow. Also, when giving them advice regarding situations that may arise in their friendships be sure to give them Godly advice.

I know from experience, the advice that can sometimes come from my “carnal mind” is not the advice that would come from the mind of Christ. Considering this, I take a moment to redirect and give sound Godly advice to my children when necessary. We all know that there is no instruction manual for parenting and relationships, but we do have the Word of God to reference whenever needed.

Share your relationship an/or friendship moments of fragility by commenting below this post at www.savedmom.com. Thanks for your continued support and Happy Holidays to you!

Mommie Blessings,

 

Saved M.O.M.

Visits Revealed

It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and lose sight of the little things that mean a lot. Many times as parents we take for granted the time that we allow our children to spend with their grandparents or other elderly family members that we hold near and dear. I have been guilty of this myself. My grandmother was constantly on me about bringing the kids by more often to see her; therefore, I have made it a priority to take them to visit her and their other grandparents as often as I can.

Because most of us have not yet reached our “senior years” we don’t realize just how much of an impact these visits have on our older relatives. Their lives have changed so much and their kids are now grown and far gone, often times with families of their own. I have come to a much clearer understanding of this phenomenon; therefore I am more sensitive to these requests from my parents and grandparents.

We must also consider the impact that the time spent with their grandparents and elderly family members has on our children. It gives them an opportunity to learn and grow from the wisdom that these individuals can impart upon them. It also gives them an opportunity to foster memories and relationships that they will recall for many years to come. We only have a limited amount of time left to spend time with them, so let’s enjoy it while we can!

So the next time one of your parents or grandparents “bugs” you about bringing the kids for a visit, think about it from their perspective and look at how much your kids will gain from the experience instead of seeing it as just another thing to add to your things to do list. You children will later thank you for those cherished moments. Share your last visit with the grandparents or your grandchildren by commenting below this post at www.savedmom.com.

Mommie Blessings,

Saved M.O.M.

 

 

What Is Your Child’s “Ness”

A few days ago during a conversation with a complete stranger, I was asked this question, “What is your ness?”  I paused for a moment because I didn’t really understand the nature of the question. After my pause, the woman went on to explain that a person’s “ness” is the thing that makes them unique. In other words she was asking me to describe my uniqueness.  I thought that was a wonderful way of asking this question. Each one of us has something that makes us unique, otherwise known as our “ness”.

As I pondered on the question, I started to think about my children. As parents, we quickly realize that thing which makes our child unique. Sometimes their “ness” may be something that we don’t necessarily care for, but we should try to figure out how to nurture it in a way that will help them live out their God-given purpose while simultaneously blessing others through their gifts and talents.

For example, my son has a very strong sense of determination and willpower. There are many times as a parent when his sense of determination causes frustration on my part, especially when I am trying to get him to do something that he doesn’t want to do. Although, I have come to the realization that this same spirit of determination could one day lead him to start his own company, become a great spiritual leader and/or do many other great things. His strong will power will keep him from allowing road blocks to deter him from his goals and aspirations.

I know that the task of parenting is not always easy, but with help from the Lord, all things are possible. Simply pray for the best way to guide your child’s “ness” so that s/he can become a great individual while operating at their full God-given potential. I would love for you to comment below this post at www.savedmom.com and share you and/or your child’s “ness”.

Mommie Blessings,

Saved M.O.M.

Craving Adult Human Interaction!!!

So now that I have this new sense of self, including revelation of my life purpose, I have been pretty busy! I am moving onward and upward with my writing and public speaking calling. When I started really getting into the wonderful world of writing, I decided that I needed to find a space away from home to let my creative juices flow. Well, I made a decision to take time several days a week to go to my local library, bookstore or café to settle into a good writing space.

