31 days: Day 31



Day 31:  Let's pray for our children's relationship with God. 

One of the most important things we can pray for our children is that they will have a personal relationship with God.

Pray for your child to be filled with love for God and that they will know God's real presence in his/her life.  Pray for your child to seek a personal relationship with God.  Pray that they will learn as they grow daily how much God loves him/her. 

Have a day of blessings!
 

Have a day of blessings!
 

31 days: Day 30



Day 30:  Let's pray for college students today.
I have several friends who have taken a child off to college this semester.  These families have been on my heart and mind.

Pray for college students as they adjust to life away from home in a new setting.  Pray for them to make friends.  Pray for God to put mentors in their life as they are away from home who can look after them and be an encouragement to them in a personal way.  Pray for them to find a new church home.  Pray for them to be blessed financially as they seek a degree and that if they are looking that they will be able to find a job in their new city.   

Have a day of blessings!
 

31 days: Day 29



Day 29:  Let's pray for protection for our children.

Pray for them to be safe as they travel to and from school.  Pray for their physical safety as they are at school.  Pray for them to feel safe so they will be able to learn.  Pray for them to be protected from the lies of the enemy.  Pray that God will watch over him/her, remembering how much He loves your child, even move than you do. 

Have a day of blessings!
 

31 days: Day 28



Day 28:  Let's pray for our children to find and use their talents.

As parents we need to encourage our children to figure out what their talents are and find ways to use those talents.  I do NOT think this means we need to sign our kids up for every event and lesson possible.  Kids need time to be a kid.  But we can encourage them in their interests and help them develop those skills.

Pray for your child to recognize their talents and the areas they excel.  Pray that they realize it is okay to not be the "best" at every thing they do and that others will win sometimes.  Pray that they will find ways to use their talents for God's glory. 

Have a day of blessings!
 

Book review: The First Gardener

I'd like to share a book with you called The First Gardener by Denise Hildreth Jones. The cover is what first captured my attention with this book. 

From the publisher: 
Jeremiah Williams has been tending the gardens of the Tennessee governor’s mansion for over twenty-five years. And like most first families who have come and gone, this one has stolen his heart.
Mackenzie and her husband, Governor Gray London, have struggled for ten years to have a child and are now enjoying a sweet season of life—anticipating the coming reelection and sending their precious daughter, Maddie, off to kindergarten—when a tragedy tears their world apart. As the entire state mourns, Mackenzie falls into a grief that threatens to swallow her whole.

Though his heart is also broken, Jeremiah realizes that his gift of gardening is about far more than pulling weeds and planting flowers. It’s about tending hearts as well. As he uses the tools that have been placed in his hands, he gently begins to cultivate the hard soil of Mackenzie’s heart, hoping to help her realize what it took him years to discover.

A Southern tale of loss, love, and living, The First Gardner reminds us that all of life is a gift, but our heart is the most valuable gift of all.

My thoughts: 
It has taken me a while to read this book honestly (probably because I had other books I was trying to finish as well), but it was a good book.  I must warn you that it is sad though.  The story is told from the perspectives of the loss faced by several main characters, each who offer something special to the book as a whole.  These are all very interesting, well-developed characters, and I think the reader can learn so much from each of these.  As I was reading I thought back to high school English class, character analyzing, and how some of the characters would be great for such. 

The reader can take away so many lessons from this book in my opinion, even though it is sad.   Some of the topics include death, depression, pride, forgiveness, and friendship. This is a good story and the author does a nice job weaving so many different aspects together.

And I don't know why this happened but I wanted to include it in my review:  My book totally fell apart.  The cover came off and the pages came out in two sections.  I haven't treated this book any differently than I ever treat any book so I'm unsure why this happened.  It made it difficult to read once it fell out of the cover! 

This book was provided to me by Tyndale for my honest review. 

Have a day of blessings!

31 days: Day 27



Day 27:  Let's pray for our children to honor and respect their parents and teachers. 

Pray for children to honor their parents.  Pray they will obey the rules of the school and the home.  Pray they will see the importance of honor and respect and want to obey.
Thank you for joining me in prayer this month!
Have a day of blessings!
 

Book review: The Power of a Praying Wife Devotional

Are you familiar with author Stormie Omartian?  She has written several books on prayer.  I was given The Power of a Praying Wife before I got married.  Now she has a new book called The Power of a Praying Wife Devotional which I would like to share with you today.

