New Video Footage from the Crawford Family

Here is some recent video footage from Aaron Crawford ( husband of Kelly of Generation Cedar) of the Crawford family who recently lost their home due to a twister that destroyed their home on Wednesday morning:

(get out your kleenex, ladies)

A Wise Woman Builds Her Home sent your donations of $1,446.29 to their family last night. We have sent them a total of $3,667.38 to date with every penny going directly to them daily. Kelly is overwhelmingly grateful and had gotten in touch with us last night while she was at the hospital visiting her father, who just recently suffered a massive heartattack (his home was lost too, but they were not home at the time because they were in the hospital).

You can send your donations to them here:

But there are also OTHER families who need your help. The Tom Lee family who's heroic father died while he protected his family while the walls collapsed around him. His thirteen children and his wife survived. Hear from his oldest son:

 Wow, what a testimony from him to hear how through this horrible trial his thoughts are on bringing glory to God and wanting to honor his father's legacy.

And also the Boyd family whose home was severely damaged as well, who have nine children:

Folks, these are families that desperately need your prayers, continuing support and donations. We would also like to announce that Peter Bradrick has set up a website called Help Hurting Families in Alabama who took the time to create these videos and are also accepting donations for these families above. You may visit their site to give a helping hand to these other families.

Thank you so much for your time, prayers and generosity!

 May the Lord richly bless you!

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Subscribe here or follow on Facebook  for the latest updates on the Crawford's.

A Wise Woman Mother's Day Picks!

 The Mother's Day Rush is on!

We only have NINE days away until Mother's Day and I wanted to share some gifts that I thought would be nice for that special mom in your life. Dayspring has some amazing items for mom, I love this Ever Grateful Collection of dishes and pitcher with Bible verse inscribed on it:
"Let there be thankfulness to God"

and matching apron that says Ever blessed, Ever Grateful:

they also have these cute Christian tote bags that witness wherever  you go:

Save 25% on all items at Dayspring using coupon code SPRING25 until midnight tomorrow.
There is also free shipping on all orders of $25 or more!
If she likes reading, here are some I love that will nurture her soul and spirit:

The Family by JR Miller

The Golden Gems of Life

And speaking of aprons, did you know that this cute apron site is having a sale of 40% on their Marilyn Style aprons just for Mother's Day using discount code Marilyn40 while supplies last! And also 20% off all other aprons. They're last huge promotion just sold out last week!

Love the variety to pick from!

And if she is into jewelry--here is one with a lovely reminder on it that will encourage her everytime she wears it!

If none of these strike your fancy, I also highly recommend my sweet sponsors--check them out on my sidebar! They carry high quality gifts for everyone!

Hope you all have a blessed day doing some Mother's Day shopping!

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And don't forget to donate to the Crawford family who lost their home in a terrible tornado as we are still accepting donations. Please also pray for her father who had had a massive heartattack beforehand. You can donate in the sidebar or here. If you would like to know of other of ways to give further help, please read here.

Mother's Day Scentsy Giveaway!

In the next week or two I will be sharing some great Mother's Day giveaways to HONOR all the noble mother's who frequent A Wise Woman Builds Her Home!

Today I am sharing about Scentsy---

I own one....

Nature's Haven

I love it....

Island Collection

It's super safe for my kids and pets....

The Classic Collection

They're pretty and smell great...

Renaissance Collection

especially at night when their warm lights glow....

You would love them too----and warmers start as low as $20.

  Check out this new video featuring the April scent of the month:

Wise Woman Tip:

Psssst.....don't tell anyone----they also have great closeout items!

The Giveaway

Toni Swayze, who is an independent consultant for Scentsy, would like to generously giveaway to Wise Woman readers a Boho Chic Warmer with a Black Raspberry Vanilla bar OR a $25 gift certificate to choose what you would like! All you need to do leave your name and your email if you don't have a blog!

(U.S. Participants Only)

Extra Entries:

• Share this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, or your blog. (counts as 2 entries, leave 2 comments)
• Follow Toni's Scentsy site on Facebook. (2 entries, leave 2 comments)
• Tell me what you love at the Scentsy store. (2 entries, leave 2 comments)
• Sign up for the newsletter.  (3 entries, leave 3 comments)
• Buy something at Toni's Scentsy store. (10 entries, leave 10 comments)

Hope you win!

Thank you Toni Swayze of Scentsy! 

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Only here can you advertise on three blogs for the price of one!

Click here to view our new rates or contact me privately at wisewomanads@gmail.com 

Continuing Help for the Crawford Family

 (Kelly's home after the tornado hit)

Dear Readers,

I wanted to update everyone on the Crawford family. First off a BIG HUG and THANK YOU to all those who donated! Wow! We were able to send them $2,221.09 last night! The donations continue to come in and as they do we will send the total out every single night so that the money can be used right away.