 When I originally decided to start writing away from home, my reasoning was as follows: to have a space in which I wouldn’t be affected by household distractions (i.e. the phone, laundry or the infamous INTERNET); to have a space unlike my usual four walls to invoke new thoughts and concepts; and to have an opportunity to feel tangible change! Well, I must say since I have been writing outside of the home, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! The creative juices have been flowing like never before and I’ve been producing some pretty good stuff, if I must say so myself.

 Then the other day I was reading one of my newest favorite books, Writer Mama, by Christina Katz. In one section she alludes to the fact that writing outside of the home is a way to fulfill the need of adult human interaction. Well, this I had never considered before. Was I secretly craving to be around other people? Was I lonely at home? Could it be that all of these years spent working from home and being home with the kids had taking a toll on my need for social acceptance and interaction?

Wow, I think Christina hit the nail right on the head with this one!  I have come to the realization that part of the reason my creative juices flow so well away from home is because I am fulfilling an innate need for belonging. Most of you that know me personally know that I function best around others and thrive in social settings. Who knew that this would affect my level of productivity so much? So I guess that means I will be spending many more hours in the local library, café or bookstore while working on the next level of my purpose!  Well this post is finished so I guess my café time for the day has come to an end. Until my next café moment…

Mommie Blessings,

Saved M.O.M.

My Upcoming Speaking Engagement!!!

I have been blessed with another opportunity to speak with women about health and nutrition. Many of you know that I am very passionate about this subject and I am ever grateful to Life Changes Church for this opportunity. They are sponsoring Fit Factor, which is a monthly event catered towards women regarding health, exercise and nutrition. The upcoming session on this Saturday, October 6, 2012, is focusing on strengthening the mind and body. I will discuss tangible ways for you and your family to improve your eating habits and overall health while Prince Wilson will show you moves to strengthen your body and endurance. We will have juicing demonstrations, taste testing and samples of healthy snacks to take home!

At this event you will learn how to target multiple areas of your mind, your muscles and your nutrition to get the best results in total health fitness! If you are in the Metro Atlanta area you don't want to miss this!!!

Event Information:

Fit Factor Health Group
Attire-Work out gear, Sneakers, Small Weights, Towel, Water
Saturday, October 6th 2012
10:00 AM
Life Changes Church
5947 Fairburn Rd.
Douglasville GA 30314

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?

So this week I’ve been gearing up for our quarterly potluck event. Every 5^th Sunday, we celebrate a fellowship dinner with our extended family. I started this tradition for several reasons… For one I felt a bit disturbed by the fact that the only time we would see our local extended family was usually at Thanksgiving dinner or when there were some type of family devastation; I also felt that since we now have children, it would be nice for them to grow up spending more time around their cousins and extended family as well.

When my husband and I originally decided to start hosting this event on a regular basis, I thought it best to do it one Sunday out of every month. Well, my Uncle whom usually hosts Thanksgiving dinner and other family events immediately told me that it was a great idea in concept to have potluck monthly, but would prove to later be exhausting and overwhelming. Thank God for his foresight and wisdom!!! After having that conversation with him, we decided that we would host the event at our home every 5^th Sunday instead, which breaks down to about once a quarter.

I wasn’t sure if the idea would be well received, but I figured, hey let’s give it a try. Needless to say, the event has been a major success! It seems that everyone really enjoys having the opportunity to see and fellowship with one another in this manner. There are no frills and no pomp and circumstance; no one spends a lot of money on anything, they just bring what they can and we all enjoy the fun time and communion. We never know what people are going to bring and to be honest, a time or two we’ve had way too much or way too little food, but that’s not the point. This gathering allows us an opportunity to spend time with people we love and appreciate; we get to share our life events as they unfold; we get to watch each other’s kids grow up; and we get to show love to our loved ones while they are still here and living.

