Whatever Girls

Before I Was a Mom

2011-12-06T04:30:00.000-08:00

Some of you may have seen this before, others have not. It always tugs at my heart. Enjoy :)

I never held down a screaming child so thatdoctors could do tests or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn’t want to put it down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn’t stop thehurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom
I didn’t know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn’t know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn’t know that bond between a Mother and her child.
I didn’t know that something so small could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sureall was okay
I had never known the warmth
The joy
The love
The heartache
The wonder
Or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn’t know I was capable of feeling so much before I was aMom.

What Are Your Kids Watching?

2011-12-05T07:52:00.001-08:00

Fox News just came out with a story about some of the mostdangerous shows kids are watching without their parents. Yikes. I’ve been out of the loop. I hadno idea there were shows about the secret life of an American teenager or twobroke girls.

Fortunately for us, we only get the basic stations that comeup when you plug in the television. But…wehave Netflix streaming. And there havebeen times when my heart hit the pit of my stomach while reading the ‘RecentlyWatched” summary. Fortunately nothingmortifying, but it doesn’t take long before black and white turns to gray.

My husband and I are very conservative about what we allowour kids to watch. We take issue withfoul mouthed, disrespectful kids and subject matter that conflict with ourfamily’s core beliefs. Sadly, this meanseven some of the cartoons or Disney programs that you would think would be safebets are off limits. Thank goodness forclassics like Little House.

We’ve taken some steps to ensure our kids don’t haveunlimited access to television and movies and they have to ask permission towatch something. But we’re not perfectand there have been times someone has slipped. Be it a kid who forgets to ask or a parent for permission or a parent (usuallyme) who gets caught up in something else and drops the ball.

Here are some of the things we do:

1. Our kids ask permission before watchingsomething.

2. If we’re not familiar with the show or movie wescreen it first.

3. Watch the show or movie out in the open. (My daughter’s iPhone can stream Netflix, soshe can watch it anywhere, discreetly, so I keep tabs on her phone)

4. Watch family friendly programs together.

5. Remain informed and involved. It’s the best defense.

Here are a couple of free resources you can use for checkingout movies and shows: The Dove Foundationand Plugged In. There are more outthere, just do a Google search.

Keep these verses in mind:

“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” (1Corinthians 15:33)

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs4:23)

And in case you’re curious, here’s that article from FoxNews.

How does your family keep tabs on the programs and moviesviewed in your home? What are someprograms and movies your family enjoy watching together?

Wishing you a blessed day,

Erin

Heaven is for Real, for Kids

2011-11-23T06:23:00.001-08:00

**This giveaway is now closed.

Congratulations to Wendy, who was clearly meant to win this book because she was our only entrant. :) Wendy, you and everyone you share this book with will love it. Thanks for entering. Please email me your address and we'll get this right out to you. My email address is EJBishop at comcast dot net**
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love
enduresforever." (Psalm 107:1)

Thanksgiving is tomorrow. One day set aside each year for the purpose of gratitude.

We as Americans have so much to be thankful for. As Christians, it goes far beyond that. So far, I can’t even comprehend. The glory that awaits us in Heaven because ofGod’s gift of salvation through his son Jesus is indeed, something to bethankful for.

When given the opportunity to review a copy of “Heaven isfor Real for Kids” from Tommy Nelson Publishers, I jumped at the chance. I’ve heard many people talk about a book inwhich a little boy shares how he went to Heaven and came back and shared hisstory. I was intrigued. Intrigued by the story, of course, and becauseI had a little boy who was afraid of death and being separated from his mommyand daddy.

When Colton Burpo’s book, “Heaven is for Real for Kids”arrived I was really excited to read it. When Colton was 3, almost 4, he got really sick and went to the hospital. While at the hospital he closed his eyes andreopened them in Heaven. God, Jesus andthe Holy Spirit were there, and so were angels, including Gabriel. There was beautiful music, lots of colors,big, bright rainbows, and streets of gold and pearl gates.

Colton saw many well known members of our Christian family likeJohn the Baptist, King David, Samson, Mary- Jesus’ mother, as well as hisgreat-grandpa, whom he had never met and his big sister. Colton shares many of the other splendors ofJesus and Heaven that await those of us whose Savior is Jesus Christ. You can look through the flipbook here, tosee for yourself.

This book was a tremendous help to my little boy, Luke. At age 7 he has accepted Jesus into hisheart, but he’s still very much attached to his family and his toys. After reading this book and looking at the gorgeouspictures, my Luke’s mind is very much at ease. In fact, he’s been making plans about what animals he wants to play withfirst. And, he’s also decided he wantswings. Because according to Colton, youget to choose if you want wings or not. I want wings, too. What aboutyou?

There are many details that Colton shared about his trip toHeaven that align with Scripture. Details that most three year olds wouldn’t have yet read in theBible. Heaven is real. Yes it is. Thanksgiving is an ideal time for us to bask in gratitude for thisprecious gift. And for me, I’mespecially thankful that my little boy is no longer afraid of death and knowsthat no matter who gets to Heaven first, we’re all in good hands.

Here’s even more information about this amazing book. As I shared above, there is a flipbook youcan look at. There’s also a video andsome coloring sheets for your kids. Youcan purchase a copy of this book, here.

The wonderful folks at Tommy Nelson are offering a giveawaycopy to a reader here in the States, as well as to a reader in Canada. Toenter, please share with me what your kids are most excited about inHeaven. Or, maybe you’re where we werenot long ago and have a child who’s apprehensive about Heaven. You can also tell me about that for a chanceto win. If you don’t know, askthem. This is a great conversation tohave with your kids. The giveaway isopen now and ends on Wednesday, November 30 at midnight. I’ll announce the random winner on Thursday, December1.

Wishing each of you a blessed and safe Thanksgiving.

Erin

Recognizing Advent

2011-11-20T22:19:00.001-08:00

Advent begins on Sunday, November 27. By this time next Sunday my family and I will be enjoying some special time together which will include talking about the significance of the season and about ways we can focus on the true meaning of Christmas and help each other not get too distracted by all the pretties. I swear, someone at JoAnn's and Hobby Lobby must be following my Christmas Pinterest board because every time I go into either of those stores I have to slowly back away from the eye candy. All those pretty colors and smells arranged just so. Sigh.

As I mentioned Friday, today I am sharing what our family normally does in the Advent season, as well as a few new things I'd like to add.

A couple years ago I started doing an Advent calendar beyond the perforated doors with chocolates. I made 25 fabric pouches in festive material and dated each one. The kids would take turns between the perforated doors and the new pouches. It was a blast!
Each evening the kids would open up the fabric pouch corresponding to the day and take out a treat like a Reese's Christmas tree for each kid. Who doesn't love those? Last year I added a little note to go with the treats with something fun to do together as a family.
Each note was a directive to do something as a family, many of which involved praying for someone, like our military or someone who does not know the Lord. Other days it would direct us to read a passage of Scripture together or watch a Christmas movie together.

This year I'm going to mix things up a bit. I'll probably back away from a great deal of the candy and rather than little notes describing fun activities I think I'll do chores lists. It's all about delivery, right? Kidding.
This year I may add little trinkets that they both like and can actually use. My daughter is forever running out of lip gloss and my son loves, well, just about everything, right down to rocks. Such contrast.

Over the weekend I thought of a new directive: "Collect all the loose change in the house and take it to the Salvation Army red kettle volunteer at the grocery store" My kids will be excited to share their blessings with others, and we love the Salvation Army, so it's a win-win. Besides, last time I emptied my change jar on my dresser there was close to $20, so it adds up fast. (By the way, did you know you can give to the Salvation Army red kettle online or start your own kettle?? What a fun family project!)

