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Tommy Nelson May Blog Post: Being a Mom

May 7, 2013 By sami 4 Comments

Being is mom is exhilarating, fulfilling and comforting…
but at the same time it can be nerve-wracking, frustrating and downright scary!

Never has that been more true than in our world today.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. ~ Proverbs 16:3

Being a mom doesn’t mean having all the answers, but it does mean knowing who to turn to when we don’t.
Being a mom doesn’t mean always saying yes, but it does mean acting in love regardless of how we feel.
Being a mom doesn’t mean settling for satisfactory; it means pursuing with passion!

Read my entire Tommy Nelson May post on Being a Mom…

But before you head over there…

Even though I love reading (both for myself and to my children), I don’t often recommend parenting books. However a new book I would strongly suggest you check out is The Passionate Mom by Susan Merrill.

This book is far from a manual, but instead a thoughtful roadmap for how a passionate mom can parent almost any child…confidently.

Of course if you’re looking for that delightful book to read to your younger children this Mother’s Day, one of our favorite children’s authors, Amy Parker, wrote “Thank You God for Mommy” which has quickly become a family favorite for its simple yet poignant way it conveys the sweet relationship between a mother and child.

If you’d like to win a copy of ”Thank You God for Mommy“, you can enter via RaffleCopter below. One winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entries. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Articles, Faith, Family, Tommy Nelson Tagged With: giveaway, mom, mother's day, tommy nelson

How to Keep Your Kids Honest: 30 Ways in 30 Days of April

April 1, 2013 By sami

If you’re like me (or most parents for that matter!), you struggle with how to keep your kids honest. Since April 30 is National Honesty Day, I wanted to help you teach your kids honesty in a more clever, bite size way.

I’ve come up with 30 Ways in the 30 Days of April to help keep your kids honest. I’ve shared the entire list of honesty tips of on my April Tommy Nelson blog post, but I wanted to share the top 10 to get you started encouraging your kids to walk in the ways of honesty and truth.

Top Ways to Keep Your Kids Honest:

1. Keep them accountable for their actions
2. Listen as they speak to friends & siblings
3. Have them put a penny in a jar every time they don’t tell the ‘whole’ truth
4. Share the difference between manipulation & persuasion
5. Set a good example before them
6. Encourage them when they tell the truth in a difficult situation
7. Ask little ones if they know the difference between right and wrong
8. Explain the difference between ‘telling the truth’ and ‘being honest’
9. Talk about what it means to live an ‘honest life’
10. Discourage telling ‘fibs’

(Remember, you can read my entire list of 30 Ways over on TommyNelson.com)

If you really want a helpful tool to help your kids live our the principles of being honest and doing the right thing, then check out this DVD resource from Tommy Nelson:

Featuring the voice talents of my Nashville ‘neighbors’, Amy Grant & Vince Gill’, this DVD will not only engage pre-school and elementary aged children alike, but also teaches a great message, including behaving well even when nobody is watching, and the biblical lessons from the Parables of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.

Would you like to win this DVD for your family? Well you can!
Just enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below…
a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you don’t want to try your chances in the giveaway, you can buy “Cocka Doodle Doo the Right Thing” from ThomasNelson.com and use the code SAMIC20 to save 20% off the list price!

Remember, the best way to accomplish the goal of teaching our kids honesty is to show them practical ways to live it out instead of just listening to it! If you want more practical help on how to relate God’s Word to your life, take a look at my devotionals.

How have you taught your kids about the importance of telling the truth?

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Filed Under: Deals & Freebies, giveaway, Kid Tip, Parenting, Tommy Nelson Tagged With: 30 ways, april, giveaway, honesty, Kids, tommy nelson, truth

An Unorthodox Easter Story : Tommy Nelson March Blog

March 1, 2013 By sami

Today you can find me over at the Tommy Nelson blog with a bit of an Un-Orthodox Easter story.

Growing up, I really didn’t give religion much of a chance…let alone a relationship with Christ.