Since we’ve been hosting this event there have been some pretty cool things to take place: family members who haven’t seen each other in years (sometimes over a decade) have had a chance to reconnect; We announced the news of my second pregnancy at potluck; and I have also seen some family members who haven’t been in the best place emotionally glow like they hadn’t in a long time while attending potluck. I have to be transparent and admit that there have been some 5^th Sunday’s that we’ve been exhausted and just wanted to rest. Although, once the first few guests arrived we took a look around and realized it was worth sacrificing some time and energy to keep this going. I have even been quite moved on occasion, even to tears a time or two, when family members came up to me and expressed their sincere appreciation for the fact that we have taken this on.

I don’t know how often you see your extended family, but maybe you too could do something like this. And even if you feel it’s too much for you to handle, maybe you could make the suggestion to another family member or rotate out the hosting responsibility. I just feel that we should take time to commune with our family and enjoy each other while we can. In the big scheme of things “Man that is born of a woman is of a few days…,” as the great book says, so let’s focus on making our days a little brighter with the people who matter to us the most!

Mommie Blessings,

Saved M.O.M.

Epiphanies and Realizations

I have to first start of this entry by simply taking a long breath… ahhhhhh. At last I am back and better than ever! I can’t believe that it’s been over 8 months since my last blog entry. This year has been truly amazing and seems to get better with each passing day.

Some of you may be wondering, why eight months off, well the hiatus didn’t exactly start off as an eight month journey, but we can see that’s what it turned into. Back in January, I made a conscious decision to shift my focus more so towards an upward progression for my family and I, not knowing that I would embark upon an amazing journey in the process.

It’s really hard to put into words the transformation that has taken place in me over the course of 2012 thus far. I have learned so much about myself and my family. My eyes, ears, heart, mind and spirit have been opened and awakened in a way that I could have never imagined possible. I see things more clearly, I comprehend life differently and I embrace the changes taking place.

I will give you a snapshot of some of these changes over the past few months, here goes…

·         I revived my “work at home” status, which has taken me back into the work place from a totally different perspective and has allowed me to encounter some truly amazing people along the way

·         My husband and I have gained a deeper and extraordinary appreciation and love for one another that only time, circumstances and parenting can bring

·         I have taken my spiritual walk to new heights and gained a greater and more intimate relationship with God

·         I have realized the foundational platform of my life purpose

·         The time, focus and attention that is given to me and my family’s health/nutrition has increased and shifted in a delightful way

·         Important relationships in my life have taken on new meaning and have been cultivated into stronger more cherished bonds; I have a clearer value and inner-standing of real friendships/relationships that I haven’t really experienced this way before

This is just a brief expression of a great shift that is in the process and I am so excited that I will have an opportunity to share some more of this journey with you. I am allowing myself to be used in a way that I never have before. I am not holding myself to a blog scheduled or staunchly self-imposed deadlines as to when I blog. I will allow the words to move and flow through me spontaneously and freely. I may blog weekly or daily; in the morning or at night; about silly things or thought provoking concepts; but one thing’s for sure I WILL BLOG!

Thanks to each of you for reading words that have come truly from my heart. I am here to serve and to bring forth life through words. I heard the call, I embrace the call and I share the call. Now let’s live life with eyes wide open!

Mommie Blessings,

Saved MOM

Christmas Time

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to everyone! I am so excited that the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ is among us. This is such a joyous and loving time of year, or at least it should be. It’s so unfortunate that many people allow the commercialization of Christmas to totally overshadow the TRUE meaning of Christmas. On yesterday, my husband and I visited our previous church and heard a wonderful message delivered by the First Lady. She spoke on how the celebration of the birth of Jesus, which was meant to free us, is often met with people allowing themselves to get bound by debt. She made a very good point in explaining just how people get so caught up in buying gifts that they can’t afford then later feeling overwhelmed with all of the debt that was accumulated at Christmas time.

