God's Leading in My Life

Used with Permission by Cathy Dudley
 

I'm a retired Physical Therapist ... and although I don't remember asking God what I should do, clearly He was directing me.  It turned out that my education and training had prepared me well to be a good candidate when our church needed a teacher to begin a Special Needs Sunday School class.  You see, class members had various physical and mental disabilities.  Yes, God had gotten me ready for this future opportunity.  And Wow - did I love it!  Working on their lessons often required simplifying the Gospel message so it was easier to understand.  I didn't realize it then, but some of these simple spiritual nuggets would pop up again.

Now I am a Grammy to 6 precious little ones!  With retirement, I have had more time for personal devotions and just sitting quietly with my Lord.  I bought a new Bible, called the Grandmother's Bible.  Sprinkled throughout the scriptures were printed little stories and prayers from over 100 well known Grandmas, all emphasizing the importance of sharing your faith with the next generation.  Well, before long, God had me excited about writing a book for my grandchildren.  It's entitled "TODDLER THEOLOGY Childlike Faith for Everyone." God totally gave me the format, written in first person, as well as the unique way of describing His gift of salvation.

As Mothers, there are so many things we want our children to "know." Topics range from correctly naming colors and counting to 100 ... to playing well with others and respecting adults.  We want them to be successful in school and in life, and they learn an incredible amount in their first few years.  But, when it comes to what matters most, I think you'll agree with me, let's introduce our children to the Savior of the world!  

The book, "Toddler Theology : Childlike Faith for Everyone" is available on line through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.  It is also carried in a few local stores in the Roanoke, Virginia vicinity. Please visit me at www.facebook.com/toddlertheology, I'd really like to hear from you!
Thank you and BLESSINGS! 

Teething Tips for Babies and Toddlers

by Lois Breneman - Heart to Heart - August, 2014

You might want to print out this article and tape it to the inside of your kitchen cabinet! 

Grandmas, this is for you as well,  for times when you babysit or have your families visiting.

A screaming baby or toddler, because of teething discomfort, can set the entire family on edge, especially when you can't seem to find anything that eases the gum irritation for your precious little one.  Many times rocking, bouncing, walking the floor with him, or diverting his attention just doesn't cut it.  Night time teething is especially difficult when the parents often get robbed of their much-needed rest.  I saw a cute onsie in a store the other day that said, "Nobody gets to sleep until I say so!"  In that case, I'll try to help you fill your teething remedy arsenal with possible solutions.

Around three months of age a baby usually begins teething, and by the time he is three years old, twenty baby teeth will have broken through his gums.  Ouch!  Symptoms of teething are drooling, irritability, loss of appetite, having trouble sleeping, tender gums, and chewing on soft and firm objects.  For our babies, I thought the canine teeth were the most difficult.  Some babies and toddlers feel teething irritation more intensely, while others don't seem to be bothered much.

Diluting a drop or two of clove essential oil with olive oil or coconut oil, numbs the gums, and helps to remove severe discomfort of the gums for babies and children.  It works very well for adult tooth irritation as well.  Not all brands of essential oils are safe to use internally though.  I learned at a health food store that even the brands they carried which say 100% pure are not safe to be ingested.  One brand I know that is completely safe to be taken internally, however, is the one I use.

FDA regulations forbid Wellness Advocates or distributors of essential oil companies, as I am, to mention the brand name in their blogs or websites.  We also may not mention names of blends by our company!  What will the government demand next?  So if you want to know specifics, please e-mail me.

Years ago, before I got involved in essential oils, I used frozen fish sticks for my daughter's teething discomfort.  That worked great!  I was willing to put up with the fishy smell when the frozen fish actually calmed down my teething toddler.  It's interesting that she is the one who introduced me to this esssential oil company years later.

A little soft giraffe was the favorite teething toy for all three of our children - easy to grab onto, and the long neck and head were perfect for gnawing on.  Poor giraffe!  There are all kinds of teething toys available that can be kept in the freezer for numbing the irritated gums.

Rolled-up wet baby wash clothes, stored in a plastic bag in the freezer, come in handy and babies love chewing on these, even if they don't last long.

Fruit popsicles, either homemade or bought, help numb the gums. Blend strawberries and bananas for natural sweetness without adding sugar.  If you need to add sweetness to another blend of fruit, use pure stevia.

Lorna Wanner, a mother of five, in Virginia, gave this recommendation:  "I was told of a teething remedy that has proved very effective.  Instead of Oragel, rub a small amount of  liquid Benadryl on the baby's gums.  This worked like nothing else!  But what I didn't realize is that it worked for me as well when I had agony with a tooth myself later."

Many moms have found the "Mesh Feeder" to be a wonderful soothing remedy for teething ittitation.  Another Heart to Heart subscriber, Lauren Britton, a mother of four in Virginia, says, "A frozen banana in a mesh feeder continues to be THE best teething remedy...4 kids tested - 4 kids approved."

