Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

How to Overcome Sin

Noah’s Ark Game

Pass the Stuffed Animal

To play this game, guests will sit in a circle and someone will be in charge of the music. If you have any upbeat Noah’s ark themed songs, then use them. If you don’t have any, then choose whatever song you feel will bring happiness to the moment. When the music starts, players will pass the stuffed animal from hand to hand quickly. When the music stops, the person holding the stuffed animal is ‘out’. No one wants to be stuck with the animal so that’s what makes this game fun. The last player left is the winner and gets to keep the stuffed animal as a prize. There are many animals you can choose to be your ‘stuffed animal’: a lion, a giraffe, an elephant, a zebra or even a teddy bear. This Noah’s ark game takes about 10 minutes to play so if you want it to last longer you can have more stuffed animals and play it over again.

Noahs Ark Game

Imitate the Animals Fast

This game is fairly simple and it’s more about having quick reflexes. Have someone be in charge of taking the lead in this game. The leader will shout out names of animals and so the players must immediately start imitating the animal that the leader just shouted out. For example, if the leader says frog, then the player will crouch down and start jumping. Or if the animal is an elephant, then everyone can ‘imitate’ the elephant’s trump, etc. That seems simple enough, except the leader will start to change from one animal to the next very quickly. The person who takes too long to start imitating the next animal is ‘out’. The last player standing in this Noah’s ark game wins a special gift.

Noah’s Ark Games

Hangman Word Fun

To play this game with a lot of people you can set up a large white board where you will draw the hangman. Separate players into two separate teams. Each team sits on their own side of the room. Have a previous list of Noah’s Ark related words written on small sheets of paper. To make this game harder use words that may be a bit more difficult to guess such as the names of Noah’s children. It’s fun to make things hard LOL !!!
Players of both teams will take turns on who will be up to lead the game. The leader picks one of the words from the hat and writes the amount of spaces of the letters in that word on the white board.
Each team will have a separate hangman and will take turns guessing the letters to fill in the word. If they guessed the letter correctly, the leader fills in where that letter is. If the team guessed incorrectly, then they get a part of the body drawn on the hangman. At any moment, anyone can shout out their guess of the word. However if they guess the word incorrectly they get one more piece to the hangman put on. Whichever team guesses the word correctly first wins. The team with the most words guessed wins the grand prize which can be several Noah’s ark gifts.

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Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

Noah’s Ark Games for Kids

The Trade-in Stores Can be a Good Way to Make Money Online

Everyday thousands, probably hundreds of thousands of people search the Internet for ways to make money online from home. It’s a common question on message forums, countless people create
blogs about it, and unfortunately, far too many people fall victim to the ever increasing number of scams and bad money-making ideas being advertised.

The other day I came upon a new way to make money online by getting rid of unused stuff that’s gathering dust at home. I discovered Amazon.com’s Trade-In Stores.

I’ve sold used books and music CDs through Amazon before, and in fact I was looking at prices with the intention of selling a textbook when I discovered trade-ins. I searched for the book by its ISBN number and when I clicked through to the page, I saw the link reading, "Sell this back for an Amazon.com Gift Card."

Apparently the Textbook Trade-in Program has been around for a couple of years. More recently Amazon added trade-in programs for electronics, video games, and movies and TV. Items in these categories that meet specific criteria can be exchanged for a gift card which will be deposited onto your Amazon account.

Here’s how it works:

1 – On the main trade-in page search for the item you want to trade-in. For books the ISBN is the easiest way to search. For electronics try the model number and for video game and DVDs you can use the ASIN.

2 – When there is an exact match you’ll see the item and the trade-in value on the next screen.

3 – If the value is acceptable to you, click the trade in button and on the next screen check the criteria for the trade.

To be eligible for trade-in each item must be an exact match. If you have an older version or different model number the item won’t be accepted.

4 – Once you’ve added all your trade-ins to the list, click the "continue" button to proceed to the shipping page. UPS shipping is free. You can choose a different method, but you’ll have to pay the shipping cost for other carriers.

You will also indicate whether or not to have them returned to you if it’s not in good condition or is unacceptable for any reason.

5 – Print the packing list and shipping label, pack up your item(s) and ship them within 7 days. I shipped two books on a Friday, they reached the trade-in center (just a couple states away) on Tuesday, and the gift card was in my account on Wednesday.

What I like about the trade-in program:

1. It feels like free money. The items might otherwise sit around my house for years before they are donated or discarded.
2. It’s easy. Just search, click, pack, and ship.
3. I don’t have to list the items, compete with other sellers, and wait to see if someone will buy. And I don’t have to worry about customer service or returns.
4. I purchase from Amazon regularly so the gift card is a nice benefit for me (others may prefer cash to spend anywhere).
5. It’s fun. It’s a little like a treasure hunt, going around the house looking for unused items to trade.
6. It’s green. Many of the trade-ins would otherwise end up dumped in landfills.
7. It’s fairly quick. If you need something Amazon sells but you don’t have the cash for it, you can turn around a trade-in and have your purchase delivered within about ten days to two weeks.
8. It’s good motivation for clearing out some of the clutter in your house.

What’s not as likable about the trade-in program:

1. Delayed gratification because of shipping time. Local stores such as BestBuy and GameStop offer immediate rewards.
2. You’ll have to spend some time searching for your items, packing, and delivering the box to the shipper, and you’ll need boxes and packing fillers to protect the items during shipping.
3. You might be able to get more for the item if you sell it through Amazon Marketplace or an online auction site.
4. You can only use your proceeds to shop at Amazon and the gift cards are not transferable.
5. Limits. Only certain items can be traded and there is a $750 limit per transaction. However, there is no limit to the number of transactions.
6. It’s not a steady income. As much stuff as we all accumulate over the years, you will run out of items to trade in.

Trading in the stuff you no longer need can be profitable. Uncluttering your surroundings has other, non-financial benefits as well. You’ll have a better organized and cleaner home, the things you keep will be more valuable to you, and you’ll gain a sense of freedom from feeling tied down by too much stuff.

Interested in blogging as a way to make money? Linda Stacy offers tips and resources on how to start a blog and where to find professional PLR articles.

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

Amazon trade in program ~ text book, movies and electronics

Blessings always,

Eren Mckay

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

You Never Lose ~ A Great Way to Save Money and Have Fun

Have you ever been afraid to love? Do you find yourself

running from deep relationships?

Feel free to share in the comment section below.

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

Choose love not fear in 2012

Have you

willfully given

those keys

over to someone

less than worthy?


Are you certain

that this power

won’t be

misused?

image credits:

http://www.fotopedia.com/items/flickr-220224419

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

Key to My Heart Poem

I really loved this infographic. Personally I have found that there are pros and cons to technology when parenting.

It’s all about finding out what works in each specific family situation. I’ll be writing about this soon.

