Picture this… a mom, who is trying her best to keep her kids fed and thriving and learning and not fighting and the house clean and the dishes clean and the toys put away and the kids entertained and the clothes put away and the dog fed and the bathrooms wiped down and the kitchen sanitized and the carpet looking as best it can and her husband de-stressed at home and the car vacuumed and the flowers alive…
Tired yet?
Yeah, me too. Sometimes in my day I can’t seem to keep my head above water, or above the clutter. Some days I have to literally walk around with my head looking up so as not to be burdened by all the stuff collecting in my home. Please say you can relate!
my closet, before
I truly believe whether you are a stay a home mom, a working mom, a single mom, or not a mom at all, we all have the struggle with STUFF. And I believe that the society that we live in has made us obsessed with having more. Doing more. Being more. So when my days get heavy with the hard stuff and my house can’t even be a calming, peaceful retreat, I cannot seem to get a grasp on any one thing.
It was recommended by a friend, so I read it as quickly as I could. Along the way, I shared some ideas with my husband. He was so quickly on board that he wanted to get started even before I finished reading the book! Ha!
So what did we do? Called up my parents and asked if they could watch our kids so that we could…CLEAN! I know. We are some wild and crazy kids!
Once we began, the KonMari rules started to make sense. For example, the book recommends starting with categories of items instead of rooms. The author suggests touching each piece to truly part with it. We asked ourselves if different items sparked joy in our life, among other rules outlined in the book. Initially, we mocked the rules, but as we worked through the process, we began to praise them.
my closet, mostly done!
To be honest, it has been a spiritual experience for me. The Lord asks the rich ruler to give all of his posessions away — could I do that? The Lord calls me to be a good steward of what I have been given, and honestly, if I can’t even be joyful in my home, am I being a good steward in it? Can I serve my kids, husband, friends, and family well? My problem was that I was drowning so deep in my things that I couldn’t be a good mom or wife or daughter of the King. I wasn’t a good version of myself.
I am learning through my imperfections that the Lord wants me as I am. But I have to make room in my life to hear Him. I must make room in my life and in my home to learn and worship Him in all areas. This means willingly giving up things that are currently taking up space to make room for more of God.
Over the next several weeks, maybe even months — because truly this is a process — Creating a Great Day will:
Weekly have a “KonMari Spiritual Adventures” thread on Facebook as a way to encourage each other on this journey. Post what you feel comfortable with. This is not about embarrassing anyone but truly freeing ourselves from physical stuff so that spiritually we can be ready for any adventure God takes us on.
Every few weeks encourage you to tackle a new area of your house with a Blog post. Of course, we will be following the KonMari method so we will go in her order but detail it out for you, just in case you don’t know it, sharing our funny stories and our spiritual lessons.
Will you join us on the KonMari Adventure with a Spiritual Twist of freeing ourselves up physically and spiritually to do God’s will?
Don’t have a copy of the book? No problem! Enter to win a copy.
This is not a sponsored post. Creating a Great Day is providing the book for this giveaway because we have found this to be helpful to us.
Although the book itself isn’t spiritual in nature, it does provide a lot of springboard applications that can be used to tidy up our hearts as well as our homes.
I am a girl who loves to sit with a cup of coffee and daydream. I am most passionate about Jesus, my family, and family ministry. My husband and I live in Oklahoma with our two precious daughters. I spend my days with my girls, discovering and growing alongside them! You can usually find us either in our sunroom, the park, or taking long walks through Target. :)
Easter is such a fun time with little ones! Although they might not be old enough to participate in egg hunts and coloring eggs, it’s still a wonderful opportunity for our babies and toddlers to experience God’s creation and to be introduced to the story of Jesus.
I want to share with you some ideas for celebrating Easter with your baby or toddler. Hopefully, you will find something fun for your little one’s Easter!
Read books that tell the Easter story.
This is one of the easiest ways to keep Easter focused on Jesus. Perhaps you have some books already, but if you don’t, here are some suggestions. My Very First Easter by Juliet David & Helen Prole has been our favorite board book to read about the story of Jesus. The text on each page is brief and the pictures are colorful and diverse. This is a good book for when you want to stay focused on the story. It’s great to read year-round!
Also,there are books which blend the story with thoughts for today, which is nice! We have some books like that as well. Our favorite of this type is The Story of Easter by Patricia A. Pingry. This book has beautiful illustrations and brings together how spring time is so fitting with Easter. The text is not too long, so it will hold your little one’s interest. This book is a treasure!