This is a book of 100 devotionals on a variety of topics related to marriage.  Each one has a verse, a short writing, and then a prayer.  They are about 2 pages each, so it does not take much time to read each one.  There are prayers for the wife, the husband, and the couple.  This is a book that you can pick up and read all the way through or choose certain prayers about a particular area that applies to your current life situation. 

I really enjoyed reading this book and recommend it to you.  There is power in prayer a,nd we need to be constantly praying about our marriages.  This book is a great guide to help you do that in a new way and pray about areas you may not have considered previously.

Thank you to Harvest House publishers for providing me a review copy for my honest review. 

Have a day of blessings!
 

31 days: Day 26



Day 26:  Let's pray for our children to have a desire to learn.

Attitude can make a huge difference in the classroom (for both the teacher and the students). 

Pray that your child will want to learn new things and be excited about school.  Pray that the teacher will encourage this desire to learn and have high expectations for your child.  Pray that your child will learn new things this year and be a clear mind and able to learn. 

Have a day of blessings!
 

Thankful Thursday!

It is always fun for me to think of my blessings and to stop and think about what I want to share on Thankful Thursday each week.  Join us at Women Taking a Stand.
This week I am thankful for...

~ my husband being my best friend.  I love how he knows me soooooo well!  And that he scoops ice cream for me :)  something I don't like to do myself!   

~ my boy having a good first week of school.  He is enjoying 2nd grade and his teacher.  Each day she has brought him to the car she has told me what a great kid he is.  I so love hearing his stories about his day and the funny things he remembers! 

~ having access to clean water to use daily.

~ the grass growing in our yard.  Everything had been so dead and brown.  The weeds weren't even growing.  On Caleb's birthday weekend we got a nice rain.  After that we noticed some grass growing around the house and it has continued to grow.  The house looks so different when we drive up and their is green grass around it!  I don't know how long it will last as the temperature continues to rise to 100 or more, we've watered some but we are on water restrictions too. 

~ the song "Blessings" by Laura Story.  I just love it and hearing it on the radio.
Have a day of blessings!
 

31 days: Day 25



Day 25:  Let's pray for our children to be a light in the darkness.

I have learned that in public schools our son will see and hear things he has not been exposed to at school and I'm sure this will continue as he is older. 

Pray for your child to be different, to be a light amidst the darkness, to be bold and not afraid to stand for truth and doing what is right.  Pray for others to notice something different about them in how they handle situations. 

Have a day of blessings!
 

Giveaways

I've come across a couple of giveaways this week I want to share with you.

The first is a wonderful interview with Laura Story over at Mocha With Linda.  Linda is also giving away a copy of Laura Story's CD.  Click over to leave a comment and be entered. 

Another blog From the Heart of a Bookworm is giving away a $25 Walmart gift card.  Click over to leave a comment to be entered for that one too! 

Maybe you will win!  It's always fun to win a blog giveaway!!

Have a day of blessings!

31 days: Day 24



Day 24:  Let's pray for our children's health.

Pray for your child to make healthy choices and look for ways you can encourage healthy choices in activities and meals.  Pray for your child to learn and practice healthy habits like teeth brushing, getting enough sleep, exercising, and eating healthy foods.  Pray for your child to feel well and rested each morning to go to school so he/she can learn.

Have a day of blessings!
 

Join me at Laced With Grace

Do you ever have a bad attitdue?  I'm sure you do at some point if you are human!  I have a devotional today over at Laced With Grace about a day I had a bad attitude.  Join me there to read it.  Thank you!   

Have a day of blessings!

31 days: Day 23



Day 23:  Let's pray for our children's friendships.

As we all know friends are such an important part of life.  It is important to pray about this part of your child's life as well.

Pray for your child to have friendships with those who will be a good influence on them, who will have high standards and morals, who will be an encouragement to your child.  Pray that your child will be a good friend and seek out friendships with the new students or lonely students. 

Have a day of blessings!
 

To my second grader...

