The year of 2011 in the Page family was very interesting.  As my husband writes in Getting Up Again, there are at least three components of life:  Faith, Family & Finances.  For us, all three had major changes in 2011.  At the beginning of the year, our Pastors declared 2011 to be the Year of Kingdom Alignment and that alignment led to great transition!

Transition in Faith

We learned early in the year that our Pastors would be transitioning and expanding to another state.  This news made sense because their destiny is beyond our city.  The church is in a wonderful position to transition into the hands of the next Head Pastors.  They are from the church, have the hearts of the previous pastors, love the people and are wonderful pastors themselves.  But the truth is you can know something is God, good and right and find that you then need to make a change for yourself.  An open door for someone else sometimes shows you your own open door.

 Transition in Family

We decided that this year we needed to start searching for another school for our children.  They were attending a private Christian school for the last 3 ½ years and it was all they knew.  My daughter was adamant that she was not going to any other school (it didn’t help that she over heard some of my conversations – oops ).

Well two weeks before school was to start, we made a final decision, went to open house and the new public school not far from home had won out.  After much research and prayer, we trusted we had made the right decision.  Thankfully it turned out great!  No school is prefect, but for now the perks are worth it, the kids are happy, learning and enjoying their new friends.

Transition in Family & Finances

As a full time mom, any transition with my business is going to affect my family.  I was blessed with a client that utilizes the Human Resources arm of KLDBD.  I have been gone for weeks at a time for the 1^st time since being married and a mom.  We all survive quite well because I have an excellent husband and we have Skype .

But the bigger transition is with my husband’s new job.  Over the last eight month period my husband, as the Director of Development at an organization, applied for the Executive Director position.  The organization went with another candidate.  But when you know you are ready for something, you can’t stop because someone says no.  We both knew he was ready and he kept searching for what really was the right opportunity.  We found it in a small city not far away.  So now, he is the Executive Director for an organization with a supportive Board.  It means we will probably move within a year, sell or rent our home, and more.

Sometimes a transition occurs and you know it is God, but it may not feel good or right in the natural (move to a smaller city, why didn’t the previous organization promote?) but when you have PEACE in your spirit (your inner man or woman), it overrides what you see in the natural.

In your decision making, go with PEACE…it will help make your TRANSITION smooth.  Have an Awesome 2012!!!

Night before routine for you and your child:

• Pick out clothes for you and your children
• Decide on breakfast & lunch
• Prepare backpacks the night before
• Getting sleep:  your child’s age determines how much sleep he or she needs, check out a search engine to determine your child’s needs then back into it based on the time they need to get up
• Create an evening routine (homework, reading time, bath, etc.) and remember after a full day at school, they may be tired or irritable and want to relax also

Start of a new day:

• At the beginning of each day, get dressed for your entire day, not just for the morning errands, etc.
• Put things (shoes, bills, books) in the right place the first time and eliminate clutter
• Be a good example to your kids:  they are watching you, how you feel about school, learning, reading, teachers, aftercare, etc.  (it will make it better for you if they are looking forward to this new season, so you look forward to your new season)
• Help your children think for themselves– this actually frees you up if they start solving their own problems and making some decisions
• Lean on your friends and family  – additional support is crucial to your well being:  mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally
• Forgive your parenting mistakes – we all make them and it’s okay to apologize to your children
• Ensure you have time to replenish your spirit
• Work on YOUR Vision – you have destiny and purpose to fulfill
• Take some fun time out for yourself - have a loved one watch the kids one evening a week or month and you just go do what you want to do

Last Tip:  every night before you go to bed, kiss your kids good night while they are sleeping, you will fall in love all over again!

Check out the Kingdom Mom’s Club on the website: www.kingdomlivingdbd.com for additional great tips!

Time Management is REALLY an Oxymoron.  You can’t manage time, you can only manage your life in the time you have.  Think about it…

Manage means to handle, to direct, to make do something.  We can’t handle, direct or make time do anything, we can only handle, direct and make ourselves do something in the time we have.