Let your little ones experience the Easter story! Gather up items which represent different parts of the Easter story. Make sure the items are safe for your child to play with (under your supervision). For our basket we used:
Silk palm leaf
Toy donkey
Toy grapes (to signify the last supper)
Plastic cross
Strips of white fabric (optional: spray with perfume or drops of essential oils) to signify that Jesus was wrapped and prepared for burial
A small decorative “rock” to represent the stone in front of the grave (use a real rock if you have one!)
Purple fabric to signify that Jesus is our King
A pink foam heart because God loves us so much that he sent his son to save us
Our Easter story book
Use whatever items you can gather up to help tell the story. It doesn’t have to be the same items we used! For example, you could add some silk flowers because Jesus prayed in the garden before he was arrested. Read the story in the Bible and see what you have around your house! Place the items in a basket and let your child discover the different textures of the items. You can talk about their meaning as your child plays with them. I liked reading the story to Kate and pulling out items that correlated with each page. If some of your items were not designed for baby/tot play, remember to supervise your little one while they play with their discovery basket. This is a fun activity to do together!
Our little girl loves sensory bottles. They are a great way to expose babies and tots to the wonders of creation! We like to use small water bottles (with the cap glued on), but you can use clean peanut butter or applesauce jars, or if you’re brave, a glass jar. Kate loved her sensory bottle last year, but she still plays with it now too! These will last you a long time. Here are some different ideas for filling your sensory bottle:
Water and silk flowers
Here is a little song we sing about flowers: (Sung to “Mary Had a Little Lamb”)
“God made all the beautiful flowers, beautiful flowers, beautiful flowers.
God made all the beautiful flowers.
Thank you God for flowers.”
Fresh coffee grounds (NOT used) and toy insects
(Sung to “Mary Had a Little Lamb”)
“God made bugs to crawl in the dirt, crawl in the dirt, crawl in the dirt.
God made bugs to crawl in the dirt.
Thank you God for bugs!”
Easter basket “grass” with small craft Easter eggs
(Sung to “Have You Ever Seen A Lassie?”)
“Do you see the Easter eggs, the very pretty eggs?
Do you see the Easter eggs?
They are hiding for you!
Have an Easter Photo Shoot.
OK, so this one is more for you than your child but I promise it’s worth it! I’ve never been a fan of the life-size Easter bunny, and it really wasn’t in our budget last year to do that so I set up a little photo scene at home to do on Easter! I’m an amateur by ALL means. Ideally, it would be great to do this outside, but we had a rainy Easter. I tucked our daughter’s baby quilt into the top shelf of her changing table. Then I opened the blinds to let in what little bit of natural light we had in our apartment on a rainy day! This was MUCH easier than waiting in a long line at the mall!
Fill that Easter Basket!
Last year I had to think really hard about what to put in our daughter’s basket. Obviously, candy was out of the question for a baby! We kept things super simple by purchasing a small basket, but I have plenty of ideas for things to put in your basket, no matter the size!
Books
It’s hard to narrow this list because we’re addicted to children’s books in our house. Here are some of our favorites! Click on the titles for links to purchase.
Pat the Bunny–You can’t go wrong with this darling classic!
Jesus Loves Me! This book is perfect for Easter, not just because the song is appropriate, but the illustrator gives subtle hints to the Easter season throughout the pages. This is one of our favorite books in our whole library.
Tickle, Tickle, Peter!–With different textures to feel on each page and short text, this book holds my daughter’s attention! This book is quite large. It might not fit in your child’s basket, but it will be lovely right next to it!
A Chick that Peeps
Hold the chick in your hand and listen to him peep! I found ours at Hobby Lobby. I can’t wait to see what our eighteen month old thinks of this one!
Bubbles
Can you really go wrong with bubbles? Get ready for the giggles!
Bright Starts Giggling Eggs
These are so much fun! Perfect if you have a large basket you are trying to fill. You can purchase them here.
Crayola Egg-Shaped Crayons
Perfect for little hands. Even if your baby is not ready for them now, they will be before you know it! You can find them here or look for them wherever Crayola products are sold.
Bath Toys
Rubber ducks or other spring-themed bath toys make a great addition to an Easter basket!