Blessings always,

Eren Mckay

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

How Technology Has Changed Raising Children

Clickable Table of Contents

ღ Toddler Sites with the Largest Amount of Games Back to Table of Contents Top Some toddlers have been able to play the preschool games.. It really depends on each child and each specific situation. So I have included some preschool links in this list too. All links to outside websites on this page will automatically open in a new tab so that you don’t lose your place. Remember that most of these sites have have sounds. Enjoy! 1) Sesame Street This site is my favorite for toddlers. It is so much fun, interactive and also has such a huge selection of activities. Your little one will spend hours here. Click here for Sesame street games 2) Baby TV This site has easy navigation and is perfect for little ones. Click here for Baby TV. 3) Fisher Price Fisher Price has a big array of fun games and activities.. For the Toddler Game Selection (orange tab) click here For the Infant Game Selection (purple tab) click here For the Preschool Game Selection (green tab) click here 4) Up To Ten Click here for Up to Ten 5) ABC for Kids this site has such a huge collection of different games it can sometimes get overwhelming. However it is a great site and your kids will love playing the games. Click here for ABC Kids ღ Other Toddler Educational Sites ღ Back to Table of Contents Top 6) StoryPlace StoryPlace has preschool stories and activities organized by theme that toddler will love to hear and do. They are also interactive. Includes Bath Time, Colors, Crocodiles, Firefighters, Music, Shapes and more… Click here for Story Place 7) Fun with Spot Fun with Spot has an introductory story and then more games and activities to choose from. Click here for Fun with Spot 8 ) Bembos Zoo Bembos Zoo where letters turn into animals and characters when the child click on the letter. There is sound when you land on the page. Click here for Bembos Zoo 9) Peekuboo Click the orange try it now it`s free button and a story will start. After your child plays that story other free activities will be given. I really liked Peekuboo because the activities were simple enough for wee ones to feel comfortable and not get lost. Click here for Peekuboo 10) KneeBouncers They give 4 free games for toddlers. The rest of the them are a payed subscription .. so personally I would just use the 4 free games Click here for kneebouncers 11) Go Baby Story Go baby – help baby find items story book Click here for this cute storybook 12) Fungooms Click here for Fungooms 13) Julia’s Rainbow Corner Click here for Julia’s Rainbow Corner ღ Famous Characters Sites ღ Back to Table of Contents Top 14) Teletubbies Teletubbies activities like hide and seek, peek a boo, a shapes game Click here for Teletubbies 15) Clifford Click here for Clifford 16) The Berenstain Bears Click here for the Berenstain Bears 17) Angelina Ballerina Click here for Angelina Ballerina 18) Thomas the Tank Engine Click here for Thomas the Tank Engine 19) Bob the Builder Click here for Bob the Builder 20) Strawberry Shortcake Click here for Strawberry Shortcake games More posts that your children will enjoy: Alphabet Online Activities Easter Bunny Online Games Easter Egg Hunt Stories Thanksgiving Online Activities Bible ABC Poem Gingerbread Man Fun There`s also this article about Children’s & family entertainment that has some great ideas on learning family values while having fun.

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

Play toddler games online

Don’t worry about

me…


I like it when you

worry about me…


Don’t trouble yourself

with me…


I love it when you take

care of me.


No I don’t need

anything…


Yes I need you to

notice me.


I’m fine…


I’m hurting…


Oh all is well…


…..


…..


I’m so very strong…


My frailty is killing me.


Words will never hurt me…


Your words have made me vulnerable.


Broken shattered heart


Scrambling to find the pieces of me


And put myself together again


Concealed.


by Eren Mckay




What did this poem mean to you?

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

Short Broken Heart Poems

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

How Dangerous is Cell Phone Bacteria?

There`s a lot of entertainment out there but, unfortunately, we haven`t seen many ~values based~ cartoons lately. I always prefer to choose shows that teach values giving us the opportunity to have conversations with our kids about various important topics.
Make sure to ask questions to your children that will spark conversation after watching. You can talk about right and wrong, relationships and also discuss feelings.

If you have small children, you should choose a show that is age appropriate and still entertaining. Since I have 3 boys, I know that they especially love any transportation themed topics, like cars, planes, trains, etc. So when I saw Mike da Mustang I immediately knew that it was a cartoon that would appeal especially to boys. Of course some little girls will like it too .

There have been times when I picked a cartoon for family time and my kids completely ignored the show within a few minutes. That`s why its so important to pick a show that also is engaging.

I found a video of the Mike da Mustang

You can show it to your kids. The lessons in it can serve for us as parents too. The thing I really like about it is that it teaches us to be more understanding and grateful, and to not be afraid to take a walk in someone else’s shoes – or tires

You can talk about this with your kids in a very natural way.
Here`s a link to the full Mike da Mustang cartoon video (will open in a new window and start to play automatically). Right here below you can watch a smaller trailer. I also included a summary of the show after the video. You can also like Mike da Mustang on Facebook.. I already have. Enjoy! And also let me know what you think in the comment section below.

Summary of the show

Mike Da Mustang, created by Air Show Buzz, is like a modern day Little Engine That Could with a Pixar-esque quality. What began as a small sketch has become a story of friendship and never giving up on your dreams. When Mike, the P-51 Mustang, becomes grounded after he clips his wing, he spends his time with the heart-warming Axel the truck, who is a huge fan of Mike and dreams of flying.
When Mike loses himself in the kind, humbleness of Axel and his friends he learns to appreciate those who are different and even be grateful for his own abilities that he may have been taking for granted. The show is a favorite among the children and a real home run for Air Show Buzz.

image credit

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

Children’s & family entertainment – Mike da Mustang

Music by Christopher Lloyd Clarke



(I personally listen to calm instrumental music almost all day long while I work and it has really transformed my daily experience. I recommend you try it sometime. Here`s a post that you may enjoy that talks about how to calm down while being productive.)

Many people have no idea how color is affecting them. They go through getting tasks done each day without thinking about what is happening in their minds. The truth is that we have the power to choose our perspective on things. We can not control all that happens to us.. only how we look at it. The more in tune we are to who we are, the easier for us to take control of our thought life and consequent actions and truly find inner peace.

Studying colors not only helps you grow personally but also is a great asset when developing true genuine relationships.


When you understand who you are, you are able to also identify and understand who other people are and consequently form a deep bond.
Speaking of deep bonds, let`s talk a little bit about the meaning of the color pink. Pink is a color many times associated with what is feminine and even girlie. Pink is a mixture of two colors: red and white. Red is a color tied to passion and white is linked to purity and peace. When mixed together the balance comes out as love. Pink is the color of compassion and empathy. Maybe this is why it is so associated to the feminine: because women are often times much more in tune to their feelings and expressing them.

Pink is associated to being able to feel what others feel. It also expresses an open heart. When someone wears the color pink it is an unconscious sign that they want to feel connected to others and approachable.

Studies have been done to understand how color impacts our emotions.

An online test has been created based on the research by Dr. Max Lascher that can indicate your current emotional state. I personally took this test and the results were spot on 100% in my case. If you would like more insight about how you are feeling at this current moment you can take this free test by clicking here. (Will open in a new window.)
Of course this test is based on your current emotional state and since your emotions change from time to time, the test will give different results if you take it at different times. Still, it is worth taking in my opinion.
Understanding colors can also give you an idea as to how to go about decorating the environment you live in for a better emotional experience. It can also convey feelings when you give gifts and flowers to other people.


What do pink roses mean?

It depends on the shade of pink. For example a deep shade of pink will signify gratitude and thanks. A lighter shade of pink can mean sympathy, sweetness and gentleness. A medium shade of pink portrays happiness and admiration. If you would like to send more of a romantic feel then mix dark shades with light shades of pink in the flowers you give… Of course you can give pink flowers and not have any kind of romantic connotation to it. Sometimes light pink flowers are given to those in grief.


Pink has been my favorite color ever since I can remember.

Pink is not only a color I really like, it`s almost a passion of mine. My mom said that I used to always choose my pink outfits when I wanted to go out as a little girl. I only found out recently what the color pink meant. And I was shocked at how it really described my personality. Pink is the color where the person is open and approachable and I have always been open and trusting to the point of being naïve and gullible. If you really truly have a color that you are passionate about, it might be describing something deeper about you.
Do you like pink? Why or why not? Think about what this means to you and share in the comment section below. And if you`re not signed up to my newsletter, you may do so by filling in your name and email at the bottom of the post or by going to this page and filling in the form. (I send special freebies that I find to my subscribers.)

