Category: Family

Understanding God’s Love

Psalm 127:3 (NIV) “Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.”

He Gives Us Real-Life Examples

Sometimes, I wonder does God give us children to understand His frustrations, unconditional love, empathy, and desire for more than we want for ourselves. I can remember my mother telling me, “I can’t wait till you have children of your own.” Of course, it wasn’t until I had children of my own; I could understand her perspective.

Reminders in the Word

When reading the word, I sometimes relate to motherhood. It is something that is a part of my identity and that I can easily relate and understand. For example, my children’s selective hearing. I will tell my daughter specific instructions, at which she will do something entirely different or my favorite, nothing at all. Then, it ends up messed up, and I either have to help her or tell her again. Then by “GODcidence”, I am reading Jonah how God told him to flee Ninevah.

[“Cliff Notes” version, although Jonah is a very short yet powerful chapter in the Bible] He does his own thing deliberately disobeying God and sets out for Tarshish (for those new to the story which is thousands of miles in a different direction). Jonah ends up in the belly of a big fish (aka whale). God the Father delivers Jonah and again tells his hard headed child to go to Ninevah and deliver a message.

Jonah 3:1-2 (NIV) “Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

As I am reading this, of course, I think “man Jonah sounds like my daughters’.” There is a difference, though; our God has so much more compassion and patience than I. He is slow to anger (which I am working/praying on).

More than I deserve

Jonah 4:2, 4-5 (NIV) 2 “He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.

4 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”5 Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.”

It even angered Jonah to think after all he had done God still provided. Even though Jonah had no right to be angry, God still provided Him shade from the sun. Just like when my twelve-year-old gets mad at me for doing what’s right for her but not the way she wanted me to. Doesn’t make me stop loving or caring for her. I am her mother, who still loves her and will always do anything to provide.I sometimes sit back thinking I am so undeserving of His grace. God reminds me of the grace and unconditional love through my girls. Comparing God’s love to a mother’s love is the only way I can make sense of His unwavering love.

None Like Him

Now, I know the story of Jonah is not about how to love your children, rather obey the Lord and to forgive everyone. Comparing it to my kids helps me gain perspective. (Since, coming back to my faith I have found several different applications of the story of Jonah.) There is no man that would give their Son for me much like how I would give up everything for my girls, (which “Godcidentally” God has given me them too). I am grateful for my Heavenly Father’s unconditional love and although sometimes I feel I am not worth it or don’t like how things are done. At the end of the day, He loves me for who I am, and that will never change.

What helps you understand God’s love?

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Family

The Future is Here with Xfinity XFI

Post author By De
Post date May 10, 2017
7 Comments on The Future is Here with Xfinity XFI

This post is sponsored by Comcast. I was compensated to write this post my opinions are my own. See My Full Disclosure Policy.

Last week Mimi and I went to explore a beautiful home! Although my husband and I are trying to live minimally, it’s nice to see the possibilities. I was grateful to be invited to the Philadelphia Magazine 2017 Design Home in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. It was a beautiful audacious and the things that you dream and over $4 million dollars home would look like and more. Walking through touring the rooms and closets the size of my first floor was lovely. It was a breathtaking home that was designed well and simple. Lately, I have been looking for simplicity in my life. Especially, now that the lil diva’s are getting older and technology is a part of our daily lives.

It’s becoming another job monitoring my newly turned teen and tween on their devices. There are also other new things like I now have a built-in babysitter. Although it’s nice to have more freedom I don’t leave them home longer than 2 hours, and I still need to check-in with them to make sure they are behaving and not fighting. I was amazed at the abilities I would have to monitor the girls while I am at the gym or training clients. I now can do some easily and not just my girls but the entire home with the services of Xfinity XF1.

Peace while I’m Away

Xfinity Home Security may be something that Ed and I should look into as the girls get older and more freedoms. It’s funny how parenthood changes through the stages and Mimi is a great reminder. Little people require little problems. Now that we have two girls active in sports and extracurriculars my oldest often gets a ride home or is home by herself while I am at her sisters’ events. What I particularly liked is that I can get notifications every time my door is opened or closed while I am gone. It was also comforting to know that Xfinity Home there is 24/7 professional security monitoring system that I can turn on or off remotely. It also has LIVE video monitoring that can be accessed from my Xfinity Home app or online on any mobile device.

Xfinity X1

Now as I am walking through the spectacular Philadelphia Design Home I am a very simple girl. I don’t need much to make me happy, and it’s more about the people so it was truly a beautiful home but I found my favorite room was the Screened in Patio just like it is in my home. I am writing my post from my own screened in patio where I get a lot of inspiration. As you’ll see or saw when I went LIVE on Facebook it was beautiful and simple.

