“I don’t want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.
I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone’s garden. I want to be there with children’s sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.”― Marjorie Pay Hinckley
Category: Uncategorized
Body Builders
Whole Family
10 Minutes or Less
Paper and pens/markers
This is one of our favorite quick games that all ages can play together. As you can tell, any artsy-ness I have is with words and music, NOT with visual arts.
Sit in a circle
Draw a head on your paper, ending with the neck
Fold paper down, showing only the very end of the neck
Draw the torso and arms, ending with the waist 
Fold paper down, showing only the belt or end of waist
Draw the hips and legs, minus feet
Fold paper down, showing only the tips of the ankles
Draw the feet
Fold paper down
Give them a name
Toss papers in the middle and everyone take one
Go around the circle, unroll your creations, and have a good laugh!
Up Kind of Day
Need help getting your kids to help? Up Kind of Day was written as a companion for the Flylady’s organization system, especially for the kids at your house. This project was such a blessing to work on with my sisters Amy and Valerie, talented vocalists Eric and Andy Dodge, and some special guests. We were able to record it in Nashville for a professional recording session with some of the industries best studio musicians. Your family will be dancing around as they pick up toys, dust, and get rid of clutter. There are even songs for getting moving in the morning, and snuggling up at night.
You can order the digital download here.
“When Mommy’s Home with Me” Cover
It’s official! My first children’s book has been published by Cedar Fort Publishing and is set for release on March 14. Here’s the cover, illustrated by Kinsey Becket.
About a decade ago, I started a couple stanzas of this book. I am so grateful to be able to share the finished project in March 2017. It is about wonderful moms who give the best of themselves to their children. I’ll keep updates coming!
You can pre-order the book on Amazon now! Click here.
…Each Day
“Life is not only meant to be appreciated in retrospect . . . There is something each day to embrace and cherish.”
—Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Stop, Redirect, Reinforce
Hello, overreaction! I constantly find myself exhausted, in the middle of a battle, thinking that I never should have engaged. When I remember one of the most basic parenting strategies, I can usually avoid power struggle catastrophes that leave everyone unhappy and battle-sore.
It’s called STOP, REDIRECT, REINFORCE. This is ground-level strategy for babies and toddlers who don’t understand cause and effect consequences, but can also come in handy with older kids and teenagers. This is not for big misbehavior that seriously harms people, but works great for 90% of all run-of-the-mill, junkie kid behavior.
STOP the inappropriate behavior
REDIRECT the child to good behavior
REINFORCE the good behavior
It might look like this:
Your toddler is handling your newborn a bit aggressively
STOP “We need to be gentle.”
REDIRECT (show how to touch nicely) “Can you rub her feet like this?”
REINFORCE: (smile!) “Good job! She likes it!”
Your future little league champ is throwing rocks on the playground
STOP “No throwing rocks. That can hurt people.”
REDIRECT “Here’s your football. Toss it to me!”
REINFORCE “What a throw! That’s lots safer.”
Your teen is watching an inappropriate show
STOP (push pause) “Hey. I’m not feeling so great about that show in the house.”
REDIRECT “Let’s see what else is on.”
REINFORCE “Thanks, hon. Want some popcorn?”
It doesn’t always work, but you’d be surprised how often it does! Next time your littles are pulling the dogs tail, jumping on grandma’s couch, or sneaking cookies before dinner, try the STOP, REDIRECT, REINFORCE strategy. You may just get the behavior you want…and avoid going into battle.
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