Melissa & Doug Slide and Seek Egg
This is perhaps my most favorite basket item yet–so cute! Because it’s a quiet toy it’ll be great for our church bag. It is double-sided, with a hatching bird on one side and hatching chick on the other. You can find out more info here. The toy is currently out of stock from the manufacturer’s website, but I picked one up at Mardel. You can also find it at Amazon, but at a higher price.
Small Stuffed Animals or Puppets
We love to sing songs with our stuffed animals. Kate’s favorite is her bunny puppet. We sing the following to the tune of “Grump Went the Little Green Frog”:
Yes, I know empty eggs sound boring, but honestly our daughter loved playing with them! I used the decorative kind that don’t come apart.
This year I’m going to fill a couple of eggs! Here are a few ideas for filling those eggs since jelly beans might not be in your tot’s diet!
Socks
Annie’s Bunnies (It’s like they are made just for Easter or something!) You can choose cheddar bunnies, graham cracker bunnies, or even fruit snack bunnies. You could also use goldfish, or whatever special treat your child likes. Even fresh fruit!
Play Dough–Homemade would be really fun! Just squish it into one side of the plastic egg.
Stickers
Egg Shakers–Fill eggs with rice and use decorative tape to keep closed. (Supervise your little ones with these.)
Remember the Meaning of Easter
I hope you’ve found an idea or two to use as you celebrate Easter with the babies and toddlers in your life! It’s easy to get overwhelmed with trying to create the perfect holiday for your children, so don’t feel pressured. Do what works for your family and don’t feel guilty if someone else seems to be doing more!
Remember that Easter is about the forgiveness and grace lavished on us through Jesus. Take time to worship God, and remind your kids how much Jesus loves them. Many years from now, that is the best memory your child could ever have of Easter.
What things have you done with your little ones this Easter season?
I am an Oklahoman by birth, a Texan by current living situation, but claim the world as my playground.I love to travel and hope to someday soon take our family on adventures to far off lands, where we can share God with others and experience all the wonders He has created.
I am a mother of 5 crazy, homeschooling children ages 10 & under, wife to an amazing man, and daughter of the King of the Universe!I enjoy reading, making my kids laugh, cooking, all things natural, learning to play guitar and dusting off my piano skills.One day I hope to run again, but until then I’m learning patience.
Disclosure: We have partnered with One Faith Boutique, in order to bring you an amazing giveaway that will encourage you in body & soul! Enjoy!
One of my favorite things to do is support fellow Christians in their business ventures, if possible. There are certain businesses, like One Faith Boutique, that get me excited about sharing what they do because sharing their faith is business as usual!
“One Faith Boutique is an online women’s clothing and accessories boutique with a mission to bless.”
When I heard that OFBwas opening a new store front, I had to go and see it.
What I saw impressed me more than words can say. They do not simply sell stylish and affordable clothes, they share their faith.From the first time you interact with them online or in the store, you will see that their faith is not hidden. It is obvious from the way they treat their customers, to the way they share their faith throughout the store and social media outlets, and even to how they share their faith beyond the purchase.
The Clothes
One Faith Boutique provides stylish, trendy and current clothes at affordable prices for all body types, ages and walks of life! Whatever your mood, you are sure to find something that fits and makes you feel beautiful. From jeans to rompers to dresses to graphic tees to adorable accessories, they’ve got something for every body.
Their sizes for teens and women range from size 2 -16. Recently, they even added a fantastic kids clothing section.
Two Ways to Shop
Shop online from the comfort of your own home, or head out to Main Street in Yukon, OK and visit their store front. It’s a family friendly store with a play area for your little ones and a man cave, in which your man can relax while you shop!
The man cave & the kids play area are in the back. This store has something for everyone to enjoy!
One of the first things that struck me as I roamed the store for the first time was that God’s word was literally sprinkled all over the store. Encouraging verses were displayed throughout the store, in the dressing rooms as little reminders of our worth, and even the sales tags attached to each clothing item have Hebrews 11:1 printed on them.
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
It was obvious that they couldn’t help but share their faith in the process of conducting business!
(Shopping Tip: Take advantage of their Markdown Mondays and their Flash Sale Fridays. They send out reminders to these promotions through their social media channels, so you’ll definitely want to connect with them via their Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and/or their Newsletter.)
