... Christmas. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger. Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges ... manger for straw. Small squares of flannel, cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady was throwing away as she left Russia, were used for the baby's blanket. A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States. The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them ... Two Babies" In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on biblical principles) in the public schools. They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments and a large orphanage. About 100 boys and girls who ...

... ' to make yet another meal out of ground beef because it was on sale. It takes a 'gentle strength ' to not lose your cool when your baby has colic, or your toddler is having a tantrum, or your school age child has been called to the principal's office. It takes a 'gentle strength ' ... strength ' to administer discipline to a child when your heart wants to hug them. It takes a 'gentle strength ' to leave a wailing toddler with a babysitter to go on a date with your husband. It takes a 'gentle strength ' to say no to a teenager who wants to do something because their friends are ... really describes SAHMs. It takes a strength to give up-what many times was a satisfying and financially rewarding career-to stay at home with your babies. It takes a 'gentle strength ' to make yet another meal out of ground beef because it was on sale. It takes a 'gentle strength ' to not ...

... Half your brain leaves with the placenta. Mom's Tip #060: Donate pre-pregnancy jeans to charity. Mom's Tip #061: Don't read the label on baby formula. Mom's Tip #062: With luck, they'll call you once a week when they leave. Mom's Tip #063: With luck, they won't ... pediatrician who isn't a parent. Mom's Tip #100: You can never have too many Kleenex. Mom's Tip #101: Reserve the New Year's Eve babysitter on January 2. Mom's Tip #102: You can blame just about anything on teething. Mom's Tip #103: Some of the great minds of our ... over better in Europe. Mom's Tip #028: Learn to handle sleep deprivation. Mom's Tip #029: Have an answer ready for" Where do babies come from ?" Mom's Tip #030: Don't flinch when they grow taller than you. Mom's Tip #031: Going to college don't mean they won't come ...

... wimps. Stretch marks are a badge of honor. Half your brain leaves with the placenta. Donate pre-pregnancy jeans to charity. Don't read the label on baby formula. With luck, they'll call you once a week when they leave With luck, they won't call collect. With luck, they'll pay for their own ... Take them to a petting zoo. Don't use a pediatrician who isn't a parent. You can never have too many Kleenex. Reserve the New Year's Eve babysitter on January. You can blame just about anything on teething. Some of the great minds of our time were bed wetters. Let someone else break the news ... . Learn lots of lullabies. Breastfeeding in public goes over better in Europe. Learn to handle sleep deprivation. Have an answer ready for" Where do babies come from ?" Don't flinch when they grow taller than you. Going to college don't mean they won't come back. Don't teach them to parallel park. Be ...

... We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly eating and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said," Hi there" He pounded his fat baby hands on the high-chair tray. His eyes were wide with excitement and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin. He wriggled and giggled with merriment. I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man with ... A Baby's Unconditional Love This is a first-person account from a mother about her family as they ate dinner on Christmas Day in a small restaurant many miles from their home. Nancy, the mother, relates: We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly eating and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said," Hi there" He pounded his fat baby hands on the high-chair tray ...

... cuddled his newborn son, he immediately noticed the baby's ears conspicuously standing out from his head. He expressed his concern to the nurse that some children might taunt his child, calling him names like" Dumbo" A doctor examined the baby and reassured the new dad that his son was healthy-the ears presented only a minor cosmetic problem. But the nervous father persisted. He wondered if the child might suffer psychological effects of ridicule, or if they should consider plastic surgery ... Real Beauty When a first-time father cuddled his newborn son, he immediately noticed the baby's ears conspicuously standing out from his head. He expressed his concern to the nurse that some children might taunt his child, calling him names like" Dumbo" A doctor examined the baby and reassured the new dad that his son was healthy-the ears presented only a minor cosmetic problem. But the nervous father persisted. He wondered if the child might suffer psychological effects of ridicule, ...

... for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war. What makes a good Mother anyway ?? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time? Or is it in her Heart ?? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to ... sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying," It's okay honey, Mommy's here" Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't be comforted. This is for all them mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse. For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew ...

... disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the first time? Is it the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a school-shooting, a fire, a car accident, a baby dying? I think so. This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for all the mothers who wanted to but just couldn't. This is for reading" Goodnight, Moon ... twice a night for a year. And then reading it again." Just one more time" This is for all the mothers who mess up. Those who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair and stomp their feet like tired three-year-olds who want ice cream before dinner. This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead. It's for all ...