As you can see by the pictures, I have small little fabric pouches on a bulletin board, secured by thumb tacks. What's with the green ribbon border, you ask? To cover up some mistakes I made along the way. You see, I couldn't use just any bulletin board. No, not me. I just had to paint the wood the same brown as parts of our living room. Let's just say I'm not known for my painting accuracy.

This project was fun and a breeze to make. I just pulled my sewing machine in front of the television one day last November and was done after two or three episodes of Monarch of the Glen.

I'd love to know how/if your family celebrates the Advent season and what you do.

Wednesday I'm going to be sharing about another wonderful book, "Heaven is for Real for Kids" and hosting a giveaway with my friends at Tommy Nelson. Hope to see you then.

Wishing each of you a blessed day,

Erin

Advent

2011-11-18T04:30:00.000-08:00

Advent is upon us. The season starts,in fact, on Sunday, November 27.

Advent: a spiritual season of preparation before Christmas.Preparation for the second coming of Christ while commemorating his birth in astable over 2,000 years ago.

For the last week or so I’ve been feeling very convictedthat I need to have my house clean and in order before the holidays. I’m not just talking so clean that even thelight bulbs and plant leaves get dusted and that the books on the bookshelvesare straightened, though they need it.

No. I want all theodds and ends that I am forever shoving in a basket, box or grocery bag that“I’ll think about tomorrow” to be dealt with, once and for all. I want to get rid of all the stuff I’mhanging onto just because I’m not sure what to do with it. I want to get rid of all the catalogs I knowI’ll never get around to reading, and to iron the pile of my husband’s shirtsthat mock me every time I walk past them. I want the miscellaneous piles of Lego’s, pencils, hair bands, librarycards, gum wrappers and coins to be gone for good.

Part of me wonders if on some deep spiritual level this isthe Holy Spirit (because it certainly isn’t the ultra organized neat freakinside me) nudging me to clear out the catalogs and dust the light bulbs withinmy spirit so I can fully prepare and commemorate the season. What about you? Ever feel this way?

I’d love to know how your family recognizes the Adventseason, if at all, or if you’re planning to do so this year.

Monday I’ll share what my family has been doing for the pastfew years.

“For to us a child is born, to usa son is given…
And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor,MightyGod, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Wishing you a blessed and peaceful weekend!

Erin

PS: Have you heard about the Young American Patriot's Bible? Check it out here, as well as enter for a chance to WIN a free copy!

A Beautiful Gift

2011-11-17T04:30:00.000-08:00

“…Askand it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will beopened to you.” (Luke 11:9)

Have you ever been in asituation where you were blessed more by the act of giving, and the person’sheart behind the gift, than you were by the actual gift? This happened to me about six weeks ago, andto this day when I think about it, my heart smiles. I will smile forever about this.

I’ll start at the beginning. I had beenplanning a retreat for my Whatever Girls and their moms for severalmonths. The retreat was to be called “Returnto the Garden; Your Passport to Purity” and we would be covering purity of theheart, mind and body. My desire was thatthe girls would understand what things were like before sin entered the worldand how God’s plan for husbands and wives was (is) perfect. I wanted these girls to acquire an insatiableappetite for God’s way and to equip them for the temptations and challengesthat lie ahead. I wanted them to bedeeply rooted in God’s Word. I wantedthem to know in the deepest part of their being that God understands what theygo through each day at school and at home, and that He is there for them. Always. No matter what.

One day as I was praying aboutthe retreat the Holy Spirit laid it on my heart to ask Sami (Tommy Mommy Extraordinaire)of Tommy Nelson Publishers if Tommy Nelson would be interested in partneringwith me in giving each of my girls and their moms a Jesus Calling devotionalbook. You see, I LOVE, love, LOVE theJesus Calling devotional books. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, should have one of these books. If you're looking for an easy to read yet power packed devotional, this is for you. Also, the adult and kid versions are companions to each other. So, each day my kids and I can read together and get the same message, only their version speaks to school age kids. Every person I’ve talked to about these bookssays the same thing. “I feel like eachday was written for me.” What a Godthing!

I emailed Sami and explainedthe retreat to her and made my request, leaving it entirely in God’shands. I had no idea if this wassomething Tommy Nelson would take part in, but I figured “why not?” Ashort while later Sami wrote back and said “This sounds like a wonderful idea.We would love to partner with you in this way.” Wow! I was blown away by themutual dedication to enriching these girls’ spiritual lives.

This past weekend 6 moms and 9daughters each received their very own copy of the Jesus CallingDevotional. They were thrilled. One of the moms actually told me that shestarted reading backwards and the devotions matched up with how her week hadgone. I personally am overjoyed thatthese girls each have the Word of God in front of them, talking to themlovingly and with understanding. These bookswill help my girls and their moms swim upstream among the challenges and temptationsof the coming years.

I am so proud to be part of theTommy Mommy team and to be able to share with you their generosity and commitmentto getting God’s Word in the hands of our children. I am also proud to announce that Jesus Calling and Jesus Calling for Kids are the official devotional books for theWhatever Girls.

You can get your copies from manyretailers, including Amazon. Or, maybeyour local Costco is carrying them right now (the adult version). Mine is, and at a great price. Excellent Christmas gifts!

A big, heartfelt thank you to myfriends at Tommy Nelson Publishers on behalf of my girls and their moms foryour beautiful gift.

One more thing.

There's a Jesus Calling app. (I was beyond thrilled when I found it!!) Check it out, here!

More to come in the coming days and weeks on the retreat.

The Right Boy

2011-11-16T07:04:00.001-08:00

Source: Pinterest

I spent this past weekend ministering to a group of teen girls and their moms about the topic of purity. Purity of the heart, mind and body.

Girls "date" so much earlier than ever these days and it seems like so many girls think they need a boyfriend to complete their identity or fill the hole in their heart that only Jesus can fill.

One of my sweet girls asked me "how can we tell if we've met the right guy?"

My answer: "The right guy will care more about your purity and well being than his physical satisfaction." I went on to explain that at their precious ages of 13 and 14, that guy simply does not exist. I'm a proponent of waiting. Wait to "date", or court, in our family's case. There is no hurry. Find out who you are, who God created you to be.

I'm curious how your family handles the dating or courting topic. Please share in the comments section.

By the way, have you checked out the Young American Patriot's Bible? I love it! You can read about it and enter to win a free copy, here.

Wishing you a blessed day,
Erin

Young American Patriot’s Bible; Giveaway

2011-11-15T07:20:00.001-08:00

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to Katie, who commented: "I've always held a fascination with Harriet Tubman, I did several papers on her as a child! It will be interesting to see a biblical stand point on her :)"
Katie, please send me your address so I can have this Bible sent to you. I know you'll enjoy it.

I love America and am so proud of our heritage and to callthis land that I love my home. WhenTommy Nelson Publishers announced earlier this fall that there was anopportunity to review the “Young American Patriot’s Bible” I jumped at thechance.

This New King James Bible includes 64 color pages ofarticles about heroes who helped make America what it is today. Heroes like Thomas Jefferson, GeorgeWashington, Lewis and Clark, Dr. Billy Graham and his late wife, Ruth BellGraham are featured, as well as Amelia Earhart, Harriet Tubman and ElizabethBlackwell. In addition to the nationalheroes, historical events and traditions that shaped our nation are highlighted,such as, The Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, the NationalAnthem and See You at the Pole.

The “Young Patriot’s Bible” is anexcellent resource for your young patriot to learn about God’s Word and howearly leaders and heroes relied on God’s wisdom in their lives. This book would make an excellent resourcefor any family library as well as a timeless Christmas gift. Click here to view a sampling of the colored pages inside this Bible.