Kelly is overwhelmed by your gracious giving and love. With that said, PLEASE keep the donations coming. It is so easy  to think that because others are contributing that they no longer have needs and that is far from the truth. You can do so here in any amount :

Many people have contacted me wondering where to send items (they were able to recover their clothes, so they do not need that right now.) Here is an address---please consider sending a giftcard if you are able.

We thought that some readers who would like to give extra help to their family could purchase from their family business. Kelly is an author of several ebooks, and you can choose from several helpful topics--parenting,homeschooling, financial freedom, health and cooking to name a few. They are very low in price just starting at $4.97. You can also buy all her books as a bundle.

She also has a CD of Scripture memory songs that is just lovely! You can listen to a sample if you click on the link. Please consider making a purchase to help money get directly to their family in the great time of need. The CD is only $10.

These can be automatically downloaded and don't require any extra work from Kelly to distribute. AND lastly I need you to share the word again. We can't do this alone--we need the help of everyone out there and you, do readers, can be part of the team by spreading the word. A reader (thank you, Misty!)has created a button for all you bloggers to share on your sidebars and in your posts that links back to Kelly's site stating how to help. Here it is:

<center><a href="http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2011/04/ways-to-help.html"><img src="http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz305/mommacrocodile/generationcedarhelp-1.png" border="0"></a></center>

Please also get the word out by sharing this on Facebook, Twitter, blogs, email and anywhere else you can think of so we can help this dear family. You can use the share buttons at the end of this post to spread the word.

ALSO, many of you may have also heard about the tragedy of Tom Lee, the heroic father who threw his body over his children as the tornado hit and lost his life. If you would like to donate to his family or any other you may do so HERE.

Thank you so much for your help--it means SOOOOOO much. The Lord is pleased as He see's us all doing our part to help our fellow brother's and sister's in Christ and to pray for them and their neighbors.

And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; 

or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. ~ 1 Corinthians 12:26



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Tornado Destroys Home of Kelly Crawford of Generation Cedar--Please Donate to Help their Family ***UPDATED**

Dear Readers, we need you to pray for Kelly Crawford of Generation Cedar.

We have heard that they just lost their home, and their parents home, due to a terrible tornado passing through. Apparently they had taken refuge in a neighbors basement with a few families. Praise God that they are okay and pray that the Lord would comfort them, strengthen their faith and provide during this difficult time.

We are taking donations to help their family.
If you would like to send something to help, you many donate any amount here:

PLEASE use the share buttons below to share this on Twitter and Facebook or post about this on your blogs so we can get the word out to help them! Also spread the word at your churches to pray for them as well.

P.S. For those of you who don't know, they also just had a new baby this past week.


A note from Kelly's brother:

This is Chris Liverett, Kelly's brother. I am in Colorado.

I wanted to thank you for your heart of service and willingness to BE the body of Christ global. Please pray for comfort along with any donation. I spoke with her briefly last night. Their were 4 families in their house, in the lower portion when the tornado hit. Total devastation to so many homes and families.

Please pray that Kelly and her family can grasp the hope and Love of our amazing God during such times.

My emotions erupted when I saw this post and realized the reality of what I have been telling her. "God is able and ready to provide over and above what we can imagine"

Thank you in advance.

*****UPDATE*****

Kelly just posted an update with a picture of their home,

click here to read it.

Video footage of the wreckage and more on the Crawford's can be found here.

Stacy McDonald just notified us to let us know that her church (Providence Church) is accepting donations to help families as well, you can read all about it and donate here.



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Playing the Game Well

“My fear for some of you is that you learned early on

that by saying certain things you got power and credibility and applause.

You’ve learned to play the game well. 

You’ve learned that to make much of Jesus, much is made of me.

You’ve been conformed by a pattern rather than transformed by the Spirit.”

–Pastor Matt Chandler at The Gospel Coalition

Our family was recently blessed to attend The Gospel Coalition a few weeks ago and were blessed to hear some very influential Christian men of this generation speak there. My favorite, of course, and the reason I went was to hear Pastor Mark Driscoll. We like to call him the Drill Sergeant because we love how he calls us Christians to battle!

Good Resource: Radical Reformission : Reaching Out Without Selling Out by Mark Driscoll
Note--some material might not be suitable for children. 

Related Video: American Idolatry
(Watch it!) 

Freedom and Joy

As women, we fall for this idea that we can “do it all,”

and usually end up frazzled and frustrated. 

But when we understand what God wants us to do and ask for His help,

it leads to freedom and joy.

What motivates your activities?

Are you trying to make a good impression?

Is it just that you can’t say "no"?

Why don't you ask God what's on His agenda for this season of your life?

---Nancy Leigh Demoss, Revive Our Hearts





Recommended Resource: Lies Women Believe: and The Truth That Sets Them Free, Nancy Leigh Demoss


More bestselling books that can change your life by Nancy can be found here.


