Category: Inspiration and Joy

  • I want my kids to want to eat… and I have a plan

    —

    by

    Amy
    in , ,

    All too often my husband and I are coaxing our kids to eat. Our kids, on average, are pretty good eaters, but all too often we have the “Just three more bites,” conversation, or try to encourage our daughter to eat rather than play with whatever item might be around and could be turned into…

  • Thanking our Troops

    —

    by

    Amy
    in

    This morning I kept our three kids out of school for a very important lesson: That of saying thank you to those who fight for and defend freedom. Three hundred wounded warriors flew into Houston this morning to embark on a Warriors Weekend, an all-expenses-paid fishing weekend of R&R in Port O’Connor, Texas. Other service…

  • Readers Recommend: The ‘Surviving a Layoff’ Edition

    —

    by

    Amy
    in

    Welcome to  MomsToolbox Readers Recommend, where MomsToolbox readers share one favorite post from the blogosphere. A few weeks ago my friend Connie’s husband lost his job. Connie is a homeschooling mom of 8 who loves the Lord and blogs her family’s stories with southern charm (and wit) and a whole lot of truth, too, on…

  • Blogging Through the Gospels: Mark 8

    —

    by

    Amy
    in ,

    The reading for Friday is Mark 8. When it is time to read, please start first by praying and thanking God for His many blessings. Be specific. Record your thank you’s on paper or on the computer. Next present your requests to Him. Ask Him for whatever you want and need. As you do, record…

  • Who knew a clean counter could make me so happy?

    —

    by

    Amy
    in ,

    My house and life have become way too cluttered. I have had a tough time de-cluttering both because I wanted to see action RIGHT AWAY. I didn’t want to wait. Years ago I was introduced to the FlyLady way of doing things and was enamored. But, of course, just shining my sink wasn’t enough of…

  • Readers Recommend: The ‘gift I gave myself’ edition

    —

    by

    Amy
    in

    What have you read this week that has helped you, inspired you or just given you that giggle you needed to read? This week, I am embarrassed to admit it,  but I remembered why I need to clear the clutter in my kitchen after reading 3 Gifts to Give Yourself on Mother’s Day at Life…

  • MomsToolbox Readers Recommend: Edition 1

    —

    by

    Amy
    in

    Welcome to the first weekly edition of MomsToolbox Readers Recommend, where MomsToolbox readers share one favorite post from the blogosphere. There are so many fantastic posts out there and I am hoping this will help me to find even more of them with your help. To participate, all you need to do is give us…

  • MomsToolbox Readers Recommend: Coming Wednesday!

    —

    by

    Amy
    in

    What is the most helpful post that you have come across this week… or that came you across much earlier but it is still with you, making a difference in the way you do something? I’d love to hear all about it! Each Wednesday I’d love for you to recommend a favorite blog post with…

  • Mother’s Day Giveaway: Girlfriends, Giggles and God

    —

    by

    Amy
    in

    You know how it feels when you are reading along about someone else’s adventures in mothering,  nodding, laughing out loud, and feeling like you totally get someone and what she is writing… and then she zings you with a fantastic, Biblical lesson? A friend of mine, Dallas Louis, wrote Girlfriends, Giggles and God, a one-month…

  • To all the frustrated, impatient, tired mommies of little ones:

    —

    by

    Amy
    in

    I was once there. And no, I don’t have it all figured out. But this morning I felt a transformation. This morning my nine year old son yelled at me and hurled an insult. He was frustrated. And do you know what I did? I calmly told him not to yell at me, swiftly administered…

  • I’m cycling 95 miles today

    —

    by

    Amy
    in

    Today I am cycling 95 miles as the first day of the Houston to Austin MS 150. Tomorrow I’ll cycle another 80. Please consider praying for all of the riders today and tomorrow, asking for strength, endurance and safety. Please also consider praying for all who suffer the devastating impacts of Multiple Sclerosis. If you’d…

  • The MS 150 is coming…

    —

    by

    Amy
    in

    Here’s a little video of me singing… So what did you think of my little song? I recorded that video about a week and a half ago while training in the hills. The MS 150 is this weekend and I haven’t been the best at fundraising this year. Come to think of it, I haven’t…

  • MS 150 Cycling Training Plan

    —

    by

    Amy
    in

    As some of you may know, in 2008 I trained for my first MS 150, which here in Houston, is actually two-day 180 mile bike ride. Before training for the MS 150, I was in moderate shape, but didn’t really exercise regularly. I wanted to complete the MS 150 with a smile on my face,…

  • Thank you for your prayers!

    —

    by

    Amy
    in ,

    Thank you so much to each of you who prayed for me today. And I was blown away when I saw all the retweets on Twitter about prayers and my ride… Thank you! I intended to ride 68 miles, but ended up riding 75 miles!! I started out strong, but then the hills started to…

  • Please pray for me today

    —

    by

    Amy
    in

    Today I’m off on another big training ride in preparation for the BP MS 150, a two-day, 180 bicycle ride to combat Multiple Sclerosis. I have not trained as much as I should have this year.  Life has been overly full and it is has been tough for me to to prioriitze. If you see…