As mothers, I think three of the biggest things we desire to manage, besides our children , are our money, our space and our time.  If we need more money than we have, we will borrow it.  If we need more space for our “stuff” we can rent a storage shed.  But, we can’t borrow or rent time.

We must work with what we have – 24 hours/day- for the rest of our life – so what will we do with ‘our’ time?  We must learn to manage our lives in the time we have.

As full-time mothers, ask yourself why you resigned your previous job?  To become a housekeeper or did you resign to raise your children?  Keep your answer in mind as you think about your life management.  Also remember that based on your child’s age, stage of life, your life management changes…

So how do you manage your life in the time you have?

1^st:  You must be self motivated, you have to be motivated to manage your own life or else time will manage your life for you.

2^nd:  You need to know what is this season of your life about?  There is nothing wrong if this season includes other things in your life inclusive of your children, maybe you are going back to school or running your own business.  Whatever the case, determine what it is and then your life management encompasses what you are currently valuing.

3^rd:  You have to remember that anything you do takes time.  Whether it is the many responsibilities we may even consider mundane to the simple things in life like showering, eating, or sleeping, we have to realize that these things take time so we must manage our lives with these in mind.

As you think about your life management, you will ALSO need to keep the following points in mind:

• Someone else may be better at doing “it”:  Did you share chores with your husband before you became a full-time Mom?  If so, why has this changed, you are working with your children; you didn’t resign to take on all the household duties.
• Are your children old enough to start doing some things on their own?  Teach Responsibility.
• Does everything need to be done on Monday, use the six other days of the week?
• It’s okay to say NO to others besides your children.
• Are you scheduling time for you?  Occasionally you need time to remember who YOU were, before you became a wife or mom.
• Determine what you value by remembering why you became a full-time mother in the first place.

When thinking about YOUR life management:

1. Realize everything you do, requires time.
2. THEN, Determine what you will do with yours.

One of the greatest benefits of managing your own life is that you now know what you should be doing…if you decide to do something else, you are making an intentional decision to do something different with your time…CONGRATULATIONS now you are managing your life in the time you have!

If you desire help with creating your life management system…contact me.  I will gladly help you create a system that works with YOUR life!

Water Country USA - Awesome!

Here are my thoughts for having fun and learning with your kids during the summer.  This is my Summer 2010 recount.  I enjoyed it so much, I plan to use the same system again in 2011…

For the summer of 2010 I thought I better make the best of my time with my kids (Faith – 6 and Solomon – 4) because I did not know if my time as a Full-time mother would be coming to an end.

So, me being me, had to plan it out.  I write this for the other moms who are like me – I call you “professional”, but others may have another name for us (smile).

I mixed continual education with fun.

• We had school on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for an hour or so.
• We would open with prayer, pledge of allegiance, the National Anthem, calendar and weather time.
• Then the kids would each do 1 or 2 sheets from their workbooks.  Solomon would also do a clay letter each day.  Faith would also read a book each day.
• Then we would do different fun activities/field trips based on each day.
• Monday:  Library – check out books for the summer reading program.  The kids would get rewarded with certificates, toys and books
• Wednesday:  Local Park or free movie summer program for kids
• Friday:  Play date with friends, computer time or P.E. at a local gym
• Tuesday & Thursday:  Local field trips to Water Country USA, Virginia Air & Space Museum, Beach, etc.

Mom's Summer School

The goal of the summer was to keep the learning going and have lots of fun while keeping us all sane by not being bored or over stimulated.  It worked great and it had to be one of our best summers yet!

So now it is Summer 2011 and I am still a Full-time Mother, but it could change in the near future.  I am glad I had the summer of 2010 and will enjoy this one based on my past system.  If you find yourself in the same situation with your family, I hope this helps.

Have fun and take lots of pictures!

Summer Fun on the back deck!

Who’s The Greatest Mom You Know?
By Robin F. Page 

Kingdom Mom + Kingdom Business = Kingdom Living 4 Me

Who is the greatest mom in your world?      