Amazing Customer Service
It is evident by their growing online customer base and their online reviews that One Faith Boutique has stellar customer service. I experienced this myself when I went into the store after seeing a top on their Instagram feed that I wanted to purchase. Unfortunately, I had no idea what the sku# was. All I could tell them was,
“I’m looking for a white and black shirt with a 3/4 length sleeve and the model was standing in the gazebo at the park. And I’m pretty sure I saw it on Instagram but maybe it was Facebook.”
Instead of getting an eye roll and a “there’s no way we can find what your looking for based on that description, ” I was greeted with a positive attitude and a willingness to search the store until we found it. And guess what? We did find it and it fit perfectly! It took maybe 10 minutes of searching but even with my lousy description, there was a kind willingness to help me find what I was looking for. I so appreciated it.
But again, the service goes beyond finding the perfect thing to wear. It’s a service that touches the heart. Lara shares one of the most memorable experiences from their first week in business:
“I spent some time on the phone with a customer out of Edmond, Oklahoma this week and we were able to pray together. All I could think after that conversation is how blessed I am that this is how I get to spend my day. And, friends, God has big plans!”
This is one of my personal favorites from One Faith Boutique!
Beyond the Purchase
One Faith Boutique has a mission to bless. They bless those who come in the store and bless others they may never personally meet on this side of heaven. With every purchase made a donation is made as well! Donations are made to:
American Bible Society, which gives people access to the life changing message of God’s word.
&
My Stuff, which gives children separated from all they know something to hold on to.
They have a very generous spirit and are constantly gifting things to others.
And know they are gifting something to you!
In honor of our 1st birthday, One Faith Boutique is giving away a $50 gift certificate and 4 fabulous pieces of jewelry!
I am an Oklahoman by birth, a Texan by current living situation, but claim the world as my playground.I love to travel and hope to someday soon take our family on adventures to far off lands, where we can share God with others and experience all the wonders He has created.
I am a mother of 5 crazy, homeschooling children ages 10 & under, wife to an amazing man, and daughter of the King of the Universe!I enjoy reading, making my kids laugh, cooking, all things natural, learning to play guitar and dusting off my piano skills.One day I hope to run again, but until then I’m learning patience.
Disclosure: We have partnered with The Voice of the Martyrs, in order to bring you an amazing giveaway that will embolden you spiritually. Enjoy! This post may contain affiliate links.
Have you ever had a series of experiences that started to change your perspective until a shift happens and you never want to go back to the way you were before?
Because of what other’s have been honored to live through, my perspective has shifted. My hope today is that this post might be the start of a series of events that will do the same for you, especially in regards to persecution.
Persecution is an honor and a blessing! (This does not come from my own lips but from testimony after testimony of those who have lived through it.)
The 1st experience that Opened My Eyes
About 16 years ago, I was studying in Vienna, Austria with several others from my university. One night, I went to watch several of my friends sing where some refugees from across the middle east were staying. God worked it out and I ended up studying the Bible with a few of these refugees. I’ll never forget when Ali decided he wanted to become a Christian. We had only been studying for a handful of weeks, so I wanted to make sure he understood the commitment he was making. He looked me straight in the eyes and said,
“I know the sacrifice of becoming a Christian. If I ever return home, I will be killed.”
Ali had fled from Afghanistan.
From that moment on, I started to grasp that the persecution that happened to Jesus, the apostles and Jesus’ disciples in the New Testament was not confined to the times written about between the pages of the Bible.
Persecution is furiously alive, but the persecution only fans the flames of faith for those who love the Lord.
I have never had to even think about my life being threatened simply because I am a Christian, but for Ali and many others, it is an absolute reality of life. Choosing Jesus can mean choosing instant physical death.
Giving a Voice to the Persecuted – The Voice of the Martyrs
The Voice of the Martyrs was founded by Richard Wurmbrand, who himself was imprisoned for 14 years in a Romanian prison because he refused to keep silent about the complete truth of Christ and choose not to exalt the communist government and allow them control over the churches.
As a preacher and disciple of Christ, he encouraged worshipers to gather in his family’s home and preached the truth. Even while he was in prison, he never allowed the torture and the beatings to deter him from the only thing that can set us all free. While in solitary confinement, he was able to communicate with a prisoner next door via Morse Code and led that prisoner to Christ. Later, Richard had the opportunity to be in the same cell with this man and learned that man had been a former communist who had done many bad things, but was now saved by God’s grace!
Isn’t it amazing to think that in the deepest, darkest dungeons of prisons throughout the world, the Lord is working?
