I talk to several people every day, who are dissatisfied with the direction their lives are heading. They have become slaves to their circumstances and are trapped in jobs that are not rewarding;
emotionally, spiritually, or financially.
Most of the moms I meet, are struggling to find balance between the desire to raise their families, be present in their kids’ lives, and the need to earn additional monthly income. They are spread thin,
exhausted, and overwhelmed.
But through the chaos of daily life, I see a flicker of hope quietly glowing inside of all of us.
A Hope that we can create a better life for ourselves and our children.
A Hope that we can make a difference for others.
A Hope that life will get easier someday.
Please don’t let the draft caused by self doubt quickly extinguish that flicker of HOPE inside of you.
You can create a better life for yourself and your children, you can make a difference for others, and life can be easier.
As soon as you recognize that flicker of hope inside of you, and you start to pursue the better life you dream about, your perspective changes, the flame inside of you grows, and you see opportunity
everywhere!
I bet if you stop and assess your inner qualities, you will realize that you are ambitious.
You are dissatisfied with the way things are and you want to do something more with your life. You are caring.
You’re energetic when it comes to things you feel passionate about.
And I’ll bet that raising your kids has helped you to become decisive and developed your leadership and communication skills.
Those are the main qualities it takes to succeed in a home based business opportunity.
Building a home based business has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Has it been easy, No, nothing that takes hard work is ever easy.
Yes, it’s given my family a better life and allowed me to stay home with my kids, but more importantly, it’s turned that flicker of HOPE into a fire within me, to
help others succeed everyday as well.
I would be honored to introduce you to the possibility of building a home based business that uses your gifts and strengths to help others.
If you have an interest in making money online and offline while working from home and you would like more information about how you can partner with me call me and
let’s schedule a time to speak and get to know one another better.
I want to learn more about YOU!
Lori
I have been happily married for 13 years and we have a wonderful three year old son. I am thankful everyday for my life and all of my blessings. I have been working from home since 2008 and I love being able to help others reach their goals and potential.
This is an informational blog on personal development, health & wellness, working from home and enjoying life.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
A Leader always sets the trail for others to follow
One of the most exciting parts of your home business will be building and leading a team. When I first started in my company, I had zero experience. My home business was my very first at home anything I had ever done so I had A LOT to learn. It has been such an incredible journey going from someone who had no experience at leading a team to someone who has grown an organization of thousands. I'm SO excited to share with you how I did just that!!
My 10 tips for you follow the letters in LEADERSHIP:
L - Learn from other leaders. When I first started my business, I didn't have any experience at this sort of thing at all. I was so green to this business and didn't have the slightest idea how to lead a team. One thing that really helped me was watching my mentor and the other leaders within our team. I watched and learned everything from them. I watched how they ran their businesses and lead their teams and I started implementing a lot of the same things they were doing. When any of them would give advice, I would listen and listen hard, whether it was a one on one conversation, on a team call or on stage at an event. They had already built dynamic organizations so it just made sense to follow their lead rather than reinventing the wheel. I remember asking my mentor "What do you do, because that's what I'm going to do." I listened very closely to her answer and took notes because I figured if she could do this business, I could too!!! I have always believed that if you surround yourself with successful people and do what they do, you too will reach success. And basically, everything else I am about to share with you guys is what I learned.
E- Environment - You want to create an environment for success. An environment where your team members can learn, have fun and most importantly GET IT DONE. And the way to do this is by getting them connected. Not only connected to you and the rest of their upline but to each other as well. What makes our group great is that our entire organization works together as a team. I have everyone connected with each other and we are a very tight group. The reason to do this is because it's so easy to feel like you are working by yourself when you work from home. Make it your goal for them to know that we are working FOR ourselves NOT by ourselves. You want them to feel a part of something big and special. It was my goal to create a special team environment and it's worked out beautifully. Some things you can do to accomplish this goal:
* Get your team connected on a Forum or Yahoo Group that you setup for your team - This was probably one of the best things I've done for my team. There have been a lot of great friendships and business relationships built on these. This is a place that they know they can go to to ask questions and get immediate answers. That way, for example, if someone on your team can't get a hold of you right away, they know they can go there for support. It also doubles up as a time management tool. A lot of new team members or team members in general have a lot of the same questions. When we answer them on the group or forum, that could answer five other team member's question that they also have which saves you time in answering them over and over again. It's all about working it smart guys.
* Setup challenges for your team and do the challenge with them! For example, I've done 90 Day Challenges with my team. Where we set specific goals to reach within that period and we all work hard toward them. The keyword being WE. Meaning if you want your team to do it, you need to do it. Leading by example is everything when you're building a team
* Get them connected to the team calls that your team and company provides. Host your own team call. Even if it starts with two people, start small, it will build up. Your team will appreciate hearing your voice every week. Until you feel comfortable doing that, send them to your upline's team calls.
A - Attitude - I'm just going to start by saying that attitude is everything. In every aspect of your life but especially in your business. When you maintain a positive attitude throughout your day and life, you can move mountains. Attitude is 90% of this business, the other 10% can be taught. If you're up, down and all around.....your business will be up, down and all around. Now I'm not saying it's not okay to have a bad day, we all have bad days. But don't let a bad day turn into a bad week or even worse a bad month. When I start having a bad day, I give myself an attitude adjustment. It's a choice that I make. Either sit and be miserable with my bad attitude or shake it off, put a smile on my face and keep moving forward. It's especially a very important choice when you're leading a team. Your team is watching you!! Attitude reflects leadership. If you want them to have a good attitude, you must have one!! Never complain to your team members, ever, if you're having a bad day, don't show it to your team. Attitudes are contagious, so ask yourself if yours is worth catching???
D - Daily Action - Your team is watching YOU!!! You MUST lead by example. A very common mistake I see new leaders make is that they go into management mode. This will put a screeching halt on your business. You can't tell your team to go out and recruit new team members and customers, if you're not recruiting new team members and customers. One thing I noticed when I first started was that my mentor was still putting business on the books every single month, even at the top level in our company and $250K in lifetime residual income. She wasn't just talking the talk but she was walking the walk and that inspired me to go out and do the same. I'll never forget what she told me when I hit my first level of management, she said "You're team is watching you, if you're adding business and promoting, they will follow you." She also told me to keep my name on the lists, meaning the top recruiter lists. That's been my goal ever since she told me that. It will make your team proud of you and it will inspire them. It will also give them a much higher respect for you as a leader if you are actually out there doing what you're asking them to do.
E - Embrace every obstacle and struggle that comes your way- This is something I didn't really understand fully until about my third year in my business. Many of us go through obstacles and struggles in the beginning of our business. I know I had a lot of struggles and discouraging moments in the beginning of my business and now I'm so happy that I did. For me, mine were everything from going through a divorce, being a single mom working a full time job outside of the house, my utilities getting shut off, I had a HUGE fear of the phone, I made about 200 presentations before getting my first yes, I had very little money for advertising, I could go on with more stuff but you guys get the point. I am a person that firmly believes that everything happens for a reason. At the time, all that stuff seemed really big and hard but what I didn't know was that was a part of my training to become a better leader. Because when my team members go through those things, I can relate to them and help them through those times. I can inspire them and let them know that if I did it, they can do it! So, think of it this way. Embrace every obstacle and struggle that comes your way, because you're going to learn from it and when YOU are a Top Leader in your company, you can help your team members through it! It's all about attitude and perspective!
R - Recognition - This is my very favorite part. I love to shower my team with recognition. I will never forget the first time I saw my name on a Top Recruiter list. It felt really good. I was so proud and it put a fire in me. And from that moment on, I aim to have my name on all the lists. I remember telling my mentor that and she told me that people will work harder for praises than raises. It's so true. We LOVE to be recognized for things we're doing right, it's human nature. Recognition has been a HUGE part of my building a successful team. You can recognize your team in many ways.
