kids

Book Review: Night Night Devotionals

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“Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

That verse sounds so easy when your kids are little enough that they aren’t influenced by the world around them yet. However, it starts to get a little harder as they grow and become more independent. As a mom of 3 little girls, I am always wondering if I am doing this motherhood thing right. I want nothing more than to see my girls grow up and walk a godly path. I also want them to be able to live in this world without feeling like I need to keep them hidden away from it.This 90 day devotional has so many easy to understand topics to help kids learn Biblical truths in a fun way. Some of the devotionals are set up to cover a topic, such as God’s plans or how he protects us, while others talk about stories from the Bible like Mary or Jesus walking on water.My girls are like sponges right now. I look forward to using this devotional to walk them through Biblical truths in a fun way. My oldest has become a wonderful reader and I think that she will also enjoy reading these quick devotionals when she goes to bed at night.

If you are interested in entering to win your own copy go here  and I hope you are the lucky winner!!!!!

It’s Different For Girls

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It’s been a while since I wrote a more personal blog specifically about my own experiences with motherhood, but after a conversation I had with my husband a while back, I thought it was time.

This particular conversation happened on a date night that, until about the last six months, has been a pretty rare thing. (When you live a ways away from family and have young children, dates are rare luxuries. Fortunately our girls are finally old enough it’s easier to get away for a few hours now). I was explaining to him some of the struggles I have from time to time with feeling lonely in my role as a mom. Now, this loneliness is not because he doesn’t help or isn’t around. Rather, it is more due to the lack of close, intimate, female friendships that I have at this stage of life. I explained that women, especially once we become mothers, have very different life experiences than our male counterparts when it comes to how we relate to each other and even how friendships look. I thought I would share some of the differences I see, in hopes that other mommas out there might find a little relief knowing we are all in this together. As a disclaimer, this is in no means intended to bash on women or children, but rather to explain some of the differences in hopes of shining light in dark areas of our human experience.

Freedom

As a mom, especially when children are very little, we often find ourselves not having freedom to just pick up and do whatever we want. When you have a newborn and are nursing a baby, you can’t be away from the baby (or the pump) for more than a couple of hours at a time. You are tethered to that child and no matter how helpful dad is, it isn’t the same as what you as a mom experience. Even after nursing ends, kids have a special bond with their mom, that can make it difficult to have the freedom to get time to yourself or get time to spend with friends. When my girls were really little I couldn’t do anything, including hauling trash outside, without someone tagging along, or having a meltdown if they couldn’t. I have actually had to sneak out of my own house on occasion when I did have to leave the house without my girls. My husband, on the other hand, can come and go as he pleases without inciting a major meltdown.

It’s different for girls.

Having a night out

My husband is really good about being willing to take care of the girls so that I can do what I need to do. During the conversation I mentioned earlier, he even told me that anytime I need a girls’ night with friends, to go for it. However, I explained to him that the problem isn’t so much the freedom to go as it is having people to go with. At this phase of life we are all either in the same boat of chaotic schedules with kids and it’s impossible to get our schedules to line up, or they don’t have kids and are in a completely different realm of life where needing to be home at a decent time doesn’t yet exist. It’s funny watching all the movies with the moms going on a girls’ night out because I know so few moms that actually ever do that. Especially moms like me who moved into town after all the friendship groups were already created.

It’s different for girls.

Walls

Beyond any logistical issues that may arise with friendships in the throws of motherhood, is probably the most difficult barrier to overcome; the walls that we as females put up, and often tend to live behind. I remember when my husband was coaching football and how all the men formed a brotherhood. They were a tight group that could poke at each other and still be best friends. They were all pretty confident guys who, for the most part, never felt the need to impress anyone. They were real with each other. As a coach’s wife, all of us women were together an awful lot as well. Although I always got along with everyone, the dynamics among the women were completely different.

