Q:I am a mother to three kids. My daughter, age 4 and my sons, age 2 and 7 months. I know they are similar to the ages that your kids were a few years ago.

I find myself being overwhelmed with things to get done on a daily basis. Between taking care of the kids and trying to keep the house clean, I don’t feel that I ever have time to just, enjoy my family.

So, my question is, how do you get everything done? What have you done to make family time easier without falling behind on other things?

Thanks in advance!

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A:I remember those days. I’m not that much ahead of you, but let me assure you, it does get easier!

I don’t think there’s much time to sit and enjoy everything when the kids are those ages. I don’t mean to be a bummer, but let’s face it–it’s hard. There isn’t much time for anything other than keeping up with the kids, and cleaning up their messes. It takes a lot of patience, a lot of deep breaths, a lot of prayer, and as many hot baths alone that we can get!

I did it–without a husband most of the time, because he was on the road, playing hockey. I never had a nanny, but I got a babysitter every now and then to spend some alone time with my husband, and to get that much needed deep breath.

Don’t ever feel guilty or bad about having a night out without the kids. In fact–you should! Having a date night with hubby at least once a month (once a week is even better!) will refresh you, recharge you, and help you to enjoy the time you spend with the kids.

I was always advised to involve the kids as much as possible with the daily chores. In the beginning, it will be harder; they end up making the process slower since you’re teaching and they’re learning, but in the end, it will go a lot faster when they’re able to set the table, sort laundry and wash dishes. It is good advice, but I never had the patience for it! My kids do those things now, but I have to admit it’s with moans and groans. I guess I didn’t make it "fun" from the start. Maybe you will!

I don’t have any radical advice. Take lots of pictures to remember it all. When the youngest is four, it gets easier. Everyone can walk, talk, listen and take direction–much easier!! You’ll be able to sit and enjoy your family, and hear all of the stories about school and life, that your kids will be eager to tell you.

Be brave sister, and keep on! Enjoy that laundry time–sometimes it’s the only 20 minutes you’ll spend alone during the day!

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Q:I have read that your husband is the head of your household and I agree with that, but has it always been that way? When we first got married my husband did not know how to balance a check book and stuff like that, so he wanted me to do all of it. I would like him to make more decisions and feel comfortable with them.

I want to help him understand more about Christ, and for him to be the head of our household without making him feel that I just don’t want to take care things. Please advise.

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A: My husband was made to be a leader. There’s no getting around it for me. Because of that, it does make it easier for me to follow since he has a dominant personality. But I know several wives whose husbands are on the laid-back side, and want their moms–I mean wives–to do most everything.

Don’t worry though; he can still lead your home. Start by praying for your husband to be the spiritual leader of your household. Pray that he would come to know Christ. Pray that God would work on you to be the wife He’s called you to be. You shouldn’t be afraid to sit down and have a chat with your husband. In love, tell him that you respect him as the man of the house and you would love for him to make more decisions for the family. Just remember not to balk at him if he makes lousy ones in the beginning. This will only make him feel disrespected and he’ll eventually tell you to just keep doing everything since he never seems to do it right. He’ll need your support and encouragement. Don’t nag or get upset. If he isn’t used to leading, he’s not going to magically become a great leader overnight. It will take time, effort on your part, as well as patience and a lot of prayer.

As far as certain jobs around the house, there are some things you may do better, and that’s OK. Like paying the bills. I pay the bills in my home too. Yes, my husband knows about our finances and oversees all of it, but as for writing checks, filing and organizing, I’m the woman for the job. Val delegated that duty over to me because I’m better at it. If your husband isn’t comfortable with managing money and you’ve been gifted in that field, it’s OK to make those decisions. Just make sure you put aside time with your husband to present him any major changes in the budget and discuss new investments you may be thinking of. Make sense?

I hope this has helped.

About The Author:

Candace is best known for her role as DJ Tanner on ABC’s hit sitcom Full House. Over the years, Candace has been on a self-imposed hiatus in support of her husband, NHL hockey star Valeri Bure and their three beautiful children, ages 4, 6 & 8.

