NEW! Hospitality with Michelle Duggar DVD

We recently got wind that Michelle Duggar, mom to 19 and star on the popular show 19 Kids and Counting, has a new DVD out over at Vision Forum called Hospitality with Michelle Duggar. Here is the description:

A Celebration of Family Hospitality with America’s Most Inspiring Mother

Hos-pi-tal-i-ty =The act or practice of receiving and entertaining strangers or guests without reward, or with kind and generous liberality. (Definition from [link]Webster’s 1828 Dictionary)
Can you use a power boost to the expression of hospitality in your home? Michelle Duggar has touched families across the world through the Duggar family’s reality show, 19 Kids and Counting, and she’s gotten to experience hospitality’s joys, blessings, and the downright hard work it entails.

Filmed at a special ladies’ tea in San Antonio, Texas, and hosted by Beall Phillips, this film gives you an intimate 40 minutes with Michelle as she shares down-to-earth, sometimes hilarious, sometimes heart-tugging, examples of what hospitality looks like in the Duggar household. This transparent peek at Michelle’s personal experiences and lessons learned will give you new insights into executing biblical hospitality in your home as Michelle reveals the good, the bad, and the funny about mother-of-nineteen hospitality!

Should your house always be clean when company arrives? Should a small house size limit the entertaining you do? Find out Michelle’s perspective on these questions and more in Hospitality with Michelle Duggar. 

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. —Hebrews 13:2

Michelle has been an inspiration to millions, I am glad I had a chance to meet her personally. I am sure this DVD will be encouragement to many.

You can get a copy of Hospitality with Michelle Duggar HERE!

United Bates of America on Amazon

When I first posted about the Bates family of 21 and their new cable show United Bates of America, we got quite a response with emails asking us how to watch the show without cable. Well, for those who didn't get a chance to watch it yet, I wanted to let you know that it is already available at Amazon (pay per episode) for $1.99 per show. I watched several last night and was quite blessed by watching their close knit family and father Gil Bates who has such a heart of a family man (yes, a couple of episodes made me cry!). It has a country twist on it which I found especially refreshing.

 
 I really hope you will get a chance to view them --there are not many shows that honor the Lord and are wholesome anymore. It also makes for a great family movie night too. Click HERE for the episodes.

Happy viewing!

Generations with Vision

Are you looking for a Christian radio show that promotes strong family values, multigenerational faithfulness, homeschooling and more from a biblical worldview?

Then you would like Generations with Vision by Kevin Swanson.



Kevin Swanson is a father of five children. He has also served as the Executive Director of Christian Home Educators of Colorado for the last nine years. He has also authored several popular books for homeschoolers that you may be familiar with, including

 Upgrade-10 Secrets to the Best Education for Your Child,  

 What Does the Bible Say About That? A Biblical Worldview Curriculum for Children

the Family Bible Study Guide Series 

 The Second Mayflower,  and others. He is a popular homeschool conference speaker and has been interviewed on hundreds of media outlets, including Dr. James’ Dobson’s Focus on the Family and the Fox News Network.

Watch the trailer:


Generations Radio 2012 from Kevin Swanson on Vimeo.

(Don't forget to turn off the music in the sidebar before watching!)

You are able to visit the website at any time to listen to a plethora of topics from homeschooling,  parenting, to politics! I have been blessed by listening to him in the past and hope you will visit them when you get a chance.

Mega Family of 21 to Have Reality TV Show

Do you remember meeting the Bates family on the Duggar's hit TV show, 19 children and Counting?

They also have a large family of 21 and will now have their own reality show called United Bates of America starting Monday night (tonight) at 8 CST on TLC.

Here are some videos of the conservative Christian homeschooling family--DON'T FORGET to turn off the playlist on the sidebar before watching:

And another:  

 

    

Their website is HERE and you can view

the Duggars introducing the new show here.

In this day and age of teen vampire and occultic movies having run amuck, I am grateful to see wholesome shows that share families who are trying to live out their walk in front of millions.

How about you?

Large Family Dynamics: My Secret Weapon

Large families are a lot of fun--there's always someone to play with, tons of adventure and never a dull moment.

But the realities of large families is that it can be hard work, messy, and sometimes overwhelming.

It definitely helps to set goals for our day and schedule in what needed to be done.

But I have to tell you that while scheduling and planning goals are definitely helpful, I want to share with you my true secret weapon.

