About Rachel Wojnarowski

Rachel is originally a small town country girl who converted to a suburban mother of seven by way of life happening. She and her husband, Matt, enjoy caring for their busy family, whose ages span from 13 months to 21 years old, including a special needs daughter. Rachel leads community ladies' Bible studies in central Ohio and serves as an event planner and speaker for special needs parenting groups. She is a member of Ohio Writers' Guild and the National MPS Society; and loves to inspire others through her blog by sharing faith, family, and fun. Wife, mom, reader, writer, speaker and dreamer, you can find Rachel on Twitter , Facebook, and . Pinterest.

5 Places to Find Strength & Better Mom Monday’s Link-up!!

June 9, 2013 By Rachel Wojnarowski

You are a strong mom. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. You work hard. You love with all your heart. You do your very best.

And most of all, you know where to turn when you need strength.

Maybe you’ve temporarily forgotten where your strength comes from because of extenuating life circumstances. Sometimes I forget too. But I always come back to this list.

1. God’s Word.

I know- it may seem very basic. Yet at times when I ask ladies if they read their Bible today, soaking up God’s Word for themselves, enjoying His personal love letter, they have “the look.” For many years, reading the Bible was on the check list for me. A to-do item. Only when I encountered larger-than-life circumstances, like divorce, disease, and death, did I realize that God’s Word is a place of comfort and empowerment and I cannot afford to read it half-heartedly. I need it for strength.

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Prov. 30:5

2. Prayer.

Strength from the Lord is ours for the asking. I wonder why we forget to ask? Prayer meetings and prayer teams are an awesome resource of strength, and so is praying to God right where you are. That’s the wonderful thing about prayer- anyone, anytime, anywhere. God is always there to listen. I like to call some prayers “pop-up” prayers. “Lord, I’m about to enter the grocery store. Please don’t let me buy anything I shouldn’t.” “God, I feel myself wearing down and being impatient with the kids. Please help me.” Whatever the need, He is there!

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. Jer. 33:3

3. Church.

Worshiping the Lord and serving in church provides strength like nothing else can. If you’re reading this and thinking that you are worn out from serving at church, perhaps you need a change of ministry or timeout to refresh. But in the worst circumstances, I found that church was one place that I needed most, especially when I didn’t feel like going. The teaching of God’s Word provides incredible strength for the week.

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!” Psalm 122:1

4. Bible Study

Whether you call it a “life group” or “community group” or “small group” or “Sunday School”, no matter the term when two or three people meet in the name of the Lord, He meets us there. Every single time I meet with my ladies’ groups, I leave feeling refreshed and restored. This is because we listen to one another’s needs and unite our hearts in studying the Word and praying together.

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. Matt. 18:20

5. Friendships

Strong, Christian friendships are so important. To surround yourself with positive friendships is to feed your soul. There are all kinds of places to have true friendships. Maybe you live miles from one another but met one time and became kindred spirits. Perhaps you live in the same neighborhood. You might even never have met, but are part of the same online community. No matter the form of community, friendships are a necessity for strength. God wired us for relationships.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Prov. 17:17

So there you have it. My top 5 places to find strength. I’d love to know yours.

Will you share them with us?

Rachel

RachelWojo.com

**************************************************************************************

So now it is time to LINK-UP and join the party!!!!

*****We pin our favorite link-ups on The Better Mom’s Pinterest Board!!*****

Better Mom Mondays Link-up is every Monday!!! Every week we have hundreds of posts linked up here from so many beautiful women with beautiful things to share! I encourage you to visit their sites by clicking on the links and reading all of the fantastic ideas and insights! Also don’t forget to join the fun by adding your blog!! We request that if you join below -please add the Better Mom Mondays Link Up button to your post so your readers can find us here! (Posts can include the topics of mothering, marriage, homemaking, discipleship, recipes, organization and more!) You can find the html code in the sidebar, or “save as” copy, and paste the button below.

22 Comments | Filed Under: Following God Tagged With: how to find strength, places of strength being a strong woman, where to find strength

What the Old Mom Said to the New & Better Mom Monday’s Link-up!

May 5, 2013 By Rachel Wojnarowski

Motherhood is tough- there’s no doubt that we all know it. The sleepless nights with a newborn. The teen years with cell phone rules and driving privileges and curfews. The crazy elementary age sleepovers.

But one particular phase of motherhood seems to be a bit tougher than the rest, at least for me. The other day, I posted:

“Toddlerhood – where words don’t matter, because attitude says everything.”

