Faith Like a Child

 

There is nothing like watching children worshipping. Completely uninhibited. Arms up. Singing off key at the top of their lungs.

I’m so grateful that our kids were able to attend our churches VBS this past week.

615 school-aged children

$3300 (!!!!) given in offerings to build FOUR wells in India (their goal was $1500)

50 children making a decision to follow Christ

Their eternity is now on a totally different course. Forever changed.

For more info: I’ve written a post on how to pray for your children, with resources listed.

Fathers and Daughters (alternate title: Watch your words)

When I was a teenager, I came across a letter that my dad had wrote to my mom when I was born. He was overseas when I was born, deployed to Korea. So the first time we met face-to-face, I was around 6 months.

At the time I discovered this letter, I was an awkward, self-conscious teenager with plum hair and white lipstick.

The feelings that swept over me as I read that letter stay with me to this day, and I’m sure that they have carried me through many hard times, as they built me up at that time, and surely sparked something that help reprogram me out of my teenage whatever it was…

My parents were great at letting us know we were loved. Except for the New Years Day dinner my 9th grade year, they rarely fussed over my eclectic-ness. I know it drove them nuts that I wore clothes with holes in them and that I never ironed. Even still, there was a part of me – that part of a child who wonders how someone could ever love someone like them – that knew there must be some strings attached.

Reading this letter I realized that there were none. Seeing in ink, on that aged piece of paper, my father's words, words of complete and utter joy, I knew without a doubt that I had always been and would always be: loved.

I’ve tucked that letter away into a safe place. But even if I never see it again, it was burned onto the memory of mind.

Beyond this - know that your words have an impact. Spoken or written. For better or worse - they are out there.

Make them count, so that they make a difference.

What's New At Modern Media Mom

If you are a Wordpress user and are stuggling with the upgrade to 2.8, I've written a post on how to deal with potential upgrade issues at Modern Media Mom.

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Enjoy my sites?

Would you kindly vote for ModernMediaMom as one of The Blogs You've Learned the Most From and Looking Towards Heaven as The Most Inspiring Blog over at the BlogLuxe Awards.

I'll bake you cookies if you do. (of course, I'll have to eat them for you.)

(Note: they've switched things up, and the nominees are now randomly ordered, so you'll have to scroll through to find my sites)

Decorate with Ribbons: Ribbon Valances

Ribbons are so much fun to decorate with. They are inexpensive and can add a big punch for the cost. That is my kind of decorating!

This is a project that is perfect for springtime or summer, and so easy to make. With windows open for fresh air, the ribbons will be blowing in the breeze. The perfect effect for your princesses' room.

< You'll need a tension rod and about 10 yards each of five different ribbons (the amount will vary depending on window size).

< Cut the ribbons a few inches longer than you need in order to reach the sill, then tie each length onto the rod in a necktie knot.

< Alternate colors or patterns.

< Trim to fit.

(these are sewn onto a piece of sheer fabric)

You could also do as I did, and trim the ribbons in more of a valance length. Vary the lengths. This isn't about precision!

These are so sweet to look at. Go ahead and make one. Let me know if you do.

(basic directions and photo from Good Housekeeping)

(this was originally posted by me at Blissfully Domestic)

Reasons You Should Attend “A Woman Inspired”

DON'T FORGET: Tomorrow is the start of "A WOMAN INSPIRED" online conference.

Reasons you should attend:

1) It's all online - attend in your pjs and morning breath

2) It is totally affordable ($12.95 for the entire week! hel-lo!!!!)

3) You can listen at your leisure - all sessions will be available to listen to afterwards if you are out swimming with the kids at the time of the actual session

4) I'm speaking (on Social Media)

5) You will surely be blessed.

“A Woman Inspired” – ticket winners

(This is the second time in a week that I have published a post with the wrong date, causing it to not show up when I thought it did)

*edited because the conference is now tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the start of “A Woman Inspired” online conference. Anyone who is able to attend will surely be blessed by the speakers (including, hopefully, my talk)

I promised free tickets to FIVE lucky winners. Those winners are:

The Happy Housewife

Lanie

Abbreviated

Mary @ Giving Up on Perfect

VSliker

Congrats ladies! Please email me at lookingtowardsheaven (at) gmail (dot) com so that I can get you connected with the important people involved in taking care of such things.

There is a time to avert your eyes. And a time to take notice.

(*this post was originally posted November 19, 2007)

This past weekend I had several errands to run, so Saturday I loaded up the kids and we headed to the stores.

We first went to lunch, because frankly, it was like Old Mother Hubbard's house around here. The cupboard's were bare, short of a bag of leftover Halloween candy. That would have been a viable option for me, except that I had already eaten all of the candy that I like...

After lunch we hit some of the local stores. I knew exactly where I wanted to go and what I needed to get.

When we lived in Wisconsin, this would have been no quick trip. We lived in a very rural town and had to travel 2 hours to the nearest mall and 45 minutes to the nearest Wal-Mart. (but no walking barefoot through the snow uphill both ways...) Any shopping had to be planned or done online.

The lovely part of this was that I learned to be content with what I had. Honestly, there's not much I can think of buying that a 2 hour trip in a car with kids won't cure me of. I did most of my clothes shopping online.

When we moved to Maryland, I stayed away from the malls because we didn't have the money to get by each week, let alone do any extra shopping.

But recently, I've had to go into REAL stores, with real items I can touch! and smell! and they are displayed so lovely. And the desire for "things" has had to be stuffed aside repeatedly. I was amazed at the things that I began to think that I "needed"... things that before Saturday, I didn't even know I could buy. I went into BabiesRUs to use a gift certificate that we received for Declan's birth. I knew just what I wanted... but walking to the right aisle led me past digital baby scales for making sure your baby is the perfect weight in between doctor's visits. Sterilization kits. Gadgets for increasing your baby's IQ in utero. Luxury strollers. I had to keep my eyes averted just to keep from passing out from the panting.

Even our local Wal-Mart is fancy, with its wooden floors and track lighting. Shopping at Wal-Mart is hard enough without having to deal with every thing screaming from the racks for you to take it home.

It is hard to be content.

There is so much that we think we must have.

That we think will make us happy.

That will fill a void.

That we think will make us popular and well-thought of.

If only we had could have it.

Then life would be be complete.

But that's not how its supposed to be. Not when there are people who have to do without basic necessities each and every day. When people are suffering from diseases that are treatable.

I love beautiful things. And don't believe there is anything inherently wrong with beautiful things. But there is when we ignore the suffering of others while we bask in "OUR" things.

My prayer for each of us is that we will be content with the things we've been blessed with and that we will remember and help take care of those who have been blessed with little.

Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.
~ Deuteronomy 15:11

Modern Media Mom is a 2009 BlogLuxe Nominee

 

I love what I do at Modern Media Mom. And I’m not kidding when I say that I’d continue doing it even if only one other person read it.

But everyone loves to be recognized for the work they do. And I’m pleased that Modern Media Mom has been nominated for the “Blog You’ve Learned the Most From” award at SocialLuxeLounge.com.

If you have found this blog helpful, please consider voting for it. It’s simple.

All you have to do is head here. Scroll down to the “Blog You’ve Learned the Most From” category. Click on the heading and a list of nominees will appear. Scroll down until you see “Modern Media Mom”. Click “vote”.

You can vote once a day, everyday until voting ends. So feel free to mark it on your calendar and do it daily ;0)

And THANK YOU for reading Modern Media Mom. It means so much that you take the time to stop by and be a part of things here.