Around Mother’s Day, most people think the answer to this question is their Mom.  But this is not a Mommy’s Day article, but an everyday article. 

Most people value their own mother above most others, and for those of us who are moms; we fail to realize our own value.  We handle the business of our home everyday (some with help and some without) and usually we don’t complain, we just do it.  I think it is time we change how we value mothering and I have every intention of doing so.       

GMU Mom all the way!

Whether working in or outside of the home, think about what you do for your family.       

I have often heard it said if the husband is the head, then the wife is the neck.  As the neck, you help the head turn towards the right decisions for your family.  You make your family a success!  If your family is happy and thriving – you are the wife and mother the King wrote about in Proverbs 31.  If you are a single mom, you may be more of this than we married women can even imagine!  

So let’s take a look…     

• We make sure our family is fed (whether we cook it ourselves or warm up what someone else has prepared, either way, we make sure they have something to eat).
• We make sure our family is clothed (whether we make the clothes, swap for clothes or shop for clothes…now if they like our style or not, is another story).
• We make sure our family finances are in order (whether we bring home the dough or not – we make sure it goes where it needs to:  giving, bills, investments, shopping, activities & more).
We make sure our children are learning (whether that is through traditional education or other creative styles, we believe in their potential).

Two miracle children and a dream career!
We make sure the family activities are scheduled (whether we can be there or not, we will be sure the kids get to basketball or ballet, etc.).
We make sure our house is in order (whether it looks that way to anyone else, the family knows if they can’t find it, ask Mom).
If applicable, we make sure our husband is satisfied (period ).
All the while, not neglecting our own purpose (whether it takes a year or two or more, we know we can’t truly be good to our family, if we neglect ourselves).

A new career to go with mothering!

Now, none of us are perfect and we can all learn from each other, but I want you to know you are a great mom just as you are!  You make these things happen for your family the way that best works for you.  You are today and everyday the greatest woman in your husband and/or child’s life so know it and own it.  It is past time for moms to realize their value in this world, no matter if you have been a mom for a day or for years.  We give love the way only a mom can and that is what’s remembered.  Many take us for granted, but we can no longer take ourselves for granted.  You are the greatest mom in your world!      

Thanks for sharing Your Greatness with the rest of us.  

Keep Living the Kingdom Life…Day by Day,

Robin F. Page

I dare you to make someone smile (someone you know or someone you don’t).  Take on this dare with me for the next 21 days and let me know your results.

I think we will all be richly rewarded with the outcome.  When was the last time you intentionally did something to make your best friend, spouse, child, or co-worker smile?  When we act intentionally to improve the lives of others in small or big ways, the returns are enormous. 

In fact when was the last time you smiled?  We are living in tough times but we can’t lose our joy.  Honestly on some days, it seems as if our joy takes a short vacation.  One of the quickest ways to make our joy come home is to do something for others. 

Think about your spouse – what is something you could do – just because?  Think about your children – can you snuggle with your child for one hour without any interruptions:  reading, sleeping, looking at photos, listening to their music (no matter their age)? 

What about your co-worker…why not send an email just to say thanks for being so good at whatever?  When was the last time you told your boss you appreciated their management style?  Why not give your best friend flowers today or invite her over for lunch or dinner?

What about the stranger…Could you pick up what they dropped, hold the door, smile and say hello?  Have you ever paid the toll for the person behind you or the groceries of the person in front of you?  Compliment someone just because you like their outfit, tie, hair, shoes.  Say thank you to the clerk who served you after you waited in line for 30 minutes.  Send money to Haiti now and don’t forget them six months from now.  You may not see all the smiles you create, but you will still reap the benefits. 

These are just a few ideas I plan to put into place and I hope you’ll do the same. 

But…don’t forget yourself, do something to make yourself smile – turn on your favorite song and dance like no one is watching, eat your favorite food, turn off your cell phone, read a good book, look yourself in the mirror and say you are beautiful/handsome. 

So I DARE YOU… MAKE SOMEONE SMILE. 