Women are so much more guarded with each other than men are. It is often so hard to get to know another woman on anything more than surface level without years of relationship to slowly tear down those walls. We also tend to feel a sense of competition among each other. As a coach’s wife I often felt like I was looked at as less than when my husband coached at the junior high level, but was more of the group when he moved up to the high school. I know that it was never intentional, but women can be cruel without ever realizing it. We as women also feel like we need to show only our best selves, which hinders real, authentic relationships. Social media has only amplified that problem over the last 10 years. Women like to hide their flaws, while men often make fun of themselves for their flaws

It’s different for girls.

So what can we do? Honestly, I really don’t have an answer for that. I don’t think there is an easy solution. However, I really want to challenge women like me (and including me) to try to let your guard down a little. I know that so many of us have been wounded by friends in the past when we got too real and vulnerable (myself included). Yet, we will never have an authentic relationship if we ourselves can’t be authentic. Get to know those other mommas! Be vulnerable about your struggles and shortcomings. And, for crying out loud, quit competing and comparing and lets start encouraging each other. Motherhood is the hardest, sweetest, most frustrating, rewarding thing I have ever experienced. Find someone to share your experiences with.

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Prepare the Soil

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I love my garden. Each year, throughout the summer, I plant a decent size garden and this year was no exception. I absolutely love seeing my hard work come to fruition…literally. My 3 girls love eating the carrots, cucumbers, watermelons, and cantaloupes that they helped to plant. That being said, this has been an off year for my garden.  Not all of my seeds germinated, I had to re-seed some of what I planted, and a few of my plants even died. There are several reasons that this year’s garden has struggled, but I think the main reason was a bad decision we made in the process of preparing to plant. Of course, at the time we thought it was a right decision, boy were we wrong.

In preparation for our garden last year, we put a massive amount of fertilizer in with our soil in the tilling process. Because of how much we put in last year, my garden was a producing machine. I could hardly keep up with the amount of jalapenos, squash, and carrots. I actually wound up freezing or canning a lot of it because we couldn’t consume it fast enough. Fast forward to this year. While we were preparing we decided that we had added so much fertilizer last year that we were going to skip that this year, assuming that the soil was still pretty well fertilized. Big mistake. Now, don’t get me wrong, it has not been a complete failure, but it has definitely not lived up to the plan I had when I was preparing to plant.  It’s amazing how vitally important properly preparing soil is before you plant. Ask any farmer, they never just toss seeds out hoping they will grow an abundant crop.

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This picture was from earlier this summer. Unfortunately, not all my seeds came up this year.

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We did get some pretty delicious melons!

It’s the same with us.  God will never put us in a position we are not properly prepared for. There are so many instances throughout the Bible where men or women were called to do something, but it took years for it to come to fruition. David was told as a teenager that he would be king, but it took decades to come to pass (see 1 Samuel 16). Joseph had dreamed of his future as a leader, and he had to go through the prison to get there (see Genesis 37). Or, like Esther, we may be positioned somewhere without even knowing God placed us there for “just such a time as this” (see Esther 4:14).  It is often puzzling to us how we may feel called somewhere, but a door either won’t open, or perhaps what seems like a strange door does open and we are too fearful to step inside. Little do we know that during these slow, uncomfortable, or scary times, we are being prepared. We are learning during the wait. Just like it takes time to get from a seed to the harvest, we won’t typically be called to something one day, and functioning in that calling the next. Actually, if we make that jump to soon, it likely won’t work out. Just like how some of my plants died for lack of proper fertilizer.

My husband often says, “sometimes you have to pay your dues”, meaning you need to serve at a lower capacity before getting promoted or that you need to experience difficult or frustrating times before you get to the good times. Boy, do I get that. Honestly, I actually appreciate that more now that I have paid some of those dues through life experiences. I am so much more thankful for what I have today because of the things I have experienced and as tough as it is, I am going to trust God during those times when he is “preparing the soil” for the next season in my life!

Book Review: Covenant Kids: Book 1 The Law

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As you know, I typically don’t review kid’s books on my blog. However, every once in a while I find one that peaks my interest. Covenant Kids is designed in comic book fashion and is a fun book that talks about the Bible from a unique perspective.

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The story starts with a decoded letter to a girl named Naomi who is going to become a member of an underground Christian organization, in a world where Christians meeting publically is illegal.  A group of kids, called the Covenant Keepers, are learning about the stories from creation through the exodus. All the while, they must meet in secret to avoid getting in trouble and put in jail.