Candace currently speaks at various churches, colleges, and outreach events throughout the year sharing her testimony and Christian faith. She has a heart for evangelism and recently traveled on a missionary trip to Ghana, Africa. Her long history of charitable work includes the Starlight Foundation, Make-A-Wish, Compassion International, Children’s Hunger Fund and Sheridan House Family Ministries.

Learn more about Candace at her website, CandaceCameronBure.net.

A couple of years ago, a friend spent $4,000 for two tickets to a real estate seminar on flipping houses. Thankfully, he offered my husband a ticket. I had heard about that scheme, warned my friend that he could get the same information from the Internet, and he got his money back.

Even solid Christians who love the Lord fall prey to the desire to make money fast. We have debt. We want to own our own businesses, but we have little desire to slog it out through the early days of a company until we learn how to turn a good idea into a great business. Being an entrepreneur is hard work.

Rather than trying to get too much too fast, Rhonda Anderson, co-founder of Creative Memories, encourages small business owners to take small steps. She says, "The lord gave me a scripture in Deuteronomy in the very, very start up days of Creative Memories. Little by little you will possess the land. He seared it on my heart." In that Scripture, God was talking to the Israelites, preparing them to move from their 40 years of wandering in the desert into the Promised Land. Rhonda explains, "If they were to conquer the land too quickly, they wouldn’t be able to get rid of the wild animals fast enough, and the animals would devour them. God tells us that little by little you will possess the land so that you won’t be devoured by the animals. God knows that there is health and there is value in just trusting his timing."

Like most of us, Rhonda admits to impatience, but she knew God wanted her to move slowly in business. "It was like he said, ‘Please be patient. If you’re faithful with a little, I’ll give you a little more. Just trust me that little by little you will possess the land." She did trust God, and looking back she can say, "That’s what I’ve seen work for 20 years in Creative Memories. We had 6 of us in 1987, 100 of us in 1988, and 200 of us in 1989. We reached $360 million in sales 2 years ago. We grew so slowly, but little by little we possessed the land."

It’s encouraging to know we don’t have to build our business all at once. We can grow our businesses if we do our little bit each day. "In Creative Memories I tell people, ‘Make 5 phone calls a day. Follow up on your leads. Teach one home class a week, and little by little steadfastness will turn into more and more growth," says Rhonda.

"Don’t get discouraged that things don’t go faster. Just be faithful in what you have to do today," she advises. "Being great doesn’t happen overnight."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Terri Pilcher writes articles and interviews millionaires from home for an upcoming book about the Parable of the Talents. Visit her website www.ChristianMillionaireSecrets.com and sign up for her monthly ezine containing an article, an audioclip from a millionaire interview, a book review, and a quote about success.

This fall we’ve enjoyed some record setting warm temperatures in the Midwest, my part of the country. The mild weather reminds me of a similar fall years ago when my daughter Anne was a first grader. Between the pleasant weather and extra duties at work, I forgot to sort through the kids’ winter paraphernalia. An unexpected night time snowfall in November resulted in a mad search through our coat closet the next morning. Anne’s coat, mittens and hat still fit, but her old boots were way too small. So off to school she went, bootless through the wet snow. She came home very upset. "Mom," she sobbed. "Everybody without boots had to stand by the wall. And the playground supervisor scolded us and…" Her story went on and on, and I felt guilty as I comforted her. Why? Because a little forethought on my part would have prevented the whole situation.

You can avoid a similar scenario at your house by using the four steps below to help you organize the hodgepodge of winter cast-offs cluttering your closet. Then you’ll be ready for the cold days that will soon arrive.

Step One: Sort and Size
First, pull last winter’s things out of the closet and have your kids try them on. Pass clothes on if they fit your next smallest child or store them if a much smaller child can wear them in a few years. Save items you can’t use for a garage sale or donate them to another family or to a thrift store. Immediately put things to be stored in a labeled box. Bag items to be donated and drop them off the next time you run errands. Price garage sale merchandise and place it in boxes labeled for that purpose. Whatever you do, don’t put things you won’t use in the closet. Get rid of them instead.

