Family | One Moms World Mom Blog

Awesome ways to create fun family summer evenings

June 18, 2013 by Jennifer Spink 1 Comment

A couple of years ago, I wrote this post for BabyCenter. It still holds true for our family and we are looking forward to lots of wonderful summer evenings. I just submitted an order to Amazon for a new ice cream maker. We can’t wait till it arrives this week and start making lots of ice cream. Happy Summer to you all!

7 ways to spend summer evenings with your awesome family

1. Campfire with s’mores – Let the sun set, and gather the family around a campfire. Marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers. Let the s’more making begin.

2. Board games on the lawn – Spread out a blanket on the lawn. Spray everyone down with the bug spray. Dive into your favorite board games and let the fun begin.

3. Make homemade ice cream – Ice cream is a hot item in our household. We love all kinds of ice cream, but I have to admit, there’s nothing that beats homemade. The girls love putting the ice in the ice cream maker and seeing the ice cream form right before our eyes.

4. Sprinkler and water hose fun – Get the kids in their bathing suits (and parents too now) for some some good ol’ family fun with the water hose and a sprinkler. You can even get out the slip-n-slide and have races to see who can slide the fastest. Although they may not admit it, kids secretly love being sprayed by the parents. The laughter will be contagious.

5. Nature walk – Take a little bag with you on a walk around your neighborhood and see how many different items you can find that are a part of nature. Leaves, rocks, flowers … you’ll be surprised how many goodies you can find on a short walk.

6. Lightning bugs – Now, come on, all kids must go on a lightning bug hunt at some point in their lives. My girls are obsessed with who can find the most lightning bugs. We have so much fun running around the yard and filling our containers full of lightning bugs. Just hearing the kids squeal with delight brings the biggest smile my face.

7. Watermelon fun - Slice a watermelon outside and see who can spit the seeds the furthest. Haha, ok, maybe not the best activity, but the kids love it. Just sitting outside and eating a slice of watermelon can be fun too if you love watermelon as much as my oldest daughter and I do!

Filed Under: Family Tagged With: family fun, summer family activities

Cutest Dad Gift Ever {Cuteness Overload}

June 17, 2013 by Jennifer Spink 1 Comment

Father’s Day was yesterday but that doesn’t mean we cannot celebrate the special Dads in our lives all year long.

We have been extra blessed this year with our grandson, Jackson. He melts all of our hearts so much with his personality and adorable smile. My stepdaughter came up with a great idea for Father’s Day but as I was thinking, this would be a great gift for any time of the year. Dad can sport this cute image on his desk, or use it in his car as a magnet, or even put on his dresser.

She did it so simple by using cardboard and drawing the letters by freehand. You only have to do one “D” and then do the letter A. Paint the letters with the color you choose. You have a gift that will always be cherished.

As we were taking pictures, I was able to do a little photo shoot with this sweet boy. Prepare yourself for the cuteness overload.

I think you can see why we are so proud of this baby boy right?

Filed Under: Baby, Family

Parents Be Involved With Your Child’s Social Media Outlets

May 29, 2013 by Jennifer Spink 1 Comment

We need to wake up and smell the roses… parents!

Kids all around the world are joining in social media outlets. I do not have a problem with this if the parents are involved with their child’s account. My oldest daughter has an instagram account. It is very alarming at the pictures that show up on her friend’s accounts. I check her account daily and she cannot accept friend requests unless she runs them by me. Also, she cannot follow other friends unless she asks me. If I see a picture come across her instragram account that does not look appropriate, she has to block that friend.

I have noticed some kids that are setting up multiple accounts and asking for followers. These are people that they have never met before and personally do not know. Parents need to realize that bad things can happen in social media if we do not keep all our bases covered with our children. Be present in your child’s daily life and all that they do in the online world. It is our responsibility to keep our child safe from harm.

Obviously, I am a social media geek. There is no denying on my part and of course the social media geek title is going to trickle down to my girls. It is already happening as mentioned above with my oldest daughter setting up an instragram account. The thing is, we need to teach social media responsibility or things can go negative very quickly.

1. Check your child’s accounts multiple times a day.

2. Ensure you know all passwords at all times.

3. Check all text messages and cell phone calls. Our provider, Verizon Wireless, allows this with special account management for families.

