10 Tips for Overcoming Fear for Your Kids’ Well-Being

Do you stay awake worrying about your kids? Even when they are safe in bed? It seems like there is so much more to worry about these days.

As a parent of five, one who is driving and another one about to drive, I've dealt with lots of fear over my kids' safety. In fact, I know my fear has kept my kids from doing some pretty great things in the past. One of my biggest regrets is not pursuing my oldest son's interest in a mission trip to Honduras. Instead of helping him figure out how to make it happen, I voiced my fears and he dropped the issue. The pain of regret is lasting.

My friend and author, Grace Fox has faced fear head-on, and has some really great helps for those of us who deal with fear. In fact, she's written an entire book on dealing with fear, called "Moving From Fear to Freedom." Today, Grace is sharing some specific tips for mom on dealing with fear.

10 Tips for Overcoming the Fear for Your Kids’ Well-Being
By Grace Fox

1. When it’s a safety issue, take necessary precautions and then let them go with a positive send-off and a little prayer. Be careful what you say – fearful moms breed fearful kids.

2. Tell God how you feel. (Remember – He already knows, anyway!)

3. Tell a friend who will pray for/with you. You’re not alone!

4. Refuse to dwell on the fearful thoughts and what-ifs. Instead…

5. Fill your mind with the truth of God’s Word. Focus on His promises rather than on your fears.

6. Praise God for who He is. Fear fades when we understand His character.

7. Pray for your child’s spiritual well-being. For example, ask God to grant him the “fear of the Lord,” for that’s where wisdom begins. Ask God to give him the strength to resist temptation, and to catch him when he doesn’t resist.

8. Pray for the spiritual well-being of your child’s friends. Invite them to your home, and get to know their parents.

9. Actively encourage your children’s spiritual growth through age-appropriate Christian magazines, DVDs, music CDs, and regular (fun-filled) family devotions.

10. Get involved in a ministry geared for moms. Examples include Proverbs 31, MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), MIT (Moms in Touch), and Hearts at Home.

Here's some more about Grace:

Grace Fox is a popular speaker at international women’s events and the author of four books including Moving From Fear to Freedom: A Woman’s Guide to Peace in Every Situation and the devotional 10-Minute Time Outs for You and Your Kids. She’s also the national co-director of International Messengers Canada, a ministry that offers creative short-term and career ministry opportunities in Eastern Europe. Grace and her husband have three grown children and two grandchildren. Read more about Grace at http://www.gracefox.com/. She can be reached by e-mail at grace@gracefox.com.

In His Love,

Glynnis

Tips for Hospitality at the Holidays (and a giveaway)

The contest to win Karen Ehman's book is now closed. Congratulations to "shutterhappyhope" for winning!

I'd like to introduce you to one of the most organized, hospitable women I know: Karen Ehman. Karen is on the speakers team at Proverbs 31 Ministries, has written four books, and is in demand across the country to speak at women's groups. In addition to all that she is a loving wife and the busy mom of three.

Today, Karen has agreed to share some of her tips for taking hospitality on the road, and showing God's love to those around you. And she's giving away her book,

Heartfelt Holidays

by Karen Ehman

Well…can you believe it? Only seven weeks left until the kick-off of the holiday season. There will be presents to purchase, cookies to bake, a house to decorate and plenty of company to host.

While this festive time of year provides lots of opportunities for offering welcome in your home, why not look for ways to be hospitable on the road as you go about your daily days of life? The holidays are often a stressful, even lonely time for many. What can you do to sprinkle some cheer (and a extra dose of Christ’s love) to those you will see while you are out and about running your holiday errands?

Plenty! If you are intentional, you can seek to practice seemingly random but purposefully planned acts of kindness.

Here are some ideas for blessing others during the upcoming celebratory season. Please leave a comment telling us any of your ideas too. One sweet bloggy friend will be chosen to receive a signed copy of my book A Life That Says Welcome: Simple Ways to Open Your Heart and Home to Others.

Hospitality on the Road Ideas

• Bake cookies for the break room at the local department store on the day after Thanksgiving when the store is swamped. Leave a thank-you note praising the employees’ hard work around the holidays. What a sharp contrast to the 50 customers they encountered earlier in the day screaming because they ran out of the latest electronic gadget that was advertised!

• Take hot cocoa to the charity bell-ringers who stand on the street corners and in front of the malls in town.

• Scrape windshields in the grocery store parking lot on a very snowy day. Or clean them if you live where it doesn't snow. Busy moms with their groceries in tow will be thrilled to have a clean and safe view of the road as they head for home. Leave a little note that reads, “Random acts of kindness. Pass it on.”

• Hang a thermos of hot cider on the mailbox for the mail carrier.

• My kids’ favorite—leave a plate of freshly baked brownies out in a covered container for the garbage men!

• Think of those who have recently lost a loved one and are facing their first Christmas alone. Include them in your family’s activities like attending your kids’ Christmas program at school or church. Or take a crock-pot of homemade soup and some fresh baked muffins to their house one night and help them decorate their home or address their Christmas cards. Offer to take them holiday shopping and out to lunch. It will touch their hearts to be included in your busy family’s activities at this often isolating time of year.

• Remember those who must work on the holidays in the hospital or at the police or fire station. Take them a platter of fresh vegetables and dip or assorted cheeses and crackers. Don’t forget a few cookies or some holiday fudge! Include some artwork crafted by your children depicting them in their various roles. Thank them for their service to the community, even on a day when most people are home with their loved ones.

• Adopt a Christmas family. Contact a local agency to get the name and address of a needy family. If possible, choose one that has children near the same age as yours. Shop for clothing, food, and toys for them. Deliver your items as a family. Try to keep in touch with them throughout the year with an occasional note or card.

The holidays are a perfect time of year to model for our children how to love others, even strangers! So get your creative caps on and venture out as a family to bless and be blessed! You’ll be so delighted you did!

Okay - now that you've read Karen's tips, let's hear it from you. Please post an idea for your favorite way to show hospitality during the holidays. On Thursday, we'll pick a random winner. Please make sure we have a way to contact you.

To read more from Karen, please visit her blog at: http://karenehman.com/home/

To purchase any of her books, please click here.

