Fun Summer Camps to Attend in North Carolina

 

Summer is fast approaching and already we can hear the kids asking “What are we doing this summer”?

Summer camps can be loads of fun especially when there are tons to chose from. I am from North Carolina so I will be listing the Summer Camps in my area/state and encourage those that are not in my state to Google your state to see what Summer Camps are available in your state.

AshevilleSummerCamps.com 

CharlotteSummerCamps.org

DurhamSummerCamps.com

FayettevilleSummerCamps.com

GreensboroSummerCamps.com

RaleighSummerCamps.org

WilmingtonSummerCamps.com

WScamps.com (Winston-Salem)

How can parents prepare their children for attending their first summer camp?

1. Day camps are more fun when children know at least one other camper who will be attending. Don't assume that they will be in the same group, let the camp director know your preferences when you initially register your child.
2. If a camp facility is open when you register for camp, take a tour. If not, take a virtual tour of the facility through looking on their website. The more familiar your child is with the environment, the less overwhelming he/she will feel.
3. Watch videos and look at photos of other campers having fun at camp. Look on the camp website and Google the camp name for additional postings.
4. Print out the camp schedule for your child to read about a typical day at camp---from the meals, free time, activities, to the bedtime routines.
5. For residential camps, make sure that this isn't the first time your child will be sleeping away from home. Let them practice overcoming their separation anxiety with a couple of sleep-overs with friends or family before going to a residential camp. Write a letter (or email) to the camp director with any questions.

How do parents find is a summer camp has had any complaints filed against them?

• Look up the camp on the Better Business Bureau for any grievances. (BBB.org)
• Ask your friends through social media (Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc.) if they have had any positive or negative experiences with the camp. Your friends will tell you!
  

When should teens start sending in their resumes to camp directors for summer jobs?

NOW. Don't wait. With the high levels of unemployment, there will be a tremendous competition for jobs. Send follow-up emails and make phone calls to show your interest. Camp Directors want fun camp counselors who campers will enjoy being around, while also respecting and obeying them. The more experience you have working with kids, the better. Volunteer with your local schools, YMCA, churches, scouts, and other civic organizations to build your experience levels.

What qualities should parents look for in a great summer camp?

• A high percentage of returning campers shows that the campers had fun last year.
• A low camper-to-counselor ratio. 10:1 is good. 5:1 is great!
• Staff trained in CPR, first aid skills, and conflict resolution techniques.
• Low staff-turnover shows good experience.

If my child takes medication during the school year, should my child take it for summer camp?

1. First, consult with your child's pediatrician before ever deciding to stop treating your child with any medication.
2. Most children with allergy, asthma, diabetes, attention and impulsivity conditions are not "healed" during the summer months. Many times it can be worse with the heat, additional exercise, and being outside. Children with medical issues usually need special treatment to help them enjoy their summer camp experience the most.
3. For children who take medication for their attention or impulsivity, it can be especially hard for them to listen to instructions, get along with peers, and control their impulses when they are not on medication.

Lots to do in our state. I pray that your summer is filled with many blessings and memories!

Would love to hear what camp you attended or plan on attending!

Serving Him Boldly,

Adventures in Odyssey A.C.T.S. Blog Tour

 

I wrote this post on behalf of Adventures in Odyssey and Tyndale. I received Adventures in Odyssey Our Favorites in exchange for an honest review. This is not a sponsored review and all views and opinions are of my own and were not influenced in anyway.

In our home we LOVE Adventure in Odyssey and I am happy to team up with them this summer to share a new program called A.C.T.S. (A Call To Serve).

Adventures in Odyssey, the beloved audio series from Focus on the Family, has encouraged kids toward a stronger faith for 25 years. Whit, Connie, Eugene, and the other loveable characters from Odyssey have shared countless adventures with kids across the world in the classic audio dramas, books, videos, and devotionals, fulfilling the AIO promise to help kids discover, imagine, and grow.

This summer, Adventures in Odyssey is joining with Christian bookstores across the country, inviting kids to participate in a Summer of Service. They’re promoting the biblical message, “When you serve, everybody wins,” encouraging kids to serve their families, their communities, and their world. Whether it’s baking cookies for an elderly neighbor or putting together a care package for missionaries overseas, kids will discover that serving can be a blast!