Most of us like to bless others with nice gifts or find ourselves on the receiving end of such. However, this is not what Christmas is all about. I actually found myself feeling a bit unsettled when I came to the realization that my Christmas gift list would have to be cut in half of what it has been in previous years. Before having our second child earlier this year, I made a personal sacrifice to stop working for a year to focus on being a stay at home mom. Because of this sacrifice, we have had to exclude most of the “extras” from our budget, including many Christmas gifts that we would’ve normally purchased. After I had a very brief pity party, I thought about what Christmas is REALLY about. Our Father gave his only Son for you and I to experience eternal life, and that is the best gift that anyone could ever give or receive! John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” With that being said, there is no reason for any of us to feel bad about not being able to give the gifts that we would like to give. That is NOT what Christmas is all about.

If you find yourself in a situation where you feel bound by the over commercialization of Christmas, please take a few moments to reflect on John 3:16. Don’t let a celebration of freedom bind you through tricks of the enemy. Your friends and family should be able to accept whatever you are willing to give them for Christmas, even if it's an act of kindness or a simple “I love you” accompanied by a hug.

We are so blessed to have Christmas fall on Sunday this year. This affords us an opportunity to go into the house of the Lord and assemble with the saints on the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Don’t use Christmas as an excuse to stay out of church, when it is the main reason that we should be in church. “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” (Psalm 122:1). It is my prayer this blog post is well received, it's not meant to be preachy in nature, but I had to share what the Lord put on my heart.

Until our next appointed meeting time. Stay tuned for more words of encouragement and inspiration for M.O.M.’s near and far! Please share this blog with as many people as you know (www.savedmom.com), we have so many lives to touch. Feel free to post a comment and/or subscribe (if you are reading this from your inbox visit the site address referenced above to post a comment). If you would like to submit prayer requests send them to contactsavedmom@gmail.com. Thanks for your continued support!

Mommie Blessings,

Saved M.O.M

Date Night Under $50

As most of you know, I am always in search of a great bargain. I am happy to say that this past Friday hubby and I had an awesome date night for less than 50 bucks! I’m sure you are wandering just how I pulled this one off and I can’t wait to tell you.

Our date started at a local theatre, where we went to see the play Christmas Gift. Several weeks ago I entered to win free tickets for two on my local Macaroni Kid website. This is a site that most major cities have set up for parents to get info about things going on in their communities. You receive a weekly email that contains great parenting information, weekly giveaways and all the local kid-related events happening around town. The link to my local site is www.collegepark.macaronikid.com.

After enjoying the play we went to dinner, compliments of a Restaurant.com certificate. Well, at least that was the plan. I always pride myself with planning everything down to the smallest detail, but that didn’t work this time around. We arrived at the restaurant an hour and a half before closing only to find that they were closing early due to the fact that it was a “slow night” for them. Normally something like this would have totally vexed me, but since I am such a great planner I had a secondary location in line. In the current economic climate that we live in, it actually isn’t uncommon for non-chain restaurants to close early, so be sure to call ahead before going if you’ll be arriving within 2 hours of closing time.

I knew before going out that we didn’t want to spend more that $35 on dinner, but we didn’t want to compromise quality either. I have purchased several certificates at www.restaurant.com, which is the perfect way to dine well on a dime. Although, I didn’t have a certificate for the secondary location, I knew that with a few strategic moves in mind we could still come in on or under budget. Most restaurants offer some type of light fare to get you started for free, if you simply ask. For most restaurants it’s complimentary bread/rolls with butter. However, we were dining at an Asian restaurant so we were able to get complimentary fried noodles with dipping sauce. Another strategy that I have used for quite sometime is ordering two glasses of water (free) and one refillable drink (such as tea or lemonade) that we can share. Next we ordered our main entrée’s and forewent the desert, coming in at $32 including tax and tip (plus we both had left-over’s for the next day)!

We left the restaurant to head home where my sister had agreed to watch the kids for free. To our surprise we found ourselves stuck in roadwork traffic for about 30 minutes, which actually turned out to be a great extension to our date night. It gave us an opportunity to have a nice talk without the distraction of noisy children in the background.

