As a young mom, I longed for some me time, some free time at the end of a day. Raising a son with special needs and two daughters was a 24/7 kind of job….like every mom! There’s no vacation on vacation, there’s no pats on the back from the children in those early years. Yet, when I look back over being a mom, and a mom of a child with special needs, I have NO REGRETS!

Years ago I wrote a poem about wanting that free time and never finding it. Recently I published that poem (with a few new stanzas) in No Regrets. I’d like to share a few of those verses with you as an encouragement in your life as a mom!

No Regrets by Cindi Ferrini

I woke up this morning and had my day planned,
But yet He reshaped it with His tender hand.
I do what He asks me no matter how small.
I know that He guides me – hours minutes, and all.

I’ve wiped dishes and toilets, behinds, and some tears,
And now I’m “done in” and wiped out from those dears!
The day has just ended, all chores are now done.
I’m ready for “me time,” relaxing, and fun!

Each night I think this is the one I will claim
As mine to catch up, just relax, play a game.
Each child has a need and like corn that is popping,
With me they engage and there’s simply no stopping.

I know what You did with the loaves and the fish,
So if I might ask of You one little wish…
If in the near future there’s any time free,
Would You please reconsider and give it to me?

The poem goes on to tell of this mother’s resolve in finding that free time.

Mom, let me encourage you…no matter what demands you have on your day:

• A child with special needs – illness, seizures, sleeplessness nights
• Children who are crying all day long
• Not being able to get your nails done
• Wishing you could just kick up your feet for 5 minutes
• Desiring a outing or a trip just with your husband
• Not being able to get dinner on the table on time or finish a load of laundry
• And a million other things that make daily demands on you….

Your job is important, perhaps the most important job there is. You’re preparing the children for their future and the future of our country and the world. That is no easy task but one to take seriously. Be encouraged – they do grow up, and the time goes faster than you can imagine, although right now you won’t believe me!

“The days go by slowly…the years go by fast.
We look to the future, too soon it’s the past!”

Enjoy today….with No Regrets!

Cindi Ferrini has published a book “No Regrets”. For your copy, please go to her site at www.cindiferrini.com – enjoy!

I ski up mountains. I know, you might ask “Who does that?” I do. It’s an opportunity to physically exhaust myself in order to strengthen my resolve to be a true disciple of Jesus. You see, I’m naturally self-focused and pride-filled (Jeremiah 17:9). Maybe this resonates with you?

On my latest climb up a popular ski mountain in Arizona, I was reminded how important encouragement is. Weary and tired, I struggled to reach the top of the 2000 foot climb. Close to the summit, several groups of downhill skiers took the time to bolster my determination with kind words.

One fellow mountaineer took the time to belittle my less than stellar efforts to summit in a timely manner.

As I climb, my purpose is to lay aside my needs for comfort, security, and pleasure to embrace service, sacrifice, and selflessness. In order to become a servant to all I must first yield. For me climbing a ski mountain symbolizes this posture. I enjoy going off to a quiet place to ask the Lord how He would like to stretch my attitude and thinking about such things. He is my primary source of encouragement.

I consider how the God that created the Universe cared enough about me and you to come to earth to wash the feet of His disciples and to lay down His life in service for me (John 13:8). What greater aspiration could I have then to do the same for my family, friends, neighbors and colleagues (John 15:13)?

I’m called as a true disciple to implement this posture each day (Matthew 16:24). We will grow weary in our efforts apart from encouragement from the pulpit, the Christian radio station, my daily devotion, my husband, my small group, and my mentor mom.

Our children need regular doses of encouragement if they too will grow to become true disciples of Jesus. Consider where and when they are receiving encouragement.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds …  — Hebrews 10:24

To encourage another is to bolster, stimulate, refresh, fortify, strengthen, reinforce, and sustain one’s confidence in a resolve.

Truthfully, I don’t think I would have reached the summit on that day without the helpful words from the downhill skiers. I was strengthened in my decision to summit by their enthusiasm for my endeavor even though they did not grasp why I was skiing uphill.

We are made for more than this world has to offer. You can REACH for the glory of heaven every day.

R – Resolve to be a living sacrifice as an act of worship (Romans 12:1).

E – Envision Jesus washing the feet of His disciples as a motivation (John 13:5).

A – Acquiesce temporal pleasures found in this world to store up treasure for the life that is truly life (1 Timothy 6:19).

C – Count the cost to be a true disciple (Luke 14:28-30).

H – Be holy as HE is holy (1 Peter 1:16).

Here are some more little snippets of insight from Dr. Kimmel’s book Connecting Church and Home, which is ready for purchase!

Dr. Tim Kimmel will also be referencing this book at the D6 Conference.  For more information about D6; go here!

Order your copy today!

Download a FREE Sample Chapter!

Any parent will tell you there are no true experts in parenting, only people who have learned from their mistakes. In my mind, the only true experts I look to are those who have parented children with Grace, and whose children are older than mine.

We moved overseas when our daughter was just 8 months old and our oldest son was born 3 months before we returned to the states. We also desire to live abroad again someday. Because of our past unique life situation and future goals, I often look to women who have raised children abroad for parenting advice. They are my Mom Hero’s. They’ve successfully raised children in the midst of different cultures and countries and huge transitions.