The courage and the hope Richard had in Jesus Christ sustained him to never waiver in his faith. And more than that, it encouraged and inspired others to follow the Lord, who could give a soul such strength and peace! Even now, it instills courage in the hearts of other Christians when they hear his story and so many other stories that are like it.
The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) upon Hebrews 13:3:
Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
VOM gives a voice to the many persecuted believers so we can know how better to pray for and help them. It also encourages us to seek God’s will and seek opportunities to share the gospel boldly with people around us!
Blessing and Honor in the midst of the Persecuted?
At first, it was hard to understand how one could feel like persecution was a blessing, but that is why it is so important to listen to the stories of those who have been persecuted. To see how God works in these moments to bring about miracles and courage and hope so that these trails are seen as an honor and blessing.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
– Jesus, Matthew 5:11-12
I can’t really explain it any other way than to say it is awe inspiring and you must listen to these stories yourself! God is amazing in how He brings other prisoners, guards and witnesses of persecution to Him through these persecuted experiences. This stories will help reshape your heart and thought process about what living for Christ looks like!
That is why we are so thrilled to be able to partner up with The Voice of the Martyrs to give you a chance to win this “i am n” curriculum. It is set up as a small group study and will encourage your heart to boldness as you see how God is working in the lives of persecuted Christians.
This engaging video curriculum presents true stories of Christians facing Islamic extremists around the world. Ideal for small groups, campus ministries and churches, the I Am N Curriculum Kit includes
the I Am N book,
a participant’s guide,
a facilitator’s guide and
a 6-session DVD.
Each 15-minute video includes interviews with persecuted Christians as well as commentary and teaching by leaders from The Voice of the Martyrs and other leading missions organizations. As you explore the six themes of sacrifice, courage, joy, perseverance, forgiveness and faithfulness, you will be inspired to grow deeper in your relationship with Christ and witness with boldness and joy to your friends, family and co-workers.
https://youtu.be/DjaNu7LxHqM
“We have lost everything but have gained Christ and that gave us a joy!”
What can you do to help?
Pray!
Use VOM’s Prayer Map to learn more about the restricted, hostile, and monitered countriers.
I love VOM. After reading their book Tortured for Christ by the found Richard Wurmbrand I was so convicted in how easy it is to be a Christian in America. We whine about things like not having time to sit and read our Bibles or wishing we had the money for such and such. Truly, we are abundantly rich in every way. We have Bible studies, churches everywhere, 3 meals plus snacks and desserts everyday!
I really felt what he went through and took it personally. Living without the freedom to worship, being beaten and imprisoned, practically starving…. he would’ve done anything to have what we have. Or would he?? He willingly went back to continually reach the lost for Christ. I couldn’t “un-know” what he went through.
VOM is built around people like that and helping them. They support the persecuted who live in incredibly dangerous situations, as well as the families of martyrs. How could I not want to be a part of that?! We started giving monthly to VOM after that. Every month we receive a newsletter about what VOM is doing across the globe and ways we can help both financially and tangibly. It’s an honor to support their mission! – Ashley M.
God’s grace is what carries us all through and gives us the ability to stand tall and courageous in the face of extreme situations. Like the first martyr, Stephen, fixing his gaze intently on Jesus in heaven while being stoned, we too can fix our eyes on Jesus and trust that God will provide for us even in the worst of physical times.
Giveaway
This giveaway has ended but check out these great resources.
Enter now for your chance to win the “i am n” curriculum discussed above.
I am an Oklahoman by birth, a Texan by current living situation, but claim the world as my playground.I love to travel and hope to someday soon take our family on adventures to far off lands, where we can share God with others and experience all the wonders He has created.
I am a mother of 5 crazy, homeschooling children ages 10 & under, wife to an amazing man, and daughter of the King of the Universe!I enjoy reading, making my kids laugh, cooking, all things natural, learning to play guitar and dusting off my piano skills.One day I hope to run again, but until then I’m learning patience.
Disclaimer: We have partnered with The Tummy Team, in order to bring you a great giveaway that you will benefit from physically, mentally, emotionally & spiritually. We have used personally used The Tummy Team in our own healing journey. All opinions are 100% ours. Enjoy!
If you can answer yes to any of these question, then you need to read on!
Do you exercise?
Do you do crunches to get rid of the belly that won’t go away?
Are you pregnant?
Have you been pregnant?
Do you plan on having a C-section or abdominal surgery?
Do you look pregnant but aren’t?