And while you’re at it, use the same system to sort through spring jackets, raincoats and umbrellas. Pack what you will use again in a labeled, clear plastic tub, but wash soiled items first. Put the tub in storage. Get rid of everything else.
Now, run the usable winter coats, hats, mittens and scarves through the air fluff cycle of your dryer. While the dryer removes the wrinkles, you can create a shopping list, including kids’ clothing size and color preferences. Put the list in your planner so it is handy when you find a good buy.

Step Two: Swap and Buy
Because you’re starting early, you can avoid paying top prices for your kids’ winter gear. Think about friends and family who have children older and larger than your kids. See if they have coats or boots to pass on or sell at a reduced price. Or maybe you can swap coats and boots back and forth from year to year.
If that doesn’t work, check ebay, consignment shops, garage sale ads and thrift stores for quality used outerwear. If you still come up empty-handed, watch the department store sales flyers. Most run a pre-season coat sale with deep coupon discounts. If you’re a catalog or Internet shopper, check websites to do some comparison pricing.

And don’t forget your local discount store. They’re a great place pick up extra pairs of inexpensive stretch gloves and headbands. Keep them on hand for emergencies and to replace the mittens and caps that inevitably get lost each winter. Layering a couple pairs together keeps kids’ fingers warm without making your temper flare. They make cheap stocking stuffers at Christmas, too.

Step Three: Hang and Dry
Once the family is outfitted for winter, train everyone to take care of their gear when they get home – unless you enjoy navigating your way through heaps of coat and piles of boots during several months of cold weather. These tips can help you avoid that fiasco. You’ll spend a couple weeks training kids (and adults) to use the storage system, but the effort is worth it.

- Hang adult coats in the closet.
- Install pegs at kid level near the door they use to enter the house. They should hang their coats up as soon as they take them off.
- Put a bathmat, boot tray or folded vinyl tablecloth on the floor near the same door, perhaps below the pegs. Kids should place wet boots there.
- Hang a shoe organizer over the coat closet door. Use it to store hats, gloves and mittens. Label the pockets with the names of everyone in the family, reserving the lowest pockets for the smallest children.
- Varnish a long narrow piece of wood. Glue clothespins to it and hang it on the wall above a radiator or other heater. Kids can pin their wet mittens there to dry.

Step Four: Sort and Store
This last step, which will make next year’s winter preparations much easier, will be completed next spring. Make a note – "Store winter stuff" – on an April day in your planner calendar so you don’t forget when spring arrives. When the designated day comes, haul the tub full of spring outerwear to the coat closet and complete step one in reverse.

Once you have the spring jackets arranged and the winter things stowed away, do one last thing. Write a note – "Store spring stuff" – on a November day in your planner calendar. Now, no matter what next fall is like, you’ll set a weather record. Your kids will tramp through the snow, dry and warm, two years in a row. Kind of makes you eager for snow, doesn’t it?

About the Author:
Jolene Philo is a freelance writer and speaker who lives in Boone, Iowa. She shares her house and her home office with her husband Hiram, daughter Anne, and dachshund Abby. You can learn more about her at her website, www.jolenephilo.com.

Possibly the most effective way to share God’s love through your home business is by doing something your clients and colleagues might never see you do. It won’t happen in an email, a newsletter, a phone call, or at your next meeting. It won’t be listed on your timesheet, your FAQ page, or your business proposal.

Your clients and others you work with may never even know you do this for them. If they did know, they might tell you not to bother – you’re just wasting your time. In fact, they might even ask you to stop.

However, the results of this one action could have a dramatic impact on their lives and businesses.

You might have guessed that I’m talking about prayer.

