Sometimes I get tired of Christian kids’ shows and books. It’s like they try so hard to tell a story or teach a moral that it becomes trite and over-spiritual. And sometimes, especially as a mom of a preschooler, I feel like the story lines are a little too old. I don’t want my daughter watching shows about how NOT to be insecure, or about why she shouldn’t lie to her parents or not run away from home. She doesn’t even know what those things are. They’ve never crossed her mind! I don’t want her to be introduced to it yet!

So, I have to admit that I was leery to show Veggie Tales’ newest DVD, Princess and the Pop Star to my kids. Of course, I am totally excited that they are doing some “girl” shows. Lydia (and who am I kidding, Asa, too) loves Queen Esther and SweetPea Beauty. But I didn’t want to introduce Lydia to the whole I-wish-I-was-a-Pop-Star thing.

We popped in the video over breakfast last week and watched while the sweet little baby carrot, Princess Poppyseed (who is not really a princess but actually a pie farmer’s daughter. Yes, pie farmer.) gets more and more bored, aggravated and tired of her life on a farm. Meanwhile, Vanna Banana (who is not really a banana, but another baby carrot with a blueberry for a mom. Go figure.) a Miley-Cyrus-Hannah-Montana-type is equally tired of her boring, lonely life on the road.

You know what happens of course, they meet on the playground and a la The Prince and the Pauper, they change places! At first it’s wonderful! Then as they become increasingly uncomfortable and unfit for their new lives, they begin to question what they are really truly designed for. There’s an exciting conclusion complete with robo-pogo-sticks, lots of sibling love and a big family hug.

But my FAVORITE part is when Vanna Banana is in Princess Poppyseed’s bed. She’s talking to Princess’ mom (who doesn’t seem to notice this little carrot isn’t her real baby) who quotes Psalm 139:17-18 to her. She explains that God created each one of us to do be who we are–no one else. That he put us together how He likes and He delights in us.

It’s such a beautiful lesson. One I want my daughter and son to know. In preschool or beyond, kids need to realize that their true worth is found in God alone. Not in being a “good girl” or a “big boy”. Not in being good at ballet or a helper at home. Regardless of where they are or what they do, they are designed PERFECTLY for where they are and who they are.

So, my fears were unfounded. And as usual, Veggie Tales delivered a sweet story about God’s love with humor, family and a fun story thrown in!

Would you like to bring Princess & The Popstar home to your family? It doesn’t come out in stores until August 16, but you can win it here today! Just leave me a comment letting me know which you’d rather be: a Princess or a Pop Star?

If you’d like an additional entry (leave a comment for each):

1. Tweet: Would you rather be a Princess or a Pop Star? Win @veggietales newest DVD at @impressyourkids! http://bit.ly/qgADdN

2. Facebook: share this by clicking LIKE below–you can even add a status update with it!

3. Visit Veggie Tales on facebook and tell ‘em Impress Your Kids sent you! 

Oooh, also just saw Princess & The Popstaris $10 at Wal-Mart and you get a free necklace! FUN!

Disclosure: Veggie Tales sent me the DVD in order to facilitate a review. Opinions are my own.

Yesterday was one of the worst parenting days I’ve ever had. There was not one time during the day that one of my children was not completely out of control. I was livid by the time my husband came home. In fact, I crawled into the bed as he finished eating dinner and hid until he had put the kids to bed. (He could feel my weariness and I didn’t even have to ask!)

After the kids went to bed (screaming), my husband and I sat on the couch and talked—about parenting, God and for some reason about dishes. My husband declared that he was better at keeping the kitchen clean because he put the dishes away immediately instead of letting them pile up. (Which, in all honesty, is kinda true.) But after the day I had, this pointed look at my failure to keep the kitchen clean hurt my feelings deeply.

I couldn’t talk anymore. So, I got up, went to my room, got ready for bed and decided to read. I picked up Don’t Make Me Come Up There! by Kristen Welch. You might know Kristen from We are THAT Family. She’s a blogging genius, an advocate for Compassion International and has started The Mercy House, a maternity home in Kenya. And I am in awe of her. I got her book as a review (because I wanted to share the awesome news of her book!) and had read a few of the short chapters when it first came in the mail.

But this night? It was as if the book was written just for me. I started with Chapter 12 entitled, “When I Fail.” Oh, I had failed this day–as a parent, homemaker and even a wife. Kristen tells of how she blew it as a mom, how she was short-tempered and impatient.

And with each confession, I cried more. I felt the same way. A failure.

