Five Summer Organizing Tips for Moms | Interview with Katie M. Reid

Five Summer Organizing Tips for Moms | Interview with Katie M. Reid

by | May 31, 2019 | Uncategorized

Katie is a national speaker, singer/songwriter, and author of Made Like Martha: Good News for the Woman Who Gets Things Done.  She has been published on sites like: Focus on the Family, TODAY's Parenting Team Blog, Crosswalk, Proverbs 31, and HuffPost.  

 

"MOM! What are we going to today?"

It's summertime, mamas! Either your kids are out of school for the summer or you're counting down the days, summertime is a HUGE change for a family schedule.

If you want to have a great summer with your kids without losing your mind, join me for my conversation today with speaker, author and mom of five, Katie M. Reid. 

On today's Better Together podcast, Katie shares five fabulous tips for you can set your family up for success this summer. 

During today's conversation, Katie shares the following five ideas:

1. Choose a landing spot in the house for summertime gear

2. Create a family summer activity list

3. Give everyone a morning chore

4. Stick with summer meals

5. Participate in a family reading challenge

To help moms kick the summer off right, Katie has recently launched a new video series titled, "Stress Less, Smile More" that you can find out more about by clicking here.

CONNECT WITH KATIE     Website  |   Facebook  |  Instagram  | Twitter  |  Pinterest

 

About your Better Together Podcast host...

Barb Roose is a popular speaker and author who is passionate about equipping women to win at life with Christ-empowered strength and dignity. Barb loves speaking at women's conference and leadership events such as the Aspire Women's Events, She Speaks Conference and the UMC Leadership Institute.

Barb is the author of multiple books and Bible studies, including her newest releases: Winning the Worry Battle: Life Lessons from the Book of Joshua and Bible study called Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle. Barb's writing has been featured in magazines or blogs such as Simple Truth Magazine, iBelieve.com, Crosswalk.com, More to Life Magazine, Just Between Us Magazine, Cherished, InCourage and Women of Faith.

An avid traveler, reader, and lover of all things chocolate-peanut butter, Barb and her family live in NW Ohio. Visit Barb's online home at barbroose.com.

 

Check out this episode!

My Father-in-Law’s Final Service At Arlington National Cemetery

My Father-in-Law’s Final Service At Arlington National Cemetery

by | May 24, 2019 | Uncategorized

 

Last Thursday, I stood with family members as my father-in-law, Brent Roose was interred at Arlington National Cemetery just outside of Washington, DC.

If you’ve ever visited the final resting place of our nation’s bravest warriors, you know that words cannot capture what it’s like when your eyes sweep across the vast landscape of beauty and sacrifice. Tens of thousands of uniform, white tombstones stand sentry as individual memorials over the bodies of our bravest, most valiant warriors. Without a doubt, those rolling hills stretch across acres of hallowed ground. 

 

This is the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery. My sister works on Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House so I commuted into downtown DC with her and I took metro train to the cemetery in about 15 minutes.

 

While Brent passed away suddenly on July 19, 2018, we had a funeral in his hometown. However, we've known for decades that he would be buried at Arlington after his valor displayed while in combat during Vietnam. However, it takes 6-8 months after death for a burial service at Arlington due to high numbers of veterans passing away these days.  Brent's service took place on May 16 and his ceremony was one of over 20 on that day.

I appreciated the tender care and respect that the army staff demonstrated in every aspect of the ceremony. From the soldiers who escorted my father-in-laws remains, to the army chaplain who spoke about Brent's life and service, to the breathtaking beauty of hearing the rifle salute and taps played in Brent's honor. Tears streamed down as our hearts soared with pride.

 

It was a beautiful, solemn day for my father-in-law's burial service.

 

I've been to Arlington many times before, as a kid and as an adult. As the mother of a military officer currently on deployment in the Middle East, Arlington felt a little more personal to me this time.  I don’t just see the tombstones, but I also see the shadows of mothers and fathers sitting in chairs with their palms up to receive the flag that draped the casket of their loved one. I see families huddled together around tombstones or standing solemn during a gun salute, their faces a mixture of grief and pride.  

My father-in-law never said much about his tour in Vietnam. What he left unsaid spoke volumes. But he was proud of his service. Brent had a tremendous impact on my oldest daughter choosing to attend the United States Military Academy. He was bursting with pride her junior year when she branched to Air Defense, which was a close cousin to the branch where he served in Field Artillery. And there wasn't a dry eye in our family when Brent pinned Kate's 2nd Lieutenant bar on during her commissioning ceremony on graduation day.

 

This soldier is carrying the US flag that would be presented to my brother-in-law who was representing the Roose family.