Do you have back or belly pain?
Do you sit or bend over a lot?
Do you accidentally wet yourself and can’t do certain activities because of it?
Do you have an outie for a belly button?
Are you a female or male? (This can affect both!)
Are you going to have abdominal surgery?
Even if you haven’t answered yes to any of these, yet, this is info YOU NEED TO KNOW. Why? Because I DID NOT KNOW this. I didn’t know the warning signs or that this was even possible. So I continued on in my “no pain, no gain” mentality and missed what my body was trying to tell me.
I Want You to Know because I Didn’t Know
I went from a runner to a mother who could barely walk without major pain after her 4th child was born because I DIDN’T KNOW and ended up hurting myself because I DIDN’T KNOW any better.
BUT now YOU CAN KNOW! And if you are facing this now or ever do in the future, YOU WILL KNOW where to turn to heal your body!
My Story
A few years ago all of a sudden my body was not working but I didn’t know what to do, other than exercise to try and get back into shape! And NONE of that worked. It just kept getting worse.
The Realization of Why my Body wasn’t Working
I couldn’t figure out what in the world was going on and one day, while I was talking to my Pilates instructor, who was pre & post natal certified, She asked,
I replied, “I’ve never even heard of that. What is it?”
She stated, “It’s when your abs muscles separate. Go home and self test and see if you have it.”
So after self-testing, I realized that yes indeed, I had Diastasis Recti. (Watch the video below to learn how to self-test.)
They determine the level of severity based on how many fingers you can fit between your abs and how far you can push down. Normal is 0-1 fingers, but at the time, I could fit my whole first in between my abs and push down quit a bit!
What is Diastis Recti?
It’s a separation of the abdominal muscles.
I was so thrilled to finally KNOW what was wrong, but now had to figure out how to fix it! I immediately called my doctor, who sent me to physical therapy without hesitation.
My first go round with physical therapy actually hurt me a little more than helped. The second therapist I tried had helped others with Diastasis Recti, but our schedules didn’t mesh at all, so I was stuck at home trying to work on what I had gleaned from these therapists and not doing very well.
THEN, I Found the Tummy Team!
So after becoming frustrated and not getting any better, I began researching. I found a blog post about Diastasis Recti written by a lady who was sharing her personal experience. She had been able to retrain her muscles so that she didn’t suffer from Diastasis Recti anymore.And she did it from her very own living room with the help of The Tummy Team!
What I love about The Tummy Team
1. My Body started to heal because of what The Tummy Team teaches!
After working with The Tummy Team’s online courses on and off for the past year and a half and using the techniques they provided, my Diastasis Recti has gone from being able to insert my entire first to only 3 fingers! But better than that my core is strong and I can do amazing things like jumping and chasing after my kids again!
I cried the first time I was able to chase my kids again. It was such a momentous occasion.
And if I happen to do something stupid, like play Wipe Out on huge inflatables (don’t judge), then I KNOW what I need to do when I hurt myself again!
2. For those you can’t make it into their office in Washington, they have online courses!
Being able to watch an online session at any time of day or night, was just what this busy momma of 4 who lived in Oklahoma needed.
3. The Online Courses are Affordable!
I was amazed that an entire online course was less than what I was paying for one rehab session!
4. They teach you techniques that you can use in everyday life!
Because I had the “No pain, No Gain” mentality as an athlete, I have had the opportunity to go to rehab therapy multiple times. What I loved about The Tummy Team’s program is that instead of just teaching you how to engage your muscles while you are laying down on the therapy table, they teach you how to engage your muscles during the course of life.
My family leads a very busy, nonstop life, so being able to take the concepts that I learned in the online course and use them while I was driving, in the shower, playing and lifting my kids, sitting on the floor and reading to them, and even while working, truly made all the difference.
5. They explain how your body works and why engaging your core is so important.
Did you know that we were all gifted with a God-given corset? Yes, it’s called the transverse muscles. In fact they are the only set of muscles that wrap around your entire body. They hold all the organs within your upper body together. So if your transverse muscles are weak, then they can no longer hold all those organs in place and now your body has to work extra hard to compensate for it and your energy is used up faster.
Then, there is your pelvic floor, which if strong and engaged, holds everything up in the body nicely by acting as the floor to the corset.
Through this program I learned that I not only had Diastisis Recti but also learned that my pelvic floor had dropped. This is why I hurt so badly and had problems walking and running.
