Y’all have heard me brag about Teach Them Diligently and how amazing the conference was for our family. Meeting my friend Rachael Carman was one part of that weekend that’s continued to inspire me to be a more intentional wife and mom.
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| With Rachael before the webcast at TTD |
During the months leading up to the conference, I became somewhat familiar with Rachael through our online group but not until the blogger meet-up, did I realize this was a woman God was using to reach others!
A homeschooling of mom of 7 and married to the president of Apologia, she’s real, funny, honest, absolutely loves the Lord, and inspires others to seek Him!
After attending a couple of her workshops, her heart for the Word of God came through crystal clear, inspiring other families to be in the Word and to seek Him daily!
Rachael has the ability to speak straight into your heart, coupling truth with humor, making her a delight to listen to.
Here are some highlights from two of her workshops: How to Have a HEART for Your Kids and Teaching Your Kids to Bless. There are even coordinating books, How to Have a HEART for Your Kids and Sound Bites from Heaven!
Mamas, the workshop CD’s alone are a blessing–I’ve listened to my own copies a few times now–the additional materials will certainly be a double blessing!
Here’s a quick overview of the workshops
If you want to have a heart for your children, you must have a heart for the things of God.
You cannot give what you do not have.
If I took home anything from Rachael, it was the importance of being in the Word DAILY! Yes, I already knew this importance, but there was just something about her illustrations and acting out what HAD to be a typical morning in my home (I even wondered–wait, have you been talking to my children?) that nailed it onto my heart!
In this workshop, she discusses the importance of enriching our marriage, accepting our kids, releasing them to God, teaching them truth, stepping out in faith, discipline, trusting God (and showing our children how to trust), and even how to survive a trip to Wal-Mart with many children in tow! (As I wrote earlier, she’s real.)
Intentionally choose your words.
Out of all of the inspirational words Rachael said in this workshop, this simple sentence spoke to me most! She gives the example of attending a character workshop for her children only to get there and realize that she was the one who needed to change.
Teaching Your Kids to Bless is convicting, inspirational, and oh so true! We want to teach our children to bless others and to be a blessing, but what are we doing as moms to bless them? What are our words and even our tone speaking to our children?
Rachael begins this workshop reviewing cultural norms with the acrostic CRUEL and then moves onto the Lord’s standard with BLESS.
Hearing her speak on the haughty eyes (aka the mean mom look) also pierced my heart.
There are so many good nuggets of truth in these workshops, and I know you’ll be blessed as you listen to them more than once.
For more from Rachael, like her page on FB, follow on twitter, and visit her blog for character lessons, real inspiration, and encouragement! And check out the Real Refreshment retreats, too.
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Encouraging! Love the give-away!
Thanks!! The workshops are amazing! I know
y’all are going to be blessed by Rachael’s words.
Encouraging for us, too! Thank you!
Thanks!! I know you’ll be blessed and inspired by Rachael’s blog. 🙂
I just found your blog. I am a mentor to adopted teens in my church, and I run a preschool that hopes to specialize in attachment therapy. God is a funny guy; I was just looking for a blog to link up with on Mondays, and here you are being great.
How cool, Shontell!!! How did you find us? I’m always curious. You’re doing a great work, especially with adopted teens!! 🙂 Yay!!! Have you entered the giveaway? Rachael’s blog is great, too. 🙂
I did a google search for Monday Link ups. Then I read your post. Then I read your bio. Good stuff. I am so happy to have found you. Our lives are similar; I like it.
So cool!!! I used to write on adoption but since our approval lapsed and we had a failed referral, we haven’t yet re-opened those doors. We’ve talked about adoption since before we were married though, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t happen in the future. I would love to adopt a special needs orphan, so we shall see. 🙂
We are working on orderly at our house! 😉
🙂 I think we need to work on that in our house, too. 🙂
love this!!!
Glad to hear it, Sam. 🙂 I know you’ll be blessed by Rachael. 🙂
Teaching children to bless definitely makes me think about the way I talk to and teach my children.
Oh, Jacquie, me too!!!!