... Fearless Living A woman traveled by plane with her infant daughter. When they landed, they were met in the waiting area by her father, who took the baby while she proceeded to the baggage claim area. Standing there alone waiting to claim her luggage, she was absent-mindedly holding the baby's pacifier. She noticed a flight attendant staring at her, then at the pacifier in her hand. The flight attendant finally spoke:" Excuse me, Miss. Is this your ... flight ?" Fear of flying has kept many people home. One woman reminds me that her terror of riding in airplanes actually has biblical roots." We should be wary of flying ," she asserts." In the Bible, Jesus says, 'LO .I'll be with you always "! Other common fears have kept countless people from enjoying life fully. Some of the greatest fears we share are a fear of becoming incapacitated, a fear of financial ruin, fear of abandonment and fear ...

... squeezing the second sponge, you find tub and tile cleaner-that one was used to clean the bathroom. Next, in the third sponge, you find motor oil-hubby was cleaning the garage! In the fourth sponge, baby powder puffs out when it is squeezed-yep, the baby's nursery was done with that one! And finally, in the last one, is floor wax-that was the one you used on the hall floor! As you lay ... last one down, you look again at their similarity-and they all look the same until they're squeezed. Christians are the same way. As life squeezes us, different things come out-anger from one, a need for revenge from another, tears from one, remorse from yet another-also greed, untruth, lust-and finally, from one saint, pours forth the love of Christ. Just like the sponge, we can only squeeze out what is ...

... The Bassinet When my Mom and my cousin had a baby shower for me, my Mom's gift was a hand woven wicker baby bassinet. It was beautiful. It became one of my most treasured possessions. All three of my children used it, and I had planned that my grandchildren would use it as well. Maybe it would become an heirloom in our family for generations to come. My cousin, Cynthia, who was one of my best friends, became pregnant when both of our youngest were pre-teen age. She borrowed the bassinet for her baby. As the years passed we grew further apart. I had always planned to go and get that bassinet, but we just never found the time to make that 60 mile trip. When her" baby" was 8 years old, we were finally going to get that bassinet. I called my cousin to tell her that we would be coming but she was not home. I called ...

... as the place where the long awaited announcement of the coming of the savior would occur. The proclamation would go out from that point. In answer to that very tradition, the scriptures tell us that, upon hearing this from the heavens, and seeing the child laying in the manger, the shepherd" made known abroad all they had heard and seen" Some coincidence, huh? As Christmas draws near, I wonder what the shepherds, the angels, and the baby in the manger of Bethlehem had to do with million dollar church buildings, million dollar church bank accounts, and church boards which pull the strings of puppet-like" pulpiteers" I wonder what the Christ-child would say about all the pretty songs being sung in shopping mall atriums where no one stops to hear-or even think about-the message of the season. I wonder what the shepherds would think if they knew that we, too, have heard the glad tidings of great ...

... Spit It Out My daughter Beth has always been one of the wisest people that I have ever known. Even as a baby this wisdom was apparent. I can remember when I first tried to get her to eat green beans from a baby food jar. With the first spoonful she made a terrible face. When I tried to give her a second spoonful she spit it out instantly and it ran down her bib turning it an ugly shade of green. I then foolishly tried to give her a third spoonful. This one she spit out with such force that it landed on both my face and my shirt. When Beth saw what she had done she let out a delighted giggle and I had to smile myself as I wiped off my face. Later wondering how bad those green beans actually were I took a bite of them myself. Never in my entire life had anything tasted quite so nasty as they did. Unlike that wise baby ...

... Love And Understanding I was in a local grocery store the other day when suddenly I heard the sound of breaking glass behind me. I turned around to see what had happened. A young mother had turned away from her shopping cart for a second to look in one of the freezers. That second was all it took for her growing, baby boy to test out his new found ability to grab and lift things from his seat in the cart. Unfortunately, the big jar of spaghetti sauce was more than he could handle. I smiled when I walked back to help and saw the look of utter surprise on his face. His arms were still outstretched where the jar had been a few seconds before. On the floor below the puddle of red was slowly oozing across the aisle. After making sure that both Mom and baby were alright I headed down the aisle to get help from a store employee. As I glanced back at them ...

... , pooped on, spit on, chewed on, peed on, or pinched by tiny fingers. Before I was a Mom; I never thought about immunizations, I never held a screaming child so the doctors could give shots, I never looked into teary eyes and cried, I never felt my heart break into pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt, I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. Before I was a Mom; I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down, I never sat up late hours of the night watching a baby sleep, I never got up in the middle of the night to make sure everything was okay, I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. Before I was a Mom; I had complete control of my mind, my thoughts and my body, I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside of my body, I ...

... " These worms really wiggle good ," he commented, handing up the bait bucket for inspection. After a close look at the worms, the sheriff went into fast-forward. Securing the bucket in his truck, he then scooped Sammy and his stringer of fish into the back-seat of his patrol car. Spinning a U-turn on the gravel road, he sped off to the hospital, but Sammy was already dead. What the sheriff had discovered was that Sammy had been fishing with baby rattlesnakes. Sammy's deadly bait brought him a good morning's fishing but cost him his life. Had Sammy stopped fishing after that first sting, he could have been saved. One bite from a baby rattler won't kill a person who gets treatment in time. But Sammy was having fun and didn't bother himself with the small voice of pain in his hand. Then, as his hand grew numb, even that small voice was silenced. Playing around with sin is like using baby ...