* Team Newsletter - You can send this out weekly or at very least, bi-weekly. You can create an email with pictures of team members being recognized, graphics, articles and much more. For the recognition part, you can include the top customer and team member recruiters month to date, the Top Producer for the month (which includes all business added), New pin level and income level promotions and also do a featured team member of the week. Choose one leader every newsletter to be in the spotlight and include their bio in the newsletter. You want everyone on your team feel as special as they are. The best part, they ALL race for these spots. It's a nice healthy competition to get you're team moving!
* Team Calls - You can also mention all of those accomplishments on your team call. And at least once a month, I put a leader in the spotlight on my team call as my special guest.
* Mail greeting cards to those hitting new promotions/income levels - Everyone likes receiving good mail (you know, NOT bills) so a handwritten note from you is special. Taking the time to do that shows that you truly care.
* E-cards and emails for new business added - When someone enrolls their first piece of business, I'll send them an e-card with a short little message like "Congratulations on your first enrollment, remember if you can enroll one, you can enroll hundreds. Get ready for an amazing future." I also send a short little emails to congratulate my team members on new business. It could be something as easy as "Yay Traci, I'm so proud of you."
S - Step out of your comfort zone - I tell you, getting to the level I am now has required a lot of stepping outside of my comfort zone and I know that to stay successful, I am going to have to continue to do so. While this makes me a little nervous, I know that it is good for me. Picking up the phone to call a prospect is where it started, leaving fliers at businesses, being a special guest on a conference call (I will never forget the first time my mentor asked me to be on a call with her, I thought I was going to pass out!!!), hosting my own team calls, being in a television commercial and speaking at events, now THOSE last two were HUGE steps for me. However, all of those things have helped me to become a better person and leader. I love that my mentor pushes me to grow and be the best. It's a gift that she has given me. It might not have been as fun as getting a birthday gift...but after the fact when I stand back and see that I faced a fear and beat it, I am so grateful to her. The truth is, you must step out of your comfort zone to reach greatness in life. It will make you a better leader and your team will be proud of you!!!
H - Help your team - This one is kind of a given but still very important. When your team emails or calls you, it's important to get back to them quickly. I try to get back to them to same day but if I can't, at least by the next day. You want them to feel comfortable coming to you so they don't feel like they've been left hanging to figure it all out for themselves. Now, while it's very important to help your team, it's also important that you are working on your own personal production too. My team knows that I am unavailable for training between the hours of 12:00 - 2:00 Monday through Friday because I am working on adding new business. This also sets a great example of balancing training and prospecting for them to follow when working with their own teams.
I - Inspire and believe in them - Keep your team inspired. You can send them inspirational articles, quotes, videos, audios, anything to get their blood flowing. Also, by reaching different levels of success within your own business, it inspires them to know that if you can do this, they can too! Let them know the obstacles and struggles that you overcame and that you are absolutely no different than them. The only difference is that you have been here longer. Also let your team members know that you believe from the bottom of your heart that they can do this if they want it bad enough. From the day I became a leader in my company, my mentor has always showed me in many ways how much she believes in me and it was amazing to see how that made me believe in myself and made me more confident.
P - Personal Development - Personal Development is something I never realized was so important until I started my home business. I guess I thought I just "didn't need that stuff." It took me a few months to finally give into it. When I did, it was a shocker to see what I was so skeptical of transforming my life both personally and professionally. I am a firm believer that if you keep feeding your mind that you will reach greatness on every level. I incorporate personal development into my daily routine. Every morning, I get up an hour before my kids to and listen to an audio while I am checking emails and having my coffee. It's an awesome way to start the day. It really sets the tone for my day when I immediately start putting good stuff in. I also encourage my team to do the same, not necessarily my schedule but at least a couple audios or chapters of a great book per week. When you start incorporating personal development into your life and business, your family and friends will notice it. You will be a more pleasant and positive person to be around. It will rub off on your team and you will be amazed at the growth you will have in your organization. I have people ask me just about everyday, "How do you do it, how do you stay so happy and positive all the time?" I tell them it's a choice I make and that I continue to work on being a better person and leader everyday.
Those are all of the steps I have taken to build a HUGE team over the years. Following those steps will help you to build a DYNAMIC organization as well!!
GAME ON!!!!
Thanks Kristie Wooten for such a great article!
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Lori
My 10 tips for you follow the letters in LEADERSHIP:
L - Learn from other leaders. When I first started my business, I didn't have any experience at this sort of thing at all. I was so green to this business and didn't have the slightest idea how to lead a team. One thing that really helped me was watching my mentor and the other leaders within our team. I watched and learned everything from them. I watched how they ran their businesses and lead their teams and I started implementing a lot of the same things they were doing. When any of them would give advice, I would listen and listen hard, whether it was a one on one conversation, on a team call or on stage at an event. They had already built dynamic organizations so it just made sense to follow their lead rather than reinventing the wheel. I remember asking my mentor "What do you do, because that's what I'm going to do." I listened very closely to her answer and took notes because I figured if she could do this business, I could too!!! I have always believed that if you surround yourself with successful people and do what they do, you too will reach success. And basically, everything else I am about to share with you guys is what I learned.
E- Environment - You want to create an environment for success. An environment where your team members can learn, have fun and most importantly GET IT DONE. And the way to do this is by getting them connected. Not only connected to you and the rest of their upline but to each other as well. What makes our group great is that our entire organization works together as a team. I have everyone connected with each other and we are a very tight group. The reason to do this is because it's so easy to feel like you are working by yourself when you work from home. Make it your goal for them to know that we are working FOR ourselves NOT by ourselves. You want them to feel a part of something big and special. It was my goal to create a special team environment and it's worked out beautifully. Some things you can do to accomplish this goal:
* Get your team connected on a Forum or Yahoo Group that you setup for your team - This was probably one of the best things I've done for my team. There have been a lot of great friendships and business relationships built on these. This is a place that they know they can go to to ask questions and get immediate answers. That way, for example, if someone on your team can't get a hold of you right away, they know they can go there for support. It also doubles up as a time management tool. A lot of new team members or team members in general have a lot of the same questions. When we answer them on the group or forum, that could answer five other team member's question that they also have which saves you time in answering them over and over again. It's all about working it smart guys.
* Setup challenges for your team and do the challenge with them! For example, I've done 90 Day Challenges with my team. Where we set specific goals to reach within that period and we all work hard toward them. The keyword being WE. Meaning if you want your team to do it, you need to do it. Leading by example is everything when you're building a team
* Get them connected to the team calls that your team and company provides. Host your own team call. Even if it starts with two people, start small, it will build up. Your team will appreciate hearing your voice every week. Until you feel comfortable doing that, send them to your upline's team calls.
A - Attitude - I'm just going to start by saying that attitude is everything. In every aspect of your life but especially in your business. When you maintain a positive attitude throughout your day and life, you can move mountains. Attitude is 90% of this business, the other 10% can be taught. If you're up, down and all around.....your business will be up, down and all around. Now I'm not saying it's not okay to have a bad day, we all have bad days. But don't let a bad day turn into a bad week or even worse a bad month. When I start having a bad day, I give myself an attitude adjustment. It's a choice that I make. Either sit and be miserable with my bad attitude or shake it off, put a smile on my face and keep moving forward. It's especially a very important choice when you're leading a team. Your team is watching you!! Attitude reflects leadership. If you want them to have a good attitude, you must have one!! Never complain to your team members, ever, if you're having a bad day, don't show it to your team. Attitudes are contagious, so ask yourself if yours is worth catching???
D - Daily Action - Your team is watching YOU!!! You MUST lead by example. A very common mistake I see new leaders make is that they go into management mode. This will put a screeching halt on your business. You can't tell your team to go out and recruit new team members and customers, if you're not recruiting new team members and customers. One thing I noticed when I first started was that my mentor was still putting business on the books every single month, even at the top level in our company and $250K in lifetime residual income. She wasn't just talking the talk but she was walking the walk and that inspired me to go out and do the same. I'll never forget what she told me when I hit my first level of management, she said "You're team is watching you, if you're adding business and promoting, they will follow you." She also told me to keep my name on the lists, meaning the top recruiter lists. That's been my goal ever since she told me that. It will make your team proud of you and it will inspire them. It will also give them a much higher respect for you as a leader if you are actually out there doing what you're asking them to do.
