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Trash or Toy? : 8 Life Lessons from Toy Story 4 that will Increase your Joy
We were so excited to take the boys to see Toy Story 4. They have enjoyed watching the first Toy Story for a while now, and couldn’t wait to see their favorites, Woody and Buzz, on the big screen. We haven’t taken the boys to many movies yet, and as parents we want to be mindful of we put…
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Our Children are Not Problems to Solve- They are People to Love
I was picking toys off of the living room floor and the thought came, almost audible- “Your children are not problems to solve, Ashley. They are people, made in my image to love.” I’m not sure if it was the Lord speaking or a phrase I read somewhere, but I heard it and I haven’t stopped thinking about it…
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Which Float is Right for My Baby or Toddler? And How to Fight Fear Around the Water
We’ve had babies ages 0-4 in the water the last four summers. Needless to say, we’ve tried quite a bit of floats on the market and have had a range of young non-swimming children in the water. Here are our go-tos. Of course, like most baby products, every one has their favorites and what one person may swear by another…
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Summer Activities for Moms of Littles- How to Savor and Survive with 3 Under 5
Sweet Summer Time- Tips for Savoring these fleeting little years and Saving Mama’s Sanity It’s summer time! “What are you going to do with your kids?” I have gotten this question a lot lately, and although at first, I was like, what do you mean? How is the school year any different, they are all 3 mostly with me, but…
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Four Lessons from the Book of Acts
This year we studied the book of Acts in Community Bible Study (find one near you: here). To say the Lord has used these words penned by Luke, inspired by His Spirit to profoundly impact me, yet again wouldn’t do them justice. In preparation for “share day”, I sought to review the year’s lectures and notes. With so much meat,…
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Gospel Hope for the Good Mom: Freedom from the Shoulds of Motherhood
My favorite Christmas present was a Baby Shivers doll. I got her when I was 6 years old and I was beyond excited to have a doll that looked so real. From a young age, I was always quite concerned with appearances. My mom amiably let me use some of my little sister’s diapers and baby clothes to dress her.…
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If Only
It happened again. Over the last few days I’ve been around a lot of other moms with young sweet babies…babies that sleep in public and don’t make a peep, babies that let their moms enjoy some adult conversation and participate in bible studies and help ease the transition from one to two or two to three children. No matter how…
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What my 4 Year Old Taught Me About Work and New Years Resolutions
We got the boys a play set for Christmas (with the generous support of their grandparents). Unfortunately it was not without hiccups along the way. In an effort to prepare for installation (our backyard is extremely unlevel), my sweet husband and father took almost a full day to frame a small area and level it with dirt. After the…
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The Ultimate Advent Guide for Preschoolers and Toddlers: Advent Trees, Ornaments, 25+ Activities and More
From my earliest days, I loved everything about Christmas. My parents always made it extra special with more presents than we could count under the tree and a big surprise waiting for the three of us when we came down the stairs. I have nothing but happy memories when I think of the joy of Christmas morning during my childhood.…
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When I don’t feel thankful
It’s November. It’s the time of year for thankful turkeys and thankful trees, practicing gratitude for the many things we have been given. But if I’m honest, sometimes I don’t feel thankful. And when we don’t feel thankful, what are we to do? We’ve all been there. We are having a “good” day and then there is a trigger, often…