The following photographs that emphasize the color pink might bring out certain feelings, sensations and memories in you… I put them in the post for you to reflect and maybe even write out what feelings come to mind when looking at them. When you find a certain image or color tone makes you feel happier.. then you can also think about how you can incorporate that color into your daily routine for a better quality life. Color can be added to several aspects of our lives and it makes all the difference in the world.

ღ Pink Cupcake Collection ღ




ღ Pretty in Pink Trees ღ




ღ Wondrous Tulips that Rise in the Spring ღ




ღ Pink Childhood Memories ღ




ღ Pink Automobile ღ




ღ Gorgeous Deep Pink ღ

I will be writing about what other colors mean and how they influence the human mind in future posts. I hope this helped you in some way.

Blessings always,

Eren Mckay

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

Get Inspired ~ Discover How the Color Pink Affects Your Emotions..

We started out on Tuesday speaking about what is emotional health and its importance to our overall well being! When you are emotionally intelligent, you are able to relate better, not only to others and God, but to yourself as well. It’s important to know how to relate to yourself because you learn how to have better self care as a result!

Here are some techniques in emotional management that you can begin applying today to help you become emotionally smart in the three most important areas of your being.

1- Spiritually

With anything that you are dealing with, having some scriptures as a part of your daily life will help you grow and give you moments of calm. Here are a few that help with emotional management:

a. It takes wisdom to be able to manage emotions. The Word says…

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” 
James 1:5

Seeking wisdom from God will help you see how the emotion is helping or hindering your walk, your relationships, and your life.

b. God can restore your emotional health because He is a healer. The Word says…

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
1 Peter 5:10

If you suffer with emotional issues, give them to God. You can trust Him to heal you, teach you, and guide you into an emotionally healthy existence.

c. In the midst of your emotional heartache, cry out to God. Sometimes we do not understand what our emotions are doing to us but we know something is not right. The Word says…

“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.”
Psalm 34: 17-20

God will heal your emotional rift if you simply call on Him. Emotions will tear you apart if not managed properly so let God manage them for you and show you how to maintain them.

2- Physically

a. Exercise: Walking is a great stress reliever and lifting weights is a good way to release the emotion of anger because of the resistance factor.


b. Eating: Try to steer clear of sugar and fast foods in your diet because they lower your energy level which in turn makes your tired. When you are tired your emotional management capabilities are weakened.

c. Herbs: Herbs like valerian root, passion flower, and chamomile are great to help ease a troubled mind and relieve your worry.

3- Mentally

In the Masterlife Series, book 2 deals with the disciple’s personality. There is a section in the book that talks about mastering your emotions.  In the section they provide a handy acronym I use with all my clients who are dealing with emotional blocks in their life. That acronym is A.C.T.I.O.N.
Let me break it down for you letter by letter so you can get a deeper understanding and start using this in your life today for emotional management:

A – Acknowledge the emotion. Don’t fight it. Deal with it!

C – Consider why you have the emotion. Take a look at the triggers.

T – Thank God that He will help you master that emotion. With God all things are possible.

I – Identify the biblical response to the emotion and the circumstance. Truly God’s Word has an answer for each emotion we deal with.

O – Obey the Holy Spirit. He is ready to lead you to victory.

N – Nurture the appropriate Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5). If we refocus our actions we can have victory over the emotion.

The bottom line is that God gave us emotions. However He expects us to use them in a controlled, proactive manner. The typical response when working from emotions is to react. There will be occasions when we’re going to feel angry, insulted, hurt, and a multitude of other responses. The key is to take the proper ACTION.

What are your thoughts? Where does your emotional intelligence range on a scale of 1 to 10? Do you struggle with your emotions?
Be sure to comment to be entered into the giveaway for this blog. I am giving away a copy of Joyce Meyer’s Book Love Revolution and 30 minutes of emotional management coaching with me.
============================
Again, I want to extend my thanks to Eren for the time I was able to spend with you.




LaTara Ham-Ying a certified herbalist, writer, Biblical Life Coach, entrepreneur, and the Founder of Integrated Woman Ministries; a coaching ministry that focuses on helping Christian work at home women find their true path through abundant integrated living. She emphasizes the use of practical Biblical Strategies for healing, transformation, and living in the NOW for a better life and business. For a membership option that will help you mind, body, and spirit visit Integrated Woman Ministries today and learn more about the IWM VIP FREE membership option for Christian work at home women http://integratedwomanministries.com/vip-membership

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

How to Improve Emotional Intelligence

This may be an odd way of starting a post, but I have a few a questions for you.
• Do you deal with your emotions in a healthy way?
• Do you deal with life with your emotions at the helm?
• Do you find it difficult to get your emotions under control?
• Have you ever wondered what the Word says about emotions
and how it tells us to deal with them?

When I learned about emotional health and how the emotions can work, I learned that what we feel can be good or bad depending on the situation. There are many ways to interpret emotions and that is why knowing how to manage them is pertinent. People who learn to manage emotions well fair better in cooperative situations; and are good with motivating and managing others.

On the other hand, people who never learn to manage emotions often misinterpret emotional signals and have difficulty with relationships. This is what scientists call emotional intelligence. Although emotional intelligence probably has an inherited component, it is believed by many psychologists that people can be guided into making better use of the emotional intelligence that they possess.

“Emotional intelligence refers to people’s ability to monitor their own and other people’s emotional states and to use this information to act wisely in relationships.”

Maybe you are reading this and you say that you are not that emotionally intelligent. That is ok because it can become a healthy habit. However it takes work to become emotionally smart.
I still deal with not allowing my emotions to take over good judgment. However, after taking the classes I did to learn more about emotions and how to handle them, I have learned some techniques that will help anyone learn to effectively manage their emotions.

If your emotions are not healthy then it has a direct effect on how you run your business and your life.
Physically, when your emotions are “out of whack”, so is your body. Spiritually, when your emotions are off kilter, then your walk with God seems pretty dull and listless.

Some dangers of not getting your emotions under control include…
• Distorted perception causing a false sense of reality
• Assumption living – you assume more than you find facts
• Miserable existence
• Depression, suicide, and other conditions

The dangers of mismanaging your emotions go even deeper than what was just mentioned and when they go that deep it can almost take you to the edge of no return!

Part 2 of this topic I share techniques that you can use to help you manage your emotions for healthier living → How to Improve Emotional Intelligence.
=========================================
First let me say thank you to Eren for allowing me to speak with her readers this week. I am always humbled when someone thinks enough of me to let me share my little ole’ thoughts.
For those reading this post and the next one that will be up on Thursday, be sure to comment because I am having a giveaway for each leg of the month long tour and will be announcing the winners January 31, 2011 over at the Integrated Woman Blog! Comments must be relevant to the subject at hand!
The prize for this blog is a copy of Joyce Meyer’s book Love Revolution and 30 minutes of emotional management coaching with me.




LaTara Ham-Ying a certified herbalist, writer, Biblical Life Coach, entrepreneur, and the Founder of Integrated Woman Ministries; a coaching ministry that focuses on helping Christian work at home women find their true path through abundant integrated living. She emphasizes the use of practical Biblical Strategies for healing, transformation, and living in the NOW for a better life and business. For a membership option that will help you mind, body, and spirit visit Integrated Woman Ministries today and learn more about the IWM VIP FREE membership option for Christian work at home women http://integratedwomanministries.com/vip-membership

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

What is Emotional Health ?