... ! How can you be miserable as a SAHM, when you and your husband have prayed and you know that this is God's will for your (and your child's) life? Think back to the stressors-think" mourn". We have to grieve the changes in our life. We used to get up every day, go to a place where we engaged in adult conversations, performed a service and received compensation. Now, we get up, engage in baby talk, toddler jabber, school-ese, sometimes get a shower, balance a budget and try to make ends meet. We must allow ourselves time to grieve our former way of life-even though we know that being a SAHM is our heart's desire. I went from managing 150 employees to be ruled by one 5 lb. 13 oz. baby; I went from wearing pantyhose and suits to wearing sweats; I went from conversations about Medicare guidelines to conversations about diapers. ...

... In His Loving Arms I saw the most blissful face the other day. It had an expression on it that glowed with peace, contentment, joy, and the greatest feeling of being loved. It warmed my heart and uplifted my soul just to look at this face of a tiny baby sleeping happily in her mother ’ s arms. I could see that sweet baby growing up before her mother realized it. I could see her crawling, walking, and saying her first words. I could see her attending school, becoming a teenager, and then setting out on her own. I could see her having a family, raising her children, and then holding her grandchildren in her arms one day. I hoped, though, that she would remember this moment of being held so lovingly in her own mother ’ s arms. I think too that she will remember it, if not in her mind then in her heart and soul. ...

... , I was bleeding. We contacted our midwife and she gave me instructions. It wasn't long before the truth was revealed-I had miscarried. Any woman who has ever experienced this fate, and so many of us have, knows the grief that passes over you at this moment. I was losing not only a life growing inside of me, but also a dream. I was terrified-did this mean that I would have difficulty conceiving, or carrying a baby to term? I mourned for the little girl, or boy, whom we had lost. Sarah Jaffe, sweet Sarah, our oldest daughter, almost age six, was conceived a couple of months later. If I had known at the time that God had such an incredible gift in store for us, I would have accepted the miscarriage with greater ease when it happened. Every mother loves her daughter. Every mother will tell you that her daughter is one of the ...

... Attracting People To You In West Virginia folklore there is a story of a country doctor who was called out to a holler late one night to assist a woman about to give birth. By the time the doctor arrived at the farmhouse, things had progressed to a point where the doctor asked the husband to help him by holding a gas lantern up high in order to illuminate the makeshift delivery room. Before long, the courageous mother delivered a healthy baby boy. As the father lowered the lantern, the doctor barked an order to keep the lantern aloft:" We're not done yet" Shortly, a second child appeared on the scene, a healthy baby girl. Shaken by the unexpected arrival of twins, the father heard the doctor say once again," We can't stop now. It looks as if it's going to be triplets" To which the stunned father, still holding the lantern high, replied," Do you think it's ...

... Seeing Angels Almost 9 months exactly after my Mom died my youngest child was born. I felt truly blessed by God having this new baby come after such a difficult year. I did feel regret, though, that my new son would never get to know my wonderful Mom. As my baby got older, however, I started to notice something. When I would be playing with my son he would often look past me, over my shoulder and smile. At other times it seemed like he was laughing and playing with someone I couldn ’ t see or hear. This mystery suddenly became clear one day when I showed him his Grandma ’ s picture and he giggled like he had known her all of his short life. It was then that it occurred to me that while my son may not have gotten to know my Mom in person, he had certainly gotten to know her angelic spirit watching over him. I was remembering all ...

... He Sent The Right Man A woman received a phone call that her daughter was very sick with a fever. She left work and stopped by the pharmacy for some medication for her daughter. Upon returning to her car, she found she had locked her keys inside. She had to get home to her sick daughter, and didn't know what to do. She called home and the baby sitter told her that her daughter was getting worse. The baby sitter suggested that she get a coat hanger to unlock the door. The woman found an old rusty coat hanger on the ground, as if someone else had locked their keys in their car. Then she looked at the hanger and said," I don't know how to use this" She bowed her head and asked God for help. An old rusty car pulled up, driven by a dirty, greasy, bearded man with a biker skull rag on his head. The woman thought ...