How the A.C.T.S. (A Call to Service) challenge and contest works:

Kids who join A.C.T.S. can pick up a service log and collect fun character stickers for hours served at participating bookstores throughout the summer, or download a serving log online at whitsend.org. At the end of the summer, kids can record and upload a short video telling how they serve and why they’d like to become an Adventures in Odyssey Ambassador.

A hundred winners will get the brand new AIO Album, and after online voting, two grand prize winners (one boy and one girl) will get to travel on an exciting Good-Goers Mission Based Adventure trip to another country with a parent! The out-of-country destination will be announced on a live podcast May 22—hosted by AIO actors Katie Leigh (Connie) and Chris Anthony (Chris)—which you can watch at whitsend.org/acts. You don’t want to miss it!

Why serve?

Our culture puts an extravagant amount of energy into raising kids who will grow up to feel good about themselves. In schools, clubs, homes, and even at church, adults have made a decided effort to bolster children’s “self-esteem” –not by actually encouraging kids do something that’s worthwhile, but by simply telling them they are important and valuable.

At the turn of the century, researchers predicted that the next generation would respond to these efforts of raising self-esteem by being filled with optimism and civic duty. Unfortunately, recent research shows the opposite. Kids coming of age today are more self-centered, disrespectful of authority, and depressed than ever before.

In a very real way, then, the best path toward building selfless, confident children is to help and encourage them toward a growing and thriving faith in God. And that includes obedience to what God teaches—not because it makes kids feel good, although it often does—but because they’re following God’s instructions to love Him and serve others. That builds a faith they can count on and carry with them into adulthood—which is the greatest gift any parent can bestow on their child.

My children already serve and they don’t even realize it. I am a small group Leader for woman and my son serves in child care. He loves it and is so great with kids. I love that this helps my son to learn that putting others needs above his own builds up his compassion for others. 

To be able to find more ways for my children to serve is always exciting!

Check out these Freebies!

The free downloadable mp3 file of the AIO Service episode, available here
http://www.tyndale.com/blog/index.php/acts-a-call-to-serve/
(note: downloads are only accessible through this link)

The free PDF download of summer service ideas for kids, also available here
http://www.tyndale.com/blog/index.php/acts-a-call-to-serve/

Serving Him Boldly,

Mothering an Unbeliever

 

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” Proverbs 22:6

As mom we want what is best for our children, all the time. However in our walks with Christ each person has to make the decision to follow Him themselves.

No matter how much we as moms want to take our kids hands and guide them right into Heaven, that is just not how God planned it.

It’s a personal one on one relationship with Jesus that provides us with the way into Heaven.

What happens when one of our children has not surrenders their life over to Christ? How do we mother them while their walking in sin?

On our knees in prayer for their salvation daily is how!

This has been one of the biggest challenges in my walk to date. I have 3 sons {22, 15 & 10} and my oldest son was a prodigal for 4 years before coming home on July 19, 2012.

Though my son believes there is a God he has not surrendered his life over to Him.

Does this change the way I mother him?

Yes it does!

I have to fully trust in God with my child and let Him guide my every step. I have to let God be in full control for the sake of my son’s salvation. I have to lose myself daily and love my son the way that God loves him.

Through all of his sin until he surrenders his life over to Christ!

I am not going to lie, this is hard stuff.

When my son decides he doesn’t want to attend church with us, I feel my flesh flare up, to the point of getting upset that he is not attending.

When we are having family night and my son would rather sneak out the door to do what he wants to do instead of building relationship, my flesh flares up with disappointment with the time he is missing out on.

To watch the broken promises that are broken time and time again when my son’s own needs are put above his brothers. My flesh wants to scream out and say you are a role model to these little ones, take it seriously.

To see the looks on my younger sons face when their brother has let them down yet again.

When the taking advantage is more then I can bare, my flesh flares up to say enough is enough.

My other sons do not understand why we chose to do some of things we do for our son. And that is ok. We share with them this is how we love someone who is not walking with the Lord right where they are in their sin. They need more grace because they no not what they do as we do.