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Mother's Day Cozy Tea Treasures Giveaway!

Mother's day is right around the corner and look what we have here to celebrate with---beautiful tea cozies from Cozy Tea Treasures!
Pictured above~Blue Porcelain

Dress your teapot in style while keeping your tea, cider or coffee nice and hot with a delightful tea cozy like this English Rose.

Chocolate Toile

Each cozy fits a 6-8 cup teapot and is handcrafted of cotton fabrics, polyester batting for insulation and coordinating ribbon that provides a look that is sure to be the perfect addition to your table for any occasion:

Peachy Keen

* Mothers Day
* Baby Showers
* Bridal Showers
* Wedding Receptions
* Anniversary Parties
* Birthday Parties
* Girl's Tea Parties
* Christmas Parties
* Victorian High Tea Parties

or just ANY day to make it special!

Black and White Gingham

Each cozy is a wrap-around style with an elasticized bottom for a secure fit. Both ends are tied with ribbon which makes it easy to slip on and off when changing to another cozy for a different occasion.

Feminine Hearts

And the best part is that they are ALL one super low price of only $15.95!

White Delight

I simply adore these cozies and think they make a perfect gift for Mothers Day to bless mother, grandmother and even daughters as a special way of just saying I love you! At these low prices you can stock up and get gifts for through out the year.

Wise Woman Tip

Exclusive for all Wise Woman readers (yes, that means you!)---you will get a 15% discount off your entire order from Cozy Tea Treasures if you make a purchase using coupon code AWWBHH15 at checkout! Click on any of the above images to take you into the store. 

The Giveaway

Cozy Tea Treasures is generously giving away one of these charming tea cozies of your choice to one of my special readers! Simply leave your name and email (if you don't have a blog) to enter--that's it!

Extra Entries

• Share about this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter or your blog. (2 entries each, leave 2 comments each)
• Visit Cozy Tea Treasures and tell me what you love. (2 entries, leave 2 comments)
• Follow Cozy Tea Treasures on Facebook. (3 entries, leave 3 comments)
• Buy something from the Cozy Tea Treasures store. (10 entries, leave 10 comments)

Hope you win!

Thank you Cozy Tea Treasures!

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Click here for rates or contact me privately at wisewomanads@gmail.com

Positioning Your Home

A Wise Woman understands the value, influence and impact that her home has upon all her surroundings. She takes the time to position her home and prepare it to serve the community around her. As she prays for opportunities, lost neighbors and strangers she has yet to meet, she is not just found just waiting on the Lord and doing nothing---but she diligently prepares. She purposefully creates an atmosphere that is pleasurable and one that is ready for visitors at a drop of a hat. If this thought makes you cringe, then we must evaluate our motives.

Ministering to those in the home is not a show, we must understand this if we want to use our homes to impact the Kingdom.  If we begin to feel the urge to impress people with the cleanliness or stateliness of our homes and our possessions we are missing the mark. Satan loves to take something that is intended as God's blessing and pervert it. He would also like to confuse our motives of having an orderly, God pleasing home and encourage our sinful flesh to be concerned with the worldly aspects of hospitality---the one the world sends of perfectionism and pride.

Christian hospitality operates from love. It is humble and doesn't care or mind that imperfections may be glaring. It understands that this world is temporary and that there is a spiritual battle that must be fought. Positioning our homes as a place of respite helps to combat the war in and  outside of our front doors. If we do not understand this we allow some of God's greatest blessings to be stolen from us. Trying to look perfect to the world is a false representation of who we are. There is no one perfect except Christ alone. Think of how you were encouraged as a young mother to visit other homes that were not in perfect pristine conditions.

As Wise Women we need to plan and pray. We need to get our homes ready today for the visitors the Lord will bring tomorrow, we need to be wise managers of our household affairs,  wise trainers of our children, and and wise planners to best execute the positioning of our homes.

Most importantly, we need to prepare what the Lord's priority's are---having a right heart. Not one that is self-centered, self exalting or grumbling but one that overflows with  love, friendship, acceptance and encouragement to bring Him glory to a lost, needy and dying world.

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The Winner is...

The winner of the Rachel Ramm Fine Art giveaway is....Jewels at jamm1224@

Congratulations!!!

If you didn't win, we have several giveaways coming up that I know you are going to love and be blessed by so be sure to enter! If you want to make sure you never miss a post you can subscribe and get free updates sent to your email or like A Wise Woman Builds Her Home on Facebook or Twitter where you will find updates that are not posted here on my blog.

See you there!

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Keeping Hearts, Biblical Training and Sibling Rivalry

 Recently I received a letter for help in my inbox:

Hi June,

I was wondering if you have ever thought about doing some posts about keeping your children's hearts.  Ways that you can build relationships with each child.  I am meaning practical things you can do.  