It was also a great place to check out all the versatility of the Xfinity X1 Service now has if you’re a Xfinity customer there are so many different things that you can do all from the sound of your voice. Voice activated remote was good news for me because I struggle with the remote and my kids are usually doing it for me. Now, I can just speak and retrieve. Say what? The Xfinity Voice Remote is an easy and simple way to search for any network, change the channel, record your favorite show on DVR, find your favorite tv show or even Netflix movie. It also will recommend what you may want to watch based on your viewing.

I also love to play music pretty much all the time in the house that’s probably the thing that I am most skilled with the remote. I play it while I cook, clean and workout so pretty much all the time. Xfinity X1 now has integrated apps like Pandora, and you can even get your Facebook feed on your TV. Readily available and custom to you.

It’s got security measures in the Kid Zone, as well as the Common Sense Media that keeps the children in a secure place to play with the remote or if you have biggins’ like me, aren’t watching age appropriate movies.

Not only can you access all these things at home but you can now stream them anywhere you go and access 1000 of Xfinity hotspots to play them at no charge to you.

Streamlined

After touring the fabulous home, I got to learn how Xfinity if simplifying your living experience. Streamlining and customizing each customer’s experience to make it easy for you. All the possibilities that they are providing are going to create a unique experience for everyone in my family. My lil diva’s ages range from 13,9 to almost three years old. Creating profiles for them would be an excellent way to parent with technology. As you have seen from how I manage my chores. How we control the internet in our house that we have fully embraced technology in my home. I still feel that you need to monitor your children in all areas of life especially, technology.

Each child has their parameters. I could create profiles for each of my girls that are unique to our rules. I can have an option through my MY ACCOUNT Xfinity App that turns off the WIFI access to specific devices. I can do that remotely too so if I need her to do chores (homework hard they need the WIFI) I can turn off the WiFi for that hour and get her to do it. You gotta do what you gotta sometimes do to motivate your child. I’ve noticed when I have possession of her phone it drives her more; same concept.

Xfinity has ERRYTHANG and Now Mobile!

As Mimi and I made ourselves at home at the Philadelphia Design Home, I got all the tea on the new Xfinity Mobile that is being launched. Yep, you read right Xfinity has it all now guys; Home Security, X1 Television with unlimited access on the Cloud and Apps but now they have Mobile.

So, they already got HotSpots everywhere in over 16 million locations. They are not launching “Xfinity Mobile is the nation’s first wireless service combining America’s largest, most reliable 4G LTE network with Comcast’s 16 million WiFi Hotspots to provide customers with a better wireless experience, for less money on today’s most popular devices.”

Basically, with Xfinity, you will not have an access fee instead you pay by gigabytes of data that you use meaning there is no set price. Like $50 per month it goes according to the data, you use that is NOT on the Xfinity WiFi HotSpot and your phone will automatically connect you, so you don’t have to worry if you’re on one. That’s what kills your phone bill the data. They will have different packages like pay per gig or unlimited that you can switch back forth depending on your need that month AND you will not get penalized from change to pay per or unlimited. You will also have access to the Xfinity Mobile App that will allow you to view, monitor, and protect your home. I am pretty excited because anything I can do to streamline my life and save money I am trying to do. It was an amazing experience exploring a truly spectacular home. I took a few notes of inspiration. If you want to check out the home too, go I save my Facebook LIVE for you.

What are your biggest concerns with technology now; simplicity, secure, streamlined, organized? What do you think of all the Xfinity has to offer?

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Tags comcast, comcastephillynj, x1, xfi, xfinitiy mobile, xfinity, xfinity apps, xfinity home, xfinity x1, xfinityapps, xfinityhme, xfinitymobile, xfinitymoms

Children christian mom Family

Teens and Money

Parenting is getting real, hard!

This school year has been a huge transition for the Bolton’ family. My husband and I are transitioning from parents of littles to parents of biggins and our roles as parents are expounding. We are no longer caring for our children’s safety and teaching them the laws of the land. We now have to deal with another set of issues such as other children, social cues, independence, and responsibility.

It’s hard raising children in this world that are grateful and aren’t entitled. I feel that children are handed a lot of things that we had to earn. Tomorrow my in between diva will be nine and my twelve years old will be thirteen in April. We are at a point especially with my twelve-year-old that we are asking to go beyond our at home playdates. We want to go places, do things and spend money.