Then she relayed something her pastor taught her, “When I cut my hand chopping veggies in the kitchen, the blood in my body rushes out of the wound. That’s what it was created to do. Our blood was designed to wash out the impurities and clot to protect us. When I fail as a parent or wife or a person, His blood goes to my injured heart. It rushes to the place I hurt. Because that’s what it was created to do. He is there to wash away my regret and my sin when I fail.”

By this time I was sobbing.

I try so hard–SO HARD–to teach my  kids to love God. I try so hard to point them to Jesus. But sometimes I forget to do the same. Sometimes I lean on my own understanding. Sometimes I rely on my past experience. Sometimes I just think I know best and I fail to do the best thing I can do:

Lean into Jesus.

Bring him my parenting failures.

Allow His blood to cleanse my bad attitudes towards my kids.

Rely on His strength to be my joy.

I ended up reading the rest of the book that night–all 52 chapters. And the more I read, the more God’s Word and Kristen’s open and honest confessions, stories and comfort healed my wounded heart. I felt like I had a sweet friend saying, “Yup. I’ve done that too.” with every one of my mess-ups.

Oh, and my husband came into the room to apologize and held me as I sobbed into his arms. I forget I need him, too sometimes.

Do you need some encouragement today? You’re not alone. You might fail as a mom every day. (I know I do.) There are moms everywhere going through the same thing as you. And Jesus is here. He made your children. He made you. And He put the two of you together. He can teach you to work together, to love together and to lean on Him together.

I’m giving away one copy of Kristen’s book to one of you. I pray it will encourage you as it did me.

Enter to Win Don’t Make Me Come Up There! by Kristen Welch (do one or all, leave a separate comment for each):

• Leave a comment. Any comment will do but something that says, “I know how you feel, Amanda” would be nice, too.
• Tweet it! Win @weareTHATfamily’s new book at @impressyourkids today! http://bit.ly/gb3VpI
• Share on Facebook. It’s easy – just click the “Like” button at the bottom of this post!
• LIKE Impress Your Kids on facebook (see sidebar) or tell me that you already do.

Contest ends Friday April 1.

ps–all the author royalties from Kristen’s book go to Mercy House Kenya. So even if you don’t win…or even if you do–will you buy the book? You can read it and pass it along to another mom!

comments are closed. congrats to our winner!

We got a new TV. It’s one of those big flat screen thingies that you hang on the wall. It is pretty impressive. Since we’ve had our old TV (the only one we have in our house) for over 12 years we thought it was time to upgrade!

The very first thing we broke out on our new TV was a new DVD. Veggie Tales’ new compilation DVD called Happy Together. It’s basically just 3 past episodes–Sheerluck Holmes, Esther and Grapes of Wrath. (I love the Grapes of Wrath song, it cracks me up!) So, it’s a themed DVD focusing on faith, family and friendship! (How great would that be for the Letter F?)

What’s fun about this (and makes it better than just a little compilation) is that there is a cartoon woven throughout the show where real kids are interviewed but they are veggies. Wait, that’s not right. Real veggies are interviewed, but they are actually kids. The point is–kids were interviewed and now look like veggies. *sigh* You’ll just have to see it to understand it!

My kids wanted to watch all 80 minutes of it at once. Instead, we just watched one section (oh, and a silly song, too! I forgot there are silly songs on it!) and the kids were ecstatic that the scripture for Sheerluck Holmes was Proverbs 17:17–their Dragon and Turtle verse!

Enough about me–would you like to have Happy Together for your very own? Veggie Tales is giving away one copy to an Impress Your Kids reader today! Just leave me a comment telling me what makes YOU happy and you’ll be entered to win!

If you’d like to share the contest-y goodness by tweeting or facebooking this post, I’d give you an additional entry for that, too. Just make sure you use this link: http://bit.ly/iykhappy and don’t forget you can link to us on your facebook page when you type @impressyourkids–just like twitter! (Just ignore that part if you aren’t into twitter and facebook. No worries!)

{And if you’d like to double your chances, head over to The Finer Things in Life. My friend, Amy is giving away a DVD this weekend, too!}

Speaking of faith, friendship and family, can I just say thank you for being a part of Impress Your Kids? I so hope this blog is an encouragement to you and your family. I am always bolstered and strengthened when you leave me comments or share your heart with me. Thank you! Happy Weekend!

Click here to leave a comment and win! (<—that’s for all you feed and email readers!)

Ooh, look FREE shipping at BigIdea.com with the code SHIPHAPPY!