... the power of touch. Negative as well as positive touch has the power to elicit strong emotions. It can hurt and it can heal. Touch people in a negative way and you may get a strong reaction you didn't expect. Touch them in a safe, affirming and affectionate way, and you'll probably get just as strong a response-only this one you will welcome. Touch is powerful for infants. Newborns who are touched will thrive. Studies have shown that babies deprived of touch have a significantly higher mortality rate than those who are held and cuddled by caring adults-even when the" touched" babies are reared in unsanitary conditions. Touch is powerful for teenagers. Teens who are touched communicate better. Many adolescents assert their independence by refusing to be hugged by their parents. But most of them will accept a simple back or shoulder massage. That act of touch communicates love in a powerful way. It will frequently break down emotional ...

... are very intelligent women, many with college degrees. They are great financial planners, educators, chefs, physicians, interior decorators, mechanics and any of a million other job titles that we must take on in our daily life as a SAHM. A friend recently described to me a picture she spotted in a magazine at her doctor's office. It was for an article about working moms. The picture had a mom, in her neatly pressed power suit, holding a baby, a frying pan, wearing a crown and surrounded by money. The best of all worlds? With depictions such as this, it is no wonder that we often feel left out, ignored, and persecuted if you will. Where is the story about the SAHM, the joy she feels, the struggles? Then there are other questions, or statements that cut us to the quick, such as" Oh, I wish I could afford to stay at home" ...

... Each Other Many living things need each other to survive. I have lived for most of my life near trees known as Colorado aspens. If you are familiar with this tree, you may have noticed that it does not grow alone. Aspens are found in clusters, or groves. We're told that the reason for this is because aspens can multiply from the roots. They send up lots of new shoots every year. These become saplings that grow quickly and make new baby aspens of their own. In some groves, all of the trees may actually be connected by their roots. It is as if they are one tree. Another tree, the giant California redwood, may tower 300 feet into the sky. We've seen pictures of tunnels carved into massive trunks wide enough to drive an automobile through. It seems they would require the deepest of roots to anchor them against strong winds. But instead their roots are actually shallow-they spread out ...

... ? The answer, of course, is that these things represented our love as a couple and a family. They also signified all of those people over the years we have loved and who loved us. And each had stories to tell. They told of all we'd been through together and where we were headed. They spoke in the voices of generations past-parents and grandparents. We could not take the piano, but we could visualize how Bev, as a baby, learned to walk clutching the edge of that piano bench. We smelled the" old" and pleasant scents of grandparents ' homes as we heard the wind-up clock chime or ran our fingers over a mahogany hutch we refinished years ago. We were flooded with memories as we gazed upon items given to us by cherished friends over a lifetime. Some of these possessions of a life told stories about the people who first owned them. Stories of how they faced hardship together, ...

... my new life with my husband. And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago almost 45yrs, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams. But, here it is .the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise .How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my babies go? They are grown up now & families of their own. And where did my youth go? I remember well .seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like .Oh this is so true. But, here it is .husband retired 9yrs ago and he's really getting gray & no hair .he moves slower and I see ...

... body. Finally, she made the statement that she didn't see how anyone could make up their minds on their own, so maybe she should ask" Daddy" (her stepfather) to help her pick the perfect mate. With a smile on my face and a hint of laughter in my voice, I explained to her that if she relied on Daddy to choose her husband, she would most likely stay single since no one would ever be good enough for his baby. She sat silently for a few moments, and then she said," Mommy, do you think YOU could help me choose when I'm old enough ?" As I was struggling to frame a reply, she suddenly sat upright in her chair and stated," Oh. never mind. I forgot. It took you two tries !" Slightly mortified and very humbled, I saw the truth behind the humor. Yes, it had taken me" two tries ," but I ...

... or religious background, and about 25 %of all women have experienced it, and 12 %of all men. Many people think you can just tell a depressed person to" just snap out of it ," but the reality of depression is that its roots often reach deeper, and there are often very real physical, (medical ), problems which underlay it. Some women are even known to have" Post Partum Depression ," which can occur after a female delivers a baby. Another cause of depression can be" Bipolar Disorder ," which is caused by a chemical imbalance within the body. Prolonged periods of sadness can turn in to serious depression because repeated emotional blows have the ability to break down our coping mechanisms. The end result can be overwhelming feelings of anxiety, guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, inability to concentrate or make decisions, and decreased energy. If any of these describe what you might be feeling, there are steps you can be ...

... it has popped or been deflated. They might choke on a piece. Don't let them stand up in a shopping cart, they might fall out and hit their head. I began to despair: How will they ever survive? Can't they have any fun? Then there were all the viruses and sniffles to worry about: if their fever spikes, is it meningitis? Does too many bruises mean leukemia? How can we adequately childproof our home-and Grandma's, and the babysitters, and on and on? The responsibility for your child's health and well-being is an awesome and terrifying responsibility. You love your child so much it hurts-and you know how much it would pain you to have anything happen to him or her. But yet, how can you take reasonable precautions without ruining your child's life? Today there is plenty to worry about: various kinds of warfare, kidnapping, murder, molestation to name a few of the worst. But parents have ...