4. Set ground rules to where you have to approve of your child’s followers and requests.

5. Have open conversations with your child everyday so you know what is going on in their world.

It frightens me that some of my close friends are allowing their child to be in the social media world with no rules or limitations. It is time to wake up and realize what your child is doing in the technology world and be alarmed. Be prepared!

Filed Under: Family, Technology Tagged With: instagram, social media kids, technology family rules

I have lost half of my brain cells…

May 23, 2013 by Jennifer Spink 4 Comments

I am here to clean the air and say that half of my brain cells are gone. Admission sets you free right?

I can no longer pretend that I remember everything. Point in check with this morning’s conversation:

Madisyn: Mom, you can’t remember. Where is your phone?
Me: Why?
Madisyn: Because, I am going to set reminders on your phone.
Me: haha!!!

My child has spilled it to the world that her mom cannot remember anything. Honestly, I am not sure where my memory went but it is not here. Once I had my girls, my memory just got lost. Someone can tell me something and then 10 minutes later if I didn’t write it down, I am scratching my head trying to remember what they said?

Exams at school, the information will stay in my brain… but everyday life situations, I cannot remember anything. I use to lose my glasses all the time when I would take them off at night but now I have resolved that problem. The glasses go under my pillow every single night.

Maybe the gray hairs popping up on my head are destroying my memory further since my youngest L let it be known about my gray hairs.

Lyndsee: Mom let’s play I spy.
Me: Ok, sure! I spy something gray.
Lyndsee: Your hair.
Me: What?!

I love my girls. They will keep me in line for sure.

Filed Under: Big Sis, Family, Little Sis

Living life to the fullest….I’m back!

May 13, 2013 by Jennifer Spink 2 Comments

Wow! I had to take a much needed break from the blog in order to keep my sanity in the last two weeks. I was in the midst of final exams. Pretty stoked about being finished with school. It has been a long journey. I do want to go on and get a higher degree but will take some time off before taking that next leap. Five classes were on my plate this past semester, and I really thought I would be fine with shoving five all in one semester… crazy mistake. It all paid off though when grades were finalized with 3 A’s and 2 B’s. Sweet!

During the midst of the final exam craziness, my talented M was preparing for her first school theatre production. She was a seagull in the Little Mermaid. To say I was proud of her would probably be an understatement. She really had the audience laughing and exceeded everyone’s expectations as usual. I received an email from her play director yesterday with this:

“…Thank you for allowing M to perform with us. She has a future on stage.” My smile could be seen for miles. She makes us proud each and everyday.

As preparing for the production was not enough, M and I decided to run our first 5K together. She just amazes me. She pushed forward so much during the race and never wanted to give up even once. It was told to me by her though, that she wasn’t exactly looking forward to the next one. Too cute. We did have fun together though and I will not schedule the next one during the time she is putting on a huge production.

Time didn’t slow down this past weekend at all as my family spoiled and helped me celebrate a wonderful birthday/mother’s day weekend. I kept telling myself that I am very blessed. Family means so much to me and it is not the material things that I even look for, it is just spending quality time with my family. We had a cook-out yesterday and we are all looking forward to more over the Summer.

The weekend was topped off with some fro-yo!

Living life to the fullest…. Life is good!

Filed Under: Family

Monday Motivation – Enjoying the spirit at The Cove

April 22, 2013 by Jennifer Spink 2 Comments

It is an amazing feeling when the Holy Spirit surrounds you and gives you chills from top to bottom. Oh how I love Jesus!

We had the honor of visiting the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove last Sunday for their monthly “Evening at The Cove.” We were guests of The Cove and the following is a recap of our time.

Once you arrive at The Cove and walk into the lobby. You will feel the beautiful presence of the Lord.

Each month a special concert guest arrives at The Cove for a spiritual-filled evening concert. This month, grammy award winner Matthew West, was the special guest. In the weeks prior, the girls would talk about attending their first real concert. They have had the opportunity of seeing smaller-scale or catching glimpse of concerts but this was their first real concert. I couldn’t have been happier with Matthew West having this honor. The girls have been singing his songs for a long while now, and to see him in person was just mesmerizing to them.

