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The Divorced Son: Part Three | Reflections

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               I have always been looking for someone that can replace the father I lost.  I knew it couldn’t be Randy, he was the guy my mother ended up with after the divorce.  He was a jerk.  At least, I felt he was because deep in my heart I knew he had stolen my family.  Destroyed it!  He was a bartender from one of the places my mom worked at when I was young.  It just happened too fast.  I felt it in my bones.  I hated him.  Another theme in my life, anger.                I was so angry and fearful.  I would have nightmares about my stepfather, and I could never fight back.  It was like I was drowning, and my arms were pinned to my sides.  I would wake up with my jaw clenched so tight I would have to work the muscles out to loosen them.  I never really gave Randy a chance.  I never would.  And, possibly, I made it harder for him to be that part of our family.  But there is more to the story than just that.  I don’t really remember a ton of it, but what I do remember is strongl

Week 21 of Proverbs 31 | The Wolfe Notes

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Welcome to week  twenty-one  of our Proverbs 31 journey. This week we interpret what it means to clothe your household in scarlet and how it protects you from the snow. If you'd like to return to one of our previous stops, let our "Wolfe Notes" guide you.  In January  we examined our  value  with the help of Proverbs 31 verses 10 and 29. In February  we learned what  uplifting  means by looking at Proverbs 31:11 and 23. In March , we considered the virtue of  respect  by studying Proverbs 31:12 and 28. In April , we trained to be  hardworking  with Proverbs 31:13 and 19 as our instructors. In May , we are seeing what it takes to be  resourceful  by examining Proverbs 31:14 and 21.  If you're ready to travel with us, welcome! Grab your  May calendar  with daily activities, the lamp for your feet (the  Bible ), and let's get going! We're journeying through  the concluding poem of Proverbs  and we're so glad you decided to walk along this road with us! Imagin

Love Conquers All Day | JOY for Today

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That love conquers all, I have no doubt. It breaks down barriers, lights up the darkest nights, and finds a way in to warm even the coldest of hearts. Love will always win in the end but knowing love along the way adds JOY to the journey. Love Conquers All Day - June 3rd Annually JOY for Today Offerings: Did You Know...  Four we didn't. Wolfe Stew Connects  To the power of love. Bible Verses and Quotes  Related to love. Activity Suggestions  Heart Map, Song List, Story Prompt, Would You Rather, and Family Challenge Upcoming Holiday:   Hot Air Balloon Day  (June 5th Annually) Did You Know: Love conquers definitions?  We struggle to find one suitable definition for love so use it to describe a variety of feelings and actions. Merriam-Webster defines love nine ways as a noun and four as a verb. National Today  identifies thirteen types of love. Love conquers death? When you spend time with people who love you, your risk of an early death is reduced by 50%. Moreover, having someone w

The Divorced Son: Part Two | Reflections

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                 I didn’t have many friends when I was growing up.  Attachment wasn’t a thing I trusted.  My Dad and Mom split up when I was 8, and I ended up having to go to a public school not long after.  I had some friends in Calvary Christian, they were like family.  Mrs. Blamb was like a mother to me.  I remember the security I felt in that place.  I remember the Christian flag that meant a lot to me, with its pure white dove.  I remembered the Lord’s prayer, at least part of it.  I remembered them because they were given to me by God.  I had a perilous path to follow, and he equipped me with faith that would never leave me, though I would turn my face from it through anger and fear.                  So, all I had was my brother really.  I loved him like the most precious person, probably because we needed each other.  I probably needed him more than he needed me.  I remember pulling the little red wagon with him in it, all around Sherwood, Ohio.  We even entered the parade, wh

