Happy New Year to my readers! I didn't mean to completely drop off the blogging world but my life has been crazy busy with changes and children and everyday life!
                 I went back to school and finished my Associate in Applied Science degree for Early Childhood Education. I am currently working toward my Associate of Arts degree with Teacher Education requirements which I hope to have completed in the Spring of 2016. My goal is then to move on to pursuing a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education with Special Needs endorsement and licensure to teach!
                My daughters are currently 17, 15, 12, 9, and 8 years old. My son, the baby of the family, is 6 years old. My 17 year old is working on becoming her own independent person as she prepares to be 18 this summer.
                My 15 year old (turning 16 in April) is currently a freshman in high school. She is taking Driver's Ed this semester which makes me nervous (her too, I think). She is also in Cadet Band. She plays the flute and is super talented at what she does. She enjoys being able to use that talent at church to bring glory to God.
                The 12 year old will be 13 in April. She is still pursuing her love of tumbling and cheerleading. Her cheerleading squad recently competed at the ISSA Cheerleading competition and placed 6th out of 24 squads in their division! She also plays the trumpet and continues to develop that talent.
                 Our 9 year old will be 10 this summer and is in fourth grade. She is in her second season of pee wee cheer and basketball. She also is learning to play the violin this year! If the younger two children develop an interest in playing an instrument we may have our own family band/orchestra at home!
                 Our 8 year old is in second grade and continuing to develop her own interests and ideas. She is our little princess. She is smart, loving, kind, and caring. I cannot wait to see how God works in her young life in the coming years!
                 And last, but not least, our son is 6 years old and in Kindergarten this year! He is also very smart! His favorite thing to do is play Minecraft and as a future educator I see the value of that type of game so I do not discourage him! It never ceases to amaze me how quickly my children are growing up!
                  I hope to be able to post at least twice a month this year, more if time allows. I recently applied for a job and have had the interview and should know next week whether I will start working or not. I covet your prayers as I want God's will to be done in that area of my life!
                  Is there anything in particular you, the readers, would like me to blog about in the coming year? I would love to hear your ideas!
                                                   
                                                                 Susan



                  
I have been looking for a way to motivate my children, especially the younger three, to do their chores daily, spend time reading daily, and to be kind to others at home, not just at school and other public places. I found these really cute FREE printable chore, reading, and kindness punch cards HERE. I really love that they print in three columns, with one of each card in each column, and all on sheet! My kiddos really enjoy these as well. Instead of searching for using a hole punch, I just use the old fashioned foil star stickers--which my kiddos love to use!

Now, I have only recently started using this system with my younger three kiddos (who are currently 8, 7, and 5) so I had to go on the eSearch for inexpensive rewards and came across Free Printable Behavior Charts. They offer some really neat free printables! I decided to use the customizable coupons. Rewards do not have to be monetary! Having several children, I know that just one-on-one time with Mom or Dad is enough, or a trip to the Dollar Tree to pick an item-or two, or going to the park for an hour, or....the options are only as limited to as your creativity takes you!

I came up with this cute way to store reward choices for my kiddos...



Also, iMom has some great printable chore charts and other printable resources as tools to help us all in our journey as parents!

                                             Blessings,
                                                       Susan
I recently joined up with BzzAgent and have received my very first BzzKit! I am so excited!
With allergy season really taking off, my kiddos have scratchy throats, sneezing, sniffling, itchy eyes...well, you get the picture! I am so happy to try out Children's Non-Drowsy Claritin with them and see if helps them through the season!

In honor of my very first BzzKit, I am hosting a giveaway for $3 off any 4oz or larger OR 10 count Non-Drowsy Children's Claritin! Follow the steps below to enter! There will be FOUR winners! To enter, you must follow my blog and leave a comment. For extra entries, you may complete the optional steps!
     
                            Blessings,
                                            Susan

                                                                         


a Rafflecopter giveaway
   

http://www.amazon.com/The-Blessed-Woman-Learning-About/dp/030773191X/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1397239392&sr=1-1
















Blessed. Grace. What does mean to be blessed? Am I blessed?  What is grace? How do we show grace? How do we receive grace? In Debbie Morris' book The Blessed Woman: Learning About Grace From the Women of the Bible, we learn about both as she shares her heart and expository glances at women from the Bible in relation to being blessed and having/showing grace.

As a wife, a mother, God's child, a volunteer, a teacher, a student and all the other many roles I have in life, it is hard to remember and see the blessings of God and His abounding grace in my life amongst the business of schedules day in and day out. I am so glad to be able to share about this wonderful book with my readers! I hope you will consider reading it for yourself!

"It’s not easy being a woman. The demands and expectations of us, and those we place on ourselves, can be overwhelming. While trying to navigate this thing called “life,” have you ever longed for a close friend, confidant, or mentor to walk alongside you and encourage you in Biblical womanhood? Debbie Morris did. And yet even as a young minister’s wife, she found herself without someone to fill this all-important role. So she turned to the Bible. Biblical women such as Eve, Sarah, and Miriam had always fascinated her. But now they also became her friends, sisters, and teachers. Through their stories, the Holy Spirit revealed how their lives—both joys and struggles—weren’t that much different from ours today and how they can teach women today to be a grace-filled, life-giving woman of God.

In The Blessed Woman, Debbie invites you to learn from these women as well. As she shares her own stories and the stories of discerning women in the Bible, she addresses topics such as overcoming insecurity, finding purpose, establishing priorities, letting go, and waiting. The Blessed Woman reminds us how God longs for every woman to experience His tenderness—and to know the true meaning of being blessed." (Quote from Amazon)


No More Perfect Kids: Love Your Kids for Who They Are
I loved No More Perfect Moms...and I am loving No More Perfect Kids just as much! Reading through it still, actually. Jill and Kathy's candidness and writing style and openness have shown me areas in which I need to improve my parenting skills. As in NMPM, NMPK stresses that the Perfection Infection has taken over way too much in our lives. We must eradicate ourselves of the Perfection Infection and NMPK is a great resource, an easy read and chock full of helpful information!
 
I highly recommend that every parent read NMPK-it's for Dads, too!
 
                                   Blessings,
                                                 Susan