Creating entitle diva’s

This is becoming a serious problem in my house, and I have complained about it before but like anything without consistency and follow through my best efforts have been without success. That just means I need a readjustment right? Well, I am starting to realize that as I affectionately call my daughters’ ill diva’s which I intend it to mean (Divine Inspired Virtuous and Anointed) sometimes they are actually what pop culture would refer to high maintenance lil women. I have no one to blame but myself. I have been a stay at home mom for going on 13 years. I have catered to the two of my girls every whim leaving them with little to no responsibilities. Although, I have taught them gratitude they often have to be reminded and can be entitled.

Since I was the one who created this poor work ethic and these little girls who “believing they are inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment” without any labor. My aha moment as I was folding my nine-year-olds (who if I remember my childhood correctly was a skill I had mastered by this age). It dawned on me, these girls need more responsibilities and need to earn their keep. It was either a brilliant idea or my way of lessening my load, but I needed a better chore management system, maybe an app?

We need a solution

In a few weeks, I will have both a nine-year-old and thirteen-year-old. As we approach the lil diva’s Birthday’s, I am starting to see the need to give my girls more responsibility. At this age, the focus is no longer taking as much care of these independent souls and more teaching them skills to use in life.

At least once a week my husband Ed and I admit we have no clue to what we are doing and this parenting thing has reached a climax. It’s gotten real hard now, the solutions to the problems are more thought provoking and creativity is a necessary. I am not an expert parent, I know there are those who claim to be out there, and I am very grateful the next generation has a few experts raising them because I know I fail daily.

Benefits of Showing Kid’s Financial Responsibility

Last year, we explored a new app to make chores seem more enjoyable and easily monitored by me without nagging. Well, Homey App (Check out my Original review of Homey App) has revamped and given us parents, even more, option.

I know it’s been a year so let me give you a basic breakdown of what Homey App used to do and what they do now?|

Parents Capabilities:

Create a household name and password.
Invite your family members to join and set up an account with family members names, pictures/avatars, and passwords.
Once that is all setup then you (the parent) can start assigning chores and value.
You can take a picture of their messy room and create as detailed of a description of what you expect from them to complete the task.

How it works now?

I love the new upgrades that Homey App has made it now has:

An allowance management functions teaching children the value of labor and future life skills.
Create savings goals for your child whether they be a short term want like going skating or a long term goal an electronic or game. It helps them see their effort and their money accumulating.
You can transfer money! Say what? I don’t even have to got to the ATM to remember allowance. I am an online shopper and use my debit card often. I have bank accounts set up for the girls (not Mimi yet which is a reminder poor third child) and the difference between paying them in cash and going directly to their bank. They collect interest at the bank, and they will be more likely to use it wisely if it’s not in their hands.

Chore Management Upgrades

Some of the things I suggested before are now available, YAY!

I like the reward/deduction feature.
Skip chores
undo completed tasks in case they weren’t done up to standards
can add or take away points and coins
add photos of the child’s rewards that they are seeking to earn
edit templates that Homey App has available for you and make them your customer chore pack
You can also change the family dynamics too. However, they fit your household for example Grandparents raising children or other family members that aren’t the child’s biological parents..

The free version of Homey App is still available, but this new premium feature will have a subscription fee which covers the bank transfer fees and compliance to enhance your capabilities. You should give this a try for yourself. We have been using it for a few weeks, and it has made the enthusiasm and reminder for my nine-year-old of her compensation for effort. She gets points my oldest receives coins and now knows what she needs to do to go to special places with friends. Now if I am consistent this just may be what the Bolton’s need.

Right now, if you register for Homey Premium, you get a complimentary trial of all the features. This is a great trial to check out all the features and customize it to work for your family. Creating an environment that not only encourages good work ethic but gives my lil diva’s some financial responsibility and management skills I think that’s a good thing. If you’re interested go visit my peeps at Homey App and find out more information.

What do you think?

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Tags children, chore, chore app, chore chart, chore management, kids chores, kids savings app, money, teens and money

christian mom christianity Faith Journey Family raising family

We Left the World

Flash Back Friday calls for a post that was originally published June 2015! Through our faith we have managed to find a steady foundation for our family to stand. We have lost some friends, gained some and opened our eyes to a new life in Christ. Together as a family we work steadfast to be a light for God in all we do. Although, we may fail we are no longer living in the world that we once were.

I have not always been a mother fueled by her faith. Not long ago, I was a mother trying to raise two little girls to be the best they could be in this lost world. We were living in the world. We were believers but we didn’t have a relationship with God. We would say our goodnight prayers but that was about all I had taught my children about God.

As our family grew from just one little girl to two little girls and then three. A yearning of fullfillment plagued me. Living in the world was no longer satisfying. I needed more purpose, more substance, I needed God in my everyday life. My life changed from needing God in my life; to wanting God in my life. Once my mindset changed life how I knew it quickly transformed.