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”

Philippians 4:8

Also you can surround yourself with colors that calm you down and bring you joy…Discover how color affects your emotions in this article about what is the meaning of the color pink?

You can share your own thoughts on finding inner peace in the comment section below:
Did you like this post? If you did, please link to it from your blog or website. This will help others find it and I will be very ღ grateful to you ღ.

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

Finding inner peace

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

How to find joy … flowing joy

Know Your Purpose and Goals Another thing that we need to have in order to be happy is an understanding that we each have a special and individual purpose in life. We are here to fulfill that purpose which is to love and help others in whatever God has called us to do. Even though each of us is different we all play an important role in this world. Developing a relationship with God will help you understand your purpose in life and exactly where He wants to use you. Once you know your purpose, you can start setting goals. Having achievable goals will definitely help you grow in happiness and fulfill you deeply. Celebrate Your Unique Self One of the biggest joys in life is accepting yourself and celebrating your uniqueness. It’s okay to be different and even weird sometimes. We might even end up castrating ourselves in little things because of what society might think of us. Doing this is a definite “joy killer”. For a while I even did this to myself but then realized that it was not good for my emotional health. You can read more about this topic in this post where I admit that I still love Barbies even though I’m 32 Decide to Be Positive Most people that I know are negative. They live in the habit of seeing everything through what I call “sad sunglasses”. They can’t enjoy beauty or life simply because they see all things through a really negative perspective. In order to be positive and not get derailed by the storms of life we need to learn how to instill a positive mindset and also know how to fight off thoughts that aren’t good for us. If we allow thoughts that cause sadness to come into our minds and “make their bed” (so to speak), these can take us down a really dark road. Fighting off these negative thoughts is a spiritual warfare and God gave us the tools to win this battle. Being stubborn is often seen as a bad thing but there is a case in which it’s actually good: when you are stubbornly positive. Make it a point to find the positive in whatever situation. This hasn’t always been an easy thing for me to do but the more I work at it, the better I get. If you think this is impossible to do I want to guarantee that it is possible. In this life, it’s the only way to truly be happy. Can you be stubbornly positive too? Make Time for Joy Many times we get so caught up in doing things and solving practical issues that it seems that we have no time to just do whatever we want. Don’t allow yourself to overwork as it will steal joy away from you. When was the last time you gave yourself a whole morning or afternoon to do whatever your heart desired? Think … Was it last week or last month or maybe a few months ago? Getting caught up in the busyness of life can rob us of beautiful joys that we didn’t even know were there. You should also think about surrounding yourself with colors that bring you happiness. Discover how color affects your emotions in this article about what is the meaning of the color pink? Give Yourself a Permission Slip So I invite you today to give yourself a permission slip to have free time. Time for you to recharge your emotional batteries. Did you know that you have emotional batteries? Yep you sure do. And they need to be recharged. Another metaphor for this is having an emotional tea cup. Your emotional tea cup needs to be filled. Make “free time” a part of your daily life.. not something that you only do once in a while. If you really don’t have time every day then do it every 2 or 3 days. I guarantee that you will be a lot happier if you do this. What Do You Do in Your Free Time? Now if you’re a left brain rational thinker you may be wondering what in the world I’m talking about. You may also be thinking that you won’t enjoy this “free time” very much because you have no idea what to do with it. I’ll tell you some things that I do in my free time. You can read over these activities. When reading each one, think about how much fun each one will be. The activities that excite you the most are the ones that you should try out first. You can add more ideas to this list. • Watch a Comedian • Paint • Learn Crafts • Decorate a Webpage • Decorate Things with Stickers • Plan a Party • Do Something Nice for Someone • Listen to Positive Meditation or Meditate • Look at Beautiful Artwork • Decorate Your Home • Create a Family Video • Scrapbook a Photo Album • Give Gifts to People • Watch Happy Movies • Teach a Skill to Someone • Listen to Fun Radio Programs • Browse Inspiring Blogs • Play Video Games • Watch an Upbeat T.V. Program • Call Up a Positive Friend and Have a Nice Chat • Start an Inspiration Notebook This list will only help you raise your happiness level if you actually start doing some of these things on a regular basis. There are many more things that will restore and inspire you. Do you have any ideas? Please share in the comment section below what you do to fill your emotional tea cup! Don’t forget to sign up for the Embracing Home Newsletter. Blessings always ♥, Eren

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Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

How to Be and Stay Happy

Sometimes I’ve been working all day long and then I finally get a few moments at night to rest. That’s the moment when I’m like “Ooooh I just would looove to eat this or that!” My mind starts to race and I can just see images of food flashing through my brain.

All these thoughts start coming. Then to make matters worse, somebody on T.V. starts talking about food! (Like I don’t already have enough to battle with my own desires !)
Not that I don’t like hearing about food. Actually I love eating it, smelling it, touching it . The thing is, I need to be careful to only be thinking about food once in a while- definitely not when I’m trying to focus on losing weight.

Here’s an illustration of what ends up happening inside my head:
On the one side I hear myself saying

(the bad me)
- “Oh there’s no problem with eating just a little more of this…Just a little teensie bit more” I say.
Then I catch myself and find that I’m going down the wrong thinking pattern and I say:

(the good me)
- “No Eren, you can’t eat that! If you add up all of these little bits here and there that will end up becoming one BIG chunk of calories and you won’t achieve your weight loss goals. Stop Eren. Stop! You’ve already eaten all the calories for this day.”


So you’d think that by this time I would have convinced myself to NOT eat outside the amount that I should, right?
Well…think again because somehow I manage to come back with another thought:

(the bad me)
- “Oh but you deserve to eat a little more. You’re tired and need to rest.”

It’s truly amazing how we can set ourselves up for failure when we aren’t determined to change a habit.
The whole notion of “deserving to eat” is based upon a false precept that overeating is some kind of reward for all the hard work in other areas of our lives.

The fact is that when this internal battle starts going on, I stop everything I’m doing and focus on destroying all the excuses and so-called reasons for overeating. If I don’t consciously stop and redirect my thoughts, the wrong thinking patterns end up winning and take over my will power.

This reminds me of a Bible verse that talks about the internal battle that happens to all of us. This verse talks about us casting down all wrong thinking. It refers to it as a warfare and to tell you the truth that’s exactly what it feels like- an internal war. If you’ve ever tried to lose weight you know exactly what I’m talking about. This tug of war is a constant battle that seems to never end.
Here’s the verse that I was talking about:

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

In order to be a winner in this battle I really have to stop and regroup my thoughts. And believe me, when I’ve done this it HAS worked. It’s taken me two years but I achieved my weight loss goal of losing 70 pounds.


What is the top priority in your weight loss journey?

All of the actions that you take towards achieving your weight loss goals need to stem from an internal motivational strength.
So many times people focus on all of these details. They think that there is a magic food or pill that will solve all of their issues. The fact remains that losing weight is a huge accomplishment. Maintaining that weight loss is even bigger.

In order to achieve anything the motivation has to be high. Or else when the difficult moments arise you’ll feel like giving up.
I want to challenge you to focus on keeping that energy way up there. Keep it really high.
Every time I maintain my motivation and place it as a TOP priority, I’m able to overcome and achieve my weight loss goals. It’s all about what goes on inside of our hearts.


Here are my top 3 motivational tips to help you in your weight loss journey

1- Remember the reasons why… Make sure you have high levels of motivation by remembering all of the reasons why you are losing weight.

