Contemplations of a Mommy "Monk"

I'd like to introduce a new book that has a refreshingly honest approach to women's issues: The SOS for PMS: Practical Help and Relief for Moms In her latest book, Mary explores an often frustrating topic, the symptoms of PMS, and offers practical advice and encouragement for mothers. Readers will find comfort in the stories shared by other moms, realizing that they are not alone in their struggles with PMS. With this book, you will find suggestions designed to inspire healthier lifestyles, relationships, and daily choices for all women.Gather any group of moms together and the topic of frustrating PMS symptoms rises up in conversation along with the guilt and concern about its effects on family members. Now Mary Byers, author of The Mother Load, offers mothers encouragement, help, and camaraderie as she shares: ~women's stories-the good, bad, and the hopeful ~overlooked symptoms and how to manage them ~foods and activities to avoid or indulge in God's first aid for str...

Reasons to be thankful abound: Thank You Lord, God of heaven and earth, for these many blessings.... For warm September days spent enjoying the change of color outside. For a little boy who "loves to go to God's house and learn of Jesus' love"... For his sincere desire to learn Scripture verses and follow God's ways (even though it is hard at times to obey his mother and father or the teacher, but that's a story for another time) For a morning that started with prayer. For a daughter who is growing so fast...her "adult" front teeth communicate the obvious. She's smart and loving and always wants to do what's right. I am so proud of her initiative in planning See You at the Pole this year for her classmates. For friends who lift my spirits with their laughter and the sharing of burdens. And, appropriately, for our dear Iris, who faithfully hosts this weekly exercise of thankful therapy! It's Iris' birthday soon and I'm so glad I me...

Heather Creek Farm.... Sounds like a marvelous place to raise three kids, doesn't it? But these kids have lost their mother and are learning a new life with their grandparents far from their metropolitan life. Tricia Goyer leads us through their lives as they learn and grow through this experience... Blog Tour Contest: Since Sweet September is all about family, Tricia wants to meet yours. Leave a comment on the Tricia’s blog tour post ( http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com/2008/09/sweet-september-blog-tour.html ) sharing who your favorite family member is and why and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win William-Sonoma’s Pumpkin Harvest Loaf Pan & Quick Bread Set. (I’ve attached a photo. It’s super cute…and would be great for fall treats!) About the book: Harvest time at Heather Creek Farm is an exciting time, but the kids don't seem to be getting into the spirit. One day while he's wandering through the fields, Christopher stumbles across an old piece of metal buried in...

Great hunters dwell in my home. Earlier in the summer, we moved the bluebird house off of the deck and into a nearby tree. The sleek black feline hunter was poking his paws into the small opening, searching for prey. I love the fact that my cat scares off the rabbits, squirrels, black birds and mice, but he was taking it too far with the baby blue birds. So, in an effort to keep the bluebirds around, we moved their house. But, even in their new location, they are not safe. The cat climbed straight up that tree and slung himself precariously across a thin branch while dangling over the edge of the bird house. And there was that paw reaching around from behind the house to poke its way into the round opening. Thankfully, the bluebirds have already evacuated so I could laugh at my cat hanging by a mere claw doing acrobatics to reach his prey. On the same morning, my little guy (3 1/2) was catching grasshoppers. The big flying grasshoppers were eluding him though, so he put on his se...

It's my privilege to introduce you once again to Susan May Warren's new adventure for Josey: How do you get cozy when your new "home" is a frozen tundra? Josey's dreams of small-town Minnesota bliss melt away when her hubby's relocated to a Siberian village. No indoor plumbing...or junk food! But this feisty former missionary knows how to multitask: juggling toddler twins, empowering local housewives, spreading God's word - no worries, Josey. It's finding time alone with the man of her dreams that will take some real work! Story behind the series: Behind the Pages “Why don’t you write your life story?” During my eight years as a missionary in Russia, friends from all over the world, in response to my letters, would pose that question. I’d shrug, saying….I’m not sure how to do it. Fast forward three years. Chick lit is beginning to hit the shelves. An insightful editor at Steeple Hill challenged me to try my hand at this new genre. I thought -- what wou...

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: … a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted…” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 This verse fits my life perfectly right now. The past several weeks have been a time of change; a transition from one season to another. I've gone from being a stay-at-home mom with little tots under foot and women's Bible studies in my home to a very different pace of life. **Lord, thank you for this new season in my life. I'm so thankful that I had the past four years to be completely focused on my children, but I'm also grateful for the new adventures I'm facing right now. **I'm thankful to be back in the "classroom" (virtual) as a high school math teacher with Insight schools. I love working with kids again and being able to help them succeed. It is an exhilarating feeling to potentially impact so many lives. Just talking with students on the phone I've ...