Books I Read To My Children That I Would Read Over and Over Again . . . in a heartbeat!

As I look back over my years of raising children, there are things that I would do over again in a heartbeat. One of them is to read books aloud.

Sometimes it would be 10 minutes a day, but my goal was always 20 to 30 minutes a day. I would hold the youngest one or two children on my lap and the rest would gather on our sofa. It was a precious time.

Here’s a short list of some of my favorites:

My favorite book to help parents of strong willed children:

January and February are GREAT months to start reading to your kids!

Blessings,

Bonni is the author of Mom By Example

Raise Up A Child

Raising children is not for sissies. It takes hard work, dedication, diligence, patience, determination, faith, hope, joy, and most importantly a desire and a choice to love unconditionally.

I firmly believe that the children who call us mom have been placed in our care for a reason. We are the moms they are meant to have. I don’t believe in coincidence or luck or even fate. I believe in divine intervention, leading, and God directing our steps.

Motherhood can seem daunting and even frightening at times, but if we choose to live it one day at a time while still seeking the bigger picture, I can’t think of a more rewarding and important calling.

I am dedicating the next three newsletters to tips that I’ve learned raising my eight children. I will also have daily Insta stories on Instagram, and will share more tips on my Mom by Example Facebook page Live videos.

My sweet friend, co-author, and fellow blogger Kathy McClure made my favorite prayer into a beautiful downloadable resource for you. It’s the prayer that I pray for my children each day.

You can download it here.

Motherhood includes days that are harder than we could have ever imagined, but God doesn’t give us any more than we can handle. Moms, not only can we handle it, but we can do it with excellence because we are being transformed daily more and more into His image.

Here are some of my favorite verses:

2 Corinthians 3:18 . . . and we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lords glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

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

Psalm 127:3-5 . . . Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children are rewards from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.

Blessings Moms!

Bonni

Bonni is the author of Mom By Example

FREE Printable Bible Verses and Sayings

 

I have a special treat for you! Over the years, some verses and sayings have become very important to me. They have stuck by me and been a strength in my motherhood journey and in various walks of life.

I am excited to make some of these verses and sayings available to you today as FREE downloads and printables for your home!

Instructions. To download please click on the image you would like. It should open in a new window and then you can save to your device. Print as many times as you want! Please don’t sell them or reproduce them for sale in anyway. Thank you!

Bonni is the author of Mom By Example

Helping You BUILD A STRONG FOUNDATION of Godly Character Traits in Your Children

Do you desire to instill Godly character traits in your sons and daughters?

I wrote the Godly Character Traits Guide featuring 15 godly character traits and providing you with the tools you need to train your children. It also includes bonus . . .

  • printables
  • a family rules chart
  • family non-negotiables
  • coloring pages
  • and access to a bonus Facebook community (see more below)!

We want to Help You Succeed

As a special incentive—we’re forming a private Facebook group to which all book buyers will be invited to join.

As part of this PRIVATE group, you will get access to:

  • LIVE videos from Bonni as she journeys through eight of the fifteen character traits with you, personally training you on how to use the guide and be successful at instilling these godly character traits in your children.
  • Advice and feedback directly from Bonni as she answers your questions and any struggles you are having with introducing a new character trait each week.
  • Bonni’s tips and secrets that she will not be sharing anywhere else.
  • Weekly videos from Bonni as she shares how these character traits changed her life and the lives of her children.
  • A community of moms supporting each other and sharing ideas on how they are memorizing verses and implementing object lessons in their homes.
  • And other fun SURPRISES!

The Facebook group will run from the middle of June to the middle of August 2017, as we dive into eight character traits together.

Save your spot in the Facebook Group and BUY your electronic copy today!

 

What does the guide include?

Tools to equip you as you strive to instill godly character traits and God’s Word in your children!

The Godly Character Traits Guide includes tools to equip you as you instill 15 godly character traits in your children. For each trait it defines the term and the opposite, offers tips on living it out and role-playing the trait, and suggests verses to read and memorize with your children.It also includes bonus printables for your home and coloring pages to keep your children busy as you introduce each trait.

How do I use it?

Over several years, my eight children had memorized quite a few scriptures dealing with godly character. They also had a solid understanding of fifteen very important godly character traits, and your children will too!

On Mondays, gather around the kitchen table for 15-20 minutes, and define the godly character trait that you will be studying that week. Also define the opposite meaning of the word. Read several verses that pertain to the trait. Each child, depending on their age, will start to memorize at least a phrase or one of the verses. Give examples of how the particular trait will cause us to act and react.

Throughout the week, practice walking in the trait, and affirm each other as you progress. Take time each day to work on memorizing the verses for that week .

On Friday, gather again at the kitchen table and review the verses and what you learned that week. If you make enough progress (the parent should determine that), go to a new character trait the following Monday. If not, review the trait for another week.

Repeat the process for about 15 to 20 weeks. Then, take a break for about a month and start all over again with the same traits and verses, but different object lessons and examples.

Bonni is the author of Mom By Example

My Twenty Meal Plan And How It Worked For Me For 20 Years!