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This is a great book written in such a fun way. If you would like to enter to win your own copy visit this site. You can also watch this video to learn more.

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Precise Placement

/ bekoepke / 1 Comment

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So you feel stuck in a miserable job with a bunch of gossiping coworkers? Maybe the work you are doing is completely unfulfilling and you dread Monday every single week. Possibly you love your job, but know it really isn’t what you are called to do, and you long to do something bigger with your life. No matter where in the spectrum you may fall, God has placed you precisely where you need to be.

There are times when I love my job as a math teacher at a public high school. However, there are also days where I wonder if I took the right path. If you know anything about my story, being a teacher was absolutely the furthest thing in my mind. I even remember walking the halls of my high school, as a high school student wondering why anyone would ever want to be a teacher. Life is funny like that. I have learned though, that no matter where you are in life, God has a plan exactly where you are.

This week I have been helping with our church’s VBS and we have been doing the story of the Israelites; their escape from slavery, some of the time spent in the wilderness, and crossing over into the promised land. As you well know, this story means a great deal to me (see my book Finding God in the Wilderness). Honestly, after the extensive time I spent pouring through this story during my time of writing that book, I thought I had probably exhausted that particular story of any new revelations, but God always finds a way to reveal something new.

As I have been thinking about Moses throughout the week, I thought a little further back in the story. I thought back to the fact that Moses had grown up in that very palace. He knew the ins and outs of royalty, the pharaoh, and leadership. He was specifically put in that place, I believe to help equip him for his future role as leader of an entire nation of Israelites. When he first found out that he was not an Egyptian, I am sure he was confused. He probably wondered why was he not serving as a slave like his relatives? I believe he felt guilty about it. You can tell because in the story he suddenly jumps to the defense of the Israelites and even ends up killing an Egyptian (see Exodus 2). Talk about an identity crisis. God knew the greater plan though.

In our own life, God also knows. I truly believe that He knows our exact circumstances. He places us with people who will help us grow, even if it is in unconventional ways. Sometimes our growth comes from a super supportive friend who walks the same path as us. More often, at least in my life, that growth comes from being around people who don’t think like me. I have had to grow through hurt feelings, frustrating circumstances, and let downs. Although I almost hate to admit it, that kind of growth sticks more. When I have had my feelings hurt or have been let down, it gives me a greater compassion for others going through similar situations. The idea of the golden rule (treating others how you want to be treated) becomes a higher priority when you have experienced not being treated well.

So, my challenge to all of us boils back down to trust. Can we trust that God really is in control? Can we trust that no matter how we feel, there is a greater plan? Can we also look to the people around us and find the the good, and overlook some of the bad? Can we believe, just like Moses, that we are specifically placed for a greater calling (even if that calling may not happen for another 40 years)? I am sure gonna try!

 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

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Book Review: More For Mom

/ bekoepke / Leave a comment

Being a mom is a harder job than I ever imagined it could be. Now, don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love my girls. I love their individual personalities, the silly things they do, and how much they are growing and learning each year. What can prove to be a challenge though, is the daily grind. Each day, getting 3 girls and their hair ready, going to work, getting supper on the table, homework done, baths taken, and back in bed can be exhausting. For many women, that daily grind also includes athletic events, appointments, and all sorts of extracurriculars. As moms, we give so much of ourselves every single day, but often don’t take the time to enjoy the grind.

I am absolutely in love with my latest review book, More for Mom Living your Whole and Holy Life. The author, Kristin Funston, approaches the world a lot like I do. She uses a combination of common sense and humor to tackle many of the issues ALL women face (even those many of us won’t admit). She talks a lot about the mental games that so many of us women play, present company included. Sha also uses scripture to walk through the errors in some of our thinking, and to embolden us to live a whole and holy life.

My favorite thing about this book, and really the reason I think you might want to get ahold of it, is the sheer vulnerability of the author. In the “Christian” world, vulnerability is not always easy. Admitting faults and shortcomings, is not an easy thing to do. I try to be as honest as I can, but often find myself falling short of full vulnerability. I think that we need more of that in our lives. There is nothing more refreshing than having an honest conversation with other women about real life issues. Sadly, us women don’t often have those conversations.

