Tired? Weary? Need some fresh ideas for taking care of mom? Feeling that push and pull on you as you balance all of the many demands in your life? Are you great about taking care of others, yet not quite so good about taking care of YOU? Has it been a long, long time since you have done the little things to just fill your cup back up? How about a few fresh ideas for filling your cup and ministering to your heart! I promise that these will be easy for you to do!

50 Ideas for Taking Care of Mom!

By Cindy Rushton

http://www.lois-graham.com/uhse10.php

Here goes:
–>  Grab Your iPod and go for a long, long walk! I LOVE my iPod. I have it filled with great Praise and Worship music, teachings and workshops, podcasts, tutorials, etc. My iPod has become my “pocket pal” when I work on my chores, take care of business duties, or even get out for my walk. Talk about my best investment of 2006!

–>  Laugh! Just sit there right now…laugh! Start small…just a little giggle! Then…laugh about laughing! Roll on the floor laughing!  Feel better?

–>  Begin a new Bible Study.  Either find a Bible Study guide…or dig out Words to study on your own!  For Word Studies, I LOVE my Strong’s Concordance. It helps to find all of the references of a certain word of interest. I also love my Vine’s Dictionary. I use it to look up the meanings of the words AND it also has other references for uses in Scripture. Another great help for Word Studies is my good old faithful Webster’s 1828 Dictionary. I LOVE it as a reference to deepen the studies. Usually it helps me to also find OTHER great studies to dig into also! Dig into the Word! It will feed your heart and soul during this tough time!

–>  Meet a friend at the park and let the kids play while you visit.

–>  Go for a drive around the city—look at the lights! Look at flowers. Look at the seasonal changes.

–>  Look at photo albums.  Remember the silly stories!

–>  Watch the sunrise! Or, not an early bird? Watch the sunset!

–>  Collect jokes and funnies! Barb Johnson…Chonda Pierce…Becky Freeman are just a few of my PERSONAL favorites! Get one of their books or videos. Then, snag some mom-time to just kick back and enjoy!

–>  Chocolate! Chocolate Candy…Chocolate Bars…Chocolate Shakes…Chocolate Latte’s…CHOCOLATE! REALLY! Chocolate helps to release endorphins in the brain—plus! It tastes great to boot! So, why not grab a bit for mom-time!

–>  Watch an old movie! Curl up under a great big quilt—even if you have to turn the air down COLD!  Don’t forget to turn down the lights and turn off the phone!

–>  Look at your old school albums!  Your HAIR! Ha! Enough said.

–>  Got a grassy hill nearby? Go to the top and just roll down it! Like a child! (Snowy? Get a sled! And SLIDE!)

–>  Take the kids to the park—just WATCH them! They are adorable!

–>  Begin a “Quote Book.”  Collect quotes that encourage you to keep on, keeping on!  Keep them in a special journal dedicated only to keeping your special quotes.

–>  Memorize your favorite Psalm. Try out Psalm 91…or Psalm 61…or Psalm 35…or Psalm 37…Oh! Enjoy!

–>  Begin a Tea Ministry.  Doing for others ALWAYS lifts even the heaviest spirit.  Get a tea basket to keep your goodies in…visit a shut-in…bless them. Then! Watch the blessing boomerang! You won’t be able to leave without a blessing.

–>  Take the kids to a candy store—sample the Jelly Bellies…or Sweet Tarts…or Sour Gummy Worms.

–>  Fly a kite!

–>  Take a ride in the country.  Turn up your praise music…roll the windows down…sing to the top of your lungs!

–>  Watch a funny video!  Elisabeth and I LOVE to watch old movies like If a Man Answers. It is one of our “chick flicks” that we always watch together. We love it! SO FUNNY! Chonda Pierce is another one of my picks. She is just totally hilarious. My children LOVE old comedy shows like I Love Lucy or The Three Stooges.  Oh, you may want to watch anything! Just find something that will make you laugh hard!

–>  Scrapbook!  Pick photos that you MUST tell the story behind! Kick up your favorite music…spread out your goodies…and Scrap till you drop!