I am not sure why it surprised me day after day to realize that I had to make supper for my family. Who did I think was going to make it, or why did I think that this day would be different than any other day?

I did not enjoy cooking in the first place, and I was getting tired of my daily 4:00pm panic. I made a change. I first tried freezer cooking. Then, I made 30 meals in 1 day. When that did not work, I made supper before I made breakfast. Finally, I tried making two meals a day (one to eat and one to freeze). But none of those great ideas worked for me!

After several other attempts to stay on top of meal planning, I came up with a system that worked so well, that I used it for more than ten years! Every month we ate the same 20 suppers.

Here is a list of the 20 simple meals that I make every month:

  1. Vegetable beef soup and store bought rolls.
  2. Chicken vegetable soup and store bought rolls.
  3. Pea soup and store bought bread (my homemade rolls and bread get dry and very hard 😬)
  4. Spaghetti pie with a hot vegetable.
  5. Vegetable lasagna and applesauce.
  6. White chicken chili and salad.
  7. Burritos.
  8. Taco salad and potato bar.
  9. Quiche and salad.
  10. Beef roast with vegetables.
  11. Whole roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, hot vegetable.
  12. Stir fry something with left over vegetables from the week.
  13. Pork chops, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes.
  14. Shepherds pie and some kind of fruit.
  15. Breakfast for supper.
  16. Reuben sandwiches and salad.
  17. Baked chicken thighs, french fries, salad.
  18. Cheeseburgers with sweet potato fries and a hot vegetable.
  19. Macaroni and cheese, cold slices of grilled chicken on a tossed salad.
  20. Tater tot casserole.

Yes, we eat a lot of salads. We grow much of our own lettuce and our kids love it! We don’t have desserts. And yes, we have hot soups even in hot weather. Not every meal contains meat. I use other forms of protein.

What are YOUR favorite Go-To meals? I would love to hear about them!

 

My goal is to inspire and encourage mother’s in their motherhood journey.

I do Facebook LIVE videos daily at 3pm, send a weekly newsletter with special tips for moms, and encourage you in whatever way I can! Join me in this journey and download this FREE Family Rules printable I have made for you!

 

Bonni is the author of Mom By Example

Ways That We Have Had Success In Our Family Showing Kindness

kindness

Most experts would agree that it takes twenty-one to twenty-eight days to create a successful habit. I would agree with that, and have used that statistic many times in my life. I’ve been successful with some habits and have had failures with others. The most surprising success I had, came several years ago when I decided to create a habit of being kind every day for 21 days.

I still had to discipline my children when needed, and the rest of my mothering duties didn’t change, but my attitude changed. I decided that even in the craziness of raising kids, I could choose to be kind. I could be kind in the tone of my voice, in my body language, my choice of words, and in my actions.

To my shock and surprise, it worked!

After three weeks, I had changed. Instead of constantly reacting and acting out of fear, confusion, frustration, and/or anger at my children and husband, I had learned how to take a breath, regroup, get my thoughts in order, and using kind body language and tone of voice, handle the situation.

Of course there were times I failed. I still fail, but these past few years have proven to me that we can develop new attitudes and characteristics just by making them a habit. My children learned this years ago. I was the slow poke.

Here are 14 Ways We Have Had Success In Our Family Showing Kindness

  1. When upset, we take a breath and choose to think about reacting with kindness
  2. In our home, we try to use a tone of voice that we would use with a friend or even a stranger, not an angry or mean tone.
  3. When we see someone in the home that could use help, we offer it.
  4. We say please and thank you to each other.
  5. We listen patiently to someone speaking to us, instead of quickly butting in.
  6. We smile a lot.
  7. We apologize if we have been wrong.
  8. We forgive someone who hurt us.
  9. We show affection.
  10. We affirm each other with positive, helpful, and encouraging words.
  11. We encourage each other.
  12. When we find items of clothing or toys or books that we haven’t used in a long time, we give them to someone who could use them.
  13. We try not to complain, argue, or whine.
  14. We pray and ask God how we can show kindness today.

kindness

Bonni is the author of Mom By Example

15 Valentines Day Gift Ideas For Your Family and How I Celebrate Valentine’s Day

valentines day gift ideas

Things are going to start looking pink in my home today.

Not for cancer awareness, although I wholeheartedly support that.

Pink for Valentines Day.

I make a BIG DEAL about it.

I mean, it’s all about LOVE. How great is that?

And the story behind it is quite inspirational.

I decorate my home in mid-January with some heart throw pillows, pink candles, heart themed towels, and fresh pink flowers on the kitchen table and the bathroom sink.

It’s the only holiday that I can lavish hearts and ooey-gooey attention on my five sons without hearing, “Oh Mom!”

One of the biggest joys of the holiday for me is writing each of my eight children (and now five spouses and four grandchildren), a short, personal note affirming them and encouraging them in their walk with the Lord, and sending it inside a Valentine.

On February 14th , I make a special dinner (no pink food), which we eat in a room filled with candlelight.

I also purchase a gift for each member of the family.