... Somebody Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby. Somebody doesn't know that once you're a parent normal is history. Somebody said you learn how to be a parent by instinct. Somebody never took a three-year-old shopping. Somebody said being a parent is boring. Somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's permit. Somebody said if you're a" good" parent your child will" turn out well" Somebody thinks a child comes with directions and a guarantee. Somebody said" good" parents never raise their voices. Somebody never came out the back door just in time to see his or her child hit a golf ball through the neighbor's kitchen window. Somebody said you don't need an education to be a parent. Somebody never helped a fourth grader with his math. Somebody said you can't love the fifth child as much as you love the first. Somebody doesn't have ...

... homemade ice cream and leftover meatloaf sandwiches. I really would. My cherished grandson, I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated. I hope you learn to make your bed and mow the lawn and wash the car. And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen. I hope you have a job by then. It will be good if at least one time you can see a baby calf born and your old dog put to sleep. I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in. I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother. And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room, but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him. When you want to see a Disney movie and your little brother wants to ...

... to learn that dark times are important. I have always enjoyed the 'flowers ' of life, but it took thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort. You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted, and from His consolation we learn to comfort others" Sandra sucked in her breath as she thought about the very thing her friend had tried to tell her." I guess the truth is I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God" Just then someone else walked in the shop." Hey, Phil !" shouted the clerk to the balding, rotund man." My wife sent me in to get our usual Thanksgiving Special .12 thorny, long-stemmed stems !" laughed Phil as the clerk handed him a tissue-wrapped arrangement from the refrigerator." Those are for your wife ?" asked Sandra incredulously." Do you mind me asking why she wants something that looks like that ?"" No ...

... Positive Thoughts To change everything. simply change your attitude. A friend is a person who knows all about you, but likes you anyway. A survey asked" Who are the happiest people ?" There were four winning answers: A craftsman or artist whistling over a job well-done. A child building sand castles. A mother bathing her baby. A doctor who has finished a difficult operation and saved a life. Please note that money, power, or possessions, plays no part in any of the answers. He who goes out of his house in search of happiness runs after a shadow. Good manners sometimes means simply putting up with other people's bad manners. Do you always want to be right, or do you want to be happy? It is my observation that too many of us are spending money we haven't earned, to buy things we don't need, to impress people we don't like. The most important thing a father can ...

... and joy to an obscure mountain top. Still, just planting one bulb at a time, year after year, had changed the world. This unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. She had created something of ineffable (indescribable) magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration. That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time-often just one baby-step at a time-and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world." It makes me sad in a way ," I admitted to Carolyn." What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a ...

... old we lived in a small apartment above an old drug store. It had only a single bedroom, so we had converted the tiny dining area into a bedroom for the kids. I remember it only had enough room for 3 things: two small beds and one big box. Every evening my wife and I would gather up all the kids ’ toys that were scattered throughout the apartment and fill up the big box for the night. We would then kiss our babies goodnight and walk into the living room to read or watch television. One evening, however, as we were reading we heard the sound of giggling from the other room. When we rounded the corner we found piles of stuffed animals, blocks, toy cars and coloring books thrown across the floor and on the beds. As we turned to the big box we saw two smiling faces looking up at us from within it. We smiled down on them as well. Then ...

... mere $24.44 a day. Just over a dollar an hour. Still, you might think the best financial advice says don't have children if you want to be rich. It's just the opposite. There's no way to put a price tag on: Feeling a new life move for the first time and seeing the bump of a knee rippling across your skin. Having someone cry," It's a boy !" or shout," It's a girl !" then hearing the baby wail and knowing all that matters is it's healthy. Counting all 10 fingers and toes for the first time. Feeling the warmth of fat cheeks against your breast. Cupping an entire head in the palm of your hand. Making out da da or ma ma from all the cooing and gurgling. What do you get for your $160, 140? Naming rights. First, middle and last. Glimpses of God every day. Giggles under the covers every night. More ...

... What We See A long time ago a baby was born to poor parents. His future looked bleak as he grew to see a life of dreariness and poverty before him. He joined the army as a common soldier and was wounded so severely that he never regained the use of his left arm. He later failed to find decent employment and, on two occasions, was sent to debtor's prison. He continued to have brushes with the law and struggled just to survive. But, despite the severity of his life, he never let go of his dream .to write a book. He wrote that book and in it he told a beautiful story which welled from his heart's deepest dreams and yearnings. It has moved generations of people the world over ever since. It is about a man who saw the world differently than everyone else. Though created in suffering, the book is an inspiring tale of irrepressible hope. This man's story has been ...