Reading these great tips for loving others during the holidays almost makes me shiver ... not from the cold (as it's 104 degrees here in Phoenix) but from anticipation of Thanksgiving and Christmas!

In His Love,

Glynnis

Tips for Making Money from Home

Today I have a devotion running in Encouragement for Today on being a financially productive woman. Welcome to those of you who have found your way to my blog after reading the devotion.

If you visited my blog last week, and read this on Friday, you aren't seeing double. I goofed and posted on the wrong week. Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself, or you'd cry. That's what happened to me. But in my mistake, I was able to receive encouragement from readers - and I was able to pray for others like me who occasionally feel overwhelmed. You can read about my mix up here.

In any case, here are my thoughts on making money at home that actually do coincide with a devotion (I hope).

I believe there are many families saving money in amazing ways. We can all benefit from ways to save money. But sometimes that’s not enough. In those cases, perhaps the option is to make money.

Here are some ideas for home-based businesses you can start with little money. These may not replace your income in the beginning, but they will provide your family with some extra spending cash.

This list is only to give you a launching pad for ideas. It is my prayer that when you see an idea, it will spark another idea of something similar that fits your personality, experience, skills, spiritual gifting, and so on. I believe God has already gifted you for this … it just may take some time for Him to reveal the right business for you.

Here are some ideas:

1. Buying and reselling retail items on E-bay or Amazon. I’ve had two friends do this successfully. One buys and resells coins, and the other sells purses. The keys here are to know your product, so you know what is of value, and buy it at a really good discount. Also, buying retail means you have already paid sales tax so you do not need a license to resell it.

2. Making a unique item and selling it. Be sure to check into a business and tax license for this. You can sell this item in several ways: craft sales, existing Internet sales avenues like E-bay or your own website. For an affordable store option check out http://www.smallbusiness.yahoo.com/ or http://www.merchantmoms.com/.

3. Creating Unique Gift Baskets.

4. A lunch delivery service to businesses. Create a menu with some amazing sandwiches and salads and go door-to-door. You will need special licenses for this.

5. Estate sale organizing and pricing.

6. One-on-one sports training. There aren’t too many people doing this for girls.

7. Blog designs. Everyone I know who does this has more business than they can handle. Include a maintenance plan, and you’ll be very busy helping technically challenged folks like me.

8. Children’s party planner

9. Dog obedience training. (If you start this in Phoenix, and can make a Husky walk – not run – call me).

10. A direct-sales businesses. These can be started with very little money. Just make sure it’s something you actually love, and you are sure to be successful. Make sure the company you consider is a member of the Direct Selling Association (http://www.dsa.org/) . They’ve also got a list of their members, which can give you some GREAT ideas.

My husband and I run two home-based businesses. He runs a consulting company, and I run http://www.roselanecottage.com/. We’ve been doing this for almost four years and love it. If you’d like to read more about working from home, I’ve written a book on the subject. And for devotion readers, I’ve dropped the price to $8.99. Here’s a link: http://www.roselanecottage.com/book1.html. The shipping will come up at $6.85, but I’ll discount that to $3.00 once I receive the order.

May God bless you in your journey to work at home. I’m confident He will provide a way. He always does.

In His Love,



Glynnis

Tips for Reaching Out to Your Neighbors

Have you ever wished you could reach out to your neighbors, and share the love of God with them? I have. Seems my contact with most of my neighbors is reduced to a wave and an occassional chat about weeds in the grass.

My friend Wendy Blight, shared a great idea with me that I'd like to share with you. And that's to start a neighborhood Bible study. You never know who is sitting in her home today wishing someone friendly would call or knock on her door. What if it was you, with an invitation to come over for coffee and some positive discussion about life and hope?

Wendy inspires everyone she knows, with her gentleness and her love of God. She's a gifted speaker and an author of the book, "Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner: The Transforming Power of God's Story." I know if Wendy invited me to join her for a study, I'd be there as fast as I could put my shoes on. I hope you enjoy Wendy's tips today. If you do, please let her know.


Tips on Starting a Neighborhood Bible Study

"All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:18a-20a.

These were some of Jesus' final words spoken to His disciples, and this message still applies for us today.

So often we think these commissioning words mean we have to sacrifice all our earthly goods and travel to the far ends of the earth. In reality, however, Christ calls us to share the Gospel wherever He leads us, and for women like you and me, it is usually in our own backyards.

God has given each of us a corner of the world. In this appointed time and place He calls us to radiate God in our lives with how live...our actions, our speech, our entire way of life. And He directs us to spur one another on ... to reach out into the lives of the women around us and simply show them Jesus. How do we do that without risking rejection or the possibility of being judged a religious fanatic?

Six years ago, I found myself in that place. I wanted to reach out to the women in my neighborhood, but I was scared and overwhelmed. I had no idea where to begin. With the help of a precious friend who had the same passion, we stepped out in faith and started a neighborhood Bible study. We began with...

Gathering for prayer - praying for the Lord to draw the women He wanted to bring

Creating a mission statement - bringing focus to our study

Creating a plan of action - target audience/location/schedule, and,

Extending an invitation.

God did the rest. He drew twelve women to our study. From there we came up with...


Creating a covenant - encouraging accountability and commitment

Creating small group guidelines - simple rules on how to successfully run a small group, and,

Deciding on a curriculum - choosing an inspirational book or book of the Bible to study.


That was six years ago. We began our seventh year last Friday with 80 women!!!!

That sweet friends is God honoring His promise that "blessings follow obedience!"

If any of you desire to reach out and start a Bible study in your neighborhood, please don't hesitate to contact me via my blog, www.wendyblight.com, and leave a comment. I am more than happy to share in more detail the steps in this post and the tools we have put together. I am currently working on putting a kit together to help women like you and me accomplish this great call Jesus has placed on our lives.

My thanks to Wendy for sharing this encouraging message.

In His Love,

Glynnis

A Case of Being Mixed Up

Have you ever had one of those weeks, (months or years) where you are just struggling to keep your head above water? To be honest, that's where I'm at.

So if you are vising from Encouragement Today, where you read about the six most dangerous words, you know I've got something mixed up. In fact, all week I've thought it was next week. Does that mean next week will be a bonus week ? There has to be a bright side.

