It’s October which means there are a slew of bloggers (like 1200+) joining with the Nesting Place to write on one topic for 31 days straight! I so totally love these 31 days series. It’s like getting a highly concentrated version of that blogger and their blog!

I’ve got about 20 tabs open and I thought you’d like to see my picks for this 31 Days. These are the series I’m reading along with and thought you’d like, too!

31 Days of Before & After Pictures by Dawn Camp. I am a complete pretty-picture-taking wannabe. I love seeing how Dawn photoshops like a pro!

Home. On Purpose. by the Nester. I am not a great homemaker. Nor am I great at home decorating. But I have a feeling that making a home, has to do with how it looks, too. I’m really enjoying this philosophy on the home!

31 Days of Teaching Toddlers Theology by Mary Beth at the Homemade Calling. Of course, this is right up my alley!

31 Days of Praying for your Children at She Who Delights. LOVE THIS!

31 Days of God’s Words for My Kids at The Architect & The Artist. This one is so cool! She takes a Scripture she wants her kids to know and then writes them a letter explaining how she is praying or using that Scripture in their lives. What an awesome gift to give your kids–something I’d like to copy!

31 Days of Children’s Book Crushes at The Book Diaries. I love a good kids’ book. Plus, she gets the award for cutest 31 days button.

31 Days of Wall Art at A Pop of Pretty. This goes back to that whole make-my-home-a-home thing. Super simple (and adorable) ideas for wall art!

31 Days of Family Ties at Home With The Boys. I love this! Simple ideas for bringing your family closer together!

31 Days to Write Your Story with Lisa Jo Baker, the Gypsy Mama. I just love Lisa Jo. She inspires me to be a better writer. Love this series!

31 Days in My Brown Skin by Deidra Riggs. She said it best, “Yes. I’m going there.” Seeing the world from her brown skin.

31 Days of Simple Outdoor Adventures for Boys from Jen at 4tunate.net. Oooh, this one is so good! It’s more than look-what-my-boys-did. She gives great details and lots of information for some fun outdoor activities for boys (and girls)!

31 Days of Giving Up on Perfect by Mary Carver. *sigh* Doesn’t that sound nice?

31 Days of Coding Basics by This Bold Girl. Because I’m a geeky wannabe.

Oh, and if you’re new-ish here, you can read my 31 Days to Impress Your Kids from last October. It was pretty awesome. Plus, there’s a printable freebie in there for you!

Are you writing a 31 Days series? Please leave a link in the comments so I can click over and read, too!

photo source: Matt Preston

If I remember I’m gonna link this up to Top Ten {Tuesday} tomorrow. I know it’s not a list of ten. But it’s close, right?

***Impress Your Kids has some new digs at ohAmanda.com! Come visit us there for all the Impress Your Kids archives and all our new posts–including our Easter newsblast with fabulous tips for celebrating a meaningful Easter with your kids!***

Do you know what this is?

Well, yes, it’s my messy basement.

But do you know what those two big boxes hold?

CHRISTMAS!

Inside those boxes are hundreds of gifts for needy kids. We’ve been collecting socks, flip flops, school supplies, toys, crafts and dolls ever since last Christmas. Target and Michael’s are our favorite as they regularly do 70% off their dollar section. Wal-mart also has some good deals in the kids’ clothing department!

In just a few weeks (November 12-19) we’ll be taking all those toys and putting them into regular sized shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child! If you’ve been around here for even five minutes you know that I love Operation Christmas Child.

It’s an easy way to give, it’s low commitment, it impacts my own children and it has the potential to change the life of a child somewhere in the world. When boxes are brought into a town, they open up a door for the Gospel. Churches and other organizations can suddenly get into subcultures and groups they couldn’t before.

Here, watch this. See how your small gift can be so big…

{subscribers click here to watch this awesome video!}

It’s just so typical of God, isn’t it? Using the small to bring big change. Using something cheap and breakable to make an everlasting, unchanging difference. Looking at those kids open up those boxes and hold those toys reminds me of the boxes in our basement. Somewhere a child will hold those same toys we’ve collected and it could be the start of a new life in their community, their family and their heart!

I know it’s only October but get ready, Pinterest is already talking about Christmas plans and decorations. Yikes! The National Packing week for OCC is in less than six weeks away. Show your kids some more of the videos about Operation Christmas Child, start scouring the 70% section at your local store and get ready to involve your kids in life-change!

Some more of my fun Operation Christmas Child posts…

Our first box!

What To Pack in a Shoebox

Operation: Deliver the Boxes

My Trip to the Operation Christmas Child Processing Center in LA

Boxes Go Full Circle

Our Operation Christmas Child Party

The Shoebox Blitz in New York City

More Shoebox Blitz

And don’t forget to check out more Operation Christmas Child posts from some of my favorite homeschool bloggers…feel free to add your own!