It's flexibility.

Flexibility was hard for me as a young mom. I wanted to do things a certain way, run the house efficiently, do things on time...but those things sometimes can prove to be a snare. We can even sometimes want those things so bad that we are disgruntled or sin when things don't go our way.

Here is a good example: It is Dad's day off from work and you have a full schedule. There's homeschool, housework, errands to be run. But the kids have been wrestling with dad all morning and he suddenly decides to plan a family outing instead. You see your whole day flash before your eyes and your schedule down the drain.

Are you flexible?

Flexible enough to even discern what is best instead of what is good? (Going out to spend quality time with Dad is important, schedule can wait.)

Once you learn to master the art of flexibility it gives way to freedom. You are no longer a slave to what you think should be done. It's a blessing to learn this early on and not set yourself too rigidly in always having to live out your "schedule".

Real life is spontaneous and we need to be ready for it.

Are you?





Related:

Large Family Dynamics:  A Look Inside


Resources:

Large Family Logistics

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We Got to Meet the Duggars!

Yesterday the Duggar family of the hit reality TV show, 19 Kids and Counting, visited our old church, New Life, in Chicago (they were in the area campaigning for Santorum)  and we got to listen to them speaking on parenting and family life. What a blessing they were to hear in person!

Here they are speaking:

Michelle was very passionate as she shared the gospel and her heart for her family and the Lord. She encouraged us to love our husbands and "love on our babies". After her talk, I was missing my babies! Jim Bob shared his story of financial freedom and how they used the pill and found out they lost a child because of it. Together they shared their journey in marriage and parenting and encouraged all that listened.

Michelle also shared that their new upcoming episodes were going to cover the loss of their most recent child, Jubilee. So if you have cable be sure to look for it. She was very emotional as she shared her loss but gave glory to God through it all. 

Here is a picture of me and Michelle, these photos were taken with my mobile phone so that is why it is not as clear:

From left to right: Marisela (my sister-in-law), me (yes, I look weird-but bear with me), sweet Michelle, Susie (Our Simple Farm) and Rhonda (Walking with Sarah) 

Michelle was very sweet and personable--she took the time to answer questions from everyone and sign every single card given to her. They stayed until the very end to connect with everyone and her genuine love for people just shined through.

Rhonda, Daniel Devine (WORLD Magazine writer and our personal chauffeur who drove us there--thanks, Daniel! :)), Jim Bob Duggar, Me, and Susie

(Jana, Me and Jessa) 

The older children spoke to teens and children in another room. There they had a chance to answer questions from the audience and share what life was like in a family with 19 children! I was able to chat with these lovely gals personally and encouraged them to continue being an example of Jesus Christ to their millions of viewers and told them to continue on in defending the faith!

My daughters (and their friends and cousins) with some of the Duggar girls.

My oldest daughter, Janai, even got to meet her long time penpal, Jill Duggar, in person!  Jill recognized her right away and they were able to catch up. Jill was so friendly and has grown into such a beautiful young lady.  It was also announced that the Duggar girls are working on a book called Growing Up Duggar, but no news on the release date just yet!

Here is some video of them (not taken by me) but to give you an idea of how it went:

 (Note: turn off the music at the bottom of the blog before viewing!)

New Life church is supposed to have a video of the entire talk and make it available tomorrow. When they post it I will share the link with you to view!

The Duggars hit TV show 19 Kids and Counting can be found on DVD's HERE or you can instant stream them on Amazon here.

Hope you enjoyed my pictures!

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Congratulations to the Bates Family 19th Blessing and More Announcements

 

We wanted to give a heart-warming congratulations to the Bates Family, who have been featured on the popular hit TLC show with the Duggar's  19 Kids and Counting, who just welcomed their newest 19th blessing into the world yesterday. Children are a blessing from the Lord and when we see families with children of any size we need to praise Him! Whether it is 19 or 1--they are God's precious gifts to us!

 You may read see more pictures at their blog HERE.

The Huffington Post also covered it:

Bates Family Now Tied With Duggars as America's Largest Family

 You can view instant episodes of 19 Kids and Counting here,

and the Duggars newest book A Love that Multiplies is 50% off to day and only $10!

 Get it while you can, the sale ends at midnight.

We also have a couple of announcements to share here on the blog that might be of interest to you:

1. You can now get a  'A Wise Woman Builds Her Home' blog subscription from Amazon.com for your Kindle and read the blog on it when you are not connected online! It is at a low price of just $0.99 with a risk free 14 day trial--now that's a deal!

