Our favorite Thanksgiving books... (Veteran's Day, our 10th Wedding Anniversary, and Thanksgiving = a blogging break)

Here are a few of our favorite children's Thanksgiving books. Does your family have a favorite Thanksgiving story you snuggle up to read together this time of year? Thanksgiving ~ A Time to Remember, by Barbara Rainey (Written more for adults; I have read Barbara's book the past 3 years and so appreciate it!)

Saying Grace ~ A prayer of Thanksgiving, by Virginia Kroll

Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving, by Eric Metaxas

Thanksgiving ~ A Harvest Celebration, by Julie Stiegemeyer

Off to Plymouth Rock!, by Dandi Daley Mackall

And, with Veteran's Day, on Wednesday, and the girls and I planning special things for Our Hero (aka my sweetheart, their daddy. and our favorite soldier!), Tony and my 10th wedding Anniversary on November 20th (Wow!! A special, special, special day for us! A few pictures from our wedding here), and Thanksgiving, around the corner, I'm in need of a small computer break. So, I shall see you all in a few weeks. I pray you and your family have an abundantly blessed Harvest and Thanksgiving season! Know that I'm thankful for you, your prayers, love, and friendship!

Child’s Thanksgiving Prayer

Thank you God for all that grows,

Thank you for the sky's rainbows,

Thank you for the stars that shine,

Thank you for these friends of mine,

Thank you for the moon and sun,

Thank you God for all you've done!

~~~~~~

A little like the "Mayflower"

As we've been enjoying learning about and celebrating Thanksgiving, I have longed to take a field trip to Plymouth, Massachusetts, to see the "real Mayflower." However, with My Hero's travel schedule it isn't going to work out to make the long drive north this fall. Maybe next?!? However, in my effort to make history come alive for our little ones, we drove up to Baltimore, MD, this afternoon to tour a US Naval ship, The USS Constellation, which sailed about 100 years after the Pilgrims came to America. So, although it wasn't the Mayflower, it gave us a bit of the feel for what it would have been like to be a pilgrim child, aboard a wooden ship for 9 and 1/2 weeks, sailing to the New World!Levi couldn't stop looking "up" at the hugs ropes and sails!We toured all 4 decks. The kids enjoyed playing on the hammocks the sailors slept in.They had a small table set up with replicas of the food the sailors ate in the 1700-1800s. Lots of salted beef, colorless dried fruits, hard bread, and various beans. The girls couldn't find anything on the table they said they would enjoy eating.

Praying for the families at Fort Hood...

I just want to ask everyone to continue to pray for the families at Fort Hood, Texas. My heart is aching for them. Our family has many special memories from our time stationed there: our first duty station in the military, our first precious baby girl, Savannah, was born at Darnell Army Community Hospital, and Tony deployed (and returned home!) from Iraq, while we lived there. Not to mention all the dear friends we made and continue to stay-in-touch with from our time spent in central Texas. So, please continue to pray my friends.

May your unfailing love be my (their) comfort, according to your promise to your servant. ~ Psalm 119:76A picture of Savannah when we were stationed at Fort Hood.

God can even use "donuts" to share His love!

My childhood friend Brooke, serves along side her husband and with their three adorable children, as missionaries to Thailand. She sent me an email with these priceless pictures of children they are sharing the Gospel with. After seeing the donut-eating-game from my post, A Homemade Harvest Party, they played the game at a children's home with these little ones they minister to. I am sharing these pictures with you as a reminder that God can use even the little, seemingly insignificant things in our lives to bring others to Himself. Yes, He can even use donuts!

Please visit Brooke's blog, The Relentless Pursuit, and pray for their family and ministry!
Have a blessed day my friends!!!

Book review and a Bible verse caterpillar

Parenting from the Heart, is the second Boyer book I've read. I was encouraging, challenged, and inspired in my role as a mommy (and homeschooling mama)! I felt like Marylin was sitting in my kitchen, sharing a cup of tea, scripture and words of wisdom from an "older godly woman." Here are a few of my favorite quotes...

1. Children were not given of our convenience. I've found that my attitude is the key. If I realize that I'm entrusted to rear this little one for our Almighty Creator, then I'm not waisting one minute of my "potential" while I'm changing all those diapers, cleaning up the messes, and folding laundry, etc... As you lose your life in your little ones in this "season," it will reap benefits for all of eternity. So, go change another diaper and put in another load of laundry, and do it with a song on your tongue and a deep love in your heart for your little one and for his Creator.

2. So, tonight as you tuck your little ones into bed, pray with vision, and open for them, as it were, the skies of heaven and give them a peek!

3. God's Word is the ONLY thing that permanently changes and mold our lives.

4. Kids' free time is important. Just be sure that your tools, toys, books, music, and entertainment all work together in building mighty servants of God.

