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Love This Feb 10, 2013

Comfort Food: Cubed Steak With Peppered Gravy

It is month number 2 on my 2013 resolution to make more family meals. Thanks to eMeals I am still going! This one I had to share. It was what I call country fried steak and it was the perfect comfort food for a cold day–filling, crispy and hot. I added twice baked potatoes and an easy salad–spinach,

Parenting Feb 9, 2013

School Involvement for Moms 101

Getting involved is a must for moms. Now I want to acknowledge that if you are on this blog you are probably an involved mom. Therefore, I am preaching to the choir but I am going to preach it anyway! Spending time in your child’s school is the BEST way to get to know other moms, teachers and admini

Encouragement Feb 5, 2013

Book Release Hair Drama

The drama began last Friday. I was up before dawn to hit the highway for a 25 minutes trek to fetch 36 different kinds of donuts from Nicola’s — they’re worth it. The purpose was to surprise the Family First team because iMOM hit 1,000,000 unique visitors in the month of January. As I drove, I was t

Parenting Feb 4, 2013

What Hurts a Mother’s Heart

When my kids were little I made each of them promise that they would never turn six. They all promised and then one by one they all broke that promise on their sixth birthday. They just looked at me with a big, silly grin and a mischievously, innocent twinkle in their eye like they just couldn’t hel

Parenting Jan 30, 2013

5 Secrets to Getting the Most Out of Your Child’s Doctor Visit

I hope your kids will be healthy this year, but odds are that—especially in the months of cold and flu season—you’ll make a least a couple of visits to their doctor. Whether you’re at the pediatrician for a well-child checkup or a sick visit, here are 5 Secrets to Getting the Most out of Your Doctor

Parenting Jan 28, 2013

Mom: You Are Not Alone

Author Jill Savage‘s book No More Perfect Moms struck a cord of truth in me. Above are some of the ways I fall short as a mom. When I do, I often succumb to the voice that tries to convince me that I am alone in my faults. It just isn’t true. I am not a perfect mom. But I am not alone in my imperfec

Parenting Jan 19, 2013

Top Free Printables from iMOM in 2012

2012 was an amazing year for iMOM! We made many printables to help moms get organized, start conversations, build relationships and train their children, but here are our top printables in 2012!

Parenting Jan 15, 2013

How to Control Anger When the Kids Push Your Buttons

I am a faulty human and nobody knows that better than my family. The knowledge my children obtain from their observation of my ways can be used against me–to push my buttons! I wish my buttons weren’t so easily pushed, my moms weren’t. Most of my memories of her are calm, steady, unflappable; except

Parenting Jan 14, 2013

Ponder What You Can Sacrifice for Your Kids

Who has time to ponder? No one. No one, today, has time to ponder. Well that is not entirely true. It is true that we pack more into a day than ever before in history, but the reality is that we do still have time. I often pitch the complaint to my husband that I just don’t have the time to do somet

Marriage Jan 10, 2013

Confession: My Husband and I Struggle

There is this misconception that I have it made being married to Mr. Family First, Mark Merrill. People love my husband, with good reason. He is all about people and most of all his wife and children. He lives, breathes and eats family as the founder and president of Family First, author of All Pro

Parenting Jan 8, 2013

Consequence Calculator: Child Behavior Training Tool

“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” But HOW? Every mom has heard the proverb “train up a child.” We know what we are supposed to do but how to do it can be confusing. The uncertainty moms feel about training children with consequences has become

Encouragement Jan 4, 2013

2013: The Resolution List

#1 Give Generously Who needs my money more than I do? Inspiration: I Like Car #2 Ruthlessly Prioritize What single thing should I be doing in this moment? Inspiration: Marissa Mayer, CEO Yahoo #3 Comfort, Connect, Cook Make my kitchen a haven for my family, friends, strangers. Inspiration: Jane Dela

Parenting Jan 1, 2013

5 Ways to Teach Your Child To Communicate

Communication is a skill for life long success. It is not always easy, especially for a child. There are many reasons children struggle to communicate. You can help your child overcome and master communication by recognizing communication struggles and coaching your child through them. See all of iM

Encouragement Dec 23, 2012

How Can I Thank God Enough for YOU?

As the Director of iMOM, I have the privilege of seeing firsthand how God enables our work. It is our desire to serve moms and promote the unique position of motherhood. Quite simply we want to help moms to be the best they can be at raising their children. That is our desire, but to help you, as a

Encouragement Dec 22, 2012

Christ in Christmas

Indeed, Christmas does not come from a store. Christmas comes from Christ. Gifts come from a store. THE gift–Christ–comes from God. Gifts give a fleeting joy and leave you hungry for more. Christ gives unending joy and triples the size of your heart. “And what happened then…? Well…in Who-ville they

Encouragement Dec 16, 2012

What is Light Em Up?

Is your family a little too involved in the receiving instead of giving at Christmas? Light ‘Em Up is a great way to get the whole family involved in giving back and saying “Thank You” this year. Experience the joy of giving with your kids this holiday season! How excited are you? Here is more infor

Encouragement Dec 12, 2012

Tis A Joy to See Kids GIVE!

Has your family started Light Em Up yet? It has been great seeing families really get into Light ‘Em Up this year! I have been watching Lil Light O’Mine and iMOM Facebook pages, Instagram, and Twitter so I don’t miss a single light up! Do you still need some inspiration? Here are some pictures from

Encouragement Dec 6, 2012

Light ‘Em Up – The History

Last week, my friend Courtney Defeo and I went to Daytime TV to talk about Light ‘Em Up. I had a great time getting to know, and playing with, her cutie pie kiddos. I want you to hear the history behind Light ‘Em Up directly from Courtney. I love her heart…she is precious. Join the Movement to Give

Parenting Dec 5, 2012

Teaching Kids Time Management

Time Management is a skill all kids need to learn…it helps moms too! Get iMOM’s 2013 Calendars here!

Marriage Dec 2, 2012

He Had A Bad Day–I Made It Worse

Today was a really hard day for my husband. I believe when I am a “good” wife I have the ability to make a bad day better. I can make him smile. Today I did not. I was disgruntled. I was selfishly bent on voicing my needs and a directive on how he could and should be a “good” husband. I did not know

Parenting Nov 21, 2012

10 Things To Be Thankful For

No matter the season, moms always have something to be thankful for!

Encouragement Nov 20, 2012

3 Ways to Make a Thanksgiving Memory

Here are 3 ways to help your family make Thanksgiving memories! Holiday Helper Cards Thanksgiving Story Cards

Parenting Nov 15, 2012

Own Your Family Calendar or it Will Own You

I took this guest post from my husband Mark’s book All Pro Dad . Earlier this week, I was feeling particularly overwhelmed because of typical “Susan” overcommitments and just happened to whine about it to Mark. He reminded me that I own the family calendar. So here are his words of wisdom… If you’re

Encouragement Nov 10, 2012

LIGHT ‘EM UP ’12

CHRISTMAS. The joy of it makes you want to just do something for others. REALLY DO SOMETHING. You just want to see the joy you feel, radiate on their face. YOU WANT TO LIGHT ‘EM UP. Well now you can. YOU CAN REALLY DO SOMETHING FOR OTHERS and you can do it WITH YOUR CHILDREN! This is so easy and I t