Ministry: Online

I have been trying for several months to try and create a ministry right here on my blog. I have been mentored by a fellow blogger friend, encouraged by readers and their comments, and humbled by emails of gratitude.

Yet, I still feel so lost at times, not knowing which is the best approach and how to maximize the small window of time I have to minister to other. Even so, everything I write here, I write to myself first and foremost. Many of the challenges I put out are for me first, because I know they are areas of struggle. Often, laying out a plan and just writing down my struggles allows the Holy Spirit to work through me and in me.

A Woman Inspired is putting on a conference called Ministry: Online and it is going to show those of us who want to do ministry online how to do it! Topics include:

• finding your passion
• giving your blog a facelift
• social media
• starting from scratch
• and much more!

I encourage you to attend this conference so that you can make the most of this ministry. This is something I really want to do. I am not certain yet if I can, but I thought I would at least spread the word so that other’s could know about it, too!

Oh, did I mention there will be prizes?! What are you waiting for?! Register here!

 

The Sanity of a Morning Routine

Being a homeschooling mom keeps me very busy, and running in all kinds of directions. My mornings are my busiest times of day. Without organizing the morning, I find nothing but chaos and stress. My children fight because they don’t know what to do with themselves. I’m torn in 5 different directions, not knowing what to do first.

In light of this, I organize my mornings to cut down on the stress and choas. Granted, they aren’t perfect, but they do run much smoother when I follow the plan.

I also want to add…though I am still working on getting up early every morning, before the children wake up, when I do, there is a huge difference in my day. I am able to get a little head start on my day by waking up, having my morning coffee and spending that very important time with Jesus. I cannot stress enough how important this is. This is foundational for a smooth day for me. So, although I am still perfecting this, I do notice when I do it, it makes a huge difference. So, I am going to add that into my morning, even though I don’t do it everyday.

• 5:30am – wake, have coffee, pray, Bible reading
• 7am – feed kids, clean up from breakfast
• 8:00 – Bible reading with kids (5-10 mins)
• 8:15 – get dressed, chores (empty dishwasher, 1 load of laundry)
• 9:00 – begin lessons (all children need to have structured time or nothing will get accomplished)
• 10:00 – nap time for babies (2 and 8 months old); continue lessons
• 12pm – lunch; clean up; afternoon chores
• 1:00 – finish lessons (more structured time for all)

Ok, so I went a little over the morning routine, but you get the idea. This is ideal…doesn’t always happen, but it’s what I strive for and what helps keep our mornings smooth, productive, and with little stress.

Everyone needs to do what works for them. The key is to have a plan, and follow it as closely as possible.

A morning routine works for me!

**Come visit me at Is This Modest? today!**

 

Organize Your Physical Space {Heart of the Matter}

Do you need some new ideas, hints, and/or tips on organizing your space for all your homeschooling needs? I encourage you to visit Heart of the Matter Online to see all the wonderful ideas to do this!

 

Organized Home School Blog Carnival!

This is for all you homechooling moms out there. You don’t want to miss this!

Heart of the Matter Online is having an Organized Home School Carnival. Note their little button there on the right bar. To find out all the details on this, I encourage you to click the button. I know this is what I’ll be doing, right here on this blog, for the next 8 weeks! Then, Wednesdays will officially become my times to blog about all things “home school”.

 

Beating the Winter Blues

Being secluded to the house for 4-5 months can take it’s toll on a person, and her children. However, there are a few things I do to help keep the winter blues at bay.

1. Keep the house as bright as possible by opening the blinds. Sitting at home all day, day after day, with the shades drawn making it dark in the house can keep me unmotivated and tired. So, in the morning I will open up the blinds in all the main living areas in order to let the natural sunlight in the house. If it is a gloomy day, I allow myself to turn the lights on. Having the lights on (even during the day) is better then carrying a mopey, depressed attitude around all day and getting nothing accomplished.
2. Get out of the house. Don’t be afraid to leave the house once or twice a week. Go to the library. Go to a friends for a play date. Or go to McDonalds (or some other place with an indoor play structure, like Jungle Java). If you’re tight on cash or simply don’t like spending money on fast food (which I don’t blame you), just buy an ice cream cone for the kids after eating lunch at home. That way you can enjoy the play structure and not break the bank doing it!
3. Put on upbeat music. This works wonders for me and my kids! We love putting on really upbeat praise music and just dancing around and praising Jesus. It is such an uplifting to our spirits! Definately a must for everyday of the week.

For more tips on beating the winter blues, visit Heart of the Matter Online.

 

Heart of the Matter Online

 

 Where I Find My Christmas Joy.

This may seem like a real churchy answer, but it is the truth – I find my Christmas joy in Jesus. Many times He gets lost in all the other “things” that go along with Christmas. The same way we can lose Him doing ministry – doing His work! We can get so wrapped up in doing that we forget being. Our goal throughout the Christmas season is to always put Jesus first. One way we do this is to come up with a gift we can give Jesus for His birthday. When my daughter was just 4, she wrapped up one of her toys and put it under the tree for Him. Last year, she gave Him her heart (her call!) and my husband talked to her about salvation and what it means.

For this year, I am still putting thought and prayer into what I will give Jesus for his birthday and for the coming year. I may post about it at a later time.

Another way we keep Jesus first is on Christmas morning, before anyone digs into any presents, we gather on the couch to read about the birth of Jesus. We remind our children (and ourselves) why there are even presents under the tree (because Jesus provided and gave us gifts).

The birth of Jesus is why we celebrate and for no other reason. Sure, we enjoy baking and caroling and giving to others as much as the next person. We have fun looking at all the beautiful Christmas lights, we enjoy gathering with family, and watching movies like “The Santa Clause” and “It’s a Wonderful Life”. But take it all away, and we still have Christmas.

Click the button at the top of this post to join in the Heart of the Matter Feature Friday or read other responses.

 

Unit Study Day – Pioneers

I will be attempting to do this since I have never done a unit study and I think it will be good for a change.

Be sure to visit The Heart of the Matter Online to see a wonderful unit study for Pioneers. Just click the picture above.