More than likely, if you follow this blog, you are probably pretty choosy about what your children are watching or what songs they are hearing. We are "those parents" in a lot of ways. The kind who are probably a little too strict on things regarding what we let our kids watch and hear.
Or at least, we try to be. But every once in a while, the guard isn't up as high as we like. Not intentionally but quite innocently. It might be letting the boys look over my shoulder while I search "Pinterest" for cool superhero cakes, or letting them watch the DVD that had not been previewed by Mom & Dad (because we remembered seeing it on television and not having any issues)....and THEN it happens. An image totally inappropriate for myself, much less my kids, sneaks into your image search (a search which is NOT supposed to contain "that" type of content). Or the DVD you didn't preview is not exactly the same as what you remember on TV and words creep through your set that are not in line with your standards.
Just another reminder that you HAVE to be proactive in guarding the hearts, mind, eyes, and ears of your children. Preview your searches before sharing exciting things with your kids. When they are old enough, DON'T let them search alone...even if they are in the same room with you (kids and computers are QUICK!). If they do search alone, do some research on all the filters available. Watch those DVDs and movies before they get the chance. Even if you use a great site, like Plugged In, to be your "preview", be sure that the movies meet your own personal guidelines before sharing them with young children. Individual children can often have their own personal limits about what they can handle. For example, I remember when we went to see "Up" as a family. Great movie. Adorable. But, at the time, my then 3 1/2 year old son was terrified of dogs (a frequent "nightmare" topic for him). It took a while to get past it. Another sidenote: just because it's animated, it doesn't mean it's suitable! Don't let what appears "innocent" get overlooked!
Just a helpful note to you based on our own recent experiences!
Have a terrific Tuesday!
Ashlie
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Marvelous Monday: Mom's Bible Study and PRAISE album
If any of you moms happen to be looking for a Bible Study, Glenda (from Wednesday in the Word) is leading a very timely one on the Book of James. The good news is it is available to YOU online!
Why is it so timely? Because it is on the topic of TRIALS--unprecedented trials. Can I get a witness? It is not too late to join us here--especially you moms out there. Please come chime in. We would love to have you.
Now, a timely testimony of trials . . . and perhaps an album to help you get your praise on even in the midst of your own trials. You may remember this worship leader from my reference to this post.
Why is it so timely? Because it is on the topic of TRIALS--unprecedented trials. Can I get a witness? It is not too late to join us here--especially you moms out there. Please come chime in. We would love to have you.
Now, a timely testimony of trials . . . and perhaps an album to help you get your praise on even in the midst of your own trials. You may remember this worship leader from my reference to this post.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Thrifty Thursday: Dion's Daily Deals
A couple of months ago, I had the privilege of meeting a local NBC affiliate reporter, Dion Lim, at Ben and Jerry's. She did a cute little segment on our kiddos about beating the heat w/ ice cream. She was so sweet and kind with the kids!
Since then, Dion has become part of our local women's media collaboration group so I've gotten to exchange with her on more of a personal level than watching the news every evening.
You must know that Dion isn't just any news woman! She's a cent savy woman that loves a good deal and helping others know how to be thrifty. In fact, she has her own segment entitled Dion's Daily Deals.
This week, Dion let us in on some exciting news that her segment is going prime time tomorrow(Friday)! She would LOVE for you to watch so she can take you through 30 minutes of ways to save money in the stores and online. She’ll talk with the experts, and show you some of the many tricks she’s learned that have helped her save big bucks over the years.
Be sure to tune in Friday September 23 from 8-8:30 p.m. for 'Dion’s Daily Deals: Primetime.' If you do, you'll see why we love Dion!
You must know that Dion isn't just any news woman! She's a cent savy woman that loves a good deal and helping others know how to be thrifty. In fact, she has her own segment entitled Dion's Daily Deals.
This week, Dion let us in on some exciting news that her segment is going prime time tomorrow(Friday)! She would LOVE for you to watch so she can take you through 30 minutes of ways to save money in the stores and online. She’ll talk with the experts, and show you some of the many tricks she’s learned that have helped her save big bucks over the years.
Be sure to tune in Friday September 23 from 8-8:30 p.m. for 'Dion’s Daily Deals: Primetime.' If you do, you'll see why we love Dion!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Train Up Tuesday: Sweeter Than Honey
"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bone."
Proverbs 16:24
Proverbs 16:24
This is the verse my family is learning this week (thanks to "My Father's World" curriculum). My oldest son remembers this principal (that of kind words being like jewels) from some studies last year. We came across an old fairytale at the library called "Toads and Diamonds" (read it here). It left quite an image in my son's mind. He often will say to me, "Momma, your words are so nice. It's like jewels are falling out of your mouth!" (That may only make sense to you if you read the previously mentioned fairytale.) :)
This week, as we are memorizing this verse and studying ways to apply it, we used this illustration: place one spoonful of honey and one spoonful of garbage in front of your child. Ask which one he/she would rather have. Even if your kid doesn't like honey, I doubt they would ever consider the garbage! I really didn't even want to serve the garbage - dig for it, put it in a bowl and place it on our table. We should take that same consideration with the words we decide to serve to others.