–>  Read a biography of a GIANT in the faith!  My favorites are Corrie ten Boom…Hudson Taylor…George Mueller…Amy Carmichael…Jim and Elisabeth Elliott…etc!

–>  Get today’s newspaper and read the comics!

–>  Get a yo-yo! PLAY!

–>  Make Chocolate Chip Cookies with the kids! On a diet? Take them to someone who blesses you! Include a note of thanks and encouragement for all they do to bless you!

–>  Go out and sit on your boat—watch the stars! (Oh, watch the sunset or sunrise, if you can too!)

–>  Dig into the Bible and study what God says about trials…suffering…faith…death…depression…oppression…warfare…battle…

–>  Read a new book! Normally ready non-fiction/how-to’s? Get a fiction book for a change!  Normally read fiction? Get a humorous book! Renew your weary heart and mind!

–>  Take a break and go for a long ride on a motorcycle! Don’t forget your headset and praise music!

–>  Take a hike! Really!  Find a nice nature trail OR go for the tough stuff!!

–>  Go to the mall with your teenager!  ENJOY!

–>  Buy a Mp3 Player and some great praise music—turn it up!  I LOVE my iPod! I have my iPod loaded with all of my favorite CDs. My favorites are Michael W. Smith’s Worship CD’s AND Hillsong’s Praise and Worship!  The moment you enter into worship, you will enter into the very presence of God—so, turn it up and devour the presence of our precious Lord!

–>  Pull out that old sewing machine and make some of those goodies that you have been wanting—new purse/tote…outfit…home decorations…doll clothes…etc!

–>  Buy a “whoopee” Cushion…or “Bubba” teeth… At least your family will laugh!

–>  Write out the funny family stories! Reminisce! Enjoy!

–>  Go skating!

–>  Try an afternoon of “Laser-Tag” with your teens! Get um!

–>  Make Homemade Bread—KNEAD yourself!

–>  Plan a regular Mommy Getaway. This is not an extra! It is essential!  I plan getaways for different purposes: to just get alone with God to hear Him, to plan, to work on my homeschool and business projects, to just fill my cup back up. Decide what will fill you up. What do you need right now? Decide what will help meet that need. Gather your goodies: Bible, journal, iPod, camera (I love taking pictures of little treasures along the way), your planner, your computer/Idea Notebook, etc. Pull aside and take that time to just get-away and fill your cup back up!

–>  Get a pet! My bird, Harley, has ministered to my heart MORE than I could remember! He is just SO funny! HE had the idea to “boogie” for Jesus! I had not danced for years! AND it is decent!  Elisabeth’s new puppy, Pooh, is a TOTAL delight!  I say all the time that she is JOY in fur! She has become my little buddy. She loves to sit with me while I work and follow me around while I am doing my chores. She keeps me in stitches. Struggling? Get a pet just for YOU…see that puppy in the window??

–>  Take the day to go for a flight!  Look at the whole world from a different perspective!

–>  Dance! Turn up your favorite music and dance! Dance your heaviness away! Dance till you laugh! Dance in worship to the Lord! Jump! Lift your hands in praise and worship!

–>  Clean out your house (only if this is NOT your struggle! Ha!). Attack those closets…cabinets…dusty bookshelves…paper piles!

–>  Go out for a cup of coffee…tea…or a good old Coca-Cola! Meet your sweetheart or a mommy pal! Or…take your Bible and make it a special time with the Lord!

–>  Find some silly-putty or slime—PLAY!

–>  Get up earlier (or take regular breaks throughout the day!) for your quiet time! You may feel SO weak that you can barely concentrate—if so, just turn on praise music and lift up your arms in praise and adoration. Watch what happens!  Make a list of your heartaches—lift them to the Father (then, hide them in your Prayer Journal—later they will be a praise record!).  Dig into the Word for comfort…perspective…and hope for tomorrow! Really tough days? Well, when the Israelites had very HOT days, they had to gather MORE manna—in the heat of your battles and toughest trials gather a surplus! It will help you survive your struggle.