Sure there were a few unexpected “bumps” in the road during our night out, but it actually made for a longer, kid-free evening with the man I love. Can’t get much better than that. I know that it’s not always easy to plan a date night after having children and living on a tight budget, but it is possible. If you seek God first and purpose a great date night in your heart, then add a bit of creativity plus $50, you will be surprised at what can happen.

Until our next appointed meeting time. Stay tuned for more words of encouragement and inspiration for M.O.M.’s near and far! Please share this blog with as many people as you know (www.savedmom.com), we have so many lives to touch. Feel free to post a comment and/or subscribe (if you are reading this from your inbox visit the site address referenced above to post a comment). If you would like to submit prayer requests send them to contactsavedmom@gmail.com. Thanks for your continued support!

Mommie Blessings,

Saved M.O.M

Parenting With Jesus In Mind

A few days ago I had a conversation with my husband regarding my relationship with God. I was really transparent in telling him that since my last pregnancy I noticed that I wasn’t as consistent with my “God time" as I had been in the past. I recognized that this was a problem and took the necessary steps to get back on track with spending more time reading the Bible and communicating with my Heavenly Father.

In the midst of reflecting on that conversation I realized that as I increase my time with God, I should also increase my children’s time being exposed to the things of God. Whether we realize it or not, as Christian parents it is our responsibility to cultivate our children’s walk with the Lord. “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

When it comes to making good choices and decision regarding our health I always tell people that the eating habits that one develops early in life will most likely stay with them into their adulthood. The same goes when it comes to our spiritual well-being also. We all know that we can start and grow our relationship with the Lord at anytime, but if we choose to expose our children to basic spiritual principles early, just imagine how much more their lives will be blessed for it. We don’t have to make this exposure a complicated process. A few things that I do to aid in this process are reading bible stories to the kids, teaching them simple one-line bible verses, praying with them, and telling them to ask God for help when they need it.

Even though I was an adult when I received Christ as my Lord and Savior, I actually did so because of the influence that my parents had on me. My mother and father both gave their lives to the Lord during my teen years and then began talking to me about the importance of salvation. Neither of them were forceful in their approach, but they were consistent in sharing the “Good News” with me. At first I had no desire of receiving salvation and expressed this to them. However, I now thank God that they didn’t give up on me. I also have a greater appreciation for what they did for me now that I have little ones of my own.

We all want the very best for our children, so let’s take the time and necessary steps to expose them to the way of the Lord. For we know that God’s foundation is the best foundation. Until our next appointed meeting time. Stay tuned for more words of encouragement and inspiration for M.O.M.’s near and far! Please share this blog with as many people as you know (www.savedmom.com), we have so many lives to touch. Feel free to post a comment and/or subscribe (if you are reading this from your inbox visit the site address referenced above to post a comment). If you would like to submit prayer requests send them to contactsavedmom@gmail.com. Thanks for your continued support!

Mommie Blessings,

Saved M.O.M

Noah’s Ark

We recently celebrated my son’s birthday and I charged myself with the task of finding fun things to do as a family on a very small budget. My husband shared with me that as a part of the birthday weekend festivities, he wanted to take our son to do something that would involve exposure to different types of animals. I figured I could probably find a good zoo deal online, but didn’t find much of anything. Then I attempted to secure a good deal at a petting zoo, still no major breaks. After that I tried my hand at farm deals, still nothing great turned up.

I eventually stumbled upon Noah’s Ark, which is an animal habitat located about 40 minutes outside of Atlanta, GA. I was ecstatic when I found out that we could go there and see a whole host of different types of animals for absolutely FREE! I didn’t really know what we would have in store when we got there and my hopes weren’t all that high since we didn’t have to pay anything to get in. However, after having such a great experience we will definitely visit again.

We were able to walk along a pre-set path and see many animals in their habitat, plus enjoy nature trails as well. We saw lions, tigers, emus, bears, ostriches, birds, primates, wolves and so many other great animals. Our son really enjoyed the trip, but I think my husband enjoyed it the most. It was nice to stroll in such a peaceful environment and even nicer to see animals being so well cared for. The scenery was great and the price for admission was even better!