E - Embrace every obstacle and struggle that comes your way- This is something I didn't really understand fully until about my third year in my business. Many of us go through obstacles and struggles in the beginning of our business. I know I had a lot of struggles and discouraging moments in the beginning of my business and now I'm so happy that I did. For me, mine were everything from going through a divorce, being a single mom working a full time job outside of the house, my utilities getting shut off, I had a HUGE fear of the phone, I made about 200 presentations before getting my first yes, I had very little money for advertising, I could go on with more stuff but you guys get the point. I am a person that firmly believes that everything happens for a reason. At the time, all that stuff seemed really big and hard but what I didn't know was that was a part of my training to become a better leader. Because when my team members go through those things, I can relate to them and help them through those times. I can inspire them and let them know that if I did it, they can do it! So, think of it this way. Embrace every obstacle and struggle that comes your way, because you're going to learn from it and when YOU are a Top Leader in your company, you can help your team members through it! It's all about attitude and perspective!
R - Recognition - This is my very favorite part. I love to shower my team with recognition. I will never forget the first time I saw my name on a Top Recruiter list. It felt really good. I was so proud and it put a fire in me. And from that moment on, I aim to have my name on all the lists. I remember telling my mentor that and she told me that people will work harder for praises than raises. It's so true. We LOVE to be recognized for things we're doing right, it's human nature. Recognition has been a HUGE part of my building a successful team. You can recognize your team in many ways.
* Team Newsletter - You can send this out weekly or at very least, bi-weekly. You can create an email with pictures of team members being recognized, graphics, articles and much more. For the recognition part, you can include the top customer and team member recruiters month to date, the Top Producer for the month (which includes all business added), New pin level and income level promotions and also do a featured team member of the week. Choose one leader every newsletter to be in the spotlight and include their bio in the newsletter. You want everyone on your team feel as special as they are. The best part, they ALL race for these spots. It's a nice healthy competition to get you're team moving!
* Team Calls - You can also mention all of those accomplishments on your team call. And at least once a month, I put a leader in the spotlight on my team call as my special guest.
* Mail greeting cards to those hitting new promotions/income levels - Everyone likes receiving good mail (you know, NOT bills) so a handwritten note from you is special. Taking the time to do that shows that you truly care.
* E-cards and emails for new business added - When someone enrolls their first piece of business, I'll send them an e-card with a short little message like "Congratulations on your first enrollment, remember if you can enroll one, you can enroll hundreds. Get ready for an amazing future." I also send a short little emails to congratulate my team members on new business. It could be something as easy as "Yay Traci, I'm so proud of you."
S - Step out of your comfort zone - I tell you, getting to the level I am now has required a lot of stepping outside of my comfort zone and I know that to stay successful, I am going to have to continue to do so. While this makes me a little nervous, I know that it is good for me. Picking up the phone to call a prospect is where it started, leaving fliers at businesses, being a special guest on a conference call (I will never forget the first time my mentor asked me to be on a call with her, I thought I was going to pass out!!!), hosting my own team calls, being in a television commercial and speaking at events, now THOSE last two were HUGE steps for me. However, all of those things have helped me to become a better person and leader. I love that my mentor pushes me to grow and be the best. It's a gift that she has given me. It might not have been as fun as getting a birthday gift...but after the fact when I stand back and see that I faced a fear and beat it, I am so grateful to her. The truth is, you must step out of your comfort zone to reach greatness in life. It will make you a better leader and your team will be proud of you!!!
H - Help your team - This one is kind of a given but still very important. When your team emails or calls you, it's important to get back to them quickly. I try to get back to them to same day but if I can't, at least by the next day. You want them to feel comfortable coming to you so they don't feel like they've been left hanging to figure it all out for themselves. Now, while it's very important to help your team, it's also important that you are working on your own personal production too. My team knows that I am unavailable for training between the hours of 12:00 - 2:00 Monday through Friday because I am working on adding new business. This also sets a great example of balancing training and prospecting for them to follow when working with their own teams.
I - Inspire and believe in them - Keep your team inspired. You can send them inspirational articles, quotes, videos, audios, anything to get their blood flowing. Also, by reaching different levels of success within your own business, it inspires them to know that if you can do this, they can too! Let them know the obstacles and struggles that you overcame and that you are absolutely no different than them. The only difference is that you have been here longer. Also let your team members know that you believe from the bottom of your heart that they can do this if they want it bad enough. From the day I became a leader in my company, my mentor has always showed me in many ways how much she believes in me and it was amazing to see how that made me believe in myself and made me more confident.
P - Personal Development - Personal Development is something I never realized was so important until I started my home business. I guess I thought I just "didn't need that stuff." It took me a few months to finally give into it. When I did, it was a shocker to see what I was so skeptical of transforming my life both personally and professionally. I am a firm believer that if you keep feeding your mind that you will reach greatness on every level. I incorporate personal development into my daily routine. Every morning, I get up an hour before my kids to and listen to an audio while I am checking emails and having my coffee. It's an awesome way to start the day. It really sets the tone for my day when I immediately start putting good stuff in. I also encourage my team to do the same, not necessarily my schedule but at least a couple audios or chapters of a great book per week. When you start incorporating personal development into your life and business, your family and friends will notice it. You will be a more pleasant and positive person to be around. It will rub off on your team and you will be amazed at the growth you will have in your organization. I have people ask me just about everyday, "How do you do it, how do you stay so happy and positive all the time?" I tell them it's a choice I make and that I continue to work on being a better person and leader everyday.
Those are all of the steps I have taken to build a HUGE team over the years. Following those steps will help you to build a DYNAMIC organization as well!!
GAME ON!!!!
Thanks Kristie Wooten for such a great article!
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Lori
Monday, November 22, 2010
HANDY LITTLE CHART - GOD HAS A POSITIVE ANSWER:
YOU SAY
GOD SAYS
BIBLE VERSES
You say: 'It's impossible'
God says: All things are possible
( Luke 18:27)
You say: 'I'm too tired'
God says: I will give you rest
( Matt hew 11:28-30)
You say: 'Nobody really loves me'
God says: I love you
( John 3:16 )
You say: 'I can't go on'
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: 'I can't figure things out'
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5- 6)
You say: 'I can't do it'
God says: You can do all things
( Philippians 4:13)
You say: 'I'm not able'
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: 'It's not worth it'
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )
You say: 'I can't forgive myself'
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: 'I can't manage'
God says: I will supply all your needs
( Philippians 4:19)
You say: 'I'm afraid'
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
( II Timothy 1:7)
You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated'
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)
You say: 'I'm not smart enough'
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: 'I feel all alone'
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)
I hope this helps you in some way!
Have a great day!
Lori
www.momsforgreen
GOD SAYS
BIBLE VERSES
You say: 'It's impossible'
God says: All things are possible
( Luke 18:27)
You say: 'I'm too tired'
God says: I will give you rest
( Matt hew 11:28-30)
You say: 'Nobody really loves me'
God says: I love you
( John 3:16 )
You say: 'I can't go on'
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: 'I can't figure things out'
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5- 6)
You say: 'I can't do it'
God says: You can do all things
( Philippians 4:13)
You say: 'I'm not able'
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: 'It's not worth it'
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )
You say: 'I can't forgive myself'
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: 'I can't manage'
God says: I will supply all your needs
( Philippians 4:19)
You say: 'I'm afraid'
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
( II Timothy 1:7)
You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated'
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)
You say: 'I'm not smart enough'
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: 'I feel all alone'
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)
I hope this helps you in some way!
Have a great day!
Lori
www.momsforgreen
Monday, November 15, 2010
Christian Work At Home Moms Article
Welcome to Every MOMent Counts! Here you will find words harnessed together by energy and enthusiasm that I hope will provide encouragement and empowerment to you as a mom.