–>  Make a quilt. You can EVEN cheat by making it on the sewing machine! ENJOY!

–>  Take an afternoon to go to the movies. Get a big bucket of popcorn…a super-HUGE Coke…sour Gummy Worms (unless you are due a BIG DOSE OF CHOCOLATE!). Take your sweetheart…or a friend if you want to share! Pick a movie that will make you laugh like crazy…OR CRY your eyes out! ENJOY!

–>  Ride three-wheelers! Get MUDDY!

–>  Treat yourself to a leisurely afternoon (or a bunch of afternoons!) at the pool…park…or creek.

–>  Try your hand at BOWLING. Take some friends!

–>  Take time for tea—each day.

–>  Exercise. Swim…walk…jog…hike…go skating…aerobics. Relieves stress AND boosts your health to boot.
Learn a new hobby!  What have you been putting off that you have ALWAYS wanted to know? Pottery? Quilting? Flight Training? Smocking? Scrapbooking? Jewelry Making? Sewing? Crochet? Horse-back riding?  Go for it! Now is the PERFECT time.

–>  Treat yourself to a nice looooonnnnnngggg Bubble Bath! Don’t forget to set up your favorite music to play during your Bubble Bath.  Also…be sure to fix a nice cup of tea (or a Latte!) or a nice big Coke that will last till the water gets cold! ENJOY!

–>  Go to the park and just swing—HIGH!
Go get an ice-cream cone—with a double dip!

–>  Do a “Promise” hunt in Scripture.  Keep in a “Promise Notebook” of your very own! KNOW that they are yours.

–>  Snuggle up for the afternoon to read a great book!

Got some fresh ideas? Don’t let this limit you! Let your brain GO! Find some things that will fill you back up and take care of you all along the way.

This is not an extra. This is an essential. Carve out time on your calendar today to just take care of mom!

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Need MORE Help?

How about the ULTIMATE mom-time? Yep! Check out our Ultimate Homeschool Expo! This is not just for homeschool moms. Dads, moms, grandparents, and all ages can benefit. Cindy Rushton is the hostess of the Ultimate Homeschool Expo, the very first online homeschool convention. I (Lois) am one of her guest and have recorded two special workshops to help encourage and inspire you. I love it! Each year gets better and better. (It is NEVER ENDING because it is an ONLINE Convention!) Check out all of the details here:

http://www.lois-graham.com/uhse10.php

Making a blessing tree gives you the opportunity to share blessings. Make an impression on children and influence them to be a blessing to others.

Count Your Blessings Craft and Activity

Supplies:

Construction paper, a marker, and finger paints.

Directions:

1. Draw a simple tree outline on construction paper.
2. Let children paint leaves on the tree with finger paints.
3. As the paint is drying, have the children tell you things that have and things they enjoy and like doing.
4. Explain that all we have is from God. God blesses us. The things that we have and do are blessings. Psalm 100:4 – “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.”
5. Write or have them write on their picture the blessings that they have. Remind them about all the things that they said they have and enjoyed doing.
6. Have children think of ways that they can be a blessing to others.

Thanksgiving is not the only day of the year that we should count our blessings. Everyday of the year we should count our blessing and praise God.

Count your blessings Today!

Life goes by quickly! There always seems to be something that needs to be done or somewhere to go. We must rush from one thing to another. During the holidays life gets even busier. Prepare now for the the Thanksgiving and Christmas season ahead.

How and what do you need to prepare?

Prepare your heart

In busy times stress comes. Family gatherings can bring disagreements. By preparing your heart, you can ease this tension.

Have a daily, alone time with the Lord in prayer and Bible reading. Keep this time precious. It is what will help carry you through the stressful moments. Be determined, that no matter how much you have to do during the day that you will make time to be with the Lord. In Isaiah 41:13 (KJV) it says “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” When you begin to feel stress, go to the Lord for strength.