As an only child who grew up with parents of different religions (a Jewish father and an Anglican mother from England – neither of whom regularly practiced their faith, mind you…), you could say I was a bit confused.

Take it from someone who came to know Christ later in life, Easter represents a time when people are seeking to know more about Jesus…or at least are much more open to hearing about Him because of the way the world celebrates. This fact alone makes the road easier to invite others to listen to your Christ story.

And that’s all you need to share with people who ask: your story…Read the rest of my post over on TommyNelson.com

But before you jump over to the Tommy Nelson blog to read a little more about my un-Orthodox Easter story, why not enter to win one of my newest, favorite Tommy Nelson books: Sheila Walsh’s “Shine Your Light” devotional.

If you love Gigi, God’s Little Princess (which I just heard even Suri Cruise is a HUGE fan of…to the point that she’s asked people to start calling her Gigi!), then you will really fall in love with Gabby, God’s Little Angel.

One thing all kids can appreciate is the comfort of knowing angels watch over them, but Gabby makes being an angel even more relatable to the minds of our little ones. Plus, what little girl wouldn’t love this sparkly title?! (If you can’t wait to see if you’ve won, then you can save 20% off this title at ThomasNelson.com when you use code SAMI20).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Faith, giveaway, Tommy Nelson Tagged With: easter, jewish, Kids, Orthodox, story, tommy nelson

Valentine’s Day Tommy Nelson Book Giveaway

February 14, 2013 By sami

It seems like a lot of you are un-crafty moms like me, so I decided to write a Valentine’s Day kids’ craft post over at TommyNelson.com to save all of you before the big day!

Source: samicone.com via Sami Cone on Pinterest

(For a full tutorial, read my Valentine’s Day Kids Card Pinterest Craft post).

Before heading over to read my entire Tommy Nelson blog post, you’re going to want to enter my giveaway below for the adorable bedtime prayer book perfect for Valentine’s Day (and any other day of the year!), ”I Love You To God and Back“.

Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Deals & Freebies, giveaway, Tommy Nelson Tagged With: "valentine's day", book, giveaway, god, Kids, Love, tommy nelson

A New Year in A New Light for our Kids: Tommy Nelson Blog for Jan 2013

January 2, 2013 By sami

Every New Year is a chance for us to re-evaluate: our goals, our dreams, our habits, our health, our lifestyle… I could go on.

But for some reason, I feel like those goals need to be even more relevant to my day to day living, especially when it comes to my kids.

In light of the tragic events at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, I’m reminded even more how fleeting life can be.

It is a stark warning to me in this New Year that not one minute of our lives is guaranteed. Not only do we need to hold our own lives out to God with open hands, but even more so the lives of our children.

I can’t help but think of Matthew 6:34, which says:
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

This was one of my first favorite verses after coming to know Christ because it reminded me that I was not in control. Today, this verse is just as poignant, but in its own way.

God’s promise is that He will never give us more than we can handle and that He will be there with us through it all (Hebrews 13:5).

I don’t have any good answers as to why the Sandy Hook shootings happened or why God allowed them to be. But I do know that our God is sovereign and omnipotent.

As you begin this New Year, perhaps more cautious and guarded then you have begun any other since you have become a parent, I would suggest you consider these two things…

(Read the full post over at the Tommy Nelson Blog…)

Quick! Before you head over to read my 2 suggestions for parenting in the New Year, why not enter my giveaway for two of the resources I mention are key parts to our day as a family: Jesus Calling and Jesus Calling for Kids?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Of course, if you can’t wait, you can click on the link above, enter code SAMI20, and you’ll receive a 20% discount from any title on the Thomas Nelson site!

I’m here for you as you parent! Don’t be a stranger…

Filed Under: Articles, Faith, giveaway, Parenting, Tommy Nelson Tagged With: christian, Faith, Kids, new year, Parenting, tommy nelson

Colored vs. White Lights: My Tommy Nelson December Blog Post

December 28, 2012 By sami

My blog post over at Tommy Nelson this month tackles one of the most deeply debated Christmas dilemmas of all time:

Colored or White lights?