Keep Living the Kingdom Life…Day by Day,      

Now he should make you smile!

Robin F. Page

Most of us will lend a helping hand to not only our brother, but also the perfect stranger down the street or around the world.  The world knows Americans are some of the most generous people on the earth.  I would like to call on that generosity. 

As I was thinking of this quarter’s newsletter, I was inspired to write about Giving.  But I had to look in the mirror first – am I doing my part?  The answer was that I needed to be more consistent, so I am stepping it up.  I would like for you to join me.  I have two organizations in mind:  Malachi House International and the Lily Housing Corporation. 

First let me tell you about Malachi House International (MHI).  I must let you know I am a board member, but that’s not the reason to give – smile.  MHI is a charity that was established to combat poverty and homelessness by providing housing and related services to those in need.  MHI, in partnership with the Veterans Administration, recently acquired a six-unit apartment complex that will be used to accommodate homeless veterans and their families.  MHI will not only provide housing, but also job readiness training, life skills training, financial, family and clinical counseling as needed. 

I would love for you to join me in giving to the MHI on a monthly basis.  It would be great to do $10 – $30 per month.  This is just a suggestion and although we definitely welcome one-time donations, I am hoping for those who will give on a consistent monthly cycle.  As we all know, it is easier to budget when you know what is coming in on a regular basis.  If you decide to join me in this endeavor, your donation will be used to help with the operating costs that are needed to assist with the housing project.  You can donate online through their website: www.malachihouseinternational.org. 

The other organization that I want to share with you is the Lily Housing Corporation (LHC).  I am not a board member, but I think LHC is also providing an excellent service by assisting the working poor and orphans.  LHC is a transitional housing ministry established to assist working women with children who do not qualify for government subsidies and for whom available temporary housing programs cannot meet their long-term needs.  In 2007 LHC expanded internationally and established its first orphanage in Chennai, India.  They are building a 4,000 square foot orphanage to assist children in transition and in need of the love of God.  This orphanage will be a great blessing to some of the children from the tsunami-hit area. 

You can visit their website for additional information and to donate:   www.lilyhousing.org.

Both the Malachi House International and the Lily Housing Corporation are about serving people at their point of need.  So again I ask you to join me.  Whether you give to Malachi House International, Lily Housing Corporation or another charity you feel connected to – I hope you will join me in Giving.  Because at all times, there will be those less fortunate than us and we can help  – so Let’s Do It!

Keep Living the Kingdom Life…Day by Day,
Robin F. Page

It all started with a leak…from our master bath shower to the kitchen floor.  It would leak through the heating vent, but not always.  We had a few people look into it, but what had been suggested did not seem to be the best options.  So, on occasion it would leak, we would dry it up and wonder what to do next.  Until one day as I was standing in the bathroom, God asked me (in my head), “What do you think I gave you an equity line for, if not to take care of your house?”  That was all we needed.   

With that “Word” from God, I started contacting contractors to give me an estimate on what it would take to fix the shower.  They came out and gave us estimates, but one in particular did more than that.  He suggested that we contact our insurance agent because our policy should cover it.  That idea had never crossed my mind – but when he said it, it made great sense to me!  Well, it didn’t make great sense to the agent.  When I called her, she let me know that it was not covered and that in fact she had the same thing happen to her last year and they didn’t cover her situation.  Oh, now I am mad – how dare you tell me it won’t be covered, but you tried it yourself.  “Just because something doesn’t work for you, don’t think it won’t work for me.”  Her last statement was that she could send out an adjuster to look at it if I wanted her to – YES, I DO!  But you know, she got me just mad enough to operate in my authority.  It hadn’t been long before this happened that we had learned about “decreeing a thing” at my church.  I went into that bathroom (my realm of authority) and I decreed that our bathroom would absolutely be completely fixed and the insurance company would pay for it.  That settled it. 

Old Leaking Shower...