Stay focused

Remember why you are celebrating the holiday season. Keep your focus on God’s blessings and the gift of his son Jesus. Use Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV) to help you stay focused. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Prepare a schedule and plan

Make time to sit and plan out your activities and what you will need. You will have last minute things come up, but this will help you to visualize and prepare. Planning keeps you productive rather than busy.

Make a list of what events you know will be happening. Choose what will  benefit your family and pass on activities that will make the season stressful. Put important events on the calendar.

Plan out what you need and what you have to do. Examples: Make list for gifts to buy or make, food to buy and prepare, cards to purchase and send, or what you need to take to events.

God gave people in the Bible plans, so that they could accomplish the task he had for them. You are not building an ark or a tabernacle, but planning is essential to staying focused.

Prepare

Start buying and preparing food. Getting a head start will avoid pressure and help avoid last minute runs to the store. Making mixes, freezing dinners and baked goods, and buying food as you go help you to be a good steward of the time and money God has given you.

Save money. Put aside money each week to offset the extra expenses that will come up. Avoid going into debt.

Make gifts. Homemade gifts can be filled with loved and personalized to each person. Try these Home Made Holiday Gift Ideas.

Buy gifts on sale. Do not impulse buy. Make prayerful descisions. Colossians 4:2 (KJV) says “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving”

Plan and prepare to make this holiday season memorable and special.

Use fall nature objects to paint a masterpiece. This multi- sensory activity helps people of all ages to use their imagination and creativity. Younger children have fun and learn through the painting experience. Older children and adults can put thoughtfulness and detail into their designs.

Fall nature items can include:

Gourds, Potatoes, leaves, pine cones, gumballs, nuts, sticks, grasses, and weeds. There are many more. Go on a scavenger hunt and you will discover many interesting objects that God has made.

A fun advantage to using nature is that your painting will look different each time you paint something. You do not need to paint in straight lines. Try different directions and techniques.

1. Choose what nature objects you want to use.
2. Put down a plastic tablecloth or a sheet of plastic for EASY cleanup. Keep this for simple cleanup of craft projects.
3. Gather a variety of paint colors, dishes with paint to roll your objects in, paper plates to set your painted nature objects on, and a cloth for quick wipe-ups.
4. Roll or thoroughly coat the item you are using  in the desired color of paint.
5. Have fun! Drag, roll, dab, spin, twist, flop, and swish. Try ideas that pop into your imagination. Use a new color and mix the designs together.
6. Watch this video for more ideas and techniques.

Make your paintings into fall or thanksgiving cards. Give them to older people, shut ins, out of town relatives, or anyone who could use a smile.

Have fun painting and teaching your children how God has made each detail of nature!

The fall of the year is here. This is the time of year that the leaves change beautiful colors and cooler, crisp weather begins to creep in. Fall is a wonderful time of year to enjoy the outdoors. You can look around at the magnificent creation God has made. Watching the change in seasons opens our eyes to the wonders that God has given to us. He has designed and planned each tiny, intricate, and magnificent detail.

Fall is the time of year that I enjoy grabbing a warm drink and having fun as a family. Make time this fall to enjoy the beautiful, God-made outdoors with your family.

1. Go for a walk, hike, or bike ride. Don’t rush! Take your time. Take a tree identification book with you. See how many different trees you can find. Younger children can count the colors of leaves they see.

2. Make a scarecrow. Have fun using your imaginations together. Make old, young, silly, or even a family of scarecrows.

What you will need:

Old clothes. Any size clothing will work.

Hay, crumbled newspaper, rags, pine straw, or other stuffing material.

Pillowcase and marker

Rope and large safety pins

Optional decorations – Hat, bandannas, gloves, shoes, or other decorations to dress up your scarecrow.

Assembly:

Tie the openings in the clothing closed with rope. Leave an opening on the top of each piece of clothing for stuffing.

Stuff the clothing until it is full.

Safety pin the top and bottom of the scarecrow together.

Fill the pillowcase to the desired head size. Use a marker to draw a face. Then pin the pillowcase onto the top of the scarecrow.

Attach any extras that you want your scarecrow to wear.

Use this opportunity to work together as a family. Discuss ideas and be respectful. Build each other up with your words.