I told my Proverbs 31 friends that I feel like I'm in the washing machine spin cycle, but then I get taken out and put in the dryer to spin ... with the addition of heat. It's in these times of pressure when truth is often revealed about character.

A wise pastor once said that you know you have victory over something in your life, when you are surprised by it and then see how you react. I believe we also see (or don't see) victory when we are exhaused by the constancy of pressure and stress. So the message of my devotion today is even more applicable.

If you find yourself in a similar mixed up situation, or just hanging on, I'd love for you to post something on my blog to let me know how I can pray for you.

And if you find yourself in a place of strength, would you post some encouraging words or Bible verse?

I believe God is using blogs to connect His people in amazing ways. Today, I'd like to see that in action.

In His Love,

Glynnis

Tips for Making Extra Money from Home

Today I have a devotion running in Encouragement for Today on being a financially productive woman. Welcome to those of you who have found your way to my blog after reading the devotion.

I believe there are many families saving money in amazing ways. We can all benefit from ways to save money. But sometimes that’s not enough. In those cases, perhaps the option is to make money.

I promised to share some ideas for home-based businesses you can start with little money. These may not replace your income in the beginning, but they will provide your family with some extra spending cash.

This list is only to give you a launching pad for ideas. It is my prayer that when you see an idea, it will spark another idea of something similar that fits your personality, experience, skills, spiritual gifting, and so on. I believe God has already gifted you for this … it just may take some time for Him to reveal the right business for you.

Here are some ideas:

1. Buying and reselling retail items on E-bay or Amazon. I’ve had two friends do this successfully. One buys and resells coins, and the other sells purses. The keys here are to know your product, so you know what is of value, and buy it at a really good discount. Also, buying retail means you have already paid sales tax so you do not need a license to resell it.

2. Making a unique item and selling it. Be sure to check into a business and tax license for this. You can sell this item in several ways: craft sales, existing Internet sales avenues like E-bay or your own website. For an affordable store option check out http://www.smallbusiness.yahoo.com/ or http://www.merchantmoms.com/.

3. Creating Unique Gift Baskets

4. A lunch delivery service to businesses. Create a menu with some amazing sandwiches and salads and go door-to-door. You will need special licenses for this.

5. Estate sale organizing

6. One-on-one sports training. There aren’t too many people doing this for girls.

7. Blog designs. Everyone I know who does this has more business than they can handle. Include a maintenance plan, and you’ll be very busy.

8. Children’s party planner

9. Dog obedience training. (If you start this in Phoenix, and can make a Husky walk – not run – call me)

10. A direct-sales businesses. These can be started with very little money. Just make sure it’s something you actually love, and you are sure to be successful. Make sure the company you consider is a member of the Direct Selling Association (http://www.dsa.org/) . They’ve also got a list of their members, which can give you some GREAT ideas.

My husband and I run two home-based businesses. He runs a consulting company, and I run http://www.roselanecottage.com/. We’ve been doing this for almost four years and love it. If you’d like to read more about working from home, I’ve written a book on the subject. And for devotion readers, I’ve dropped the price to $8.99. Here’s a link: http://www.roselanecottage.com/book1.html. The shipping will come up at $6.85, but I’ll discount that to $3.00 once I receive the order.

May God bless you in your journey to work at home. I’m confident He will provide a way. He always does.

In His Love,
Glynnis

Tips for Creating a Weekly Menu

One of the biggest stresses of my week is how to feed the seven people in my family. Not only can it be a stress on my time, but also on my budget if I don't plan correctly.

When I plan correctly for meals, I can save hundreds of dollars a month. Plus, end the constant opening and closing of the fridge while some hungry child looks for food.

And, when I post the menu, it also reduces the number of times I hear: What's for dinner? My kids love it!

This approach works as well in a family of one as it does in a larger group. Here are some tips on creating a weekly menu:

1. You must be hungry to create your weekly menu. Do not attempt this after dinner, or nothing will sound good. This is a critical component of the plan.

2. Create a schedule for your week, listing evenings when you have less time. Pick easy meals for those days.

3. Gather the grocery store ads for the week. Identify good sales to incorporate in your menu. For example, I almost never buy packaged biscuits. But when they went on sale for 88 cents, I planned a few menus with stuffed, baked sandwiches using crescent rolls. Kind of like pasties, if you know what I mean.

4. Use your crock pot at least once a week on a busy day.

5. Identify the main food you will use that week based on sales and what's in your freezer. For example: chicken 2x, hamburger 1x, fish, pork roast, eggplant, eggs.

6. Find recipes to use those items, recording on your menu where the recipe can be found. (You will forget)

7. Where to get ideas:

• http://www.foodnetwork.com/
• http://www.cooks.com/
• http://recipes.robbiehaf.com/ (a favorite for copy cat recipes)
• Cookbooks from the library
• Take out menus at your favorite restaurant
• Buy new cook books. I said this earlier in the month, but I figure if a cookbook saves me from going out to dinner once, it's paid for itself.

8. Create a master list of your family's favorites, as a handy go-to resource.

9. Make a double recipe at put one in the freezer. Works great with casseroles.

10. Remember to put side dishes, especially fruits and vegetables on your menu.

When many of us are trying to find ways to save, be healthier and spend more time with those we love, this is a great way to hit all three of those goals.

Before I end, I want to share a link to a fantastic dinner I made last night. I found the recipe looking for ways to make chicken on http://www.foodnetwork.com/. It earned fantastic raves from everyone, including the teen boys. One said it was better than any restaurant food he's eaten. Sadly there were no leftovers for me for lunch today. I guess I need to make it again. Next time, I'm going to put mango chutney under the cheese.

Grilled Chicken with Brie and Baby Spinach Salad

I hope these tips have been helpful. I'd love to hear about one of your family's favorite meals. Please leave a post so we can all benefit.

In His Love,

Glynnis

Tips for Small Group Leaders

With the start of fall Bible studies, many women are leading for the first time. Today, I've got some great tips from my friend Susanne Scheppmann about how to lead a Bible study. I believe many of the principles behind these tips can help you in almost any small group setting, even a business meeting.