Have you ever packed a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child?

Linked to Works for Me Wednesday

***Impress Your Kids has some new digs at ohAmanda.com! Come visit us there for all the Impress Your Kids archives and all our new posts–including our Easter newsblast with fabulous tips for celebrating a meaningful Easter with your kids!***

This weekend was Asa’s Flying Ace Party! And oh, my! It was so fun. I always say that about my kids’ birthdays, but every time I’m surprised at how fun they are!

I’m going to give you the play-by-play of the party in a few days but today I wanted to talk about something I’ve been thinking about since dotMom. Vicki Courtney gave a talk entitled, “How To Raise a  Me-Monster” which was basically calling moms out on having kid-centric homes instead of God-centric homes.

You’ve heard of the helicopter-mom, right? Where moms hover around their kids making sure life turns out right? Not letting them fall at the park, not letting them get an F on a paper, not letting friends bully them and basically “snow-plowing the roads of life” for them.

I don’t feel like I’m really a helicopter-mom because I don’t follow my kids up the playground slide. I don’t do Lydia’s schoolwork. I let my (new) 4 year old get dressed by himself and wear shorts and cowboy boots if he wants. I let them make ugly crafts and do things differently than I think they should be done.

However.

Vicki Courtney brought up some points that were beyond letting your kid fall at the playground. It’s more about the attitude you have towards your kids.

Do I make my children the center of my life? Is my husband an afterthought? Do I defer to my kids on everything? Have I forgotten that my goal as a mom is to raise kids to LEAVE ME?

Do I do whatever it takes to protect my child’s self-esteem? Am I that American Idol mom who demands that Randy put her child through even though she can’t sing a lick? Do I call their sin, sin?

Do I rescue my child from poor choices and life’s injustices? Do I say (or show) that the rules don’t apply to my precious babies? Have I placed them on a track they won’t turn away from—a track of selfishness and pampering?

Have I taught my children to put their needs and wants before others? Am I raising a child who’s life centers on their vain conceit?

Sadly, I could answer YES to many of those questions. I think I’m doing my kids a favor by protecting them, helping them and putting them first. When, in actuality I’m planting seeds in their heart, mind and experience that says, “Life is about ME”.

One of Vicki’s examples was throwing elaborate birthday parties. She gave an example of a pirate themed party she gave for her son when he was little–complete with a treasure map and walking the plank. I started getting a little antsy, because I threw the best pirate party ever for Asa. And while listening to her talk, I was in the middle of planning his big Flying Ace party!

It made me evaluate what and why I am throwing these big parties! Is throwing a party for my son setting him up for thinking the world celebrates him? People should come around him to throw gifts and honor at him just for being born?!

It’s still a question I struggle with. I believe there are lots of good that comes from birthday parties (I may do a more fleshed out post or series about this), but I can also see how crazy it can become, too. If I throw an elaborate 10 year old birthday, what will the 16 year old party have to be? The High School graduation? The 21st birthday? The wedding? When does it end?

I think it has to do with exactly the point of Vicki’s talk: is our home God-centric? Or kid-centric? Are we throwing parties (or helping with homework, or doing sports or taking ballet) because of a kid-centric attitude? Or a God-centric attitude?

Instead of turning my children into demi-gods that I worship and lead others in worshiping (I’m not talking about parties here, just a general attitude), I want to be the mom that sets my kids up for flight.

I don’t want to be a helicopter mom. I want to be an airplane mom! I want to be the one that trains with my kids, helps with their pre-flight check, teaches them to buckle up and allows them to go down the runway listening to their air-traffic controller and then take flight!

I want to send them into life to soar! Yes, leaving me on the ground. Alone.

It is my heart’s desire to see my children do MORE than what I’ve done. To love God BEYOND what I do. To see them serve BETTER than I have done.

So, in this time of birthday parties, school projects and playgrounds, I’m purposing in my heart to center my home on God. To take my kids off a pedestal and help them kneel before the one true God, the object of our real affection.

Lord, I pray you would help me lead my children in loving you and serving you first! Help me raise children who are lovers of you instead of lovers of self! I pray they would do nothing out of vain conceit, but consider others better than themselves. Empower me to lead by example and put you first in my own life!

ps: Due to the amazing Flying Ace Party, I’m postponing my Backyard Bloggy Party and relaunch. So, stay tuned, the fun is coming in a few days!

pps: the cardboard airplane Asa is sporting is from KC Wearables. Because I know you were wondering!

***Impress Your Kids has some new digs at ohAmanda.com! Come visit us there for all the Impress Your Kids archives and all our new posts–including our Easter newsblast with fabulous tips for celebrating a meaningful Easter with your kids!***