You see once God blessed me with the title “mom” my entire outlook on life was forever altered, tipped away from self and towards legacy. Suddenly my desire to glorify God was transcended from my life and into the life of His great blessing to me…my children. I was being entrusted with these tiny little lives to love and mold into “His little soldiers” as my younger brother declares.
In today’s world of “meism” the ability to place one’s personal desires aside and contemplate daily life through the lens of selfless motherhood can only be done… well, through the power of the Holy Spirit. And lest you think me a prideful, perfectionist, ninnymuggins; allow me to assure you my selflessness exists successfully only when I am well girded. The daily battle against self continuously screams loudly in my momlife.
Actually, so loudly does it scream that I am compelled though necessity to spend daily time in the word at most, and seek out scotch taped index cards streaming with Bible verses at least. My home is frequently alive with the cascading sounds of Christian contemporary music to wage war against my selfish thoughts. And on the days I really need some serious refocus – very loud, foot stomping strains of LeCrae, Skillet and Third Day are at a fever pitch level!
My children have always been the integral part of my life. They matter. I make time for them. I set aside my wants for their needs. I spend intentional time with them. I am always a teacher. I fail. I apologize. We keep moving forward. We make memories. We play. I am silly. I dance. I sing. I instruct. I have “do nothing” days. I cook. I am busy. I err. I ask for forgiveness. We rebuild. We laugh. We cry. We create. I take pictures – lots of pictures. We make memories. I am an intentional mom.
My children are now teens. We have a relationship…still. I am part of their lives. They talk to me about things. I know all their friends. They hang out at our home with their friends. They continue to accept instruction.
Why? How?
Intentionality works.
Remember…every MOMent counts!
Blessings.
Tracey
Tracey Eyster is the creator and senior editor of MomLife Today and has served with FamilyLife.com as a writer for three years. After becoming a mom, she “retired” from her career in public relations and marketing but continued to serve by volunteering on many committees and boards. She is passionate about momlife, encouraging other moms through speaking and writing, and is in the process of publishing her first book. Tracey is happily married to Bill has two teenagers at home (and several extras always looking for some fun n’ home cookin) and they live the simple life on a small ranch – horses, four wheelers, go carts and dirt bikes included! Always known as the “fun mom”- she embraces that title and challenges other moms to lighten up and make memories because … Every MOMent Counts! You can find her at www.momlifetoday.com, www.momlifeoutloud.com , www.blog.familymatters.net follow her on twitter at www.twitter.com/momblog, and hear tips from her on parenting at www.iquestions.com.
Great article I hope you enjoyed it!
Lori
www.momsforgreen.com
You see once God blessed me with the title “mom” my entire outlook on life was forever altered, tipped away from self and towards legacy. Suddenly my desire to glorify God was transcended from my life and into the life of His great blessing to me…my children. I was being entrusted with these tiny little lives to love and mold into “His little soldiers” as my younger brother declares.
In today’s world of “meism” the ability to place one’s personal desires aside and contemplate daily life through the lens of selfless motherhood can only be done… well, through the power of the Holy Spirit. And lest you think me a prideful, perfectionist, ninnymuggins; allow me to assure you my selflessness exists successfully only when I am well girded. The daily battle against self continuously screams loudly in my momlife.
Actually, so loudly does it scream that I am compelled though necessity to spend daily time in the word at most, and seek out scotch taped index cards streaming with Bible verses at least. My home is frequently alive with the cascading sounds of Christian contemporary music to wage war against my selfish thoughts. And on the days I really need some serious refocus – very loud, foot stomping strains of LeCrae, Skillet and Third Day are at a fever pitch level!
My children have always been the integral part of my life. They matter. I make time for them. I set aside my wants for their needs. I spend intentional time with them. I am always a teacher. I fail. I apologize. We keep moving forward. We make memories. We play. I am silly. I dance. I sing. I instruct. I have “do nothing” days. I cook. I am busy. I err. I ask for forgiveness. We rebuild. We laugh. We cry. We create. I take pictures – lots of pictures. We make memories. I am an intentional mom.
My children are now teens. We have a relationship…still. I am part of their lives. They talk to me about things. I know all their friends. They hang out at our home with their friends. They continue to accept instruction.
Why? How?
Intentionality works.
Remember…every MOMent counts!
Blessings.
Tracey
Tracey Eyster is the creator and senior editor of MomLife Today and has served with FamilyLife.com as a writer for three years. After becoming a mom, she “retired” from her career in public relations and marketing but continued to serve by volunteering on many committees and boards. She is passionate about momlife, encouraging other moms through speaking and writing, and is in the process of publishing her first book. Tracey is happily married to Bill has two teenagers at home (and several extras always looking for some fun n’ home cookin) and they live the simple life on a small ranch – horses, four wheelers, go carts and dirt bikes included! Always known as the “fun mom”- she embraces that title and challenges other moms to lighten up and make memories because … Every MOMent Counts! You can find her at www.momlifetoday.com, www.momlifeoutloud.com , www.blog.familymatters.net follow her on twitter at www.twitter.com/momblog, and hear tips from her on parenting at www.iquestions.com.
Great article I hope you enjoyed it!
Lori
www.momsforgreen.com
Friday, November 12, 2010
An Amazing Story from All God's Children International Newsletter
I can still remember telling my mother one day, "When I grow up, I will adopt a child." I don't know if she believed me or not, because I was just a child myself! However, I knew God had birthed that desire in my heart and I believed He would bring it to pass. My life continued to unfold. I grew up, got married, and eventually did become the mother of four beautiful children. The faith-filled statement I had made to my mother that day so many years earlier did turn out to be more than just a childhood memory. It had been a divine call, God's personal promise—and He brought it to pass. We adopted two of our children, a son domestically, and a daughter joined our family from Korea. My passion to help children find a family was realized and lived out daily in my own home. I was content raising our family and felt so blessed. My life was full of school and church activities and I loved being a wife and mother! Then, in a moment, my life changed…
ALL THINGS…
In the year 2000, my life dramatically changed. My husband who had finally achieved his goal of becoming a CEO, announced that he was leaving our family to start a new life in New York. In an instant everything in our world was turned upside down. I was devastated. After raising four children and just sending the last one off on her own, I found myself alone. Heartbroken and needing time to heal, I moved back to Kansas City to be close to friends and regroup. I found a wonderful church that allowed me to work in their office, and I was surrounded with love and a healing environment. I clung daily in faith to another promise God gave me through His word, a promise He gives to us all:
"We are assured and know that…ALL THINGS…work together and are fitting into a plan FOR GOOD
to and for those who love God and are called according to His design and purpose." Romans 8:28(AMP)
I prayed diligently that God would, despite my heartbreak, help me to believe with all my heart that He would bring something GOOD out of ALL THE THINGS that had happened in my life.
HIS DESIGN AND PURPOSE…
In 2004, as much as I loved the work and the people at the church, there was restlessness in my soul. I felt God wanted me to give my life to something more. Since I had always been drawn to children in need of finding families, I researched children's organizations, thinking I might find a direction there; I found myself on AGCI's Web site. Since I was 53 at the time, I felt certain I would not be a candidate for adoption, so I decided to simply ignore what I had read. But God continued to put His orphaned children on my heart. Finally, I dared to entertain the possibility of doing something and decided to write for more information about AGCI's programs, thinking perhaps there might be other ways to help orphaned children through their ministry. By the time the information arrived, I had come to my senses and saw how ridiculous that idea was; I came up with a multitude of excuses, so I put the information away on a top shelf. Several weeks later, my courage returned and I thought perhaps it wouldn't hurt to just read it. A few days later I sent off for further information; I figured it wouldn't hurt! Much to my surprise, just three days later, I received a call from AGCI to talk with me about the possibility of adopting, despite my apology for wasting their time and sharing the fact that I was older and single. Could this be God? Was He clearly opening another door?
STOP SIGNS OR OPEN DOORS?
