Praises of a Wife and Mommy

HAPPY MOM DAY!!!  My daughter decided she wanted to be baptized on Easter Sunday!  She is only 7 years old but she knew she was ready and wanted everyone to know she was a follower of Christ!  Here she is telling the church why she wanted to be baptized.  I can't remember everything she said but I do know she mentioned, "I love JESUS, and I want other to love him too."      Here she is getting ready to go down into the water... Here she is coming up as a new creation in Christ! She was all smiles! I was very proud of my daughter and I did not shed a tear until I watched it later on video.   I feel very blessed to have been there to help baptize her as well.   If you have the opportunity to help with your kids it is a great experience.    We had 6 baptisms that day and it was very powerful to watch and be there for each of them.  

Noah’s Voyage   tells the story of a brave and faithful hero of the Old Testament. Written in the I Can Read level two standards, with age-appropriate vocabulary and concepts, young readers read about Noah, a simple man with great faith and trust in God. When God asks Noah to follow his directions, build an ark, and put two of every animal on it, Noah and his family do what they are asked, knowing God would not steer them wrong. This I Can Read! series of Bible stories makes use of the unique features found in the  NIV Adventure Bible  such as “People in Bible Times” and “Did You Know ”. My Review: This is a great retell of Noah building his ark with great pictures from David Miles.   I know most kids love hearing about all the animals going in a huge boat but I like to discuss with my kids the importance of following God's directions and being obedient to his calling.   There are going to be times when the world thinks you are crazy when you do certain things that God

It is becoming more and more commonplace to enlist the services of an au pair simply because so many mums have joined the workforce. Whether they are professionals expanding their careers or simply working to bring a little extra income to a stretched family budget, the results are the same. There just never seems to be enough hours in the day to get everything done that needs doing. If this is your first time looking for an au pair, you might not know where to turn or how to choose the right one who will fit well with your family. When asked, most mums find the following qualities vital in an au pair. This should help you on your quest. 1) Love of Children Of course the very first quality that an au pair should have is a love for children. You can spot right away if she is just paying lip service to her fondness for little people. If you feel this particular au pair doesn't really have the fondness for children she says she does, keep looking. 2) Patience An au pair shou

Description: The Ozeri Stainless Steel Milk Frother, Whisk and Frothing Pitcher Set provides everything needed to whip up and serve delicious and picture perfect frothy foam in as little as 10 seconds. Petite yet powerful, the Ozeri Milk Frother is perfect for steam-free cappuccinos, lattes, espressos, hot chocolates, shakes, frappes and other milky drinks. The Ozeri Frothing Set includes an elegant 12 oz (350 ml) Frothing Pitcher made of 304 high-quality Stainless Steel that features a forged pouring spout and sturdy handle. The powerful motor in the Ozeri Milk Frother spins at over 15,000 RPMs and activates instantly with results in 10 to 20 seconds. The Ozeri Milk Frother foams all kinds of milk (whole/regular/skim milk, soy milk, almond milk and coconut milk) alike for fluffy hot cafe lattes or cold chocolate malts in seconds. The Ozeri Stainless Steel Milk Frothing Set is made of food and drink-safe materials, and ships with the electric frother, stand, extra frothing atta

We have had several beautiful days this spring!   It sure was fun to enjoy our first campfire and roast some smores!   I have come to the conclusion that my 7 year old is much messier then her 4 year old brother.   Now I will admit that I did have the jumbo marshmallows so it was a challenge to keep your face clean but she sure does win the messy face contest! 

The safest and most effective moisturizer available Say goodbye to dry skin Say goodbye to oily skin Skin looks and feels younger, softer and smooth like silk Decreases the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and crow’s feet Reduces appearance of aging Firms and tones skin’s appearance Pores appear to shrink, giving a smoother look to skin’s complexion Blemishes appear to just fade away 100% pure botanical oils of almond, orange, lemon, avocado, evening primrose, olive and apricot No preservatives, parabens, GMOs, synthetic chemicals, artificial colors or additives of any kind My Review: I was sent free AM Amazingly Beautiful and PM Amazingly Beautiful products in exchange for an honest review.  I was not paid for this review and all opinions are 100% mine.   Thank you Trusted Health Products for the products and providing three winners for the AM Amazingly Beautiful Moisturizer.   I have used both products now for roughly two weeks.   I love the moi

Find out how Queen Esther saved God’s people in this level 2 I Can Read, written in the tradition of the popular Adventure Bible. Brave Queen Esther tells the story of one of the Bible’s most well-known Old Testament heroes and how she bravely stood up to a powerful king. Brave Queen Esther   tells the story of a brave and beautiful hero of the Old Testament. Written in the I Can Read level two standards, with age-appropriate vocabulary and concepts, young readers read about a young Jewish woman who is chosen to be a queen by a powerful king. When she hears of a plan to hurt all of the Jewish people in the kingdom, she calls on her faith and steps forward, facing certain danger to save God’s people from the evil plan. This I Can Read! series of Bible stories makes use of the unique features found in the  NIV Adventure Bible  such as “People in Bible Times” and “Words to Treasure”. My Review: One of my favorite Bible stories to share with my kids to encourage them to be cou

The  NIV Gift Bible for Kids  is the perfect gift for graduations, confirmations, and other special achievements. The bonus content explores the teachings, ministry, miracles, and parables of Jesus, as well as life in New Testament times, enhancing and enriching the reading of Scripture. Features include: • Words of Christ in red • Presentation page • Bible dictionary concordance • Book introductions • Presentation page for personalizing and gift giving My Review: This Gift Bible for Kids is a very typical Bible.  It is NIV translation and it does have Jesus's words in red.   The beginning  has a personalization page to make it more special for any occasion and the the leather like binding is sure to please.  On the presentation page it has the scripture Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.  I love that scripture especially if you were gift giving this Bible.   It reminds them that Jesus is the way and the path to stay on.     