Tommy Nelson Publishers isgenerously allowing me to give away a copy of the “Young Patriot’s Bible” toone of my readers. All you have to do toenter is tell me what American Hero you would most like to learn about and Iwill randomly select a winner on Monday, November 21. (The giveaway is open nowthrough midnight on Sunday, November 20) The winner will be announced in an update to this original post by noon on Monday, November 21.

(I received this book from Tommy Nelson for the purpose ofreviewing and sharing my opinion. I wasnot compensated for this review; however, I am allowed to keep my review copyafter reviewing this book.)

Wishing you a blessed day!

Erin

Significance

2011-09-27T07:22:00.000-07:00

“The most unhealthy and unhappy girls are ones who place their significance in relationships prematurely”

Chad Eastham

A Hermie Extravaganza and Book Bundle Giveaway!

2011-09-22T04:30:00.000-07:00

My sons sweet little hands holding a Hermie book

Update: The winner of the Hermie Book Bundle is Christy from Critty Joy.

God loves and God listens; that’s the heart behind theHermie books.

“Children really need to know God loves them and that Godlistens to them. This is our hope withthe Hermie series that children will walk away with an idea of how importantand how special they are in God’s eyes.” Max Lucado (click here to watch Max’s video about the new books)

Tommy Nelson is hosting a Hermie Extravaganza this month incelebration of the release of new Hermie books by Max Lucado and a new look forthe Hermie we all love.

Early readers ages 4-9 have long since enjoyed the Hermiebooks, but now there is a book especially for the little ones age 0-4. The new Little Hermie books “Thank You Godfor Blessing Me” and “Thank You God for Loving Me” are based on Hermie as ababy. (Click on the book title links tocheck out the flipbooks)

The “Read 2 Me” books containpower packed messages about God’s love, yet are the perfect length for thoseshorter attention spans. Your little one will love cuddling in your lapand helping to turn the pages of these board books.

As you can see in the photo, my son, Luke, is reading“Hermie, A Common Caterpillar” to his stuffed shark and bear. Hermie is relatively new to our family. We were introduced to him a few years ago andhave since loved reading and re-reading the books and watching theprograms.

I love reading to my little boy, but I also love hearing hissweet voice read the Hermie books to me. And to his stuffed friends.

In honor of these new books, Tommy Nelson is generously allowingme to give away a book bundle of ALL 3 of these books! To enter, please leave me a comment tellingme about how your kids have “grown with Hermie” or if Hermie is new to yourfamily, tell me who you would like to win the book bundle for. The giveaway will be open through Tuesday, September28. A winner will be randomly selectedand announced on Thursday, September 29.

And of course if you wish, you can go directly to Amazon and purchase these books:
"Hermie, a Common Caterpillar"
"Thank You God for Loving Me"
"Thank You God for Blessing Me"

Wishing you a joy filled day!

Erin

Everything

2011-09-20T06:49:00.000-07:00

Four or fiveyears ago someone emailed out this Lifehouse "Everything" skit to abunch of people. I watched it and wasincredibly moved. Each time I watch it Ifind myself getting teary and really excited, like I'm cheering the winningteam to the end zone. Watch it, andlet's see if you can guess which part I'm talking about.

Here it is,"Everything" by Lifehouse.

"For Iam convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neitherthe present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, noranything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of Godthat is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

Praying you experience victory today,

Erin

You're Beautiful!

2011-09-09T10:10:00.000-07:00

That's right, I'm talking to YOU!

YOU are TREASURED
YOU are SACRED
YOU are PRECIOUS
YOU are HIS

Have you heard "Beautiful" by Mercy Me? One of my favorite songs. Please take a few minutes to listen and soak in this song.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!!

Erin

From the Overflow

2011-09-05T21:05:00.000-07:00

My kids start school tomorrow. She’s going into 8^th grade and he’sgoing into 2^nd. She’s finewith being dropped off at the curb, while he wants his mama to walk him to hisclassroom and to not leave him until the last possible minute. She’s excited to see her friends and learnnew things and he’d rather stay home and be with mama and daddy. He’s so smart…last night without hesitationhe answered correctly when I asked him what 70-7 was. I was just checking for summer brainfuzz. Nope, he’s good.

I loathed school. Ihad a stubborn streak concerning anything I didn’t want to do. (That hasn’t changed) Doing a quarters worthof social studies assignments during a weekend rather than when assigned was morethe rule, not the exception. I made it by the skin of my teeth, all thetime, which set the tone for my doctorate degree in procrastination.

At dinner tonight we prayed for the kids’ minds to be opento their new lessons and applications, to be respectful to their teachers andto set a good example for their peers.

But my hearts prayer, the prayer I saved just for God, are those wordsus mothers say silently as we struggle to see our little one in the midst ofall the backpacks, as our eyes burn up with tears. (Am I the only one who feels guilty drivingoff before seeing that backpack one last time? Just on the off chance they were kidnapped from the crowd or today wasthe day they decided to skip school…)

“Please let them have someone to sit with at lunch. Please let them be included. Please let them feel accepted.” And so itgoes. All my prayers focus on their selfworth. I know my kids will do well academically andthat they’ll be respectful to the teachers and obey rules. It’s those heart issues that concern me themost, because I know how deeply they hurt.

If only I could protect them and spare them from thoseheartaches and sleepless nights.

But then, where would there beroom for compassion?

In the overflow of knowing Jesus.

Yes, let their compassion and love for others, especiallythe difficult ones, be from the overflow of really knowing you, Lord. And let that be returned to them one hundredfold.

What is your prayer as you send your kids off to school, or as you prepare for another year of schooling them at home?

I'm linking with my friend Jen from Finding Heaven for Soli Deo Gloria..please go visit the other bloggers participating in this weekly link up.

“It Couldn’t Just Happen; Knowing the Truth About God’s Awesome Creation”

2011-08-30T15:18:00.000-07:00

Dr. Lawrence O. Richards, retired seminary professor, author of some 250 books and winner of The Gold Medallion Book Award gives us a very thought provoking book that offers solid Biblical answers to some of the toughest questions about creation, evolution, our world and much more.

“It Couldn’t Just Happen”, a book which has been updated with new text and vibrant photos, is geared towards kids ages 7-12 looking to deepen their understanding about how Biblical events happened and why we can and should believe them. (I say, this book is great for scholars of ALL ages looking to deepen their understanding of how Biblical events happened.)

This five part book covers the following topics in great detail: Earth in Our Universe, How Life Began, Evidence from Living Things, Humanity in God’s Nature and The Book That Didn’t Just Happen.

As parents, teachers, ministry leaders, grandparents, church volunteers, etc…, we want the children with whom we have influence to believe in and take what they read in the Bible at face value. However, it’s perfectly natural and acceptable for kids and adults alike, to have questions. Questions about Creation, Heaven, how the world was made, how people came to be, (E)evolution, planets, and so on. Especially at certain ages.

Do you know someone who just can’t get past this or that "scientific issue" and it’s holding them back from putting their faith in Jesus and what the Bible says? I strongly suggest you consider this book either for yourself or for your friend.

Maybe you’re like me when it comes to answering questions: I have a decent amount of Biblical knowledge, but still so much to learn. For the most part, when people ask me questions I feel comfortable either answering on the spot or knowing where to look for answers. But my son. Oh my son. He’ll be 8 this November and he can run circles around me when it comes to topics like dinosaurs, planets and other scientific things. He comes up with some really good questions! He and I have been really enjoying exploring through this book together and finding out answers to his tough questions and learning new things, too. Not to mention, the pictures-they are amazing! (I plan to start taking this book with us to church on the Sundays we teach the middle school kids- they have a lot of good questions, too!)

Are you interested in learning more? You can look at the flipbook here, or you can order it directly from Amazon, here.