I’m one of those people who pray about everything – small or big. I pray I’ll find a parking stall in a busy lot. I ask for enough space to merge my minivan into a heavy lane of traffic. I pray for the success of my business, prosperity for my family, and that my children will learn to love Jesus as passionately as I do. Every day I pray that my life will be a blessing to others.

I believe the Bible when it says "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." (John 5:16) I know it’s true. I’ve experienced the life-changing power of prayer in my own life and in the lives of those close to me.

Praying for my own needs is easy. Praying for others, especially others I don’t know well, is a little harder. Their needs just aren’t as obvious to me. Sometimes, I don’t know exactly how to pray for them. I’ll probably never know what results my prayers had in their lives. So, why bother?

One event in my life has convinced me that, in spite of my own doubts and selfishness, it is definitely worth my time and energy to pray for those I meet in my business. Even though I don’t know exactly what to pray, and I may never know what results my prayers had, it doesn’t make those prayers any less effective.

A few years ago, a close family member was hospitalized with a chronic illness. He spent almost a full year in one of our local hospitals. Because of space and staff shortages, he was moved to different wards several times.

One ward stood out from all the others. It was as old as the rest of the building. It had the same paint, but its walls were a little brighter; same windows, but more light; same ventilation system, but fresher air. We were fighting the same disease, and for some inexplicable reason, we felt more peace while we were on this ward.

My family didn’t understand how one part of the hospital could be so different from all the rest until we met the Patient Care Manager for the ward. She told us she began each day by praying for every single patient in that unit by name.

"Do you know how long that takes?" she laughed.

Probably a long time. But I was very grateful she took that time each morning. Suddenly the cleaner air, the brighter rooms, and the indescribable peace all made sense to me. I believe it was her prayers that made the difference and made her ward a more pleasant place to be.

She couldn’t possibly have known the difference her prayers made in her patients’ lives while they were in her care and after they went home, but she was convinced it made a difference all the same. And she was right.

Your prayers can make a difference in the lives of your clients and business colleagues as well. If you’re not sure how to start praying for them, here’s a quick guide.

Begin by making a list of all your current clients and people you regularly have contact with for your business. If that’s too long a list to start with, break it down into shorter lists and pray for a different list of names each day.

Set aside time each day to pray for each name on that list. Early morning works best for my prayer time, before the kids get up and I get involved in my business day. Choose a time that works with your schedule. You may need to get up a bit earlier or go to bed a bit later to fit it in.

Here are some ways you can pray for those on your list. Ask God to reveal any other ways He would like you to pray for them.

* The success of their business

* That they will experience God’s love that day

* Their and their family’s safety

* That they will develop their own personal relationship with Jesus, if they haven’t already

Do I know how much time this takes? Yes, I do. But I also know it’s time well spent. The prayer of a righteous work-at-home-mom is powerful and effective.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Denise Willms is co-owner of WAHM-Articles.com, publisher of WAHM-Articles Ezine, and a ghostwriter for WAHMs who don’t like to write. She is author of the free eBook, Uncovering the Secrets of WAHM Article Marketing and A 30-Day Prayer Guide for Work-at-Home-Moms, scheduled for release in 2007. For more information, please visit http://www.wahm-articles.com or email info@denisewillms.com .

Have you been worried or stressed over something that is starting to affect you in more ways than one? There are many reasons we can easily be stressed or worried such as our finances, our relationships, our work; you name it and the worse part is it never seems to go away.

You are not alone; life in itself has enough worries of its own, even in Matthew chapter 6 it says not to worry about tomorrow for tomorrow has enough worries for itself. I want to encourage you that there is hope for your situation and that your worries can be turned into peace if you will heed God’s word about this very normal and common dilemma. Let’s look at what God’s word says about this:

1. Do not worry: Telling someone not to worry is easier said than done. Take comfort in that Jesus understands what you are going through and shares in Matthew that we should not worry because our Heavenly Father is faithful to provide for His children. (Read Matthew 6:25-30)

2. Pray your Petitions to God: Taking our worries and concerns to God can be the best thing you could ever do. The bible says to come to Him and make your requests known to God with assurance that He hears the cries of His children. (Read Philippians 4: 6-7)

