Some Good (& Free!) Parent Resources

Lunch Box Note from Matthew Paul Turner’s Instagram (https://instagram.com/p/6zkxRKB4WS/)

About a week ago I received an email with some free resources for parents.  After looking through the resources, I thought they were definitely worth sharing.

These resources come from a ministry called Parent Ministry.net.  They desire to help churches build an excellent parent ministry.

Around the same time I received the email, I remember seeing a lunch box note post on Matthew Paul Turner’s Instagram account. He shared a lunch box note he left for his son.  It underscored the importance of the resources that Parent Ministry shared.

The first resource is called Lunch Box Notes. They provide ideas for parents to use to leave various notes of spiritual encouragement to their children.  They offered 50 ideas for parents of children and parents of teenagers. You can view, download or print these PDF resources at these links:

Lunch Box Notes for Parents of Children.

Lunch Box Notes for Parents of Teenagers.

The second resource Parent Ministry provided was short videos for parents.  The videos are geared for parents of toddlers to parents of teens.  They deal with a variety of subjects that may speak to the specific season of parenting you may find yourself in. If some of the videos don’t apply to you, my guess is you have a friend or family member who could benefit from hearing one or more of them.

Besides, who couldn’t use some free parenting tips?!?

You can check out each of the videos below.  It is set up as a playlist and there are 8 different videos.  You can watch all 8 or just select the ones that interest you.

Gotcha! 04/22/14

Yesterday – April 22, 2014 – was a pretty big day for our family. It will be known as Max’s Gotcha Day. Gotcha Day is the day we celebrate Max’s official entrance into our family. We know several adoptive families that celebrate their children’s Gotcha Day.

Max was born September 27 and was placed in our home October 1, but yesterday was the day the judge finalized his adoption. While we can’t imagine our family without him, yesterday was the day he legally became a Brackemyre.

It was great to celebrate the day with his four siblings, three of his grandparents, an uncle and several friends who were able to sit in the courtroom. We also had a friend who is a photographer attend to capture some pictures of the day. The photo of Max and his brothers and sister on this page was taken by her. Only a few of the other pictures have a been posted, but more are to come. You can check them out (along with other photos by the photographer) on her Facebook page – Susan Marie Photography

When Max was just weeks old, Cheryl and I gave a quick recap of how Max became part of our family. It was originally used in the worship services at CrossView Christian Church and then was shown at the Wilmington Church of Christ. It just gives the backdrop to how we got to meet and pursue the adoption of Max.

We are so grateful to have Max as part of our family and look forward to helping him grow to be a man of God.

9 Years Ago

I got a text from my son today reminding me of an anniversary. It’s one that we remember, but don’t really celebrate in the way you might celebrate a wedding anniversary or a birthday. Nine years ago this month Joe had a stroke which affected the right side of his body. When you look at him now, you wouldn’t really believe it. In fact, as I think back to that event, it seems a bit surreal.

We were at our junior high camp out and he wasn’t acting himself. We ended up at the hospital, came home, then went back to hospital. He ended up at Dayton Children’s Hospital, but made a relatively quick recovery. We found out over time how many people were praying for Joe during this time and know those prayers made a huge difference.

A lot has transpired in the past nine years and as always we’ve hit a few bumps in the road. God continues to bring good out of bad situations. Looking back, the stroke seems like a lifetime ago. I’m looking forward to the future God has for Joe and what He will continue to do with him.

Team Hoyt Video

I saw this video before the explosions occurred today at the Boston Marathon. Despite all the ugliness in our world, this is a story of beauty. A dad and a son who run for each other and for others.

Out of a Far Country review

Out Of A Far Country is the compelling story of Christopher and Angela Yuan’s journey to healing and restoration, both in their relationship with God and with each other.  The book provided both the son and mother’s perspective as each chapter alternated narrative between Christopher and Angela.  It gave the reader insight into the emotions experienced by the two.

The book gives a transparent look into Christopher’s struggle with homosexuality, drugs, the party scene and ultimate search for love and acceptance.  It reveals the heart of a mother who longs for the perfect family and sees that dream shattered as her two sons move away from the ideals she longs for them to embrace.

One of the most challenging aspects of the books was Angela’s acceptance of Christ and then total dependence on Him to work in the life of her son.  She shares how she had to release Christopher to God and allow her son’s time in prison to be the tool God would use to bring her to son into relationship with Him.  She continually prayed that God would use whatever He needed to bring Chris to Jesus, even as the cost of his degree, career and freedom.  Rather than trying to exert her control as a mother, she trusted God to work.

Christopher’s ultimate surrender to God affected every aspect of his life and shows how the pursuit of God impacts everything about us.  Near the end of the book, Christopher shares his discovery:  “God’s faithfulness is proved not by the elimination of hardships but by carrying us through them.  Change is not the absence of struggles; change is the freedom to choose holiness in the midst of our struggles (pg. 188).”

Out Of A Far Country would be a good read for any Christ follower, but also for anyone who is experiencing the breakdown of relationships or someone desiring into the struggle of same-sex attraction.  The real struggles show how God is able to bring healing and restoration, while working through even the most difficult circumstances.

For more information on this book and read an excerpt, click here.

(I received this book from WaterBrook Multnomah in exchange for my review)