Win a free copy: Tommy Nelson Publishers is generously giving one of my readers a free copy of “It Couldn’t Just Happen”. To enter, please leave a comment (here in the comments section, via the Whatever Girls Facebook page or via Twitter) telling me what kind of question (s) have been posed to you about the Bible that you wish you had a resource like this for.

For more entries you can: Follow Tommy Nelson on Facebook, follow TommyNelson on Twitter, follow Whatever Girls on Facebook, follow Whatever Girls on Twitter and follow the Whatever Girls blog, here. Or, you can spread the word about the giveaway using some form of social media. Just leave me a comment for each one and you’ll get an additional entry for each.

The deadline to enter this giveaway is midnight, Wednesday, August 31. I will randomly select and announce the winner on Thursday, September 1. Good luck!

Have you entered yesterday's giveaway? You have until midnight tonight! (PST)

If you've never visited Tommy Nelson's web site, I encourage you to do so. They have a wealth of resources in the form of books, blogs and so much more.

Thanks for stopping by!

Erin

"Don't Check Your Brains at the Door"

2011-08-29T03:30:00.000-07:00

Update! The randomly selected winner of "Don't Check Your Brains at the Door" is.... Jen from Finding Heaven. Jen, you can email me your address and the folks at Tommy Nelson will send the book to you directly. Congratulations Jen, thanks for entering the giveaway, I know you and your family will love this book.
“The gospel does not require that you check your brains at the door. On the contrary, it demands the full use of your intellect until you can say with the confidence of Paul ‘I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes’ (Romans 1:16)” Page 101; “Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door”

Many Christian teens copy the beliefs of their parents, reflect the opinions of their friends and mimic the behaviors they observe at church. How then, can we expect our children to take ownership of their faith if they can’t defend it, let alone, understand it?

“Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door; Know What You Believe and Why”, by Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler a wonderful book for helping youth defend their faith with confidence and understanding. Common myths about: God, Jesus, the Bible, the Resurrection, religion, Christianity, life issues and topics for today’s teen, and happiness are presented, and then compared to what the Bible says.

One of my favorite parts of the book is when they demonstrate how the New Age movement is rooted back to the Garden of Eden. “The New Age movement, for all its promises of empowerment and happiness and restoration to the “untainted” traditions of ancient and unindustrialized civilizations, is actually the revival of a worldview that has been failing to save mankind from destruction since the ancient days of its beginning. It began in the Garden of Eden.” (Page 128; “Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door”)

Yes, there is only one way. It is He. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

In the “Boys Will Be Boys” chapter, the authors discuss locker-room pressures among the guys and remind us of how in Genesis, Joseph resisted the many advances of Potiphar’s wife. “Joseph had character, strength and guts.” “It takes a man like that (Joseph) to stand up to locker-room pressure. It takes a man to summon the strength to follow his conscience. It takes a man to refuse to conform to the crowd. It takes a man to say no.” (Page 151; “Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door”) What a great lesson this would be to present to the young guys of your church.

Each chapter is concluded with a “Brain Food” section that builds on the material of each chapter, making this great for independent or group reading and discussion. I plan to share this book with our youth group at church and my Whatever Girls ministry- it’s a great book for answering questions many of us have, as well as providing our youth with a powerful witnessing tool.

This book is recommended for ages 13-17, but as a ministry leader and a parent, I plan to add it to my ministry tool belt.
You can take a look at some sample chapters of the book here. And, you can click here to purchase a copy.

Win a free copy: Tommy Nelson Publishers is generously giving one of my readers a free copy of “Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door”. To enter, please leave a comment (here in the comments section, via the Whatever Girls Facebook page or via Twitter) telling me the hardest question (s) someone, even your kids, have ever asked you about your faith and/or the Bible, or, tell me if you have ever had an experience when you questioned your faith?

For extra entries you can: Follow Tommy Nelson on Facebook, follow TommyNelson on Twitter, follow Whatever Girls on Facebook, follow Whatever Girls onTwitter and follow the Whatever Girls blog, here. Or, you can spread the word about the giveaway using some form of social media. Just leave me a comment for each one and you’ll get an additional entry for each.

The deadline to enter this giveaway is midnight, Tuesday, August 30. I will randomly select and announce the winner on Wednesday, August 31.

If you've never visited Tommy Nelson's web site, I encourage you to do so. They have a wealth of resources in the form of books, blogs and so much more.

Thanks so much for stopping by...

Erin

How Low is Too Low?

2011-08-27T09:20:00.000-07:00

I know I’m not the only mom out there who wishes she could find modest tanks or cami’s, as some call them, for her teen girl. (By the way, what is with “cami’s”? When I was a kid, ladies wore camisoles under their blouses. Same with thongs. Those used to be what we now refer to as flip-flops. Not anymore. Whatever. Times are a changin’.) And I know I’m not the only mom out there who doesn’t want her boy catching an eye full of a girl (or grown woman, for that matter) not wearing a modest tank, either.

It’s back to school time and I’m on the hunt for some tanks my daughter can wear underneath her button up shirts or sweaters. I’m uncomfortable with how low cut some of the options are. And I’m sure some of you will disagree, and please don’t look for an inference of judgment, but I’m iffy on some of the laced up tanks, too. I don’t mind lace in general. On the contrary, I think it’s lovely and elegant, provided it’s made well. But some of the tanks have cheap and skimpy lace, which in my mind; give the tank a cheap lingerie-ish look. Anyone else notice that?

I’ve been asking around my friend base for suggestions on where to get good tanks. I’ve heard Old Navy, Maurice’s, Forever 21, Down East Basics and Gordon’s. We don’t have a Gordon’s here, but I’m going to do some online comparison shopping and see what I can come up with.

At a recent Whatever Girls meeting we (girls and moms) took the “Truth or BareFashion Test” created by Dannah Gresh. One particular test, “The Palm Pilot” is a great tool to remember when purchasing tanks. Here’s what Dannah says:

Test: The Palm Pilot

Target Question: Is my shirt too low cut?

Place your palm flat with all your fingers tightly together. Hook your thumb onto the little shelf (clavical) at the base of your neck. Hold your hands flat against your chest. There should be no skin under your pinky, just fabric!

Remedy: Layering is a great way to wear trendy low cut shirts without bombing the palm pilot test. Wear a cute tank top or t-shirt under a lower cut shirt and you’re all set.

(You can view Dannah’s complete Truth or Bare Fashion Test and other wonderful resources, including her books, on her web site. I highly recommend you visit her site, she’s great!)

I’m taking my daughter shopping next week and I’ll be on the lookout for tanks that pass the “Palm Pilot” test. I’m thinking adjustable straps (highest setting) will be my only solace. Check back, I’ll let you know how our shopping trip went.

Have you gone back to school shopping yet? Can you suggest a good place for tanks?

Thanks for visiting...wishing you a blessed day,

Erin

“The Crippled Lamb”- updated with winner announced-

2011-08-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

Update! The randomly selected winner of "The Crippled Lamb" is.... Jensamom 23. Jen, you can email me (see my profile) your address and the folks at Tommy Nelson will send the book to you directly. Congratulations Jen, thanks for entering the giveaway, I know you will love this book.

Thanks to all who entered. Be sure to check back next week, as there are two more reviews and giveaways geared towards apologetics.

Have you ever felt left out? Left out because you were too young to hang out with the big kids, because the other kids were mean to you, because you had to stay behind and do chores, because you didn’t have enough money to go along with the rest of your friends? What about because you were physically unable to participate due to an injury or disability? It really hurts being left out and watching the rest of the group from the sidelines longing to be included in the group, not to mention the negative thoughts that infiltrate our minds.

