S Club Mama

Christmas is a time of joy for my family. We love the music (Pentatonix Christmas is our favorite this year), the lights, the food, the cookies, the movies, the atmosphere. But Christmas is so much more for us.  image via here I often forget that it's about more. I can get caught up in the hustle and bustle as much as the next person. But when I slow down, I can remember the real reason - Emmanuel. God with us. God the Son came to earth, born of a virgin, born in a stable. He came to be with us. He came to lead us, love us, and die for us.  Without Jesus, Christmas is bland. Gifts will break and be forgotten. Food will leave you too full and uncomfortable. Lights will be taken down, trees put away. But Christ is still Emmanuel.  This is a time to put aside our differences and love like He loved us. This is a time to count our blessings, one by one, to remember how He has been with us (even in those really hard times). This is the time to celebrate His birth! T...

"My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers has been on my night stand for a few years now. It's been pivotal in challenging me deeper into my faith. Since I've read most of it now, I thought I'd look for another devotional to do the same. "Devotions for a Deeper Life" by Oswald Chambers seemed like the next best thing. image via BookLook Many of these devotions were pulled from articles in God's Revitalist from God's Bible School and College in Cincinnati, Ohio where Chambers taught for six months in 1906. I have not gotten through all of this book as it's a devotional, meant to be read day by day. However, these have not been as challenging to me as those written in "My Utmost for His Highest." I'm not really sure why and perhaps as I lean more into it, they will begin to challenge me more. What I do like about this devotional is the suggested reading from Scripture and Prayer Thought at the bottom of each day...

I had a very hard time deciding whether to review this book or not because of the controversy surrounding Brandon Hatmaker and his wife, Jen . I decided to take a look at this book, reading it as I would any other book - with an open mind and a critic's eye (does that sound weird? I like to take a very close look at books, not just skim the surface). Please do not take this book review as condoning the statements made by the Hatmakers but take this book at face value. image via BookLook "Trading a shallow religion for a deeper faith" is the by-line that caught my eye about "A Mile Wide" by Brandon Hatmaker . I want a deep faith, fully connected with a relationship with my heavenly father. Sometimes I feel close to Him, other days He feels miles away...but I know He is always with us...so is it me? Probably. I am fleeting and sporadic in my spiritual disciplines. In order to learn more about how to grow a deeper faith, I picked up Hatmaker's book. I re...

When I first picked up Mindy Kaling's "Why Not Me?" I thought I'd read it already! Oops. That would make it a forgettable book, right? I'm not sure why I thought that; perhaps I read an excerpt somewhere before but as I got passed the first chapter, I definitely had not read this material. Unlike most who have read this book (in my assumptions), I have never seen an episode of The Office or The Mindy Project. They just have never filtered themselves into my must-see-tv queue. However, I am a fan of funny women and have read Amy Poehler's and Tina Fey's books. That is why I decided to pick up "Why Not Me?" . image via Google search What I liked most about the book is that Kaling does not seem to be fake. She talks about tanning and hair extensions and her issues with her weight. I, like many people it seems from reading her book, like that she's not a stick figure. She writes that she is "completely not at peace with the way I lo...

Hillsong United's DVD, "Hillsong - Let Hope Rise" is releasing December 20 on DVD and Blu-Ray combo pack.  Here's a clip from the film featuring United's Taya Smith talking about the meaning of worship.  And in case you want a closer look at the movie, here is a trailer:  GIVEAWAY: I have one (1) DVD to giveaway to a lucky reader! This would make a wonderful addition to your movie collection. HOW TO ENTER:   Mandatory: Tell me your favorite Christmas movie.  Please LEAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS in your comment also so I can contact you. If you don't, I may not be able to contact you to let you know if you have won. Giveaway is open to residents of the US (or people with US PO boxes, Stacey) 18 or over (void where prohibited). Giveaway will run today until Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at 11:59pm (CST).  Disclaimer: I received a DVD in order to host this giveaway. I think it's awesome and I'm excited to share this with others. ...

October and November: Moose still has not had any seizures since his surgery (thank You, Lord!!!). His medicine continues to make him tired but as of late November, we started to give him his medicine earlier in the morning and at night, so that has helped him to stop needing to sleep as much at school. Our school has been amazing accommodating his sleeping and we surely cannot thank them enough. It was difficult some days to know if he NEEDED to sleep or wanted to escape, but they are superb and did their best.  The kids love to watch music YouTube videos. I believe this was for the song that goes with Zootopia "Try Everything" by Shakira. Moose's music program was their best yet! I just adored the songs and hearing him be so excited to perform. Some day I'd like for him to have a bigger part in a play; I think he'd do well but he enjoys it no matter his part. I am very thankful to whichever girl stands behind him for these performances and keep...

  Princess "driving" cars around. She's her brother's sister. My fantastic group of IF:table girls. Please learn more about IF:table  - it has been such a spiritually enriching and encouraging time with these women (a few of whom I knew very little of before meeting together). Go Big Red - cutest Husker supporters! I gave her a devil's creme pie thing - gross. We vacationed at the zoo for a day with some dear college friends of ours. Their youngest and our youngest are about a month apart. Last time we saw them was the day before Princess was born. butterfly pavilion. Squirt so wanted one to land on his finger - no such luck. Not sure what she thought of the goats the babies were good sports, being chauffeured around all day  Then we hit up the children's museum. We love this place! It's been several years since we've been there.  Moose at one of our first times at the children's museum...