Upon further meditation on this verse, we talked about where we could get inspiration for these "pleasant words". We realized that the best words can be found in God's Word. We can pray for others, pray for what to say (or not say), say "I love you" or "God loves you". We also talked about the "healing" benefits of honey (hey, I was curious why the Bible says the words are like honeycomb). You should look that up, you might be surprised at all that honey can do for you! Our words can be a healing salve, an antiseptic, a soother for someone's soul (all things that honey can be for the body).
Your family might have a "hive" full of honey that a hurting world, neighbor, or family needs access to. Or maybe your own little family needs those "pleasant words" put into practice inside the home. Either way, take a little time today to get some honey from The Word so that you can have kind words to share with others.
Much love,
Ashlie
This week, as we are memorizing this verse and studying ways to apply it, we used this illustration: place one spoonful of honey and one spoonful of garbage in front of your child. Ask which one he/she would rather have. Even if your kid doesn't like honey, I doubt they would ever consider the garbage! I really didn't even want to serve the garbage - dig for it, put it in a bowl and place it on our table. We should take that same consideration with the words we decide to serve to others.
Upon further meditation on this verse, we talked about where we could get inspiration for these "pleasant words". We realized that the best words can be found in God's Word. We can pray for others, pray for what to say (or not say), say "I love you" or "God loves you". We also talked about the "healing" benefits of honey (hey, I was curious why the Bible says the words are like honeycomb). You should look that up, you might be surprised at all that honey can do for you! Our words can be a healing salve, an antiseptic, a soother for someone's soul (all things that honey can be for the body).
Your family might have a "hive" full of honey that a hurting world, neighbor, or family needs access to. Or maybe your own little family needs those "pleasant words" put into practice inside the home. Either way, take a little time today to get some honey from The Word so that you can have kind words to share with others.
Much love,
Ashlie
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Train Up Tuesday: Ten
No doubt you've read many a post related to September 11 already. The encouraging thing is that it shows we don't have short memories about everything (I've heard it said that Americans tend to have short memories regarding many things, especially politically), though this is probably a memory that we all wish we didn't have to have.
Unfortunately, as Christians, we too can have short memories about some great things. We may "forget" because the pain of the past still hurts far more than what we feel it's worth recalling. Or we often tend to "forget" the good things and only dwell on the negative. I'm challenging you today to make an effort to make all those things a marker of sorts in your life, for the benefit of pointing others to Christ.
September 2001 has some powerful markers for me. Of course, I am forever impacted by September 11th, but there are a couple of days leading up to that that have profoundly influenced my life as well. The first is the salvation of a gal who was (and still is) my hairstylist. God had given me and other Christians opportunities to be a witness to her while getting our haircuts and color jobs. She was certainly seeking, that was obvious to us. But we were all anxiously anticipating the day she would see her need for Christ and make Him her choice. And then, it happened, and oddly enough, it happened about 2 weeks BEFORE September 11th.
I remember talking to her shortly after that date. She said she knew if the Spirit had not led her to Christ before then, September 11th may have made her heart more hardened and she would not have had His peace on that day. Ten years later....she is a most amazing woman of God and witness for Christ, still doing hair and encouraging those she comes into contact with. On a personal note, she is one of my best friends, and even better....she is my sister-in-law. I will ALWAYS remember September 2001.
The second story is related to the day BEFORE September 11th. That was a very hard day for me. It was the realization that things weren't as perfect in my marriage as I thought. It wasn't for the sake of something hugely immoral, but it was the realization of the track of debt that we were on, mostly due to medical bills related to our first year of marriage (when my husband was diagnosed with cancer). It was sobering and a revelation for us that we had to dramatically change our course of action.
Debt isn't its only problem in itself. The managing of it, or the poor attempts can bring up issues of trust and doubt in marriage in general, even if they are unsubstantiated. I recall that night quite vividly. How in this world would we make it through it?! But God is so faithful. It was the beginning of a "healing" per se and the birth of something so beautiful in my marriage....total trust and openness and finding true contentment with what we did have. Ten years later...we have such joy. Yes, we have very little debt, which is great in itself, but more than that, we do have that contentment. Our house maybe be small and our family is ever growing, but our children are learning to feed their hearts and souls with more than material possessions or even the desires for them. I will NEVER FORGET September 2011.
Coincidentally, for a class my husband is taking he recently had to write out a one page salvation testimony and a one page recovery testimony (the latter being something "fresher" that God has brought you through since salvation). I encourage you to go back and look at some things that have happened in your life and the lives of those close to you. Recall them and actually talk about them, especially with your children. As huge as September 11th was for all of us, if we don't continue to remember it, eventually there will be a generation for which it has no meaning. Similarly, if we don't take time to revisit salvation of friends and relatives as well as "recovery testimonies" our children will fail to see the spiritual struggles that we've faced and that God has been faithful to bring us through.