I immediately began to pray about this seemingly "divine development," asking God to show me "stop signs" along the way if adoption was not what He wanted me to pursue. I knew that AGCI had other ways I could help and serve the orphans I loved, but the doors kept opening. I was both delighted (and a bit scared) at the possibility! Although there were those who reminded me how difficult it would be to raise children alone, and others who told me how important it was for children to have a father, I kept trying to listen for God's voice above other people's opinions. The process just seemed to keep moving forward. One moment I was full of faith, and the next I entertained the inevitable questions that came with taking a leap of faith. Could I do this alone at my age? What was I thinking? But if I didn't—what if I missed what God had intended? I spent many nights praying and assuring God that if He chose to close this door, I would totally understand. I kept thinking if there were thousands of children living in orphanages, wouldn't it be better for them to have a mother, extended family, and a loving home, than remain in an orphanage for the rest of their lives? So I simply kept praying and asking fervently for direction and guidance. Yet miraculously, against all odds, the doors kept swinging open, one after another. I turned in my dossier to AGCI, requesting to adopt a little girl from Russia. Shortly after that red letter day, while driving to an appointment, I simply heard God speak to my heart and say, "I don't want you to just adopt one child; I want you to adopt two!" I was stunned to say the least. But I knew His voice. It was the same voice that had assured my heart as a little girl that I would adopt a child someday. Now I knew He was asking me to begin again, and spend my life loving and caring for two orphan children unknown to me, but He already knew them by name. So I called AGCI and my dossier was changed with some additional paperwork. Now I was praying for two!
MY JOURNEY BEGINS…
In November 2004, the pictures and referral arrived from Russia. I knew the moment I saw them I was supposed to keep going forward. Two precious little faces were smiling at me—two sisters, ages three and almost five, living in an orphanage in northern Russia. I made travel plans and in early December, my sister accompanied me to meet the girls for the first time. We found them waiting behind their orphanage door in the middle of Siberia. It was cold and snow was on the ground. I was kept warm by the deep love burning in my heart for these little ones who God had loved so much. He had, in His mercy, led me to their side halfway around the world. It was hard to kiss them goodbye, but I knew I would be back soon, so I left them in the Father's care. I arrived home just in time to celebrate Christmas at my house with my older children. They knew where I had been, but I don't think the reality of my pending adoptions became a reality to them until they realized those two little Russian girls had faces, and those faces were now on Mom's refrigerator door! We all had a heart to heart talk that Christmas. They shared their fears and I did my best to understand. They had all spent five years working through the fact of their dad leaving and life not being the same. In the end, however, just as all parents have to trust God with their children, my children had to do the same for me: trust God and believe He was leading me to walk in the light of His truth, what He had spoken to my heart.
FACING THE UNEXPECTED…
As the new year approached, I was busy preparing for the arrival of my new daughters. Unexpectedly, I received a phone call from AGCI with news that Russia was on the verge of shutting down its adoption program for an unknown length of time. My heart turned upside down. Was this the stop sign I had asked God to put up in case I had missed His will? Once again I prayed that God would help me walk the path He had put before me. AGCI worked diligently to expedite everything they could. They stood with me in faith and vowed to do all they could to get my girls home before the deadline. My admiration and appreciation is without measure! The urgency I felt in my heart, they also shared as well, and miraculously I realized that God had not put up a stop sign through the impending closure, but had instead mercifully opened up the highways of heaven to bring His girls home before the closure. In February 2005, I prepared to travel once again, this time with a friend, back to Siberia to pick up my daughters. Our translator never left our side, and the process went perfectly. On March 3, 2005, I brought Anna Grace and Emily Joy home! It was a new beginning for all of us. I thanked God for helping me be obedient to His call, and for being so faithful to me and my girls. I realized then that they were His hidden treasure, "THE GOOD" that He promised to bring out of the devastating "ALL THINGS" that had happened years earlier in my life. They were living reality of His promise in Romans 8:28. My daughter's middle names reflect the GRACE that God gave me to endure and believe my life was not over during that time, and the JOY He filled my heart with as He revived once again His purpose and call in my life.
FIVE YEARS LATER!
Now that I have had Anna Grace and Emily Joy for over five years, I can only say how grateful I am that God has allowed me to have them as my daughters. Anna is vivacious and eager to try everything from ice skating to horseback riding. Emily is so sweet and loves church, bowling, and swimming. They are great travelers, so we just returned from our annual beach week with their older siblings and my five grandchildren. They are and continue to be the most awesome gifts from God. I know that God in His infinite wisdom knew exactly what was needed by all of us, and He made us a family. Do they have some struggles? Yes, as most children do. We deal with some delays and learning challenges, but really just normal things that many parents encounter along the way. On the more difficult days, I find myself singing the same song I sang when I came across struggles with my older children. His strength is perfect when our strength is gone, and He will carry us when we can't carry on. Raised in his power, the weak become strong. His strength is perfect. I am daily amazed that God would choose this older, often insecure, single woman to be the mother to these dear little girls. There are times that I wish I were ten years younger and had more time on this earth. There are so many children who need to experience God's mercy through a family.
TO EVERY GENERATION…
My story doesn't stop here! My son and his wife have recently applied to adopt an Ethiopian child through AGCI as well, so I will, hopefully, be welcoming a new grandchild soon. I hear they are praying for twins! I am so blessed! Our family resembles our own united nations: Korea, the U.S., Russia, and now Ethiopia. Throughout my life, I have seen God's mercy right in front of me, even in the difficult times I have experienced. Yet He has always graciously allowed me to walk in His path of truth and guided me forward each step of the way. I can confidently speak with David the words he wrote in the Psalms: "His mercy endures forever. His faithfulness endures throughout every generation." Psalm 100:5 (GWT)
His mercy does endure forever. He has been faithful to my family. I am now watching that same faithfulness and mercy being passed down and lived out in the lives of my children. God's mercy is remembered every day in our family. I see it in the faces of my older children, my younger children, and my grandchildren.
ONE LAST THOUGHT…
November is national adoption month. I just want to encourage all who read my story to stop for a moment and ask the Lord if there is something He wants you to do for orphan children around the world. Age doesn't seem to matter to God. If He wants you to do something, He will open the doors. All you have to do is be willing to walk through it. You never want to look back and wonder what might have been, if you ignore the open door He lays before you.
This article hits close to home since my husband and I adopted our son from Guatemala and looking to possibly adopt again. I have been waiting for God's sign. I think I need to really open my eyes and my heart to really hear what God is really saying to me.
I hope this was inspirational for you as well.
Lori
ALL THINGS…
In the year 2000, my life dramatically changed. My husband who had finally achieved his goal of becoming a CEO, announced that he was leaving our family to start a new life in New York. In an instant everything in our world was turned upside down. I was devastated. After raising four children and just sending the last one off on her own, I found myself alone. Heartbroken and needing time to heal, I moved back to Kansas City to be close to friends and regroup. I found a wonderful church that allowed me to work in their office, and I was surrounded with love and a healing environment. I clung daily in faith to another promise God gave me through His word, a promise He gives to us all:
"We are assured and know that…ALL THINGS…work together and are fitting into a plan FOR GOOD
to and for those who love God and are called according to His design and purpose." Romans 8:28(AMP)
I prayed diligently that God would, despite my heartbreak, help me to believe with all my heart that He would bring something GOOD out of ALL THE THINGS that had happened in my life.
HIS DESIGN AND PURPOSE…
In 2004, as much as I loved the work and the people at the church, there was restlessness in my soul. I felt God wanted me to give my life to something more. Since I had always been drawn to children in need of finding families, I researched children's organizations, thinking I might find a direction there; I found myself on AGCI's Web site. Since I was 53 at the time, I felt certain I would not be a candidate for adoption, so I decided to simply ignore what I had read. But God continued to put His orphaned children on my heart. Finally, I dared to entertain the possibility of doing something and decided to write for more information about AGCI's programs, thinking perhaps there might be other ways to help orphaned children through their ministry. By the time the information arrived, I had come to my senses and saw how ridiculous that idea was; I came up with a multitude of excuses, so I put the information away on a top shelf. Several weeks later, my courage returned and I thought perhaps it wouldn't hurt to just read it. A few days later I sent off for further information; I figured it wouldn't hurt! Much to my surprise, just three days later, I received a call from AGCI to talk with me about the possibility of adopting, despite my apology for wasting their time and sharing the fact that I was older and single. Could this be God? Was He clearly opening another door?