The first time I met Susan and her family, they lived in Germany and her children were in high school and junior high. It had been about a year since they’d moved from another European country. I was very impressed with how her teenagers interacted with us, with their parents and their peers. Although they acted like normal teenagers, they seemed to have a confidence about them that is rare in kids that age. So I asked Susan, “What did you do to raise such great, confidant kids?” Sweet and humble Susan just laughed as if I was crazy to think it were true but then said something that has stuck with me ever since. “I just played with them a lot. I spent time with them. If they liked to read, I’d read books with them. If they liked to play video games, I’d spend time playing video games.”

Is it really that simple? Do our kids just want us to spend time with them? The more and more I observe grown children who love God and love others, the more I find parents who spent intentional time with their children during the younger years. Susan’s words ring through my mind on a regular basis, perhaps because God knows I have a tendency to do things FOR my kids, but struggle with desire to do things WITH my kids.

Of course, the other common factor I see in truly great kids is Grace. As I’ve observed parents who raise kids through multiple transnational moves and changes in international schools, I’ve seen that they have parented with a lot of Grace.

If you are looking for parenting mentors, look to those families who have older children or grown children who demonstrate characteristics or life styles that you hope to see in your kids. Ask those parents for advice. I guarantee you will be getting tips from true experts.

Here are some more little snippets of insight from Dr. Kimmel’s book Connecting Church and Home, which is ready for purchase!

Dr. Tim Kimmel will also be referencing this book at the D6 Conference.  For more information about D6; go here!

Order your copy today!

Download a FREE Sample Chapter!

I don’t know about you, but for me May can be a crazy maker! It seems that school ramps up exponentially because anything and everything that has not gotten done needs to get done – from assignments to field trips!

Add to that the graduation invitations, wedding invitations and finalizing the summer vacation plans and you might just find most moms reeling from calendar deadline and to do list overload!

How about we just agree right now to put the brakes on crazy busy May and choose to stop and smell the roses…and all those other flowers that are out there blooming as a result of the promise of Spring.

We can jump in and join the crazy, or we can choose to step back, take a deep breath and make the decision to purposefully set aside time to enjoy life, and our family.

For me that begins with allowing “extra” time each day to relax through a bit more praise and worship music, some more lingering in the word of God and even a bit more “silly” attitude. My kids and I seem to be breaking out in song and dance more than usual, sharing funny videos and even chiding and joking each other with increased regularity! Because I am feeling pressed, rather than succumbing to being on edge I am choosing purposeful light heartedness – it is a choice after all!

Sweet friends – whenever crazy schedules start to squeeze that is our cue to make a purposeful decision to seek peace and refuge. Here’s the best part of making that choice – our children are watching and learning and don’t we all want our children to learn how to combat stress?

Maybe that’s why Mother’s Day is in May – to help us feel celebrated during this packed full month!

How do you battle against your crazy packed schedule?

Here are some more little snippets of insight from Dr. Kimmel’s book Connecting Church and Home, which is ready for purchase!

Dr. Tim Kimmel will also be referencing this book at the D6 Conference.  For more information about D6; go here!

Order your copy today!

Download a FREE Sample Chapter!

“Are you sure you want to do this?  We are still pretty young…” I asked my husband the night before his “Let’s-make-sure-we-don’t-get-pregnant-again” surgery. He waited a while and then responded with “I never thought I would have 3 kids by 30.” And that was that.

But that got me thinking – I never thought I would have three kids by the age of 30 either!  I laid there in bed that night thinking about all the ideas and plans I had for myself when I was growing up.  I pictured myself living in college dorms, possibly traveling to another country with a friend, or even knowing what I wanted to do with my life before starting a family.

I am a planner at heart; from my grocery list made out in the pattern I walk the isles of my Fry’s to my life goals planned out from short term to long term and the boxes next to each one.  Some call this Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, I call it My Life.

Then the pang of guilt set in.

I had to stop and allow myself to think of all the great things I had accomplished all while living out my own Plan B.

I wasn’t able to attend college and live in dorms, but I did earn my Bachelor Degree (all while taking care of three young kids, thank you very much).  I never went back packing with my best friends, but I do get to take wonderful vacations with my family and plan second and third honeymoons with my life-long best friend.  And as for “knowing what I want to do with my life”, well, I have decided that if Plan A worked out all perfectly as planned…I would definitely be bored.

I am grateful my life took those turns, loops and ups & downs that I wasn’t looking for or planning on.  I have absolutely no regrets about my life thus far; after all, Plan A was just MY idea and not His plan.

Need some encouragement on your Plan B or know someone who could use some?  “Plan B” written by Dr. Tim Kimmel will help with these little moments.

Our very own Dr. Tim Kimmel will be speaking at both Dallas and Louisville D6 Conferences this year and will be featuring his newest publication “Connecting Church & Home”.

If you are unfamiliar with what D6 is all about: Deuteronomy 6.  The D6 Conference is all about Generational Discipleship and how to apply Deuteronomy 6 to family ministry.

They are currently open for Early Bird Registration for Dallas  and Early Bird Registration for Louisville (Early Bird prices change after May 7th).

For even more information about D6 and the D6 Conferences, go here!

If you are Social Media Savvy, here are some ways to follow along with everything and anything D6:

Twitter: @theD6conference – They will be using these hashtags for updates and comments #d62013 #d6days

Facebook: D6 Conference

Here are some more little snippets of insight from Dr. Kimmel’s book Connecting Church and Home, which is ready for purchase!

Order your copy today!

Download a FREE Sample Chapter!