3. Come to Jesus: When we are at our worst God is at His best, come to Christ and allow Him to take your burdens and lighten your load. You can be honest with God in prayer, vent to Him, cry to Him and then ask God to take your burdens and believe that He is faithful and He will do it. (Read Matthew Read 11:28-30)

4. Cast Your Cares Upon Him: Cast means to cast off or take off and in this passage it means to cast off your cares to Him, give them over to God and allow him to take them from you, because He cares for you. (Read 1 Peter 5:7)

5. Stay Focused on Him: As you are giving your burdens over to God you can now re-focus your mind and heart back onto Him and off of your troubles, trusting that God is going to take care of you. When you do you will receive His peace in return. (Read Isaiah 26; 3)

6. Trust in Him: Remember that the bible says that Jesus is our peace, and we can put our trust in Him to not only take our burdens but to carry them. Once you give them over to God be sure that you don’t take them back. Put it in His capable hands and leave it there!
(Isaiah 26:4)

Trust in Him that He is faithful and that He will do it. Release it to God and then praise Him and thank Him for being so good to you. God is sovereign; He is still on the throne and in total control. Allow Him to be on the throne of your heart and He will give you much peace in return and so much more.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Filoiann M. Wiedenhoff is a Pastor’s Wife; Work from Home Mom, Woman’s Biblical Counselor, Bible Teacher and Christian Author. Shc writes Christian literature to help ignite, inspire and empower believers into living godly lives that glorify God. You can also visit her website www.filoiannwiedenhoff.com.

Ahh, the holidays. All the sudden we get a twinkle in our eye, a spark in our step and a smile on our face at the thought of all the fun activities the holidays have to offer. From school parties and dances that provide a never-ending array of goodies, chips and dips to the family gatherings that "require" us to eat that second serving of mashed potatoes and the extra slice of pecan pie! After all, we don’t want to hurt Grandma’s feelings do we?

Here are some tips to help you keep and the kids on track without going overboard and regretting any extra weight gain that the holidays so often produce.

MODERATION: Avoidance of extremes.
Avoid eating until you can’t breath! When at a function and everything on the table is calling your name, remember to avoid extreme sampling. Pigging out is never an option however, enjoying the high fat holiday foods should be done in moderation. Moderation is key and indulging too much will definitely put on the pounds, so chose carefully.

PORTION SIZE
When attending family gatherings be mindful of the portion size of food you put onto your plate. Make sure half of your plate is loaded with your favorite veggies, one quarter of the plate with a protein, such as chicken, pork, beef or fish, and the remaining quarter of the plate with a carbohydrate such as, mashed potatoes, candied yams or whole grain roll. Keeping the portion size to a healthy amount is critical when not wanting to pack on the extra pounds. Same goes for dessert. If there are several desserts to sample, then please do so! Have small, bite-sized portions of whatever looks good and enjoy.

PACE YOURSELF
If you know there is an event that will include those hard to resist foods limit the feeding frenzy and pace yourself. Never eat non-stop at a party for an hour straight. Give your food time to digest before diving into a second helping. Eating slowly allows your stomach to communicate with your brain and tells your brain it’s full. Listen to this chatter. You won’t feel overly stuffed and your clothes thank you for it.

DRINK PLEANTY OF WATER
Drinking water with your meals or between dancing will not only keep you hydrated but also fill you up and prevent overeating.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT FOODS
Holiday events bring with them a multitude of food choices that can be hard to resist. Be mindful of the food choices you are making. Chose baked, broiled or grilled foods over batter, deep-fried. Fried foods contain high amounts of calories and fat and should be avoided at all times. When choosing your veggies, chose those that are steamed and prepared without sauces or too much butter. Heavy sauces and an excess of butter add calories and fat on what is normally a very healthful food. Beverage of choice should be water and not soda or fruit juices for these are loaded with sugar, which cause them to be high in calories and will definitely pack on the pounds if not careful.

