For Everything There is a Season....A Time to Love

Two of our very own group members (and homeschool moms) shared a wonderful presentation with us today. They spoke about the 8 different types of "smarts" and how we can recognize and develop these "smarts" in our children. The 8 different types of "smarts" are: word, logic, picture, music, body, nature, people, and self. To learn more and view the slideshow, please click HERE.

Our speakers also shared a list of fun places to visit with your kiddos this summer!

• Word Smart
• Ten Chimneys (living museum for acting) - Waukesha
• Bookworm Gardens - Sheboygan

• Logic Smart
• Paper Discover Center
• Barlow Planetarium
• SC Johnson Tour
• Widmar's Cheese cellar tour
• Spinning Top & yo-yo museum; Logic puzzle museum
• Palermo's Pizza factory tour

• Picture Smart 
• Legoland Discovery Center - Schaumburg
• Creative License - Hartford
• Haggerty Museum of Art - Milwaukee
• Museum of Wisconsin Art - West Bend
• Cedarburg Cultural Center
• Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum

• Music Smart
• Schauer Center - Hartford
• Music in the Park
• Discovery World - Milwaukee

•  Body Smart
• Playground
• Hiking/biking trails
• Jumpzone, Helium, Jumping Country, Monkey Joes, Flabbergast
• Rock climbing - Devils Lake, Adventure Rock

•  Nature Smart
• Lyndon B. Sculpture Park
• Petting Farms - Mulbery Lane Farm, Green Meadows
• Woodland Dunes Nature Center
• Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary
• Horicon Marsh
• Nieman Orchards
• Honey Acres - Ashippun

•  People Smart
• Ozaukee County Pioneer Village

If you would like to learn more about this topic, you can read the book 8 Great Smarts.

We hope you have a GREAT summer!! Don't forget about our Fro Yo Tour; it will be a great chance to get out of the house for a bit and connect with some fellow MOI moms.

Hope to see you again at our MOI Kick Off in the fall!!!!

Mother's Day

Our speaker, Ingrid, shared how being a mom takes "great faith". She used the story of Moses' mother to show how we can have faith and trust in God's perfect timing and plan.
To hear Ingrid's message, click HERE.

"So do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:10
 

Love Does Not Envy

We did something a bit different for this meeting.  Instead of a live speaker, we watched a video on the topic of comparison.

If you are stuck in the "trap" of comparison and need some helpful, practical advice on how to get out, check out this VIDEO.

Remember, God designed each of us a certain way on purpose.  He made us and shaped our experiences.  We are DEEPLY loved!!!

Love Never Fails

Our speaker shared a wonderful message preparing us all for Easter.  What are you SEARCHING for?  Are you searching for Jesus?  If so, WHERE are you looking for him?  

Follow this LINK to hear more!

"If we search for Him, we will find Him." 1 Chr. 28:9

Love Always Hopes

Today, our speaker shared her personal experience of having a child who struggled with substance abuse.  She also offered valuable advice about what moms can do when their children are struggling.

1) Get serious about  prayer and make the Bible your life-line
Our speaker shared how she really forged a friendship and created a climate of honesty with God.  She invited God in to her life and problems and spent a lot of time in prayer.  She cried out to God and was not afraid to ask the hard questions.

2) Get Humble
Panic can put us in "uber-control" mode. We need to understand that God is everywhere and that HE is in control.  Instead of "sitting in the wings" and whispering suggestions to God, we need to sit in the audience and watch God work.

3) Get Help for Yourself
A child in crisis is a family in crisis. Often times we want to get despondent, isolate ourselves, and lose ourselves in the problem.  It can be easy to play the victim.  But we need to understand that the only person we can change is our self.

4) Get Rid of the "Why?"
When facing a crisis/struggle in our family, we need to deal with the situation at hand.  It doesn't really matter how it all started.  Knowing the "why" may not help deal with or solve the problem.

If you would like to learn more about our speaker, her story, and her ministry, you can check out the following resources:

www.JustKeepGoingParents.com
 Facebook page: Just Keep Going Parents
Twitter: @KeepGoingParent https://twitter.com/keepgoingparent
Book

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up;
 the flames will not consume you. 
 For I am the Lord, your God,
 the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Isaiah 43:2-3 (NLT) 

We Love Because You First Loved Us

Today, Northbrook's Children's Pastor and Northbrook's Pastor of Student Ministries answered some of our most popular questions about raising children.  Here are some of the questions and answers that were addressed:

1. How can we help to grow/mature our children's faith?

•  Parents are the primary influence in a kid's spiritual life
• Parents need to model/be the example
• Find opportunities for your children to practice their faith
• Widen your circle: have other adults in your life that kids can emulate and learn from
• Be Honest: share where you are in your own faith and about your doubts and struggles 

      2. How can we find balance for our family?

• Prioritize
• Remember that "more isn't better!"
• It's okay to say no!
• Schedule important things (family time, dates, etc)

      3. What type of Bible should I buy for my child?

• Toddler age: Bible app for kids
• 1st grade: NIRV
• 5th/6th grade reading level: NLT
• Older children/teens: a good study bible
• Start reading to them as infants/toddlers
• As they start reading on their own, read with them and model how to read the Bible
• Once they are older, you don't have to read with them, but should check in with them and ask questions like "What is God teaching you?"

      4. How/When should I talk with my children about sex?

• Have honest, open communication about it from the time your kids are little
• It shouldn't be a one-time conversation
• Have the conversation with your child BEFORE his/her school does
• Book suggestion: Teaching Your Children Healthy Sexuality
• Book suggestion: A Chicken's Guide to Talking Turkey with Your Kids About Sex

     5. What can you do about friends that you consider bad influences?

•  Make your home the "fun home"
• Carefully "vet" your child's CLOSE friends
• Remember: Iron sharpens Iron
• Our kids can be a light to others on sports teams, in clubs, at school, etc.