Meagan DeLong, mother of four, also in Virginia, says, "I have used the Baltic Amber teething necklaces with my last two babies and I do think they are helpful, although it is hard to judge perfectly since teething discomfort comes and goes. They are just for wearing, not chewing, and the *succinic acid, a naturally occurring component in amber, is absorbed through the skin.  Some moms are afraid to let their babies wear them at night and just use them during the day and that would be the safest, but most moms I know let their babies wear them all the time and I have as well.  The sizing is very important.  You just have to make sure it is not long enough for the baby to notice to be able to grab or chew.  The stones are usually double knotted in between each one so if the necklace breaks, none of the stones fall off. 

Meagan adds, "I also use Hylands homeopathic teething tablets and if the discomfort is really bad and I know which tooth it is, I will rub Herbs for Kids Gummomile oil on it, as a natural alternative to Oragel.  My favorite teething toy is Zoli Gummy Sticks and I have also used a cold apple, frozen blueberries, and frozen banana in a mesh feeder as well.

Note:

* Baltic Amber teething necklaces are sold by Bouncy Baby Boutique.

They report that it is the succinic acid, a naturally occurring component in amber, that makes it so effective. Succinic acid is a natural teething discomfort reliever, anti-inflammatory, and a central nervous system calmer. It is so effective on babies and small children because it simultaneously eases their pain while also having a strong soothing effect on their nervous system, all with zero side effects!
 
(New FDA regulations do not allow me to mention the brand of essential oils I use or tell more specifically how they help so many "irritations" or "discomforts" in life, since I am a Health Advocate, meaning I get their great discount.  If you would like to know more about the therapeutic grade of essential oils I use and trust, please e-mail me and ask.)

ABC Scripture Memory Verses

by Lois Breneman - Heart to Heart - 2013

Parents, this is a great way to teach your small children the Word of God and have fun at the same time!  If you find a more suitable verse to substitute for any of the letters, please go ahead, to make this list work best for you and your children!   This concept of putting a scripture verse with each letter of the alphabet is a great activity for any age - even adults - to do while lying in bed, unable to sleep.  I've done it many times!

A...All scripture is inspired by God. (II Timothy 3:16)
B...Be ye kind to one another, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you. (Eph. 4:32)
C...Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (Eph. 6:1)
D...Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. (Luke 6:31)
E...Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure and whether it be right. (Prov. 20:11)
F...For He will give His angels charge concerning you to guard you in all your ways. (Psm. 91:11)
G...God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him has everlasting life. (John 3:16)
H...He who walks with wise men will be wise. (Prov. 13:20)
I...I was glad when they said unto me, "Let us go into the house of the Lord." (Psm. 122:1)
J...Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever. (Heb. 13:8)
K...Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. (Psm. 34:14)
L...Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matt.22:39)
M...My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory. (Phil. 4:19)
N...(Near) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)
O...Oh, how I love Your Word. (Psm. 119:97)
P...Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones. Prov. 16:24)
Q...(Quarrel) The Lord's servants must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone. (I Tim. 2:24)
R...Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. (Phil. 4:4)
S...Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. (Matt. 6:33)
T...Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. (Prov. 3:5)
U...Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that build it. (Psm. 127:1)
V... Verily, verily, I say unto you, you must be born again. (John 3:3)
W...Whatever you do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord and not unto men. (Col. 3:23)
X...(Exceeding) Now unto Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. (Eph.3:20)
Y...You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind. (Matt. 22:37)
Z...(Zeal) Never be lacking in zeal. (Rom. 12:11)

3D Shapes

Author unknown

Note from Lois: This little poem will help young children in learning 3D shapes, and memorization is a great exercise!

3D shapes are fat not flat.
A cone is like a party hat.
A sphere is like a bouncy ball.
A prism is like a building tall.
A cylinder is like a can of pop.
A cube is like the dice you drop.

3D shapes are here and there.
3D shapes are everywhere!

 

 

Free! $400 of Parenting Resources with Purchase of a Terrific Book!

One Week Only (April 29-May 5)

 

The Christian Parenting Handbook

 

50 Heart-Based Strategies for All the Stages of Your Child's Life!

 

Biblical, Practical, Heart-based Guidance at Your Fingertips!

Please don't miss this very special offer - a terrific parenting book, plus more than $400's worth of free parenting resources!

www.biblicalparenting.org

 

I've reviewed this excellent new book after being asked by Dr. Scott Turansky to be on the Launch Team, and have found it to be one-of-a-kind! 

Parenting "ideas" are a dime-a-dozen, but in this unique handbook you are given fifty practical and powerful parenting concepts, along with specifics on how to carry out each one. This book is for parents of not only tiny ones, but toddlers to teens! 

You will all benefit greatly from The Christian Parenting Handbook! Our three children will be getting one as a gift from us! 

If you purchase your copy during April 29-May 5, you will receive a bonus of more than $400's worth of parenting resources - FREE!  Don't let this offer slip through your fingers!