... Jesus Loves Me It was a very hot day, sweat and irritation was in abundance. Traffic was hectic and the A / C in my car was not cooperating either. I had to run many errands, and since the baby sitter was on leave, I had to take a day off and take my 4 year old son wherever I went. I was just hoping that he behaved well the entire day, because I was definitely not in a good mood. I had to pickup a book for my friend who was celebrating her birthday the next day, so I ran to the bookstore, (Remember, I was literally dragging David, my son along with me) and the checkout line was very, very, very long. I did not want to drive to another bookstore to avoid the long line, because I did not want to get" fried" in the heat again. The checkout line looked like a giant snail ...

... over 500 companies. If a participating jet's itinerary matches that of the patient, flight arrangements are made. Casey Chapley was ten months old when she was diagnosed with a rare eye cancer. Her parents, Keith and Belinda, decided to take Casey for experimental nonradiation-based treatments in Philadelphia, 300 miles from their home near Pittsburgh. For their first commercial flight, they had to navigate a packed airport, a noisy coach cabin, then baggage claim-trying conditions with any baby, let alone one battling cancer. They spent $750 on plane tickets. And monthly treatment was required. Then they discovered the Corporate Angel Network. Now Casey and her mom and dad sit among Mellon Financial Corp. executives shuttling between offices in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Says grateful mother Belinda:" We can concentrate more on getting our daughter better, instead of worrying about how we are going to get to the doctor's office and pay for our transportation" Now 75, ...

... and said," A mother needs a lap. A father needs strong shoulders to pull a sled, balance a boy on a bicycle or hold a sleepy head on the way home from the circus" God was in the middle of creating two of the largest feet anyone had ever seen when the angel could contain herself no longer." That's not fair. Do you honestly think those large boats are going to dig out of bed early in the morning when the baby cries? Or walk through a small birthday party without crushing at least three of the guests ?" And God smiled and said," They'll work. You'll see. They'll support a small child who wants to ride a horse to Banbury Cross or scare off mice at the summer cabin or display shoes that will be a challenge to fill" God worked on, giving the father few words but a firm, authoritive voice and eyes that saw everything but remained calm and tolerant. ...

... second day was wonderful. My body felt energized and healthy. I was laughing and smiling the whole day long. My pets were lovable and affectionate. My children warmed my heart with their kind words and tender hugs. Everyone I saw outside seemed to have a smile and a happy wave to share. The sun peeking through the clouds made my soul light up as well. The day ’ s problems were handled easily with humor and joy and I slept like a baby that night. In truth, however, the only real difference between those two days was me. It was me who made the first day so rotten and it was me who made the second day so glorious. It was me who just idled through the first day grumbling about the world. And it was me who spent the second day thanking God for my life, sharing my love with everyone I could, and giving my joy to the world. I am glad ...

... be resting under a headstone and that my time on this wonderful world will be over as well. I am doing my best then not to miss a moment of this glorious life I have been given and I urge you not to miss a moment of yours either. Enjoy every day that God in His love has given you on this world. Take the time to pet your dogs before you put on their leashes for a walk. Take a second to smell that baby's hair when you hold her in your arms. Take a moment to sneak a kiss when you bump into your dear one in the kitchen. Take a little while to watch the sun go down and the moon rise up. Take a hour to walk among the trees and flowers and feel God's gentle, loving breezes on your face. Take a minute to call your Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt, or Uncle and tell them that you love them. ...

... had put into our cart for the local food bank, and hurried over to the collection barrel with a happy smile on his face. As I watched him my mind flashed back to another Autumn afternoon 13 years ago. I was keeping an eye on him and his younger sister as they played in the leaves under a tree outside a local mission. Laid off from work with no money in the bank and little food in the house, I held their sleeping, baby brother in my arms while my wife went in to get enough groceries from the mission ’ s food bank to see us through another few days. I remember smiling at her as she came out carrying a bag very similar to the one my son was now dropping in the donation barrel. It felt good then knowing that there were such kind people in the world and it felt even better now being able to complete the circle of kindness that once touched our lives. This ...

... Boys Will Be Boys-( Merit badge for Mother ?) Try as I might to keep some sense of order and sanity at our house, I've just about given up. After all, I'm outnumbered. With two boys and one big husband, the testosterone wins three to one. It wasn't always like this. When Freddy and Brian were babies, they'd gurgle and cuddle and coo, and there was peace on earth. Then came the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, followed by the X-Men, and the Power Rangers, and now an eclectic mix of animated characters whose names I can't pronounce. As any mother of boys knows, things are never boring when these guys get together. Boys don't walk, they run. Loudly. With sound effects. The imagination is always going and the mouth moves right along with it. Boys don't play, they wrestle, grapple, challenge and hunt. Boys leave a trail wherever they go. Maybe ...