Go ahead, laugh if you want, but colored Christmas lights almost ended our marriage after 5 months.

Well maybe that’s over-dramatizing it a bit, but they certainly caused an immense amount of strife during what we thought would be an enjoyable and momentous occasion: decorating our first Christmas tree together as a married couple.

And don’t even get me started on tinsel…(you can read my full post over at TommyNelson.com)

***

You can also win a copy of One Wintry Night in my book giveaway

Filed Under: Articles, Faith, Tommy Nelson Tagged With: blog, christian, color, december, lights, tommy nelson, white

One Wintry Night Tommy Nelson Book Giveaway

December 28, 2012 By sami

Who wants to win “One Wintry Night” in this Tommy Nelson book giveaway?

The holidays are also the perfect time to sit together as a family, especially before bedtime, and share a story of the season. Of course the reading of the Christmas story from the Gospel is always a good idea, but I’d love to share something that will soon be another favorite in your family: One Wintry Night.

Written by Ruth Bell Graham, this beautifully illustrated story chronicles a mountain boy who is injured in a snowstorm and seeks refuge in a cabin, where he eventually hears the Christmas story told for the first time—beginning with Creation and ending with the Resurrection.

It’s stories like these that appeal to the child in us all, yet intrigues even the most skeptical adult.

To win a copy of One Wintry Night, just enter via Rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you can’t wait to find out if you’ve won and simply need to buy a copy of One Wintry Night for your family NOW, you can get 20% off by using the code SAMI20 with the link above!

Filed Under: Books, Deals & Freebies, giveaway Tagged With: book, giveaway, one wintry night, tommy nelson

Win Totally Awesome, Super-Cool Bible Stories as drawn by Nerdy Ned: Tommy Nelson Giveaway

November 18, 2012 By sami

I know there’s a Nerdy Kid book revolution that’s been going on in the past few years, but to be honest, my kids haven’t been old enough and I haven’t been interested enough to check it out.

But then came along the “Totally Awesome, Super-Cool Bible Stories as drawn by Nerdy Ned” from Tommy Nelson. I love books that share actual Bible stories as seen through the eyes of a child. But this book is unique because Ned isn’t just learning his way through the Bible, he’s drawing his way through it too!

Designed for kids ages 6-10, I first thought this would be the prefect title for my 8 year old daughter who loves to draw, but then I thought it would be great to introduce to my son. He’s just at the age where he’s transitioning from ‘kid’ books to some more advanced readers, yet he still wants a book that looks ‘fun’.

And to be honest, there aren’t a lot of books out there that target boys this age that still look cool.

“Totally Awesome, Super-Cool Bible Stories as drawn by Nerdy Ned” not only capitalizes on the super-popular sketch comic art genre, but of course it also includes blank pages for doodling. And let’s not forget, it shares actual Bible stories from the International Children’s Bible with commentary by “Ned” to draw in readers and add thoughts for practical life application.

I don’t know about you, but this book reminded me of not only all the doodles I’ve gotten from my kids after church. I love seeing how they process what they hear about in church through their art. So I thought I’d giveaway a copy of the book to one reader who answers the very simple question below…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I can’t wait to hear what you guys think about this title! Of course, if you can’t wait to see if you’ve won, you can buy Totally Awesome, Super-Cool Bible Stories as drawn by Nerdy Ned and just use code SAMIC20 at Thomas Nelson to save an extra 20% off! (Wouldn’t this make a great road trip book this holiday season?!)

Filed Under: Books, Reviews, Tommy Nelson Tagged With: book, giveaway, Kids, nerd, tommy nelson

Thanksgiving: A Time for Thanks and Giving with your family

October 30, 2012 By sami

IMG 7137 300x300 Thanksgiving: A Time for Thanks and Giving with your family

Thanksgiving represents so many things we love about this time of year, but sometimes we forget what is at its core: Thanks and Giving.

This month, I’m back on the Tommy Nelson blog talking about exactly that…thanks and giving:

We love to watch the leaves as the seasons change and more importantly, we love that family and friends tend to gather closer together in the next two months.

