Keeping Hearts at Home
Published September 6, 2008Update for those of you in Michigan: If you have time this Tuesday morning, you can catch me on WZZM television on the Take Five & Company live magazine news show at
Are you a mom? Are there days you would like NOT to be one? You know, those fussy-baby, toddler-tantrum or even trying-teen days. Let’s face it. Even though being a mother is the one of the most wonderful privileges in the world, there are days that it is down-right exhausting!!!
During those times when you feel like throwing in the towel—you know, the dirty one that someone in your home left lying on the floor—where can you go for relief, encouragement, ideas that work and best of all, a fresh new perspective?
Hearts at Home, that’s where!
In the next few days I want to direct those of you who have never heard of this wonderful organization just for moms to their site. And maybe reacquaint others of you with them again. Okay…and I know there are many Hearts at Home groupies who view my site as well. Certainly we want to hear from you too!!
Hearts at Home is dedicated to helping moms love their lives. They do it through many avenues. Check out the website. You’ll find tips and tidbits and lots of resources available.
The Hearts Shoppe is an online way to order books and products that will address many aspects of a mom’s life. If you want to get organized, take a peek at the Just For Moms planner, a tool designed to organize your crazy family schedule and keep all of your pertinent info in one location.
If you want some audio cd’s on topics from toddlers to teens, from light-hearted and practical to serious and spiritual, you’ll find them there too!
And, for those of you in the Midwest, you still have a chance to attend the biggest help for frazzled moms, one of the fall Hearts at Home conferences. Check out either the Great Lakes Regional one in Michigan or the North Central one in Minnesota. If you hurry, you can still register. These info-packed days—trust me, your brain will be filled to overflowing with new ideas—will offer you solutions to your stressed out situations and leave you feeling refreshed and renewed and ready to take on your job as mom with gusto! There are two keynote addresses that relate to all moms and you can customize the rest of your day by choosing up to four workshops on such topics as decorating, creativity in the kitchen, marriage, discipline, sibling rivalry, Internet and teens, prayer and okay…sex. (If your husband doesn’t think you should go, tell him you’ll be sure to take that class!!)
And just to generate a little excitement (and because you know I like to give away stuff!) I’ll be holding another comment contest these next few days with a giveaway! Here’s the scoop:
Those of you who have never attended, or perhaps even heard of, Hearts at Home, check it out by following the links. Then post a comment about what your greatest challenge as a mom is right now in your current season of life.
Also, you gals who have attended a Hearts conference in the past, tell us one specific thing that helped you as a mom. Was it something one of the keynote speakers said? Maybe a workshop leader’s story or tip changed your life. Perhaps it was a funny skit or new friend you met while standing in line for the bathroom. How has Hearts at Home helped you, even if it is in a small way?
Two winners will be chosen at random, one from each category, to win a copy of my book A Life That Says Welcome. It is all about opening up your heart and home to others in the midst of being a busy mom. And it is a workshop I have lead at Hearts for many years.
You have until Wednesday night at midnight EST to leave your comment. The winners will be announced on Thursday morning when I’ll have a new post up in conjunction with the devotion that I wrote that will run on Proverbs 31 and Crosswalk.com on September 11th.
Good luck and happy mothering!
Sweet Mothering-Matters Blessings,
Karen
14 Responses to Keeping Hearts at Home
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Hi! I attended the conference in Grand Rapids last fall and one of the key note speakers (it might have even been you!) said something that really got me thinking. I’ve often said to my kids (8 and 5) that God knew I was the mommy they needed. What this speaker said was that sometimes she had to stop and about it from a different perspective. God gave me THIS child because I need …
In other words, just as much as God chose me to be my childrens’ mom, God chose my son for me so that I would learn patience and my daughter for me so that I would learn to find joy.
I don’t remember the exact way the speaker phrased it, but the thought has not left my heart.
I have gone to one conference, last Fall. The thing that helped me the most was the experience itself! I did get great ideas and thoughts from all the workshops I attended (including yours Karen! I was an instant fan!) However, the whole package…being with other moms that WERE JUST LIKE ME! And having time to process the information in between the workshops and over dinner afterward (and into the night) with my good friend that attended with me…with NO INTERRUPTIONS!! I missed my kids like crazy while I was gone (and can’t attend this year because I’m nursing my newest addition!) but it was so renewing and calming for me in the midst of the whirlwind that my life is right now. So ladies, GET TO ONE IF YOU CAN!! You won’t regret it.
Well, I know that right now one of my biggest struggles with being a mom is discipline. Especially because I have three very different children. One is the easy going – but I need a tough pop on the bottom to get the point across gal, the next one is it totally breaks my heart and my spirit when I get a pop on the bottom gal, and the other is a completely fun-loving little boy who just so badly wants to make mom and dad happy (he’s 5). However, consistent pops from a paddle tend to make him somewhat angry and more defiant. I am completely aware that the parents run the home, but it is very difficult to explain to three children why one gets a spanking and another doesn’t, etc. I hope this is clearer than I’m thinking it is…but this is really difficult for them to grasp and me to explain. Help!! Thank you for your faithfulness – your blog is wonderful!!
Oh, do I really have to narrow down my favorite things?!!! I’ve been a couple of times…. I always loved the “hats” skit, by the way!!!
One thing that Allie Pleiter said in her Chief Home Officer workshop made a difference in my mothering…. she talked about identifying your “hot button” as a mom…. what is the one thing that you could do in the morning that would help the rest of your day? For her…. lipstick. For me…. a shower. It makes all the difference in my day, in my mood, and in my mothering!!!
