30 Things About Being 30 Weeks Pregnant

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Of varying degrees of importance, and in no particular order.

1. Feeling so many baby kicks and squirms is delightful... even though it always seems to coincide with my bedtime. This little lady is way more active than my last one, and who knows if this will be the last baby? Just soaking it in 💛.

2. Lots of body parts just hurt.

The Routines that are Saving My Life

A few months ago I posted the daily schedule that seemed to be working SO WELL for our family at the moment. I just reread it and had a little chuckle because, predictably, quite a bit of it has changed already.

Life with little people, I'm telling you...

A Bible Reading Plan for Little Ones {When I am Afraid}

Most kids struggle with fear at one time or another. Whether it's the dark, monsters under the bed, or a bully at school; there will be a point in your parenting career that you are faced with a frightened child.

How do we quiet those fears? How do you calm your child down when they are gripped by terror? Sure, the boogey man isn't real- but we do live in a scary world where bad things can happen. We need to be honest with them {at an age-appropriate level} about the scary; we need to prepare them for facing real fears.

For Christian parents, the answer should be obvious: when our children are afraid we need to take them to the Bible and teach them about the God who is in control of all things, and loves His children deeply.

We can assure them that God hears them, He values them, and any hard thing that does happen to them is under His sovereign control, meant for their ultimate good. When they are afraid, our kids can learn to trust God.

Because my kids have the same fears and concerns as any other kid, this is an issue we've tackled again and again in our home. For this reason I've put together a month-long Bible reading plan centered on the theme. It's called, "When I am Afraid, I Will Trust in Thee."

On it you'll find 20 different passages from both the Old and New Testament. The passages are short, designed for the attention spans of toddlers and preschoolers. But because it is the Word of God we are handling, you'll find them relevant to the entire family.

The plan simply lists each passage, titling it with a key point from the text. I've left it very open-ended so that parents can address the context and interpretation. It's a simple but effective tool for getting into the Word with your kids.

I pray that it will be a blessing to your family, and a meaningful way to introduce them to the God who quiets all of our fears!

You can get the printable sent straight to your inbox by signing up for my newsletter here.

If you like this plan, I think you would like my ebook! It's called Read the Bible to Your Kids: A Year of Simple Plans to get into the Word Together. 

I've created 13 topical, month long plans with passages from both the Old and New Testament. The passages are short {for short attention spans!}, and the PDF file can easily be printed off for you to check off boxes as you read.

It's a great, simple solution for families who want to build Word-centered homes. You can find out what people are saying about it, the topics the plans cover, and download your copy for only $4.99 right here.

Quick Homemaking Habits that Pack a Powerful Punch

With all of the potential for discouragement as a homemaker... clutter. never-endingness of laundry. all the people need to eat three meals every single day. the work you do is seemingly taken for granted and under-appreciated....

Sometimes you need a quick win.

Am I right?

A Giveaway {and Conference!} to Encourage You in Your Homemaking

Homemaking is pretty much my favorite job ever.

I love being a stay-at-home mom. I love devoting my days to creating and maintaining a welcoming, comfortable atmosphere to nurture my family and whomever the Lord brings into our home.

But I also get tired. The dishes, laundry, and cleaning are undying cycles that conspire to wear me down. A house full of littles means that my day never quite goes the way I plan or structure it. I struggle with using my time well, staying on top of things, and remembering the greater, eternal purposes behind the mundane jobs that I do.

That's why I'm so excited about this year's Homemaking Ministries Online Conference. Going live the last week of September, over 23 speakers will be sharing inspiration and helpful insight on a broad range of topics that apply specifically to homemakers.

Throw in an active Facebook group of all the attendees, plenty of interaction with other homemakers like me, and a pretty printable notebook for recording insights gleaned- it's going to be a wonderful time of refreshment for women who are passionate about homemaking but could use a little pick-me-up.

I'm also really excited to share with you that I will be speaking this year! It's the first opportunity I've had to participate in something like this, so I'm studying up and praying for wisdom and good words to share. I'd love to "see" you there!

I can't spill any more beans yet, but I've seen the speaker line up.... and it is going to be good. Definitely had a few fan girl moments!

Ticket sales begin Monday, and to kick things off, the Homemaking Ministries Team has put together a lovely giveaway to inspire your homemaking. There are nearly $1,000 in goodies and three big prize winners, plus a $5 off coupon to the conference for every one who enters- so you will definitely want to head on over here and check it out!

What's the one area you need the most encouragement in as a homemaker?