And we can get a little chuckle over that. Though I often wonder if that’s what God thinks of me sometimes.

As mom to 7 kiddos now, I look back in my mid-twenties when I experienced raising my first toddler. And boy, was it rough. Though I grew up in a large family and had completed a college degree, neither temporary experiences nor education had prepared me in totality for being mom to a toddler.

Always busy, never sitting still, the sweet girl was into EVERYTHING. Cupboards and the pantry were placed on lockdown mode. Diapers were all but duct-taped to keep them on. You know the drill- so tired at the end of the day from chasing that you pull yourself together long enough to do one fell swoop of picking up the toddler trail of disaster from the day…and then crash. Only to wake up the next morning and start over again.

Sixteen years later, I’m a toddler mom for what feels like the umpteenth time. Several weeks ago my ipod was unwillingly baptized in the toilet by none other than…that sweet toddler. Last week I picked up an entire roll of toilet paper that had been unrolled into a happy little collage on the bathroom floor. I could go on and on with the stories of disaster, but I won’t. Because you get it- I know you have plenty of your own.

If you are familiar with the Bible story of Joseph, you may recall the bad rap Jacob gets because he favored Joseph, especially with the coat of many colors. But several years ago when I read this story, I received a fresh thought from Genesis 37: 3:

“Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age.”

Honestly I think Joseph’s daddy had just come to a level of maturity where he appreciated his child more than he ever could before. In our toddler-speaking terms, he knew that ages and stages quickly come and go- they don’t last forever. So even if they feel totally overwhelming in the middle of them, his love was bigger than the daily grind of caring for children.

If I could go back and talk to myself in the early years of motherhood, especially toddlerhood, this is what I would say:

Dear Tired Mama,

This stage doesn’t last forever. It is only temporary. And because it is only temporary, finding and remembering the joy of the day is far more important than focusing on the craziness of the moment. Keep in mind that this precious child is learning everything from you and all that you do is mimicked in one way or another, either now or in the future. In the mean time, turn to God’s Word every.single.time. you are overwhelmed, and you will receive the strength you need for the journey. I’ve been there- and you can do it!

Old Toddler Mom

Just know that because I would say this to my younger mom self, that doesn’t mean I’ve perfected it by any means. But I did tuck away a super sweet memory this week when my toddler girl picked up her baby doll and kissed her on the head over and over, smiling at her- something her mama does with her.

Here’s my list of 10 Bible Verses for When You Feel Overwhelmed- feel free to add your own, but I’ve got to run-

I just heard the fridge door and there’s most likely a toddler about to help herself to lunch!

Rachel

RachelWojo.com

**************************************************************************************

So now it is time to LINK-UP and join the party!!!!

*****We pin our favorite link-ups on The Better Mom’s Pinterest Board!!*****

32 Comments | Filed Under: Parenting, Toddlers Tagged With: toddler advice, what the old mom said to the new

5 Tips for A Blessed Bedtime Routine

April 4, 2013 By Rachel Wojnarowski

As mom to seven children whose ages range from 21 down to 2, some of the most frequent questions I receive are about bedtime. They typically include:

What time do your children go to bed?

What can we do to get the children into bed easily?

How much time should we allow for a bedtime routine?

Today I want to offer you 5 tips for establishing a blessed bedtime routine. Many times our children struggle with bedtime because they are not sure what to expect. When you can establish a regular schedule of expectations, then children love the ability to be in control and know what the next step is.

1. Begin early enough in the evening.

If the bedtime is 8 pm and preparation doesn’t begin until 7:45pm, then 15 minutes won’t be enough time to work through any “issues” that might arise. After a few trial runs, you should have an idea of how long your routine is. For our family, I know what time showers and baths need to begin in the evenings in order to accomplish the entire routine and I try to stay time conscience in the evenings.

2. Have an order of events.

I know this sounds a bit formal. But truly, if you have a mental check-off of what needs to be accomplished, then you will have a more cooperative and successful routine. In the beginning stages of setting up a bedtime routine, you may even want to have a physical to-do list. For us, this would look something like: bath, hair, snack, books, teeth, and prayers. Your order may be different, but following the same order each night will give your children the ability to anticipate the next item on the to-do list. Doing this provides a feeling of security and control.