How can you keep those reasons top of mind?

a) Write out a list of these reasons. Keep them somewhere visible where you can always be reminded. If you believe in the Bible, you can also meditate on these encouraging Bible verses. Make it a part of your routine to think about your motivators.

b) Keep a journal and write about these motivators. Write about whatever you personally need help overcoming on each specific day. A journal will also help you work out any negative thoughts that come your way and you can shoo them off them as you go.


2- Protect your emotional life so that this level of inspiration does not go down. By this I mean – don’t listen to “nay sayers”. Avoid situations where there is a lot of negativity that can possibly throw “ice water” on your excitement. Avoid conversations with “know-it-alls” who will negate everything you discover or get excited about.

Be careful about what kinds of things that you allow yourself to watch and listen to. How many times have you watched a program to only find yourself completely unmotivated to keep going? If something is not helping you simply make the decision to not incorporate it into your life anymore.

Watch things that are really helpful and encouraging. Some examples of things to watch or listen to to keep you motivated are weight loss T.V. shows, weight loss podcasts and exercise DVDs. ( By the way Angie Newton from Losing it and Loving it did a very thorough review that you should check out on Jillian Michael’s 30 day shred workout videos .) Watching these kinds of videos will definitely help you keep moving.

3- Catch yourself and redirect when going into a negative and wrong thinking pattern. I call this occurrence the “Wrong Thoughts Road”. Don’t let yourself go down that road.


Many times people don’t even notice that they have gone down this wrong thinking pattern. They don’t realize that there is an internal dialogue going on. The fact is that this is always happening and we need to be constantly vigilant to remain on the right road in our minds.
If our minds are under control then the rest will obey. When I’m internally strong you can put the most delicious cake in front of me and I won’t budge. Really – I wont. BUT- if I’m not strong that day – I’ll hunt the cake down!! LOL

It’s really difficult to ignore our desires when they start getting strong and throwing arguments into our minds. I know this because I’ve been there many times. You really have to nip it in the bud.
When desires for overeating start to spring up, stop and deal with that immediately.

We need to be attentively watching our hearts so that we are not fooled by our old fallen nature.
I totally admire my cousin who lost weight in the most difficult year of her life (her father had just passed away). She achieved great success with her weight loss. You can go see her before and after weight loss pictures here.
What about you? What has worked for you in keeping yourself motivated? Do you have any tips that have been really helpful and could help others?
Please share with us in the comment section below:

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

Quotes for weight loss motivation

I remember all the things

You did for me as a child

Every time you looked at me

Wiped my tears and smiled



When it was time to go to sleep

You’d come and tuck me in

And play the “buzzing bee game”

Tickling my chin.



When performing the school play

I found you in the crowd

I saw the love – your eyes sparkled

I knew I’d made you proud.



You were always so caring

And also so alert

Protecting and advising

So that I wouldn’t get hurt



Thank you for every time

you tried and helped me rise

For every time you gave me hugs

And sang me lullabies



Raising me wasn’t easy

It must have been so tough

To put up with all my stubbornness

I can’t thank you quite enough



When the waves of life hit hard

I was tempted to do wrong,

Your wisdom grounded me

Your example kept me strong.



All the things you’ve sacrificed

Demonstrate your love

You’re my constant inspiration

You’re my gift from up Above.








You might want to check out BK’s beautiful poem about loving our mothers →When I am Old.

And also Cherrie Bautista was able to get me crying (hee hee) with this absolutely gorgeous letter → To My Mom.


image credits:

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

Christian Poem for Mother’s Day

Each person will feel and think different things when they ponder it. After I looked at it for a while, it came to my conscious mind that it is a symbol of how I view my calling as a mother and homemaker.

Each button represents everyday tasks I perform as a parent.
Small acts of kindness…

The thread that ties the buttons together represents what unites all of my actions- the ever present reason for everything- the love that I have for them.
And all of the buttons thread together form a beautiful heart.

The heart represents each child. There’s a quote that says…

Having children is like having your beating heart walking on the outside of your body.

And that describes so well what I feel for my boys. I’m sure if you’re a parent, you feel the same way.
Each time you wash the dishes, read them a story, pack a lunch or iron your children’s shirts you are adding one more button to the heart. You are building them up.

The ministry of mothering is a very fulfilling one. As mothers we pay attention to small things and these are what fills our hearts. Maria from Conversations with Moms wrote a post about simple things that make her proud as a mom. Focusing on those results like Maria did really encourages us as parents.

Nurturing our children brings forth character and other fruit in their lives. We can’t physically see the results of all of our acts but we know that they are being built up spiritually. Parenting is a much higher calling than achieving any material goal. You are completing the wonderful ministry that God has placed in your life.

Visualizing this heart really encourages me as a parent. Does it encourage you? What thoughts come to your mind with this image?Please share in the comment section below.
If you haven’t signed up for the Embracing Home Newsletter you may do so by clicking this link an filling in the form.

ღ.Other articles you may enjoy.ღ

• Great ideas on family bonding activities.

• How to develop deep friendships.

• Children’s & family entertainment

image credit:

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

Inspirational Parenting Quotes – How I See My Calling

Hi there! Here you’ll find all sorts of fun Easter themed activities. The best online games from around the web are organized for kids to simply choose and play.
At the top of this page is a clickable Table of Contents so that you can easily find what you want. There are also links next to each section’s title that will bring you back to the Table of Contents. Each game opens up in a new window which makes it easier to simply come back and choose the next game once you are done playing.
By the way, if you’d like to stay updated on new and fun resources you’ll want to sign up for the Embracing Home newsletter by clicking on this link and filling in the form.

♥ Easter Online Games ♥

♥ Easter Online Activities ♥

♥ Easter Online Games ♥ ♥ Click the Buttons for Easter Online Activities ♥ Back to Table of Contents Top              ♥ Easter Egg Hunt Games ♥ Back to Table of Contents Top ( Click and drag to find the eggs then drag the eggs and put them in the basket. ) ♥ Veggietales Chocolate Bunnies and Eggs Games ♥ Back to Table of Contents Top    ♥ Easter Online Memory Games ♥ Back to Table of Contents Top ♥ Easter Dress up Online Games ♥ Back to Table of Contents Top   ♥ Easter Online Activities ♥ ♥ Online Easter Egg Decorating ♥ Back to Table of Contents Top ♥ Easter Online Jigsaw Puzzles ♥ Back to Table of Contents Top    ♥ Easter Online Coloring for Kids ♥ Back to Table of Contents Top ♥ Easter Online Word Search ♥ Back to Table of Contents Top ♥ Easter and Bunny E-cards ♥ Back to Table of Contents Top

If you like this Easter online games page and you have a blog or website please link to us so that more people can discover this free resource. Your help is very much appreciated.

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

Easter Bunny Online Games for Kids to Play

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

Ok I admit it.. I’m a total Barbie fan – Happy Barbie Day!

Where in the world did I put that bill??? Is this a question you find yourself asking? Not finding an important paper is the one thing that would always get me stressed out.


I’d start running around the room like a chicken with her head cut off. It would make things even worse if “it was just in my hand a few moments ago”. The whole situation really got on my nerves.


The strange thing is that even though this was always happening to me, I actually did have a place to put my bills and office files. But “for some reason” I just wasn’t using the areas that I had separated for that.


The bills and various papers in my life ended up under the bed, behind the sofa, inside my notebooks.… You get the picture. What was I doing wrong? Why couldn’t I organize and get things to run smoothly?