STOP SIGNS OR OPEN DOORS?
I immediately began to pray about this seemingly "divine development," asking God to show me "stop signs" along the way if adoption was not what He wanted me to pursue. I knew that AGCI had other ways I could help and serve the orphans I loved, but the doors kept opening. I was both delighted (and a bit scared) at the possibility! Although there were those who reminded me how difficult it would be to raise children alone, and others who told me how important it was for children to have a father, I kept trying to listen for God's voice above other people's opinions. The process just seemed to keep moving forward. One moment I was full of faith, and the next I entertained the inevitable questions that came with taking a leap of faith. Could I do this alone at my age? What was I thinking? But if I didn't—what if I missed what God had intended? I spent many nights praying and assuring God that if He chose to close this door, I would totally understand. I kept thinking if there were thousands of children living in orphanages, wouldn't it be better for them to have a mother, extended family, and a loving home, than remain in an orphanage for the rest of their lives? So I simply kept praying and asking fervently for direction and guidance. Yet miraculously, against all odds, the doors kept swinging open, one after another. I turned in my dossier to AGCI, requesting to adopt a little girl from Russia. Shortly after that red letter day, while driving to an appointment, I simply heard God speak to my heart and say, "I don't want you to just adopt one child; I want you to adopt two!" I was stunned to say the least. But I knew His voice. It was the same voice that had assured my heart as a little girl that I would adopt a child someday. Now I knew He was asking me to begin again, and spend my life loving and caring for two orphan children unknown to me, but He already knew them by name. So I called AGCI and my dossier was changed with some additional paperwork. Now I was praying for two!
MY JOURNEY BEGINS…
In November 2004, the pictures and referral arrived from Russia. I knew the moment I saw them I was supposed to keep going forward. Two precious little faces were smiling at me—two sisters, ages three and almost five, living in an orphanage in northern Russia. I made travel plans and in early December, my sister accompanied me to meet the girls for the first time. We found them waiting behind their orphanage door in the middle of Siberia. It was cold and snow was on the ground. I was kept warm by the deep love burning in my heart for these little ones who God had loved so much. He had, in His mercy, led me to their side halfway around the world. It was hard to kiss them goodbye, but I knew I would be back soon, so I left them in the Father's care. I arrived home just in time to celebrate Christmas at my house with my older children. They knew where I had been, but I don't think the reality of my pending adoptions became a reality to them until they realized those two little Russian girls had faces, and those faces were now on Mom's refrigerator door! We all had a heart to heart talk that Christmas. They shared their fears and I did my best to understand. They had all spent five years working through the fact of their dad leaving and life not being the same. In the end, however, just as all parents have to trust God with their children, my children had to do the same for me: trust God and believe He was leading me to walk in the light of His truth, what He had spoken to my heart.
FACING THE UNEXPECTED…
As the new year approached, I was busy preparing for the arrival of my new daughters. Unexpectedly, I received a phone call from AGCI with news that Russia was on the verge of shutting down its adoption program for an unknown length of time. My heart turned upside down. Was this the stop sign I had asked God to put up in case I had missed His will? Once again I prayed that God would help me walk the path He had put before me. AGCI worked diligently to expedite everything they could. They stood with me in faith and vowed to do all they could to get my girls home before the deadline. My admiration and appreciation is without measure! The urgency I felt in my heart, they also shared as well, and miraculously I realized that God had not put up a stop sign through the impending closure, but had instead mercifully opened up the highways of heaven to bring His girls home before the closure. In February 2005, I prepared to travel once again, this time with a friend, back to Siberia to pick up my daughters. Our translator never left our side, and the process went perfectly. On March 3, 2005, I brought Anna Grace and Emily Joy home! It was a new beginning for all of us. I thanked God for helping me be obedient to His call, and for being so faithful to me and my girls. I realized then that they were His hidden treasure, "THE GOOD" that He promised to bring out of the devastating "ALL THINGS" that had happened years earlier in my life. They were living reality of His promise in Romans 8:28. My daughter's middle names reflect the GRACE that God gave me to endure and believe my life was not over during that time, and the JOY He filled my heart with as He revived once again His purpose and call in my life.
FIVE YEARS LATER!
Now that I have had Anna Grace and Emily Joy for over five years, I can only say how grateful I am that God has allowed me to have them as my daughters. Anna is vivacious and eager to try everything from ice skating to horseback riding. Emily is so sweet and loves church, bowling, and swimming. They are great travelers, so we just returned from our annual beach week with their older siblings and my five grandchildren. They are and continue to be the most awesome gifts from God. I know that God in His infinite wisdom knew exactly what was needed by all of us, and He made us a family. Do they have some struggles? Yes, as most children do. We deal with some delays and learning challenges, but really just normal things that many parents encounter along the way. On the more difficult days, I find myself singing the same song I sang when I came across struggles with my older children. His strength is perfect when our strength is gone, and He will carry us when we can't carry on. Raised in his power, the weak become strong. His strength is perfect. I am daily amazed that God would choose this older, often insecure, single woman to be the mother to these dear little girls. There are times that I wish I were ten years younger and had more time on this earth. There are so many children who need to experience God's mercy through a family.
TO EVERY GENERATION…
My story doesn't stop here! My son and his wife have recently applied to adopt an Ethiopian child through AGCI as well, so I will, hopefully, be welcoming a new grandchild soon. I hear they are praying for twins! I am so blessed! Our family resembles our own united nations: Korea, the U.S., Russia, and now Ethiopia. Throughout my life, I have seen God's mercy right in front of me, even in the difficult times I have experienced. Yet He has always graciously allowed me to walk in His path of truth and guided me forward each step of the way. I can confidently speak with David the words he wrote in the Psalms: "His mercy endures forever. His faithfulness endures throughout every generation." Psalm 100:5 (GWT)
His mercy does endure forever. He has been faithful to my family. I am now watching that same faithfulness and mercy being passed down and lived out in the lives of my children. God's mercy is remembered every day in our family. I see it in the faces of my older children, my younger children, and my grandchildren.
ONE LAST THOUGHT…
November is national adoption month. I just want to encourage all who read my story to stop for a moment and ask the Lord if there is something He wants you to do for orphan children around the world. Age doesn't seem to matter to God. If He wants you to do something, He will open the doors. All you have to do is be willing to walk through it. You never want to look back and wonder what might have been, if you ignore the open door He lays before you.
This article hits close to home since my husband and I adopted our son from Guatemala and looking to possibly adopt again. I have been waiting for God's sign. I think I need to really open my eyes and my heart to really hear what God is really saying to me.
I hope this was inspirational for you as well.
Lori
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Proverbs 3:13-18
13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed
I hope you are blessed by these verses. Wisdom is a big key to spiritual maturity. It is more important than wealth or success. Wisdom is the application of knowledge
To Your Spiritual Success!
Lori
those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed
I hope you are blessed by these verses. Wisdom is a big key to spiritual maturity. It is more important than wealth or success. Wisdom is the application of knowledge
To Your Spiritual Success!
Lori
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
How 30 Minutes of Meal Planning Can Save You Hours of Frustration
Homeschooling Mom’s Blog
Michelle Schaeffer,
WordPress Expert, Entrepreneur & Business Owner
“What’s for breakfast, mom?” “What’s for dinner, honey?” “We’re hungry!”
How many times do you hear those questions in a typical week? How many times do you wonder, yourself, what to cook for the next meal?