... hold a purring cat, pet a friendly dog, glance joyfully at the sun setting over the hills, hum a happy song, read an uplifting passage from an inspiring book, smell a flower, listen to a bird sing, jump in a pile of Autumn leaves, share a kind word, think a positive thought, pray for someone, wave at a neighbor, laugh at a good joke, tell someone you love them, tickle a child, smell a baby ’ s hair, put some money in a Salvation Army kettle, touch a loved one, look them in the eye, and listen to them. Most of all you can take those 5 seconds to say," I love you God and I thank you for my life here" Have fun exercising your soul then. Five seconds may not seem like a long time, but it is long enough to share some love, spread some joy, change a life, ...

... of my twice-a-year cleanings, and gold crowns. His rugged face exceeded his years I thought. I was sure there were no daily handfuls of vitamins in his routine, nor routine doctor visits, nor medication for common colds or flu. As I briefly glanced into his gentle eyes, I caught a glimpse of a tender heart, even with all that life seems to have been to him. And I thought of his mother. This was some mother's son -her bouncing baby boy that she conceived and carried and birthed. Where was she now, I wondered. Does she know what has become of her precious son? Is she alive and does she know that he is alive, or care? I thought of my own son, still in his youth, and his sweet, tender spirit. How could I live without him? Without knowing where he was and that he was well?" God bless you" he said." Thank ...

... Beatitudes For Parents One man says he had a great speech for parents. It was called," How to Raise Your Children" He went on speaking tours in the Midwestern United States and was paid a high honorarium for the talk." This guy will wow you ," people said. Then they had their first child. His majestic speech lost its punch at 2: 00 AM with the baby in full cry. But he kept trying. He renamed his new, modified speech" Some Suggestions for Parents" and charged bravely on. They had two more children. The speech changed again. And again. Now it's called," Feeble Hints for Fellow Strugglers" and he begins with the question:" Does anyone here have a few words of wisdom ?" Parents through the ages can identify." Could someone, please, just give me the final answers to parenting ?" we ask." ALL of them? Could someone please ...

... part of the verse. Being a SAHM is a challenging, tiring, often thankless job. It takes a long time to" hit your stride" as a SAHM-to get used to not having that tangible reward you used to get-be it a paycheck, a pat on the back, a satisfied customer. But if we look closely, we can see rewards, on a daily basis that outshines all of these tangible rewards. The sight of a baby or toddler sleeping peacefully, safe and warm. The tiny fistful of dandelions handed as a bouquet of beautiful flowers to a special Mommy. Peanut butter and jelly kisses, the crayon drawing, the words" I did it myself !" and the pride glowing in that shining face. The smell of a child after a bath. The words," I love you Mommy" Can anything we could possibly earn outweigh the immeasurable value of these kinds of rewards? I believe God ...

... Feeling Loved I got to hold a baby again recently. I had taken my son to the doctor ’ s office for a checkup and noticed a tired grandmother trying to fill out the office ’ s paperwork and comfort her sick grandchild at the same time. I offered to help and gently rocked the infant back to sleep. With all of my children teenagers now it had been a while since I had held someone quite so small in my arms. As I looked at his sweet, innocent face I couldn ’ t help but to think of what life held in store for him. I knew that it would be a mixture of both joy and fear, laughter and tears, growth and struggle, learning and difficulty, and love and pain. I said a silent prayer that he would learn quickly to choose the good things and not to dwell on the bad. I also prayed that he would always feel loved in this life. ...

... exercise and sleep, developing a positive mental outlook and utilizing spiritual resources are all important pieces of our emotional puzzles. But one important strategy for feeling better (and one that's least used) is helping others in need. Visit a shut-in neighbor. Write a letter. Call a friend who has been struggling. Volunteer at church, synagogue or the local food pantry. Rake someone's leaves. Bake homemade bread for a new neighbor. Wash your spouse's car. Volunteer to baby-sit for a young mother. Plan an unexpected act of kindness. Give a gift for no reason at all. The needs are abundant, and those who put aside some regular time to do something kind for others will often forget they were feeling low. It seems that extending a hand to others likewise lifts us up! Corrie Ten Boom beautifully said," The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation" And if you've been ...

... are stubbornly half-mast. Six o'clock and already the day's not adding up: although I went to bed at eleven, I feel like I've only gotten a few hours sleep. With the shock of a shipwreck it hits me-I have only gotten a few hours sleep! Awareness comes in waves, with glimpses of scenes from the night before: Joshua coughing up a storm quelled only with cough syrup, Benjamin sobbing for a prayer to soothe away a bad dream, baby Jonathan calling for his lullaby tape, Zachary's wet bed. And how could I forget being startled at three a.m. to find Sophia at my bedside, waiting politely for her mommy to open her eyes? I guess she wanted quality time." Count it all joy ," I mutter as I sit up and-not wanting to break my meager momentum-lunge for the laundry room. The slick linoleum under my feet is a wake up call. Once over the threshold ...