I think the worst memories I have about feeling left out are like what most everyone has. Being the last picked for kickball in gym class, the odd one out for a partner in class, or you hear about the amazing sleepover that you weren’t invited to. Again. Oh yes, we all have those little heart scars, don’t we?

I just read a wonderful book by Max Lucado called “The Crippled Lamb”. The wonderful folks at Tommy Nelson published it and as a Tommy Mommy I have the honor of receiving a copy for review. The book is recommended for kids 3-7, but there is so much wisdom packed into this book, I think kids of all ages will love it! Please read on for the synopsis of this treasure of a story.

This precious story by Mr. Lucado, along with the help of his daughters, tells of a little lamb named Joshua. Sweet Joshua didn’t look like the other lambs. Unlike the plain white lambs in the group, he had black spots and black feet and a leg that just didn’t work right. Because of his leg, he limped when he walked and wasn’t able to play along with the other lambs. Not only was little Joshua unable to play along with the other lambs, they made fun of him for being different.

Fortunately, Joshua had a best friend. A cow named Abigail. Abigail was a great source of encouragement who always reminded Joshua that he was special and that God has a special place for those who feel left out.

One day all the lambs were to travel to a new valley for more grass. The journey would be too long for Joshua, so he had to stay behind and sleep in the stable that night. Joshua was so sad that he had to stay behind and miss out on the adventure. Yet again. But Abigail was there to remind him that God has a special place for those who feel left out. And was she ever right! Are you ready for what comes next? It’s pretty amazing!

That night in the stable, Joshua was among the first to welcome baby Jesus into the world. I can’t think of a more special place to be, can you? Indeed, God had a special plan for Joshua, and his entire life had led up to that moment.

I hope you’ll consider purchasing this book for a special child in your life who needs a reminder that all of us are special, and God really does have a special place for those who feel left out.
To read part of the story and to gaze upon the gorgeous illustrations by Liz Bonham, take a look at the flipbook, here. Or, if you know you need to make this book yours today, you can go here.

Tommy Nelson is generously giving one of my readers a free copy of “The Crippled Lamb”. To enter, please leave a comment (here in the comments section, via the Whatever Girls Facebook page or via Twitter) telling me about a time you or your child has felt left out, or tell me who you would like to win this book for, be it your child, grandchild, neighbor kid, your church nursery, etc… . The deadline to enter this giveaway is midnight, Friday, August 26. I will randomly select and announce the winner on Saturday, August 27.

For more entries you can: Follow Tommy Nelson on Facebook, follow Tommy Nelson on Twitter, follow Whatever Girls on Facebook, follow Whatever Girls on Twitter and follow the Whatever Girls blog, here. Or, you can spread the word about the giveaway using some form of social media. Just leave me a comment for each one and you’ll get an additional (1) entry for each.

Thank you so much for stopping by today!

Erin

Saying No to Your Daughters Outfit

2011-08-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

(Source: Google)

It’s Sunday morning and we’re running late for church. Big surprise. It’s the same routine every Sunday morning. I get up first, make breakfast, motivate the kids, get myself ready and then somehow end up being the last one ready to leave. How this happens, I have no clue. This Sunday was a little different. Grace had two close friends spend the night Saturday who would be joining us for church. Their mama just had brain surgery so we wanted to give her a break and get the girls out of the house for some goofy girl time, and to church for some good spiritual nourishment. And were these girls ready for church…they both had gorgeous dresses and shoes ready for the occasion. The girls all decided they were all going to dress their very best.

I got up that morning, made my coffee and started making bacon and waffles. I call Grace to let her know I’ve got a batch of bacon set aside just how she likes it. She likes it –just- after done and not crispy. “Ok, I’ll be there in a minute!” she hollers from downstairs. Ten minutes go by and her bacon has gotten crispy and she doesn’t want it and gets pouty on me. Well boo to her. Fortunately I’ve got a bacon eating machine for a husband and it won’t go to waste.

As everyone finishes up breakfast, I head to my bathroom to finish getting ready. Turns out this whole time my husband thinks all of us are getting ready extra early for some reason and he was misreading the clock as an hour early. This whole time I was wondering why in the sam hill he wasn't turning off Star Trek and getting his rear moving. At the time of this revelation we were 14 minutes before church started. Muscles I didn’t even know I had in my stomach began to tighten with anxiety.

A few minutes later Grace knocks on the door to bring me my straightener. Oh my. She’s gotten a lot taller since she got the skirt she was wearing and some other changes had taken place since the purchase of her tank top, which she planned to do a layered look with. It was a great outfit. 5 months ago.

“Honey,” I said, “you can’t wear that to church.” Her entire body stiffens; head tilts, nostrils flare and eyebrows get pointy on me and I'm pretty sure she's thinking of the song from "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." “Ok?” she says, irritated and confused and waiting for an explanation. And this right here was my make it or break it moment. If I took out my frustration about her attitude, being late for church, the bacon incident and the rest of the family’s “Sunday Slowpoke Syndrome” on her, and actually spoke out loud what I was thinking about her outfit, I’d be sorry, and she’d be mad, and I’d lose some credibility with her and possibly crush her spirit.

“You have a great sense of fashion, and your skirt and top are super cute together. It’s just, since you got this outfit, your body has done some shifting and filling out, and you’ve gotten taller, which happens with most girls at your age. These clothes no longer fit you they way they are supposed to because of these changes. Do you remember when we talked about how we need to dress modestly so that we can protect ourselves from unwanted attention? And, how we owe it to your guy friends at church to protect them from tempting and distracting thoughts?” “Yeah” she said. “Well, why don’t you go back to your room and see if you can find something else to wear that we can both feel comfortable with, alright?” She came back wearing a great skirt (proper length this time) and a super cute t-shirt. She looked fashionable and modest.

I can’t take credit for how I handled this situation. (I know that because there have been times I handled similar situations the wrong way.) My words and actions were guided by the Holy Spirit and from the overflow of grace I’ve received from the Lord. There is no way I could have dished out thoughtful instruction while racing around a mile a minute trying to get everyone else ready and out the door. It’s in these moments that I’m really stretched from head to toe. My stomach goes in knots and I turn into a short fused drill sergeant, which leaves my children feeling stressed.

The next day after some reflection time I did some searching in the Bible for some verses that would correspond with holding your tongue and kind correction. I found some great ones, which I share below. I hope you’ll enjoy these verses and tell me what Sunday mornings look like at your house. Does the devil come and visit you, too?

Verses:
“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” Proverbs 31:26

“A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.” Proverbs 15:18

“Parents, don't come down too hard on your children or you'll crush their spirits.” Colossians 3:21 (Message)

“Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” Colossians 3:21 (NIV)

Thank you for visiting...wishing you a blessed day!

Links: "Soli Deo Gloria" with Jen from Finding Heaven

Whatever Girls: One Year Later

2011-08-12T18:50:00.000-07:00

It’s been about a year since we held our first Whatever Girls meeting. I was so nervous about sending my daughter to middle school. What would happen to her there? What kind of kids would she meet and hang out with? The Whatever Girls ministry concept was absolutely an answer to prayer. I’m not normally one to succumb to fear. No, I like to take the bull by the horns and participate rather than watch. I certainly wasn’t going to just let our daughter fend for herself.

On a hot summer evening over ice cream, Grace and I, along with some other mom’s and daughters, met for the first time and shared how we felt about the move to middle and high school for our girls. Some of our biggest concerns were peer pressure, dating, friendships, gossip, drama and staying true to values. Over the past year we’ve addressed all these topics and so many more. This ministry has far exceeded my wildest dreams. Sometimes we have deep discussions and sometimes we make hair bows or do spa treatments. No matter what we do, we always have fun in a safe and relaxing setting.