Instead of giving into my flesh, I pray, pray & pray! I let the Lord take this burden so that He can draw my son close to Him. I pray for strength to love my son like He loves him. To embrace the hope of that day when my son surrenders his life over to Christ.

Then everything will make more sense mothering him differently.

Walking out Christ in front of our unbelieving children is how God works in their life. They will see God through our love for them. Even though they are walking in sin they see that we are a safe place for them to come.

We have to hold on to the fact that God is in control and all He wants from us is obedience! To seek Him and let Him do His work. That hope is what keeps us loving our unbelieving child right into the arms of Christ.

Colossians 4:5–6 “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person”

Do you have an unbelieving child that you are mothering? Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Tune in next week as I share “12 Ways to Love Your Unbelieving Child”

Serving Him Boldly,

Hope to see you next weekend in Spartenburg SC for Teach Them Diligently Homeschool Conference May 2-4th

Preparing For Teach Them Diligently Conference and What to Bring

It is finally here, Teach Them Diligently Spartenburg SC. I am so excited I can hardly see straight. Will I see YOU there? There is still time to attend, they have registration at the door $60.

I first heard about this conference last year however I heard about it late and was not able to attend.

Now my family is 2 days from the big event. I personally am looking forward to seeing how God will move in our Homeschooling and family through this event.

Make sure to follow along with us by using hashtag #HSTTD and don't forget to share a little love with @TeachDiligently.

Now what to Bring to a Teach Them Diligently Convention is always a question that gets ask. Here is my list and please leave a comment if I forgot to add something.

One of the most important things is a bag to carry all your things in. The vendors love to load you up with tons of information about their products and a place is needed to store these items. Not to worry though TTD is giving you this beautiful tote bag to carry around when you check in.  Is it not gorgeous?

Phone/Tablet/Ipad/laptop:  what ever works best for you to keep track of all the great information you will be receiving from the speakers. If you are techy savvy you can tweet about the conference and speakers. I would also bring along a notepad incase there is stuff you would rather hand write.  You never know when you will need to snap a picture!

Chargers: This is a necessity to never leave home without. Bringing a cord that you can plug all your devices into at once would be your best bet. This way you don’t miss important pictures, speakers and friends.

Snacks/drinks: I truly am all about saving a dime and bringing as much food that I can so that we don’t have to eat out is a must in our home. Most of the hotels provide a little frig that can be stocked with yummy healthy snacks. Some of my favorites are: mason jar salads, bars, water, trail mix, and plenty of chocolate.

Curriculum list: This is a most. Looking over the vendors BEFORE you arrive will help you go in and stick to exactly what you are looking for. Know in advance just how much you want to spend, take cash out, and stick to your budget. Nothing wrong with finding out info from other vendors. This part can be over whelming because there are a lot of choices out there. Pray about what you are looking for and don’t jump on every curriculum that you come across.

Extra suitcase: I know right your saying extra suitcase, I already have to bring enough. That is right however trust me when I say you will LEAVE WITH MORE THEN YOU CAME WITH. You will be able to take curriculums home with you along with vendors sending you home with info about their products. With long list of amazing vendors you will be heading home with tons. So be prepared with an extra suitcase to bring more stuff home.

Open Mind: Give God plenty of room to work through the conference. He knows your struggles and just what you will need to take away from the conference. You will truly be blessed by each speaker you attend and vendor you visit.

Keep this in Mind at Convention

The speakers you are hearing are real people like us. They are walking out this journey as homeschool families as well and take time to share their walks with us. They all will have lots of great advice.

Ask tons of questions.

Meet as many homeschool families as you can. This will bless you more then you will know. With Facebook  you can get encouraged long passed the conference. Nothing like meeting other like minded families to walk this journey together. Remember we are all on the same team!

Pray and ask the Lord to prepare your heart to hear what He has for your homeschool. This journey has lots of ups and downs however God is in control. Seeking Him through it all helps us to see the reward oneday.

I hope to see you Spartenburg SC this weekend. If you are unable to attend there, 2 more amazing events will be coming to Nashville TN and Omaha NE. If you can’t get to any of these you can head to the Marketplaces.