... my children learn cleanliness-not godliness. Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh. Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window. Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk. Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys. Love is present through the trials. Love reprimands, reproves, and is responsive. Love is the key that opens salvation's message to a child's heart. Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, runs with the child, then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood. Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection. Now I glory in God's perfection of my child. As a mother, there is much I must teach my child, but the greatest of all is love. [Author Unknown-from 'Aiken Drum ' (Inspiretoday @topica.com)] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... book and your budget balance and may they include generous amounts for charity. May you remember to say" I love you" at least once a day to your spouse, your child, your parents, your friends; but not to your secretary, your nurse, your masseuse, your hairdresser or your tennis instructor. May we live as God intended, in a world at peace and the awareness of His love in every sunset, every flower's unfolding petals, every baby's smile, every lover's kiss, and every wonderful, astonishing, miraculous beat of our heart. A Very Happy New Year to All! [Author unknown-from Aiken Drum] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... Old Photographs Every now and then God clears our vision and lets us see a glimpse of Heaven while still here on Earth. My own eyes got opened for me the other day while I was looking through some old photo albums. I was never very good at sorting pictures so they were pretty mixed up. Some had been taken a few years ago, some were of my children as babies, and some old, family ones were taken up to 70 years ago. Each one of them, however, contained a precious moment frozen in time. As I looked through them too I noticed something very wonderful. It seemed that the happier the person was in the picture, the more the light shined from their eyes. I could see this pure, radiant, and loving light in picture after picture no matter how long ago it was taken. With every smiling face there were a pair of shining eyes sending their joy across the years ...

... playpen, Grandpa climbed in with Jeffie! Grandpa said" If you are in the playpen buddy, I'm in the playpen too. What are you in for? What is your sentence ?" Having Grandpa join him in his" prison cell" brought Jeffie great comfort and joy. In the midst of his captivity, Jeffie no longer felt so alone. What Jeffie's Grandpa did is also a picture of what Jesus Christ did for us when He came to Earth as a baby. God the Father yearned to reach down into our" playpen of captivity" and pull us out. He could not... because of our disobedience... because of our sin. What did God do? God climbed into our" playpen" with us! When Jesus Christ entered into our" playpen of captivity ," He took the sin and disobedience that should have been ours alone, releasing us from our captivity... allowing us the opportunity to ...

... experience, tried by adversity, and tested by fire. I am a volunteer in this army, and I am enlisted for eternity. I will either retire in this Army or die in this Army; But, I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out. I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable. If my God needs, me, I am there. I am a soldier. I am not a baby. I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up, or pepped up. I am a soldier. No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me. I am a soldier. I am not a wimp. I am in place, saluting my King, Obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His Kingdom! No one has to send ...

... Happiness Is The Way We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are. After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire. The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D. Souza. He said," For a long time it had seemed to me that life ...

... in the south of France, one of the motors had failed and it was necessary to wait for another engine to be shipped by sea from England. There were further lengthy delays along the route in Rome, Cairo, the Middle East, etc, until finally the flight had progressed as far as Singapore. At this point a lady passenger asked the manager in Singapore if he thought the flight would arrive in Australia in the next few weeks because she was expecting a baby shortly." My dear lady ," he replied," you should never have commenced your trip in that condition" She replied," I didn't" Next time you miss a flight, think about her predicament and" hurry up and be patient "! The sooner you're patient, the easier your life will become. When you're patient, you can relax and enjoy the ride. There is great benefit in learning to wait calmly and creatively. Here is a" waiting checklist ...

... ! I've learned.... that commercials for feminine products always comes on when you are sitting in the living room with all men. I've learned.... that the kind of adults my children are now is directly related to the kind of children I continually told them they were. I've learned.... that everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile. I've learned.... that there's nothing sweeter than sleeping with your babies and feeling their breath on your cheeks. I've learned.... that men would rather be lost for hours than stop and ask for directions. I've learned.... that no one is perfect until you fall in love with them. I've learned.... that life is tough, but I'm tougher. I've learned.... that opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss. I've learned.... that ...

... that saying a prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law. As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it 'an alternate lifestyle, ' and if someone is offended, that's OK. I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity by dispensing condoms and calling it 'safe sex. If someone is offended, that's OK. I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a viable means of birth control. If someone is offended, no problem. I can designate a school day as earth day and involve students in activities to religiously worship and praise the goddess, mother earth, and call it 'ecology. I can use literature, videos, and presentations in the classroom that depict people with strong, traditional, Christian convictions as simple-minded and ignorant and call it 'enlightenment. However, if anyone uses this facility to honor God and ask Him ...