Ch-ch-ch-changes

Due to scheduling conflicts, this Tuesday's playgroup (July 28th) will be held at Jena's house. If you need directions contact Jena or myself.

Journey called Motherhood

I was sooo encouraged to hear some of this stuff I had to pass it on to you. I always need to be reminded what path I am on, why I am on it, and that I (and my children) will arrive at my destination safely.

Take a listen to this: http://www.familylife.com/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dnJHKLNnFoG&b=3789887&ct=6957305 or read the transcript. It is a panel of women who answer questions that other wives and moms are asking. Questions like: "If you could have a "do over" in life, what would you want to redo?" These women give great insight to us younger women about being a mom and a wife and how we can make the best decisions today and not have regrets for tomorrow. It is a two part series.

There is one more you need to listen to or read. It is a Q&A with Family Life founder Dennis Rainey's wife Barbara Rainey. She is a godly woman who juggled the demands of raising six children, homeschooling and a husband in ministry. Her insights to the questions she was asked were just what I needed to hear one day. So I want to share them with you.
http://www.familylife.com/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dnJHKLNnFoG&b=3789887&ct=5113013

May you feel encouraged and inspired!

a daughter of the King,
jena

New Links

If you haven't looked around the page lately look down at the area reserved for quick links to other time worthy sites. I have added some recently, specifically links to those sites with great resources we have talked about in bible study. One of those websites is Family Life and a Family Life Moms Blog which also offers great little reads that will encourage you or give you a laugh as we journey this road called motherhood together.

I really cannot say enough great things about the ministry of Family Life. I am a podcast listener mostly these days and often find myself listening to their broadcasts in the car as I drive to the store or wherever I am going. Sometimes I skip a message I cannot quite get into, but for the most part I am amazed at the relevancy these topics and lessons have in my life.

A couple of months ago I listened to a series on the importance of books in your life and your children's lives...in shaping the moral character of their lives. http://www.familylife.com/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dnJHKLNnFoG&b=3789887&ct=4921257

They gave descriptions of these stories and they were fascinating!

There is a list of these books http://www.shopfamilylife.com/teen-summer-reading-so.html

available to purchase directly from Family Life. Or go directly to Lamplighter Publishing http://www.lamplighterpublishing.com/departments.asp?dept=6 to see their list of recommended reading for your child's age.

Whether you like to read or not you'll want to buy them all!

Family Life is heard on 93.9 KPDQ at 9:30 am and on 102.3 Way FM at 10pm on Sundays.

Not to be forgotten is the also impactful Focus on the Family heard on 93.9 KPDQ at 7 and 11 am and at 8 pm.

Age-Appropriate Chores

This is a great article in a series from Focus On The Family's website. If you have ever wondered just what chores you should be encouraging your children to help out with these tips will help you!

Age-Appropriate Chores
Do you know which chores your child can do?

by Sheila Seifert
Focus On The Family


Other articles in series:
Overview
Age-Appropriate Chores
Trade Chores With Your Kids
Inspire Your Kids to Do Chores
My Child Won't Do His Chores
My Teen Won't Do His Chores
Next Steps / Related Information

What chores are important for your children to learn, and what are they capable of doing?
First, recognize the difference between a chore (an ongoing task that benefits the household) and a life skill (an activity that children should know how to do before living on their own, such as managing a checking account). The following list does not include life skills. It is a list of chores.
Second, remember that every child matures at a different pace. Adjust this chart to what you know about your children's skills and talents, and realize that no child should do all of the chores listed below every day.
With those two qualifiers in mind, here are some general guidelines for personal and family chores. This list is only meant as a guide and reflects the types of chores that many children in these age ranges are capable of completing:

Ages 2 and 3

Personal chores:
Assist in making their beds
Pick up playthings with your supervision

Family chores:
Take their dirty laundry to the laundry basket
Fill a pet's water and food bowls (with supervision)
Help a parent clean up spills and dirt
Dust

Ages 4 and 5
Note: This age can be trained to use a family chore chart.

Personal chores:
Get dressed with minimal parental help
Make their bed with minimal parental help
Bring their things from the car to the house

Family chores:
Set the table with supervision
Clear the table with supervision
Help a parent prepare food
Help a parent carry in the lighter groceries
Match socks in the laundry
Answer the phone with parental assistance
Be responsible for a pet's food and water bowl
Hang up towels in the bathroom
Clean floors with a dry mop

Ages 6 and 7
Note: This age can be supervised to use a family chore chart.

Personal chores:
Make their bed every day
Brush teeth
Comb hair
Choose the day's outfit and get dressed
Write thank you notes with supervision

Family chores:
Be responsible for a pet's food, water and exercise
Vacuum individual rooms
Wet mop individual rooms
Fold laundry with supervision
Put their laundry in their drawers and closets
Put away dishes from the dishwasher
Help prepare food with supervision
Empty indoor trash cans
Answer the phone with supervision

Ages 8 to 11
Note: This age benefits from using a family chore chart.