4. Visit a pumpkin field or apple orchard.

Learn how they grow and about the different varieties. Younger children can learn to put the pumpkins or apples in order from smallest to largest. They can also learn what things are heavy and light.

5. Jump in a pile of leaves.

Jump and roll in a pile of leaves. Be silly! Let your children see you having fun.

6. Rake leaves for a shut in or elderly person.

This is an excellent way to help others and learn respect. Teach your children that doing things for others is hard work, but that it can be fun and rewarding.

7. Take a drive.

Go for a scenic drive (without electronic activities). Look for things that God has made. Find things that you do not see in the others seasons. Talk about how awesome and powerful God is to make nature.

Have fun this fall! Leave a comment and share what you did to enjoy God’s beautiful creation with your family.

Every day we should show grandparents our love and appreciation. This Sunday, September 13′th 2009 is a day set aside as Grandparents Day. Are you running behind and need a last minute idea for your children to do for their grandparents?

Try one or more of these quick and inexpensive ways to show love and appreciation.

• Make a homemade card or bookmark and decorate it with love. Older children can write 1 Thessalonians 3:9 on their card. Print or write it out for younger children.

“For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God” 1 Thessalonians 3:9 NKJV

As they are making their card explain that the verse means we can thank God and be happy that we have grandparents.

• Sing “Happy Grandparents Day! (Tune: “Happy Birthday”)

Happy Grandparents Day to you,

Happy Grandparents Day to you,

Happy Grandparents Day, I love you!

Happy Grandparents Day to you!

• Make a video that includes each family member telling a special memory they have of being with them.

• Call or tell them in person a genuine “I Love You!”.

• Paint a small box, put a pretty sticker on it, and fill it with notes of appreciation.

• Make a homemade, special treat that they enjoy and deliver it with a big hug.

• Write the reasons why you love them on a fancy paper. Younger children can draw pictures of a special memory or what they like about their grandparents. Roll it up and tie a pretty ribbon around it.

• Go to their house and do something helpful for them. When you are finished sit down and talk. Have them tell you stories about the old days.

• Make a heart from your fingerprints.

Press each finger on a stamp pad and then put your fingerprints onto a paper in the shape of a heart. Write a special note in the center.

Most of all pray for your parents and grandparents and tell them you love them!

Do something unique and special for your family today. Make them feel special and let them know that they are important to you.

Plan a surprise a trip to someplace special. It does not need to be expensive. A trip to the park or stopping for ice cream can be a great way to spend time together and show your love.

Let each person in your family pick something that they would like for a meal.

Leave a note saying why you think that person is special and thank them for something that they have done. Take it another step and each day for a week give a small gift that reminds you of them. Here are some ideas that you could do:

Sunday – Stick a smiley face on a note saying that you LOVE their smile.

Monday- Give a  pencil and a note. On the note put “You are WRITE because…” and list the ways they do things right.

Tuesday – Leave a sweet treat and tell them how they are SWEET.

Wednesday – Put a note in a cup saying how they FILL your life with happiness.

Thursday – On a candle or flashlight stick a note with the ways they LIGHT up your day.

Friday – Set an eraser on a note telling how they ERASE sadness by___.

Saturday – Give them a ball saying how you feel because they BOUNCED into your life.

Spend time playing with your children. Whether they are a preschooler, highschooler, or any age. Dress up, play a sport, or whatever they enjoy. Take pictures and be silly!

Have a family fun night. Pick a theme put out, add a few decorations, dress up, eat food, and play games all centered around that theme. It does not have to be elaborate. Keep it simple and fun. If you have a beach theme you could bring out some beach balls, dress in your swimsuits to eat kabobs, and play some beach ball volleyball.

Most importantly pray for your family!!!

Let your family know today that they are special to you and that God made them special. Deuteronomy 29:18 says “Lest there should among you man, or woman, or FAMILY, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God.” Stay focused on how we are each made special and are important to God. He is our creator and loves us. He wants us to show love to our families so that they will see his love in us.