How to Parent Toddlers while Working | Guest Post

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Leaders, please join me in welcoming back Well Parents   with tips for staying sane while parenting toddlers and working from home. After reading the article, be sure to leave a comment with a tip or two that worked well for you. Everyone benefits where peace resides ! If you could benefit from more parental support, be sure to drop by Well Parents .  They offer exercise ideas , healthy eating tips , stress-busters , helpful resources , and more ! Also, be sure to check out their other Wolfe Stew featured articles including home business opportunities and  organization tips .   And now, let's reclaim our peace with these tips for staying sane and productive from Well Parents . Image via Pexels Staying Sane and Productive as a Working Parent of Toddlers and Babies   Balancing parenting with working from home can be challenging for any parent, but it’s especially difficult for parents of toddlers and babies. With their endless curiosity and need for attention, it can seem nearly im

The Divorced Son: Part One | Reflections

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                    I am the Divorced Son.  I was born in the early 70s, to a man and woman who probably should never have gotten together.  Hence, why I know God was involved.  I was a little, old man, baby.  My mother was a diabetic, which probably has to do with why I was small and a preemie.  I was born into the world with a vision defect.  My eye muscles would pull so hard I would be cross-eyed.  They fixed this when I was 2, and I still remember being in the hospital with the plastic eyepatches over my eyes.  They say you shouldn’t remember things from when you were two.                 There are many things that happened in my life that guided me toward God.  First, and foremost, I went to a Christian school.  This is odd to me, because neither of my parents seem overly religious.  They act like they are the center of everything that happens, and it pains me to feel this way about them.  Never-the-less, Calvary Christian school had a profound and lasting effect on me.  I love

National Day of Prayer | JOY for Today

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As a nation built on a foundation of faith, certain practices remain that keep us united in faith. National Day of Prayer is one of them. Let us pray today for our nation. And as our minds focus on things of heaven, may our spirits know JOY once again. National Day of Prayer: May's First Thursday JOY for Today Offerings: Did You Know...  Four we didn't. Wolfe Stew Connects  To struggles in prayer. Bible Verses and Quotes  About prayer. Activity Suggestions  Compare and contrast, timelines, writing prayers, prayer models, "Would you rather...", and family challenge.  Upcoming Holidays:   Mother's Day  (May's Second Sunday) and National Chocolate Chip Day (May 15th Annually) Did You Know: There is no "right" physical posture for prayer?  We often associate prayer with a person kneeling with head bowed, hands folded, and eyes closed. Yet, scripture depicts people praying while walking, standing, sitting, kneeling, lying prostrate, and with hands held h

Week 15 of Proverbs 31 | The Wolfe Notes

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Welcome to week 15 of our Proverbs 31 journey! This week we interpreted what "working willingly" and "seeking" mean in our own lives. If you'd like to return to one of our previous stops, let our "Wolfe Notes" guide you.  In January  we examined our  value  with the help of Proverbs 31 verses 10 and 29. In February  we learned what  uplifting  means by looking at Proverbs 31:11 and 23. In March , we considered the virtue of  respect  by studying Proverbs 31:12 and 28. In April , we are training to be  hardworking  with Proverbs 31:13 and 19 as our instructors. If you're ready to travel with us, welcome! Grab your  April calendar  with daily activities, the lamp for your feet (the  Bible ), and let's get going! We're journeying through  the concluding poem of Proverbs  and we're so glad you decided to walk along this road with us! Imagine that as we walk, we're talking about the daily activities. Our side of the discussion is outline

6 Organization Tips for Busy Parents | Guest Post

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Do you ever get discouraged or distracted because of untidy surroundings? If so, we're pleased to welcome back  Well Parents who is here to offer organization tips for busy parents. Well Parents ' overall mission is to encourage EVERY parent to be a "Well Parent "  by taking time to focus on their personal, physical, and emotional health. What's more, they support you by sharing   exercise ideas , healthy eating tips , stress-busters , helpful resources , and more ! During their last visit, Well Parents shared home business opportunities  and today  Well Parents returns to share six organization tips for busy parents . So go on leaders, organize your environment with Well Parents to help you steward the work you were designed for .  Image via Pexels Staying Organized for Busy Parents — Yes, It Can Be Done! As a busy parent, you know that staying organized is essential. It can be difficult to manage your time efficiently and stay on top of tasks with all of the r