2. We are working on new exciting projects around here--a TON of them! A new eBook has been started and we are considering starting a Wise Woman Series and Wise Woman Collections in the future. There are also other projects that are top secret and will be announced soon....

3. We have some new buttons and banners that we made just for you! Feel free to share ( just copy and paste and link back) on your blogs or Facebook, we will be making several more in the future!

We hope you like them!

You can view our official blog trailer video on YouTube here.

4. We have also brought back our Wise Woman Media package--if you are interested in advertising here (we get over 145,000 pageviews a month with over 8,800+ followers on Facebook) we will advertise your blog on THREE of our blogs for the price of one! Now THAT is a deal and alot of exposure for your business--head on over HERE to read all about it, we have also reduced our prices for a limited time. Or contact me directly at wisewomanads@gmail.com--we would love to partner with you!

 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

Have a blessed day building up your sacred homes!

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Don't forget to enter the giveaways for the Facebook party

time is running out!

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Michelle Duggar Miscarriage

We are so sad to hear the news about Michelle Duggar, who had just recently announced the joyous news of expecting their 20th child-now announcing she has suffered a miscarriage. Our hearts and prayers go out to their family.

(Note: please first turn off the music at the bottom of the blog)

We also understand that they will be naming the unborn child  and will be holding a funeral service. The Duggar children are caring for Michelle as she heals from this and we ask that our readers please keep them in prayer. 

You can read more here.

OR send them a comforting word of enouragement here. 

Please feel free to share this post using the Facebook and Twitter
buttons below so we can  get the word out on how to encourage them.

(Watch Duggar instant video episodes HERE.)

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Blessed News: Duggars Announce 20th Child

This morning our favorite family--the Duggars, announced the special news that they are expecting their 20th blessing on the Today Show:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

(Scroll down to the bottom if you need to turn off the music)

"We are so excited," Michelle Duggar told TODAY Moms before the broadcast. Now three and a half months pregnant, the mom of 19 says she was actually surprised to discover that she's expecting again at 45. "I was not thinking that God would give us another one, and we are just so grateful."

See her personal interview here at her home 

and the latest one HERE and HERE.

Congratulations, Duggars! And thank you for bringing joy to so many over the years by your great example of Christ of loving your family, children and the world around you!

(My daughter  and Jill Duggar are online "pen pals" ---Jill, if you read  this Janai is sending a big hug and congratulations to your family!)


  Get their latest book here!
Pssst---it's on SALE!

 

Family movie nights are a great learning experience and kept wholesome when watching the Duggar family in action in their hit TV show 19 Children and Counting.

 You can watch their movies instantly here 
starting from ONLY  $1.99!

These movies also make perfect Christmas gifts!

Have a blessed day!

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Do you feel you have your hands full with mothering?
Get my new encouraging ebook--
True Christian Motherhood

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Image Credit

Heavenly Chocolate and Link-Up

Yesterday we enjoyed our first day back at school! It was loads of fun and my daughter, Janai, made a special dessert to bless her siblings. Take a look:

 

And, yes, we were in heaven when we ate it. 

You can get this amazing recipe here.  

We are doing a link-up today to celebrate Friday and get your amazing posts shared with the thousands of woman who enjoy reading this blog.

If you have a post you would like to share about motherhood, Titus 2, recipes, marriage, building up your home, homemaking, character, hospitality, femininity, tea, etc. we would love to have you share it with us!

When 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:

<a href="http://proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i597.photobucket.com/albums/tt60/junefuentes/thisbetterwork.jpg" border="0" alt="A-Wise-Woman-Builds-Her-Home"></a>

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


Also, a quick Wise Woman Tip-- the new book by the Duggars (who have 19 children and share how they do it) is now 40% off and just $12 today. Just click on the book below to take you to this great deal that ends at midnight tonight. It also makes a wonderfully encouraging gift!

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

Purposeful Summer Planning

Every year when summer rolls around  I love planning out a list of goals and such to accomplish. I am a list person by nature and therefore thrive under organized conditions. I have realized that summers can quickly be over in a blink of an eye so I must be careful to seize the opportunity that lies ahead since the new school year will be upon us before I know it.