Papa came to town for Easter and Selah's baptism.   We went to the John Deere Pavillion and the Arboretum!  I have a great dad who was always present for me growing up...at every sporting event and other life events.  I appreciate him traveling hours to be there for my kids moments!  

What does “grace” really mean? How can God’s grace impact your life? How can you experience grace every day? This new book by  New York Times  bestselling author, Lee Strobel, shows how God’s love is for everyone—no matter what. Through stories of everyday people whose lives have been changed, you will discover God’s love and the power of forgiveness. You will experience God’s amazing grace and be able to share it with others. Lee Strobel was the award-winning legal editor of The Chicago Tribune and is the best-selling author of  The Case for Faith ,  The Case for Christ , and  The Case for a Creator , all of which have been made into documentaries by Lionsgate. With a journalism degree from the University of Missouri and a Master of Studies in Law degree from Yale, Lee wrote 3 Gold Medallion winners and the 2005 Book of the Year with Gary Poole.  He and his wife live in Texas.  Visit Lee's website at: www.leestrobel.com . My Review: Lee Strobel has made a great adult

Our church intern and I had a little lunch date and after we found a Good Will.   I love to find odds and ends at Good Will... things you would normally not even think about buying  but because the price is right its worth making memories with.   On this particular day we purchased these fun beard mugs and hot rollers for hair.   We still have to curl our hair but I have to find some hair clips first to use them... bummer.  What are some thrifty sales you have found lately? 

It was a GREAT YEAR!  On Wisconsin!   GO Badgers GO!  It was a total blast watching the final four game with my dad and sister.  I may live in Iowa now but you can never take the Wisconsin out of this girl!  Thanks Badger Boys for a great season and playing your heart out! 

Happy Resurrection Day!  Jesus is alive and well!   On this special day of celebrating what Jesus did and overcame we also had a great day celebrating my daughter getting baptized.  I had the honor in helping my husband baptize her!   It has been a long tradition of our church to hold a baptism service on Easter.   I will try to post pictures of her baptism once I get them from the photographer. Be Blessed and I hope you enjoyed celebrating with your families. 

Check out The Berenstain Bears' Country Cookbook and cook with Mama Bear and the rest of the Bear family using these 40 kid-friendly recipes including breakfast, lunch, main meal, and dessert that are sure to please the entire family. It’s  The Berenstain Bears' Country Cookbook ! Bear lovers everywhere are sure to find favorite recipes for fun food in this new kid-friendly, cookbook--ranging from Bear favorites that use honey and berries to pie, a delicious stew, and even some Berenstain favorites like Jan Berenstain’s famous green lasagna. Featuring breakfast, lunch, main meal, and dessert recipes as well as kid-friendly cooking tips such as food and measurement conversions, this is sure to become a go-to cookbook for delicious and fun recipes kids can cook with an adult. The recipe that my son picked right away to try was the Banana Pops!   They were a hit... even with Christmas sprinkles rather than fun rainbow ones!  (yep....I only had Christmas sprinkles in

About the Book: The Bear family and their Bear Country neighbors celebrate the Fourth of July with a big parade. But not before the Bear cubs get a lesson about the blessings of freedom for their country. Features 12 full-color stickers. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14 In the newest Berenstain Bear Living Lights 8x8 title, the glorious fourth has arrived and the Bear family is busy decorating with flags and bunting. Brother, Sister and Honey are anticipating the big parade and all the fireworks but aren’t really thinking about the true meaning of the day. But Mama and Papa make sure the cubs know just how much Bear Country is blessed with a quick lesson about the first Fourth of July. Features 12 full-color stickers. My Review: This book is perfect to share with your little ones near the Fourth of July, when studying about our country, or even explaining the importance of praying four our leaders and count

Had to find a new way to do eggs this year since I forgot to buy vinegar for the traditional method...which for us would be different since we typically don't do traditional.   If you are like me you have plenty of nail polish in the house to complete this nail polish dunking method.    Grab the gloves and a disposable bowl.   I got my idea from my sister who sent me this video from Athriftymom.com    Check the great video out below.   I had a little bit of a challenge with some polish.   It was as if there polish would create a layer so if I tried to make lines with a toothpick it would just grab the paint.   Even without using a toothpick to create lines and fun designs the project looked neat.  Grab your gloves and nail polish!  My kids could not enjoy this as much since the gloves are too big for their little fingers.  So they helped by picking color combinations and then applying stickers on the eggs once they were dry.    

The family and I decided over spring break we were going to visit our state capitol in Des Moines, Iowa.  I have visited Wisconsin and Minnesota capitols but it was so long ago that I really can't remember.   I was highly impressed with the fine details of Des Moines capitol!   I loved the art inside from mosaics to the floor to ceiling curtains.  I was actually pretty excited that my children seemed pretty interested in all the statues and quotes around the building.   One of my favorite ones was this: After the capitol visit we found a great deal on a hotel!   I was so thrilled to get a discount when I asked if they had a teacher discount...note to self- always carry my ID badge and always ask for a teacher discount!   We actually got half off our hotel room!!!!   Really worth asking!  The hotel was the Ramada Tropics and it had a fun indoor pool area.  My son really surprised me in the pool, he put his head completely under and was trying to swim!   We

Life here has been so busy from teaching to pastoral duties at home but one thing is for sure I cherish my girl time with this pretty lady!   Even though our schedules are not the best at lining up for fun stuff I love the silly things we do.   We found these great beard glasses at Goodwill for under a buck!   What a score!    Many more smoothies will be enjoyed in these awesome and fun mugs...and yes probably more pictures with them.