First let me introduce my dear friend Susanne. She is amazing! Suzanne is an accomplished author and speaker, including authoring Bible studies. Here book titles are listed below in her bio. She's also been a women's ministry director. She knows what she's talking about!

If these tips don't apply to you now, I encourage you to forward them to someone you know who is leading a group. I believe she will be blessed by them.

At the end of the post, you'll read about a special give-away Susanne is hosting. So keep reading!

Tips for Small Group or Bible Study Leaders by Susanne Scheppmann

* Please set aside plenty of time to prepare your lesson. You might want to work a week in advance of the group in case you have crazy week. If you do work ahead, make sure you review the current’s week lesson before you come to class. You will get confused!

* Pray for your group during the week! Ask Christ to give you His Agape love for them. Give them a call or a send note occasionally. If someone quits the group, call and send a card. Two contacts is enough to know they are missed, but not too much pressure.

* Fifteen members is a good size group. (However, more than likely the group will be larger than that!) Usually, you will have three to four absent members.

* You are the shepherd, they are the sheep. Care for them!

* If you have someone with extreme needs, refer to your pastor or professional counseling. They will come along side of the person. If you have a concern with an individual, please contact your Women’s Ministries leader.

* Please allow a few minutes of quiet time for yourself before class. If not at home, even the restroom will do.

* Keep the discussions moving. Some questions by nature will take more discussion time; however try to be aware of which questions might be trigger a long discussion in your group.

* Watch for body language. Fidgeting, folded arms, eyes averted, people reading ahead. Remember you are the facilitator, people expect you to take charge if things get out of hand.

* Stop and pray for the crisis, (one minute) them move right on to the next question.

* Move the discussion from political, critical, or way off beat discussions. Avoid negative discussion. Example: (Abortion, there will probably be a least one woman in your group who has had one.) Although, we feel strongly about these issues, the church needs to become a place of healing, not further wounding.

* Highlight important sections. Highlight important questions. Rephrase the question to make it applicable to the women.

* Write in your own answers, but do not feel compelled to share each of your answers.

* Use personal illustrations, show by example.

Susanne Scheppmann is a coast-to-coast speaker and author who serves with Proverbs 31 Ministries. For several years, she was an assistant co-editor for our online devotionals—Encouragement for Today.

She is an author of four books. Susanne’s Bible study, Perplexing Proverbs was published in 2007. Her most recent books, Divine Prayers for Despairing Parents and Birds in My Mustard Tree this year. Her next book, Embraced by the Father, will release next March.

She has lived in Las Vegas for over 30 years with her husband, Mark. They have three grown children and three very adorable grandchildren. She loves to travel, read and fish. Her “babies” at home are three little dogs, Taffy, Tiki & Tulip. Visit Susanne Scheppmann's Blog to learn more about her.

Susanne has offered to give away two of her books: Birds in My Mustard Tree and Perplexing Proverbs. To enter the drawing, just leave a comment on my blog. We'll select two winners at random in a few days. Make sure you leave contact email address. If you don't want to leave your email address on the blog, then you can email me personally at editor@proverbs31.org.

In His Love,

Glynnis

10 Tips for Stress-less Parenting

As much as I love my kids, they do add stress to my life. Stress to me is anything that puts pressure on me - so that defines just about everything except sleeping.

Today, I've invited author and speaker Brenda Nixon to share some tips on how we can de-stress our parenting. Brenda is an amazing woman, with a passion for helping parents. I needed to read her tips this morning after a weekend that brought more stress than normal. I hope you enjoy them too. Visit her website to learn more about Brenda. The address is at the end of the post.

10 Tips for Stress-less Parenting by Brenda Nixon

I once heard the definition of stress as: anything we perceive to be out of our control. I like that because it explains why each of us stresses over different situations. At times, though, we all feel our kids and their behavior are out of our control. That’s why parenting is such a stressful task. It’s not for the weak-hearted.

Comedian Martin Mull quipped, "Parenting is like having a bowling alley in your head." But, I like to remember the words of Albert Einstein and relate them to parenting; "Not everything that counts can be counted. And not everything that can be counted counts." This often prompts me to relax and stop fretting about every issue in my children’s lives or overestimating the importance of their problems.

Two characters in Chinese spell the word stress; one character means danger and the other means opportunity. I think that perfectly explains the tension in raising kids today; it can be a hazard but it also gives us opportunities to learn, laugh, grow, and make memories to fall back on when they’re out of the house. If you’re feeling stressed about raising kids, remember:

1. All kids can and do misbehave.
2. There are no perfect kids.
3. There are no perfect parents.
4. Parenting is a short season of life.
5. Physical affection is therapeutic; give and receive hugs.
6. See humor (somewhere) in the situation.
7. Take a break: exercise, listen to soothing music, read a chapter in a favorite book, or enjoy a cup of coffee.
8. Talking to other adults can ease loneliness or frustration.
9. Wisdom knows what to overlook.
10. Good parents practice self-care: eat right and sleep when your kids do.

© Copyright, 2005, Brenda Nixon, M.A.

As a parenting speaker and writer, Brenda Nixon (www.brendanixon.com) is dedicated to empowering parents in their sacred and enormous task. Her book, The Birth to Five Book is available at bookstores everywhere. She’s currently writing a book for parents on child discipline and is a contributing author to 23 titles.

Do you need encouragement in your daily discipline battles? Would a thought or quote inspire or affirm you? Then, subscribe to Brenda Nixon’s free Daily Discipline Tip service at www.brendanixon.com. You will receive a tip each week.

Have a stress-less day!

Glynnis

Tips for Keeping Your Kitchen Clean

I love having a clean kitchen. There's something about clutter-free counters and clean dishes that helps me have a positive attitude about keeping my home orderly. When my counters are clear, it also makes cooking a meal for my family much easier. And when I say "no" to the kitchen as a depository for paper, it also forces me to be more organized in other areas of my home.

So today I'm going to share some of my tips for keeping my kitchen clean.

1. Store seldom-used small appliances in cabinets, pantry, closets or the garage - not on the counters.

2. Use a manual can opener and keep it in a drawer. It also comes in handy when the power is out.

3. Create a coffee/tea center using a pretty tray. If possible, use an under-the-counter coffee maker and tuck the supplies under that.