It’s simply wonderful to be part of such an authentic group of like-minded friends to do this journey called life with. In the coming days and weeks I’ll be sharing how to get your own group together and sharing some resources. I’ve wanted to do this for awhile now, but life “happens”.

So tell me, what are some topics you’d like to see covered here? What are some issues you are or have faced with your daughter that you want to share with others?

My Faith Journal; Review and Giveaway

2011-07-30T15:36:00.001-07:00

Do you keep a journal? Do you write in it every day or is it hit and miss? I have several journals but rarely write in them. I’m good for a few entries and then it slips my mind. My problem is, I can’t think of what to write about.

I recently received the most amazing journal from Tommy Nelson Publishing for review. The “My Faith Journal” written by Karen Hill has chapters, or “Journeys” that you journal about. There are 32 chapters in this journal which include topics on: fear, praise, anger, boredom, loneliness, family, cooperation, mistakes, patience and many more.

The beginning of each chapter starts with a brief paragraph about the topic and then there are guiding questions and Scripture relating to the topic. I love the idea of documenting your way through different seasons of life, just how this journal is laid out. It would be a great keepsake for a kid to hang onto and share with their kids someday when they are experiencing different trials and situations.

The Faith Journal is recommended for kids 7-11, but I think kids as young as 5 or kids well into their teens would find this journal helpful. You can get a good look at the journal in this video, or go straight to Amazon to order it.

The wonderful folks at Tommy Nelson are giving away a free copy of the journal to one of my wonderful readers.

To enter, leave a comment telling me how you encourage your kids to share their faith or, if your kids have a place to record their prayers and thoughts. For extra entries you can tweet, Facebook or blog about this review and giveaway. Leave me a comment for each entry. The giveaway closes on Monday at midnight and I will randomly select a winner on Tuesday.

Do you like the Whatever Girls on Facebook or follow us on Twitter? Please do!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and please check out the Faith Journal and the Princess Bible from Tommy Nelson, you'll be glad you did.

The Princess Bible

2011-07-29T19:56:00.001-07:00

Yet again I’ve been wowed by a book from Tommy Nelson Publishing. The bestselling “Princess Bible” in paperback is one of the easiest to read and most user friendly Bible’s I’ve seen. This International Children’s Bible helps the reader’s curiosity with a thorough dictionary, a “Where Do I Find It?” section, a “What God Promises About…” section and a “Memory Verses for My Life” section.

I especially like the “Where Do I Find It?” section. You can find dozens of different topics listed alphabetically, such as: Creation, David, Jacob, Peter, and a section on Jesus which breaks out topics like how the shepherds hear about Jesus’ birth, the escape to Egypt, Jesus calms the storm, Jesus heals a blind man, and so on. I think this would be especially helpful for reviewing Sunday school lessons with your kids. If your child has learned about say “The Ten Terrible Plagues” or “Noah” in class, you can easily find what you need in the “this section.

The dictionary is very thorough and explains each entry in a simple and engaging format, which would be extremely helpful in a group setting with kids, but this Bible is perfect for princesses of all ages.

The Princess Bible comes in a beautiful shade of pink and is lettered with silver foil and sparkly details. My friends at Tommy Nelson have graciously offered a free copy to one of my readers.

To enter, please leave a comment telling me how you remind your daughter(s) that they are truly daughters of the King. For extra entries you can tweet, Facebook or blog about this review and giveaway. Leave me a comment for each entry.

The giveaway closes on Monday, August 1 at midnight. Join me again tomorrow-I’ll be sharing the “Faith Journal” with you, you won't want to miss it.

For more information or to purchase this Bible, you can view it at Amazon, here.

What Girls Need to Know...Right Now

2011-07-29T08:17:00.000-07:00

I would give just about anything for teen girls to understand how valuable they are on their own. As in; without that guy, without that brand of clothing, without that certain group of friends, without that make-up their mom won’t let them wear yet, and without everything else that they think validates them and brings them significance among their peers and as they walk through the halls at school.

Girls are giving away pieces of their innocence and a precious time in their lives they can never get back by believing they need to meet someone else’s standards. It’s not surprising; the media, television shows, magazines and movies are all shooting flaming arrows at our girls that pierce their very hearts and spirits with these toxic messages.

Sweet girl, please don’t worry about what that guy thinks of you. At this age, he’s not even remotely capable of giving you the kind of fulfilling relationship your heart yearns for. Right now he’s confused and feeling awkward about himself, even if it seems like he has it all together. Take this time to pray for your future spouse and thank God that He has given you an opportunity to bypass the drama and heartache so many of your friends will experience. God’s plan for you is far better than anything you can imagine. Will you trust Him? Will you be patient?

What kind of friends are you surrounding yourself with? Do they know you? Really know you? Do they build you up or tear you down? Does being friends with them bring you closer to God, or does He get put on the back burner? Do you sneak around behind your parent’s back with these friends, or is following rules and respecting adults important to your friends, too?

You are beautiful and precious just as you are. The creator of the universe designed you and has given you a purpose that only you can fulfill. The cute boy, designer clothes, latest I-Pod and cool friends don’t define you-God does. And until that sinks in and becomes the most important thing to you, you will be spinning your wheels in search of true joy and fulfillment that only He can give.

Verses to look up in your Bible: Jeremiah 29:11 and Psalm 139:13-16. Read these verses and thank God for His love and perfect plan for your life. Memorize these verses and tuck them into your heart so that when you need a reminder of how much God loves you and your worth, you only need to look as far as your heart.

(Erin Bishop 7/29/11)

Three Amazing Books for Your Family

2011-07-03T07:21:00.000-07:00

As a "Tommy Mommy" I have the pleasure and privilege of reviewing new books from Tommy Nelson Publishers each month. I've never met a Tommy Nelson book I didn't love. Seriously. They have all been wonderful.

I'm excited to share three new books that I received for review in June.

“Thank you God for Daddy” by Amy Parker is an adorable board book featuring a little lion cub and his daddy, who he appreciates and admires. Throughout the book the lion cub thanks God for his daddy who teaches and leads him, works hard for him, scares away monsters, helps those in need, cheers him on and best of all, trusts in God.

This book is a great tool for instilling gratitude in our children for all their fathers do. Perfect for Father’s day, dad’s birthday, Christmas or any day of the year, just to say you care and appreciate them. This book is ideal for kids ages 2-5, but my husband loved hearing our seven year old son read this book to him.

You can look at the flipbook here, or go directly to Amazon to purchase it, here.

"Soul Surfer Devotions" Our family has admired Bethany Hamilton ever since we heard about her surfing accident/shark attack in 2003. Bethany knows what it’s like to go through tough times since she lost her left arm while surfing. Through the shock and pain of losing her arm and then readjusting to life and setting goals and overcoming obstacles, she has plenty of inspiration to share. She’s a great role model for kids; she’s the real deal and boldly shares her faith in an encouraging, relevant fashion. My 13 year old daughter, who is at a very impressionable age, is getting a lot out of the book.

This devotional is ideal for kids ages 13-17. You can watch the movie trailer for “Soul Surfer”, which hit theaters in April, here. You can also go to Amazon to get more information about the book and purchase it, here.

"My First Study Bible" is an amazing resource for your kids to take their Bible studying to a whole new level. Each story has study features, an introduction, background information, sidebars with special notes and a summary and “call outs” highlighted in yellow, just like an adult study Bible. Over 700,000 copies of this book have been sold and it has been fully redesigned. Children will discover the exciting adventures of Biblical characters and see how God is involved with our everyday lives.

My seven year old son has been so enthralled with this book, daily sharing with us new information he has discovered. It has been a joy to see this already excited about Jesus boy get even more excited. You can go to Amazon and learn more about and purchase this book, here.