To my Caleb,
As you told me a few weeks ago, it feels like summer went by in 2 seconds.  It really did feel like it went fast this year for some reason.  We did have a lot of fun together I think.  I enjoyed our lazy mornings and how many mornings you'd say "Can we play Wii?"  You'd start the game and then I'd come join you for a little Mario.  You tried to teach me the truck racing game but I wasn't so good at that!  You gave me so much help with laundry, carrying the dirty clothes from the hamper to the laundry room and folding the wash rags for me.  I loved how you would sort them and stack them by color.  We had our days to go to eat lunch with Daddy and go bowling and to the library storytime.  We had our grocery shopping trips where you would mark things off my list for me and remind me to go by the bakery to get a cookie and donut!

It seems hard for me to think that you are going to be a second grader!  Kindergarten was hard for me but 1st grade didn't seem as hard.  You did so well with the transition to your new school.  Now as I think about 2nd grade I have a little sadness, sort of like with kindergarten but not the same.  Maybe it is because when I was student teaching, I did part of my time in a 2nd grade class.  Now those kids are beginning college...I know how fast those years went between then and now and how soon you will be the college kid.  My first year of teaching was 2nd grade and the year I was pregnant with you I taught 2nd grade.  One of my favorite teachers was my own 2nd grade teacher.  I have a lot of 2nd grade memories and now that time is here for you as well.
As I think of second grade, I guess I also think how what comes next is 3rd grade and TAKS test (or whatever they call it by then) and a new campus.  This is our last year at the elementary campus, and it just reminds me that you are growing up.  I have been wondering what things you will like in the coming year and how your interests will change as you get older. 

I look forward to this year and pray you have a wonderful year as a 2nd grader!  Daddy and I are very proud of you and thankful you are our boy! 

Love,
Mommy 

Thank you for visiting my blog today. 
Have a day of blessings!

31 days: Day 22



Day 22:  Let's pray for our children on their first day of school.

Around here school is starting this week, today in fact!  So let's pray for our children to have a smooth start to the new school year. 

Pray for them to be peaceful as they enter a new classroom and have a new teacher, possibly even a new campus.  Pray for those who are going to school for the first time, that it will be a fun experience for them and they will have a fun first day.  Pray for the children to have a smooth transition from their summer activities to being back in the routine of school. 

Have a day of blessings!
 

31 days: Day 21



Day 21:  Let's pray for our children to be blessed this school year.

As we begin praying for our children, let's pray they have a blessed school year.  Pray for your child(ren) and grandchild(ren) by name asking God to bless their year with new things and that they will be successful. 

Have a day of blessings!
 

31 days: Day 20



Day 20:  Let's pray for college professors.

I did not want to leave out college professors as we pray for our schools as these are important too! 

Please join me today in saying a prayer for those who teach at the college level. 

Have a day of blessings!
 

Audio book: The Stoning of Sally Kern

I would like to share a book with you called The Stoning of Sally Kern by Sally Kern. 

This is an eye-opening book, the story of Sally Kern.  I was not familiar with her story prior to listening to this book.  Let me give you a little background on what happened:  Mrs. Kern, District 84 House of Representatives member from Oklahoma, was attacked by homosexuals after give a speech to a Republican club.  Pieces of the speech were turned into a YouTube video.  In this book she describes the hate mail she received and the attacks on her family because of this video.  Many wanted her to apologize and change what she said.  She was not going to apologize for speaking truth. She goes on to talk about how Christianity in America is under attack. 

There was so much truth presented in this book and I found myself continually shaking my head in agreement.  Christian Americans need to not be afraid to stand up as Mrs. Kern has done.  But too often we do not because we don't want to hurt someone else's feelings. 

As I was looking on a site where I will also post this review, this book has clearly angered many because Mrs. Kern has taken a stand against homosexuality.  She is not mean or hateful in the way she does it either.  One thing I noticed in the book was how she received all this hate mail and complaints for her supposed "hate" of homosexuals yet the things that were said to her where much more vile and hateful than anything she even said! 

It's clear that our society is very much against those who stand up against the sin of homosexuality.  If you go look at other review sites, those who speak out in favor of this book are criticized! 

The narrator (Tamara Kaye Adams) did a good job with this reading.  It took me a little bit to get used to her voice, but I thought she did a nice job. 
Thank you to the christianaudio Reviewers Program for providing this audio book to me for my honest review.

Have a day of blessings!
 

31 days: Day 19



Day 19:  Let's pray for high school teachers.

Pray for them to make a difference in the lives of their students.  Pray that they will be interested in their students' lives and that they care for them.   Pray as they prepare lessons that they will think of things to reach all the learners in their classroom.  Pray that they will take a personal interest in the lives of those students who don't have many friends or parental support. 