KEEP ACTIVE
Every day should be occupied with some sort of activity but during the holiday season activity is especially important. Due to the high volume of gatherings with family and friends it’s important to schedule some sort of activity each day. Take a brisk walk, bike ride, sledding adventure or swim for at least 30 to 45 minutes a day. Activity will keep your metabolism running at it’s best and when your metabolism is running well, you will burn fat and calories.

ENJOY
Yes, enjoy! After all, that’s what the holidays are all about. Following these simple and easy tips will allow for all the "required" eating as well as keeping you from having to buy a new wardrobe come January.

About the Author:
Diana Sadtler is a University of Tampa graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise and Sport Science. She is a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

Diana’s passion for fitness and nutrition has sprung her into a lifelong journey in helping others. She currently speaks to women’s groups on how to integrate exercise, nutrition, and healthy habits as part of day-to-day life. In addition to Diana helping her clients achieve optimal health, she also achieves her own personal goals and competes in fitness competitions annually. She enjoys working with individuals of any age and fitness level and believes that exercise and good health is a lifestyle choice.

Diana is also a freelance writer on health and fitness topics. Her articles have appeared in Focus on the Family publications and various fitness websites. To contact Diana with questions or comments, please email her at dsadtlergetfit@tampabay.rr.com.

Some are surprised that my mother in law and I have such a great relationship. I have heard some horrible stories about ‘the mother in law from the dark side’. However, it is possible for you to have a great relationship with your mother in law. Is anything too hard for God (Jeremiah 32:17)?

As Christians we are obligated to love, not like. The bible explains that love covers a multitude of faults, even the endless faults of your mother in laws. Now this task may be extremely difficult, especially if you have envisioned your hands around your mother in law’s throat. You have to repent of those kinds of thoughts. Ask the Lord to renew your mind and cleanse your heart that you may be able to love your mother in law too.

Next, make a commitment to the Lord that you are going to make a legitimate effort to befriend your mother in law in spite of the horns that are protruding from her forehead. Remember that when you commit ‘your way’ unto the Lord and trust also in Him, He will bring it to pass (Psalm 37:5). He will bring it to pass, not the early demise of your mother in law, but that which you have committed unto Him. Also, respect your mother in law, after all she is your husband’s mother. Even if she doesn’t respect you, turn the other cheek. You will be honored by your husband and more importantly God. These are hard truths but the truth shall MAKE you free (John 8:32).

Finally, pray. Say a quick ‘rescue me Lord because I want to choke her’ prayer. It doesn’t have to be a glamorous down on your knees prayer. Sometimes we don’t have time for those long prayers. We need God to do something now. It’s okay to say a quick prayer in your mind, God understands. He knows what we have need of prior to us asking (Matthew 6:8). You may have to grit your teeth and grumble your prayer with clenched fists, whatever the case may be, pray. Your mother in law may or may not come around, but at least you’ll be able to say: Lord I tried. Be persistent and sincere in your efforts because God knows our intentions, whether they are pure or not. Don’t grow weary in well doing because at the appointed time you’ll be rewarded if you don’t give up (Galatians 6:9).

I leave you with this question to ponder. Put yourself in your mother in law’s shoes (no matter how stinky). How would you want to be treated? After all one day you may be the ‘mother in law’.

About the Author:
The Lord has wrought miracles through the life of Takiela Bynum. Life’s circumstances ignited a blaze, and reduced her broken spirit to ashes. She has been restored from cremation and beautified with salvation. Takiela wrote at her leisure as a tween, and her work proved as evidence of incipient literary composer. God had a purpose for her pleasure…to minister. One must first be hurt in order to be healed, held captive in order to be freed, and cast down to be exalted, that is the basis of her prose. She has novels and poetry that are pending publication.

The Lord exchanged the ashes of her life for His beauty, indeed.

Takiela has been married for over ten years to Minister Marterrio Bynum. They have three children and reside in Nebraska. Learn more about Takiela at TakielaBynum.com.