Your Daily Smile

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

cloudy_keyart_wallpaper_1024We took our daughter to see this movie last Friday night.  It had been a little while since we went to a movie together due to the lack of movies that were family friendly.  This movie was really funny!  Although I have never read the book that it was based upon, I was very impressed with the storyline.  It makes me want to read the book now.

It told the story about a boy whose mom had total faith in him to be whatever it was that he wanted to be.  For him, he wanted to be an inventor that would invent things that would transform the world.  It also brings in the topics of greed and pride and what they can do to us if we allow them to overtake us.  Another topic that it covered was self-esteem and being happy with the person that you are.  Along with all the funny foods that rained down from the sky, it all came together for a great movie.  We all agreed that we had not seen that great of a kids’ movie since Bolt.  I highly recommend it to anyone with kids and anyone who doesn’t!  You will still enjoy it!  It is probably one of those movies that you could watch over and over and see something new each time.

For more information, you could go to www.cloudywithachanceofmeatballs.com

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Posted by Michelle in Uncategorized

Promises, promises

How many times have your kids said, “You promise?” or “You promised!”

We make promises sometimes that we don’t keep.  To a child, anything we say we “might” do becomes locked into their brains for further usage.

For example, this morning I told my daughter that we might ride bikes later.  In the end, after a trip to the store and cooking lunch and dinner, it didn’t happen.  The night before that we were out to eat with friends after seeing the movie “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” (another post about that to follow).  While we were eating my daughter and their daughter started in planning a spontaneous overnight that night.  They even wrote out a little contract in the Barbie notebook that my daughter got in a Happy Meal the day before.  On the contract, it had two places to “sign here”.  Both moms were supposed to sign to lock in the promise.  Due to other events happening the next morning, we postponed the sleepover to a better planned time and thus did NOT sign on the dotted line.

How many times do you tell your child you will do something with them and then got tired, busy or just didn’t want to do it?  These are the times that we need to invest our time in our children’s lives.  We need to uphold the things that we promise them or tell them.  We need to sit down and play with them.  The times go by so fast.  I know that I am guilty of not playing with her as much as I did when she was younger and required that of me.  Now I know she can play alone so I let her.  My challenge to you is the one I am giving myself.  Do more activities with your child.  Plan 2-3 sit down times to start and then add more.  Don’t be afraid of the spontaneous overnights, bike rides, or interruptions in dinner planning.  Take time and invest it in your children.

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Posted by Michelle in Uncategorized

More Homework Station pics

She LOVES the homework station. This morning before school she asked, “When I get home can I do my homework and can you give me extra?”. And the hallelujah chorus rang through! She also found a treat in her pocket on there!


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Posted by Michelle in My Family, Parenting

Homework Helper Station

My daughter started first grade and thought she would get through another year without homework. I knew that she wouldn’t be so lucky. Although the homework doesn’t seem hard and only takes about 10 minutes or so, she started complaining and it created some stress in the house! Then I got my “Family Fun” Magazine which I love to read. I saw a great idea for the Homework Helper Station and went right out this afternoon after reading it and got the supplies. After school, I made it for her. She waited to do her homework until it was done and then did her homework with joy, yes WITH JOY! Then she said, “I want to do more! I want to do homework all night!

(Oh yeah….I’m the rockin’ mom today!!)
The homework station quickly folds and can be stored or left on a desk.  All of her tools are handy so we don’t have to stop to find a pencil, sharpener, scissors, glue, or eraser.  She even has a pocket for notes, spelling words or stickers.  I am also planning on using the pocket for surprise treats!  (She doesn’t know that yet!)


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Posted by Michelle in Uncategorized

Back To School

The first day of school has come and gone for a new year of kids. My daughter started first grade this year. Although I didn’t cry this year, I remember last year like it was just yesterday. As we went to that first parent meeting for kindergarten, I teared up at the thought of all she would learn and seeing her little spot at the table. I teared up again when I dropped her off that first day and again when I picked her up and heard about all the fun she had. Then as I teared up telling someone about all of that, my daughter said, “Mommy, you are gonna have to stop that crying!”

So as she entered first grade, I didn’t cry. It amazes me to see her so grown up, reading and loving school. I have the privilege of working at her school during recess and occasionally subbing for teachers. It is such a joy for me to see her with her friends that she has made on her own without the help of mom or dad. She runs and plays with that childhood smile and laugh. Today she traded phone numbers with a friend she had since kindergarten last year.

As we begin a new school year, my prayers for my child are many.
…I pray for her health and well-being.
…I pray for her to learn new things and have the confidence she needs in class.
…I pray for her friends and that God would place them carefully in her life.
…I pray for her teacher that God would place patience, warmth and love in her heart for her students.
…I pray for her to always have a kind heart and show others her love for God.
…I pray for us as parents that we would nurture her, encourage her and support her as she learns new things.

May the school year be one to remember!

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Child of God

Recently, my 6 year old daughter asked Jesus into her heart.  It all started at a puppet show at our church.  The puppet team is a ministry of our church and did a show which included the kids.  At the end of the show, they offered an invitation as they always do.  During that time, I noticed my daughter was very focused on the people who went to the altar to pray.  I leaned over and asked if she wanted to go up and pray.  She didn’t but was pretty somber.  After the program and we were on the way home, we asked her why she was so quiet and what she was thinking about.  She replied, “I think I need to ask Jesus to forgive me of all the wrong things I do.”  Her dad(the pastor) and I were so moved!  When we got home, we all sat down and talked about it.  As a pastor and pastor’s wife, we wanted to make sure that she understood what she was doing.  After asking all the right questions and getting the answers, we knew that she indeed was ready so we said the prayer together.  She was nervous about going forward in front of the church and nervous about getting baptized.  After a couple weeks, she went forward to announce her decision.  A few weeks later on July 12, my husband had the privilege of baptizing her.  It was such a beautiful and emotional moment for all of us.  There probably wasn’t a dry eye in the place as my husband also  got a little emotional about it.