6. They teach that no amount of crunches will get that belly that looks pregnant back under control.
The transverse muscles are the muscles that allow our bellies to stretch out when we are pregnant. When these muscles become weak due to pregnancy, working out or in the normal course of moving through life, they begin to not be as tight a corset as before. If we do exercises like crunches, we can actually make them weaker because crunches cause them to pull apart more.
Yikes! I did so many crunches and cross training workouts when trying to get back into shape. I KNOW now that only made my Diastasis Recti worse. Who knew? I sure didn’t but now YOU KNOW!
7. They teach us how to love our bellies.
I don’t know about you but I found myself becoming very upset with how I looked. I was frustrated that I looked 6 months pregnant when I wasn’t. Kelly challenged me to rethink these thoughts and appreciate what my body has endured. My body has served me well. I have 4 beautiful children and have put it through so much in my 37 years. If I’m going to heal my transverse abdominals then I needed to emotionally connect with them again and love my body.
8. Last but not least, The Tummy Team “Team”- Kelly & Gillian
is led by Kelly Dean, a physical therapist specializing in the rehabilitation of the internal muscles of the abdominals and back, and Gillian, a core rehabilitation and pelvic care specialist.
These two amazing ladies have lived through this same thing, have healed their bodies and now are helping others do the same! They understand that this is more than just physical. It is mentally and emotionally draining as well. KNOWING this, they not only work on healing the physical side but encouraging healing on the emotional side as well.
Kelly pictured above & Gillian pictured below are educating women how to understand their bodies and strengthen their cores.
New Habits to Strengthen our Cores
When we, in the normal course of living, stretch the transverse muscles either through exercise, positioning our bodies incorrectly, pregnancy, etc, we have to learn new habits and ways of engaging our bodies so that they can function the way God intended. And that is exactly what The Tummy Team does!
Giveaway
Check out their list of online courses and see how they can help you! Sign up below for your chance to win YOUR CHOICE of any one of these online courses.
1 person will win an online course of their choice & 3 will win a 40% discount to any one of the courses! How awesome is that?
Core Foundations is designed for anyone with core weakness, low back pain, diastasis recti, pelvic floor weakness or just a poorly functioning core. Core Foundations builds the foundational strength of the internal corset muscles and gradually integrates that essential strength into your everyday life.
This program is also our recommended program for women recovering from birth.
Core Integrations is the next step of your rehab journey. When you have restored your core and are ready to challenge those muscles in a new way, this program takes the foundational core strength you learned to the next level.
The prerequisite for this program is either personal clinic work with The Tummy Team, Core Foundations or Prenatal Core Training.
Prenatal Core Training is designed to help expecting women prepare their abdominal wall and pelvic floor for pregnancy, labor, delivery and birth recovery. The Prenatal Core Training Online Program will systematically and safely help you rebuild the internal core muscles and then effectively prepare the pelvic floor for delivery.
This is a perfect program for any expecting mom and is especially popular with women who had difficult previous deliveries, c-sections or excessive tearing and want a better experience. This program is also very helpful for women who have a diastasis and are now pregnant and do not want the separation to become worse.
This condensed version of PCT includes the essential information our Core Rehab Specialists™ would give a client if they could only be seen for one session. The course will provide clear background education about the anatomy of the core, the role of the core in labor and delivery, and step by step exercises to help you prepare for effective pushing and birth recovery.
This is a perfect program for expecting moms that do not have much time before delivery but still want to prepare physically for birth.
The Core Preparations for Cesarean birth is a 4-week online program helps expecting moms prepare physically for a planned cesarean birth. The strength of the core and optimal awareness of alignment during pregnancy and birth recovery can make all the difference in your birth experience.
This program is great combination of the information from our Core Preparations (for abdominal surgery) and our Prenatal Core Training program. It includes specific information for C-section birth preparation and birth recovery, and provides you with an effective and realistic post-partum plan.
The Core Preparations for abdominal surgery is a 4-week online program helps clients prepare for abdominal surgery. The strength of the core and awareness of alignment and optimal movement are key to helping clients recover from abdominal surgery. Preparing the muscles and body prior to surgery can prevent so many complications.
This program is great to prepare physically for any surgery but we specifically see clients with hernia repairs, hysterectomy, bowel resections, back surgery, scoliosis surgery, tummy tucks, gastric bypass, gall bladder surgery and more. This program is beneficial whether you are having a full incision or a laproscopic procedure.