But if I were to be honest with myself, I think we sometimes get in the way of what this month is all about.

One of my biggest complaints every year is that Thanksgiving comes and goes too quickly.

It seems silly to even say that out loud. After all, it comes the same time each year, we know it’s coming, and we can plan accordingly. But somehow I always allow it to sneak up on me, and then I never get to do all I want to do, bake all I want to bake, or reflect on the past year as much as I’d hoped.

Sometimes I get so lost in the process of Thanksgiving that I actually miss Thanksgiving. You know what I mean?

Read the rest of the post over at the Tommy Nelson blog…

IMG 7324 225x300 Thanksgiving: A Time for Thanks and Giving with your family

There is no better time, in my opinion, to talk to your kids than after dinner and before bed. It is a natural time for family moments to be shared and discussed. I realize it can be hard to ask open ended questions to little ones, so why not start with a story that helps show children what the voice of God sounds like, such as the new Jesus Calling Bible Storybook?

It’s true, you never know what doors you’ll open up when you start asking your kids deeper questions but who knows, you might just be pleasantly surprised at what you hear. And if you’re not, it gives you a great opportunity to change your family’s legacy for the future.

Filed Under: Articles, Faith, Parenting, Tommy Nelson Tagged With: christian, Family, Kids, Thanksgiving, tommy nelson

The Activity Dilemma: Tommy Nelson September Blog

September 22, 2012 By sami

Only a few short months ago I was struggling to come up with a summer schedule that would optimize fun while still continue the learning process for my kids.

Now we’re already back in school and instead of worrying about how to keep them occupied at home, I’m wondering how to keep them at home!

It’s true, not only do I have two kids in school full time now, but for the first time this year, we found activities for them both to participate in.

To be completely honest, I have mixed feelings about the activity dilemma. As a child, I was VERY involved in sports & activities…to the point where I don’t remember eating very many meals with my mom at the dinner table. She was typically shuttling me back and forth between tennis or swim practice and show choir or dance rehearsal with a tupperware container for me to eat in the backseat. On a recent road trip, we stopped at my aunt’s house and even found all my own trophies, much to the delight of my young son:

My husband, however, had a more subdued childhood when it came to extra-curricular activities, but actively remembers playing outside with cousins and friends and the like. Of course he can also recite verbatim almost every meal his mom cooked too

So where is the happy medium? I’m learning I have to stop getting ahead of myself.

Through it all, I’m learning two things:
1. It’s not about me
2. Nothing is guaranteed

While this might strike fear in the minds of some parents, for me, it reminds me of God’s sovereignty and grace in each and every moment.

That’s why I love Max Lucado’s “Grace for the Moment: 365 Devotions for Kids“. It reminds my kids that grace is God’s best idea: More than we deserve … and greater than we imagine.

More importantly, it reminds me to apply the same principles to my own life and Christian walk as I read it with them!

Do you struggle with deciding what and how many activities your kids should be participating in? How do you make those decisions in your family?

READ THE WHOLE BLOG POST AT TOMMYNELSON.COM

Filed Under: Articles, Faith, Tommy Nelson Tagged With: activity, blog, christian, dilemma, Faith, Kids, Parenting, tommy nelson

Tommy Nelson May Blog Post: Being a Mom

Read my entire Tommy Nelson May post on Being a Mom…

How to Keep Your Kids Honest: 30 Ways in 30 Days of April

Top Ways to Keep Your Kids Honest:

An Unorthodox Easter Story : Tommy Nelson March Blog

Valentine’s Day Tommy Nelson Book Giveaway

A New Year in A New Light for our Kids: Tommy Nelson Blog for Jan 2013

Colored vs. White Lights: My Tommy Nelson December Blog Post

One Wintry Night Tommy Nelson Book Giveaway

Win Totally Awesome, Super-Cool Bible Stories as drawn by Nerdy Ned: Tommy Nelson Giveaway

Thanksgiving: A Time for Thanks and Giving with your family

The Activity Dilemma: Tommy Nelson September Blog

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