family time

August 22, 2015 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Mealtime Devotions | What’s on Your Label?

Mealtime Prayer:

Dear Lord, a name isn’t something I can see or taste or touch. But help me to remember that it sticks with me wherever I go. Amen.

Appetizer:

Grab three cans of food from the cupboard. What things on the label make customers want to buy them? If your mom and dad were cans in a supermarket, what good things would you put on their labels? “Hard worker”? “Good cook”? “Generous neighbor”? What labels would go on a can with your name?

Main Course:

If you have to choose between “Slimy Green-Grass Pudding” and “Chocolate Delight,” which would you choose? How would the name affect your decision?

How are people also labeled by their actions? What labels do we give others? What label do your friends or family know you by?

Read 1 Samual 18:30. What does isa about David? David’s name is carried on to this day. People around the world know about King David. What good things is David remembered for?

Table Talk:

How will others treat you if your name is respected? What if your name isn’t respected?
What can you do to make sure you have a good name? (read Proverbs 3:3-4)

Vitamins & Minerals:

A good name is more desirable than great riches (Proverbs 22:1).

Dig deeper with your family at dinner with @TriciaGoyer’s #mealtimedevos

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Whit’s End Mealtime Devotions: 90 Faith-Building Ideas Your Kids Will Eat Up!

Your family’s gathered around the table. What’s on the menu? Cold stares? Stale prayers? The same old leftover questions about “what happened at school today”? Next time you sit down to eat, enjoy some spiritual food too! Get everyone talking―and learning―with the nourishment of Whit’s End Mealtime Devotions! Encourage quality family time and pass on a strong spiritual heritage with these 90 devotions created to engage children in fun, lively, productive dialogue.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

December 23, 2014 by Tricia Goyer 1 Comment

Christmas Traditions | Perfect Memories Top Any “Perfect” Gift

Christmas Traditions

Perfect Memories Top Any “Perfect” Gift

When I think of Christmas, I remember family gatherings around my grandparent’s dinner table. I also think of times my family spent together, creating our own special memories. For example, one year I received a tape recorder. On Christmas Day, my mother, father, brother and I recorded stories, changing our voices to fit our various roles. While I no longer have the tape of our recordings, the memory of our fun is something I’ll never forget.

Think back. What are some of your favorite Christmas memories?

Perhaps you may remember a few of the special gifts you received, but most likely these memories have nothing to do with presents.

“One of my favorite traditions with my small children were to create gingerbread houses and gingerbread men,” says Linda from New York. “Also, on Christmas Eve, my husband takes the guitar out and we turned off all the lights and sing Christmas carols by the tree.”

What are some of your favorite #Christmas memories? Share with @TriciaGoyer:

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“My children and I baked a birthday cake for Jesus for Christmas Eve,” says mom Eileen.

Martha, another mom, also likes to focus of the birth of Jesus at Christmas.

“One of the most meaningful things for our family at Christmas was around the Crèche,” says Martha. “We put out the Nativity scene the first week of December. Then, after attending the a candlelight church service on Christmas eve, we read the story from Luke and let the youngest one in the family place the baby in the manger to signify the wonder of His birth. It’s a great way to make the Christmas story really meaningful for children.”

These are great ideas for you to try, but no matter what types of traditions you want to start, remember these principles:

Think back on your favorite Christmas memories. Try to create these kind of memories for your kids.
Check your attitude. Your attitude will set the tone for the whole event. If mama is happy, your kids will be happy.
Be flexible. Rigid people are brittle and break easily. What type of memory do you want your children to have, a happy mom or uptight mom?
Have child-wonder. Kids don’t care about a perfectly decorated house. They think that laughter and fun times top that any day!

You can make Christmas a wonderful time for you and your child. Remember, perfect memories top any “perfect” gift!

Perfect #Christmas memories top any “perfect” gift! @TriciaGoyer

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November 18, 2014 by Tricia Goyer 1 Comment

Making Memories | You Don’t Have A Choice

Making Memories

You Don’t Have a Choice

This summer I was blessed to hang out with two young women who I mentored when they were young teen moms. Both of them are single moms still, but their lives show a lot of growth—both in their life situations and in their faith.