4. Have one spot for a message center if the phone is in your kitchen. Keep it simple. Consider using a section of the wall for a white board for messages.

5. Keep your sinks clean, and faucet shined. Occasionally fill up your porcelain sinks with water and a cup or so of bleach. Let it soak.

6. Store papers you refer to often in a drawer. I purchase colored pocket folders when school starts and assign one for each child and responsibility. For example, I've had them for sport's teams, PTSO, church committees and so on. Storing the pocket folders flat in a drawer makes them easily accessible.

7. Clean as you cook. Get into the habit of putting things away as soon as you use them. This includes rinsing dishes and putting them in the dishwasher, or hand-washing items.

8. Use the top of your refrigerator for decorative purposes, not storage for cereal boxes. If you need that space for storage, then invest in some beautiful boxes or baskets.

9. Create menus according to what is in your pantry or is leftover in your refrigerator. For example, I've got some capers that are taking up space. I just did a google search and found an entire page of recipes on About.com that use capers. I've also got some canned pumpkin that needs to be made into bread. This keeps your cabinet space functional.

10. Be vigilant about having your family place items where they belong in the house.

If you avoid cleaning your kitchen counters because you don't know where to put all the stuff, then just start with one small section and work your way clockwise around the kitchen. I've found that the major reason we have clutter is we resist making a decision about where it goes. But if you start small, with one small decision, you can reclaim your kitchen in 30 days.

Let me know how it goes.

In His Love,

Glynnis

Top Fashion and Beauty Tips for Fall

You are in for a treat today!!! My dear friend, Shari Braendel, has put together her top style suggestions for the coming months. Shari is an expert in the area of professional styling, in both fashion and makeup. She leads sold-out conferences around the country on "What Not To Wear" and will be having a book released soon by Zondervan. Although Shari helps us fashion-challenged girls on the outside, her true passion is to lead women to the heart of God so they learn their true beauty is on the inside.

Shari has revolutionized almost all of us on the Proverbs 31 team. For instance, she completely changed my style when she told me I should be wearing the colors of autumn, instead of the jewel tones I had been told 20 years ago. Wow! What a difference. I adore Shari for so many reasons!!

Without further gushing, here are Shari's Top 10 Fashion and Beauty Tips for Fall 2010.

If you like these tips, please visit Shari's blog today for more help, and to let her know:
www.ShariBraendel.blogspot.com

RED: This is the pop color of the season! Wear red shoes, carry a red purse or don a red jacket.

LEOPARD PRINT: This goes without saying…leopard never seems to go out of style but this year it’s bigger than ever! Find a pair of leopard ballet flats you can wear with everything. Depending on your budget, pick up a pair by Merona at Target or pay big bucks for Coach.

LEGGINGS: Ranging in price from $15 an up, these fashion come-backs must be worn with long tops and jackets. Bright patterns, denim, lace, leather and of course, black, will have you looking quite fashionable.

BIG TOPS OVER SKINNY BOTTOMS: (Skinny jeans or leggings, not skinny bodies, silly!) Big tops are everywhere and this look can be quite casual and laid back with flats or you can glam it up with lots of accessories for a night on the town.

BRIGHT LIPS: ‘Tis the season for a new lip color. Maybe this is where you should add RED to your wardrobe!

RUFFLES: Gracious, ruffles are everywhere! You’ll find them adorned on sweaters, tops, skirts, boots and purses.

MENSWEAR: Vests, blazers and menswear inspired trousers will help you look the fashion expert! Go plaid, herringbone, or stripes for authentic style.

VINGTAGE JEWELRY: Pull out your old charm bracelets from high school or grab one from your mother’s jewelry box and wear it with high style. Ribbons, brass, chain link necklaces, crystals and silk should beautify your wrists and neckline.

SPARKLY SHOES: This fall trend is an easy way to spruce up your outfit when it’s looking a little drab. Worn with jeans or your fanciest dress, these beauties will put a little spring in your step!

EMBELLISHED TEES: Let’s face it, since most of us live a rather casual lifestyle and would opt for a t-shirt most days anyway, why not add one with built in accessories? A little glam or a lot of glam, this is one way to be a bit more dressed up than usual, yet still have the casual factor going on.

A personal note from Shari:
Glynnis, it has been my privilege to be with you and your readers today. I’d love to invite each of you to my website and blog each Wednesday for “What To Wear Wednesday” for fashion and beauty insight for busy women like you. www.ShariBraendel.blogspot.com
In His Love,
Glynnis

Tips for Starting the School Year Right

Today I'd like to introduce you to my friend Amy Carroll. Not only is she a speaker for Proverbs 31 Ministries, but she is a professional educator. Amy has spent time on both sides of the school conference table. As a teacher fresh out of college, she struggled with nerves as she met with her students’ parents, but she thinks sitting on the parent side of the table is even harder. Amy is teaching in an elementary classroom this year for the first time in 15 years.

Here's some solid advice from Amy:

As a student, we all looked forward to school with visions of reuniting with friends, buying brand-spanking new school supplies, and sporting our first-day-of-school outfit. As a parent, we’re usually a little nervous about those first days of school and the uncertainty that they bring. There will be another adult spending a large portion of the day with our precious child, and each of us wants to build a positive relationship with our child’s teacher. Here are some suggestions for starting the school year on the right foot.

As School Starts:
· Pray, pray, pray for your child’s teacher. You might consider joining or organizing the Moms in Touch group at your child’s school.
· Attend any “Meet the Teacher” events with your child. This will make your child more comfortable as well as giving you an opportunity to give the teacher your contact information and to offer support from the beginning. Teachers are extremely busy at the beginning of school, though, so make your contact brief.
· Purchase all the requested supplies so that your child starts school with the things needed for success. If your budget allows, most teachers are thrilled to receive some extra supplies for children who cannot afford them.