Noah’s Ark provides a loving home for unwanted, abused and orphaned animals and children. They are a non-profit organization that operates their facility with a foundation on God’s unconditional love. Visitors are allowed to leave tax-deductable donations during the visit, which we gladly did. Their grounds are very well kept and their service is impeccable. They even have an outdoor eating area equipped with grills, shade trees and tables plus a newly built playground. This would be a wonderful place to take your family for a day out or even to have a small outdoor birthday celebration. If you want to find out more information about the facility you can visit their website at www.noahs-ark.org.

As parents, it’s important that we expose our children to many different types of experiences. People often feel that doing so means spending lots of money, but if you put on your thinking cap and utilize internet resources, you will be amazed at what you can find. I’m so happy to have found Noah’s Ark, and the fact that they are a Christian-based organization was just icing on the cake!

Until our next appointed meeting time. Stay tuned for more words of encouragement and inspiration for M.O.M.’s near and far! Please share this blog with as many people as you know (www.savedmom.com), we have so many lives to touch. Feel free to post a comment and/or subscribe (if you are reading this from your inbox visit the site address referenced above to post a comment). If you would like to submit prayer requests send them to contactsavedmom@gmail.com. Thanks for your continued support!

Mommie Blessings,

Saved M.O.M

The After Labor Aftermath

Ok, so most of my long-time readers have heard me talk about the “things they never warned us about before having kids” subject. So here we go again… Now I know that after giving birth our bodies go through a major adjustment period, especially for those of us that decided to breastfeed. Well, here I am several months out from giving birth and why do my feet feel like they belong to a 60 year old!?!

First off, let me back up for a minute. Most of you don’t know this, but my feet have been way too big for most of my life. Since my teen years I have sported a lovely size 10 shoe, yes, you heard me correctly, a size 10! So a few weeks ago I had been wondering why my shoes were fitting way more snug than normal and one of my friends suggested that my feet may have grown during my last pregnancy (which is actually pretty common). Of course that’s the last thing that someone who already wears a size 10 wants to hear. At first I thought to myself, “no way, can’t be…,” then after much contemplation I decided to go to the shoe store to get my feet measured and guess who is coming it at an “almost” 10 and a HALF!

As if that wasn’t’ enough I still have been left to wonder why my feet and ankles have been enduring so much pain lately. Well, I did a little research and realized that it may be a major calcium deficiency due to the fact that I am loosing lots of calcium while breastfeeding. Who knew? I mean it makes completely perfect sense, but nobody warned me that this could happen. I have since taken the necessary precautions to beef up my calcium intake.

It really is amazing just how much having a kid can change you. It could be mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually or all of the above. Although one thing is for sure, I wouldn’t trade in my bigger feet or aching ankles and feet for the gift of my little ones. God has given us children as a gift and reward. Psalm 127:3 reads, “Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him.” So let’s never take our gifts for granted. Here's to bigger shoes and lots of mommy love!

Until our next appointed meeting time. Stay tuned for more words of encouragement and inspiration for M.O.M.’s near and far! Please share this blog with as many people as you know (http://www.savedmom.com/), we have so many lives to touch. Feel free to post a comment and/or subscribe (if you are reading this from your inbox visit the site address referenced above to post a comment). If you would like to submit prayer requests send them to contactsavedmom@gmail.com. Thanks for your continued support!

Mommie Blessings,

Saved M.O.M

Identity Crisis

I have been in deep contemplation about my future lately. It seems that since the first trimester of my last pregnancy up until recently I have been in mommy/wife mode overdrive. Meaning that, my primary life focus for the last year has been kids and home life. I had such a “consuming” pregnancy, to put it lightly, and of course the last few months have been primarily focused on the newest addition. Although, as of late all I can think about is getting back to the “grind” of making things happen for myself professionally. When I start having these thoughts I feel a bit guilty because my baby is still so young, but then I wonder if the timing is ever right.