My hopes for the future of "Patriot Day" in our family is to take time to recall September 11th AND the days leading up to it.
NEVER FORGET,
Ashlie
Unfortunately, as Christians, we too can have short memories about some great things. We may "forget" because the pain of the past still hurts far more than what we feel it's worth recalling. Or we often tend to "forget" the good things and only dwell on the negative. I'm challenging you today to make an effort to make all those things a marker of sorts in your life, for the benefit of pointing others to Christ.
September 2001 has some powerful markers for me. Of course, I am forever impacted by September 11th, but there are a couple of days leading up to that that have profoundly influenced my life as well. The first is the salvation of a gal who was (and still is) my hairstylist. God had given me and other Christians opportunities to be a witness to her while getting our haircuts and color jobs. She was certainly seeking, that was obvious to us. But we were all anxiously anticipating the day she would see her need for Christ and make Him her choice. And then, it happened, and oddly enough, it happened about 2 weeks BEFORE September 11th.
I remember talking to her shortly after that date. She said she knew if the Spirit had not led her to Christ before then, September 11th may have made her heart more hardened and she would not have had His peace on that day. Ten years later....she is a most amazing woman of God and witness for Christ, still doing hair and encouraging those she comes into contact with. On a personal note, she is one of my best friends, and even better....she is my sister-in-law. I will ALWAYS remember September 2001.
The second story is related to the day BEFORE September 11th. That was a very hard day for me. It was the realization that things weren't as perfect in my marriage as I thought. It wasn't for the sake of something hugely immoral, but it was the realization of the track of debt that we were on, mostly due to medical bills related to our first year of marriage (when my husband was diagnosed with cancer). It was sobering and a revelation for us that we had to dramatically change our course of action.
Debt isn't its only problem in itself. The managing of it, or the poor attempts can bring up issues of trust and doubt in marriage in general, even if they are unsubstantiated. I recall that night quite vividly. How in this world would we make it through it?! But God is so faithful. It was the beginning of a "healing" per se and the birth of something so beautiful in my marriage....total trust and openness and finding true contentment with what we did have. Ten years later...we have such joy. Yes, we have very little debt, which is great in itself, but more than that, we do have that contentment. Our house maybe be small and our family is ever growing, but our children are learning to feed their hearts and souls with more than material possessions or even the desires for them. I will NEVER FORGET September 2011.
Coincidentally, for a class my husband is taking he recently had to write out a one page salvation testimony and a one page recovery testimony (the latter being something "fresher" that God has brought you through since salvation). I encourage you to go back and look at some things that have happened in your life and the lives of those close to you. Recall them and actually talk about them, especially with your children. As huge as September 11th was for all of us, if we don't continue to remember it, eventually there will be a generation for which it has no meaning. Similarly, if we don't take time to revisit salvation of friends and relatives as well as "recovery testimonies" our children will fail to see the spiritual struggles that we've faced and that God has been faithful to bring us through.
My hopes for the future of "Patriot Day" in our family is to take time to recall September 11th AND the days leading up to it.
NEVER FORGET,
Ashlie
Friday, September 2, 2011
TGIF!
It is FRIDAY! How many of you just finished a first full week of school and are excited to kiss this steamy, hot weather goodbye w/ a long weekend?!?!? While you're taking a brief hiatus from your one week back into routine, the www is BUZZING with all sorts of action and excitement. Wanted to take a couple minutes to fill you Charlotte ladies in on some fun things a few of our friends would like you to know.
Giveaways
Giveaways
- Our friend, Caroline Simas, is giving away one of her Hope and Peace Skinits on her blog! These skinits are so cute so get in it to win it!
- Macaroni Kid South Charlotte is giving away 100 tickets to the upcoming Yiasou Greek Festival! Click here to enter on their website and be sure to like them on Facebook to stay updated on some of the latest and greatest.
- You may remember from back in July that our Catherine (Musing Foodie) won second place in a Cookies for Kids Cancer contest with her recipe for Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. Well, September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month and there is a month of fundraising to go towards finding a cure for kids' cancer. For further details, visit to cookiesforkidscancer.org and gogriergo.com. You can also send a virtual cookie to your facebook friends, and from that one click, oxo will donate money to help the cause!
- Pregos and Mamas w/ newborns, the registration is now open for All About Baby, a network of pregnancy, baby & parent related businesses in the Charlotte area, who have come together to bring you fabulous events and swag. The fall event is September 11 and there are some great vendors and sponsors you won't want to miss! Like them on FB so you can stay updated.
- Our good ole Carolina Clipper was just interviewed by our friend Dion Lim of WCNC on the topic of coupon theft from newspapers. If you missed the clip, you can watch it here. Check your newspapers before purchasing, or better yet, take advantage of this HOT deal to have them delivered to your home for $1 per paper.
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