I really hope you will check out this book and share it with all your girlfriends. I love this book so much that I will be giving away a copy of More for Mom on my Facebook page. Click here to enter.

Book Review: Night Night Bible Stories

/ bekoepke / Leave a comment

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I have 3 children age 7 and under. I live in a world of sight words, learning to read, and bedtime stories. During the school year it is a struggle to get beyond simply getting dinner, reading our AR books, doing homework, and getting to bed. Because of the craziness of the school year, we often don’t really get many books read aside from what is assigned at school. I was pretty excited at the opportunity of getting a copy of this particular book to review.

Night, Night Bible stories is broken down into 30 stories , fifteen from each the Old and New Testaments. Each story is based on stories from the Bible, but are written in an easy to understand way. Stories include creation, Noah, Samuel, Joseph, Esther, and many about Jesus, just to name a few. All stories are beautifully illustrated to help your kids visualize the stories. Each story is 10 pages or less, that are the perfect length to tell before bed.

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One of my favorite things about this book of bedtime stories is at the end of each story. There is a short prayer and little rhyme that goes with every story. I am excited to go through theses stories all summer long with my girls.

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You can enter to win your very own copy of this adorable book by going here.

 

Life Lessons of a Farm Kid

/ bekoepke / Leave a comment

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When you grow up around livestock, life lessons just come with the territory. Whether it’s the joy of seeing a brand new baby born or the sadness of seeing an animal die, farm kids just learn lessons at a younger age than most other kids. This is no more true for my girls than it was a couple of weeks ago.

The miracle of life will never cease to amaze me. Whether it is my own children (even if they do drive me crazy from time to time), or a newborn animal, it makes you realize how miraculous life really is.  What has been even more of a blessing than anything else is being able to see my girls experience all those things.

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I love watching my girls jump in and start to take responsibility for basic chores as they grow. My oldest daughter loves to check for eggs in the chicken coop (or in their playhouse, whichever the chickens choose to use on any given day). Her two little sisters almost always follow suit, sometimes resulting in a broken egg or two. All three love to help daddy whenever they can, right now it has been building fence. During the spring and summer, all three love to help check for vegetables in the garden, often resulting in some vegetables knocked off the vine or pulled before they are actually ripe.

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Over the last month we have had another new responsibility added, and have had to learn a hard life lesson. During an extreme cold snap last month, several of our boer goats chose to have their babies all within the span of about 36 hours. Through a series of different circumstances, 2 of those babies ended up orphaned and needing to be bottle fed. One was on the verge of dying and ended up living in our house for over a week. She, or Hope as we named her, became a part of the family and after being a house goat for as long as she was, my girls (and I) became quite attached. Once she pulled through we moved her out with the other little orphan into their own pen. She did really well, until one of those hard life lessons hit unexpectedly. Sadly, after being out and doing well for quite a while, I found Hope dead one morning. Although we don’t know for sure what happened to her, it really didn’t matter to 3 little girls (and their mom). We were all devastated at the loss. Whether it is an old dog, a kitten, or a baby goat, that conversation never gets easier. However, my girls showed some sweet resilience. Although it wasn’t a conversation I wanted to have to have, when I broke the news to my oldest we were able to talk about death and heaven. After a good, hard cry, she made a sweet card for Hope and spent some extra time with our other orphan baby, Oliver.

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As a mother, it’s so easy to want to shield our kids from hard things. But those hard things are exactly what builds resilience and can shape their character. This isn’t just the case with the the hard stuff like the death of a pet. It is also true with the daily routine of kids learning to do chores and learning the value of hard work. I am so proud of my girls when I see how they work for their dad. They love to do the little tasks that they are able to do, and my 7 year old is turning into quite the hand.

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“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4

This verse has always served true in my life, and I know that every hard thing my girls go through will also help them to develop the perseverance they need to reach maturity. My prayer is that their father and I will help them to learn those lessons well.