Before the concert, we went on a little tour of The Cove. This is a spiritual retreat that I recommend you visiting with your church’s bible study, with your husband or with best friends. You are able to get away from the hustle and bustle of life and really get connected with the Lord on a personal level. Believe me, we all need this ever so often. It helps with growing our relationship with Christ and like the title, you really get to enjoy his spirit.

There is a prayer room with a prayer bench as portrayed above. Heaven on earth. Praying and overlooking the beautiful mountains. Oh the joy just fills my heart.

After our tour, we made our way into the dining room. The meal was delicious and there were plenty of gluten-free options. Win-win for the entire family.

Delicious food and we had time to head out onto the deck over-looking the Western North Carolina Mountains with our friends. Some people may say it was coincidence that we were at The Cove the same time as our Best Friends, but I say it was a total God thing. I had called Malise and said, I heard you were going to The Cove on April 14th? She said yes… I said we are too! God knew we needed our families together and we like to think he made this happen for us. God is so good.

It was so refreshing to talk and catch-up with our friends and enjoy God’s country. It is just so peaceful and time could have stood still.

It was time for the moment we had been waiting for – Matthew West! We all had smiles and just couldn’t wait to head in and praise God’s name. During the concert, I was moved to tears. To sit and watch our kids praising God and singing the songs word for word… my heart melted. We are raising our kids in this mixed-up world but yet they know who to follow in this world/life – God!

M mentioned to me that this was better than church service. She really was moved so much during the concert and I know God was dealing with her heart. At one time, she was brought to tears. This was a genuine-filled wholesome good time for the entire family.

Matthew West had us laughing, crying and praising all in one night. He is that good.

After the concert, Matthew greeted and talked with each and every guest. He also gave everyone the chance to take a photograph and give his autograph. You do not see many artists take the time with each family, but Matthew West did and I hear all the guests at The Evening at The Cove take this special time after each concert.

As you can see, this is a spirit-filled evening that you will enjoy so much. Check out The Cove website for future concerts. You will not be disappointed and I know you will leave The Cove feeling so uplifted!

Filed Under: Faith, Family, Family Travel Tagged With: Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove, family christian events

Make your own laundry detergent {Easy}

April 11, 2013 by Jennifer Spink 5 Comments

As you know, we are trying to cut costs out of our budget. My husband is actually the one that came up with the idea of us making our own laundry detergent. He made the trip to the store and bought the ingredients and we are loving how easy it is, not to mention how cheap!

You need the following ingredients:

- 1 cup of Borax
- 1 cup of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
- 1/2 bar of Fels-Naptha
-1/2 bar of soap (we use Lever 2000)

You do not have to use a 1/2 bar of soap. You can use the entire bar of Fels-Naptha but I just like using the soap to give it a more fresher scent.

Pour in 1 cup of Borax and 1 cup of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda into a bowl. Then use a grater to shred the bars of soap.

Stir ingredients really good until they are mixed well.

You are finished. It really is that easy. Use one tablespoon per laundry load. You can use two if you have a very soiled laundry. Your decision.

Filed Under: DIY, Family, Mom Reviews Tagged With: homemade laundry detergent

Monday Motivation: Keeping The Faith

April 8, 2013 by Jennifer Spink 1 Comment

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:7

Yesterday, my toes were stepped on quite a bit at church. For the last couple of weeks, I feel like I have been walking around in this funk, pity party I guess you could say. I couldn’t really snap myself out of it until yesterday. Today has been such a great and productive day and I feel like I am free from that funk. Thank goodness! It is too beautiful outside to be in a silly little funk.

The pastor preached his sermon on faith. Everything we do in this life hinges on faith. Faith is knowing you have a better place awaiting for you – heaven!

For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. – Hebrews 10:36

God does not do anything halfway so we should never doubt God. Doubt has been in my vocabulary a lot in the last couple of weeks and it should not have been. Why was I doubting God? I’m not really sure because my faith is what gets me through this life. Most people looking in from the outside would say that my faith is pretty huge. All of a sudden though, that faith was slipping out the door and finding it’s way somewhere else. Yesterday, I stood and asked for forgiveness from my God. I am so sorry that I was letting satan get under my skin and letting those doubting thoughts escape from my mind. God has a purpose for my life and I really do need to be patient.