I have attended 3 Hearts at Home conferences. I have taken something new and different away each time. Without question, though, my favorite thing about a Hearts at Home conference is being in a room with hundreds of other moms who are deep in the trenches of motherhood right along with me.
Although, my sons are grown (or so their ages would make you believe), Hearts At Home looks like a wonderful site or those “I wanna tear my hair out” days. Or as I once said to a 3 y.o. after a “Mommy, Mommy, Mommy Day”, “Mommy doesn’t live here anymore.” To which he replied, “Well, Edie.”
My biggest challenge, having a 23 y.o. DS#2 who returned home to live and just after I’ve completely sanitized the bathroom, he needs to go! Still!
Edie
PS — could you someday address how you made it through waiting for your house to sell? I’m at 21 months and counting. Praying that the Sept. 26th closing will be for real this time!
My greatest challenge right now is being a mom, going to school, wife, starting a non profit, and just keeping the house picked up. My kids are not good at all with cleaning up. Many times I just end up doing it for them. I have a huge list of things to get done, and need to prioritize it…..well, maybe I should even write down the list, and cross things off. I am relying on my mind to not forget! I usually balance well, I don’t get bogged down. But starting the non profit, a passion of mine has gotten things a bit tricky!
Now off to visit the sites that you mentioned! maybe it will spark some organizational avenues for me!
Thanks
Shannon
My greatest challenge in motherhood is maintaining self-discipline to be consistent in disciplining my kids ages 2 and 4. I really enjoy the encouragement of the hearts at home newsletter and the website–reminds me that I am not alone in my struggles of mothering!
I have been blessed at every Hearts at Home conference I have attended through the years, but one comment that I heard from Jill Savage at probably the first conference I attended has always remained with me. Jill was talking about the importance of making our marriages a priority, even when our children are little and need us so much. Her comment was “You can never be a better mom than you are a wife.”
I really questioned that at first, until I realized that providing a safe, secure and happy home for our children first of all requires a strong marriage displaying love and respect for our spouse. (Speaking of love and respect, that’s another great Hearts at Home workshop)!
Thanks!
Hello–
New to Hearts at Home, I was excited to read all about it. I think it’s a great website and put it under “my favorites”. After browsing and reading, I realized what my biggest obstacle is:
Balance! Having my daughter at a young age….20….didn’t exactly give me time to prepare for motherhood. She’s 8 now and in third grade. I guess I’m still struggling with keeping things….well…sane. School, activities, friends, work, cleaning, cooking…..some days it seems like everything is backward.
I liked the article I read on that website regarding balance. I am going to really take a good hard look at the way things are in our house and start asking myself some serious questions…..
I know already a big area that’s out of balance….my marriage.
I also know that I need to learn to relax and not get annoyed or panicked if my daughter makes a mess….messes are ok sometimes!
So, I look forward to using that site more often. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, Karen!
I have attended three Hearts at Home conferences, and I cannot wait to go again! Many things have stayed with me from the various workshops and keynote speakers, but a couple in particular come to mind right now.
I remember Lisa Whelchel talked last year about how sometimes we get mad at our kids for acting like…kids. Instead, we can remember that they are indeed kids, acting the way kids act, and we can choose to accept the privilege of instructing and disciplining as mothers. This has really helped my perspective when my girls start acting up.
Then this spring, Jill Savage talked about “15″ (for the Hearts 15th anniversary), and challenged us to think about whether or not things that may very well seem big in the moment will even matter in fifteen years. Thinking this way has let my house stay messy at times so I could play with the girls. It has also forced me to allow some pretty creative fashion combinations on the girls in public settings.
I also loved you “Ducks in a Row” workshop, Karen, and I’m putting my “brain in a binder,” along with my Hearts at Home planner, to good use! Thank you!
Jessica
I have been blessed to go to the 2 years of Moms Days out in California….both conferences were so amazing! I never walke din to a conference and left so filled and full of inspiration.I love that all the speakers are women who are first grounded int he word and love their Lord God more then anything else,second they are commited to their marriages, children and homes. The speakers are warm, hilarious and inspiring! I love that you go and laugh at your role of Homemaker and also be taught how to delight in it as your profession! My most cherished moment..so many to make just one so I narrowed it to a few…1. I love Crimson bridge and their songs about moms and homemakeing…they are so funny..I love She is someones hero..it blessed me and spoke to me in a million ways…2. One year Jill Savage asked the moms to write out a time line of ten years and your childrens ages now and in ten years and yoru ages then and now and it really was powerfult o realize what a short time you have to train up your chidlren in the ways of the Lord and mostly to enjoy them before they are grown and off to make a world of their own…it has caused my heart to cease many more oppurtunities to laugh and share with my children! Thank you for the hearts at home ocnferences!!! They always make a powerful Godly impact on my life and journey in Homemaking!!!
I have wanted this book for so long
March 16,2009
I have just attended my 1st Hearts at home Conference this March 13,14. The mom’s night out was really inspiring with Go Fish group and 4ever singing. Sally Balke was a riot and it was just amazing singing and praying with such a huge group of women/ Saturday was jam packed with info and inspiration. Your talk Karen on organization and meal planning was great and I plan to implement freezer cooking to my home.My son is 23 and lives 5 hours from my husband and I but I’m still his MOM.
thanks for all you do..