Today, more than 12 million children in the United States do not know when their next meal will come.  Unfortunately, this number continues to rise as these difficult economic times times are leaving more and more people jobless, without homes, and unable to provide food for their families.  What can you do?

1. Sign-up to host a bake sale: http://www.GreatAmericanBakeSale.org/vgabs
2. Buy the virtual Great American Bake Sale eBook: http://StolenMomentsCooking.com/virtual-gabs
3. Post a ChipIn widget or banner on your blog: http://www.GreatAmericanBakeSale.org/bloggers

Make a difference in a child’s life by signing up and purchasing a virtual cookbook today! 100% of the proceeds from this eBook will benefit Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale, which is a national effort that encourages Americans to host bake sales in their communities to help end childhood hunger.  Funds raised support summer and after-school feeding programs in your community that thousands of kids depend on.

Once you have purchased your virtual Great American Bake Sale cookbook, double your impact and use the recipes to host your own Great American Bake Sale! Hosting a Bake Sale is a fun and easy way to make a big impact!  To register your Bake Sale or for more information, please visit http://GreatAmericanBakeSale.org

For the past two weeks, our family has been blessed by the addition of small toddler to our family as I was watching a friend’s little one.  Our little visitor is only 15 months old and is a delight!  He has helped our family to grow.

• I have learned that if I get up earlier in the morning, I am able to accomplish so much more! I also was reminded that arising anytime before 7 AM is not good for my body.  (He arrives just before seven o’clock in the morning.  Unfortunately, I haven’t been very good at getting out of bed to my alarm instead awaking to the sound of the doorbell when he arrives with his mom bright and early in the morning.)  However, I will continue to get up around 7 AM – just not much earlier than that.  (I am a night person and would much prefer staying up at night and sleeping late in the morning.)

• Our boys’ ability to share has been stretched. They have found sharing their toys much easier than sharing their mommy.

• Because of the very limited time that I have to accomplish certain tasks without a tiny one in tow, I have become much better about not procrastinating and getting my chores done early.  This has also helped my mood as I don’t feel the stress of the tasks I have waiting for me to complete.

• We have been reminded of the amount of freedom that we have as a family as our almost-preschooler only takes an afternoon nap – instead of two naps daily  – which really makes scheduling errands and activities so much easier!  He even skips his nap frequently allowing us complete scheduling freedom.

We have enjoyed his weekday visits.  I hope he has learn as many positive things from us as we have from him!

Join Amy at The Finer Things in Life celebrating Finer Things Friday!

My older son (5 yo) pulling out a reader to read aloud to me in order to receive “extra” books being read to him by me in the morning.

The hugs and kisses of my little boys.

The gentle comfort of a friend reminding me that we are not alone in our walk – that others have gone before us and can help us find our way.

The knowledge that tomorrow is my day to sleep in (DH gets up with the kids on Saturday mornings).The comfort of a cat curled up in my lap purring.

My little ones sitting in my lap while listening to me read them a book.

My little ones wanting to continue reading because they truly enjoy it. I love the fact that they enjoy reading/being read to!

These are the Finer Things in my life this Friday.

Who is the most important person in your life?  Well, it should be YOU!  Who better to provide you the love that you need and deserve than the person that knows exactly what is needed?  Only you know what portions of your life need attention in order for you to fulfill all of your desires.  Why is it that we put our own needs behind those of the ones we love?  The adage about not being able to take care of someone else if you aren’t taken care of is so true!!  How can we give others something that we don’t have within ourselves to give?  Now, being able to give to those you love is a very worthy and desirable goal, however, shouldn’t you include yourself at the top of that list?

I have been doing a very poor job of taking care of myself like I need to.  I long to be the best person that I can possibly be on the inside and the out.  To this end, I am making a promise to myself – from now on, I am going to take care of me the best way that I know how.  This is going to be a very difficult task as I am very good at “treating” myself in ways that aren’t beneficial for me in the long run (i.e., way too much chocolate and not enough sleep).  As I begin on my journey to a better me, I am going to focus on three areas: my health, implementing and maintaining a schedule, and reading for enjoyment.  As I define how best to travel on this journey, I must remind myself that long term changes don’t happen over night and that I must stay the course even when the travel is difficult.  I look forward to the adventure of becoming the best person that I can be!  The more complete I feel in my life; the more I have to give to my family and friends.  I may never have the perfect body or the most immaculate home or be the best conversationalist, but I will continue to strive to love the woman God has helped me to become!

Remember to take care of yourself and those around you will be blessed by the better you!

Join Mom’s the Word for other ways people are improving their lives on Making Your Home Sing Monday.

Almost three years ago, we moved across country from our immediate families.  So, it isn’t very often that we are able to spend time with our families.  We have been blessed to have spent the last week and a half has been visiting our families in Texas and Oklahoma.  We have truly enjoyed spending time with our parents and other family members.  The boys have delighted in the attention and love bestowed upon them by their grandparents!

There have been many hugs and kisses exchanged.  Many good-bye tears shed have been shed as well.  However, the sadness of parting is worth the short amount of time we are be able to see those that mean the most to us!

Using our vacation to drive cross-country to visit our family Works for Me!

Even while we are on the road, I am able to make my home sing because “home is where the heart is” and right now our hearts are in Texas.  Our hearts burst out in song as we surround ourselves with the love of family and friends we seldomly see.

The biggest way I am making my home sing while on vacation is by going with the flow.  I am such the type A personality!  I want to have everything planned and follow the plan (not that this always shows!LOL!) so being relaxed about what we do and when we get around to doing it while we are on vacation has helped my family to fully enjoy our trip.  No rushing around to get to the next destination or worrying that we aren’t going to be able to accomplish everything that we had wished to.  (I did plan on not planning which went a long way into helping me maintain this philosophy.)

Join Mom’s the Word for other Making My Home Sing Monday!

Also linked to What I Learned This Week.