I highly recommend all three of these books for your children or as gifts.

*I received these books from Tommy Nelson Publishers for review. The opinions are my own and I have not been compensated by Tommy Nelson Publishers.

Wishing you a blessed day!

Erin

Set Apart Girls

2011-05-04T09:42:00.000-07:00

The pressure to fit in and be accepted by your peers is huge. Not just at school, either. The pressure follows you to soccer and basketball practice, dance class, and of all places youth group and church. What I have yet to figure out is who decided what is “cool”, “tight” or “acceptable”. (By the way, I only used the word “tight” because I overheard my daughter and her friends use it the other day. I still say “cool”.) Whoever this “know it all” is, they seem to be a moving target. If I were to ask 100 teens what they thought it took to be considered a cool kid, I’d probably get 100 different answers. That is, if I asked them individually.

Yes, this pressure is so high that we often lose sight of who we are, and who God created us to be at the risk of not fitting in and pleasing the crowd. So what’s a Jesus loving girl to do? You know who you are and what you like to do, but maybe there’s this inner battle raging inside you. Maybe at times you even feel worried about expressing your faith. What will people think? Will they call me a Jesus freak and think I’m a goody two shoes, or think that I’m constantly judging them?

Girls, God created us one by one, piece by piece. We were meant to shine for Him. Stop hiding behind the crowd. “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10)

Let not your hearts be troubled, friends. I’m a firm believer in taking your circumstances and asking God to help you shape them into something beautiful. Are there other Christian girls at your school? Consider starting a girls club. My daughter and I have started a life group for her and her friends called “The Whatever Girlz”.
We meet twice a month and have a great time discussing what’s going on at school, with friends, fashion, fitting in, self image and a bunch of other things. The girls in the group love it because they know who they are and who they want to be. When the pressure is high they see each other’s smiling and encouraging faces in the school halls, they are reminded they are not in this alone.

Unsure if there are other Christian girls at school? This can still work. Take baby steps and know that there are probably more girls out there looking for something different than the status quo. God may have plans to use you to bring them to Him. Check out our blog for ideas for your own club.

“By yourself you're unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

Remember this, girls. Fashion, activities, favorite songs, and sometimes even friends, come and go. But, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”, (Hebrews 13:8) and He wants you to be His set apart girl.

3 Great Book Giveaways

2011-03-31T11:13:00.000-07:00

If you've got a daughter or know young girls, I invite you to check out my other blog "It's Grace" where I've just posted a review on three terrific books; The Velveteen Bible, The Shiny Sequin Bible and How to Be God's Little Princess. And, thanks to Tommy Nelson Publishing, I get to give away one of each book! So hurry over and sign up! Click here.

Wishing you a wonderful day!

Have You Been Bullied?

2011-03-10T10:55:00.000-08:00

Tuesday evening I had the privilege and honor of presenting Dawnesha, one of my “Whatever Girlz” with a “Brave Girl Award”.

Dawnesha was bullied throughout middle school and shared her story with us. She shared how girls who once were her friends turned on her once they reached middle school and started calling her names and threatened to beat her up. Scared and feeling isolated, Dawnesha found herself taking alternate routes to her classes just to avoid her bullies. Her mom and counselors were there for her, but whenever the bullies were confronted she was picked on again and called a “snitch”.

Dawnesha and her mom turned to God for help every day. He worked things out for good and brought Dawnesha a best friend that she could trust and who supported her. Now a freshman in high school, Dawnesha shares her story in hopes of encouraging others to speak out against bullying, to ask for help and most of all to give the glory to God.

I’m so proud of Dawnesha for allowing God to use her story to help others.

The Sexualization of Young Girls

2011-02-23T18:47:00.000-08:00

Almost thirteen years ago the doctor said “it’s a girl!” and a nurse handed me a precious 8lb. 10oz. baby wrapped in the hospitals standard issue newborn blanket with inquisitive eyes and a sweet little nose. The experience was surreal. I was there, but it felt like I was just playing a part in a movie. “Grace Elizabeth” I answered, after the nurse asked me her name for the birth certificate. I thought the name Grace was elegant and feminine. (Little did I know how much more there was to my baby daughter’s name.) Elizabeth was my maternal grandma’s middle name and my great grandma’s first name. I’ve always loved the name Elizabeth, anyway.

As a new mother I delighted in picking out and receiving cute and frilly little clothes for my baby girl. As the months passed by and she suddenly became a toddler, the shopping experience remained just as fun. Cute little dresses and two piece outfits, the little jeans and sweaters looked absolutely adorable on my curly brown haired, green eyed, chubby cheeked tot. And then one day my little girl became a big girl, all ready for school, which meant school clothes shopping.
And here’s where everything changed. Gone were the cute and predictable styles. The racks now carried jeans with a bunch of stuff all over them and thin cotton shirts with silk screened images of people, characters and images that I didn’t care two bits about. The sweaters had a bunch of doodads on them and the skirts looked more like little rags with zippers.

Go read the rest of this post at my other blog, It's Grace...

Check, Check, Check

2010-10-04T21:01:00.000-07:00

8 new text messages. It had only been a few days since I last checked my daughter's cell phone. Her phone has been taken away for 2 weeks. Nothing major, but not following the rules is not following the rules. (I'd love to be a judge for the Supreme Court. I'm dying to know what a properly functioning judicial system looks like. -end sarcasm-.)

Just the ordinary stuff. "Hi". "wear your practice jersey to school today". "what's up?"

And then came one that nearly made my heart fall to my feet. "hey there you little hot mama". It was a long distance number, too.

What?! "WHO IS THIS? " I texted back. "You are SO going down, you pedophile!" I thought to myself.

"This is your good looking sister in law", was the answer back.

"And THIS is actually the concerned mother of a 12 year old girl who checks her kids
phone", I shot back.

Ring, Ring. (seriously, what part of forget this phone number don't you get?!)

"Hello?" (the mystery texter was calling)

"Is ____________ there?""

"You have the wrong number. Somehow you got my 12 year old daughter's phone number".

Silence. "I'm sorry, I thought this was my sister in law", she said.

"No, no it's not. You have the wrong number, no harm done. Thank you, and good night."

THANK GOD my worst fear was just a confused and slightly strange sister in law. But what if? WHAT IF...? (well, for one thing I'd be in jail by now)

Parents: God has entrusted us with the lives of our children. We MUST be diligent, obsessed, even, in checking our kids’ phones, email, and Facebook. I have a great kid, as I’m sure yours is, too. But there are people out there that would steal and destroy the innocence of our children if given the chance.

...my soccer star...the one who gets weird texts...

Lord, please protect my Gracie, my Lukie, and all the other kids out there. Please give their parents the strength they need each day to be the kind of parents their children need and deserve.

Praying that each of us will remain faithful in these little things. I personally struggle with discipline, so it's just as much of a challenge for me.

Blessings,
Erin

Middle School Friendships

2010-09-21T07:39:00.000-07:00

I could write an emotionally packed Psalm about the highs and lows of the friendships of teen girls that would transport you back to the memories of your own roller coaster friendships. But, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

Now that I have a middle school age daughter, which by the way, makes me wonder at times if that is reason enough to be admitted to a psych ward, I am in the trenches of the friendship drama. There is enough drama content for a daily talk show in middle school lunch rooms across America.

I’m getting an earful (thank God, for some communication) about how “so and so isn’t friends with so and so because of this, that, and the other.” Kids change, I get that. But much of it boils down to this: the grass looks greener with another crowd. It is exciting to meet new people and discover the areas you have in common and to be liked. It saddens me to the deepest part of my heart to think of the kid who leaves school one day having friends and comes back the next day to discover they’ve been left out of the new group.

