When I first started my personal bog, ohAmanda one of the pervading themes was my discouragement and confusion on my “calling”. I had spent the first seven years of my marriage as a minister to kids. My husband and I spoke at camps and churches. We interned at one of the premier children’s ministries in the country. We worked for a huge children’s ministry resource company. We had helped start a church in Orlando. Soon, we moved to a mega-church in Birmingham. We were PROFESSIONAL children’s ministry people!

{that’s me at our church in Birmingham, with my microphone on!}Then suddenly, after some bad experiences we were back home in Atlanta with a baby girl and no ministry job. I was suddenly looking after one kid when I used to oversee 600. And it kinda freaked me out.

It took me over a year (or more) to finally come to the point where I realized motherhood was a ministry. And not only that, but God could use my “small” ministry of being a friend, having a blog and volunteering at church. And to Him? It was just as real and big as my full-time professional ministry had been.

It sounds very selfish when I write it out now, but it was so personal and scary to me then.

And in the last four years of blogging, I have seen it even more. I follow blogs that have changed my life, encourage my walk with the Lord and remind me of my ministry of motherhood.

I’ve also seen how even my little old blog can minister to people. I’ve had children’s pastors leave comments and send emails saying “Thank you! We’re using your idea in our church!” and moms saying, “Wow! Thank you! My kids learned the verse because of your post!”. And it shakes me. Scares me. Humbles me. And exhilarates me!

God, as he always does, uses EVERYTHING for His glory. No matter where we are, what we do or how we do it, we can promote God and make Him famous!

Why am I telling you all this? Because in a flurry of last-minute emails, twitter direct messages and skype conversations, I’ve got a ticket and sponsor to Relevant, a Christian blogging conference. IN TWO WEEKS!

I’m going to be mingling not just with bloggers, but women who write for God’s fame on their little corner of the internet. I’m so excited to feel their like-mindedness, to hug their necks and to just soak in all they say! (And maybe take an awkward starstruck picture or two!)

So, my 31 Days will still be in full force while I’m at Relevant but expect mucho info from the conference and some FABULOUS bloggyness from my sponsor, VEGGIE TALES! They have a new Christmas movie, The Little Drummer Boy and I can’t wait to tell you all about it! (And as a little hint, you REALLY REALLY want to follow me on twitter during the conference. It will be worth your while, I promise!)

If you’re going to Relevant, I’d love for you to leave a comment and say hello so we can make sure to meet! And as weird as it sounds I want to say thanks to you for reading and being a part of Impress Your Kids. I am praying that God will speak to me at Relevant–how to make Impress Your Kids a true ministry and to do my very best for Him (and you)!

Now, back to your regularly scheduled 31 days…

***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!***

Snowflake Specimen Art from Racks and Mooby {your kids could make this as a gift!}

7 True Things About You from Kat at Inspired to Action {so beautiful!}

Chinaberry {a bookstore focusing on positive kids’ books}

Holiday Healthy Snacks for Kids from Delicious Ambiguity {SO CUTE}

Spotlight at Make and Takes {a new awesome place to find the most creative ideas PLUS submit your  posts and tutorials!}

10 Days of Christmas Fun at 1+1+1=1 {so much great stuff–printables, crafts, books and more!}

iPad Giveaway from No Time For Flashcards {AWESOME! In partnership with Target’s Read With Me program}

linked to Saturday Stumbles at itscome2this

***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!***

It’s Labor Day and like most Labor Days, we’re not working! At least I hope you’re not! I hope you’re hanging out with your family and enjoying some un-laboring!

Today we are cleaning in preparation for Asa’s 2nd birthday party! I’m a big birthday party person–I love planning special birthdays to honor my kids! His party is this weekend–and we’re doing a swash-buckling pirate party! Oh my goodness, I have so much to do!

But if you’re not laboring, not cleaning and just hanging out on the computer this Labor Day, I’d love for you to check out a new blog—an e-zine really, called Life…Your Way. It’s a huge site dedicated to, well, you! There are channels about everything from green living to decorating to finances to blogging. And there is a Motherhood channel starring little old me! I’m going to be one of two contributors–the other is one of my bloggy heroes, Kat from Inspired to Action. So, please come click around Life…Your Way! You will love it!

Oh, and if you are a mother and equate Labor Day with…well, you know, LABOR. Then check out Amy’s Labor Day link up at The Finer Things In Life!  I’ll be linking up the birth stories of my two miracles!

Happy Labor (and unLabor) Day to you!

***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!***