As parents, you want your children to follow the Lord and when they make those steps, it is such a beautiful thing.  We had some great pictures taken during the baptism as well as behind the scenes.  In the behind the scenes pictures, the man who takes the pictures of new members took a couple of our little girl.  It is so great to see how happy she is in the pictures.  It has truly made a difference in her life as she recognizes her wrongs more often.  Of course, she is 6 1/2 and there are still challenges but we know that she is on the path that God is showing her.

Father and Daughter

Father and Daughter

A special moment between parent and child

A special moment between parent and child

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Posted by Michelle in My Family

VBS Preparation - Crocodile Dock

We have been busy this week getting the backdrop ready for VBS. I have been working with our VBS Music Leader to prepare a backdrop. Our puppet ministry leader also came to help paint. We had so much fun doing it but we were even more excited to see the finished product. It was our first official week of summer vacation from school and we got it done.  However, my poor 6 year old had to be quite the trooper as she hung out at church while we painted (because I wouldn’t let her paint). Fortunately, for her she can also hang out in the pastor’s office (daddy’s office) and play on the computer or talk him into finding her snacks. She has been so good entertaining herself and us (through singing) considering the circumstances. Tomorrow we are taking her to do something fun and go visit a petting farm/zoo and then go to see the new movie, “Up” which she has looked forward to seeing since the first preview. 

This backdrop is the best ever and I can’t wait to put the stage together with the other things that have been made including a boat shack, boat, an actual dock that will extend from the painted one, inflatable crocodiles, and so much more.  Our VBS is going to be as fun as ever and it’s one of my favorite weeks of the year!

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Posted by Michelle in My Family

Major “Oops” on last full day of school

Okay, I am ready to admit that I made a major “oops” on the last day of school for my one and only child on her last day of kindergarten. But let’s retrace the days prior….

Last week, Hannah came home with two homework assignments. This is the first assignment she has had in kindergarten aside from the daily little books they read. Over the weekend, she was to write short sentences about what she did with her teddy bear through the weekend. They were studying a unit about bears and this was a fun assignment for them. Also, on the following Wednesday (the last day of school), they were supposed to make a diorama of a bear habitat. We had it all planned out and visited Michael’s Craft Store to get materials including 2 little polar bear figurines that we could place in the habitat. We also purchased snowflake stickers and decided we would use cotton balls to make snow.

Monday was cheer practice and our trip to Michael’s. Tuesday night I had a Mom2Mom meeting at our church and came home to finish her teacher’s presents that I had partially made on my Cricut. Hannah decorated the bags and we got everything ready for Wednesday.

Wednesday morning: Backpack? Check. Teacher’s presents? Check. Dressed and ready? Check. Daddy took her to school…whew! I sat down, ate breakfast, caught up on some DVR’d shows. Then I sorted laundry, folded some, picked up the living room, picked up a note from Hannah’s teacher….OH NO!!! The DIORAMA!!! We forgot to make it! It is 10:50 am and I am due to be at school to help with the recess time at 11:25 am. I envisioned my child sitting there with a sad face listening and watching the other children show their dioramas thinking “But we got stuff to make one.” So I did what any superwoman mom would do….I made it! I quickly ran around the house finding items… couldn’t find the stickers but I had hair bow ribbon in the pattern of snowflakes. I used glue that I knew would dry fast and was out the door with the diorama. I found her teacher and told her we forgot it at home and then found Hannah to tell her where it was and to … um…pretend that she did it. I know…I know…bad mom.

So here is a picture of the wonderful quick creation! The polar bear habitat!

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Posted by Michelle in My Family, Parenting

New technology –gotta love it!

You gotta love new technology! On this first day of summer, I decided there had to be a way to use my phone to upgrade my blog. After getting the app on my phone, I had to upgrade my blog with new software and then try this again. Now I am connected and ready to give this a test run. It will also add photos easier with one click of my phone. I can handle one clicks so much easier than trying to figure our web lingo.  So just in time for my 100th post, I can now enter a “new century” of web blogging!  YEAH!

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Posted by Michelle in Random Posts

Serving God

Why do you serve God? 

Do you serve God through ministries at church?

Do you serve God through things in your community?

Do you serve God so that people will know that you do and so that you will receive praise from people?

Serving God is more than taking credit for the things that you do.  Serving God is doing it out of a heart of worship.  It is not getting credit, taking praise or being recognized.  You might not even get thanked for doing it.  Sometimes I think that we expect those things in return so that we will continue in our service.  The most serving people that I have met are those who don’t ever ask for praise or recognition for their service.  They are the ones quietly serving and making a difference.  You can see God working in their life in amazing ways through the people that they touch.   As for me, I serve God because I want to further His kingdom.  Sometimes I tend to wait for other people to do it or I wonder what others may think if I serve God in a specific ministry.  None of this should be in my forefront of my mind.  What we should focus on is what God is speaking for us to do.  I have learned that when God continues to speak to you about a place where you should serve, it is time to jump in and do it!  God will give you the gift that you need and direct your path.  Serve God for Him and nothing else!

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Posted by Michelle in Devotions Miscellaneous