In four short weeks, I will be done with college. This excites me so much and just maybe God is waiting on me to finish as to not overwhelm me. Maybe God is creating a job just for me and it is taking a little bit of time? Maybe God is taking my life in a total different direction than I am thinking? All I know, is I need to keep the faith. After yesterday’s sermon, I feel like a different person. Much more personable, much more optimistic about the future and leaning on faith.

But without faith, it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. – Hebrews 11:6

I hope these verses will motivate you on this beautiful Monday. If you have those doubts in your head, pray to God that he takes those thoughts from you and restore your faith. Faith can move mountains my friends!

Filed Under: Faith, Family

Weathering through the storms

April 2, 2013 by Jennifer Spink 6 Comments

I logged on Facebook this evening and immediately had this status pop up in my newsfeed:

One day it will all come together and everything will make sense. You will see God’s amazing plan taking you places you’ve never dreamed of. – Joel Osteen

This morning, I woke up and after going to bed last night discouraged, knew I needed to uplift myself in prayer. Each week since January 1, I feel like it has been dreadful news that keeps piling up. Usually, I am pretty good under pressure but this last week has kicked me down. L was diagnosed with the flu, we are not sure which strain, and then just a few short days later, I was diagnosed with the flu. I have never been that sick in my life. I do have to say, I am very thankful for Tamiflu. If you ever get the flu. I highly recommend getting the Tamiflu within the first 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. It helped shorten both L and my flu symptoms. By Saturday evening, I was back in the land of the living. Thank goodness.

During last week, we had also moved to our smaller home. I will not lie or try to cover up, it was the hardest move we have ever experienced. How did we accumulate so much stuff? There was no way we could have fully prepared for this move. Downsizing from a 2500 sq. ft. house to a 1100 sq. ft house has been pretty challenging. Both girls have actually done pretty awesome with the move and are just rolling with the punches. It is Hubby and I that are having such a difficult time. Once we are able to get through all this stuff and make it our home, things will be better. For now, I have to thank God for helping us put this roof over our heads and a warm place to sleep every night even if it is us sleeping on the floor for now. God will never forsaken us and even though he will bring us through trials, I have to go back to the above status. All of this is not making sense to me right now, but it will all come together and we will be looking out over this amazing direction that God is taking our family.

For now, I need to continue to be patient and quit trying to rush things. It doesn’t matter if I have not heard back from all the job applications I have submitted, it doesn’t matter that I have missed SO many college days here in my last full-semester due to sickness and hospital stays, it doesn’t matter that things keep happening to squash my dreams.. all that matters is that I stay positive and faithful to remember this is all in God’s timing – not Jen’s timing.

Be still my heart!

Filed Under: Faith, Family

Sharing a proud mom moment!

March 18, 2013 by Jennifer Spink 2 Comments

I feel like every waking hour is a proud mom moment. Most people probably would say that I boast way too much about my girls, but I love sharing about these two precious gems. Growing up, I always wanted to be a mom and there are times that I need to pinch myself. Have I really been a mom for over ten years? M is growing up entirely too fast. She is such a young lady and the conversations that we have just blow my mind. I still sneak in lots of hugs and kisses though. AND, she still loves that I walk her to her classroom. I know my time is drawing short on that one.

Last week, the girls’ school held their Spring Showcase. Since I am the PTO President of their school, I helped put together the event and unfortunately could not watch the awesome talent. I did take a break for 5 minutes though and sneak in to see my sweet M. The smile was reaching across my face so big. She is amazing and let it be known that if I attempted to move my feet as fast as she does, my face would be planted on the floor. Check out her clogging performance.

It’s fine to brag right?

Filed Under: Big Sis, Family

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Awesome ways to create fun family summer evenings

Cutest Dad Gift Ever {Cuteness Overload}

I have lost half of my brain cells…

Living life to the fullest….I’m back!

Monday Motivation – Enjoying the spirit at The Cove

Make your own laundry detergent {Easy}

Monday Motivation: Keeping The Faith

Weathering through the storms

Sharing a proud mom moment!

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