3. Offer some choices.

To keep things moving along, yet give my child the pleasure of having a choice, I’ll offer choices for items that aren’t of significance. Some examples might include: “Which pajamas would you like to wear tonight? ” (for my 4 yr old or even 2 yr old) or “Would you like to choose the Bible story we read tonight?” (Here is an awesome list of devotionals for children!) Obviously this will vary with age ranges, but offering some choices without a free-for-all empowers children to make decisions and yet follow the rules.

4. Set up a peaceful environment.

For our children, night lights are low and lullaby music is soft. Beds are turned down and all night time snuggling items are tucked in safely. For the older children, we encourage night time reading while in bed. Reading lights are clipped on to books and quietly read while the younger ones drift off. When you prepare the room for sleep, it is more pleasing to fall asleep.

5. Take a few moments to chat and pray with your child in bed.

My husband and I pray with each of our children individually once they are lying in bed. These moments are priceless since as a larger family, individual time is a bit more difficult to manage for each child. While we try to encourage and praise our children throughout the day, bedtime is the one time in a day that we really want to be sweet and encouraging. Telling your children that you love them each night is something they will remember for their entire lives. Giving them praise for the day’s accomplishments sets up success for the next day.

What do you do to encourage a blessed bedtime routine? We’d love to read about it in the comments below.

Rachel- RachelWojo.com

1 Comment | Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: bedtime routine, establishing a bedtime routine, parenting

20 Quick Energy Boosters for Moms

March 8, 2013 By Rachel Wojnarowski

Moms, we have a big job. No, a HUGE job.

And as much as some of us don’t want to admit it, the truth is that all moms know it-

sometimes we get tired.

As a work-at-home mom to 7, today I wanted to give you 20 ways to boost your energy. Sometimes, we just need a little boost to keep going and time alone other than the bathroom isn’t anywhere close to happening. (ok, even then you might get a knock on the door.)

For those days, a quick pick-me-up can make an incredible impact. So choose one or two and renew your attitude to keep going!

1. Eat a small, healthy snack. Maybe a granola bar or apple is just the thing to keep you going until dinner.

2. Phone a friend. Even if you have to leave a message, just encouraging someone else that you were thinking of them will encourage you also.

3. Slow down for an afternoon cup of tea or coffee. Take 5 minutes to sit down and enjoy it without reflecting on anything.

4. Make a list of 5 things for which you are thankful. After making the list, take 2 or 3 minutes to thank God for them.

5. Stop to read a few verses of Scripture. Here is a list of 12 verses for when you feel like giving up that might be just the thing!

6. Do 5 minutes of physical exercise. Run up and down the steps or take a quick walk around the block just to clear your head.

7. Add some extra protein to your lunch- peanut butter, cheese or a yogurt smoothie would all be great choices.

8. Try a small variation on an old, well-loved recipe.

9. Give yourself a time-out. And time it! 3 minutes of sitting on the couch with your eyes closed can do wonders.

10. Pray! I’ve found so many times when I simply stop and ask my Heavenly Father for strength- He provides!

11. Stop to do a few minutes of a creative activity you enjoy. For me, this is plopping down on the piano bench to play a song. Maybe for you, it is picking up the knitting needles for a bit. Set the timer and relax for the minutes you can.

12. Put your phone in a timeout. If continually texting or answering voicemail is stressful, control when you take care of it; don’t let it control you.

13. Pause and drink a full glass of water. Many times when we are not hydrated well, our energy lacks and we feel weak, both physically and mentally.

14. Anticipation alone can often provide a small boost of energy. Think for a few minutes about an upcoming event on the calendar for which you are excited.

15. Take the courage to cancel an engagement when rest is needed. While hard, sometimes knowing our agenda has been shortened can be a great energy-booster!

16. Breathe in a little energy by burning a candle or oils. I love to clean house with citrus cleaners because lemon and orange are natural energizing scents!

17. Enter a no-screen period of time. As a work-at-home mom, 10 minutes away from the computer is often the most energizing thing I can do to refocus and renew my energy.

18. Wash your hands and apply cream. This is relaxing AND energizing!

19. Do one small thing you’ve been procrastinating. Small victories can be invigorating.

20. Schedule a personal care appointment that you know you need to do. This could be with the doctor, cosmetologist, dentist…doesn’t matter. The point is that you are being purposeful about taking care of yourself and this fact should be energizing.

No matter the energy booster you choose, know that God is your strength and He chose you specifically for the wonderful position of being a mom. You can do it!

Would you share your energizing secrets with us?

Rachel-RachelWojo.com