Personal chores:
Take care of personal hygiene
Keep bedroom clean
Be responsible for homework
Be responsible for belongings
Write thank you notes for gifts
Wake up using an alarm clock

Family chores:
Wash dishes
Wash the family car with supervision
Prepare a few easy meals on their own
Clean the bathroom with supervision
Rake leaves
Learn to use the washer and dryer
Put all laundry away with supervision
Take the trash can to the curb for pick up
Test smoke alarms once a month with supervision
Screen phone calls using caller ID and answer when appropriate

Ages 12 and 13

Personal chores:
Take care of personal hygiene, belongings and homework
Write invitations and thank you notes
Set their alarm clock
Maintain personal items, such as recharging batteries
Change bed sheets
Keep their rooms tidy and do a biannual deep cleaning

Family chores:
Change light bulbs
Change the vacuum bag
Dust, vacuum, clean bathrooms and do dishes
Clean mirrors
Mow the lawn with supervision
Baby sit (in most states)
Prepare an occasional family meal

Ages 14 and 15

Personal chores:
Responsible for all personal chores for ages 12 and 13
Responsible for library card and books
Family chores
Do assigned housework without prompting
Do yard work as needed
Baby sit
Prepare food — from making a grocery list and buying the items (with supervision) to serving a meal — occasionally
Wash windows with supervision

Ages 16 to 18

Personal chores:
Responsible for all personal chores for ages 14 and 15
Responsible to earn spending money
Responsible for purchasing their own clothes
Responsible for maintaining any car they drive (e.g., gas, oil changes, tire pressure, etc.)

Family chores:
Do housework as needed
Do yard work as needed
Prepare family meals — from grocery list to serving it — as needed
Deep cleaning of household appliances, such as defrosting the freezer, as needed


Would you like help creating a chore chart? Download these PDFs and get started:


Chore Chart for Youngsters
Chore Chart for Tweens

Free Summer Activity

Are you looking for something to do this summer with the kids that will not hit you too hard in the pocketbook?

Regal Cinemas has started it's free summer movies program again. Check the Regal website to see movie choices.

From the Regal website:

Selected G & PG movies start at 10AM each Tuesday and Wednesday during the festival. First-come, first-served seating is limited to theatre capacity. The Free Family Film Festival is safe, lots of fun and a great way for kids to spend a weekday morning in the summer.

Tickets for our 2009 Free Family Film Festival are exclusively available at select theatres’ box office on the day of the show.

Peanut Butter Pie

A super yummy recipe from Jennifer:

Peanut Butter Pie

9-in. oreo pie crust or graham cracker pie crust (I prefer the oreo!)
3 oz. cream cheese (softened a bit to mix)
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup powdered sugar
12 oz. whipped topping, divided
peanut butter cups, crumbled for topping

In a large mixing bowl, cream together cream cheese and peanut butter until well combined. Mix powdered sugar in and 1/2 of the whipped topping. Scoop into pie crust. Frost pie with remaining whipped topping. Spread crumbled peanut butter cups on top. Refrigerate for several hours to set. Makes 8 servings.

ENJOY!

Do YOU "coupon?"

Here is another food related post! I know we are all trying to be smart with our money these days and one of the best ways we can minimize our spending is in groceries! I have tried to cut back in this department, but admit I haven't gotten on the "coupon bandwagon" yet. Maybe between these two websites I am going to share with you, I will! And hopefully you will too!

I have copied an email that Megan sent out and wanted to share with everyone else in the group. It is in regards to the ever growing popular pastime of "couponing." I will let her email explain what she discovered.

Hello Ladies,

I went to a "couponing" class this week. It was very interesting and I learned a lot about how to "coupon" and save money on our grocery bills. I'm still trying it out but this week I went to Target and got 2 bottles of mayo, 2 bottles of Kraft BBQ sauce and 6 candy bars (Nick liked that part) for free!!! I was going to try and tell you all about it at the next play group but I just looked at her site tonight and she listed a way to get $75 of groceries for free but you have to sign up by June 5th so I thought I should share with you all. I think am going to try and check it out on Monday. Here is here site: http://www.frugallivingnw.com/, check it out and if you have questions I might be able to answer them for you or I would recommend one of her classes if you are interested in them. She says she does do classes for moms groups at churches so if there was enough interest she might do that too.

I am also putting in a link to a website called $5 dollar dinners.com. http://www.5dollardinners.com/ You may have heard about it on an episode of Rachel Ray. (http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/show/segments/view/smartest-savers-america-5-dinners/) She talks about "couponing" as well and how she can't spend more than $5 on meal that she cooks for her family of four. She has recipes and pictures of many of the dishes she prepares. She also guides you in "couponing" and menu planning. And a side note, she professes to be a Christian. How cool is that?

So grab your coupons and check out these sites!