We are trying to raise our children differently then how we were raised and sometimes it is a struggle to know the how and why of things.  I would love to hear your ideas. Also do you have any suggestions about where I could gain some help about child rearing issues.  Sometimes I struggle with what to do.  Like what is a good way to handle ways when children continually do what they are told but only 1/2 way and so sloppy that it is not really done well at all.  Also I need some help on the sibling rivalry issues.  I want my children to be best friends and grow up to love each other not be so disconnected the way I feel with my brothers.  Sometimes I feel like I am lacking so much and I really don't know where to turn for the help I need.  That Titus 2 help I so long for. I hope you don't mind me asking these things. 

Blessings to you------A Sweet Reader

Thank you so much for this question! I know many readers would like to hear my answer to this so I am happy to share this question and my answer with the rest of my readers.  I have actually touched on some of these topics in the past- you can find some here at these categories in my sidebar:

• Keeping Hearts
• Parenting
• Raising Daughters
• Raising Sons

Since these are heavy topics that cannot be fully covered within one post or a few series of posts adequately or thoroughly I am going to offer my favorite list of resources instead that our family has personally used and learned from and still refer to today.

Keeping Your Child's Heart: Your Vital Priority
if you need steps--this books gives plenty of steps, warning signs and how-to's on both mom and dad's roles
VERY good reading and food for thought also for some basics I recommend:
Shepherding Your Child's Heart--Ted Tripp

Biblical Parenting by Don Gilchrist
This book explains biblical parenting very practically and step by step in various circumstances.
We used to sell this book at our HomeBuilder's meeting and our online store, and many families benefited from it.

Christian Character by Gary Maldanar (my children still use this today) and humorous book they might enjoy would be

Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends

and if you or your child struggles with anger I cannot recommend this book highly enough:

The Heart of Anger by Lou Priolo
Read it once for yourself and then read it a second  time to understand how it applies to your child! This is the best book I have seen on how to manage and deal with anger so far.

I will probably do some more posts to go more into depth into these topics if there is interest.

Hope this helps!

Have a blessed day building up your sacred home!

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31 Days To Clean Giveaway!

I know that many moms out there like me are busy spring cleaning,  and maybe some of you need a little motivation or inspiration--

Have you all heard about 31 Days to Clean?

This encouraging ebook is written by my sweet friend, Sarah Mae of Like A Warm Cup of Coffee and founder of the Relevant Conference:

Here is more from her:

My goal with 31 Days to Clean is to encourage you (and myself) to get our homes and our hearts in order.

Give me 31 days and I’ll give you not only a cleaner home, but a vision for one.

The 31 Days to Clean E-Book is about the “why” and the vision and the heart for taking care of our domains. Each day you will be encouraged with some thoughts and ideas, and then those ideas are put to action.
After each days reading, you will be given two challenges:

• The Mary Challenge -Something you do that encourages/engages your heart
• The Martha Challenge – Specific cleaning tasks

31 Days to Clean is a faith journey towards ruling, subduing, and loving.

My Thoughts

31 Days to Clean is just what we all need---refreshingly motivating and gracefully real. This encouraging book makes you truly feel like you can do it-- conquer your home while keeping your heart on your family, renewing your vision for cleaning while keeping your motives and life in balance. There is an inspiring word for everybody--I highly recommend it!

And it is not only all that but economical as well---only $4.99!
You can download it or get it for your Kindle here.

Wise Woman Tip:

On May 1st they are starting a Homemakers group challenge that you might be interested in participating in!
Click on the image to learn more:

The Giveaway

 I am happy to announce that Sarah Mae is generously giving away TWO free downloads to this new, popular ebook to two of my special readers (one each)! Did you know it made Amazon's bestseller list in the home cleaning category? All you have to do to enter is leave a comment and your email if you don't have a blog. That's it!

Extra Entries

• Share this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter or your blog.
• Like 31 Days to Clean on Facebook.
• Subscribe to or follow A Wise Woman Builds Her Home on Facebook.

(Leave a comment for each thing you do!)

 Hope you win!
Thank you, Sarah Mae!

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Wise Woman Link-Up!

A Wise Woman Builds Her Home is a place to be encouraged in your high and noble calling of role of wife and mother and daughter to the King and we want to encourage each and every single reader out there to build up strong Christian homes to the glory of God.

We would love for you to link up with us---if you have a post you would like to share regarding the topic above or that has to do with  building up your home, homemaking, character, hospitality, femininity, tea, etc. we would love to have you share it with us!

If you link up here please use the image below to let others know that you have linked up here so that they might join in the fun and be encouraged as well:

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(It's easy--just copy and paste the code in this box!)


also don't forget to stock up on Easter items for next year while they are on sale:






Have a blessed day building up strong homes to His glory!