A few days later the adjuster came out and she said it would be covered.  She indicated a small amount of money for it to be fixed and it didn’t match up with the estimates I had been given.  When I called to inquire, the last thing the lady said was I could have one of the contractors that the Insurance Agency uses come out and do an estimate and she would send me the information.  I wanted to use the contractor I had already gotten an estimate from but I thought this may help my case.  I spoke with several of the “Insurance” contractors and felt good about one so I asked him to come out to do an estimate.  I decided to proceed with his business and we got the process going.  He explained that we wouldn’t know the full damage until they pulled the shower tile out first.   

Renovation leads to complete removal of shower & ultimately floor and tub surround

Pulling out the shower tile showed more damage and the entire floor and tub tile had to be replaced.  Prior to them doing this, the floor and shower tile didn’t match and the finishes on the faucets, shower surround, etc. didn’t match either.  When we bought the house, we missed seeing all of this (smile) – but now it was going to be fixed!  It took several months (August – November) and a lot of patience, but it all paid off in the end as we got new beautiful matching tile throughout, a new seamless shower, new paint on the walls and of course no more leaking.  We upgraded the shower surround and the shower head which we had to pay about $800 for and our deductible was covered by a loved one.  So in total, we got a beautiful new master bath for about $800 vs. $9,000.  Furthermore, we didn’t need to use the equity line as I thought but it was God’s tool to get me moving – He is truly Jehovah Jireh (Our Provider).  This is a clear picture of God protecting us from the devourer as indicated in Malachi 3:10 – 11.  Tithing is truly a blessing from the Master! 

An Awesome New & Bigger Shower!

New matching tile on Floor and Tub Surround!

Late on March 13^th I was going to bed and feeling fine except for the excessive need to use the bathroom.  Then around 1:00AM on March 14^th, I had to get up to go to the bathroom again.  This time I started cramping but I still tried to return to bed.  It was of no use; I had to get back up within a few minutes and decided to wake Philip.  We then decided to call my sister, Sheila, who would be there to take care of Faith if we did have to go to the hospital.  While she was in route, we started counting the contractions in between me needing to use the bathroom.  Then we called the doctor.  He said for us to wait some amount of time and then to go to the hospital.  But I knew if I could just stop using the bathroom, I was going to the hospital.  Sheila arrived very quickly thankfully.  

Then I had a very hard contraction in which I felt I had to hold my baby in because I felt he was coming.  I sat down for a moment on my “seat”.  Then one more hard contraction started and I stood up with the help of Philip and that was it.  I said the baby is coming and I meant NOW!  I was standing and there was my baby coming through my body and into my hands.  I felt that head in my hands and for months later would hold his head to remember that feeling. 

Philip got the rest of his body and I sat down on my “seat” and held him next to me.  We yelled for Sheila to call 911.  I was scared for a moment, all types of thoughts in a matter of seconds, but then God must have taken over.  I thought to ask Philip what the time was so we could say when he was born, 2:25 AM.  What do you do when you have a newborn in your arms and no doctor?  Try to breastfeed right?!?  Well, I did just that while waiting on the paramedics.  He started sucking immediately.  Then I pulled him back for a moment to make sure he was a boy.  The 911 operator was telling Sheila what to do and she was telling us.  One thing was to tie off the umbilical cord with a shoestring or something.  I yelled there is one on the floor in front of the dresser.  I saw it earlier in the day and did not pick it up (that’s God)!  Then Sheila yelled the instructions to Philip on how to tie off the cord, which he did.  Within minutes the paramedics arrived.  The guy who started handling Solomon was shaking and it began to make me nervous for a moment, but I was trusting God.  All of this time I am still sitting on my “seat” but it did not matter because I just wanted Solomon to be OK and he was! 

Our daughter, Faith, slept through the entire birth of her brother and that was another blessing. 

This is a glimpse into the wonders of an awesome loving God – He can give you peace and wisdom in the midst of a horrifying situation.  Thank God!

Ambulance Ride to Hospital...Solomon is Nursing Again (Thank God!)Faith with her baby brother.

Faith with her baby brother.