 

Memorial Day Weekend is upon us. This year, the memories of what I’ve seen and felt the past few days will be fresh on my heart. The understanding that one person’s sacrifice can bring freedom to countless others is an explanation for why the United States is the home of the free and the land of the brave, but this concept is an echo of the gospel that Jesus’ sacrifice brings us freedom. 

I invite you to join me in considering the gift of freedom - not just the price paid for it, but also the need to never take it for granted or the importance of championing freedom for all.

On this Memorial Day weekend, perhaps you can...

  • Visit family members who’ve served, whether they are living or are in a cemetery.
  • If they are living, ask them to share their most memorable moments. Just listen to their stories of how they served to protect your freedom – even if they were stateside filling out paperwork in an air-conditioned office. Every sacrifice matters! 
  • If they’ve passed away, take a moment to plant a flag and stand in silence to honor them.  
  • Look around your communities and pay attention to where people are not experiencing the kind of freedom that you enjoy.
  • There are a lot of people who do not feel the same kind of freedom that you may feel. Don’t be afraid to ask them to share their stories so that you can learn more.

Most importantly…reflect on what Jesus did for your freedom.  He didn’t just die for you to go to heaven, but His death and resurrection brings freedom to your life every single day! Walk in freedom, my friends. Throw off the bondage of unforgiveness, bitterness, scarcity, pride, and selfishness. Freedom came at great cost to Christ for you, so honor Him by living in freedom today.
When Comfort Food Calls

When Comfort Food Calls

by | May 17, 2019 | Uncategorized

It took a lot of years for me to finally realize that cookies and chip dip weren’t to blame for the extra weight around my middle. Food wasn’t the culprit, but my unmanaged feelings were. 

Whether I was anxious about my children’s safety, overwhelmed by my non-stop schedule, or feeling lonely because I lacked meaningful friends, those feelings collided, creating a deep, aching pit in my middle. I often felt empty inside and at times, nauseous. It was an awful feeling that I wanted to make go away as much as possible. My solution? Food. More specifically, I tried to soothe my uncomfortable feelings with comfort food. However, that hole in my heart and soul was like a bottomless pit so no amount of ice cream, pizza, or any other food could satisfy the emptiness within.  

Not only did Jesus come to earth to show us what God was like, but He faced the full slate of human experiences that we struggle with today. In fact, Jesus provides a path to freedom for us when the emptiness inside screams for us to raid the refrigerator. 

In Matthew 4, Jesus faced off against Satan after 40 days and 40 nights of fasting. According to our Western-eating patterns, that Jesus meant that fasted from 120 meals. Even as Jesus was fully God, He would have experienced the same kind of emotional or spiritual stress that pushes us into our kitchen pantries for a salty-this or creamy-that to soothe our hearts and minds. 

When Satan shows up to tempt Jesus up in the wilderness, the very first tool of temptation he presented was a loaf of bread. In my imagination, I see Satan holding a platter of hot, yeasty bread under Jesus’ noses. As the melted butter drips from the side of the dish, Satan tempts Jesus to turn the stones around Him into loaves of bread. Satan wanted Jesus to use His divine nature to satisfy His human desires. However, Jesus surrenders His human desire to His divine nature.  

In the face of tremendous stress, this is how Jesus responded to Satan’s challenge: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”  

Even as Jesus experienced tremendous physical hunger, He recognized the greater spiritual need in His life, which was total dependence on God. There’s nothing wrong with food or enjoying food. However, we will starve spiritually if we expect food to satisfy our need for peace, love, hope, forgiveness, or healing. Only God can satisfy those deep needs! 

Here’s a practical tip that you can use to help you test whether or not you’re attempting to use food to satisfy a spiritual need: Write out Matthew 4:4 on a notecard or post-it note and tape it to your favorite comfort food. The next time you reach for it, take a moment and evaluate whether or not you are truly hungry or if you need to put down the food and ask God to satisfy the spiritual hunger within. 

 

PRAYER: God, only you can satisfy the deepest needs in my life. Help me to identify the deep hunger within and to bring those deep needs to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Do you struggle with what you see in the mirror? Have you ever called yourself “fat” or “ugly”?Beautiful Already is a six-week, in-depth Bible study equipping you with God’s truth about inner and outer beauty. Here’s what one study participant said: “I have facilitated this wonderful study for 4 groups of women, and it is LIFE CHANGING! Great for all ages of women including teen girls!” –Tonya, Amazon Reviewer 

Five Lies that Single Women Believe | Interview with Kaywanda Lamb

Five Lies that Single Women Believe | Interview with Kaywanda Lamb

by | May 8, 2019 | Uncategorized

"Single women, we must refute ALL the lies that we've started to believe."

I had a sensational conversation with speaker, author, and single parent coach, Kaywanda Lamb. We met last fall while speaking at a conference in Louisiana. Within seconds of meeting Kaywanda, I knew that I'd made a new friend. She's beautiful, brilliant, authentic, and deeply wise.