Overlooked Details

You know the saying “Work smarter not harder”? Well that was my problem. I hadn’t taken the time to work “smarter” and analyze the best place to store my papers and files. Little details that seem irrelevant can actually be triggers to set off clutter monsters.

Oh Where, Oh Where Did that Paper Go?
Finding the ideal place for papers is a vital key to maintaining the order.

One of the most important decisions that you can make to prevent a total mess is where you will place your important papers. If you don’t think this through, the clutter monsters will grow and eventually come back and bite you.

So how can you figure out the best place to keep your bills and documents? By evaluating the following simple aspects you can make an effective decision as to where you should store your office files. Ask yourself these questions:

Is It Too Far Away?

Are you trying to keep your papers far from where you are most of the day? Keeping those files near you and easily accessible is a key to maintaining your documents organized. If you have to go to another room to put things in their place, chances are that it won’t happen. The “Clutter Monsters” will begin to grow again.

Are your office files too high to reach? Having to get on a ladder to access your daily files is also not a good idea. You need to make it easy on yourself to put things back. Organize and keep your files at arms length in the closet. The files that you rarely use can go up higher.

Do you have to go through an obstacle course?

There has to be a clear passage way to get to your documents. Don’t keep them in a place where something is in front of it. Ask yourself this:
Do you have to get something out of the way to get to the closet, then open the door, then open a drawer, and then finally get to the file? Going through this “obstacle course” to get access to your office papers is a sure sign that you need to change where your files are being stored.

Clear up the passage to get to the place where your documents are at. Think of ways to access your files faster. This way you are simplifying your daily paper de-cluttering.

Document gymnastics?

Do you have to get into an awkward position to get to your papers? That’s a big mistake. They may not be far from you but still be hard to get to. Since I live in a very small apartment I’ve had to multipurpose the space that I have. So my home office is also a bedroom.

While trying to use up every possible space in my small apartment to store things– I had an idea (note to self- not all ideas are good ).
I decided to try to store my papers right at the head of my bed.

After a few weeks of having papers and files fall on my head and having to scoot and stretch to get to the papers I decided that I should rethink this “idea”. While we all know that exercise is a good thing, you probably won’t be thinking about that when you’re filing your office papers. If you have to stretch, crouch or scoot too much to get access to your files- chances are your papers will end up under your bed.

I have racked my brain to figure out a place- now what?

Okay so you have gone through these analyzing questions and evaluated your current space to make the best choice. You finally figured out the best place to store your important papers. Thing is-you’ve probably discovered that something else is taking up the ideal place for your paperwork.

My advice to you for your peace of mind? Your paper work should be priority over other objects.
Why?
Well because a loss of an important piece of paper can cause serious problems to your family. I know- I’ve been there. This is why I’m so passionate about how to organize papers. Because I have suffered the consequences for not getting things in order immediately and I definitely don’t want others to go through the same thing I have.

Now I spend hours each week organizing and archiving everything. It’s definitely worth the hassle to have your peace of mind.

Filing Your Papers
Here is an excellent video that will help you get motivated to file your papers. It gives you a step by step process to organize your office papers

Organize Your Desk Area

I’m always adding more ideas to make you life easier and you can subscribe to this blog by filling in the form below:

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

How to organize office files and end office clutter

“Today is the first day of the rest of your life.”

The depth of that saying lies in the fact that you have a choice to make. There are things that happen that we can not change. We need to come to terms and accept those things and purposely decide to focus on what you can make a difference in. You can either embrace the new chapter of your life or you can remain stuck. The power is in your hands.


Discover your goals

Once you have made the decision to embrace this new chapter, you can discover your goals. Goals and dreams bring you long term fulfillment. What dreams bring you excitement and make you feel empowered? They can be simple as long as they motivate and inspire you. Latch onto your dreams. Visualize yourself having already achieved them. Thinking of them will help keep you focused and give you the strength to take the necessary steps to get there.
Even though you have not yet achieved them – you can “take yourself there” through visualizing it. When you visualize, you are in fact experiencing the future that has not yet arrived. And when you do this you are empowering your soul to take the steps to achieve your dreams. By doing all of these things you will reconnect with your true self and discover internal strength to move on.

What about you? What are your experiences with overcoming grief? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below. And if you haven’t yet signed up to our newsletter, you may do so by clicking on this link and filling in the form.

Blessings always ♥,
Eren Mckay

By the way, here are some other articles that will help you deal with grief:

• How to stay at peace while being productive




• How to let go of the past




• Having a goal based life.




• Poem about hope in the midst of trials




• How to cure severe anxiety biblically

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

How to deal with grief and loss

Separate the following ingredients before making the soup: The vegetables and spices: 2 sweet potatoes (medium sized) 8 carrots (large ones) 1 onion 6 cups of fresh vegetable stock Fresh chopped cilantro (or coriander) (obs.: a handful is enough) Other ingredients: 2 tablespoons of dry wine (the cooking kind) Pinch of salt and pepper 1 tablespoon of olive oil 4 tablespoons crème fraiche ( which is a special kind of sour cream) obs.: If you can’t find crème fraiche then you can substitute it with low fat yogurt. After you have all of these ingredients out on the counter you can follow these simple steps: 1st: Slice the onion. Mash the 2 sweet potatoes and cut the carrots roughly. 2nd: Place the sliced onion in a large pan together with the olive oil and heat it for about 5 minutes. After this time it should already have a brown or golden coloring. 3rd: Keep stirring while adding the carrots and the potatoes that you mashed. Stir while heating for about another 5 minutes. 4th: Add the vegetable stock and by now the soup will have come to a boil. When this happens, reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 25 to 30 minutes. By this time the carrots will be tender and the amount of liquid will be less in the pan. Turn off the heat and let it cool for a little. 5th: Now it’s time to blend the soup. You can also use a food processor if you have one. Blend the soup for about 2 minutes. If you want it to be smoother you can blend it for more time. If you want it to be chunkier you can blend it for only 1 minute. 6th: Put the soup back into the pan and heat it again. Now it’s time to season with salt and pepper. To spice up the presentation add a little fresh cilantro and a spoonful of crème fraiche in each soup bowl.

Have you ever done anything to make your carrot soup yummy?
Does your family like soup? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below .

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

Delicious carrot soup recipe

Of course having activities to do is always a great “setting” in which the actual connection occurs. Activities are ways to get the “brain waves” going and provide a context for bonding.