I also like to plan goals because I see that my children do well with goals as well. Structure is a good thing and without it all can become amiss in our bustling household.  While I love the laziness of a summer schedule and do plan in several days of glorious nothingness, I especially look forward to including those things that my normal schedule does not allow much time for. I usually have two categories--the things that need to get done and things I would personally love to do.

Here is a quick glimpse of some goals on my summer agenda:

• Domestic: practice new recipes to add to our repertoire, garden, canning, redecorating, organizing garage, repaint homeschool room, redecorate/paint certain rooms, train puppy, hold a garage sale, organize/purge toys, make special summer memories
• Children: emphasis on character/scripture, listen to sermons, go through book studies, summer chores, music, typing, travel, summer reading lists, and plenty of fun, possibly launch a business
• Family Ministry: hospitality, baking for unsaved neighbors, reaching out and focusing more on loving people, mentoring and praying about potential nursing home ministry, (did you know my husband used to be a part of a prison ministry and preach to those in jail?), serving in our community
• Online goals: This category has expanded for me with my blog, consulting and other endeavors. My list for this category is a bit extensive at the moment so I will spare you from all the lengthy (and exciting) details! I do have it all written out systematically so that I can accomplish what I'd like to see done, if the Lord allows.

  

I know some categories might go undone and I am perfectly fine with that--the point is for me to just have a plan and to try to accomplish what we can! I personally like to look at time as a precious commodity and gift from God--something definitely not to be squandered on a larger scale! I also find satisfaction in knowing I did not waste the fleeting summer days.

Whatever you have planned this summer--make sure first to pray about it! The Lord may direct you in an entirely different path and you will want to be flexible. Maybe your list only includes two or three things and that is just fine. We are all different and will have different goals for our family--whatever you do, take advantage of the time to do something special for both yourself and your family.

Have fun planning out your summer and celebrating the season doing what is important to you!

Here is a look back at my previous summer goals:

Summer Planning

Large Family Summer Scheduling



What do you have planned this summer?

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It's Finally Here!

They are in stock now!

Get yours today at Amazon or Vision Forum.

Here is Michelle Duggar describing a typical day:

Happy viewing!

Duggar's Latest Interview

Recently Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar were interviewed about their life and new book "A Love That Multiplies", here it is:

Now I have a great tip for you!!! Right now on Amazon they are currently offering the new Duggar book at 39% off the cover price if you preorder this book, so instead of getting it at the full price of $19.99
it is now available at only $12.18! I already ordered mine.

(For those of you who would prefer to invest in a Christian company instead of Amazon, VF is having it at sale price too ($3 off) for only $16.)

Many of  you have written me asking me about godly movies to influence your children, since that can be so hard to find these days. I so agree with you, when I take a look through Netflix and Redbox, it can get pretty  discouraging. Good, wholesome movies are hard to come by so that is why I cannot recommend  these DVD's by the Duggars enough. My children can watch them again and again and I don't have to worry about having to block or censor anything. Much is taught on character and godly values as well.

 

17 Kids and Counting

18 Kids and Counting
and the newer one:

19 Kids and Counting-Set of 4 DVD's


These were worth the money I spent because I knew I was investing in my family and we could all look forward to family movie night!

Do you have any favorites you would like to share with us?



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Duggar's New Book! A Love That Multiplies

I know that many of you just love the Duggar family just as much as we do 

and that is why I know you will be DELIGHTED to know that they have a brand spankin' new book that is available for preorder now entitled 

A Love That Multiplies:
An Up-Close View of How They Make It Work

Here is are the publishers comments:

In this second book from the Duggars, they focus on the principles that equip them to face life's challenges—drawing from their most recent challenge with the 3-month premature birth of their newest child, Josie. They also share the new challenges their older children are facing as they prepare for adult life. Central to the book is a section on the principles that the Duggar's have consistently taught their children. These simply worded principles are basic to the Duggar family and are shared in a way that other parents can incorporate in their own homes. A special chapter on homeschooling gives valuable information to parents who are considering this route or are already invested in it. The world continues to be amazed by their nineteen well-groomed, well-behaved, well-schooled children and their home life, which focuses on family, financial responsibility, fun—and must importantly, faith. The Duggar's show how parents can succeed whether they’re rearing a single child or several.