Thank you for praying with me.  Soon I'll be listing specific prayers for students. 

Have a day of blessings!
 

Thankful Thursday

Today we are meeting at Women Taking a Stand.  Come join us and share in giving thanks!

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4

This week I am thankful for...
~ my husband being wise in his decisions.  We are possibly selling his truck for one that gets better gas mileage since he drives quite a few miles every day to work. 

~ my sweet boy and the fun times we've had this summer.  Next week he starts school.  We have had fun and are sad to see the end of summer but look forward to what this year holds too. He made me breakfast this morning.  He said he just wanted me to know how special I was to him.  :)

~ how well the birthday party went for our boy last weekend.  It started storming here at about 5:30 in the morning.  Then a steady rain was coming down and stopped by the time the party was starting.  The boys had fun and the cooler temperatures were so nice. Then we had lunch at our house and that went well too. 

~ friendships at our new church.

~ our comfortable bed. 


Have a day of blessings!

31 days: Day 18



Day 18:  Let's pray for junior high teachers.

I remember all the changes that happened in junior high....new teachers, changing classes, new buildings.  I had some great teachers during this time (and honestly some that weren't so great as well).  I never did love history and having coaches as teachers did not help.  I never thought I learned anything.  I will say that my 7th grade Texas history teacher was wonderful though and I still remember things I learned from him. 

Today let's pray for junior high teachers.  Pray for them to be a positive influence in the lives of their students as the students may be struggling through puberty and problems with friends.  Pray for them to strive to make a positive difference and treat students equally. 

Have a day of blessings!
 

31 days: Day 17



Day 17:  Let's pray for elementary teachers.

Do you have a favorite elementary teacher?  What did she (or he) do that makes you remember that class to this day? 

I was blessed with many wonderful teachers through elementary school.  I think I remember certain things about each one even now.  Like in 5th grade when we had a talent show at the end of the school year and our teacher played the guitar and sang a song (I believe it was a hymn but I don't recall which one).  Or the apple theme my 2nd grade teacher had at the beginning of the year each year  (And now I have her Mrs. P apple....do you know that story!?)

Today pray for the elementary teachers to have a blessed school year.  Pray for them to enjoy their jobs and be excited about teaching.  I've heard so many elementary teachers who don't enjoy teaching anymore because of the testing and paperwork demands that seem to overtake getting to teach.
Have a day of blessings!
 

31 days: Day 16



Day 16:  Let's pray for preschool teachers.

So many children go to preschool now.  It seems much more common than when I was a child. I have multiple thoughts on that but today let's pray for the preschool teachers.  Let's remember these teachers who dedicate their time, whether it is daily or twice a week programs to teaching these little ones.  Pray for them to have love and patience.  Also pray they will have fun ideas to use to teach children and make school a positive experience for them. 

Have a day of blessings!
 

SSMT #17

It's that time again!  My new verse is I Peter 2:15:

"For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people."

Have a day of blessings!

31 days Day 15



Day 15:  Let's pray for first year teachers.

I remember well preparing for my the first day of school in my first classroom.  What a busy, exciting time that was for me!  I was thankful to have a teaching job!

As part of my teacher education courses we talked a lot about first day experiences.  Routine is so important.  As a teacher you need to have things in place at the beginning of the year so you will have a solid start to the school year. Many times teachers are unprepared for the first of school because they've never experienced a first day before!  There are so many things you have to think about and plan. You learn as you go and write down things that worked or didn't work so you will know what to use or not use in the future.

Today pray for first year teachers. Pray for them to not be stressed by the many tasks they must complete before the first day.  Pray that they will be able to have the time and resources needed to set up their classroom.  Pray for them to be calm and not scared going into the first day.  Pray that their first year will be a success and they will touch many lives. 

Have a day of blessings!
 

31 days: Day 14



Day 14:  Let's pray for homeschooling families.

I have many friends who are homeschooling families.  I did not want to neglect to include these families in our prayers for our schools because I think this is an important part of our society. 

Pray for these families to keep their commitment to homeschool and that they don't grow weary of what they are doing.  Pray for them to have support of fellow homeschoolers where they can get new ideas and share struggles.  Pray for them to be serious about what they are doing in educating their children and realize the valuable contribution they are making. 

Have a day of blessings!