A while back I woke up cranky. Bite-your-head-off cranky. Looking for a fight, I was mad at the world. And for no reason. I slept well. No one did anything to tick me off. I. Just. Woke. Up. Cranky. Please tell me that I am not alone in this.... Knowing exactly where I needed to go to turn this around, I was led to Zephaniah ...
When You Feel Ineffective and Paralyzed
A while ago I went through Priscilla Shirer's study on The Armor of God. It completely rocked my world. If you haven't done this study, please put it on your bucket list. Priscilla explained that there is a constant battle going on around us. We know the outcome from reading Revelation but the enemy is fighting hard to fill our minds with ...
Help! My Child is Gifted
Periodically on the ABCJLM Facebook Group, a mom will comment that her child is gifted. Her 18-month-old knows his ABC's. Another will share that her 3-year-old is reading or her son is advanced and needs a harder curriculum or he will get bored. It is very exciting to be raising a child who excels in a specific area. Friends are amazed and ...
Crossing the Midline and Why It’s Important
Hang around an Occupational Therapist or preschool teacher for a while and you will hear them say something about the midline. In our case, the therapist said, "Bubs is unable to cross the midline." I assumed this was bad, but I didn't know why or how to help the problem. Crossing the Midline Here is a definition of crossing the ...
Now Available: Old Testament Bible Curriculum for Churches and Preschools
And like that... a sixth full ABCJesusLovesMe Curriculum is finished. This one has been several years in the making, but I know that God used those years to prepare my heart to write His message to a generation that needs the simple message of Jesus. Old Testament Preschool Bible Curriculum The 'Then They'll Grow" Preschool Bible ...
Why Entertainment at Church is Not Required for Children to Learn
I see a new trend happening and I can't get on board. Am I afraid of change? Am I archaic? Maybe. But I do not believe that my personality and age are the issues in this case. Honestly, I believe this new trend is devastating to our children. Let me explain. I don't know when the change occurred but some time between when I was a child and ...
Are You Saving Energy for Your Spouse?
Frequently on this blog, I encourage you to set aside daily time for God. In this time God will change your life. But friends, there is a second relationship that the enemy desires to "steal, kill, and destroy" (John 10:10). That relationship is with your spouse. For those of you who work with children or stay-at-home with your own, you ...
Changing Grief into a Ministry {Giveaway}
The first part of this post has been in draft form for almost 3 years. I don't know why it was never posted, but I am continually amazed at God's perfect timing. Each night I silence my phone before bed. But for some reason last night I forgot. So when my phone signaled a text received from my mom, I was surprised. The text said, "If you are ...
When Fear is Holding You Back from Being the Parent You Desire to Be
Friends walk in and out of our lives all the time. Whether due to a location change or different seasons and interests, it is part of life. For some of these friends, you have fond memories but have trouble remember their children's names. And then for others, when they left they took a piece of your heart. Lee Nienhuis was part of my life for ...
We Need Answers
Five years ago we were in the middle of a valley. Bubs (8) was failing the 2nd Grade, Little Man (4) was in a defiant rut, and ABCJLM was demanding focused attention. I felt alone, exhausted, and helpless. See if you can relate to this post I shared in 2013. I just finished writing a long note to Bubs' speech therapist. We are between a ...