Do you run to the grocery store at the last minute to pick up a missing dinner ingredient? Or drive through and pick up that less-than-ideal meal because you were in a rush?
Sometimes cooking dinner is the last thing I feel like doing at the end of a busy day! And I know I’m not alone.
The good news is that you can tame the meal time chaos and end all the questions by taking just a few minutes at the beginning of the week to plan out your meals. Think of all the time you’ll save when you don’t have to figure out what to make for dinner, make those last minute trips to the grocery store, or run out for deli or fast food!
Here are some tips to help you plan a week’s worth of meals:
1) Start with a menu page.
Create a weekly menu form that you can fill in each week and post it on your refrigerator. This way it’s easy for everyone to see what’s planned for each meal.
I use a grid style plan with 8 rows, labeled down the left side:
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
And 5 columns and across the top label them:
Day / Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner / Snacks
Armed with your menu form ready to fill in, proceed to step 2.
2) Plan your meals.
Start with what you’ve got. Do you have any specific foods you need to remember to cook this week? Veggies you want to prepare while they’re still fresh? Add meals using those ingredients to your plan.
Next look at what you’ve got in the pantry that you can cook this week. Add those meals to your plan.
Tip: Ask your kids or spouse what meals they’d like during the week. You might find that planning a weekly pizza night every Friday, Mexican lunch every Tuesday, or other regular meal events makes the family happy and your meal planning easier!
Continue adding meals until your calendar is filled. Then add some snack ideas to the far right column (popcorn, yogurt, whatever your kids typically eat for an afternoon or after-school snack).
3) Create your grocery list.
Once you’ve got your meals planned the next step is to create your grocery list. Look over the meals you’ve planned and create your grocery list of any items you don’t already have at home.
Now you can shop and buy just the items on your list, knowing that you’ll have everything you need for a complete week’s worth of meals!
(Weekly and Monthly Meal Planning templates are available for download.)
***Would you like a free email course about meal planning, crock pot cooking, or freezer cooking? Visit http://michelleshaeffer.com/help-for-work-at-home-moms/ now and let me send you helpful tips and ideas that will make it easier for you to balance homemaking, homeschooling, and working from home. ***
________________
Michelle Shaeffer has been a work at home mom for more than 10 years and loves to share the tips and strategies she’s learned to help other small business owners and entrepreneurs.
You might also like:
10 Meal Planning Tips For Stress-Free Holiday Meals
How to Get Everything Done
How To Make Homemade Cornbread For Thanksgiving Meals
LinkWithin
These are great tips. I hope this helps you in some way.
To Your Success!
Lori
Michelle Schaeffer,
WordPress Expert, Entrepreneur & Business Owner
“What’s for breakfast, mom?” “What’s for dinner, honey?” “We’re hungry!”
How many times do you hear those questions in a typical week? How many times do you wonder, yourself, what to cook for the next meal?
Do you run to the grocery store at the last minute to pick up a missing dinner ingredient? Or drive through and pick up that less-than-ideal meal because you were in a rush?
Sometimes cooking dinner is the last thing I feel like doing at the end of a busy day! And I know I’m not alone.
The good news is that you can tame the meal time chaos and end all the questions by taking just a few minutes at the beginning of the week to plan out your meals. Think of all the time you’ll save when you don’t have to figure out what to make for dinner, make those last minute trips to the grocery store, or run out for deli or fast food!
Here are some tips to help you plan a week’s worth of meals:
1) Start with a menu page.
Create a weekly menu form that you can fill in each week and post it on your refrigerator. This way it’s easy for everyone to see what’s planned for each meal.
I use a grid style plan with 8 rows, labeled down the left side:
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
And 5 columns and across the top label them:
Day / Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner / Snacks
Armed with your menu form ready to fill in, proceed to step 2.
2) Plan your meals.
Start with what you’ve got. Do you have any specific foods you need to remember to cook this week? Veggies you want to prepare while they’re still fresh? Add meals using those ingredients to your plan.
Next look at what you’ve got in the pantry that you can cook this week. Add those meals to your plan.
Tip: Ask your kids or spouse what meals they’d like during the week. You might find that planning a weekly pizza night every Friday, Mexican lunch every Tuesday, or other regular meal events makes the family happy and your meal planning easier!
Continue adding meals until your calendar is filled. Then add some snack ideas to the far right column (popcorn, yogurt, whatever your kids typically eat for an afternoon or after-school snack).
3) Create your grocery list.
Once you’ve got your meals planned the next step is to create your grocery list. Look over the meals you’ve planned and create your grocery list of any items you don’t already have at home.
Now you can shop and buy just the items on your list, knowing that you’ll have everything you need for a complete week’s worth of meals!
(Weekly and Monthly Meal Planning templates are available for download.)
***Would you like a free email course about meal planning, crock pot cooking, or freezer cooking? Visit http://michelleshaeffer.com/help-for-work-at-home-moms/ now and let me send you helpful tips and ideas that will make it easier for you to balance homemaking, homeschooling, and working from home. ***
________________
Michelle Shaeffer has been a work at home mom for more than 10 years and loves to share the tips and strategies she’s learned to help other small business owners and entrepreneurs.
You might also like:
10 Meal Planning Tips For Stress-Free Holiday Meals
How to Get Everything Done
How To Make Homemade Cornbread For Thanksgiving Meals
LinkWithin
These are great tips. I hope this helps you in some way.
To Your Success!
Lori
Monday, November 8, 2010
Faith, Hope and Love
Faith makes all things possible.
Hope makes all things work.
Love makes all things beautiful.
May you have all of the three.
This really says it all!
Have a great day!
Lori
Hope makes all things work.
Love makes all things beautiful.
May you have all of the three.
This really says it all!
Have a great day!
Lori
Thursday, November 4, 2010
My Bio
I feel very fortunate to have such a supportive husband and a wonderful son. I have been working from home with Internet Ceo Moms since 2008.
My husband and I felt it was really important for me to be able to stay at home with our son. However, I felt it was really important for me to contribute to our income while being at home. I was very blessed to find the Internet Ceo Moms and that it was a perfect fit for me.
I have always worked in the corporate world and I have never done any type of home business before. I was very particular about finding a home business that I felt passionate about their mission. I found the Internet Ceo Moms in a Parent Magazine while taking my son to his doctor appointment. I did my research and I was impressed with the teams morals and ethics. The business is very simple and rewarding, which is exactly what I was looking for in a business. I know I have a very supportive team that will help me achieve my goals. I have gained so much knowledge and I know I am exactly where I am suppose to be. I am proud to be a part of something that truly helps families in so many ways.
Let us help you achieve your goals.
Lori McDowell
Proud Member of Internet Ceo Moms
Helping Moms Work From Home since 1999!
Visit our official fan page on Facebook:
http://www.likeinternetceomoms.com
My husband and I felt it was really important for me to be able to stay at home with our son. However, I felt it was really important for me to contribute to our income while being at home. I was very blessed to find the Internet Ceo Moms and that it was a perfect fit for me.
I have always worked in the corporate world and I have never done any type of home business before. I was very particular about finding a home business that I felt passionate about their mission. I found the Internet Ceo Moms in a Parent Magazine while taking my son to his doctor appointment. I did my research and I was impressed with the teams morals and ethics. The business is very simple and rewarding, which is exactly what I was looking for in a business. I know I have a very supportive team that will help me achieve my goals. I have gained so much knowledge and I know I am exactly where I am suppose to be. I am proud to be a part of something that truly helps families in so many ways.
Let us help you achieve your goals.
Lori McDowell
Proud Member of Internet Ceo Moms
Helping Moms Work From Home since 1999!
Visit our official fan page on Facebook:
http://www.likeinternetceomoms.com
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Only One Thing Matters
Have you ever wondered if maybe God miscalculated the number of hours needed in a day? Have you ever questioned His understanding of what it takes to live this life? We can submerge ourselves into His Word, but at the end of the day, we can’t understand how that time spent will get the bills paid, the house cleaned, the grocery shopping done, the yard work finished, the family fed, or the kids ready for bed. Maybe God just didn’t think far enough ahead into our fast paced, schedule driven, technology powered world. Maybe He’s not being reasonable by allowing us to spend a little less time with Him, so that we could get things done. And what about when the holidays come around? Did He not anticipate the decorations that have to be put up, the parties that need thrown, or the extra jobs that must be worked to pay for it all? Maybe God missed it.