During the First Week of School:
· Read all the information the teacher sends home about classroom rules and procedures. Take some time to review these with your student to let her know that these expectations will be reinforced at home.
· Some teachers include a worksheet for parents in the beginning-of-school packets that allow parents to give feedback on their child’s strengths, weaknesses and special needs. Make sure to fill these sheets out thoughtfully and restate your intention to support the teacher.
· If you are able to volunteer in the classroom, let the teacher know what your availability is. Working moms, don’t despair! Many teachers also appreciate parents who can help at home with projects such as cutting out bulletin board items. Your presence in the classroom should be to support and not just to scrutinize, so double check your motives.


If Problems Occur:
· Address problems or questions quickly either through a conference, notes or email. Wait to pass judgment, though, until you talk with the teacher. Teachers aren’t perfect, but “folly is bound up in the heart of a child” (Prov. 22:15). Sometimes our precious little ones engage in the “both ends against the middle” power play that pits home against school.
· Because of this, don’t talk about problems with a teacher in front of your child. Although your child must know that you are his advocate, you and the teacher need to provide a united front until there is conflict resolution.
· Make sure to try to work out problems with the teacher first before approaching administrators. Following the chain of command ensures that small problems are solved directly with the teacher without hurt feelings and resentments.
· Make decisions based on the best interest of your child rather than on pure emotion. Since God is the one who loves your child more than anyone, pray about any school decisions that need to be made. As in any area of our lives, the journey needs to be covered in prayer from beginning to the end.

To read more about Amy’s adventures in returning to teaching, visit her blog at www.amycarrollp31.blogspot.com.

Tips to help a picky eater

First, a welcome to Encouragement for Today readers. I have a devotion running today on helping kids who are afraid. God has been faithful to us!!!

I'm continuing my month-long September of Tips today with some suggestions on how to get picky eaters to eat. As you can imagine, there is much more to this issue than 10 tips can address. I know what a challenge this is, and don't presume to have all the answers.


I remember with crystal clarity the day my approach to dealing with picky eaters changed. I was making cheese enchilada for dinner, consisting of cheese and green chilies rolled in corn tortillas then topped with red chili enchilada sauce. The sauce was very mild, since I don’t like spicy foods. In spite of that, I mentally reviewed what I could serve the kids as an alternative, assuming they wouldn’t like the enchiladas.

Before I could open a box of macaroni and cheese for my 4 and 2 year old sons, I caught myself. I’m not going to start down this road of making separate meals, I thought. They will eat what we eat.

So that night, we all sat down to enchiladas, Spanish rice and a vegetable. Guess what? My kids liked it all.

From that point on, I made a decision to not cater to my kids tastes. I knew their tastes were undeveloped, and would take a special approach. But that didn’t mean they’d eat chicken nuggets and fries until they were grown.

I have met way too many parents who stop by McDonald's before they come to a dinner gathering. I’ve seen too many kids picking apart their food, and taking mushrooms off pizza.

Of course kids want to eat sweets. Of course they want to eat fries. Who doesn’t? I believe parents can help their children develop a more mature taste for food, increase their enjoyment of a variety of foods, and help desensitize kids to foods that bother them for one reason or another.

While my quiet-time tips last week were developed out of struggle, these tips were developed out of success in this area. I have five children, ages 18 to 12, and there is nothing they won’t eat, or at least try. This includes dealing with two little girls from Africa who didn’t like anything but chicken and rice when they arrived. We’ve been through a lot, and learned a lot.

I hope these tips help you with your picky eater.

1) As much as possible, eat dinner as a family, sitting down together at the same time. Children will learn to model what they see adults do.

2) Do not make separate meals. If you have a very picky eater, then modify your meals at the start of this program to appeal to that child. Keep foods very simple.

3) If you have a baby that isn’t eating yet, my pediatrician gave me the best advice when introducing new foods. Introduce vegetables before fruit. Once a child tastes sweets, there’s no going back.

4) Identify appropriate meal times and snack times. When our girls joined our family they wanted to eat all the time. A professional dietitian counseled me to teach them the idea of a schedule. So even though they couldn’t read, we posted times for meals and snacks. This actually helped them learn to sense hunger and fullness. Our daughters experienced devastating deprivation and can’t be compared to most American children. Their minds told them that to survive they had to eat all the time. But that wasn’t healthy. We still work on this issue.

5) Limit the amount of food you serve as a snack as your child gets older. This helps assure your child is hungry when it’s meal time. If your older child needs a snack, keep it very small and healthy, like grapes or some apple slices.

6) Start with the foods he likes and add one new food element. For example. If your child likes hamburgers, then make hamburgers with onions or eggs in the mix. It will introduce a new taste while staying familiar. Do the same thing with spices and seasonings. But just add one at a time. This can be applied to almost everything.

7) Roast veggies. Oh my goodness! This is huge. Chop them up, toss them lightly in olive oil and salt and roast in the oven at 400 degrees until done. The length of time will depend on what type of veggies you have. Roasting makes vegetables sweeter and kids love them.

8) Involve your child in the menu planning for the week. Look together at cook books and websites like Food Network for ideas. Then post the menu where your child can see it. She’ll feel more invested in the meals if she had a part in planning them.

9) Be adventurous. Try new recipes and restaurants. Pick menu items with a variety of colors and textures.

10) If your child doesn’t like something new, don’t force him to eat all of it. Ask that he try it with a good attitude, but that’s it. Do not replace it with something else at that meal – like a second helping of mashed potatoes and gravy. Then, try that food another time.

These tips are really for kids who don’t have any special health or diet needs. So I share them knowing there will be exceptions. But I hope they encourage you to try and expand your child’s taste and enjoyment of food.


In His Love,
Glynnis

Finding the Courage To Encourage

Today I'm happy to share some tips on how to be an encourager from my sweet friend, Luann Prater. Luann is an amazing woman of God. She teaches deep truths from His Word, prays like she's going into battle and loves with abandon. She has the gift of encouragement, and I treasure that about her.

Those around us need to be encouraged. Luann's given us some great tips today on how to be most effective. If you like her tips, please visit Luann's blog and let her know. That would encourage her today. There's a link at the end of her bio.