My prayer is that my own children will be sensitive and caring, loyal and true to their friendships and come to appreciate the value of a true friend. But, I'm also prepared for the reality that there are many lessons in friendships ahead to be learned.

“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 18:24

Be Blessed,

Erin

Back to School Shopping

2010-08-20T07:39:00.000-07:00

I’m taking my daughter school clothes shopping today. Coming with us is my really good friend Deena and our friend Makayla who just turned 16 (Alice in Wonderland birthday girl). Deena goes to our church and is in our weekly life group; and I love her to pieces. I offered to take Makayla with us and her dad enthusiastically said yes. I’m taking Deena for reinforcement. Where I tend to be somewhat timid in sharing my opinion with kids who aren’t my children, she is not. At all. I’ve been known to text her while standing in line at Costco or Wal-Mart and say something like “I wish you were here… obnoxious kids in line behind me need a talking to. So do their spineless parents…”

As many of you know I’m a big time backer of modesty. Modest hearts, behavior and dress. As we shop today our focus will be on showing the girls how they can be the salt of the earth and a shining light and in doing so they don’t need to rely on the current fashion or the latest teen magazine, which by the way my daughter does not read. I will be telling the girls about how visual boys are and what a struggle it can be for them, especially at this age, to daily be exposed to tempting images nearly everywhere they look. I want these girls to understand at an early age that they can help their brothers to not stumble. It’s my heart’s desire that these girls will come to understand authentic femininity and cherish their own unique beauty that God so lovingly bestowed to them.
Have you gotten back to school clothes yet? Where are the places you like to shop?

Be Blessed,

Does Anybody Hear Her?

2010-08-18T09:18:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard the song "Does Anybody Hear Her" by Casting Crowns? I love this song, yet it breaks my heart everytime I hear it. There are girls (and boys) out there who are hurting, struggling and aching to be loved and accepted. They don't know that the hole in their heart can be filled, but only One has the key.

Does Anybody Hear Her? (you can watch the video here)
By Casting Crowns

She is running
A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction
She is trying
But the canyon's ever widening
In the depths of her cold heart
So she sets out on another misadventure just to find
She's another two years older
And she's three more steps behind

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?

She is yearning
For shelter and affection
That she never found at home
She is searching
For a hero to ride in
To ride in and save the day
And in walks her prince charming
And he knows just what to say
Momentary lapse of reason
And she gives herself away

If judgment looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we've never even met her

…He is running a hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction

It’s That Time of Year Again; School Clothes Shopping

2010-08-11T08:11:00.000-07:00

I’ll admit, shopping for my daughter isn’t as fun as it was when she was well, a baby that couldn’t talk and object to my choices. Ever since the second grade this sweet girl of mine has had her own sense of fashion. I remember she had this great love for dress up jewelry. We’re talking pink and purple plastic beads with a sparkly Cinderella pendant and clip on earrings. While she loved to add those things with to her outfits I was always trying to tone her down. I realized how head strong she really was the day we got family pictures back. Low and behold, there she was in her cute little flowery turtleneck I chose for her and her Cinderella necklace and little beaded bracelets.

Costume jewelry has since been replaced with Converse high top tennis shoes and a sudden interest in pairing scarves and hats with her outfits. There’s no doubt about it, we have very different tastes. While she wants high tops, I compromise and tell her I’ll allow regular Converse. After all, we wear the same size shoe now, so I get her hand me down’s and I like regular Converse more than the high tops. I’ll go for scarves, but hats, nope. Not really a fan. So it’s about give and take. You CAN pick your battles and find middle ground without compromising your beliefs.

What’s non-negotiable, and thank goodness NOT a conflict are the low cut, tight shirts, skinny jeans and mini-skirts; what I refer to as immodest clothing. She does like some of the lower cut shirts because of their style, and I’ll admit some of them are very cute. But they show a little too much skin for my comfort. And then there’s the inevitable; the bending down “show”. I’m sorry, but nobody is going to be looking down my girl’s shirt. So what do we do? If we find a shirt we really like and I think we can pull it off, I’m thinking modest tanks to achieve the stylish layered look and sports bras. If not, we move on to the next shirt. I refuse to sacrifice purity and innocence for fashion.

What would YOU do? What does your girl want to wear this year? Are you in agreement with your daughter, or is it mom vs. daughter?

Focusing On Whatever Is Pure,

The Whatever Girlz

2010-08-08T22:40:00.000-07:00

After a series of events that I can only describe as God's handiwork and of course, plan, I give you "The Whatever Girlz". Yes, I know we're spelling "girlz" wrong, but sometimes that's what you have to do to secure a web site these days. For the record, misspellings are a huge pet peeve of mine.

As a mother of a 12 year old girl about to start middle school I knew I had to do something to combat my anxieties about my daughter entering this whole new world. I’ve heard horror stories about what some kids start doing at this age. Drinking, smoking, sex, pregnancies and abortions, drugs, you name it. Some of the things don’t surprise me, like smoking and drinking; as I tried my first cigarette and did some drinking in middle school. But sex? And sex at school? That’s what I hear. And drugs? That is an area I’ve never gotten involved with, but I know many who have and I have no doubt that many tried drugs did so in the face of peer pressure and the fear of being rejected and ridiculed.

Before I go any further I have to say that I’ve got a wonderful daughter. She has a sweet and funny disposition; she loves to read and write, make jewelry, has some great friends and loves to play soccer. She also agrees that having the Whatever Girlz will be a great way to ensure that she and her friends get together often and can freely discuss the up’s and downs of middle school. I do not have an immediate concern that my daughter is going to enter middle school and start engaging in the very behaviors I am trying to protect her from. Consider this, though. You bring home a beautiful fruit tree. It looks great at first, but if you don’t water it regularly and put it in just the right spot and do other things to nurture this tree, it’s going to start wilting, getting sick and bearing bad fruit. The same is true for how we care for our children.

The Whatever Girlz can be a place where you come to visit to share ideas, get ideas and free resources, and even form your own Whatever Girlz club for your daughter and her friends. I’m working on some great resources for you right now and hope to have them up and ready in a matter of weeks. You can expect us to cover a large variety of topics here including but not limited to: modesty, purity, chastity, fashion, Titus 2, Proverbs 31, crafts and activities for your girlz, community service and so much more.

This blog is meant to be a place of encouragement and refreshment and constructive and sweet spirited discussion. It is not a place for mean spirited dissent, conflict or a platform for agendas that conflict with the Biblically based principles that are expressed on this blog.

Thank you once again for visiting; I’m so excited that you’re here. Please feel free to follow our blog and to invite your friends to join our community.

Focusing on the Whatever’s,

Erin

Whatever Girls

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What Are Your Kids Watching?

Heaven is for Real, for Kids

Recognizing Advent

Advent

A Beautiful Gift

The Right Boy

Young American Patriot’s Bible; Giveaway

Significance

A Hermie Extravaganza and Book Bundle Giveaway!

Everything

You're Beautiful!

From the Overflow

“It Couldn’t Just Happen; Knowing the Truth About God’s Awesome Creation”

"Don't Check Your Brains at the Door"

How Low is Too Low?

“The Crippled Lamb”- updated with winner announced-

Saying No to Your Daughters Outfit

Whatever Girls: One Year Later

My Faith Journal; Review and Giveaway

The Princess Bible

What Girls Need to Know...Right Now

Three Amazing Books for Your Family

Set Apart Girls

3 Great Book Giveaways

Have You Been Bullied?

The Sexualization of Young Girls

More Posts Coming Soon

Check, Check, Check

Middle School Friendships

Back to School Shopping

Does Anybody Hear Her?

It’s That Time of Year Again; School Clothes Shopping

The Whatever Girlz