5. Why is it that we automatically assume that they way it's done in schools and churches is the best way for our kids? Why not, instead, be quick to turn to scripture and see what God has to say for training children? It's hard to always be doing things in a different way than most folks do things. But look around you. Do you really want your kids to fit in with today's world? God's way down through the ages has never made sense to the world. The road of least opposition is generally not God's way.

There are many more quotes I would like to share, but I guess you better just get a copy for yourself. And, let me know what you think!

And, speaking of the Boyer family, I recently implemented a great suggestion from their blog, in creating a scripture caterpillar. We started ours a few weeks ago and have added several new memory verses to the wall. It's a great visual and reminder I think.

The instructions are here!

What are ways you find helpful in teaching your children to memorize God's Word?

A peaceful home ~ Be home

As I've watch older women I respect and admire keep their homes, I've noticed a similarity between them. Each one makes her home a priority. These virtuous women seem to put more time, thought, prayer, and effort into serving their husbands, raising their children, and homemaking than others. And, there is a noticeable difference in the peacefulness of their homes, compared to those who spend more time being busy outside their home.

I continue to learn there are many, many wonderful, God honoring things for me to be doing outside our home, but there is a season for everything under the sun... In Titus 2, we read that older women are to teach (among many other attributes) the younger women to be busy at home. As a wife and mother with little ones, in order to have a peaceful home, I must be there! Do I think that means being home 24/7; of course not. However, it does cause me to look carefully at the activities and goals I have outside of our home. When Sheri is running in a million directions, it reflects in the thoughtfulness I show toward Tony's needs, in the caring and patient manner I mother our children, in the memories and traditions (meals, family nights, schooling, etc.) I'm able to plan, and in the overall cleanliness (don't you love the clutter monsters!) and upkeep of our peaceful home. So, my prayer is that I would be acutely sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading in the ways I spend my time outside our home. I want to make a difference for eternity, but I don't believe I should ever do so at the expense of my family.

Last year, after reading a chapter from Get More Done In Less Time, by Donna Otto, I wrote this in my journal...

"Father, please change my heart. Please help me to remember that you've given many women the gift of speaking and ministering at events, you've blessed so many women with the talent to write and be authors, many can share encouraging blog posts in cyberspace, many lead solid, life changing Bible studies, many watch lives change through world missions, and volunteer at important church events. Many women are able lead Army Wives Groups and bring people together to help and bless those in need. And, these are all important thing; activities I love... but only I, only Sheri Ann Prescott, can be Tony's wife, Savannah, Alisa, and Levi's mommy, and the keeper of the Prescott home. Lord, my desire is that my heart and life would be where you've called me to be. With all the expectations of others (and my own horrible fleshly desires), teach me to never base my worth on my earthly resume. I want to make a difference for eternity in the place you've called me to make the greatest difference. No one else can take the place you've called me to be in our home..."

So, to create a peaceful home, I must be home. Here are a few ways I'm learning to gauge this desire:

1. In addition to prayer, Bible study, and asking the Holy Spirit's wisdom as to how we plan or days, we should ask our husband's opinion about our outside activities, commitments, ministry, etc. and (key here) then submit... There have been numerous times that I felt I needed to do this or that outside our home, and although Tony would not tell me I couldn't do something entirely, he shares his godly wisdom as the head of our home.

2. Learn to say "no." Ug, it's a hard thing to learn, especially when you have a soft heart that loves to be needed, that loves to serve, and that desires to make a difference in the lives of others. But, saying no is a must in keeping a peaceful home.

3. Being "at home" also means not being outside our home by way of the computer screen, blogging, Facebook, text messaging, the cell phone, TV, music, etc. etc. It's important that we guard against being home, yet outside our home in word, thought, etc... Time is precious!

4. It helps to plan a few days a week (if possible, sometimes it's just not) which we are home all day. That means no running to the grocery store, no activities, appointments, etc, etc. It sounds unusually foreign and backward in our fast paced society, but spending time at home is so good for us!

5. Instead of thinking we must go outside of our homes to minister and bless to others, lets bring others into our home! Lets reach out to our next door neighbors, lets invite our little ones friends over to play, lets open our doors to friends in need, lets have that family over for dinner that we've been meaning to ask for ages. Hospitality is an unlimited ministry inside our home!