Table of Contents

Preface: Our Biggest Test Begins

Part 1: Little Baby, Big Challenges 
 1. Little Eyes Watching
 2. More Babies on the Way!
 3. A Surprising Test Begins
 4. Praying without Ceasing
 5. Miracles and Milestones
 6. Difficult Priorities
Part 2: Shaping Hearts and Minds
 7. Living under the Microscope
 8. Opportunities to Reach Out to Others
 9. Developing a Servant Heart
10. Making Faith Fun
Part 3: Big Hope for Our Children’s Future
 11. Homeschool, Duggar Style
 12. Vocations, Goals, and Roles
 13. Daily Training, Tips, and Practicalities
 14. Life Is a Classroom
Part 4: Big Hearts, Full of Love
 15. Protecting and Cherishing Our Relationships
 16. Michelle’s Heart for Children and Moms
 17. Jim Bob’s Lifelong Hobby
 18. Do the Duggars Date?

 P.S. Answering the Big Question




What an encouragement it is to have a mom of 19 children take time in her day to minister to women!
It is wonderful to see Titus 2 women rise up and bless those around them even with busy schedules like Michelle's and especially be a testimony to the lost.

Be sure to get your copy and

preorder new the book here!

(they have it in hardcover, Kindle and audio)


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Wise Woman Tip:

Family movie nights are a great learning experience and kept wholesome when watching the Duggar family in action in their hit TV show 19 Children and Counting.

 You can get their movies here 
starting from ONLY  $4.49!

Spring Is Here! Decluttering the Large Family

I am so happy that spring is finally here! The longer days, the birds singing, new life budding their heads in the garden, the fresh air----oh, what is there NOT to love about spring?

I have been getting around to spring cleaning, running around the house like a mad woman with trash bags and asking myself one key question:

"Do I want to take care of this for the next 10 years?" 

Ha! That got things going pretty quickly! Let me just say I threw away bags and bags of things that I no longer had interest in or wanted to take care of. I remember as a young wife I was busy trying to do the opposite-- to collect items for our home and to fill it.... or even being sentimental about certain items that I though I could not part with,--but now I am more than willing to give/throw them away today! Why? Because in order to live a more simpler life that is rich with true living I can't confine myself to caring for alot of material possessions which actually take away from the real living that I desire to do!

I think having alot of things can imprison a person to some degree. American's have so much, we really need to teach our children the value of having little and getting with much less. I remember hearing of a missionary family that would feed their children on occasion a meal of plain potatoes to teach them how to survive on a simple meal if they ever became missionaries  and eating on leaves instead of plates. They knew if they became missionaries they would have to survive on much less, they did not want to raise discontented consumers but instead desired to raise children that could be content and live on the simple things in life if they would share Jesus with a lost world.

Simpler living can be achieved without the responsibility to the many unneeded items here on earth. We must protect that precious commodity that we can never get back:  TIME! Precious time to do the things we really want to do and share with those we love  because we only live once. Let's not spend it tirelessly taking care of the endless unneeded earthly possessions we own so that we can spend time on the ever important eternal.

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Need help decluttering or some motivation?

Here is my all time favorite book that gets right to the point and had me throwing things out

our home like you would not believe!

Wise Woman Tip:

Now here are some valuable recommendations you should fill your home with:

All Homestead Blessings DVD's are 50% off because of their new spring sale!

They teach everything from cooking, gardening, canning, etc.

Get it while you can!

(Sale ends April 2nd)

We are linked up at Raising Homemakers and Far Above Rubies

What Will Last: Raising Nations for Him

Hear a testimony and be encouraged from a former medical physician who gave it all up to come home and be a mother (of eight) to her children. She also shares her experience and advice about how money and material possessions won't last but raising nations for the Lord will.

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Large Family Dynamics--The Bates Family

I love learning from large families and if you are not familiar with the Bates family, who are good friends of the Duggars from the hit show 19 Kids and Counting, they are another large Christian family who are trying to raise their children for His glory. Here is a new video release of them and what a day in their life is like:

I really loved their in-house camera monitors so they know where the children are and what they are doing!

And felt hugely encouraged to see that someone else had a larger amount of laundry than we do! :)

And all the large family moms on this blog said in unison----AMEN!!!!

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I like to buy the Duggar Movies
for my children to watch---they make great family movie nights and teach the children about character and how to get along with their siblings while addressing some great issues (purity, integrity, etc)! This is wholesome watching at its best! My husband even feels like he has learned alot from Jim Bob, their father.  If you are looking for great movies for the entire family, then check them out!