It’s just that these days and weeks are so precious and I can never get them back. Also, I really don’t’ want to have someone else “raising” my kids and catching all their milestones before I do. I know that this is a dilemma that many mothers are faced with and I praise God for the blessing I had of being a work at home mom with my son and now a stay at home mom with my daughter. Although, being a stay at home mom does mean that we have to be a lot more conscious of our budget and we definitely have to forgo some of the extra’s in life. However, it is so worth it when I wake up every morning not having to worry about rushing off to work and leaving my baby with someone else for 8-10 hours.

I just don’t know how much longer things will remain this way and the yearning for growing myself professionally is pulling on me stronger and stronger with each passing day. I am currently in the process of weighing my options in a way that I can kind of have the best of both worlds, which would mean splitting my time between staying at home with the kids and working. I would have to tailor my work hours around being able to be a part-time stay at home mom.

I am seeking God on revelation as to how to make this work. It’s amazing how being a mother means constantly sacrificing in the best interest of your children. I would love to hear some of your stories as to how you made it work. Please feel free to comment at www.savedmom.com at the bottom of this post in the “comments” section.

Until our next appointed meeting time. Stay tuned for more words of encouragement and inspiration for M.O.M.’s near and far! Please share this blog with as many people as you know (www.savedmom.com), we have so many lives to touch. Feel free to post a comment and/or subscribe (if you are reading this from your inbox visit the site address referenced above to post a comment). If you would like to submit prayer requests send them to contactsavedmom@gmail.com. Thanks for your continued support!

Mommie Blessings,

Saved M.O.M

Picking With Purpose

I have been on a mission to think of new and exciting, out of the box things for me and my family to do together lately. So, several weeks ago we went blueberry picking! I know it may sound kind of lame and boring, but oh contraire, it was so much fun.

Due to the fact that we were in the midst of the hottest point of the summer we left home around 8 am so that we could enjoy picking before the temps reached the 90’s. After an hour drive we finally made it to the little blueberry farm and off we went. We secured our buckets for picking and headed out to the rows of different species of blueberries. We didn’t know that because it was so late in the season, we would have to work super hard for our blueberries! All of the outer bushes had been well picked earlier in the season so we had to reach far into the innermost part of the bushes to get barely a hand full of berries each time. Well, after an hour of picking the baby and I went to rest in the shade while hubby and little boy blue (my son) stayed to pick some more. They stayed out about another hour and needless to say after two hours of steadfast picking we left with almost 5 pounds of blueberries!

It felt so rewarding to “pick” our own berries to bring home and devour. I made several batches of muffins and I’m still making smoothies with the frozen berries – Yummo! When I sat back and reflected on the berry picking trip I thought about how God has hand-picked each of us to do something uniquely special. Just like the blueberries that we picked, each of us comes in different shapes and sizes but we were all made by him.

We should teach our children just how special and unique they are in God’s eye. As parents we have such a major impact on our children and how they view things. I want to make sure that my children know that no matter what faults or idiosyncrasies they have, the fact still remains that they are special and were picked by God himself to do something amazingly wonderful with their lives.

Last week my son learned this bible verse in school, “All things were made by him…” John 1:3. This includes each of us. We were made by him and God makes no mistakes. We were made exactly the way he intended for the purpose that he designed, so let’s make sure our children walk in their purpose and live with purpose on purpose!

Until our next appointed meeting time. Stay tuned for more words of encouragement and inspiration for M.O.M.’s near and far! Please share this blog with as many people as you know (http://www.savedmom.com/), we have so many lives to touch. Feel free to post a comment and/or subscribe (if you are reading this from your inbox visit the site address referenced above to post a comment). If you would like to submit prayer requests send them to savedmominfo@gmail.com. Thanks for your continued support!

Mommie Blessings,

Saved M.O.M.