We chatted about our teen moms support meetings, about the discussions we had around the living room of the pregnancy care center, and about their kids as babies.

“I didn’t realize how important those moments were until much, much later,” Mari said.

Laura added, “The lessons of faith stuck with me and when I was at my lowest point the memories returned.”

That’s the thing about memories:

We don’t have a choice. Every day we can and do make them.
God can use them to change a heart … even years later.
We never know what little things will stick.

A few things to remember about making memories…

Today is a day your child can remember forever. If you scan through Pinterest or the gazillion blogs out there today you’d believe that making memories can’t happen unless it involves food, crafts, or fun. But memories aren’t made only during those special moments. They’re also made on ordinary days.

I’ve homeschooled for twenty years and I love chatting with my older kids about their experiences. Strangely enough, they don’t remember most of the activities I poured myself into—those salt clay fossils or the complex craft projects. Instead, they remember cuddling on the couch during story time. They remember the field trip to the grocery store (especially the freezer department)–the very field trip that I thought was lame. They remember walks in the woods behind our house and trips to the library—ordinary stuff.

Today is a day your children can remember forever.

Memories don’t have to be created or molded or designed. Simply enjoy each other, and the simple things in life, and those memories will take you far.

Memories don’t have to be created or molded or designed. Simply enjoy each other! @TriciaGoyer

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God has given us the gift of memory. He knows that our memories of our family and faith guides our children. Psalms 105:4-6 says:

Search for the Lord and for his strength;
continually seek him.
Remember the wonders he has performed,
his miracles, and the rulings he has given,
you children of his servant Abraham,
you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.

So often we forget what God has done. Yet when we remember what God has, done we’ll be reminded to turn to Him in every part of our lives.

The only way our children will have a spiritual heritage to look back on is for us to make faith memories. This isn’t as hard as it sounds.

Find out how you can make memories with your family and read the rest of the post over at ForTheFamily.org!

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October 29, 2014 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

4 Ways to Make Your Job Easier: Mommy Tips to Remember

4 Ways to Make Your Job Easier

Mommy Tips to Remember

Hey Mom, I have four ways to make your job easier today. I promise. I think you’re going to like them, too.

There’s a thing called lack of sleep, and it’s catching up with you. I know that the weekend is coming, but it’s okay to rest today. Sit down. Close your eyes (if you dare). And rest. The laundry and dishes will still be there when you get up. I promise they’re not going anywhere.
The biggest waste of a mother’s time is worrying about the next stage of your child’s life. Two things: 1. It will come. 2. It’s not going to be what you expect anyway. So enjoy your child today. If it helps, make a list of everything you enjoy about THIS season.
There’s a thing called paper and pencil that helps you manage all that stuff in your head. It gets hard trying to remember everything, all the time. (And, hey, you are getting older.) Write down everything that you need to do today. Look and see what is THE most important thing that you need to do today? Do that first.
I’ve saved the best for last. You may think you’re the only one who truly sees how messy your house is today (other than your kids and your husband!), but God sees it too. And you know what? He’s totally cool with it. He knows what’s been going on. He knows that life can be a little overwhelming at times. He can see how you’re trying. Even if not ONE chore gets done today, God loves you completely. Yup, just as you are. Not only that, He’d like to carry some of those burdens. In fact, go back to Step 1, re-do, and add in a prayer. See God in this moment extending His arms of love to you. He totally has your back (if you’re willing to turn a few things over to Him). And in the process He hopes to capture your heart, too.

Download the printable, cut out the quotes, and put them around your house to remind you how to make the most of each day with your kids!

Calling all moms: @TriciaGoyer shares 4 simple ways to make your job easier! #mommytips

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Prayer

God, thank you for the gift of motherhood—for giving me beautiful children. Help me make the most of each day with my kids and not let the stress of life get in the way of being a good parent. Thank you for precious moments together and may I savor each and every one!

More Resources:

Balanced by Tricia Goyer

Moms’ Night Out… And Other Things I Miss by Kerri Pomarolli

Saying Goodbye to Survival Mode by Crystal Paine

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