Or maybe we have.
The question we have to ask ourselves is, “Am I a Mary or a Martha?” (Maybe we have multiple personalities that include the two. LOL) In Luke 10: 38-42, we find two women named Martha and Mary entertaining Jesus, only to end up at the brunt of one of His many unorthodox teachings. In those days, the women were to prepare the meals etc. The men were to be at the feet of a rabbi or teacher of the torah. There was no exception. So, Martha took her place in this world. And obviously, Martha was feeling as though she had more to do than she could handle on her own. (We can relate!) But, Mary recognized that her Lord was in the next room and there was nothing that was going to keep her from sitting at His feet.
The bottom line is, we all have a Mary heart . . . but we’re living in a Martha world. There’s things to be done. So, we can’t help but live our lives in the footsteps of Martha. But, in this account in Luke, Jesus beckons the “Mary heart” in all of us. As Martha politely, yet forcefully, demands that Jesus tell Mary to help her with the preparations, Jesus shocks us all with His response:
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke:10:38-42 (NIV)
Don’t you care? It’s a question we ask God a lot . . . if we’re honest. His answers sometimes come in the form of questions, but this answer was straight to the point. In essence, He says, “Stop worrying. Quit being upset. Just come into My presence. Just spend time with Me. I’ll give you peace and rest from your burdens.” But, Martha, like so many of us, had gotten “distracted by all the preparations.” We can’t fault Martha. After all, she was the one who invited Jesus into her home in the first place. She had opened her life up to Him— she just “missed it.” And Jesus sees us “missing it.” Jesus is helping us keep things in perspective. The things of this life that cause us so much worry and confusion suddenly become irrelevant when we’re in the presence of the Lord. You see, what Martha was doing was “essential” . . . what Mary was doing was “eternal.” That time Mary would spend with Jesus could never be taken from her. Martha’s efforts would be consumed and forgotten within hours.
Jesus wasn’t scolding Martha and He isn’t scolding us over this issue . . . He’s simply saying, “I don’t need you to do anything for Me, but simply let Me be here for you.” He’s saying, “Only one thing matters . . . and that’s being here, at My feet, in My presence.” The message is loud and clear. We can’t allow ourselves to be weighed down and distracted by many things
If you’re finding yourself stressed out; if you’re finding yourself angry with others for not doing their share; when you wake up in the middle of the night to despair about whether “things” will ever get done . . . don’t continue to neglect yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Stop and sit in the presence of God. Take a moment to re-examine why you’re doing what you’re doing. Remember that there is simplicity in Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3)
Ask yourself if you’re spending your time on the things that will last? . . . the things that “cannot be taken away from you?” If you’re consumed with serving the Lord . . . don’t forget who it is you’re serving. Keep your eyes on Him. Keep Him first in all that you do. It doesn’t matter to Jesus if you prepare a seven course meal or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. What matters to Him is that you take the time to simply enjoy His presence. When daily life is frantic and out of control, when worry consumes you and you’re struggling just to make it through, Jesus says, “There’s only one thing that matters . . .
and I’m right here in front of you.”
About the Author:
Cherie Hill is the author of Be Still: Let Jesus Calm Your Storms, and an Amazon.com Shorts Bestselling author in the Christian genre. She has a BA in Psychology, a Biblical Counseling Certificate through the AACC, and is continuing studies through the Moody Bible Institute. Cherie is the founder of ScriptureNow.com Ministry that brings the Word of God and prayer, into over 30 countries around the world everyday. (reaching over 100,000 people every year)
Cherie brings instructive and uplifting teaching of the Word of God across the world through the “SpiritWaves™” audio ministry on EzraWebRadio.com and GloryStar Satellite Radio, with a subscriber base of 11 million people.
Cherie’s podcast, “FaithSteps” ranks consistently in the top 100 Christian podcasts in the world on GodCast 1000.
Or maybe we have.
The question we have to ask ourselves is, “Am I a Mary or a Martha?” (Maybe we have multiple personalities that include the two. LOL) In Luke 10: 38-42, we find two women named Martha and Mary entertaining Jesus, only to end up at the brunt of one of His many unorthodox teachings. In those days, the women were to prepare the meals etc. The men were to be at the feet of a rabbi or teacher of the torah. There was no exception. So, Martha took her place in this world. And obviously, Martha was feeling as though she had more to do than she could handle on her own. (We can relate!) But, Mary recognized that her Lord was in the next room and there was nothing that was going to keep her from sitting at His feet.
The bottom line is, we all have a Mary heart . . . but we’re living in a Martha world. There’s things to be done. So, we can’t help but live our lives in the footsteps of Martha. But, in this account in Luke, Jesus beckons the “Mary heart” in all of us. As Martha politely, yet forcefully, demands that Jesus tell Mary to help her with the preparations, Jesus shocks us all with His response:
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke:10:38-42 (NIV)
Don’t you care? It’s a question we ask God a lot . . . if we’re honest. His answers sometimes come in the form of questions, but this answer was straight to the point. In essence, He says, “Stop worrying. Quit being upset. Just come into My presence. Just spend time with Me. I’ll give you peace and rest from your burdens.” But, Martha, like so many of us, had gotten “distracted by all the preparations.” We can’t fault Martha. After all, she was the one who invited Jesus into her home in the first place. She had opened her life up to Him— she just “missed it.” And Jesus sees us “missing it.” Jesus is helping us keep things in perspective. The things of this life that cause us so much worry and confusion suddenly become irrelevant when we’re in the presence of the Lord. You see, what Martha was doing was “essential” . . . what Mary was doing was “eternal.” That time Mary would spend with Jesus could never be taken from her. Martha’s efforts would be consumed and forgotten within hours.
Jesus wasn’t scolding Martha and He isn’t scolding us over this issue . . . He’s simply saying, “I don’t need you to do anything for Me, but simply let Me be here for you.” He’s saying, “Only one thing matters . . . and that’s being here, at My feet, in My presence.” The message is loud and clear. We can’t allow ourselves to be weighed down and distracted by many things
If you’re finding yourself stressed out; if you’re finding yourself angry with others for not doing their share; when you wake up in the middle of the night to despair about whether “things” will ever get done . . . don’t continue to neglect yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Stop and sit in the presence of God. Take a moment to re-examine why you’re doing what you’re doing. Remember that there is simplicity in Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3)
Ask yourself if you’re spending your time on the things that will last? . . . the things that “cannot be taken away from you?” If you’re consumed with serving the Lord . . . don’t forget who it is you’re serving. Keep your eyes on Him. Keep Him first in all that you do. It doesn’t matter to Jesus if you prepare a seven course meal or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. What matters to Him is that you take the time to simply enjoy His presence. When daily life is frantic and out of control, when worry consumes you and you’re struggling just to make it through, Jesus says, “There’s only one thing that matters . . .
and I’m right here in front of you.”
About the Author:
Cherie Hill is the author of Be Still: Let Jesus Calm Your Storms, and an Amazon.com Shorts Bestselling author in the Christian genre. She has a BA in Psychology, a Biblical Counseling Certificate through the AACC, and is continuing studies through the Moody Bible Institute. Cherie is the founder of ScriptureNow.com Ministry that brings the Word of God and prayer, into over 30 countries around the world everyday. (reaching over 100,000 people every year)
Cherie brings instructive and uplifting teaching of the Word of God across the world through the “SpiritWaves™” audio ministry on EzraWebRadio.com and GloryStar Satellite Radio, with a subscriber base of 11 million people.
Cherie’s podcast, “FaithSteps” ranks consistently in the top 100 Christian podcasts in the world on GodCast 1000.
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