I am an Oklahoman by birth, a Texan by current living situation, but claim the world as my playground.I love to travel and hope to someday soon take our family on adventures to far off lands, where we can share God with others and experience all the wonders He has created.
I am a mother of 5 crazy, homeschooling children ages 10 & under, wife to an amazing man, and daughter of the King of the Universe!I enjoy reading, making my kids laugh, cooking, all things natural, learning to play guitar and dusting off my piano skills.One day I hope to run again, but until then I’m learning patience.
Disclosure: We have partnered with Family Time Training, in order to bring you a great giveaway that your family will benefit from spiritually. We have used these Bible Activities in our own family and all opinions are 100% ours. Enjoy!
God is fun and creative! He has provided so many ways for us to dig into His Word so it will plant in our hearts and grow! Sometimes, we mistakenly think that having a Bible study has to be boring. Family Time Training proves this myth wrong.
If you were anything like my husband and I when we first had children, we wondered how in the world we were going to teach them Bible principles at home. We started with songs and bible stories from children’s bibles.
Then we found Family Time Training and it gave us an amazing tool in our Bible teaching toolbelt. Like God, it’s fun and creative and helps God’s Word stick in our kids’ hearts. Not to mention ours as well.
What’s so great about Family Time Training?
1. They do all the planning for you.
Yes, all you have to do is pull out a lesson, read over it, gather the materials and you are ready to go. They even put in bold the main phrases parents should say, so it makes preparing for a Bible lesson very easy, especially if you don’t have time to prepare a Bible lesson during the week.
2. It helps bring your family together so you can plant the Word of God in their hearts!
Sometimes, the hardest part of studying the Bible with our kids is just getting in the habit of doing it. Family Time Training suggests picking one night a week that you have an easy dinner so you can quickly come together afterwards and have fun studying the Bible. Of course, you can always choose to do it another time, like on a Saturday afternoon or whatever suits your family best.
3. They make it FUN!
Yes, fun and studying the Bible can go together. It doesn’t have to be dry and boring. With Family Time Training’s activities your kids will not only have fun but they will learn about the Bible in such a way that sticks.
4. Lessons that Stick
Because the lessons have fun activities, kids typically remember them more easily. We could be driving down the street and a topic comes up. In trying to relate it back to God’s word, it’s easy to say,
“Hey, do you remember when we wrapped you up in toilet paper (or did such and such activity)?
Do you remember which character in the Bible you were pretending to be when we wrapped you in toilet paper? Yes, Lazarus.
Well, did Lazarus need help getting unwrapped? Yes!
Why? Because he couldn’t do it by himself.
Your right and there are times in life when we can’t do things by ourselves. From whom should we ask for help? Right! God.
5. Easy to find exactly what you need!
Family Time Training does have physical workbooks for all ages, but my personal favorite is their Total Access. Total Access is an electronic database that allows you to search through over 300 activities in seconds to find the perfect one you need.
Do you want to do a Bible lesson on Abraham? Just type in his name. Or maybe you want to find a lesson that will help a certain child with a bad habit…type it in and voilà, there it is.
Watch how easy this is….
6 – Very Affordable!
Total Access so awesome and easy to fit into the budget. For only $6/month or $60/year, you can quickly access as many activities as your family needs. A congregation can even purchase a yearly membership for $400, which allows ALL of it’s members unlimited access to the activities.
Yes, Family Time Training’s goal is to make it easy and affordable for family’s to be able to teach their kids Biblical principles and values in the home!
FREE gift for you!
The Chocolate Milk Activity
Family Time Training graciously agreed to give you my favorite Bible activity to for free! There are many reasons why the following activity is my favorite:
#1 – It introduces kids to the “stirring” of the Holy Spirit and how He acts in our lives. Truly, how many of us as adult have a difficult time explaining to other adults about how the Holy Spirit works, let alone explaining it to our children?
#2 – It uses chocolate milk! And come on, who doesn’t like an activity that involves chocolate milk.
Sign up right now, to get a FREE activity in your email box every month.
Team Curriculum
Family Time Training has also developed a fantastic team curriculum for training groups of people who are passionate about investing in the lives of children and passing their faith on to the next generation.
The Lord our God, the Lord is one.Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates. (emphasis added)
Family Time’s activities make this goal of teaching our children and pouring God’s wisdom into their hearts easy and fun!