One day, I decided that praying for God to be apart of my families life wasn’t going to cut it. We needed fellowship, praise and education. I began searching for a church to attend. It didn’t take me long because God already had a home for me.

Guided by Him I went to church one Sunday which was different for me because I was raised to attend church on Saturday. Although, I was raised different everything felt so right.

During the last worship song the Holy Spirit took over. I was filled with overwhelming joy. Then, I felt the Holy Spirit tell me clearly “you are home”. That was the beginning of my family leaving the world and beginning to serve Christ.

My daughter’s love our Church and participate and serve wherever they can. I too serve in the Children’s Ministry and attend small groups and Bible study. I have made fast friends and had some deep connection with some women. My husband is also more faithful and leads our family everyday in prayer before we go our separate ways.

It’s all so amazing what God has done in our lives. My husband once said, “we used to have a happy home but now our home is filled with pure joy.” The difference is uncanny and hard to describe unless you’ve experienced it. My marriage is stronger than ever and I now feel that I am living in purpose instead of day to day. This journey that my family is on through God’s grace is only getting started.

Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on things above not on earthly things.”

How did you bring your family to Christ? Were you always a Christian family or did you make come from living in the world too?

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Tags chrisitanity, Christ, Christian Family, christian mom, christian mom blogger, christian parenting, families, mommy guilt, moms of faith, parenting

Dinner Family Gluten Free Recipes

Gluten Free Chicken Parmesean

Post author By De
Post date January 30, 2017
15 Comments on Gluten Free Chicken Parmesean

Gluten (2)

Gluten-Free made easy

When I first went gluten free I thought, “this is going to be a chore.” Things are not going to taste good and I am going to miss a lot of my favorite meals. I proved myself so wrong over the last few months. Now, I didn’t go gluten free because that is the cool thing to do lately. I went gluten free because I honestly was tired of my stomach hating me after every meal. I have a wheat allergy that I have known about since I was 16 but could have cared less. I like all things whole wheat and everything has it in it. It felt like a losing battle. The digestive pains, literal pains that I had including: bloating, lethargy, headaches,sinus issues, and post nasal drip one day just made me go to the doctor. Ruling out a few things like celiacs and adding a few things like lactose intolerant and after taking another allergy test. I was once again diagnosed with wheat allergy (I was hoping I would grow out of). My doctor said, “you can continue to complain about your stomach issues or you can stop eating the things that don’t agree with your digestive system. It’s up to you.” I hate it when people tell me what to do, especially when I want to do differently.

After Diagnosis

I went home and went shopping. Bought all kinds of gluten free nastiness, like seriously some of the things out there for gluten free I think is supply and demand. Because there is a demand they supply you with the tasteless, dry, nastiness. It really doesn’t have to be like that. You can eat gluten free and eat delicious food. If I couldn’t eat delicious food I don’t think I could live happily. Food is somethings I enjoy too much. It’s in my top pleasures like sometimes breathing and food are competing (just kidding-well not when my mouth is full). So, I had to come up with a solution.

First, half of that gluten free stuff is processed food which I was eliminating from my diet. I had to figure out how to eat clean and wheat free. I changed the flours I used from whole wheat and all purpose to oat, almond, coconut (not as much it’s kind of pricey) and brown rice. I use for certain textured things like cornbread-brown rice flour is great for cornbread perfect texture. I also have to consider price. I make my own oat and brown rice flour and I use it mostly. I buy it in bulk,gluten free and then I just grind it in the bullet for like 2-5 minutes and ta-da, oat and brown rice flour. So easy and so much cheaper than buying some well known companies. Then I cook as normal or bake as normal only having to adjust things like baking soda, baking powder, sometimes moisture,etc. After some experimenting I have pretty much swapped wheat for other things and make gluten free yumminess.

Clarity

Now let me clarify I am not celiac or gluten intolerant but because of my wheat allergy it’s easier to go gluten free because gluten is a protein found in wheat and related grains. If it’s gluten free it’s wheat free and my digestion is free. Chicken Parmesan is a easy, before Bible Study meal or 30 minutes or less that I go to every few weeks in meal planning and a family favorite. I used to make myself separate meals but now I have gotten to the point either my family is used to it, really hungry or my food really does taste good. I often bring gluten free things to potlucks and never get complaints or get surprised reactions that it was gluten free. My brownies are still to die for without the gluten. I hope you test this recipe out and have the same positive reactions. What’s one of your family favorite meals?

Gluten Free Chicken Parmesan Tenders