Yes, I am a SUPER fan of the day.

Here are some suggestions if you are thinking of gift giving this Valentines Day!

  1. Comfy, soft flannel shirt for men.
  2. Hoodies for teens.
  3. Thermos - The BEST thermos I’ve ever used. Hot drinks really DO stay hot for 8-10 hours.*
  4. Five Crowns Card Game. A fun and easy card game that takes strategy but is appropriate for children age 8 and up. *
  5. Gas cards.
  6. Five dollar gift cards to a favorite café or coffee shop.
  7. Duplo or Lego sets.
  8. Craft supplies.
  9. Little Hands craft kits by ALEX. *
  10. The Jesus Storybook Bible *
  11. Timely Truths for Toddlers to Tweens by Bonni Greiner A devotional for even the youngest children that focuses on the character and love of God. *
  12. There’s an Easier Way by Bonni Greiner and Kathy McClure A book filled with practical tips for busy moms in the trenches of motherhood. *
  13. Maximize Motherhood by Deb Ober. A 30 day devotional that offers practical encouragement for moms of all ages. *
  14. Life: Beautiful - Faith for Your Journey. A magazine for women that is published quarterly. The winter edition, available through March 2017 is very good.
  15. High Five. A fun magazine specifically created for preschoolers from the same publisher as Highlights.

What are some of your favorite Valentine’s Day traditions?

****** Amazon affiliates included in this post

valentines day

Bonni is the author of Mom By Example

7 Toddler Toys for Hours of Fun {Practical and Educational Toys for Toddlers}

7 toddler toys for hours of fun

I have been asked recently what practical and educational toys I would recommend purchasing for toddlers. Here are my 7 favorite:

Madame Alexander Baby Huggums - Although this baby doll is a little pricey, she feels real, looks real and LASTS for years and years!!!! My daughters, now 20, 22, and 24 years old, still have their Madame Alexander dolls. I also had a baby doll size high chair and stroller that my three girls shared to play with their dolls.

Little Tikes Cook n Store Kitchen - I LOVED this kitchen play set. All 8 of our children, boys and girls played with it every day. The storage is wonderful and enough for all of the plastic food necessary to enjoy this set, so everything is in one place.

Candy Land Board Game - No, I don’t like playing games with my children, and yes, I did have to play with them, but if you take out the ‘bad’ picture cards, the game can proceed quickly and the children LOVE it. It’s good one on one time with your child.

Chutes and Ladders Board Game - See explanation above, except removing the bad cards, just do what I do, and have both chutes and ladders move players up! No sliding down for my children.

Duplos First Cars and Trucks - Both my daughters and sons loved building with Duplos. This was the favorite set for my toddler sons. They also loved the farm set. They literally could spend 30-60 minutes playing with this set.

Duplos Creative Play All in One Pink Box of Fun - My daughters loved playing with Duplo people and animals and building cute houses. This set has it all.

John Deere Sandbox Tractor - We used these toys IN the house and not in our sandbox. The boys made roads and bridges for them in our living room, and played with them every day. They are well built and able to handle tough and tumble toddler boys.

I’d love to read about your favorite toddler toys!

(These links are Amazon Affiliate links. I appreciate your support!)

toddler toys for hours of fun

Bonni is the author of Mom By Example

Our All Time Favorite 25 Gift Suggestions for Children

all time favorite gifts or children

Too many toys is not a good thing.

Every item in our home requires maintenance and our time. So, every item matters.

Time is a precious gift.

How many toys are too many? How about considering ‘too many’ as the toys that the children play with for less than 10 minutes a day or not at all.

Set limits.

How many baby dolls does a 4 year old need? How many cars and tractors does a 5 year old need?

I have never seen or heard that more toys increase a child’s joy or sense of well - being. In fact, I think that the opposite is true.

So, having said that, what do we do about well meaning family members who want to SHOWER our children with an abundance of gifts for Christmas?

May I suggest that we give careful thought to the toys that enter our home? Maybe, we could politely and respectfully ask the family members to consider purchasing a gift that would make a significant difference in the lives of our children.

Here are 25 gifts that I would suggest:

I’d LOVE to read YOUR favorite gifts!

25-gift-suggestions

Bonni is the author of Mom By Example

What is the Purpose of Your Home?

purpose of a home
Sally Clarkson, famous author and speaker, asked an audience of over 200 women of which I was a part, if we had ever defined the purpose of our home.

Since that conference three years ago, I have thought about it a lot. I am finally ready to answer that seemingly simple, and yet extremely profound question.

I want my home to be a safe haven. A non-judgement zone. A place where emotions are accepted as real and worth examining. An abode where the furnishings are comfortable and beautiful yet not important enough to dictate behavior. And, most importantly, where Jesus reigns in all that is said and done, and love and forgiveness go hand in hand and flow with grace and mercy.

I now have boundaries, direction, and a purpose when I make decisions concerning my home and interacting with my husband, children, and grandchildren and guests in my home.

Thanks Sally Clarkson. What a difference a simple question can make.

What is the purpose of your home?

Bonni is the author of Mom By Example