A high school Spanish teacher by day, Kaywanda has raised two handsome sons on her own. She began coaching single parents while her boys were young and to support her family, Kaywanda returned to school to advance her education and obtain a Masters in Spanish.

During our conversation today, Kaywanda is going to speak right to heart of single women who are searching, wondering, and maybe afraid that they'll never find a wonderful man who'll love and cherish them. In fact, Kaywanda shares five lies that women often believe. Here they are:

Lie #1. "I don't think that anyone will ever want me."

Lie #2. "I feel like married women have it better than single women."

Lie #3. "I'll never get married because I'm too old."

Lie #4. "A guy isn't going to want me because I've been single too long."

Lie #5. "Because I have kids, no one will want to marry me."

If you are or have believed any of these lies, you MUST listen to this episode because Kaywanda walks you through these lies with God's truth and practical advice to help you walk in freedom!

In this episode, there is so much encouragement to single women who are feeling down and rejected because they are alone. Here's some of the encouragement that Kaywanda shares:

  • You have to live like what you have is enough right now;
  • You are worthy;
  • You have everything you need right now because God loves you and He is looking out for you.

CONNECT WITH KAYWANDA  Website  |  Facebook  | Instagram

Kaywanda Lamb is an author, speaker, blogger, soon to be podcaster, and The Winning Single Mom. Her journey to being a sought out speaker, encourager to single moms everywhere, and a transformational business coach began when her boys were just 2 years old and 2 months. Kaywanda had a choice to make: to stay in a relationship that didn't honor her or to raise her boys as a single mom. She decided to #doitanyway and has spent the last 16 years showing other women they too, can parent, thrive, and win. She returned to college 4 times in that span, holds a Masters in Spanish Literature, runs 3 businesses, and is a certified principal. Her motto is "do it anyway!" because you can dream about it or you can be about it. Check out her website for upcoming events and coaching information.

 

Check out this episode!

More for Mom | Interview with Kristin Funston

More for Mom | Interview with Kristin Funston

by | Apr 25, 2019 | Uncategorized

Are you a mom who is constantly giving? Giving your time, energy, and emotions to your kids, spouse, your job, and your community? 

This episode of the Better Together podcast is for all the moms out there who feel like they are alone in the jungle of managing kids, homes, unrealistic expectations, and the pressure to be all things to all people. Motherhood is no joke - and it ain't for wimps!

I remember going almost 13 years without a FULL NIGHT'S SLEEP. I was a zombie y'all. There were the times when I was so distracted that I forgot to send in a form...or forgot to pick up a kid after school. I beat myself up endlessly over the times when I lost my temper or I chose to run errands instead of sit down and read a book with my kids.  

After all of the ups and downs of motherhood, do you want to know the best lesson that I've learned? It's actually something that I repeat to myself many days of the week - and I hope that you might do the same. Here it is: "Barb, be kind to yourself. You're doing the best that you can." 

You are doing the best that you can. But, during the Better Together podcast, this is a place where you can learn how to get better in the places that you know that you need to get better.

Today's conversation is with Kristin Funston, author of the new book, More for Mom: Living the Whole and Holy Life - Isn't that a great title! In this really real convo, Kristin and I discuss why moms often feel like they are left out of Jesus' abundant life promise in John 10:10. We also talk about how to keep from losing it big over everyday things like when the kids leave their shoes in the middle of the floor (even though you've told them for the 100th time to pick.them.up)!

Sweet mom, you haven't done anything for yourself today, listen to today's conversation. It's my gift to you!

P.S. In the podcast intro, I also share a fun tip of what I used to do when I got tired of hearing my kids constantly "MOM!" You can use this tip, too. And you're welcome - ha!

PODCAST RESOURCES:

Kristin Funston   Website |  Facebook  | Instagram

More for Mom: Living Your Whole and Holy Life  

About Kristin:

With a passion for writing, Kristin Funston encourages women in a way that is relateable and practical, with a healthy dose of humor. In addition to being a writer, Funston is a member and employee of Hope Presbyterian Church and works as the Marriage and Family Coordinator and a leader in the women's ministry.

Convinced "balance" is a myth, Funston is also passionate about helping and encouraging women to embrace their current season and experience God in the everyday. She shares her humor and writing on motherhood on her blog and has been featured on multiple other blogs including The Better Mom, City Moms Blog, TODAY Parenting, and Scary Mommy.

Funston has a master's degree in Communication Studies from New Mexico State University. A mom to three girls and not-so-domestic wife to an entrepreneurial athlete, Funston and her family live outside of Memphis, TN. "More for Mom" is her first book. Learn more at KristinFunston.com. She is also active on Facebook (KristinDFunston) and Instagram (@kfunston).

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