What are areas of your life you've found you've needed to step back from in order to create a more peaceful home?

Peaceful home part 1 here

Peaceful home part 2 here

Peaceful home part 3 here

Saturday fun... A season of Thanksgiving begins!

Saturday we had great fun continuing to celebrate the Harvest... preparing for Thanksgiving!

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. ~ Psalm 100:4We made homemade play-dough again. The girls wanted to make it the color of pumpkin pie of course. The recipe is here.I ordered several Thanksgiving crafts this year from Oriental Trading company (Savannah and Alisa really like stickers!). The Boyer family also sells a nice Thanksgiving pack of crafts, here.Last year we began the tradition of "counting down the days" to Thanksgiving, with a fall colored-paper rope. It's so much fun to make and a great reminder to share what we are thankful for every day leading up to Thanksgiving, when we pull the links off.

The highlight of the day was when Daddy came home, bringing a very special treat... red, white, and blue M&Ms from The Whitehouse!!

I plan to share more Thanksgiving ideas, favorite books, etc, soon. What are your favorite traditions (crafts, songs, scripture, etc.) leading up to Thanksgiving?

My Dad and Mom visit! ~ Part 6

Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise. ~ Psalm 79:13We had such a special, special time and look forward to being together again very soon!!!As I close this series of posts I have to add in one more of my favorite pictures from my parents visit... don't you just love how Savannah did my mom's hair?!!

Dad and Mom visit! ~ Part 5

I laugh about the fact that my mom is always taking picture of me in the kitchen! I guess that might be because I spend most of my time in there. *smile*

Dad and Mom visit! ~ Part 4

Each evening we had special time playing games, reading books, eating snacks, and watching movies. If you haven't read "The Pumpkin Patch Parable," to your little ones yet this year, it's a favorite book in our Fall/harvest collection.Us girls also made another homemade pumpkin pie and roasted the pumpkin seeds (Recipe and directions here). Mom and I tried canning for the first time too. Delicious clove~cinnamon~honey Apple butter, fresh from the orchard!

Dad and Mom's visit! ~ Part 3

We enjoyed a beautiful outing to an apple orchard! Delicious apples!

Precious moments with Papa and Nana...

Dad and Mom visit! ~ Part 2

We had a great adventure at a Harvest Festival/Petting Farm!

Milking a cow! Alisa loved Nana's little ducky.

Levi wasn't sure about the mule. Savannah's favorite were the baby lambs.

A bumpy hayride!An afternoon snack at Chick-fil-A of course!

My Dad & Mom Visit! ~ Part 1

Last week we were incredibly blessed to have my dad and mom visit, from Minnesota! And, with My Hero traveling a great deal, it was an added bonus to have their fellowship, laughter, company, hugs, smiles, and lovin' around! The girls loved putting on "shows" for Papa and Nana... dancing, singing, and playing the piano!

Messy, messy, messy!

While Savannah was at her piano lesson today, Alisa and I made caramel apples. We had a great time, but Levi was the one who benefited the most I think. Our little man loved every minute of his 1st caramel apple!

A peaceful home ~ A servant heart

"Mommy, I need some water," Alisa says. "Mom, will you get that book down for me, I can't reach it?" Savannah says. "Sheri, please call the office for me right away sweetheart, it's important," My Hero says. "Ga, Ga, Mama, up, up!" Levi says as he pulls on my legs. The phone rings, a text message comes in, the doorbell rings, the timer goes off for the bread in the oven, and the dog whines to be let out. This is all going on simultaneously, not to mention I haven't crossed one thing off my to-do list and it's the middle of the afternoon. Ahhh!

Do you ever feel like everyone needs you at the same moment? Everything is urgent? In those moments I clearly see two choices in creating a peaceful home.

1. I can put on the attitude of Christ (Philippians 2:5-8), a servant, choosing to serve in love, with a heart of peace.

2. Or I can allow my flesh to become selfish, overwhelmed, and snappy with those I love because I'm tired of serving them?

As women we are bombarded with the message that we need "me time," "take care of yourself," "you deserve it", "Me, Me, Me" etc, etc,... A successful woman by today's standards doesn't include the word "servant." Being a servant isn't mentioned by the media, magazines, college professors, or even much in the church since the rise of feminism. But, serving is what our Lord and Savior came to do and it's often time one of the hardest attitudes for me as a wife and mother to have. But, the greatest joy and peace floods my heart and our home when I lose myself in serving my family. Jesus wasn't kidding when he said that, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." Mark 9:35

Ephesians 6:7 ~ Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,

1 Peter 4:10 ~ Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

In the crazy moments of life, it's my choice to put on the attitude of Christ, a servant, choosing to serve with a peaceful heart. What about you?

A peaceful home part 1 here

A peaceful home part 2 here