Would love to hear how God worked through any one of the conferences. Please stop back by and share your thoughts!

Have a great time!

Serving Him Boldly,

 

Excited to Introduce You to Dew Learning ~Online Christian Curriculum

 

This is a sponsor post. I did receive compensation for sharing this new company with you,  however I chose who I work with carefully based on if I would use it myself and if it would benefit my readers.

I am so excited to introduce you to a new K12 online Christian curriculum, Dew Learning.  They are  a computer/Ipad based full curriculum for K-12 founded on Christian faith.

With so many homeschool curriculum's out there knowing what is out there is always helpful in adding to your homeschool.

There are many seasons that we go through in our homeschool journey and finding curriculum's that fit during those seasons is always a blessing. In doing so, it is important to know who is teaching our children.

We don’t just want anyone with a view teaching our children. We want someone who is striving to do just that, share in our faith, without comprising. I personally love how Dew Learning has sewed Christ into their curriculum throughout all grades.

You can get just one subject or all subjects. Which makes things easy in keeping everything in one place and helping in every way possible.

Dew Learning has the following “Features”

• Online Teachers
• Lectures
• Games/Quizzes
• 24/7 Access
• PDF Worksheets
• Daily Lessons

Here is an example of how their assignments are put together:

• Art- 72 lessons or 2 days a week
• Bible- 180 lessons or 5 days a week
• Language Arts- 180 lessons or 5 days a week
• Math- 180 lessons or 5 days a week
• Music- 72 lessons or 2 days a week
• PE/Health- 72 lessons or 2 days a week
• Science- 108 lessons or 3 days a week
• Social Studies- 108 lessons or 3 days a week

Dew Learning launched their iPad and online curriculum for grades kindergarten through fourth grade for their international audience. In the summer of 2014, they will provide curriculum through the twelfth grade.

Find out more on their site and get registered to win an iPad or a year’s worth of curriculum!

Serving Him Boldly,

Join me at Teach Them Diligently Convention in Spartenburg SC May 2-4 2013. There is still time to get signed up! Hope to see you there!

Biblical Friendship

 

Christ’s friendship gives us everlasting love, direction, and revelation of His will for our life.

As I get closer to the Lord I am in need more and more of Biblical Friendships. Friends who will stand up in courage and confront sin in my life. One that will hold me up when I stumble.

The world is getting darker and darker these days and Biblical Friendships are not easy to come by. Why? Because it takes humility, investment of our time, and lots of forgiveness for a friendship to last.

Biblical Friendships are worth investing in.

AS women we go through many seasons in our lives and having biblical friendships with women who will help carry the burdens with us, helps bring us through.

For us to think that only one friend can carry all our burdens is to believe the LIE that the enemy has threw on us. God wants us to be friends with women who are different.

Its how we grow.

Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another”

  

Every woman that comes into our life has a story, a struggle and a testimony to share with us that will draw us closer to Him.

These women are part of our journey, they help shape us into who we are. This is why strong biblical friendships around are a must. The goal is to glorify God. To get picked up when we fall, to cry with you, to hold you up when you can’t stand, to provide you with those encouraging words that only she can give, to sit and listen without a word, to embrace you with love the way that Christ does, to invest all of herself in the friendship and most of will pray earnestly for you anytime.

We must protect our friendships.

The enemy is always out ready to devour our friendships.

~Jealousy – turning us against each other by holding a possession to a friend – thinking one friend has more to offer then the other –{That’s a LIE}

~Self Pity- when we take our eyes off of Christ we will fall into the pity party – we will take out of context something a friend did as a way to hurt us on purpose – {That is a LIE}

~Competition – Satan will use competition to drive us apart – to make us feel like we are not good enough  or could never measure up – {That is a LIE}

~Pride – believing that we don’t need our friendships that we can take care of everything ourselves – not allowing our friends to speak in our lives – {That’s a LIE}

Know that our friendships WILL let us down. We are all sinners and fall short every single day. Our friendships have a goal and that is to draw closer to the Lord.      {some wisdom taking from Debra Bell}

~Never give up on the friendship

~Always believe the best

~Speak truth in LOVE

~Let our friendship cover a multitude of sins

~Forgive a lot

~Show humility often

~Pray for the friendships daily

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 will keep our friendships strong and Christ-centered. May we hold fast to these words to keep our friendships Christ-centered!

“Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others. it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

I love the sweet friends that I have around me. My friend Heather from Upside Down Homeschooling has truly been a blessing to me. She is shown below:

 

We are both walking out completely different walks however we seem to have a balance. It truly would be no fun if we were all alike, right?

So I encourage you sweet sisters, be a friend!

Surround yourself with women who love the Lord!

Forgive a lot – let your friendships be a light in this world – let the Lord lead your friendships – pray a lot – laugh a lot – most of all bring it all back to Him~

Will you join me?

 

Join me at Teach Them Diligently Convention in Spartenburg SC May 2-4 2013. There is still time to get signed up! Hope to see you there!

More of You, Jesus and Less of Me, Please

 

It starts with a hurt feelings……..

Which then opens up for the enemy to flood us with all the wrongs that have happen over our life.

When we take our eyes off of Christ all the flaws start to show. We start wondering what God sees in us. That we can not possibly measure up!

Then it hits you, you are sitting having a pity party with yourself. You stop and take a step back and ask, “how did I get here?'”

I am reminded when this happens, that the enemy is VERY real, and is always lurking around to kill, steal and destroy our relationship with Christ. He is always turning us against each other.

We must notice fast when the enemy is working and run for Jesus quickly. He is waiting to bring us comfort & peace that only comes from Him. Surround ourselves with Christ-centered sisters who love the Lord and will point us to Christ in these times of need.

We do NOT HAVE TIME for these interruptions by the enemy, we have work to accomplish for Christ. We want more of Him and less of us!

To accomplish this we must die to self every single day, minute and hour if needed. Pray that the Lord will show us how to love like He does. To see the finish work in every one that we come into contact with, instead of their flaws. Embrace every moment that is put in front of us for Christ.

It is ALL about Him!

What will you do to have More of Jesus and Less of you? Would love to hear in the comments below!

Serving Him Boldly,

Join me at Teach Them Diligently Convention in Spartenburg SC May 2-4 2013. There is still time to get signed up! Hope to see you there!

Why a New Homeschooling Family Would Attend Teach Them Diligently Conference

 

Teach Them Diligently is coming to Spartenburg SC May 2nd-4th and we are going! Being a fairly new homeschooling family, this is our second year, we need all the encouragement that we can get.

I will be taking my whole family because there is something for each one of us to deepen our walks with Christ during our Homeschool years.

Teach Them Diligently thought of everything when they put this convention together. Each family member has a role during the homeschool years and Teach Them Diligently made it easy by providing an amazing speaker list to bring each of us encouragement.  Here are just a few:

    

 

My husband will be enjoying Men’s Breakfast with speaker Stephen Kendrick {producer from Fireproof & Courageous} which I am very excited about! Husbands play such an important role in our homeschool that getting them involved in coming to a Homeschool Convention will be such a blessing.

Most importantly attending a Teach Them Diligently Convention will fill your tank in being encouraged through other homeschool families, finding curriculum's that will fit your families needs, most of all drawing closer to our Savior through each of the classes that are attended.

Have a baby? What about an active child? No worries, Teach Them Diligently thought of this as well. There will be a special room for little ones to play with a close circuit TV so that you don’t miss a class! Amazing!

Early bird pricing ends tonight at midnight! Register your family for only $45 today because tomorrow the price goes up to $55!

Stay tuned there will be MORE announcements to come from Teach Them Diligently! I will be blogging from Sparentburg SC and I hope that I get to meet YOU!

Would love to hear your thoughts or concerns about attending a Homeschool Convention in the comments below?

Serving Him Boldly,

Join me at Teach Them Diligently Convention in Spartenburg SC May 2-4 2013. There is still time to get signed up! Hope to see you there!

“The Bible” TV Series

I am very excited to share this with you all today! Motive Entertainment {“The Passion of the Christ” and “Chronicles of Narnia”} sent me an e-mail letting me know about a new epic TV mini-series called “The Bible.”