An outward activity can create the circumstance but it can’t prepare your heart. If you spend all day doing things with a person but you’re not genuinely there with them at any moment you won’t truly bond. This post has several ideas for bonding between a parent and a child but many of the truths can be applied to other relationships too. I’ve compiled a list of ideas and activities that you can do with your child at the end of the post. But before you start doing those activities, you really should understand the right mindset to have for true bonding to happen. Top Relationships start with the act of loving. Love is a decision. It’s much more than a feeling. It’s a decision to do what is best for the other person. Sometimes you may even get angry at your loved ones. But when you truly love them, you put your feelings aside and don’t act selfishly. When you love someone you think about them and their needs. If you do that with your children consistently, they will start to understand that they can trust you because you always show that you care about them. If your thought process is to always do what is best for your kids, it’s only natural for them to love you back. Focusing on them is where it all begins. Concentrate on drawing close to your child or else other things will deter you. If your heart is not determined to make that “connection” it simply won’t happen. Something else may grab your attention or you might get preoccupied with things on your “To Do List”. Having that internal resolution to connect is an important step to bonding and will help you keep working at it. Being in the right mindset will allow you to live in the moment and be there whole heartedly. Little things make a huge difference in bonding. Bonding is something that can occur daily in the little things. There’s a quote that goes like this: “Little and often makes much.” When building relationships, this saying fits like a glove. Small things go a long way if they are done with the right motivation (which is true love). Here are a few bonding ideas that you can incorporate into your daily life: • Genuinely praise who your child is as a person and also their accomplishments. • Be affectionate by hugging them, holding their hand. • Look into their eyes. Smile. Tell them that you love them. • Ask them questions about how they feel and what they like or about what they are doing. Have a true interest in what interests them. (Make sure that your body language is matching with your words.) • Ask for their opinions on what you are working on. Listen to what they have to say and give them feedback on their opinions. • Be conscious of how they are emotionally and try to help them if they are “feeling down.” This is also very important so that you don’t require more of them than they are able to give at that moment. Nothing is better than alone time with your child. While there are many things that you can do as a family unit and in your daily life, I have personally found that the strongest connections occur when you are alone with your child. Having other people around (even if they are loved ones) inhibits the conversation from going into deep topics. Also, the presence of others many times might distract you from being aware of how your child is feeling. Once you discover how rewarding alone time is, you’ll always want to carve out the time in your schedule to have this with your kids. Don’t be afraid to open your heart. There’s a verse that says: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.”1 John 4:18 You see when there is fear you truly can’t experience love. Fear will hold you back. Fear is a wall. Fear is a barrier. If you want to experience the deepest kind of love that there is, you have to put fear aside and give yourself entirely. Allow your loved ones to know you in a way that others can’t even understand. Show your inner most feelings and thoughts and the love will grow. Putting yourself in this position will make you vulnerable. But it’s so worth it to take that leap because this is the true meaning of life: To love and to be loved. Conversation is one of the best ways to establish a bond. Communicating is sharing who you are. When you talk about very profound things, an invisible tie forms. So when you are alone with your child let them get to know you deeply as a person. What is the best way to go about choosing conversation topics? During your alone time there are many things that you can talk about that will help your kids in various aspects of their lives. Of course you want to consider their age level and maturity before delving into certain topics . One of the things that I do with my kids is I see what they are going through at school or emotionally and make those things the center of our conversations. Asking questions in a non probing way will help them start to talk about what is going on in their lives. By listening to what they say, you can determine which topics are the most important to cover. Share the lessons that you have learned from your own personal experiences so that they can benefit from them. I can honestly tell you that hanging out and talking about deep things things with my sons is the most fulfilling experience ever. What about you? Do you ever take the time to connect like this? Do you ever tell your loved ones where you are emotionally? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below. And if you haven’t done so already, sign up with your email for the Embracing Home newsletter and get inspirational resources for your home and family. Here is the list of ideas for family bonding activities: Click here to go back to the top • Play board and card games. • Turn on exciting music and dance. • Cook special cookies or decorate a gingerbread house. • Create things for your family identity such as: a family cookbook, a family flag, a family poem or song, etc. • Create a family album together (scrapbook). • Get out your camera and take fun pictures of each other. • Help your kids with their homework. • Read a fun story to them. • Teach them a skill that they will need in life ( computers, a language, etc.) • Do home chores together while listening to great songs. • Make a list of things that you need to buy and go shopping with them. • Have a special tea or ice cream party. • Go hiking or some other fun sport. • Buy a book of jokes and read it to them. • Watch a family movie – Children’s & family entertainment • Make a gift basket together for someone special. • Volunteer to do charity work together.

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

Family bonding activities – insights to help connect deeply

Click on the image below for the A is for Angels coloring page:	A is for Angels that fly in the sky And when things get tough They’re also nearby
Click on the image below for the B is for Bible coloring page:	B is for Bible the best book to read When we are happy And when we’re in need
Click on the image below for the C is for Cross coloring page:	C is for Cross, the symbol of love The ultimate sacrifice From our God above
Click on the image below for the D is for Daddies coloring page:	D is for Daddies; they love us a lot When we have been good and when we have not
Click on the image below for the E is for Earth coloring page:	E is for Earth : God made on day one He gave His command And so it was done
Click on the image below for the F is for Fish coloring page:	F is for Fish, Christ multiplied many That fed all the people And left over plenty
Click on the image below for the G is for Giraffes coloring page:	G’s for Giraffes : God made them so tall So they could eat leaves From trees and not fall
Click on the image below for the H is for Heaven coloring page:	H is for Heaven : eternal and pretty With God we will live In the perfect city
Click on the image below for the I is for Insects coloring page:	I is for Insects of all shapes and sizes They’re all so unique and full of surprises
Click on the image below for the J is for Jesus coloring page:	J is for Jesus the name above all He will always listen When His name you call
Click on the image below for the K is for King coloring page:	K is for King, Supreme God of power We trust You each day We trust You each hour
Click on the image below for the L is for Lamb coloring page:	L is for Lion, L is for Lamb The Lion, the Lamb, He’s the Great I Am
Click on the image below for the M is for Moon coloring page:	M is for Moon shining at night We, like the moon Should reflect the Son’s light
Click on the image below for the N is for Noah coloring page:	N is for Noah who trusted the Lord And through his life Mankind was restored
Click on the image below for the O is for Offering coloring page:	O is for Offering with a thankful heart We’re building God’s kingdom By doing our part
Click on the image below for the P is for Praising coloring page:	P is for Praising- exalting His name His marvelous works We’ll gladly proclaim
Click on the image below for the Q is for Queen coloring page:	Q’s for Queen Esther crowned in great glory From orphan to queen A miracle story
Click on the image below for the R is for Rainbow coloring page:	R is for Rainbow -shines after the storm If we’ll just believe Our lives He’ll transform
Click on the image below for the S is for Savior coloring page:	S is for Savior there is only one The Lord Jesus Christ God’s Almighty Son
Click on the image below for the T is for Ten coloring page:	T is for Ten, commandments the laws Which show our weakness And points out our flaws
Click on the image below for the U is for Understanding coloring page:	U’s Understanding salvation’s by grace Empowered by Him His Gift we embrace
Click on the image below for the V is for Victory coloring page:	V is for Victory over the fall His work on the cross Redeemed us from all
Click on the image below for the W is for Water coloring page:	W’s for Water that comes from above Cleanses our hearts And fills us with love
Click on the image below for the X is for X-ray coloring page:	X is for X-Ray that shows what’s inside God sees in our hearts From Him we can’t hide
Click on the image below for the Y is for Yoke coloring page:	Y is for Yoke He carries for us He lightens our load In Him we can trust
Click on the image below for the Z is for Zacchaeus coloring page:	Z’s for Zacchaeus who climbed up a tree The promised Messiah he wanted to see

Hope you have fun teaching and talking about this poem to your kids and/ or students
God bless,
Eren Mckay

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

Free Bible abc poems coloring pages – coloring book

Mini Table of Contents

1 – What To Do With the Calendars

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Sometimes people have calendars but they have no clue as to what to use them for. You can use the calendars for your own individual planning but also to organize a group. Whether you are organizing your family members, coworkers or employees, calendars are a way to keep the communication very clear. The further you plan ahead, the less stress you will have.

The following is a list of ideas for information that you can fill into the calendars:

Choosing and Printing

Lots of talented graphic artists have created beautiful calendars for you to download. I suggest choosing the calendars that inspire you the most and bring you that feeling of joy. Ask yourself which of the calendars make you feel happy and then simply save it to your computer and print it out. Also don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comment section at the end of the post.

I have small screenshots as a preview of each one so they are easy for you to find. Clicking on the image will open up a new window and take you directly to the calendar page.

