Bundles of Playdough

Here is a link to homemade playdough.

http://hummingbirded.com/play-doh-recipes.html

7 Proverb Principles

The Proverbs 31 Woman...

Pursues an ongoing, personal relationship with Jesus

Loves, honors, and greatly enriches the life of her
husband, encouraging and supporting his leadership
within his family and his church.

Nurtures the next generation, shaping and molding the
children who will on day define who we are as a
community and as a nation.

Creates a warm and loving environment for family
and friends.

Is a faithful steward of the time and money God has
entrusted to her.

Speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction as
she encourages others and develops godly friendships.

Shares the love of Christ by extending her hands to help
the poor and opening her arms to the needy.

http://www.proverbs31.org

You Got Mail

Years ago in our church youth, a very special friend came up with a great idea to make personal mailboxes for each child.  We used white lunch sacks that each child personally decorated!  I loved this idea so much, I used it with my kids at home.  I hung the sacks outside their bedroom doors and leave encouraging notes weekly (or sometimes small gifts).  There's always something special when a child receives good news!

A Parents Checklist

Hugged my child and told him, "I love you and so does God."
Luke 15:20

Prayed specifically for my child

Listened carefully when my child wanted to talk
Matthew 18:5

Read to my child
Proverbs 4:1-4

Discussed God with my child
Deut 4:9-10

Exhibited patience with my child
1 Corin 13:4

Expected obedience from my child
1 Tim 3:4

Sang or listened to music with my child
Psalm 8:2

Spoke about his daddy/mommy with love and respect
Col 3:18-19

Did not expect behavior beyond his age capabilities
1 Corin 13:11

Punished his disobedience with appropriate measures
Jeremiah 17:10

Helped my child learn something new about Jesus
Luke 2:52

Encourage my child to do something for someone else
Gal 6:10

Protected my child from evil and harmful influences
1 Corin 13:6-7

Challenged and helped my child to do something
1 Thess 5:14

Did not punish my child when I was angry
Psalm 103:8-14

Exhibited good manners for my child to model
Matt 7:9-12

Commended my child for Christ-like quality
Gal 5:22-23

Read the bible to my child
2 Tim 3:15

Prayed with my child
Matt 18:19-20

Modeled attributes I want my child to emulate
1 Corin 4:16

Laughed with, not at my child
Romans 12:15

Thanked my child for something he did
1 Thess 5:18

Gave my child some responsibility
Titus 3:14

Did not talk negatively in his presence
Proverbs 12:18

Praised and thanked my child more than I criticized him
Proverbs 16:24

Asked my child's forgiveness when I was wrong
James 4:6

Forgave my child immediately
2 Corin 2:7-8

Encouraged my child to trust God
Proverbs 3:5-6

Did not make a promise that I cannot keep
Ecc 5:5

~BSF INTERNATIONAL

Proverbs 31

Spend some time at this site.

http://www.proverbs31.org/

Ginger Plowman

One of my favorite authors is Ginger Plowman. I have read 2 of her books and fell in love with Don't Make Me Count To Three. This book centers around heart oriented discipline. I would love to tell you more, but you have got to read it and see for yourself!

If you are interested in reading her book and decide you love it just as much as I did, she offers a little cheat sheet called Wise Words for Moms. It is AWESOME! This is one method I have adopted in full confidence.

Here is a link to all three of her items. I highly suggest them all.

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntk=author&Ntt=Ginger+Plowman&action=Search&N=0&Ne=0&event=ESRCN&nav_search=1&cms=1&Go.x=18&Go.y=18

Becoming A Prayer Warrior

Being a Prayer Warrior in our daily thoughts as a mother:

Folding socks~Pray for their steps in life.
Folding clothes~Pray they are clothed in God's armor
Packing lunches~Pray for them to be fed in God's word
Passing bedrooms~Pray they make time for God
Putting away shoes~Pray they follow God's path
Leaving for school~Pray for wisdom and knowledge
Using band-aides~Pray the seek God to heal and restore

Take Notes

Begin a journal for each family member today! I love to write little things my children and husband have experienced, said or done. I even add prayers, hopes, desires and dreams. Nothing is left out! I take about 20 minutes to write in all 3 journals, sometimes longer, but it is well worth a cramping hand. Journal entries make great bedtime stories!

Looking Up Scripture

Take a small container of any kind and place easy to read scripture passages on small pieces of card stock. Pick one night of the week that you sit down together, take turns drawing from the container, look them up and apply them to your lives! This is a great way to teach your children how to find scripture.

Scripture Memory Books

The kids and I have put together little scripture books. I typed up a bunch of scriptures I felt would be fun for them to memorize in big bold letters. After hole punching everything, I held the book together with little gold brads (so we are able to add at anytime). Once the kids memorize a scripture, they get to pick out something from this fabulous bakery in Cedarville!

"I have hidden your words in my heart that I may not sin against you."~Psalm 119:11

Chore Charts

Here is a super cool link to personalize your own chore charts!

http://www.dltk-cards.com/chart/

10 Commandments

I wanted my kids to learn the 10 commandments or at least be familiar with what they mean. I found some road signs on a program that I could write each commandment separately. I pasted the printed copies on a cut 5x7 piece of card stock. They are not the most adorable flashcards in the world, honestly a little cheesy, but they do the trick! I bring them out every now and then before we sit down to read a book at bedtime. They usually take turns telling what each commandment means with a little guidance from mom. The kids truly love them and so do I!

I would love to email you a PDF copy if you are interested!

Shine Like Stars

For my birthday last year, my mother gave me a little glass dish filled with little notes of encouragement on tiny folded cards.  Before we head out the door, we stop and read a quote. "God smiles when he thinks of you...God loves you just the way you are...You were created for an amazing purpose...You are forgiven!"

Grab a dish, bowl, jar or cup and put together your own encouraging notes. Soon you will find they are sharing with neighborhood friends and evening guests. What a great way to minister!

Season Them With Salt

I started collecting specific scriptures from various parenting books so I can remind my children God's word in their attitudes, choices, and struggles. I bought index cards and placed them in a recipe box under certain categories~accepting correction, anger, arguing, idols, boasting, kindness, complaining, bad language, back talk, attitude, obedience, laziness, whining, and encouragement (Creative Correction by Lisa Whechel is an excellent resource).

I use the cards during my private time with God. I try to meditate on the scriptures so I am able to teach and train my children according to God's word.
Here are a few that might be helpful in getting you started~
Encourage others - Thess 5:1
Putting others first - Phil 2:3
Being positive with words - Eph 4:29; Col 4:6
Back Talk - Ps 19:14; Pro 21:23; Pro 15:4; Pro 15:1
Arguing - 1 Pet 3:9; Jam 3:18; Rom 12:10
Obedience - Eph 6:1; Jn 14:15
Lying - Ps 34:13; Pro 12:19; Pro 12:22
Whining - Phil 2:14-15; 1 Thess 5:18
Sharing - Pro 21:26
Speech - Jam 3:5
Gentleness - Eph 6:4; Eph 4:2
(If you have found that I have mistyped a scripture, let me know!)
"These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."~Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Daily Prayer Calendar

Here is a link to a daily prayer calendar for your children. There is nothing more peaceful than knowing we have our children covered in prayer.

http://broomfieldumc.org/clientimages/35460/pictures/prayforchildren.pdf