1. Pray, Pray, Pray -
Before you can pour out blessings onto others, you need to be encouraged by the author of encouragement, Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:1-2, “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”

2. Consult the Truth Then Tell the Truth
Throughout the teachings of Jesus he began his statements with "I tell you the truth." We must allow God's truth to penetrate our hearts and minds before we can offer encouragement to others.
2 Timothy 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

3. Listen
It is often said, "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." Listening is a lost art. There is something so endearing about a friend who will simply lend an ear to a hurting heart.
James 1:19, “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”

4. Care and Coach
Gently provide healing words. Feel-Felt-Found approach. Get into their world with this statement in the back of your mind, "I know how you feel; I felt that way; here is what I've found." People who are hurting need to know that someone else has walked this path and there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Colossians 2:2-3, “My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”.

5. Don't Judge
The quickest way to lose someone's confidence is to judge them, even with a look or reaction. Be careful to take gentle care of those God has entrusted into your life.
Matthew 7:2, “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

6. Love Deeply
Be ready for more than a pat on the shoulder and a fleeting, "How ya doin'?" Ask God during your prayer time to open your heart wide and allow Him to give you the capacity to love with His arms.
John 15:12, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

7. Don't Expect to Have All The Answers
I love the song by Stacie Orrico, Don't Look at Me - because it says, I'll do my best to point you in the right direction, but don't look at me, look at Him. If we constantly point others to the source of our strength, then the responsibility for their needs rolls onto His shoulders. Lead them to the source of Light.
Ephesians 1:18, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.”

8. Be Consistent, It's a Marathon Not a Sprint
Obstacles will arise, bumps will trip us, life will scream from the sidelines, regardless we run. God has prepared us for this life-long race. We become witnesses to the runner who is stumbling when we offer encouragement to keep on going.
Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

9. Character is 3D
The tapestry of life is not two-dimensional. It has dips and valleys, hills and mountains. There are shadows and highlights but together, they produce a masterpiece that only God could construct. You are His divine treasure.
Romans 5:2-5, “through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

10. Live it
Your life speaks louder than words. St. Francis of Assisi summed it up when he said, "Proclaim the Gospel of Christ to everyone; use words if you must."
John 3:21, “But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

Luann Prater is a wife, mother and grandmother. She runs two businesses, is a speaker/author for Proverbs 31 Ministries and her latest adventure is hosting a one-hour live radio program every Saturday from 2-3 (ET) called Encouragement Cafe with Luann & Friends. Listen live online at www.EncouragementCafe.com or tune in to a Christian station near you. Downloadable podcasts are available as well as daily specials that break the Saturday show topic down into bite-sized pieces. Join this cozy table of friends. A seat is reserved just for you! Visit Luann at http://www.LuannPrater.com.

In His Love,
Glynnis

Making the Most of Quiet Time

Today I was inspired to revist the idea of time alone with God based on my friend Amy Carroll's blog yesterday. Here's here blog address if you want to read it: http://www.amycarrollp31.blogspot.com/

Amy had also written a great devotion for Proverbs 31 Ministries about how she studies the Bible. You can read that here: http://proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com/2009/09/he-speaks-part-ii.html

In light of such great advice, I'm posting 9 tips for making the most of your quiet time. Just so you know, these are written out of struggle - not victory. I consider this a daily challenge. But what a difference when I MAKE time to sit at the feet of Jesus. In fact, that's where I'm going as soon as I post this.



1. Schedule a time. This will be different for each of us. The secret is to find something you can stick with. Often Jesus would awake early in the morning and go to a quiet place (Mark 1:35). However, you might find that evenings work better for you. Evaluate what is realistic with your schedule and try it. Don’t worry about what others think is the “right” way, just concentrate on what works for you.
2. Eliminate distractions before you start. What are your distractions when you pray or read? If you find your mind drifting to your “to-do” list, try writing things down before you start your quiet time. Can you turn off the phone? Can you find a project or a special video for the kids? Be creative.
3. Set aside a special place. Diane Hewes wrote in her article “Time to Pray,” (The Proverbs 31 Woman, June 2001) “I have set aside a place in my home that is comfortable and cozy for me, and make that my regular place of meeting. Each time I pass by that chair I am reminded that the King of Kings will be waiting for me.”
4. Start with praise. It is easy to lapse into a list of requests when we pray. God does care about the details of our life, and we should share our smallest concerns with Him. However, God is also worthy to be praised. When we focus on how great and mighty is our Lord, somehow our problems look small in comparison. One way I praise God is by listing His characteristics, such as His faithfulness, loving-kindness and gentleness. Perhaps you can incorporate singing into your quiet time. The Christian bookstores have many selections of praise music.
5. Keep a prayer journal. Keep a list of prayer requests from friends and family. Remember to include God’s answers to your prayers. Not only will you have an opportunity to participate in divine intervention, but your faith will deepen as you see God’s faithfulness in action.
6. Incorporate Scripture reading. Make this time of study interesting. Bonita Lillie shared some ideas for invigorating a quiet time in the October 2000 issue of The Proverbs 31 Woman. Here are some of her ideas:
· Study a portion of scripture you’ve never read before.
· Read and study the parables of Jesus.
· Read about the miracles of Jesus.
· Find a thought-provoking Bible study book. These books guide you step-by-step through a study of a particular topic or passage of scripture.
· Try reading a different translation of the Bible.
· Study familiar children’s stories such as Noah’s Ark, Daniel in the Lion’s Den and Jonah.
7. Read a good book on Christian living. Take this time to read books by great Christian authors. The Proverbs 31 Ministry offers a wonderful variety of books that encourage women in all aspects of their lives. (www.Proverbs31.org)
8. Be faithful. Imagine how faithfully the Lord waits for us to come to Him. When I hear the Parable of the Prodigal Son, my heart burns with love for the Father who faithfully watches and runs to me when He sees me in the distance. Out of my love for God, I desire to be faithful to Him. Be consistent in your time of prayer and study and watch God pour out blessings upon you.
9. Watch for changes in your life. As we spend time with God and dig into His Word, we will see changes in our life. Isaiah 55:11 says, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” As the seed of God’s word is planted in your life, you will see fruit. Remember to thank Him for those changes.

If having a consistent quite time is a challenge for you, don’t be discouraged. You are not alone. Remember that God will never condemn you (Romans 8:1). He will however, lovingly prompt you to come to Him on a regular basis.