Many of the following calendars are in PDF format and require the free Acrobat Reader. If you don’t have the reader, it can be downloaded free from this link (which is the Adobe Acrobat Reader).

So without further ado, here they are :

2 – Artistic Calendars

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3 – Photo Calendars

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4 – Year at a Glance Calendars

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Bunny Coloring Calendar You can go to the calendar page by clicking here or on the calendar image to the right →	Very Merry Vintage Style Calendar Very Merry Vintage Style has a great vintage style calendar. There’s a step by step photo tutorial. You can make this a gift. You can go to the calendar page by clicking here or on the image to the right →
2 Creative Artwork by Lily X Calendars Lily x on tumblr created 2 absolutely adorable yearly calendars with inspiring artwork. Click here for the bowties artwork calendar and here for the mushroom artwork calendar or simply click either of the images below:	Yearly Simple Calendar You can go to the yearly calendar by clicking here or on the image to the right →

5 – Free Calendars that Will Be Mailed To You

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You can order these calendars that will come to your home. They don’t send all over the world though. You need to get subscribed to their newsletter in order to receive the calendar.


Unity
Excellent photo calendar with Bible verses.
Only available in U.S. and Canada.

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

Top 20 Beautiful Free Printable Calendars for 2011

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

Bob Smiley Comedian Film & Funny Videos

   Sometimes sadness overwhelms us and even though we may be positive people, no idea seems to be able to get us out of that “sad space” at that moment. I have felt like this. When this happens, we can’t even think straight. And even though there are plenty of things that we love to do in our lives, at that moment nothing seems to be
                        appealing. Absolutely nothing.


   And it’s at moments like those where we have to say it’s ok now to just cry. It’s ok to let this emotion out. To feel this sadness. It’s ok. Because you’re human. Even Jesus cried. He let those feelings come and overflow with tears and he was God. Sometimes we think we need to be “perfect” and not cry. Or that crying is some sort of sign of negativity or weakness. Even sadder is the thought that crying is for girls. Crying is not a sign of weakness it’s a sign that you have a heart. That you’re human. That you care.

    Sometimes there’s no other way to let out your emotions and that’s ok. Laughter is a way to release emotions too. But crying sometimes is the only way that we are able to manifest certain emotions of ours.

   It’s important to understand the power of crying. There is a healing power in it. The power of being able to release that feeling. When you release it and take the time to come to terms with it, you’re able to move on. But if you keep it bottled up, two things might happen: you may end up internalizing or externalizing it in a not so good way. Internalizing it can cause you a lot of stress which will in turn bring up certain illnesses like ulcers, headaches, and many others. Bottling up emotions can be so strong it might overflow out of you in some other way like anger or even violence.

   So my word for you today is to let yourself cry.
Let your heart express that feeling. You will be happier when you do. You will be happier because you are releasing it. And releasing something so strong will give you room to have other feelings that are happy come into your heart, your mind and soul. If you decide to hang onto it you will not have room in your heart to feel better things. It’s just like forgiveness. It frees our own hearts more than the person that we forgive.

   After you cry and let that emotion come out then think of what you need to do to feel better. Sleep? Watch a movie? Look at pretty pictures? Write in your diary or blog?
Whatever it is that you can do, know that this emotion will pass and you will be able to move forward. After the storm there always come the rainbow. After the sadness there will always be joy.

   Have you ever thought of crying as a positive thing? Do you allow yourself to cry? Do you think you should allow yourself to cry more? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

Discover the Power of Allowing Yourself to Cry

Procrastination can cost you a lot.
If you procrastinate in looking over the charges you can lose a serious amount of money. In my personal case, I wasn’t monitoring simply because the theft occurred when I was going through a lot of deaths in my family. If you are going through a family crisis and can’t take the time to overlook your statements, ask trusted friends or family members to help you out. Delegate this task to someone that can do it.

What to do when you find the fraud:
If, after overlooking your statements, you find that there are charges that you didn’t make, immediately call your bank or company and tell them about it. They will then retrieve the money that was stolen from your account. By taking this simple step you can stop the fraud before it goes any further.

More preventative measures:

There are also some other things that you can do to make it more difficult for criminals to find your credit card number.

2 – Trash
The number one source of identity theft is the trash. So if you’re going to throw anything that has your credit card number in the trashcan, you need to shred it. Either buy a shredder or just rip up the papers in many pieces and put them into different trash cans making it even more difficult to piece together.

3 – Mail
The other thing that you can do is make sure that your mail is safe. Mailboxes are an easy prey for criminals. I saw this really cool locking mailbox that makes it very hard to have your mail stolen. That way you can stop identity theft through ensuring that your mail is secure.

4 – Keep your eye on your card

The following video will help you understand more fully on why you should keep your eye on your credit card: It’s only 1 min. and 48 secs. and well worth it:

5 – Emails
In the world of cyberspace there are way too many fraudulent emails going around trying to phish information for credit card fraud. Don’t ever enter in your information as a response to bank or credit card company emails. If you receive any kind of email simply call up your bank or credit card and solve the issue by phone.

I hope these tips will save you the headaches that I have gone through with credit card fraud. By the way I’m always writing articles that help and inspire families. If you would like to receive updates on the Embracing Home blog simply fill out the form below.
Blessings always ♥,
Eren

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

Are You Doing These 5 Things to Prevent Credit Card Fraud?

When making this recipe, it’s easier to organize the   ingredients into the two different parts to it:   The main part and the sauce. The Main Part Ingredients:    • 4 firm pears    • 1 piece of cinnamon stick (about 3 inches)    • 2 cups of water    • ¾ cup of sugar    • 2 tablespoons of lemon juice The Sauce Ingredients:    • 1 oz unsweetened chocolate    • ½ cup of sugar    • 2 tablespoons butter    • 1 teaspoon of almond extract    • ¼ cup of cream (half and half) Instructions for the main part:   ♥ Pour the 2 cups of water and the 2 tablespoons of lemon   juice into a casserole dish.   (Make sure that the dish is microwave safe and the ideal size   would be a two quarts.)   Now add ¾ cup of sugar and 1 piece of cinnamon stick. Put   it in the microwave for 4 minutes on high.   ♥ While that is in the microwave you can peel the pears and   cut off the bottoms of each pear so that they will stand up.   Leave the stems on. Place the pears in the casserole dish   with syrup that had just been done and microwave   for 5 minutes.   Then turn the pears over and microwave for 5 more minutes.   Chill for at least 2 hours or overnight. Instructions for the Sauce:   ♥ Combine ¼ cup of half an half cream and ½ a cup of sugar   in a medium sized bowl. Microwave for 1 minute then give   it a quick stir. Then add the 1 oz unsweetened chocolate and   microwave for another 30 seconds. Then stir until the   chocolate has completely melted. Then add the 1 teaspoon   of the almond extract and 2 tablespoons butter and heat it   all for another 30 seconds. After that, stir until melted. Putting It All Together:   On each dessert plate put 2 tablespoons of chocolate sauce.   Top with a pear and pour another tablespoon of the   sauce on top.   Serve your guests. They will love it ♥   Did you like this recipe? I would love to hear your thoughts   in the comment section below .

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

Yummy pear dessert recipe with chocolate

image credits:

Post from: Christian Homemaking and Family Resources, Encouragement and Help at Embracing Home

Recipe for baked pork chops with vegetables

1. The Power of Incorporating Music Into Your Daily Life




2. Making Sure That the Objects that Surround You Daily Bring You a Sense of Peace