This will be premiering on the History Channel THIS Sunday, March 3, 2013 and has been endorsed by Focus on the Family, Women of Faith, Parents Television Council, the Dove Foundation and several other family-friendly organizations.

Motive Entertainment says:

From Executive Producers Roma Downey and Mark Burnett comes The Bible — an epic 10-part mini-series retelling stories from the Scriptures for a whole new generation. Breathtaking in scope and scale, The Bible features powerful performances, exotic locales and dazzling visual effects that breathe spectacular life into the dramatic tales of faith and courage from Genesis through Revelation. This historic television event is sure to entertain and inspire the whole family. ”The Bible” Series premieres this Sunday, 3.3.13 on History Channel at 8/7c.

Visit http://www.bibleseriesresources.com for more information.

An intro from Roma {Touched by an Angel}  and Mark {The Voice, Survivor}:

Also here is a Sneak Peak at the “The Bible” series airing THIS Sunday, that you wont want to miss!

I am very excited about this project and to be apart of getting the word out. What better way to get Gods word out there then through TV. I am thankful to Roma Downey and Mark Burnett for standing boldly for God in putting this series together.

Would you join us praying that the Lord would be glorified in the airing of this series. That many would come to know Jesus through this series! For each person that is involved in this series. That Gods name would be made GREAT!

Will YOU be joining us in watching this series? Would love to know if you are watching with us in the comments below!

Serving Him Boldly,

Join me at Teach Them Diligently Convention in Spartenburg SC May 2-4 2013. There is still time to get signed up! Hope to see you there!

“Single Girl” Book Review by Ashley Schnarr

 

Having been married for 12 years I could not imagine being single in our world today. Most of my ministry has been ministering to married women however recently the Lord has open up the doors to minister to single women.

Ashley Schnarr, a Christian blogger came out with a book called “Single Girl:the single woman’s guide to life, liberty and the pursuit of godliness” and it could not have came at a better time for my readers and the sweet sisters that I am ministering to.

When she contacted me to review her new book I was extremely excited because not only would I get more equipped to minister to my single readers, my readers would be very encouraged on how to walk this walk out with God being single.

As I was reading “Single Girl: the single woman’s guide to life liberty and the pursuit of godliness” all I could think about was I wish that there was a book like this when I was single. Maybe I would have been more equipped. Though this is not a replacement for the bible and Gods take on how to live a life out single, Ashley’s book goes great beside it.

I believe that Ashley hit the nail on the head with this book. She covers all the struggles that one would face being single and helps equip through her own struggles.

Who is this book for?

Single women: For every woman that is walking with the Lord single, this book is a great add to Gods word. Learning from someone that is walking this walk with God, one will gain tons of wisdom.

Ministering young women: this book is packed with wisdom in helping one pour into the lives of young women around you. There is a mentor book that goes along with this book.

Moms with daughters: Equipping ourselves to help our daughters embracing their singleness would be a blessing. This book will give them a vision on how to walk this walk out single, God’s way.

Ashley lays it all out on how to walk this walk out single with grace. Her biblical vision keeps us on track with God. This book is packed with practical and amazing advice on how to walk this walk out during our singleness and contentment.

I am sure by now you are wondering what this book is packed with?

Do you wonder about modesty? Going to college? Dating v/s Courting? Working from home? Ashley covers these very topics with such grace and great detail. She truly put a lot into sharing on each topic.

Take a peak at some of the other chapters:

Chapter 1- Myths About Your Singleness
Chapter 2- Pursuing God During the Single Years
Chapter 3- Preparing for the Future
Chapter 4- Jobs and Ministries For the Single Woman
Chapter 5- Discovering Your Identity
Chapter 6- Beauty For the Single Girl
Chapter 7- Guys & Relationships
Chapter 8- The Joy of Singleness

Don’t waste another moment head on over and pick your copy up today here. For less the $5, it is worth every penny!

Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion

Serving Him Boldly,

Join me at Teach Them Diligently Convention in Spartenburg SC May 2-4 2013. There is still time to get signed up! Hope to see you there!