If maintaining a regular quiet time seems impossible – that’s ok too. Paul knew that in his weakness, he was made strong through Christ’s power (2 Co. 12:9) Christ said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” That same power is available to you.

In His Love,

Glynnis

P.S. My friend Luann Prater has some great tips on being an encourager. Come back tomorrow to read those.

Tips for a Positive Attitude

Today, my friend Tracie Miles is sharing some great tips for having a positive attitude. These are more than practical tips on being happy, these are filled with biblical truths for living a God-pleasing life - starting with our hearts. I used them as my devotional this morning, and it was wonderful. If you like them too, please visit Tracie's blog (see end of devotion for address) and let her know.

Ten Tips for a More Positive Attitude

1. Remember that you can’t control other people’s actions, but you can always control your response. Life is 10% what happens to us, and 90% how we react to it. (Read 1 Peter 3:16)

2. Everyone has troubles, and God’s Word says to rejoice in those sufferings.
Difficult times are only part of life, not our whole life, so remember to thank God for the blessings, while dealing with the issues. (Read 1 Peter 1:6-7)

3. Pray for God to help you do a self examination to see if you are harboring any seeds of negativity and pessimism in your heart, and if God reveals something to you that needs improvement, pray for His strength, courage and ability to deal with the root causes for those emotions, and fill your heart with God’s love instead. (Read Ephesians 4:26-27)

4. Regardless of what may have happened in your life, do not live your life as a victim. Strive to achieve the victor mentality that God empowers us to have through His strength. Make the choice today, and one day at a time, to have a positive attitude, and look for the good things in your life and future, not just the unfortunate things from the past. (Read Ephesians 2:22-24)

5. If you are unhappy about things or circumstances in your life, pray for God to change those things if it is within His will, and then expect to begin seeing Him at work. Remember that nothing is impossible with God. (Read Proverbs 3:5-6, and Mark 10:27)

6. Believe that God redeems you, despite your past, and that He loves you, despite your pain. Remember there is always a purpose for our pain. (Read Psalm 130:3)

7. Focus on gratitude. Spend some time listing all of the good things in your life, and all the blessings God has given you. Pray and ask God to help you have a heart of gratitude. Focus on Him, and not the things of the world. (Read Hebrews 12:28, and 1 Thessalonians 5:18)

8. Stop letting other people's negative attitudes affect yours. Negative attitudes can be contagious. Ask yourself - is my attitude worth catching?Then ask God to help you change your attitude, and be strong in your optimism even when the people around are you are not being that way. The key to success lies in the asking. (Read Philippians 2:5)

9. Stop thinking that you don't measure up. Comparing ourselves to others is a sure-fire recipe for self condemnation, defeat and low self esteem. Remember that you were made in the image of God, beautiful, unique and precious. (Read 2 Corinthians 10:12, and Psalm 139:14)

10. Just breathe, and believe that God knows the desires of your heart. He knows of your desire to have a Christ-like attitude; that you try, but often fail; that you need strength, guidance, healing and forgiveness. His mercies are renewed every day. Trust in His grace and mercy. (Read Psalm 139:1-4, Lamentations 3:21-22, and 1 Corinthians 4:16-17)

Tracie is a Speaker for Proverbs 31 Ministries, and is a contributing writer for the Proverbs 31 Ministries Encouragement For Today online email devotions. She is the author of "Reinventing Your Rainbow," a book for women to help them find forgiveness, peace and joy in their lives, while discovering the purpose that God created them to fulfill. Tracie has a love for women's ministry, proven by her six years of leadership in women's ministry at her home church, and the women's ministry training seminars she now offers to churches and Christian organizations. For more information on Tracie, visit her blog at www.traciewmiles.com.

A September Full of Tips

September always signals the start of something new to me. The start of school with crisp new notebooks and fresh pens. The start of fall with stores full of beautiful gold, brown and red clothes that we in the desert won't be able to wear for another three months - but a girl can dream. And it's a subtle shift towards the season of holidays. I love September.

I'm also busy at this time of year. And it gets busier as sports seasons start up, school assignments increase and life just seems more demanding.

When I get busy, really busy ... like overwhelmed busy ... all I can really take in are little soundbytes of help. So this month, I'm trying something. I'm going to be offering a month of tips to help us busy women. I've invited some friends to participate as well, to learn from their experience.

Today, I'm going to share Ten Tips for Saving Money:


1. Prepare a menu for the week - Be thorough and include snacks. You’ll be less tempted to splurge during the week on take-out when you’ve got a plan. (watch for my tips on doing this later in the month.)

2. Invest in cookbooks with photos. I say if a new cookbook saves my family from going out to eat ONCE, it was a good investment. Check out cookbooks from the library.

3. Become a thrifty shopper – Look at saving money as a project, and develop a repertoire of resources for learning new ways to save. Here are some web sites: www.stretcher.com; www.betterbudgeting.com; www.mommysavers.com

4. Examine your smallest budget items first. Identify those items where you can make the quickest change. Where do you spend your cash? Can you save money by doing this yourself?

5. Look at every expense as a money saving avenue. Go through your checkbook, item by item and list your expenses. You can save on almost every one. Take your utility bill for example: lower/raise thermostat, install electricity saving light bulbs, change air filters, etc. Contact your utility provider for more ideas.

6. Create an entertainment notebook. Start a notebook with free or inexpensive activities such as museums, hikes, parks. Then when you are looking for something to do, you don’t just choose the expensive option. Invest in a travel book of your area for great ideas.

7. Buy hair clippers. I’ve cut my husband’s and three sons’ hair for years. A pair of $25 clippers will last at least a year, and saves us hundreds. I learned by watching a hair stylist and asking questions.

8. Borrow/rent instead of buy. Evaluate how much you will use an item before you buy it. Rent tools from Home Depot. Borrow movies from the library. Share with friends.

9. Plan in advance. Take a look at the next six to 12 months and forecast some expenses. Make a list and start watching for sales and other opportunities to save.

10. Evaluate savings opportunities over time. $1.00 saved a week is $52 a year. Don't discount anything as too small a savings.

Watch for more tips in the coming month.

In His Love,

Glynnis